Chapter 45: The Transfer of Keys

Yin Shi’s mind was still preoccupied with something.

After lunch, when they returned to the courtyard, she said to Shen Ti, “You go take your afternoon nap. Don’t worry about me.”

Shen Ti was curious, “What are you going to do?”

Yin Shi replied, “I need to tend to my flowers.”

Yin Shi loved gardening and planting flowers. Because of this, when Lady Shen was tidying the courtyard, she had deliberately set aside a space for her. They had arranged this together in their letters beforehand.

When Yin Shi went out, she brought a few of her favorite plants with her, transplanting them into pots she had brought along. Since the climate and soil were different in the new place, she wasn’t in a hurry to replant; she had to inspect the soil first.

Shen Ti was sitting on the couch in the side room drinking tea. He opened the window and watched Yin Shi change into a simple, everyday short-sleeved jacket. She crouched in the yard with her maidservants, examining the soil carefully.

“This won’t do,” he overheard her say to the maids. “The soil needs to be loosened well and enriched with fertilizer for a few days. Otherwise, the plants will all die when transplanted.”

Then she discussed with Pu’er and Ying’er how to improve the soil quality.

Listening to her, it was clear she knew what she was doing.

Shen Ti sipped his tea leisurely, watching Yin Shi through the courtyard. Her eyes shone brightly, like she planned to put down roots here and thrive.

He couldn’t help but think of Feng Luoyi.

If only his cousin’s strong vitality could be shared with Feng Luoyi, he thought.

“Tell the people in the courtyard to help the young madam,” he instructed.

Hexin hurried off.

Shen Ti glanced out the window again, rinsed his mouth, and went to rest in the inner chamber for his nap.

After waking in a daze, he glanced to the side and saw the bed was still empty. Yin Shi hadn’t come back.

He cleared his head and called for someone to help him. After freshening up and changing into clean clothes, he came out and saw a graceful silhouette on the side room couch.

It was only the first day of their marriage, and Shen Ti paused for a moment.

From now on, he would live with this woman always — in the inner room, the side room, the main hall, or the courtyard, she would be everywhere, leaving her scent and presence behind.

He had to get used to it.

Hearing his voice, Yin Shi turned and smiled brightly. “You’re awake?”

She still held a brush in her hand.

Shen Ti walked over. “What are you writing?”

“Come quickly,” Yin Shi said with a smile. “There’s something urgent I need your help with. It can’t wait.”

Curious, Shen Ti sat down on the couch. “What’s so urgent?”

Yin Shi blew on the paper she’d written and handed it to him. “It’s time to divide the orchids into new pots. If we wait any longer, it’ll be too late. I need these things, so I’m asking you to help. It has to be quick.”

Shen Ti looked carefully and smiled.

Leaf mold, fine soil, coarse sand, river mud, broken tile shards, pebbles, and even cow dung. The pots themselves were the most ordinary item.

These things weren’t valuable or hard to get, but they had to be found outside. Yin Shi had just settled in and taken charge of the courtyard maids, and her attendants were still getting familiar with the environment. The task was only something Shen Ti could handle for now.

He called for Changchuan and handed him the list. “Give this to Pingmo and tell him to hurry. It’s urgent.”

Changchuan replied, “Yes, sir.”

Yin Shi gave Kui’er some money to reward him. “Tell him it’s urgent.”

Changchuan accepted the payment, puffed out his chest, and said, “Don’t worry, young madam!”

He ran out swiftly, his legs moving fast. Yin Shi watched through the window, smiling.

The sunlight outside was bright, lighting up her face.

People who love to smile are never unpleasant.

And a beautiful woman who loves to smile is even less so.

Shen Ti thought to himself that he could quickly adapt to this life with his cousin.

“You haven’t slept?” he asked.

“No,” Yin Shi said. “I’ve been busy.”

Just then, Kui’er and Pu’er each carried a pot of orchids inside. “Miss… Young Madam, Hanlin.”

Now that they were married, the maids had to address her properly.

Yin Shi moved her brush and ink aside on the table. “Put them here.”

The maids placed the two pots on the side table.

Shen Ti’s eyes lit up. “They’re so well cared for.”

Plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum — the “four gentlemen” — were always the favorites of scholars.

Yin Shi said, “These two pots are the best. Wait a moment; I want to check on the others. Since we just arrived, I’m worried they might not adapt to the new environment. If they’re fine after a couple of days, I want to gift them to my aunt and uncle.”

Shen Ti raised an eyebrow. “None for me?”

He had been a little reserved all day, but now he looked like a young man again.

Yin Shi giggled. “All my flowers are in the courtyard. Pick whichever pot you like.”

Only then was Shen Ti satisfied, promising, “If you need anything, just tell me. I’ll find it for you.”

Those two orchid pots were really exquisite. If they weren’t meant as gifts to her parents, Shen Ti would have wanted to claim them for himself immediately.

He’d heard Lady Shen say before that Yin Shi was skilled at gardening and nurturing plants, but seeing the orchids now, he was convinced.

