After Zhao Huanxi had dinner at Yin Furen’s place and relaxed for a while, the young couple returned to Shenhui Courtyard.

Still excited, Zhao Huanxi was telling Xu Nian’an about the events on the pleasure boat when Nanny Hu from Dunyi Hall arrived.

“San Yé, San Nainai, Guogong Yé said he had a delightful time today and wants to cover the hosting expenses,” Nanny Hu said with a warm smile as she handed over a thick red envelope.

Zhao Huanxi replied, “I hosted today. It’s my honour that Zufu enjoyed himself. How could I let him pay? I cannot accept this money.”

“This…” Nanny Hu looked at Xu Nian’an with a troubled expression.

Xu Nian’an reached out and took the red envelope from her hand, smiling as he said, “One must not refuse a gift from an elder. Nanny Hu, please extend our gratitude to Zufu for his generosity.”

Only then did Nanny Hu smile, give a respectful bow, and turn to leave.

Zhao Huanxi stared wide-eyed at Xu Nian’an. “How could you accept Zufu’s money?”

Xu Nian’an led him back into the room and said, “Zufu must really like Qu Gong’s calligraphy. He’s probably giving you silver to buy it. If you don’t accept, are you saying you don’t want to sell it to him?”

Zhao Huanxi replied, “…What do you mean by that?”

Xu Nian’an asked, “What did Qu Gong say when he gave you the calligraphy?”

Zhao Huanxi answered, “He said he was grateful for my invitation, that he enjoyed such marvellous music and scenery, and had a wonderful time drinking and chatting with old friends.”

“So, in other words, the calligraphy was actually a token of thanks from the guest for your invitation. Now, with Zufu covering the expenses, doesn’t that make him the real host of this gathering? And isn’t it only right that he receives the calligraphy?”

Zhao Huanxi suddenly understood. “So it’s like that. But really, there was no need for all this. If Zufu wanted it, I’d have happily handed it over.”

Xu Nian’an replied, “Guogong Yé, as your Zufu, wouldn’t feel right just taking advantage of his grandson like that. Besides, it’s not just any item, it’s an invaluable piece of calligraphy by Qu Gong, with an impromptu new chi by Kuang Xiansheng. You’ll see, Zufu will be quite occupied with it for some time. By the way, this red envelope is really thick. Quick, count how much is in there!”

Handing him the envelope, Xu Nian’an watched as Zhao Huanxi reluctantly took out the thick stack of banknotes inside and began counting. “One, two…”

“At this rate, you’ll be counting until the end of time!” Seeing Zhao Huanxi place each banknote on the table one by one, Xu Nian’an couldn’t stand it any longer. She took the stack from Zhao Huanxi’s hand, folded it in half, and quickly counted through with a flick of her fingers.

Zhao Huanxi stared in amazement from the side, he had never seen anyone count banknotes so smoothly.

In just a moment, Xu Nian’an was done. One hundred notes, a total of ten thousand taels.

Zhao Huanxi began, “It’s too…”

“We’re rich!” Xu Nian’an cheered, holding up the banknotes, her smile wide enough to hide her eyes.

Zhao Huanxi was stunned for a moment, then couldn’t help but laugh as well.

After a while, as his excitement faded, Xu Nian’an remembered to ask, “What were you saying just now? ‘It’s too…’ what?”

Zhao Huanxi had intended to say “too much,” but seeing her so happy, he smiled brightly and said, “It’s too great!”

In Dunyi Hall, Guogong Yé was admiring Qu Gong’s calligraphy, unable to put it down, when suddenly, Xiangzhong hurriedly came to report, “Guogong Yé, it’s terrible. Er Guniang from the Fifth Branch has hanged herself!”

By the time Guogong Yé rushed to the Fifth Branch’s courtyard, Zhao Shuxian had already been rescued and was lying on the bed, crying.

Such matters weren’t something to trouble a doctor with, and hearing that she was fine, Guogong Yé furrowed his brow and walked out into the courtyard.

Lao Taitai stood there, staring at him coldly, and immediately said, “Such a fine child, forced into this state—are you satisfied now?”

Guogong Yé turned and walked away, saying, “Come with me.”

The two of them walked one after the other to Lingde Hall.

Guogong Yé stopped in the main room, dismissed the servants, and, with his back to Lao Taitai, said, “You should return to the Buddha hall and stay there. Don’t come out again.”

