All the members are good people, only the host is a pervert

The teacup in Xu Jinshu's hand fell to the ground with a "bang", and broken porcelain pieces flew everywhere.

He widened his eyes and looked at Lin Ruan, who was smiling in front of him, in disbelief.

I saw Lin Ruan leaning on the bed, with her slender fingers casually resting on her body.

The sunlight filtered through the window lattice, casting mottled shadows on her face, making her smiling eyes seem even more unfathomable.

"Don't you think so, Madam Crown Prince?" Lin Ruan spoke word by word, her voice soft but filled with unquestionable majesty.

A layer of cold sweat instantly broke out on Xu Jinshu's back.

He subconsciously clenched his sleeves, his knuckles turning white.

No matter how stupid Xu Jinshu was, he knew that he couldn't admit it. His eyes turned red and he was about to kneel down and plead his innocence, but Lin Ruan raised her hand to stop him.

"My grandfather is old, my mother is a spendthrift, and my father is not good at managing the family business."

Lin Ruan spoke slowly, but her eyes pierced Xu Jinshu like a sharp knife, "As the wife of the emperor, you should seize this opportunity."

Xu Jinshu was shocked.

He raised his eyes cautiously and asked tentatively, "My Lady, do you mean... to let the servant take over the stewardship?"

Lin Ruan raised the corners of her lips slightly and nodded: "Yes, I know you are capable."

"Then rely on your ability to support the interior of the Duke's Mansion."

"My Lady, can you trust your servant?" Xu Jinshu's voice trembled slightly.

Lin Ruan suddenly smiled, and that smile reminded Xu Jinshu of the peonies blooming in spring.

She waved her hand, and Xu Jinshu did not dare to hesitate. He walked forward obediently and sat on the footstool.

Lin Ruan's fingers were as cold as jade. She gently held his neck with a little force.

"What can you do?" she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper.

She didn't look down on Xu Jinshu, she was just telling the truth.

Then she let go of his hand, Lin Ruan's smile remained unchanged, and her tone was light and airy: "If you have other thoughts, I don't mind letting my heart disease take away another person by my side."

These words were like a bucket of cold water poured on Xu Jinshu's head.

He immediately thought of the courtesan of the Qing prince, the beauty who had died suddenly and inexplicably, whom he had mentioned to Lin Ruan.

"My lady, please be wise!" Xu Jinshu immediately changed from sitting to kneeling, and knocked his forehead heavily on the rosewood footrest.

He pointed to the heavens and swore, his voice trembling with fear: "This servant will diligently manage the Duke's Mansion and will not dare to have any disloyalty towards you or the Duke's Mansion! Otherwise, I will be struck by lightning and will never be able to escape rebirth!"

Lin Ruan reached out and patted his head, her movements gentle as if caressing a pet. "Look at you, what kind of curse are you swearing? It's so unlucky."

She leaned over and whispered in Xu Jinshu's ear, "Of course I believe you."

Xu Jinshu's face was pale and cold sweat had soaked his inner clothes.

He forced a smile and said, "I know my wife trusts her servants, but I still want to show my loyalty."

Lin Ruan nodded with satisfaction: "Get up, if you perform well during this period, this lady will naturally reward you."

"Thank you, my wife." Xu Jinshu kowtowed again and then stood up tremblingly.

His knees gave way and he could barely stand.

In the following days, Xu Jinshu was extremely diligent - he got up before dawn every day, personally checked the accounts, counted the warehouses, and rectified the rules in the mansion.

Those servants who had been cunning and dishonest in the past were either sold out or severely punished.

Within half a month, the Duke's Mansion was completely renewed.

"Madam, this is the account for last month." The steward handed over the account book respectfully, not daring to be negligent in the slightest.

He had witnessed with his own eyes how the princess dealt with a servant who had stolen from the storeroom - the man's screams echoed in the woodshed all night long.

Xu Jinshu took the account book, but his brows furrowed more and more.

There is very little silver left in the Duke's Mansion's accounts.

He searched the warehouse thoroughly, and apart from some family heirlooms that could not be sold, there were only a few boxes of gold and silver ornaments that were still valuable.

"It's true that a young woman can't cook without rice..." Xu Jinshu smiled bitterly and shook his head. After much hesitation, he decided to go to Lin Ruan for instructions.

In the study, Lin Ruan was reading a travelogue of the Daqian Dynasty. Seeing Xu Jinshu come in, she put down her brush, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "What's up?"

Xu Jinshu bowed respectfully and explained the account details one by one. After listening, Lin Ruan tapped the table thoughtfully.

"You decide how to sell those," she finally said. "I have more important things to do right now."

Xu Jinshu looked up in surprise: "My wife, why don't you ask which box it is?"

Lin Ruan chuckled: "I'm at ease with you doing the work."

She stood up, walked to the window and looked towards the palace.

Besides, it can only last for a few days.

Something must be happening to the emperor.

Xu Jinshu's heart skipped a beat. He didn't dare ask any more questions and quickly excused himself. As he left the study, he realized his palms were covered in cold sweat.

The day of the palace examination was getting closer, but suddenly a shocking news came from the capital - the emperor suddenly fainted while favoring a noble maid. The imperial physician diagnosed it as a stroke and he has been in a coma ever since.

"I heard that the princess beat that noble servant to death on the spot..." Zhezhi whispered to Lin Ruan, "and that family also suffered..."

Lin Ruan stood in the corridor, listening to these rumors, with a faint smile on the corner of his mouth.

The nanorobots did not disappoint her.

When she entered the palace that day, she simply took the opportunity of paying her respects to quietly release a nanorobot and let it quietly crawl into the emperor's teacup.

This time, "heart disease" was not used to kill people.

The murder method is too simple and will sooner or later arouse suspicion.

She turned back to her study and began to concentrate on preparing for the palace examination.

The news that the princess will temporarily take over the emperor's place to preside over the palace examination has spread, which is actually a better opportunity for her.

On the day of the palace examination, the Hall of Supreme Harmony was filled with solemnity and dignification. The princess sat upright beside the dragon throne, her face haggard but her spirits strong.

Lin Ruan followed the other candidates into the hall, looking straight ahead with a calm demeanor.

When the test questions were handed out, Lin Ruan picked up his pen, dipped it in ink, and his thoughts flowed like a spring.

She wrote down her insights on statecraft, border defense, people's livelihoods, and the economy, each word a pearl of wisdom. Two hours later, she checked her answers with satisfaction and was the first to hand them in.

On the day the results were announced, there was a roar of gongs and drums.

Lin Ruan was still in the palace and had not come out yet. The official who brought the good news kept shouting "Congratulations to Miss Lin for winning the first place in the imperial examination", attracting the attention of passers-by.

The gate of the Duke's Mansion was suddenly crowded with people who came to watch the fun.

"Number one scholar! The princess has won the first place in the imperial examination!" The housekeeper stumbled into the inner courtyard to announce the good news.

In the main hall, the Duke spit out the imported tea he had just drunk;

The string of the Buddhist beads in the old lady's hand snapped and the beads rolled all over the floor.

The Duke's wife rolled her eyes and fainted.