This was good. Shen Ti thought that since they weren’t a “real” married couple yet, if time passed and she felt lonely in her chambers, having a hobby she loved to devote time and energy to would be a great way to pass the days.

“I want one pot for my outer study,” he said, “and one for the inner study.”

He emphasized, “Pick the best ones for me, don’t be stingy.”

“As your older sister, do you think I’d bully you?” Yin Shi promised. “I’ll pick for you later. Or you can pick yourself — they’re all in the side rooms. They were just in the sun but are now moved into the shade inside.”

“You pick first. After you’re done, I’ll take care of the rest.”

“But these two can’t go — they’re for my aunt and uncle. They must be the best.”

Shen Ti had no objection. “Of course.”

Yin Shi dismissed the maids and said to him, “I asked the maids to check the money chest. The accounts all tally, no problems. I haven’t had time to check the storeroom yet, but I’ll do it in the next few days. I’ll hand things over properly with Lüyun and Hexin. The accounts will be clear.”

While Shen Ti was napping, Yin Shi and Kui’er had checked the money box.

Kui’er was still nervous. “They even have ledgers!”

One book was for silver transactions, and another for the storeroom inventory — tracking money in and out, and goods in and out, all clearly recorded.

Kui’er said, “We’ve never kept ledgers before.”

That was understandable — before, Yin Shi was a minor concubine daughter living in a small courtyard with only a few little maids. Their entire assets were so few that memorizing them was enough; no need for ledgers.

Yin Shi encouraged her, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

Kui’er relaxed a bit.

Plants and flowers were for cultivating temperament and passing time. But money was the real deal — the support for everyday life.

When it came to finances, even Shen Ti had a different feeling — that sense of “already having a family” gained real weight.

He sat upright, seriously explaining the finances to his “wife” who bore his name, “Keep your dowry for yourself; no need to touch it. Mother has informed me that the family will give you twenty taels a month for your personal expenses. The household staff and supplies don’t come out of this.”

“All the things for the courtyard — cosmetics, powders, oils, tea, snacks, incense, and medicines — Mother will allocate funds for those. You don’t need to pay.”

“My salary isn’t much, only seven shi and five dou of rice. I don’t take it in rice but convert it into silver. I’ll give that to you too.”

But Yin Shi had her own account in mind.

She refused. “I’ll take the money from the family. Your salary, you don’t need to give me. Give it to Miss Feng.”

Shen Ti looked at her steadily.

Yin Shi said, “I’m the young madam of the Shen family. I’ll serve my in-laws, teach the concubine children, and possibly attend official social events with you, where I may need to entertain the wives and daughters of your colleagues, superiors, and subordinates. I accept this role and responsibility, so I should receive this money.”

“But your salary is your own. No need to give it to me — give it to Miss Feng.”

Yin Shi viewed the Shen family as a “big family” and herself as part of it. But within that big family was a “small family” — Shen Ti and Miss Feng.

She worked for the big family and received wages from it. As for Shen Ti’s private income, it belonged to their little family.

Shen Ti understood what she meant, but said, “No need. It’s not much silver. You keep it. You don’t have to worry about Miss Feng; I have money for her.”

After thinking for a moment, he added, “If you ever don’t have enough silver, tell me.”

Such a young age, but what a bold tone.

Yin Shi understood immediately. “So you have some extra income?”

Shen Ti hesitated.

It was somewhat like a man caught by his wife with secret pocket money.

Yin Shi held back her laughter. “Can I ask? People like you who work in the Hanlin Academy aren’t you supposed to be ‘clean officials’? How do you make extra money?”

She waved her hand. “If you don’t want to say, that’s fine. I’m just curious.”

Her eyes were bright and clear with a smile, without any scheming.

Shen Ti explained, “Mainly from honoraria for writing poems, inscriptions, prefaces, and eulogies. Some Taoist practitioners also request auspicious verses. Some people just want calligraphy.”

Yin Shi admired, “Quite a variety.”

Shen Ti chuckled, “That only happened after I entered officialdom. Everything and everyone talks about silver.”

“Because we’ve grown up,” Yin Shi smiled, looking at him.

When they were young, all that mattered was studying and learning. Food, clothing, and money were all arranged by parents.

After growing up, they developed their own ideas and sometimes disagreed with their parents. Using their parents’ money then felt uncomfortable and restrictive.

Naturally, they began to think about earning money themselves.

Things once thought vulgar were now accepted.

Yin Shi said confidently, “I can really tell you’ve changed a lot since we were at Huaixi. You’re really different.”

It had only been less than a year, but in that time, he had taken office and entered officialdom.

Only Shen Ti himself truly understood the transformation, acceptance, and compromises involved.

At night, when he thought about it, he sometimes felt a bit melancholic.

Now, hearing her say “grown up,” Shen Ti suddenly felt... at peace.

“Yes,” he said. “We all have to grow up.”

Who doesn’t?