After Marrying The Paranoid God of War (Rebirth) - Chapter 24.2

Ruan An spent several hours with the child in the morning.

Huo Xi was neatly dressed, his dark eyes still bright and clear when looking at her.

When Steward Su took Huo Xi back to the Tongjian Garden, he informed her, “Master Huo has arranged four maids, two maidservants, and two young tutors for Young Master. There will be a total of eight attendants rotating to take care of him. Madam, please rest assured.”

Huo Lang also ordered a separate courtyard for the child, equipped with a bedroom, study, and bathing area.

Knowing the child was still young, Steward Su specially informed Huo Lang that Young Master’s meals should be prepared separately. Some foods suitable for adults might not agree with the child, so a separate kitchen should be arranged for him.

Huo Lang agreed to this arrangement and had Madam Gao provide a few cooks.

Steward Su also informed Ruan An in advance of the morning conversation between the Huo family father and son.

Hearing that Huo Xi could return to her side for several days every ten days, Ruan An’s anxious heart finally settled.

Everything was so much better than her previous life.

When she first entered the Eastern Palace, Li Shuying had ordered Huo Xi’s private confinement. At that time, for the safety of the child, Ruan An didn’t immediately confront her.

At the beginning, Li Shuying didn’t know Ruan An’s true appearance. Before the favored beautiful concubine entered the Eastern Palace, she hadn’t instructed her to prepare any harmful medicine. 

So, like all the palace maids in the Forbidden City, Ruan An could only take breaks on special occasions like the early winter and Hanshi festivals.

While other palace maids could meet their parents or children on these days, she couldn’t. 

Now, with Huo Xi receiving excellent care and guidance from someone as outstanding as Huo Lang, she could frequently see him, bringing satisfaction and even joy to Ruan An’s heart.

In reality, this arrangement gave her more time to focus on her own affairs. 

Marrying into the Huo family as a cousin, she still struggled to adapt to the mansion’s life. 

Every day, she tried to interact with Huo Pingxiao, pretending to be natural and not revealing the admiration she harbored for him.

***

As the rooster crowed, Huo Pingxiao returned to the mansion earlier than usual from the military camp on the outskirts. Spring was at its peak, moving closer to summer, and the sky was gradually darkening. 

Wanting to return home earlier today, he rode his powerful steed, Jinwu, to the military camp. The west side gate of the mansion was closer to the stables, often used by servants and stable boys to move between the inside and outside of the mansion.

However, ordinary stable boys struggled to tame Jinwu, a spirited horse that had previously kicked five stable boys and three servants on the road. So, when Huo Pingxiao wanted to ride Jinwu outside, he would personally lead it in through the west side gate upon his return.

During dinner, Ruan An learned that the meals she had been eating these days were specially ordered by Huo Pingxiao from an outside restaurant. 

As they were soon moving to a new residence, there was no need to set up a temporary kitchen in the current courtyard.

Ruan An listened to Bai Wei’s account, learning that the dishes prepared by the public kitchen in the Huo mansion were not particularly delicious. 

However, Concubine Zhang and Concubine Jiang’s courtyards didn’t have separate kitchens, so their servants had to fetch meals from the public kitchen during mealtimes.

A few years ago, Huo Changjue, the second son of the Huo family, was preparing for the imperial examination, enduring rigorous studies. Madam Gao requested Huo Lang to allocate a separate courtyard for him. As Huo Changjue’s birth mother, she naturally arranged a small kitchen in her son’s courtyard. Consequently, Huo Changjue didn’t partake in the communal meals.

Once Huo Leshi turned sixteen, he moved to the Wangzhu Pavilion within the Huo mansion. Being a legitimate son and subject to mistreatment by Madam Gao, he still had to rely on the public kitchen.

Madam Gao, who valued her meals greatly, disliked the dishes from the public kitchen and even found fault with the cooks in her private kitchen. She often sent servants to various taverns and food stalls outside the mansion to bring back fresh delicacies.

Bai Wei finished recounting these trivial matters in the mansion to Ruan An and added, “Madam, the Marquis truly cares for you. He’s afraid you won’t adapt to the mansion’s cuisine, so he specifically sent servants outside to purchase all these. Just for this table of dishes, it cost one hundred taels of silver.”

