14: Chapter 14: Harmonious Home Life, Taming the Beloved Wife

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye since Wang Qingxuan married into the Xu Family.

During this half-month, Xu Changkun spent most of his time in her room.

During the day, he guided her cultivation and taught her the "Yin-Yang Guidance Manual." At night, he was tender and considerate, without the slightest bit of coercion.

At first, Wang Qingxuan was somewhat reserved, always feeling that she had been "forced" to marry into the family, and the arrogance in her heart had not yet completely dissipated.

But gradually, she discovered that the way Xu Changkun treated her was completely different from what she had imagined.

Wang Qingxuan gradually let down her guard, especially in the dead of night when he held her in his arms, listening to his steady heartbeat and feeling his warmth.

The trace of resentment and estrangement in her heart quietly melted away like spring snow. She began to instinctively lean into him, like a cat that had found its home, coveting that sense of stability and peace.

This young miss of the Wang Family, who still carried a bit of cold arrogance during the day, gradually revealed a charming and clingy side in private; the contrast was so great that even she was somewhat surprised.

Early this morning, Xu Changkun rose early to cultivate as usual, while Wang Qingxuan was still in a dream, a tranquil smile on her lips.

He got up quietly and went into the courtyard.

Lin Fenglan, with her slightly protruding belly, was sewing baby clothes under the eaves. Li Xiue was in the courtyard feeding chickens with Xiao Juan, who was giggling as she chased the hens all over the place.

“Good morning, Husband.” Lin Fenglan looked up and saw him, giving a gentle smile.

“Good morning, Daddy!” Xiao Juan also pounced over excitedly.

Xu Changkun patted Xiao Juan's head and said to Lin Fenglan, “You're heavy with child now; just let Li Xiue do these chores. You should rest more.”

“It's no trouble,” Lin Fenglan said, her eyes full of happiness. “Being idle actually feels quite stifling.”

Fine beads of sweat stood on Li Xiue's forehead, her smile bright. “Husband, breakfast will be ready soon.”

Before long, the door to the eastern wing opened with a creak. Wang Qingxuan walked out.

Today, she wore an aqua-green silk skirt, making her look like a fresh lotus emerging from the water, elegant and refined. After half a month of nourishment, her skin had become even more lustrous, and her eyes held less youthful innocence and more of the soft charm of a new wife.

However, when her gaze swept over the slightly cluttered courtyard, her brow furrowed for a moment. After all, she came from a prestigious family, and some views were hard to change all at once.

During breakfast, Wang Qingxuan looked at the simple but steaming millet porridge and several side dishes on the table. Although they weren't as exquisite as those of the Wang Family, they had a unique, homely warmth. She picked up a spoon and ate in small bites, no longer as picky as when she first arrived.

Li Xiue took note of this and felt comforted, proactively placing a serving of pickled vegetables into her bowl with chopsticks. “Try this, Sister. I pickled it myself; it stimulates the appetite.”

Wang Qingxuan was slightly taken aback, then whispered, “Thank you, Sister Li Xiue.” Her tone was light, but it lacked the usual aloofness.

In the afternoon, Xu Changkun went to Jishitang Pharmacy. As was her custom, Li Xiue moved the laundry to the well to wash.

Wang Qingxuan meditated in her room for a while, but she was constantly unsettled by the faint sound of water from the courtyard—not because she found it noisy, but because... seeing Li Xiue busy while she sat idle in her room made her feel somewhat uneasy.

She hesitated for a moment before finally walking out.

Seeing Li Xiue squatting by the well, her bangs damp with sweat as she vigorously scrubbed one of Xu Changkun's outer robes, Wang Qingxuan pursed her lips and walked over.

“Sister Li Xiue,” she said softly, “I... let me help you.”

Li Xiue looked up in surprise. “How can that be? Sister, you are a scholar and a cultivator; how can you do such menial work?”

“It's fine.” Wang Qingxuan rolled up her sleeves, revealing her fair wrists. “Since we are family, there's no reason for me to just watch. Although I'm not very good at it, you can teach me, Sister.”

Her tone was sincere, and her eyes were clear. Li Xiue looked at her for a moment, a genuine smile appearing on her face. “Then... help me draw water, Sister. The fabric of this robe is thick and needs to be rinsed several times.”

Wang Qingxuan nodded and picked up the wooden bucket. She had never done menial work, so her movements were a bit clumsy. The bucket bumped against the edge of the well a few times, and some water spilled, but she persisted, drawing it up bucket by bucket.

Sunlight spilled over the two of them, the well water was cool, and they occasionally exchanged a few soft words. Although they didn't say much, that sense of estrangement quietly faded during their shared labor.

When Xu Changkun returned, this was the scene he saw: Li Xiue was scrubbing, and Wang Qingxuan was helping to wring out the clothes beside her. Although there weren't many words, the atmosphere was unexpectedly harmonious. Xiao Juan was squatting nearby playing with water, giggling.

A hint of a smile flashed in his eyes. He didn't disturb them, watching quietly for a while before walking into the courtyard.

“Husband, you're back?” Li Xiue was the first to see him and stood up with a smile.

Wang Qingxuan also looked up, her cheeks flushed with a faint red from the labor, and fine sweat beads on her forehead. Upon seeing Xu Changkun, her eyes brightened, but she then lowered them somewhat shyly.

Xu Changkun walked to her side and naturally used his sleeve to wipe the sweat from her forehead. “Why are you doing this? Be careful with your hands.”

This intimate and natural action made Wang Qingxuan's ears burn slightly, but a trace of sweetness welled up in her heart. “It's no trouble, just helping Sister Li Xiue,” she said softly, her tone no longer containing the initial awkwardness.

Xu Changkun nodded and said to Li Xiue, “There's a lot to do at home; we really should add a couple of servant women. I'll have someone look for reliable ones tomorrow.”

Li Xiue smiled. “That would be great. Then I'll have more time to give Sister Lin Fenglan a hand; she's getting heavier with child.”

“Mhm.” Xu Changkun looked at Wang Qingxuan. “Qingxuan, come with me to the study. I have something to discuss with you.”

In the study, Xu Changkun pushed a stack of account books in front of Wang Qingxuan.

“These are the accounts and personnel registers for Zuihong House. Take a look first.”

Wang Qingxuan was startled. “Husband, this is?”

“Zuihong House is now my property. I'm too lazy to manage it personally. Although the original manager is reliable, he is still an outsider after all.” Xu Changkun looked at her. “You are literate and meticulous. From now on, you will be responsible for auditing the accounts and scheduling personnel for Zuihong House. Just check the business status every month and report to me immediately if there's anything unusual; the specific operations will still be handled by the manager.”

He paused and said in a gentle tone, “This can also be considered giving you something proper to do, so you aren't trapped in the inner residence all day. Are you willing?”

Wang Qingxuan opened the account book, and a glow gradually lit up her eyes. This was not just trust; it was treating her as one of his "own" who could share the workload. The trace of arrogance in her heart from her background and cultivation transformed at this moment into the joy of being valued and a sense of responsibility.

“Qingxuan will certainly do her best and live up to Husband's trust,” she responded solemnly.

Wang Qingxuan leaned over the table checking the accounts, her expression focused.

Xu Changkun looked at her serious appearance with satisfaction. He walked up behind her, gently encircling her slender waist and resting his chin on her shoulder.

Wang Qingxuan's body stiffened slightly before relaxing, but her ears quietly turned red. “Husband...”

“Rest a bit if you're tired,” Xu Changkun whispered in her ear. “There's no rush.”

Wang Qingxuan gave a soft “Mhm,” her heart full of sweetness.