The Laid-back Life of a Stepmother

Madam Lu felt a bit awkward when her longtime personal maid saw through her thoughts.

Sending her sickly third uncle to worry about planting watermelons was indeed a bit absurd.

Madam Lu glanced at her younger son, who was already on his second piece of watermelon, and after a pause she said, "Set aside the seeds from these two melons. Next year, let Chen Village Head try planting them."

The maidservant, Xi, silently chuckled before responding, "Yes, Madam."

It seemed that the current Madam Lu appeared even livelier than before her marriage.

The watermelon was indeed very sweet, not inferior to those grown in the Duke's manor, and even more juicy and refreshing. While appreciating Wen Ye's thoughtfulness, Madam Lu couldn't help but think that Madam Shen was a great mother.

No wonder she had raised Wen Ye so well.

Wen Ye returned to the west courtyard with several baskets of fruit. The courtyard had a small ice cellar, small but sufficient for her to chill fruits and tea in the summer. It almost felt like having an unlimited supply of ice.

At this hour, Xu Yuxuan was still in class. Wen Ye immediately told Tao Zhi to fetch some ice to make watermelon snow ice. Tao Zhi also asked, "What would Madam like for breakfast?"

Last night there was a rain, and this morning wasn't as stuffy as before. Wen Ye had slept in during the summer, so she hadn't eaten breakfast yet.

After thinking for a moment, Wen Ye said, "I suddenly feel like having some barbeque." Ice drinks and barbeque were the perfect combination.

This time, Wen Ye didn't plan to cook herself. Instead, she had the kitchen prepare the barbeque and bring it to her. Then, she would enjoy pieces of barbeque with sweet and creamy watermelon snow ice.

Blissful.

That’s the life!

After satisfying her cravings, Wen Ye remembered to say, "By the way, when the master returns later, remember to send a bowl over."

Yun Zhi replied, "I've noted it down."

Wen Ye added, "Use the watermelon from Madam Shen. Just a small bowl though, not too much."

Her intention was to let Xu Yuejia taste which watermelon was juicier. A small bowl would suffice. Any more, and she wouldn't have enough for herself. Yun Zhi paused for a moment before responding, "Understood."

Her tone carried a hint of resignation.

Tao Zhi, seizing the opportunity while flipping a page, snuck a smile.

Since breakfast was late, lunch naturally had to be pushed back.

Wen Ye instructed the small kitchen to prepare some cold noodles for lunch. Since she was dining alone, there was no need for formalities. She would pair spicy cold noodles with meat buns. For the fillings, she specified red-braised pork and green peppers minced together.

No soup was needed, as she had her watermelon snow ice.

With the melon, Wen Ye had everything she needed. She continued eating this way for several days.

In the following days, cold noodles and meat buns were replaced with other dishes, such as flower rolls with spicy braised pork, cold shredded chicken, green onion chicken, boneless chicken feet, etc. Wen Ye would have whatever dishes could be prepared with the available ingredients.

Since she was only feeding herself, there was no need to make too much. Generally, Hongxing alone could handle the cooking.

Xu Yuejia had been quite busy recently. Ever since she sent him a bowl of watermelon snow ice, for which he reciprocated with a golden hairpin, she hadn't seen him much.

Madam Lu mentioned that it was a case assigned by the emperor and now it was beginning to take shape.

Wen Ye guessed that Madam Lu likely found out by eavesdropping on Duke Xu. Madam Lu even hinted that if Wen Ye wanted to know more, she could try the same approach.

Wen Ye certainly knew how to do that, but her husband was so caught up in work that he hardly returned home these days. She didn't even have the chance to try.

On this day, Wen Ye was going to have supper with Xu Yuxuan only, but just as she gave the instructions, Xu Yuejia returned. It was rare; the sun hadn't even set yet.

She had to ask Tao Zhi to inform the kitchen again.

"The master is back," Wen Ye said, in a good mood, and even poured him a cup of tea. Xu Yuejia noticed her action, his expression paused for a moment as he looked up, "Is there something you need?"

