We agreed that I would be married off to a short-lived general, but why is my husband so powerful?

When Liuli opened the book, she was stunned. It was filled with drawings of little figures gesturing with their fists, and very few words.

It looks simple and easy to understand.

"Ask me if you don't understand anything. Also, starting today, you must learn three words every day." Wen Rushi's gaze swept over the faces of the other two maids.

"This servant..." Liuli stared blankly at the comic book, her mouth agape.

"Autumn Pear, Ophiopogon japonicus, can you read?"

Qiu Li stepped forward and said, "Replying to the young mistress, this servant knows a few characters."

Mai Dong stood to the side, her face flushed.

"From today onwards, you will teach Liuli and Maidong to read every day, and I will give you extra money in the future."

If you want the horse to run fast, you have to give it some benefits. She has a dowry and doesn't need the wages.

"Thank you so much, young mistress!" Qiu Li was overjoyed.

Mai Dong's eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but smile.

It's good to be literate; I won't be so easily fooled when I go out anymore.

Only Liuli had a bitter face. She had just entered the manor and, although she didn't have to serve the young mistress yet, she still had to learn the rules.

Now, not only does she have to practice martial arts, but she also has to learn to read... She's not very bright, can she even keep up?

"Young mistress... I... this servant... is afraid I won't be able to learn it..."

"Do you still want to eat big meat buns?" Wen Rushi asked with a stern face.

Liuli immediately thought of the huge bowl of meat buns and two bowls of steamed bread she had eaten yesterday afternoon, and couldn't help but swallow hard. She had never eaten so much food before! She had certainly never eaten so much meat. "I want some!"

"Then study hard! If you learn it, I'll reward you with a big meat bun!" Wen Rushi immediately offered Liuli a promise.

Upon hearing about the big meat buns, Liuli forgot all her difficulties and her mind was filled with nothing but the thought of those buns. She nodded vigorously, "Yes! This servant will do whatever Young Mistress says!"

Just then, Granny Zhang walked into the courtyard and saw several young maids chattering around Wen Rushi. She laughed and said, "Oh! What are you talking about? It's so lively!"

"Why is Granny Zhang here? Does Mother have any instructions?" Wen Rushi gestured for the maid to sit down.

Although Wen Rushi didn't take a servant seriously, she was still her mother-in-law's personal nanny. Now, as a daughter-in-law, she lived in the mansion, ate and drank at their expense. Logically and emotionally, she had to pretend to give Yao Shi face to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Seeing this, Zhang Mama's smile deepened even more.

"Young mistress, this old servant has come to deliver a message. The madam is considerate of your frail health and has suggested that you visit the hot springs at our estate. Those hot springs have health benefits and are perfect for you."

Upon hearing about soaking in the hot springs, Wen Rushi's eyes lit up with interest.

Being able to go out is always better than staying at home.

"Okay, I'll go take a look when I have time."

Upon hearing this, Granny Zhang's smile deepened. "The estate is not far from the outskirts. If the young mistress has nothing else to do, you can pack your things now and set off this afternoon."

"So soon?" Wen Rushi was taken aback.

Granny Zhang said without changing her expression, "It's not that we're in a rush, it's just that the Beginning of Spring has been over for quite some time, and the Awakening of Insects is approaching. This period is the transition between winter and spring, and the spring chill is still in the air, so the yang energy is growing slowly. Soaking in a hot spring at this time is very good for the body as it warms the meridians and promotes circulation. If we wait until after the Awakening of Insects, the effect will not be as good. And there are only a few days left before we can soak in the hot spring, so we're in a bit of a hurry..."

Zhang Mama's reasons were secondary. The most important thing was that Yue Lingyuan didn't have much time left in the capital. Yao was in such a hurry because she wanted Wen Rushi and Yue Lingyuan to spend more time alone together. She had to get the young mistress to accept the eldest young master as soon as possible!

Wen Rushi also knew some pharmacology, so she naturally understood that what Zhang Mama said was correct.

Thinking that it was her mother-in-law's good intention, and that she had nothing to do at home anyway, she decided not to refuse since going to the estate might be quieter and more suitable for her cultivation.

"Will the rest of the household go?"

"The second young master and the young lady already soaked in the spring right after the start of spring. Soaking again would be too much. Besides, they go to school every day, so they won't be going this time," Zhang Mama replied flawlessly.

Upon hearing that no one was going and there would be no disturbance, Wen Rushi was overjoyed. "I'll have Qiuli and the others pack their things right away!"

