"That's just too audacious!"
Shang Yunru almost shouted but quickly covered her mouth.
After the shock, she admitted that it was indeed possible. Just thinking that someone might sneak into the room at night sent a chill down her spine. She was afraid she wouldn't even dare to sleep.
"Moreover, I can help you check the accounts," Chu Yan's voice pulled her out of the shiver.
She asked, "You know how to check accounts?"
Chu Yan replied, "You can teach me how to do it."
In the pitch - black accounting room, both of them deliberately lowered their voices. They were so close that it seemed like they were whispering sweet nothings to each other. It was overly ambiguous.
Realizing the ambiguity, Shang Yunru coughed lightly and distanced herself from him. Then she nodded in agreement. "You're right. I'll leave the account books with you. Your servant is so skilled in martial arts. I feel quite at ease."
Chu Yan muttered discontentedly, "So it's actually Yin Shan you trust."
Before Shang Yunru could explain anything, he stuffed the account book she needed into her hand and put the rest of the things back in place.
Then he took her wrist and they shuttled through the darkness. Slowly, they walked to the door and knocked. The lock was opened soon after.
Shang Yunru's wrist had been held by Chu Yan all the time. Even when she felt the coolness outside, he still didn't let go. For a moment, she wondered if they had really left the accounting room.
It wasn't until Chu Yao came and said, "Thank you, Second Master, for taking care of our young lady. Let me do it."
Only then did he slowly let go of her wrist.
Then he directly took the account book from Shang Yunru's arms, turned around and left. "With Yin Shan around, don't worry."
Shang Yunru took a few steps supported by Chu Yao. Then she turned around and said in the direction he left, "I feel at ease with you around too."
Chu Yan heard her words. He didn't turn back or respond, but the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
---
The next morning at Chenshi, Shang Yunru led a large group of maids and servants to Zhuoxi Courtyard in a grand manner.
They opened the back door, which was closer to Zhuoxi Courtyard. There was a carriage parked there. Chu Yao ordered the servants and maids to unload the things from the carriage and carry them into the courtyard.
Soon, tables, chairs and other furniture of all sizes were carried in and carefully placed under the corridor and in the courtyard.
Chu Yan came out from the inner room. Looking at the tables, chairs and beds filling the room, he found Shang Yunru sitting upright in the main hall.
Before he could say anything, Shang Yunru had already seen his figure through the thin gauze and said, "I'm replacing your furniture. Yours are too old."
Chu Yan walked up to her and asked curiously, "Did the mansion really allocate silver for me to replace the furniture?"
Shang Yunru replied, "Naturally not. I bought these with my private savings."
Chu Yan was stunned for a moment. He looked around at the high - quality golden nanmu furniture and asked, "Private savings? These can't be cheap, right?"
Shang Yunru said, "It's not much. I have a generous dowry. I said I'd tidy up this place for you."
Chu Yan pursed his lips. His eyes changed several times. He seemed to have a lot to say, but finally he only said, "I thought when you said you'd tidy up this place for me, you meant helping me find servants to clean. I didn't expect you to use your dowry. I... I don't have the money to pay you back."
She smiled softly. "When did I say you had to pay me back? You helped me last night and will help me check the accounts in the future. I'm just returning your kindness. Don't feel burdened."
Chu Yan also smiled. "Okay. Then I'll definitely help sister - in - law check the accounts well."
Shang Yunru said, "A Yan, your voice sounds so nice when you smile while talking. I guess you must look really good when you smile. You should smile more from now on, okay?"
Smile more and be more sunny, so as not to turn into a dark - hearted person in the future.
Chu Yan replied with a smile in his voice, "Okay. I'll smile for you every day when sister - in - law's eyes get better."
Shang Yunru was stunned. She always felt that there was something odd about his words. Before she could figure it out, Chu Yao rushed over in a hurry and said, "Miss, there's a commotion in the mansion. Aunt from the next courtyard is searching the whole mansion for the account books!"
Shang Yunru was slightly stunned, then calmly said, "It's faster than I expected. Aunt really keeps a tight rein on the accounting room."
Saying that, she stood up and was ready to meet Aunt and start this first battle.
Chu Yan followed her and stood in front of her. There was a faint look of worry in his eyes. "I'll go with you."
Shang Yunru was eager to go back and fight this battle. She casually said, "What can you do? They won't be afraid of you. I can handle it myself."
After saying that, she bypassed him and left supported by Chu Yao.
Watching her figure disappear at the door, Yin Shan quietly appeared beside him and asked, "Shall I follow or protect?"
Chu Yan lowered his eyes, gathering the emotions in them. He seemed to be murmuring, "Yin Shan, I want power."
Yin Shan looked at him puzzledly, then leaped lightly, leaving a few words, "I'll follow then."
Chu Yan said in a low voice, "Protect her well."
Yin Shan's voice came from among the rustling leaves. "Why do you want me to protect her again?"
Chu Yan's eyes were deep, but his tone was light. "Let her deal with the old hag from the next courtyard for us. Don't let us be defeated without a fight."
---
Shang Yunru arrived at her own Muchen Pavilion in a sedan chair. Chu Yao reported in a low voice, "There are as many maids and servants here as the ones we took to Zhuoxi Courtyard."
Sure enough, the so - called search of the whole mansion was just a pretext. She just wanted to search her place.
Following Chu Yao's loud announcement, "The Mistress is here!", everyone looked over.
Shang Yunru didn't rush to get off the sedan chair. She sat upright for a while. Only after hearing Aunt's voice in the crowd did she reach out her hand and slowly get off the sedan chair, putting on a grand air.
Aunt He no longer looked as kind as usual. Her face was solemn and serious. "Yunru, the account books of the mansion are missing. We're searching the whole mansion now. We've checked everywhere except your courtyard."
Shang Yunru said unhurriedly, "Aunt, are you suspecting me?"
He said, "I'm not suspecting you. I just want to give you a chance to prove your innocence, so that you won't be gossiped about when you first came to the mansion."
She sounded so sincere. If one didn't know what kind of person she was, they might have believed her.
Shang Yunru said, "Then let me ask you, Aunt. As the mistress of the mansion and soon to take over the management power, can't I look at the account books?"
He replied, "Of course you can. But the seal is not in your hands yet. The accounting room has its own rules. If everyone can withdraw silver and check the account books, it will be in a complete mess."
Shang Yunru said, "If we only recognize the seal and not the person, it actually has its drawbacks. What do you think, Aunt?"
He said, "It surely does. You're not going to change the rules of the mansion just because you're a new bride, are you? There's no point in discussing this now. Let's search your courtyard first. Proving your innocence is the most important thing."
Shang Yunru straightened her back and looked proud. "There's no need to search. I'm the one who took the account books. As the mistress of the Marquis Mansion, I'm responsible for managing the internal affairs. Even if the seal is not in my hands, who dares to stop me from inquiring about the accounts of the mansion!"
He's voice rose several tones. Her kind mask finally broke. "Mistress, you're wrong. You're not qualified to manage these things before the management power is handed over to you. Didn't the Prime Minister teach you that?"
When it came to her father's family education, Shang Yunru pulled a straight face and said firmly, "I also want to ask you, Aunt. Grandmother asked you to hand over the management power to me. Why have you been delaying it?"
Just as the two of them were on the verge of a fierce confrontation, outside the crowd, a servant loudly announced, "The Marquis is here!"
Everyone automatically made way. Chu Jinli, wearing a jade - faced golden crown, walked over gracefully. Behind him was Chu Yan, with his slender figure and peerless beauty hidden beneath his frail appearance.