Wen Ye, holding the teacup, looked a bit confused for a moment: "No." Xu Yuejia then accepted the tea and drank it, lowering his gaze.

Figuring out what Xu Yuejia was implying, Wen Ye's mouth twitched. She suspected Xu Yuejia was doing it on purpose.

Xu Yuxuan then came in carrying a rattan ball, wanting Wen Ye to play with him.

The rattan ball was something Wen Ye had bought at the west market during their last outing with Xu Yuejia. Seeing Xu Yuxuan enjoyed it, she had given it to him.

Wen Ye took the ball, considering that it was still hot outside at this time, she didn’t want to go out.

After staring at the ball for a while, Wen Ye threw the ball towards the west study room, then lowered her head and said to Xu Yuxuan, "Go pick it up quickly."

Xu Yuxuan hadn't played this way before, although he felt something was a bit off, his round eyes couldn't help but light up, and he immediately trotted over to pick up the ball.

After returning, there was no need for Wen Ye to remind him, as Xu Yuxuan automatically handed her the ball. Wen Ye took it and, after a short pause, threw it again. Xu Yuxuan happily ran to pick it up.

During this pause, Wen Ye turned to Xu Yuejia and asked with a tone of negotiation, "Husband, do you really have to wait until next year to add more classes for Xuaner?"

Xu Yuejia replied, "He hasn't learned many characters yet. Adding more lessons now would be counterproductive."

Xu Yuxuan picked up the ball again and urged, "Mother, throw it again~"

Wen Ye continued throwing, but still did not give up, "Husband, look again, really not considering?" He’s already so silly.@@novelbin@@

Xu Yuejia glanced at his son, who was picking up the ball in the study room and laughing like a fool, and said very calmly, "Talent can't be forced."

Disappointed in her heart, Wen Ye retracted her gaze. Xu Yuxuan had already picked up the ball again.

Just as she was about to take it, Xu Yuxuan hugged the ball tighter.

Then, Wen Ye heard her stepson say, "Mother, it's my turn to throw now!"

Wen Ye: "………"

As expected, a faint smile appeared on Xu Yuejia's lips, as he continued to calmly drink his tea. Truly a case of lifting a rock only to drop it on her own foot.

Wen Ye sighed and said, "Xuaner, why don't you let your father throw first?" Xu Yuxuan was puzzled: "Why?"

Wen Ye replied, "Do you remember who went first to offer incense during the New Year's ancestor worship?"

"It was father!" Xu Yuxuan shouted loudly.

Wen Ye said, "In the same way, the one who throws should be?"

Xu Yuxuan took the initiative to answer, "Father first!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he held the ball towards Xu Yuejia and said, "Then, father, you go first~"

Xu Yuejia: ".…"

Dragging someone else into the water successfully, Wen Ye felt at ease.

After taking two turns as the thrower, Xu Yuxuan's face was full of smiles while washing his hands. Xu Yuejia, wiping his hands, suddenly said, "What you brought up earlier could be worth a try." Wen Ye had already forgotten what she had mentioned before. She looked up and asked, "What could be tried?"

Xu Yuejia put the towel back and looked at her with a serious gaze, "Adding more lessons."

For Xu Yuxuan.

Realizing what Xu Yuejia meant, Wen Ye couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Xu Yuxuan, having finished washing his hands, came over and saw Wen Ye laughing. He was curious and puzzled: "Mother, what are you laughing about?"

Having laughed enough, Wen Ye stopped and said, "It's nothing, it's just that your father has something to ask you." Xu Yuxuan listened and immediately looked at Xu Yuejia.

Xu Yuejia paused, then asked him, "How is Master Xu treating you?"

Xu Yuxuan didn’t sense the danger at all and replied, "The master treats me very well, he never gets mad."

Xu Yuejia nodded slightly, "Very good." Xu Yuxuan, still clueless, wondered how many 'good's that was.

