The garden here was called "Peaceful Garden", and was constructed after the manor was built.
When several hotsprings were discovered within the manor, Qiao Rong had reported it. Shen Yi Yao ordered the construction of this garden as a place to clear the mind.
After the garden was constructed, Yan Mo had just been born. Because Shen Yi Yao was busy with her frail son, she had only come once over the past few years.
The garden wasn't large but it was extremely exquisite. There was a little bridge, flowing water, artificial mountains, flowerbeds and plenty of grass and trees. It was scenic during all four seasons. For example, the plum flower forest behind the Guiyan Chambers were in full bloom at this time.
The Jinhua Hall was located on the central line of the garden near the front. It could be counted as the main building. The Guiyan Chambers and the Lingcang Residence was on the left and right. The Guiyan Chambers was a two-storied residence with three rooms. The doors and windows were all red and the walls were pale pink. There were two large flowerbeds in front of the front door, as well as two apricot flower trees. It was clearly a lady's chamber.
Yan Yan didn't remember what the Guiyan Chambers was like, but still remembered the beautifully decorated girl's room on the second floor, as well as the zither desk by the southern window and the embroidery loom. This little residence was especially given to her by Shen Yi Yao back then. She had put quite a lot of thought into its interior design.
Unfortunately, Yan Yan didn't like this place.
She had come once when Yan Mo was one year old. At that time Yan Yan was only five, but was already a tomboy. She had just started training martial arts and was preoccupied with it. Seeing this little place, she had frowned and directly fussed how she didn't like it. She said the courtyard wasn't big enough and there wasn't anywhere to practice martial arts. It would be better if they built a training ground like back at her grandfather's place.
Yan Yan no longer remembered Shen Yi Yao's expression at the time, but she still remembered the disappointment in her eyes.
She hadn't understood back then, but now she knew that this place represented all of Shen Yi Yao's hopes for her daughter. Unfortunately, this daughter was the opposite of what she was hoping for.
Mei Xiang's group hurriedly put everything in place. Yan Yan didn't go inside, and took Yan Mo to the Lingcang Residence which was separated by a single wall.
There was a green circular door between the Guiyan Chambers and the Lingcang Residence. They were only a few steps apart. Compared to the Guiyan Chambers, the Lincang Residence was clearly a boy's place. There was an artificial mountain in the courtyard with a few clusters of bamboo. It was simple but elegant.
Ying'er and Yan'er led the few maids as they busied themselves in the residence. Once they had put all of Yan Mo's daily necessities in place, they saw Yan Yan and Yan Mo come in. They hurriedly invited them into the eastern room.
The two of them took off their fur jackets and shoes before getting on the large kiln. The room was very warm and cozy. There was a heated vent and two charcoal basins.
"Sis, how long do you think we'll be staying here? Yan Mo asked hesistantly in a quiet voice.
Yan Yan also wanted to know the answer but Shen Yi Yao hadn't told them. But based on the circumstances, it was probably for a while.
Seeing his sister not speaking, Yan Mo asked again: "Then, will we still be going back?"
Yan Yan stroked her brother's head. "Do you want to go back?"
Yan Mo knit his little brows. He shook his head after pondering a little.
Yan Yan smiled and said: "This will depend on mom's intentions."
Yan Mo nodded like a little adult.
*
Lunch was extremely sumptuous.
The manor didn't lack for anything and was also self-sufficient. Along with Manager Qiao's experience, they were able to cultivate quite a lot of vegetables using the underground hotsprings. Apart from sending some to the estate normally, they would sell them for a high price. Since the madam, miss and young master had come, the food naturally went to them first.
The vegetables were all just harvested and were very fresh and tender. Yan Yan normally ate a lot of meat and less vegetables, but today she also grabbed quite a few chopsticks' full. There was a pot of chicken stewed with yam. The chicken was stewed until tender and the yams were extremely soft. It was extremely fragrant and juicy. Yan Mo actually ate half a bowl of rice more than he usually did.
Shen Yi Yao who rarely smiled these days also revealed a hint of happiness at this time.
Seeing the madam's delight, Cui Qiao hurriedly went along with it and said they had to properly give compliments to the chef. After calling Qiao Rong's wife over and asking, they found out it was one of the grannies who cooked at the manor.