Lao Taitai was shocked, staring at Guogong Yé’s back as she said, “You killed my only son, treated my grandchildren harshly, and now you want to imprison me? Don’t even think about it! I’d rather die than submit. What can you do to me?”

Guogong Yé suddenly turned around, looking at the woman who had been his wife for nearly forty years but who now seemed increasingly unfamiliar to him. He said, “I know Mingcheng’s death hit you hard. Over these past ten years, I’ve repeatedly tolerated you because of that. But you… your actions have become more and more reckless, without restraint. Do you really think that just because Mingcheng is dead, I will let you off for the rest of your life?”

“What have I done? You only listened to a few words from outsiders and then placed the blame on me! Even in court, there must be clear evidence of a crime!” Lao Taitai retorted sharply.

Guogong Yé looked at her, unrepentant, and sneered, “Go to court? Even if you have no shame, Mingcheng still had his pride. I can’t let anyone know that such a righteous and outstanding man had you as his mother.”

Those words struck Lao Taitai like a sharp dagger to the heart. In an instant, her face turned as pale as paper, and she swayed, on the verge of collapse.

Guogong Yé didn’t say another word. He bypassed her and walked toward the door.

Suddenly, Lao Taitai turned around, her voice hoarse with fury as she shouted, “Zhao Kaishuo, you’ve always only cared about your dead first wife! If that’s the case, why did you marry me? My whole life has been ruined because of you!”

Guogong Yé paused briefly but didn’t respond. He simply walked straight out the door.

“Send someone to guard Lingde Hall, no one is to enter or leave,” Guogong Yé instructed Xiangzhong, who was standing outside the courtyard. Xiangzhong nodded in respond.

Guogong Yé turned and started walking toward the Fifth Branch, but after just a few steps, his body suddenly swayed.

With quick reflexes, Xiangzhong caught him, his face filled with concern. “Guogong Yé, are you alright?”

Guogong Yé shook his head, his vision clearing once more. “I’m fine.”

He returned to the Fifth Branch’s courtyard and summoned Wu Taitai to the main room.

“From today onwards, you are not to see Lao Taitai again. If she sends someone to pass on any messages, don’t listen. Focus on properly raising the two children. You must understand that these children are your support for the rest of your life, not Lao Taitai,” Guogong Yé said sternly.

Wu Taitai was anxious, and responded with a hesitant nod.

“Take proper care of Shuxian. She’s a young lady from a prominent family, yet she’s always attempting to take her own life at the slightest trouble. What kind of behavior is that?” Guogong Yé gave a final reprimand and left the Fifth Branch with Xiangzhong.

In Shenhui Courtyard, after Zhao Huanxi went to bathe, Xu Nian’an called over Yisuu.

“Xiaojie, I have looked carefully, and there’s nothing unusual,” Yisu said softly.

“Really?”

Yisu nodded.

Xu Nian’an lowered her gaze and thought for a moment before saying, “Perhaps I was overthinking it.”

Toward the end of the Xu hour (Xu hour is around 7-9 p.m) the young couple had both gotten into bed.

Still excited, Zhao Huanxi lay on his back, looking up at the canopy and said, “Dong Jiejie, I was really happy today. I hosted, so many people came, and everyone had a great time. I know it was because of Miaoyin Niangzi, but I still feel proud.”

“Of course you should feel proud, because others can’t even manage to invite Miaoyin Niangzi, but you did. That’s your skill,” Xu Nian’an said.

Zhao Huanxi turned to his side to look at her, saying, “Dong Jiejie, I’ve thought it over, it must have been because of you. I don’t know how you did it, but Miaoyin Niangzi must have come because of your help.”

“It was you who invited her.”

“It was you, you were the one who invited her.”

Xu Nian’an laughed. “Alright, alright, it was me who invited her.”

Zhao Huanxi looked at her without saying anything more.

Since they’d gotten the large festive lantern, it stayed lit through the night, and even with the bed curtains drawn, they could still see each other clearly inside.

After a long time under his gaze, Xu Nian’an started to feel a bit uncomfortable and asked, “Why are you staring at me?”

“Dong Jiejie, you’re really beautiful,” Zhao Huanxi’s voice softened, filled with tenderness.

How could someone with such a face, one that could bring down a nation, keep praising others as beautiful?

Xu Nian’an’s face grew hot, and she turned over to face away from him.

Zhao Huanxi paused, looked at her back, and secretly pulled his pillow a little closer to her. He moved along with it. Seeing she didn’t react, he pulled it a little closer again and moved closer himself.

