Chapter 225: Chapter 226: The Rules Are Set

Xie Ruyi still looked hopeful. "The Le family’s daughter-in-law has been causing a fuss these days. Things aren’t easy for that couple, so I was just thinking..."

Jin Qianqian cut her off. "Sister-in-law, the rules have already been set.

Besides the Le Family, there are also Le Tian and Le Di. Even if Le Tian isn’t home right now, Le Di is about to get married."

Xie Ruyi mumbled, "Can’t you make an exception? We’re all family, after all."

Jin Qianqian laughed. "Sister-in-law, do you think I haven’t made enough exceptions already?

Don’t forget, your husband, Le Di, and the Le Family are still working out front, and I’m paying them very generously."

Xie Ruyi sighed and was about to turn and leave when Jin Qianqian called out to her, "Sister-in-law."

Thinking Jin Qianqian had changed her mind, Xie Ruyi quickly turned her head.

"If you don’t want this job, Sister-in-law, plenty of people nearby have been asking about it. Give me a final answer today so I can have Housekeeper Fu make the arrangements."

"No, no, no! I’ll get right to work." Xie Ruyi had originally planned to go find her husband out front for advice, but after hearing what Jin Qianqian said, she didn’t dare delay any longer and turned to enter the workshop.

Jin Qianqian took Qing Mei’s hand and climbed into the carriage. "Give them an inch, and they’ll take a mile."

Qing Mei replied, "You always have a way, Madam. You’ve solved it just like that."

Jin Qianqian shook her head. "This was just another one of their attempts to test the waters. All this fuss they’re making is ultimately for their own benefit."

Jin Qianqian poked her head out and said to Housekeeper Fu, "You don’t need to worry about matters at home for the next few days. Work with the steward here and keep a close eye on things. If anyone causes trouble, no matter who it is, settle their accounts and send them away immediately."

Housekeeper Fu asked, "Madam, you mean...?"

"I’m just worried some people might get restless." Today’s scene with Xie Ruyi had served as a reminder.

***

Jin Qianqian spent the evening packing at home. Early the next morning, she had Hong Da drive the carriage toward Dao City.

"What are you doing here?" Ancient Wen Heng suppressed his delight as he saw his wife suddenly appear at the inn’s entrance and quickly walked over to her.

Jin Qianqian glanced at the food on their table, then curtsied to the dean and the teachers at the head table.

Only then did she turn to Ancient Wen Heng and say, "I was worried about you at home, so I came to check on you. I also brought you some dry rations and pastries."

Just then, Qing Mei walked in, carrying two food boxes.

"Wenheng’s wife, were you afraid we’d let your husband starve?" Dean Lv teased with a smile.

Jin Qianqian curtsied. "It’s all my fault. I didn’t realize you all had been so thoughtful. It seems I’ve wasted a trip."

"Understandable, understandable," Dean Lv said, stroking his beard with a laugh. "My old lady was just as much of a worrier back in the day."

Ancient Wen Heng knew the dean was joking, as some exam candidates did bring their families along. "Dean, I’ll take my wife to rest for a bit."

"Go on, go on. But we won’t be saving any of this food for you," Dean Lv said with a wave of his hand. He had no intention of being the bad guy at a time like this.

***

「In their room.」

"It must have been a tiring journey, right?" Ancient Wen Heng knew that to have reached Dao City by now, she must not have stopped to rest along the way.

"Did you forget our carriage has been modified? I really didn’t suffer much at all."

Liu Qingmei placed the food boxes she had brought on the table, then quietly excused herself, not forgetting to close the door for them on her way out.

The moment the door clicked shut, Ancient Wen Heng pulled her into his arms. "I thought I wouldn’t get to see you again until after my exams. Is everything at home taken care of?"

At this, Ancient Wen Heng’s heart filled with guilt. He hadn’t been able to help with anything lately, having done nothing but study.

"The workshop has already started construction, but they’re still landscaping the front courtyard. By the time you finish your exams, things at home should be mostly settled." Jin Qianqian reached out and caressed his face. "It’s only been a few days. How did you get so thin? Is Hong Tianbao not taking good care of you?"

Ancient Wen Heng followed her hand and touched his own cheek. "I really have lost a lot of weight. It seems I can’t do without you by my side."

Jin Qianqian pulled back from his embrace. "Don’t try to sweet-talk me. I just saw a lot of books and paper on the table out there. I don’t remember you bringing those when you left."

"The Dean borrowed those for us. Everyone has been cooped up in their rooms these past few days, trying to memorize as much as possible, and I’m no exception. I just got lost in my studies." Ancient Wen Heng gave her an appeasing smile. "But don’t worry, Tianbao brings my three meals right on time."

If not for having to enter the examination hall tomorrow, Dean Lv wouldn’t have told everyone to go out and relax and stretch their legs.

Jin Qianqian knew that only three people from Leping Academy had come to take the provincial examination this time. And since Ancient Wen Heng had been the top-ranked Scholar, the academy inevitably had higher expectations for him. The pressure on him must be immense.

"I should have just come with you from the start. Not only could I have taken care of you, but we could have used the time difference so you could review more."

Jin Qianqian couldn’t help but feel a little regretful. She looked up at Ancient Wen Heng. "Have you finished reading all of those? Why don’t you go into the space for a while?"

Ancient Wen Heng hesitated for only a moment before nodding in agreement. "There is a small portion I haven’t finished. You should also take the chance to get some proper rest in the space. Otherwise, your body won’t be able to handle the journey back later."

It wasn’t that Ancient Wen Heng didn’t want her to stay. The inns in Dao City were already completely full, and even Hong Tianbao was sleeping on a floor mat in the corner of the room.

Jin Qianqian went over and bolted the door. The two of them gathered all the books and notes from the table into their arms, and then Jin Qianqian took Ancient Wen Heng’s hand, instantly transporting them into the space.

In this cultivation area of the space, the medicinal herbs they had planted were growing with vibrant life.

Even the ginseng they had planted first had long since grown into a small patch. The Lingzhi, angelica, and sanqi also occupied their own separate plots.

The study and resting spot Jin Qianqian had specially created for Ancient Wen Heng blended in perfectly with the forest of medicinal herbs.

"Just coming here sweeps all the fatigue away." Jin Qianqian took a deep breath of the various herbal fragrances in the air. "It feels so good."

Ancient Wen Heng placed everything on the desk, then suddenly swept Jin Qianqian off her feet. Caught completely off guard, she clung to him tightly in fright.

"My dear wife worked so hard to rush here this morning. Now, let your husband help you get some rest."

Jin Qianqian laughed and chided him, "Don’t forget you have to enter the examination hall tomorrow."

"Can’t you show your husband a little sympathy? I’ll be cooped up in an examination cell for the next several days. If I don’t get some exercise now, my whole body will get stiff." As he spoke, Ancient Wen Heng moved his limbs, gently tossing her in the air a few times.

Jin Qianqian shrieked and laughed at the same time. "What kind of logic is that? Everyone says you’re supposed to conserve your energy, but you’re just wasting it..."