Inside the manor, it was calm and peaceful.
When the Land Office official came, he apologized to Fengyu, saying that the villagers had lost control of their emotions and were speaking nonsense. He urged Fengyu not to take it to heart, admitting it was his mishandling of the situation. That particular family held significant influence in Yiling Village, with a large population. It was normal for the children to have grievances after their parents’ sudden death. The official found himself smoothing things over, which made Fengyu laugh in exasperation.
She lazily leaned on the warm couch, playing with a silk flower with an ambiguous smile. The official felt his heart pounding. After Fengyu replaced the official half a year ago, it was he who took over as the Land Office official for Yiling Village. It was a lucrative and enviable position, with plenty of benefits. Yiling Village was wealthy and not difficult to manage, but who knew there would be new policies, and Fengyu was unwilling to sell the land.
This Third Miss, though young, was not to be trifled with. Her tactics were formidable, her mind deep, and she wouldn’t yield to pressure. Two elders had passed away in Yiling Village, and the uproar from public opinion seemed to be pressuring Third Miss.
The Third Miss sipped her tea with that ambiguous smile, fiddling with the silk flower, while the official broke out in a cold sweat in the May heat. Many people underestimated Fengyu’s youth and unmarried status, as well as the Marquis Mansion’s concern for reputation, hoping the Third Miss would compromise, either keeping the land rent unchanged or selling the land. The official felt uncertain, vaguely sensing their plans might fail.
Would she care about two lives unrelated to her?
"Miss, rest assured, I’ll provide an explanation for you. I won’t let them report this to the county government."
"Let them report!" Fengyu said lightly, "I negotiated land rent with you; I didn’t force anyone to lose their life. Official, I initially intended to negotiate with you amicably, for both sides to make concessions. Since you are unwilling, tell the tenant farmers that it’s my land, and I’ll lease it to whomever I want. If they don’t want to farm it, I’ll find new tenant farmers when the lease expires. Don’t try any tricks, even if the entire village dies before me, I wouldn’t blink an eye."
The official was speechless.
His heart raced wildly. Fengyu’s voice wasn’t loud, her tone gentle, yet he felt a menacing threat pressing on him.
The Third Miss was angered!
"Yes, I’ll negotiate with the villagers again!"
Fengyu watched the official leave, her brows furrowing. Had this new policy been implemented six months ago, she would have resolutely raised the land rent. Now, however, she considered her engagement with Xie Xun. Every move she made represented the Marquis Mansion. If a scandal arose, it would tarnish their reputation.
The reputation of Marquis Zhenbei Mansion was too good!
She was hesitant to act rashly!
"Infuriating!" Fengyu was so upset she couldn’t even eat her lunch.
In the afternoon, Xie Xun came to the manor and saw the Third Miss angrily playing darts, raising an eyebrow slightly. Fengyu was lazy by nature, not one for physical activity. Besides using her brains to make money, she didn’t like doing much else, preferring to lounge inside all day, always languid. Getting her to ride, exercise, or even enjoy the sun was akin to reaching for the stars.
Qiuxiang seized the opportunity to complain and recounted the situation at Yiling Village, "Miss was so upset that she skipped lunch."
"Go prepare a bowl of bird’s nest porridge and her favorite snacks," Xie Xun paused, "prepare my lunch as well."
Xie Xun had heard a bit about the situation at Yiling Village. He was handling affairs in Gaoping County and came specially to find Fengyu after hearing about it. The old couple’s situation was indeed poignant, but Fengyu wasn’t to blame.
Fengyu was playing darts poorly, her mood not great, purely an outlet for her frustration. Most of her throws missed entirely. Whatever she did, she was always focused, unaware that Xie Xun was behind her until he stood there, took her wrist, guiding her hand to throw the dart, hitting the bullseye.
The warm, familiar fragrance enveloped her. His tall stature nearly enveloped her, an intimate closeness. Feiying, Nuanyang, and others all lifted their heads to the sky, pretending not to see.
"Why are you here?" Fengyu was a bit surprised, seeing the warmth and brightness in Xie Xun’s eyes.
Xie Xun affectionately grazed her eyelid, took a dart, letting her hold it, guiding her hand to throw, "I was handling affairs in Gaoping County and came to see you on the way."
"Alright, I came specially to see you!"
Fengyu’s bad mood vanished. It was a peculiar feeling, but recently, every time she saw Xie Xun, she felt good, no matter how troublesome the matter. As long as she saw him, she could be happy.
"What are you doing in Gaoping County?"
"It’s secret!" He playfully tapped her chin. It wasn’t convenient to discuss with Fengyu, who didn’t press further. Kyoto Capital Guard matters weren’t usually secretive, likely Marquis Mansion’s affairs.
"I’m so hungry, didn’t have a meal the whole way here. Will the Third Miss offer me a meal?"
The young marquis wasn’t picky about food, and given it was past lunchtime, the small kitchen made a bowl of fried rice for him, with more beef than rice. It filled a large bowl completely. Besides the beef fried rice, there were sliced chicken, duck, ribs, and three vegetarian dishes. Not plentiful but substantial in quantity. The young marquis had an enormous appetite. Fengyu heard from the Marchioness that when they were young, during meals at home, his bowl was larger than his older brothers’, eating twice their amount. The reason he didn’t become chubby was largely due to his active lifestyle.
Fengyu’s bird’s nest porridge was served in a small palm-sized cup, which she ate slowly, watching in amazement as Xie Xun devoured the food, with the meat on the table gradually disappearing. The fried rice was served in a sea bowl, twice the size of a regular bowl, enough for three people.
Fengyu unconsciously took a few bites of meat following his lead.
Every time she saw him eat, it... seemed to enhance the appetite!
He actually finished all six dishes and a bowl of rice. Fengyu curiously asked, "Are you full?"
"About seventy to eighty percent," Xie Xun said with a reserved smile, "I’ll eat more for dinner."
Fengyu was speechless.
The young marquis’s single meal could last her three meals a day for three days.
"Eating after eighteen..." Fengyu propped her head, implying, "Won’t you become a big fatty?"
Xie Xun raised an eyebrow, "I’m still growing."
Hopefully, he’ll stop growing; another growth spurt and he’ll be hitting doorframes.
Xie Xun, aware that Fengyu wasn’t in a good mood, suggested they go for a mountain hike after lunch to aid digestion, giving Feiying, Nuanyang, Qiuxiang, and Chunlu a break to rest at the manor.
Behind the manor was a mountain. Xie Xun led Fengyu up the mountain.
Xie Xun said, "If you get tired, I’ll carry you."
Fengyu found herself tired before even reaching halfway up, reaching out for Xie Xun to carry her. He said, "Third Miss, your stamina is too poor, you need proper exercise. Let’s slowly climb to the top."
Xie Xun laughed heartily. Fengyu tried to turn back, only to be caught by Xie Xun, coaxed and pulled along to continue the climb. Fengyu watched enviously as the young marquis seemed to glide effortlessly, without breaking a sweat, while she was panting heavily.
Though the sun was scorching, the mountain was cool with shade. Xie Xun walked beside her, sometimes teasing, sometimes silent, more like accompanying Fengyu to clear her mind. Fengyu walked and stopped, occasionally picking a few flowers, gradually finding the joy in hiking.
"Would the Marquis Mansion sell land?" Fengyu blew at the wildflowers, the petals danced in the Mountain wind.