Speaking, Bai Wei pointed to a dish on the table and introduced it to Ruan An, “This dish, Flat Chisel Fish Roe, is a delicacy that even wealthy officials may find hard to afford. Madam is truly fortunate.”

Bai Wei continued to explain the preparation method to Ruan An. The shape of this Flat Chisel Fish Roe resembled golden chestnuts, made by mashing fresh fish roe into a paste, coating it with flour, and then deep-frying it. The high cost was attributed to the fact that several dozen fresh fish were needed to make just this one dish.

One hundred taels of silver?!!

Overwhelmed by surprise, Ruan An couldn’t help but widen her eyes. Silently counting the dishes on the Eight Immortals Table, despite their delicacy, including the two cold dishes, there were only ten dishes in total.

On average, this one dish would cost ten taels of silver.

The lunch she and Huo Xi enjoyed on that table was as sumptuous as dinner, and it likely cost one hundred taels of silver as well.

Perhaps because of their first encounter, where Huo Pingxiao accidentally knocked off the child’s cherry pie, the servant specially prepared this dessert for lunch, and Huo Xi enjoyed it very much. Ruan An even reminded him not to overindulge.

Ruan An knew that Huo Pingxiao came from a prestigious family, and as a titled noble himself, their expenses in terms of food and clothing would naturally be more luxurious than those of commoners.

However, she didn’t expect that after marrying him, the cost of a single bite of food would be enough for her to eat well in Jiazhou for several days, and those days in Jiazhou would still include fish and meat.

After the man took a seat at the eight-immortal table, he noticed his young wife sitting across from him, her long eyelashes slightly drooping. Her bright, apricot-shaped eyes were intently fixed on the dishes, yet her delicate, fair hands did not reach for the chopsticks.

He asked in puzzlement, “Why aren’t you eating? Are you waiting for me?”

Ruan An withdrew her gaze from the dishes, her tone gentle and helpless, replied, “During our time in the mansion, let’s just rely on the household for meals. Don’t let people buy from outside… It’s too costly…”

“Just eat,” Huo Pingxiao said casually, then suddenly leaned towards her. He grasped her slender, fair hand that was resting beside the chopstick pillow, and leisurely asked, “Are you afraid you’ll spend all your husband’s wealth?”

Ru’an instinctively nodded. Spending a hundred silver taels on a single meal seemed excessive, even for the wealthy.

However, as a wife, she shouldn’t doubt his capabilities in front of Huo Pingxiao. Quickly, Ruan An shook her head.

Before she could respond, Huo Pingxiao lazily added, “I’m not to the point of being unable to support someone like you.”

Her small hand remained in the man’s grip, but she gradually sensed that something was off.

This morning, Huo Pingxiao even pinched her waist, claiming she was too thin and should remember to eat more.

Was he planning to feed her so much every day to make her gain weight?

Huo Pingxiao glanced up, silently observing Ru’an’s fair face. With his rough thumb, he possessively stroked the faint purple marks on her wrist, slowly and deliberately.

—”If I don’t fatten you up, can you handle me?”

After hearing these words, Ruan An slightly pursed her lips, feeling both embarrassed and somewhat annoyed.

He indeed harbored such intentions!

This man was still as calculating as before. On the morning after their wedding, she also saw Bai Wei and Fu Ling cleaning the ashes in the incense burner.

Ruan An even specifically asked about it, and as she guessed, the cinnabar incense in there was specially lit by the maidservant at Huo Pingxiao’s instruction before he performed the ceremonial ritual with her.

This shows that he must still remember that day when she said he was only good for the duration of one or two incense sticks.

Huo Pingxiao remained the same as before—holding grudges and seeking revenge!

With these thoughts in mind, Ruan An’s gentle expression showed a hint of displeasure, appearing to Huo Pingxiao like an irritated rabbit. 

Yet, unlike a rabbit capable of biting, Ruan An refrained from such behavior.