Shen Yi Yao's group had just arrived and there were many things that needed to be arranged. They had also brought their own cook. It was the one working in the Ningxiang Chambers' little kitchen. However, they hadn't gotten settled in yet. Qiao Rong's wife saw that it wasn't early anymore and knew the masters needed to eat lunch. She had asked that granny to make a meal first. She was initially afraid the masters would feel it wasn't exquisite enough, but they were unexpectedly pleased with it.
The food's appearance truly wasn't very exquisite. It wasn't like the meals of a wealthy household, which had all sorts of fancy appearances. Even eating a carrot required it to be carved into the shape of a flower. But this meal used fresh vegetables and natural flavors, allowing these people who were used to eating exquisite flavors to suddenly experience something more rural. It was rather novel.
Cui Qiao made a trip to the kitchen and bestowed a silver ingot to that granny. The cook's eyes squinted from happiness.
*
Since there were hotsprings, there would definitely be pools for them to soak in.
After the hotsprings were discovered, hotspring baths became all the rage. The wealthy households in the capital all rushed to construct manors for such a purpose. The benefits of soaking in hotsprings had been more or less discovered and everyone knew it was good for the health.
The Jinhua Hall, Guiyan Chambers and Lincang Residence each had its own pool. Apart from the health benefits, it was also fun to soak in a hotspring. Otherwise, why would the wealthy households construct these manors if they could just soak in hot water back home? The three pools were rather uniquely constructed. Half of it was indoors and half of it was open-air. The open-air area was covered by artificial mountains and rocks, and used colorful pebbles as tiling.
It was said that soaking in the middle of winter, where it would be cold outside and warm inside, was a very special feeling.
Mei Xue had long since been impatient. The Guiyan Chambers also had a pool in the auxiliary courtyard for the maids. Although it wasn't as exquisite as the masters', and was even a little crude, it was still a hotspring. Many people hadn't even seen them before, let alone soak in it. After hearing that it was for them to use, the few lasses were all overjoyed. Mei Xue was lively in nature and Yan Yan also usually indulged her. She thus kept pestering Yan Yan with her eyes.
Yan Yan was extremely speechless. Matron Zou smiled and said they could take turns in going so the masters wouldn't lack people. Therefore, after a round of chattering, they started going in groups.
Since they were separated by only one wall, the large movements aroused the Lingcang Residence's attention. When they heard about the hotspring, the Lincang Residence's maids also planned on going with Mei Xue's group. The Peaceful Garden wasn't like the marquis estate, and there weren't that many auxiliary residences for the maids to live in. The maids from all three residences lived together in a lateral courtyard. This was a good opportunity for them to improve their relationship.
Yan Mo came to the Guiyan Chambers and told Yan Yan he wanted to soak in the hotspring.
Even Yan Yan's interest had been aroused and she ordered the servants to make preparations. She took her brother to the hotspring located behind the Guiyan Chambers.
Although they were both young and were also siblings, they were still male and female. They had a curtain separating them as their maids bathed them in advance. The two then wore underwear as they entered the hotspring.
The pool was laid with white marble and was rectangular. There were steps that lead into it and there were several stone seats inside they could sit on.
The water was slightly hot. After soaking for a while, Yan Yan started feeling warm. She glanced at the area outside the doors and prepared to head outside for a look.
The moment she went out, a gust of cold air greeted her. However, since she had just come out from the hotspring, she didn't feel cold.
The outside pool was around two zhang on each side. It was lined with various colored pebbles and surrounded by two artificial mountains the height of two people. Apart from the open skies, there was no need to worry about being peeped on.
The hazy steam gave it a mystical air.
Yan Yan tested the water's temperature with her foot and got into the pool. She soaked for a while and felt this place was extremely good. The inner pool was a little stuffy, and along with the hot water it felt too warm.
Here, it wasn't too cold or too hot. It was just right.
Yan Yan sighed in praised and leaned against the limestone behind her. She squinted in pleasure.
"Sis."
A faint voice sounded out. Yan Mo poked his little head out from the doors.
His little mouth was pouted and his expression was a little aggrieved.
