Quick Transmigration: Leisure

At the end of March in the thirty-fifth year of Xi Jia's reign, at the Xia residence.

The front yard was bustling with noise, but the Jilan Courtyard deep inside the inner residence was quiet.

This is a large, independent courtyard, comparable in size to a main courtyard, with a unique garden view. It was planned by Xia Youmi's mother, Luo Ling, for her daughter before they moved in.

At that time, Xia Ji's father had just begun to enjoy good fortune, and in order to keep a low profile, he purchased this rather large mansion as a gift to his family in the name of his wife's family's prosperity.

Xia Ji's official position was gradually promoted after his loyalty was confirmed.

All these years, the deed to the mansion still bears Luo Ling's name.

Aside from this residence and the fourth-rank official position, the royal rewards were mostly fruits and pastries from the imperial estates, or fabrics and jewelry.

Supplying on time and in excess.

There was no cash, land, or adequate manpower.

Therefore, when faced with an excessive amount of survival supplies, Xia Ji would usually take home the elderly, weak, women and children of his comrades to provide for their food and clothing.

In return, I'll help tidy up the yard and find something to do.

There were also schools nearby run by the government for commoners, which could be attended by paying tuition.

If you want to go, ask the housekeeper to make arrangements. He will help you get an advance on some money, which you can use to make up for it by doing chores in your spare time.

Everyone knows Xia Ji's temperament; he doesn't like to meddle and is very easy to talk to.

Therefore, most of the people living in the mansion were self-disciplined. At first, when Rao Yuan brought his son Yuan Jiechuan to seek refuge with them, they were also obedient and well-behaved.

I am grateful that there is still a kind person in the world who helped her regardless of her background.

One of them helped out in the accounting office, while the other received his early education at the school.

Because she had studied the subject and was quick-witted, Rao Ai performed the most important and tedious task of inventorying and recording the imperial gifts very well. She even gained the appreciation of the steward, and being a woman made it easier for her to go to the inner courtyard.

Rao Ai often delivered the account books to the main courtyard for Luo Ling to review, and occasionally the mistress would also stay in the young lady's Jilan Courtyard. After they became familiar with each other, Rao Ai was also able to have a cup of tea in the Jilan Courtyard, and over time she also left an impression on Xia Ji.

After all, in his eyes, a rough and uncultured man, anyone who could write and calculate was a very capable person.

Therefore, after her parents and Luo Ling passed away, all the household affairs, big and small, were naturally handed over to Rao Ai.

The old butler passed away after handing over all the details of the household affairs to Rao Ai.

At this point, with the young lady still young, Rao Ai became the de facto mistress of the house.

Not only could she support her young maids, but her son Jie Chuan's status also rose accordingly. Some quick-witted men fawned over her, and others whispered that she was the master's chosen second wife.

Although she was a little embarrassed, Rao Ai quickly accepted the setting.

After the mourning period at her home ended, she waited for Xia Ji to formally marry her.

Although Xia Ji did not have this idea at first, he believed that he deeply loved his deceased wife.

But faced with Rao Ai's unusual attitude and the rumors circulating in the mansion.

He presented an impeccable reason: his daughter was young and needed her mother. While he was away fighting, he needed a trustworthy person to support the family, and Rao Ai was the best candidate.

In Xia Ji's eyes, marrying a widow who is rarely home will prevent him from delaying a new bride.

He told Rao Ai's son about his idea and discussed the marriage with him in detail.

Although Yuan Jiechuan was young, he was very insightful.

This is not the outcome her mother wanted; in the end, it would have been better if she hadn't married at all.

Therefore, he concealed part of the truth and tried his best to dissuade Rao Ai from remarrying. However, he didn't want to hurt his mother, knowing that it was just an exchange of interests behind the scenes, and that Xia Ji was only doing it for convenience. He also wanted his mother to face reality, but that was impossible.

In the end, it only caused a rift between mother and son.

One thought that something was going to hinder their happiness.

One who hesitates and looks back cannot understand the facts.

Yuan Jiechuan didn't want to deal with those trivial matters anymore and focused on her studies. She even moved to the front yard communal housing and lived with the young boys who were being taken in.

Xia Ji often had to meet with people to discuss business, so he had a bedroom next to his study.

After Luo Ling passed away, he was unwilling or had no time to return to the main courtyard to rest.

Out of embarrassment and discomfort, Rao Ai did not suggest moving into the main courtyard. Instead, she renovated the area outside the study, creating a new courtyard in the front yard where she moved in.

It's convenient for checking accounts or arranging receptions.

So what if outsiders gossip? His female relatives already rarely visited each other, and after Rao Yuan took over, they visited even less.

In this way, the boundary between the front yard and the inner courtyard is defined by only one person.

Xia Youmi has everything in Jilan Courtyard, and doesn't even have a close friend.

When the stepmother was planning the strategy of praising her to death, she kept sending people over, but they were just playing around with her.

Now that the clan is on the verge of extinction, the servants, each holding a handle against Rao Yuan, are trying to leave Jilan Courtyard.

Didn't you see that the loyal guards were beaten half to death and imprisoned?

Didn't you see that your personal maid is covered in injuries?

Didn't you see that when Miss returned after going out for one night, the courtyard was surrounded by soldiers with cold and austere expressions?

They didn't know what serious matter had occurred, but they sensed danger. Rao Yuan was also flexible and adaptable; during the two days Xia Youmi was bedridden, she removed all the "unnecessary" personnel.

When the tide recedes, usually only the master and his servant remain.

They were afraid others wouldn't notice the trickery involved.

Xia Youmi didn't know what to say, but there was no reason to let Nianzhen and Nianzhu continue to work so hard.

She stretched her body, washed up, and ate the breakfast that the kitchen had sent.

After the two maids had finished eating, they prepared to go and ask for a few more people.

......

Front yard, study.

"Master, the most important thing right now is to persuade Miss. As long as she enters the Fourth Prince's harem safely, with her looks and character, she'll be fine once she wins his favor," a middle-aged man earnestly advised.

These days, Xia Ji's hair is falling out in clumps.

He didn't know what to do, so the fourth prince just brought the man back, assigned people to guard him in shifts, and then left him alone.

Xia Ji racked his brains but couldn't figure out the other party's intentions. In reality, Chunyu Huai didn't take it to heart at all.

Regardless, I simply have more important things to do at hand.

Once he has some free time, if you don't do things to his liking, you'll be punished. Xia Ji was extremely uneasy, which is why he reacted so strongly.

At this moment, anyone willing to offer him advice is betting that the Fourth Prince won't be angry and that it's just a false alarm.

But what he said was not pleasant to hear. Xia Ji frowned deeply after hearing the middle-aged man's words.

"Persuade? How can we persuade her! Haven't we written about that girl's situation countless times in our letters?"

"Master!" The middle-aged man lowered his voice. "Master, seeing is believing. The letter says that Miss is stubborn and disobedient, but that is only Madam's side of the story. How many times have you spoken with Miss? You only met her at the dinner table, so it doesn't count."

"Sigh!" Xia Ji rubbed his head in frustration, wanting to explain that it wasn't Rao Yuan who said his daughter was bad.

But the facts are clear: the guards have all confessed that she had been openly and secretly instructing them to be attentive to her daughter.

If you're willing, you should establish strict separation between men and women early on.

Xia Ji's daughter would not defy the imperial decree and elope.

She didn't want to admit that her negligence had caused this result, but the most important thing right now was to appease the fourth prince.

If he doesn't take it over.

The other princes would avoid their family like the plague.

In that case, the family will be ruined in his hands!