Chapter 21: Throwing Oneself into Another's Arms

After seeing Fourth Brother Ning off with a cheerful farewell, Ning Ye returned to his wooden plank bed. Since the room was so small and had been given up to Lin Qinshu and her two companions, Ning Ye had no choice but to find a random board outside to sleep on.

Just as Ning Ye lay down, he heard the door creak open again. Lin Qinshu stood there, dressed in light, airy clothing. Although he had experienced the allure of her slender frame and burgeoning curves a few times before, seeing her in this hazy, dimly lit setting seemed to make her even more captivating.

Ning Ye was highly proficient in matters of life and death, but when it came to affairs of the heart, he had absolutely no experience. Having dedicated his entire previous life to his country, he never had the chance to pursue a romantic relationship. Strictly speaking, Ning Ye was still a complete novice.

"Husband, I have come to keep you company."

Ning Ye’s usually calm and composed tone stuttered. "My lady, didn't I tell you? You are still too young; this is not the right time for such things."

Lin Qinshu bit her lip and replied, "Husband, I am already sixteen. In the time before the chaos, I would have already been a wedded wife. Why is this not appropriate?"

While it wasn't technically wrong, Ning Ye still felt that they had not known each other long enough. He felt it would be better to delay such intimacy.

"Why the rush, my lady? We will be moving into our new home tomorrow, which will be much better than this place. Listen to me, let’s talk about this later."

Lin Qinshu’s eyes welled up with tears. "Could it be that you, my husband, look down on me because I am the daughter of a disgraced man?"

Ning Ye panicked slightly and reached out to grasp her hands. "My lady, with your beauty and grace, it is only through the blessings of my past life that I have been fortunate enough to meet you. It is just that I believe such things should not be rushed."

After a period of gentle reassurance, a smile returned to Lin Qinshu’s face. She could see that Ning Ye truly respected her. Since her husband said there was no rush, she concluded that she simply hadn't tried hard enough yet; it seemed she would have to put in more effort in the future.

Just then, Ning Ye noticed that the door had not been closed properly and was left slightly ajar.

He didn't need to guess to know that the two young maids were definitely peeking from behind the door. Ning Ye coughed lightly and said, "My lady, you should go back now. If you stay here tonight, we will both be the talk of the town later."

Lin Qinshu nodded and returned to the room. Shortly after, the sounds of giggling and playful scuffling drifted out; it was mostly Xiao Yuan begging for mercy, while Xiao Qing was likely trying her best to remain silent.

Lying back down on his wooden board, Ning Ye’s mind was filled with the image of her beauty. He figured he would either have a very good night’s sleep or not sleep at all.

Early the next morning, Ning Ye began to pack his meager belongings, only to realize there was really nothing worth taking. Aside from a few items he had purchased since arriving, he decided to leave everything else behind; the new manor would need fresh additions, and these old things were unnecessary.

Ning Ye’s departure caused no stir, as Fourth Brother Ning had not yet made any grand announcements. As for the celebratory banquet, Ning Ye had no intention of attending. The men under his command were waiting for their rewards; to keep people loyal, you couldn't just use the whip—you had to provide grain as well.

Fortunately, there was a small cart that could be pulled by a horse; relying on walking would have taken far too long.

As for the large manor, Lin Qinshu and the others seemed quite composed. After all, the former Minister of Revenue had been in charge of the empire's finances, and the residence he had built before his downfall was truly a luxurious estate.

The previous night had been too dark for Ning Ye to see the full extent of the manor, but now everything was laid bare before his eyes. High walls blocked all external threats, and the heavy, thick gate looked sturdy enough that, unless someone opened it from within, it would be extremely difficult to breach.

Upon entering the courtyard, he saw Zhang Zifeng playing, kicking a shuttlecock back and forth, while Zhang Zihe led a group of men who appeared to be tidying up the rooms.

As soon as Zhang Zihe saw Ning Ye, he hurried over. "Master, you are truly blessed to have three such beautiful ladies in your company."

Ning Ye waved his hand dismissively. "Do not speak nonsense. The lady beside me is my wife, and the other two are her maids, though they are family to me as well."

Zhang Zihe quickly bowed. "Greetings, Madam. The rooms for you and the Master have already been cleaned. As for these two, we will clear out a room for them as soon as possible."

Lin Qinshu returned the bow gracefully. "Thank you for your trouble. However, we can handle the rooms ourselves. If there are other tasks to be done, please follow my husband's arrangements."

"Rest assured, Madam. The Master has not given any other orders, and we felt it wasn't right to just sit idle, which is why we took the initiative to clean these rooms."

Ning Ye spoke up, "I don't think there will be much else to do for a while. I want you to teach Wang Wu and the others how to read and write. My requirements aren't high—at the very least, they should be able to understand the Three Character Classic."

Zhang Zihe hesitated, looking slightly stunned. "Master, although you have been kind to me, asking me to teach a bunch of rough, unrefined fellows how to read and write is a bit difficult for me."

Ning Ye looked puzzled. "It's just teaching people to read and write; what is so difficult about that? Is there some hidden meaning behind it?"

"It has to do with the integrity and spirit of a scholar. Traditionally, scholars and men of violence do not mingle, let alone engage in teaching. Only powerful and influential aristocratic families would do such a thing."

With Lin Qinshu’s explanation, Ning Ye realized that throughout history, scholars and these rough, brawny men had never really gotten along.

"I don't care about how things were done in the past. Now, I have only one requirement: teach my men to read and write. If you cannot do this, then I can only ask you to leave. Of course, I will not take back the money I have already paid you."

Zhang Zihe looked conflicted, but eventually, he gritted his teeth and agreed. After all, a scholar’s integrity also placed great importance on repaying kindness; if he couldn't even do this, he would only be mocked by others.

Ning Ye smiled. "That's fine. This is something being done behind closed doors, and I doubt anyone else will know about it. You can set your mind at ease."

Zhang Zihe’s expression softened. "Master, it was my fault. I should have just done as you commanded. Rest assured, I will teach Wang Wu and the others properly."