Yan Yan gave him a glance and cleared her throat. "Your body is frail. I'm afraid you will catch a cold."
Yan Mo naturally understood. Otherwise, he wouldn't only poke his little head out.
He looked hesitant. "It'll be fine. I'll run very quickly and get in the water right away."
Yan Yan considered it. "Have Mei Xiang carry you over while wrapped in a towel.
Yan Mo nodded and went back inside.
Soon, Yan Mo was also in the open-air pool He shrunk his entire body into the water, and only poked his little head and neck out. Yan Yan found a place for him to sit, and had Mei Xiang bring over two towels for him to lean against.
"Sis, this place is so comfortable!" Yan Mo's dark pupils were shining and he smiled happily.
"We can't soak for too long, at most half an hour. Your body is frail so you can only soak for fifteen minutes."
Before soaking, Yan Yan had sent someone to ask Qiao Rong's wife. She said sturdier people could soak for longer. But once they started sweating and they felt their heart speed up, it was time to get out. Of course, after resting a while, they could continue soaking again. But Yan Yan didn't dare take risks with Yan Mo's health and could only take it step by step.
After soaking for a bit, Yan Mo started sweating.
Yan Mo had never stopped soaking in the medicinal baths these days. Lady Hui had said it was to dispel cold and strengthen the body. Yan Yan saw that the hotspring seemed to have a similar effect, and decided to let him soak more frequently in the future.
Once Yan Mo's face started turning red, she felt the pulse on his neck and called Mei Xiang to carry him out.
As for her, she continued soaking leisurely.
*
Before Yan Yan left, she had sent Luo Huai Yuan a letter letting him know she would stay at the manor for some time.
Luo Huai Yuan was restless after receiving the letter. After a few more days, he could finally relax after receiving another letter from her. Then he started planning how to get Shen Qi to take him to visit.
It wasn't convenient to do so at the Weiyuan Marquis Estate, but the manor was different. Shen Qi was Shen Yi Yao's nephew. Wasn't it normal to visit his cousin and aunt? As Shen Qi's little playmate, there wasn't anything to pick at if he tagged along.
The brat little second Shen had been suffering during this time. After the Lantern Festival, his dad sent him to the Qingshan Institute. The institute was within the capital and he could return home every day. But like he said, once he started attending the institute, there was no time for him to play around. This was essentially torture for him and he badgered his mom daily to spare him.
Second Madam Shen couldn't comply with her son's request this time and refused him decisively. She wanted to have her son learn properly from the teachers at the institute so he could become someone with both brains and brawn in the future.
Brats were brats becase they were disobedient.
As the saying goes, the higher ups have their rules and those below have ways of circumventing them. Shen Qi attended the Qingshan Institute for a few days and got an understanding of the place. As of now, he had learned how to sneak out of the place. He had practiced martial arts from a young age and was very agile. The surrounding walls and the gates might as well not have been there.
After sneaking out a few times and getting discovered, the institute's teacher sent a report back to the Zhenguo Duke Estate. Shen Ding searched all over the estate for this brat, intending to give him a good beating.
As a matter of fact, he ended up hiding in the fourth prince estate to avoid the beating.
Hearing little fatty Luo say little sis Ah Yan was at the manor in the capital suburbs, where there was good food and fun and even hotsprings, his eyes immediately lit up.
He clapped his hands: "Go! Let's go play with little sis Ah Yan."
Little fatty Luo grinned evilly in his heart but he put on a troubled appearance.
"You snuck over here to begin with. Is it ok to go to the suburbs?"
"What's not ok about it? I'll have someone send word over and tell them I'm at my aunt's manor. My dad definitely wouldn't run over to her place to beat me and vent his anger."
Luo Huai Yuan nodded and howled wolfishly in his heart. Little sis Ah Yan, I'm coming.
Right before leaving, he thought of a problem. Since little sis Ah Yan had been taken there by her mom, doesn't this mean he would be meeting his mother-in-law?
Since ancient times, mother-in-laws were major enemies of son-in-laws. Those who couldn't coax their mother-in-laws wouldn't have a happy life after marriage.
But he truly didn't know what this mother-in-law of his liked.