During dinner, Wen Ye served iced drinks, while Xu Yuxuan had a small cup of room temperature watermelon juice. As for Xu Yuejia, whether it was because the kitchen was busy or something else, he only had soup.

Xu Yuejia glanced at the ice in her cup and frowned slightly, "Have you been eating like this all these days?" Wen Ye followed his gaze and looked down at her cup before asking, "You mean this iced drink?"

Xu Yuejia nodded, "Yes."

Wen Ye replied, "Without it on such a day, I can't eat. Haven't you noticed that I've lost weight these days?"

Xu Yuejia looked at her for a while, without saying anything. Wen Ye then felt her soft stomach, a bit embarrassed, "Though it's not very noticeable."

Xu Yuejia looked away, "Iced drinks are too cold. Drinking so much every day, be careful about your health."

He added, "Even in summer, overindulgence is not advisable."

"I understand, I won't drink it tomorrow," Wen Ye replied. Xu Yuejia’s concern in his words, she could tell whether it was genuine or not. Since the watermelon sent by Madam Shen was finished, she decided to stop for a day.

On the third day, she would switch to other flavors. "Don't worry, husband, my body is just fine." As a result, she was proven wrong that very night.

Wen Ye was awakened by the excruciating pain, drenched in cold sweat, and fumbled to grab a hand, only to remember that Xu Yuejia had stayed overnight at the west court tonight. She hurriedly shook him: "Xu Yuejia, I'm in pain."

Xu Yuejia woke up almost immediately.

By the faint light, Xu Yuejia saw a pale face.

He frowned: "Where does it hurt?"

Wen Ye touched the area around her stomach, her expression pained: "Here..."

Xu Yuejia had her lie down as much as possible, then placed his hand over the aching spot and gently massaged.

After a while, he asked again: "How does it feel now?"

Wen Ye nodded and shook her head: "A little better, but it still hurts."

Xu Yuejia moved his hand down slightly, his warm palm now resting on her lower abdomen, continuing to rub in one direction.

After an unknown amount of time, Wen Ye felt herself recovering and even managed to be curious: "My lord actually knows some medicine?"

Xu Yuejia continued massaging and said: "I've read a few medical books, just a bit of knowledge."

Wen Ye's voice was weak: "Thank goodness you're here."

Seeing her complexion improving, Xu Yuejia stopped massaging.

For the first time, he spoke to her in an unyielding tone: "Starting tomorrow, no more cold drinks."

Wen Ye nearly sat up, "This has nothing to do with cold drinks!"

Xu Yuejia didn't respond but said: "Get up, I'll help you walk around."

Wen Ye shrank back, "It already doesn't hurt much."

Xu Yuejia didn't insist, just kept his gaze fixed on her.

Feeling guilty under his stare, Wen Ye finally said: "I'll get up."

However, walking a few steps actually made her feel better. Wen Ye sneakily glanced at the expressionless man. She thought the matter of her stomachache would be over, but Xu Yuejia seemed to hear her thoughts.

His gaze fixed on her, he said gravely: "Tomorrow, I'll inform Madam Lu about your stomachache." Wen Ye: "..."

No chance for any struggle.

Xu Yuejia really had mastered her weak point. Telling Madam Lu, she feared she would become the only person in Duke Xu's Mansion not allowed to use ice during the summer.

With this worry, Wen Ye drifted back to sleep.

This time, she seemed to have a dream. In the dream, Xu Yuejia went to the main court to lodge a complaint, and then Madam Lu came to the west court, removing all the ice basins in her room.

The small ice cellar in the west court was locked, and there was only one key, which was in Madam Lu's possession.

She couldn't get the key and was even confined in a heated cage for a while.

Wen Ye was scared awake, it was too terrifying.

Just as she picked up her handkerchief to wipe the cold sweat from her forehead, she heard the voice from her dream outside the curtain. Saying the same words from the dream: "Quick, take away all these ice basins." Wen Ye dropped the cotton handkerchief in her hand.

It's over, the nightmare is about to come true.