Wufu’s bookroom was arranged according to her own requirements, because it would be used for carving normally, so she specifically spent a lot of money to replace sandpaper with glass for the windows to ensure that the room was well-lit.
In this ancient time, Wufu was accustomed to many things, but the only things she couldn’t get used to were soaking in a bath and the lighting.
Soaking could be managed with a bathtub, although it couldn’t compare to a large bath or powerful shower head, but it was better than nothing. She had to follow local customs, or so to speak, when she would have more silver, she would dig a bath.
But with the lighting, it really was difficult; whether candles or oil lamps, none met her requirements. If she had to carve at night, it was especially exhausting, and not to mention staying up all night, her eyes would be both sore and painful, all because of the insufficient light and the strain it caused.
Therefore, she now strongly required that her bookroom have bright lighting.
Now, everything met her requirements, with two gauze curtains tied with silk ribbons. Even when the windows were closed, the light remained clear.
Wufu nodded in satisfaction with her hands behind her back, then looked around at the furnishing of the room. Speaking of arrangement, there actually wasn’t much; the bookroom was divided into three parts. Upon entering, you saw a mahogany desk and chair, with the Four Treasures of the Study and other items on the desk, and a landscape painting hanging on the wall.
Liu Jin saw Wufu staring at the painting, and said, "Miss, this was painted by someone on the street. It only cost five qian of silver. I thought he painted quite well, and the bookroom should look decent, so..."
"Only five qian of silver?" Wufu was astonished. "It’s painted quite nicely, so cheap."
In her view, this painting was much better than some of the works of so-called masters she had seen in her former life, and to think it only cost five qian of silver.
Liu Jin smiled and said, "After all, he’s not any famous master."
"If you see his work again in the future, buy a few more, and hang them in Madam’s room as well," Wufu responded, and then continued walking inside.
Separated by a screen, there was a bamboo couch inside. Considering she often got engrossed in her carving, having a couch in the bookroom was necessary.
To the left inside the bookroom, there was another small room particularly separated out, with all windows fitted with glass to let in plenty of light. Inside, there was a long table with various tools Wufu used for her carving.
After looking around inside and out, Wufu was very satisfied. Sitting behind the desk, she gestured for Liu Jin to also sit down.
"I have just transferred power to the steward with Tongzi assisting you in managing the outer court. Are you unhappy?" Wufu asked pointedly.
Liu Jin’s heart skipped a beat and he showed some panic on his face, "Miss, this servant..."
Being young, and no matter how much he acted grown-up in front of other servants, in Wufu’s presence, a gentle word or a glance from her easily revealed his falsehoods.
"What’s there to panic about?" Wufu glanced at him indifferently and said, "Look at you, simply because I asked, you panicked. How can you act as a steward, how can you control the servants?"
Liu Jin immediately knelt down.
"Get up," Wufu snorted.
Liu Jin didn’t move and said with his head down, "This servant is wrong."
"You don’t listen to my words anymore?" Wufu’s voice grew colder, "Or have you become so forgetful after being ’steward’ for a few days?"
Liu Jin suddenly raised his head, "This servant wouldn’t dare!"
To him, Wufu was like a parent who had given him a new life; how could he ever defy her will? That would be unjust!
"If you wouldn’t dare, then stand up and speak. I won’t say it a third time."
Hearing the threat in her words, Liu Jin finally stood up and approached the desk.
"Speak, you said you were wrong, but where did you go wrong?" Wufu grabbed a brush and started twirling it in her hand.