Seeing his young wife upset, the man casually shifted his gaze, steering the conversation toward Huo Xi’s affairs: “Did Steward Su inform you about Huo Xi’s matters? I believe my father…”

Before he could finish speaking, a servant’s announcement came from outside the hall: “Lord Marquis, Madam, someone from the main residence has arrived. Madam seems to be looking for you and requests your prompt visit to the laundry yard.”

The laundry yard was where the servants of the mansion washed clothes. Upon hearing this, Ruan An pondered.

Huo Pingxiao’s stern countenance revealed a touch of dissatisfaction.

The man’s sharp eyebrows tempered some of the hostility as he coldly ordered, “Tell the person from the main residence to go back. Say that the Marquis has returned, and the Madam is accompanying the Marquis, too busy to visit the laundry yard for any trivial matters.”

Earlier in the morning, Ruan An adhered to the tradition of paying respects to Madam Gao’s courtyard as a junior. Since she was still in the residence, she felt obliged to follow these customs.

Huo Pingxiao, however, treated Madam Gao with a lack of respect, but given the man’s influence in Li Kingdom, outsiders had no authority to criticize his actions.

In Ruan An’s view, Madam Gao harbored some dissatisfaction toward Huo Pingxiao, her stepson. 

In handling Madam Gao, Ruan An decided to show more deference to avoid unnecessary conflicts. Although these actions might not necessarily earn Madam Gao’s favor, they would at least reduce gossip about Huo Pingxiao.

This was one of the few things she could do for Huo Pingxiao and Huo Xi. 

Also, this morning, Madam Gao mentioned that Ruan An came from Shu and lacked experience in managing a large estate. If she were to establish her household in the future, it would be challenging to handle it independently.

Madam Gao spoke eloquently, promising to teach Ruan An some household matters during her stay at the mansion, preventing her from being mocked by other noble ladies in the future.

Although Ruan An understood medicine, she lacked knowledge of household affairs and had only learned some etiquette in the Duke of Pei’s mansion. Concubine Fang’s birth mother was a maid in the mansion, and after marrying into the He family, she mostly stayed in her own courtyard. 

Moreover, her future sister-in-law, He Xinruo, who had not yet entered the household, had a strong personality. Therefore, Concubine Fang was not well-versed in household matters and couldn’t intervene much in the mansion’s affairs.

Since Madam Gao wanted to teach her, Ruan An sincerely wished to learn.

With these thoughts in mind, Ruan An spoke softly to the man in front of her, “Husband, mother-in-law said she would teach me household affairs this morning. By the time you came back, it was already past her dinner time, and she probably didn’t know you were here. I’m not hungry, so you can have dinner yourself. I’ll go to the laundry yard first to avoid delaying mother-in-law’s time.”

Huo Pingxiao gazed at her expressionlessly, saying nothing.

Thinking that he tacitly approved, Ruan An tidied up her clothes and hair, then left the courtyard with Fu Ling and Ze Lan.

When they reached the laundry yard, the entire mansion was already enveloped in the dark night.

Madam Gao and Concubine Zhang, accompanied by maids, stood outside the arched gate of the laundry yard.

Seeing Ruan An coming from afar, she walked slowly in their direction, taking small steps, her arms supported by maids, appearing somewhat unsteady.

Madam Gao’s expression turned slightly awkward. She turned to Concubine Zhang and said, “This person, once someone supports her, even if she has a gentle temperament and is easy to bully, will act with some arrogance.”

Concubine Zhang agreed with her former mistress, nodding, “Yes, Madam. You kindly offered to teach her household affairs, but she deliberately kept us waiting. In any case, she and Lord Huo are also your juniors. If the young lady from the Fang family had any understanding, she should have arrived earlier. She shouldn’t have kept Madam waiting for so long.”

Madam Gao did not notice that when Concubine Zhang said this, her expression seemed somewhat absent-minded.

Ruan An finally arrived in front of Madam Gao and Concubine Zhang. Although the maids on both sides held bright night lamps, she still couldn’t see clearly in the night, only vaguely discerning the two blurry figures in front of her.

She respectfully saluted Madam Gao and apologized, “Mother, I am late, and I have kept you waiting.”

Under the cover of the night, Madam Gao scrutinized Ruan An.