"Then this old servant will go and arrange manpower and a carriage for the young mistress." A hint of a smile flashed in Zhang Mama's eyes. As for the news that the eldest young master was also going, she did not reveal a word about it.

The young mistress is afraid of the eldest young master. What if she finds out that the eldest young master is also going and decides not to go?

Then her master's efforts were all for nothing, weren't they?

"Thank you for your trouble, Granny."

Granny Zhang returned to the main courtyard with a happy smile, and Madam Yao couldn't wait to ask:

"So? Did the young mistress agree?"

"The young mistress has agreed and will depart this afternoon."

"She probably doesn't know the eldest young master went there too, does she?"

"The young mistress doesn't know yet!" Zhang Mama said with an ambiguous smile.

Seeing her like this, Yao couldn't help but raise the corners of her mouth. "Alright, proceed according to plan from now on."

"Yes."

Madam Yao: "What do I have to worry about? You've always been very reliable."

Yue Lingyuan had an appointment with a friend today, so he sent his servant back before noon to inform him that he would not be coming back for lunch.

Wen Ru finished her meal alone in the courtyard, then left the General's Mansion in a carriage with her maid and luggage, escorted by guards.

It was evening when the group finally arrived at the village.

Wen Rushi stepped down from the carriage, supporting her back, her face full of exhaustion.

This body is still too weak. After sitting in the carriage all afternoon, all the bones in my body felt like they were about to fall apart.

My lower back hurts, my buttocks hurt, and my bones hurt!

If she weren't out in the world, she would have already wanted to rub her butt.

My butt hurts so much from all the bouncing!

Fortunately, Granny Zhang had made arrangements, and the rooms for resting were all cleaned up.

As soon as you enter, you're greeted with steaming hot meals.

Upon hearing this, the pent-up frustration that had been building up in the carriage for most of the day dissipated considerably.

Meanwhile, just after 1 p.m., Yue Lingyuan returned to his residence but couldn't find his wife. He asked the old woman guarding the gate and learned that Wen Rushi had gone to the estate.

Just as he was feeling disappointed, thinking that Wenru was avoiding him, Zhang Mama walked into the courtyard with a smile.

"Granny, come here. Is there something you need from Mother?"

Zhang Mama smiled kindly, "Madam sent this old servant here because she has something to discuss. I suppose the eldest young master already knows that the young mistress has gone to the estate? This was arranged by Madam. Seeing that the young mistress is in poor health and the eldest young master has not returned to the capital in recent years, Madam arranged for the young mistress and the eldest young master to take advantage of the season to soak in the hot springs to nourish their bodies."

"But the eldest young master wasn't home this morning, so we had to arrange for the young mistress to go first. Don't worry, young master, you can still make it to dinner if you ride there now, and you can return home with the young mistress in a couple of days."

Yue Lingyuan didn't think much of it. Back when he was in the capital, he would soak in a hot spring every winter and spring.

"I'll go there now."

Granny Zhang gestured to the maid behind her to hand the bundle in her hand to the servant beside Yue Lingyuan, "This is a change of clothes prepared for the young master."

"Thank you, Granny."

Yue Lingyuan rode his horse out of the city and headed straight for Tangquan Manor.

We didn't arrive at the village until sunset.

At this moment, Wen Rushi finished digesting his food and was heading towards the mountainside, where the hot spring was located.

Qiu Li led the way, carrying a bag of clean clothes.

"Young mistress, I just heard from the manager here that there are some minor problems with the other hot spring pools, and only the Guanchun Hot Spring Pool is usable."

Qiu Li had never served any master in the manor before, so she had never come here with her master. She had only heard that there was a small estate in the manor, so she was not familiar with the situation there.

Naturally, whatever Steward Wang says goes.

"Okay." Wen Rushi didn't think much of it.

The hot spring pool is built halfway up the mountain, so if you want to soak in it, you have to go up the mountain.

However, Zhuangzi's mountain is just a small mountain, and it has been well-maintained; you only need to walk up a few steps to get there.

As the group climbed halfway up the mountain, they came into view several houses of varying sizes, connected by covered walkways of varying heights. Because of the hot spring, wisps of mist lingered in the air, which, when reflected in the sunset, gave the place a touch of ethereal beauty.

Having seen all sorts of grand occasions, Wen Rushi naturally wouldn't take this little scene seriously.

The maids who came up with them were somewhat stunned.

The old woman guarding the area recognized Wen Rushi's identity as soon as she saw the three of them.

After exchanging greetings with Wen Rushi, he led her to the house with the sign "Guanchun Pond" hanging on the door.

"I'm going in. You two find a place to rest!"