Chapter 6: She Is a Good Girl

Xu Qiuyue didn't care what Chunzhu was thinking.

After she finished eating, she intended to go wash the dishes and do some work, but Chunzhu scrambled to do the washing instead.

Xu Qiuyue didn't try to take it back.

After all, she had been a Princess Consort for so many years; she no longer felt the need to emphasize equality for everyone.

Moreover, she had plenty of things to do!

Food is the people's heaven; her courtyard needed a small kitchen.

Furthermore, she had no income. She needed to do what she was best at: farming to earn money.

After observing the surroundings, Xu Qiuyue noted that the land near the small woods in the back courtyard was quite empty, making it suitable for farming.

It was a pity; all the spices and precious medicinal herbs she had collected before were gone.

Otherwise, growing them in her Space would be very profitable.

Currently, there weren't many medicinal herbs in the Space, only a single small ginseng root.

Xu Qiuyue hadn't watered it with Spiritual Spring water, so its growth was relatively slow.

Because there wasn't much Spiritual Spring water, Xu Qiuyue had to supplement her own nutrition.

Xu Qiuyue remembered that jade could increase the daily overflow of the Spiritual Spring water.

Unfortunately, she was currently penniless, and jade was extremely expensive.

She simply couldn't afford it.

Xu Qiuyue only had about ten or so copper coins on her person, and even those were savings she had kept for a long time.

Compared to her previous life, her current life was truly too easy; she only needed to support herself. Although the Lu family's money wouldn't necessarily be spent on her, she certainly wouldn't need to support them.

As for the work in the Lu household.

The duties of the housekeeper in the Lu family likely wouldn't fall to her; Lu Yuan's mother was still quite young.

Even when she grew old, Xu Qiuyue estimated that given Lu Yuan's personality, he would likely manage the household himself.

Besides, Xu Qiuyue had no desire to manage a household.

Lu Yuan had not returned all night.

Xu Qiuyue remained very calm, and the next day, she went alone to pay her respects to her mother-in-law.

Mother Lu was quite satisfied with Xu Qiuyue. Upon learning that Xu Qiuyue wanted to read more books, she agreed very generously.

She gave many books to Xu Qiuyue for her studies.

Xu Qiuyue took the books away.

She was truly studying with all her heart.

In her previous life, Xu Qiuyue's medical skills were only average.

In her past life, she was busy making money, then busy with inner courtyard struggles, and finally met her end in a sea of flames.

She had never had the time to properly stop and learn.

Now, things were different.

Xu Qiuyue stated that she had studied medicine for a time under a barefoot doctor in the countryside and knew a few words; now, she wanted to read more medical texts to prepare some healthy and delicious dishes for Lu Yuan to make his body stronger in the future.

These words moved Mother Lu deeply.

Even after Lu Yuan had acted like that.

Xu Qiuyue was actually still thinking of ways to please him.

In truth, Xu Qiuyue knew very well that Lu Yuan rarely came home on ordinary days, so the food she cooked would naturally be eaten by herself.

When she wanted to eat some expensive ingredients, she would only need to give a portion to Mother Lu to show filial piety to her mother-in-law; the rest, she could eat however she pleased.

She was just a farm girl; it wasn't strange for her to know a bit of medical theory or how to cook.

As for why she didn't know how to please her husband in other ways, that was also normal.

If Xu Qiuyue had said she wanted to read medical books to learn medicine, Mother Lu would never have agreed.

In the eyes of most people, it was enough for a woman to please her husband.

Secondly, she should learn the art of managing a household so that matters of the inner quarters wouldn't trouble her husband.

As for self-reliance, such things would only invite disdain and contempt.

That was why Xu Qiuyue used the excuse of wanting to make nourishing soups and rice for Lu Yuan.

Mother Lu took the opportunity to give some account books to Xu Qiuyue to look over.

She hoped Xu Qiuyue could learn the art of household management to help Lu Yuan manage the inner quarters.

Xu Qiuyue had managed households in her previous life, so she understood these account books at a glance.

She simply didn't show it.

Right now, Xu Qiuyue only wanted to farm well, earn money, and live her own life.

·········

Inside the Yihong Pavilion.

Lu Yuan sat in a private room, somewhat unable to understand how he had ended up leaving in such a muddled state.

His index finger was still aching faintly, and there was a slight scent of medicine on it. Although it was very faint, he could still smell it; it was medicinal powder for treating external wounds.

He had already figured it out: the blood on those white sheets must have been his.

That woman was truly too black-hearted, actually wanting to use his blood; did she really take him for an idiot?

But if he were to say these words, he feared no one would believe him.

After all, his reputation was poor.

He had done even more absurd things; people would simply think it was a trick he had concocted because he didn't want this farm girl.

Lu Yuan could not understand how he had fallen into the trap.

How could such a soul-bewitching technique bewitch him?

If he hadn't been so disciplined in his personal conduct, he certainly would have fallen for it.

Lu Yuan recalled the scene of their wedding night.

He had seen Xu Qiuyue's face beneath the bridal veil, and he had been momentarily dazed.

Beauty misleads men!

And then, he hadn't even checked the ginseng before tucking it into his sleeve.

Lu Yuan took out the ginseng; it was a top-grade ginseng, just enough to offset his bride price. Was this a coincidence?

Xu Qiuyue's calculations were too precise!

Lu Yuan took a raw bite of the ginseng; the taste wasn't very good.

However, the medicinal effect was even stronger than he had expected.

While at the Yihong Pavilion, he spent the entire night digesting the medicinal power.

His symptoms of Qi deficiency had improved significantly.

Not wanting to waste the remaining ginseng, Lu Yuan used it directly to soak in wine.

When Lu Yuan returned to the Lu residence, he saw the honest and simple-looking Xu Qiuyue.

Xu Qiuyue's temperament was very restrained. Her features were not bad—she was quite beautiful—but she looked like a bright pearl covered in dust, appearing quite dull and grey.

Lu Yuan thought of the legendary state of "returning to simplicity."

Only that state could have confused him; otherwise, there would be no way to induce a false memory.

If he hadn't recalled it carefully, he wouldn't have sensed anything was wrong at all.

"Yuan'er, this wife of yours is truly good to you. Mother knows you are still angry—angry that your father made you marry a farm girl—but she is well-mannered and a good girl. Even though you neglected her last night, she is not angry; instead, she said she wants to brew some nourishing medicinal soups for you to drink.

Furthermore, Mother is telling you, your own uncle died of a venereal disease—he was only twenty!

You are almost twenty yourself. If you keep going to brothels, you will soon follow in your uncle's footsteps."

Mother Lu never expected that Lu Yuan's personality wouldn't resemble his father or her.

Instead, it was quite similar to her brother who had passed away over a decade ago.

"Mother, I understand. I also know that my short-lived uncle used to hold me when I was little," Lu Yuan said nonchalantly.

In his life, the thing he disliked most was being old-fashioned.

His father was an antique.

Every day, his father was most concerned with rules and etiquette.

Lu Yuan was sick of him.

However, Mother Lu's words still exerted a certain psychological pressure on Lu Yuan.

On the surface, Lu Yuan appeared indifferent and unconcerned.

But in the brothels, Lu Yuan had no real interest.

He was still afraid of death.

(End of Chapter)