Due to the recent brisk walk, Ruan An’s hair was in disarray, with a few strands of fine black hair lightly swaying by her ears, following the irregular rhythm of her breath.

Today, the cousin of Yama was dressed in a soft yellow inner-colored Ruqun dress, a color that looked good only on fair-skinned individuals.

With a thin layer of sweat on her, she appeared even more delicate and fragrant.

Madam Gao, while appreciating the beauty under the lamp, spoke to Ruan An with a stern tone, “Why are you so late? It’s the first time, and you’re late. Are you planning to retreat now? You made Concubine Zhang and me wait.”

Ruan An, upon hearing this, just blinked her eyelashes.

She knew well that Madam Gao’s words were biased because Madam Gao’s courtyard was closer to the laundry yard on the west side of the mansion compared to Ruan An and Huo Pingxiao’s residence, which was much farther away.

Moreover, her maids were brought from the Duke of Pei’s mansion. The mansion was vast, and they had only recently entered. At this hour, most servants had returned to their quarters, and few were moving outside, making it challenging for them to find their way.

Ruan An initially thought that Madam Gao, having immersed herself in the inner courtyard from a young age, would have a broader perspective and consider the overall situation of the Huo family when teaching her about household affairs.

However, her expectations were somewhat naive.

She didn’t anticipate that Madam Gao, as the successor mother-in-law, would be someone who disregarded the bigger picture and had a shallow understanding.

If it were her in her previous life suddenly entering such an environment, she wouldn’t have been able to discern the intricacies.

Coming from the simple and straightforward village of Xinghua, where people had open hearts and straightforward interactions, she hadn’t encountered complex interpersonal relationships.

However, after arriving at the Eastern Palace, she had witnessed Li Shuying’s methods with the palace maids.

Those methods were equally applicable in the inner courtyard.

Ultimately, Madam Gao and Li Shuying both held positions superior to her and the other palace maids.

But she had Huo Pingxiao as her assertive husband, while Li Shuying had the favor of the crown prince.

In order to better employ suppressive tactics, individuals in positions like Madam Gao and Li Shuying naturally sought to find their vulnerabilities or set traps to exploit their weaknesses.

Madam Gao intended for Ruan An to arrive late, choosing this remote laundry yard with the deliberate intention of having Concubine Zhang accompany her earlier.

In the hazy moonlight, Ruan An couldn’t discern any displeasure on Madam Gao’s face.

However, sensing Madam Gao’s intention to embarrass her, Ruan An anticipated that she might be scrutinized the moment she entered. In that case, she probably wouldn’t learn anything genuine from Madam Gao.

Since she was already here, Ruan An decided to follow them inside. Later, she would discuss this matter with Huo Pingxiao and figure out how to deal with this prospective mother-in-law.

With this in mind, Ruan An calmly replied, “I ask for your forgiveness, Mother-in-law. I’ve just entered the mansion and am not familiar with the surroundings.”

At this moment, Madam Gao signaled to Concubine Zhang.

As a former trusted servant of Madam Gao, Concubine Zhang naturally acted as her henchman and sharp weapon at times like this. Her words represented Madam Gao’s intentions, and she said with an unfriendly tone, “Can the excuse of being unfamiliar with the road cover up your disrespectful attitude towards your birth mother? Madam, your attitude seems a bit too…”

Before she could finish her sentence, Concubine Zhang’s expression suddenly changed upon seeing the tall figure approaching them from the front. 

Confused, Ruan An’s hand was unexpectedly taken. Although she couldn’t see, she recognized the warm and familiar amber scent of a man, and the back of her hand gradually absorbed his known body temperature—it was Huo Pingxiao. 

He had actually followed her.

“She arrived late because she was accompanying me. Any objections, Concubine Zhang?” His voice was cold. 

Concubine Zhang was so startled that she kept shaking her head, not daring to take a breath. 

In her heart, however, there was some confusion. Madam Gao had sent someone to inquire at the main gate earlier, and the guards stationed there reported not seeing Marquis Dingbei return to the mansion.

After hearing Huo Pingxiao’s stern words, Madam Gao was nearly frightened enough to jump. 

Good heavens! The living Yama had returned early, and he came so quickly to support his little cousin!