The rustling sound behind her eventually caught Xu Nian’an’s attention. When she turned to look, he was already in the middle of the bed, nearly right next to her.

“Why are you moving over here?” she asked him.

Zhao Huanxi’s cheeks were a vivid pink. “I… I want to be punished with writing characters.”

Here he means he want a kiss (refer to chapter 100).

Why did he want to be punished with writing again? He just wanted to do it this morning.

The words “limitless energy” and “no self-restraint” suddenly flashed through Xu Nian’an’s mind. Her face felt hot enough to burn; she turned her head away, turning her back to him and ignoring him.

But Zhao Huanxi was not the type of person to give up just because you ignored him.

After learning that Xu Nian’an liked him too, his courage had grown significantly. Seeing that she had turned her back and refused to face him, he reached out and stroked her fluffy, fragrant hair. Then, he buried his face in it, wrapping his arms around her waist and calling out in a soft, sticky voice, “Dong Jiejie.”

Xu Nian’an couldn’t handle him acting spoiled like this, but she didn’t want to give in to him either. She could only put on a stern front and say, “You can’t. You are still too young right now.”

“Just the punishment of writing characters—not doing anything else—is that also not allowed?”

“You cannot carry out the punishment of writing characters in bed.”

“Why?”

“You will feel… uncomfortable.”

Here, "uncomfortable" or 难受 has double meaning.
Literal: Writing characters in bed is physically awkward and would make his back/arms ache.
Suggestive: "Uncomfortable" (难受) is a common web novel euphemism for the physical frustration of being aroused but unable to act on it.

Zhao Huanxi whimpered and grumbled while holding her. Xu Nian’an remained as cold as stone, keeping her eyes tightly shut and ignoring him.

After a while, Zhao Huanxi realized he was at a loss. Even without the punishment, just holding her made him feel “uncomfortable”, he might as well have started the punishment from the beginning so they could be “uncomfortable” together.

✦

The next morning, as usual, Si Taitai woke up early to greet Lao Taitai. However, she discovered that the main door of Lingde Hall was tightly shut, with fierce-looking guards stationed outside, not allowing anyone to enter or exit.

Si Taitai was so frightened that her face turned pale. In a hurry, she took Zhao Shutong and her two daughters-in-law back to the Fourth Branch.

After sending the younger generation back to their respective rooms, Si Taitai anxiously paced back and forth in her room.

Lao Taitai had been locked up by Guogong Yé. Could the Fifth Branch in trouble?

Last night, Xian Jie’er attempted to hang herself but failed. Shouldn’t Guogong Yé be even more concerned about the Fifth Branch? Why did he lock up Lao Taitai instead?

She had hoped that, in case something happened to Guogong Yé in the future, Lao Taitai would be able to take charge of the situation. But now, it seemed uncertain whether Lao Taitai could even hold on until then. Furthermore, judging by the current situation, Guogong Yé clearly did not favour Lao Taitai and would never entrust the entire estate to her for management. It was possible that a will had already been written.

Could it be that the Guogong title would ultimately fall to the First Branch?

Had all her efforts to curry favour with the Fifth Branch been in vain?

No, they hadn’t been in vain. At least Zhao Shutong’s marriage was still under Wu Taitai’s control.

Si Taitai took a deep breath, collected her emotions, and then went to the Fifth Branch to comfort Wu Taitai and gather information.

In the Shenhui Courtyard, Xu Nian’an, as usual, helped Zhao Huanxi with his dressing.

Today, he wasn’t going to the Jiyuan Garden to listen in on the lessons. After all, Yanmei Xiansheng had only invited him yesterday, so there was no reason to rush over the very next day; he needed to make some preparations first.

“Are Qian Ming and the others reliable?” Xu Nian’an asked while helping him put on a jade pendant.

Zhao Huanxi looked at her with a face full of grievance and responded with an unrelated remark, “Dong Jiejie, you’re heartless and unfaithful, only liking me for two days and then not liking me anymore.”

Xu Nian’an looked up at him and noticed the faint dark circles under his eyes and his face full of grievance. Unable to hold back a smile, she raised her hand to loop it around his shoulder and stood on tiptoe. She intended to kiss his cheek, but unexpectedly, he had learned her moves. As she leaned in, he stayed still. Just as she was about to kiss his cheek, he suddenly turned his face slightly, and their lips met instead.

Xu Nian’an, both embarrassed and annoyed, slapped him lightly. In response, he wrapped his arms around her waist, picked her up, and turned, setting her down on the desk.