"No! Don't! I beg you, Master, give me another chance. I promise, I promise I won't make a mistake again!"
"Master! I beg you! If I'm sent back, I won't survive. They say if no one buys me, they'll sell me to the army. Master, please!"
The person's voice was shrill as he clutched Shen Xuan's collar. Shen Xuan didn't want to cause a death, so he quickly pulled his collar free and glanced at him coldly.
"Considering it's your first offense, I can spare your life today and keep you in the manor."
"Thank you, Master, thank you, Master!" The person kowtowed repeatedly, his forehead bleeding from the force of his bows.
"Regarding your father's affairs, I can advance you a month's wages, but I cannot forgive you simply because you are pitiful."
"Without rules, nothing can be done properly. From now on, you will go to the stable area to feed the horses. During the day, you will clean the main gate, and you are not allowed to enter the inner courtyard."
"All of you listen well. This is also a warning to you. If anyone else commits such an act in the future, do not blame me for being ruthless." Shen Xuan's sharp gaze swept over everyone.
They were all startled, not expecting a man to possess such presence. They repeatedly agreed.
"What is your name?" Shen Xuan slowly walked up to the tall man, scrutinizing him.
"Your servant's name is A'da," A'da replied respectfully.
"You have done well. From now on, you will work in the inner courtyard." Shen Xuan looked at him and nodded, very satisfied.
The inner courtyard couldn't have everything done by A'fu. It was necessary to select people from among them to assist A'fu.
"Yes."
A'da's reply was neither servile nor overbearing, which Shen Xuan greatly appreciated.
On the way back, Shen Xuan turned to A'fu and spoke about what had just happened. "From now on, you will be in charge of these matters."
"With more people in the manor, such incidents are bound to happen, and there will be those with sticky fingers. I think A'da is quite good. I'll transfer him to the inner courtyard. You observe him closely in the coming days."
"If he proves satisfactory, he can stay to assist you and help manage the others."
"Young Master, you truly had the demeanor of a Master today. You were so majestic." A'fu, recalling the scene, was full of admiration.
"This is their first day in the manor, and such an incident has occurred. It shows they don't take me, the Master, seriously. Therefore, I must use this matter to establish my authority and also to warn them, lest they harbor more wicked thoughts in the future, which would be difficult to manage."
"But Young Master, why didn't you expel him? Wouldn't expelling him have shown more authority, making them afraid to do this again?"
"It is most important to combine both leniency and severity. If I were to press them relentlessly today, they would only think me unreasonable. By letting him go, but without complete impunity, it serves as a deterrent without making them overly fearful of me."
"Young Master, you are truly amazing." A'fu looked at Shen Xuan beside him with adoration, earnestly learning.
"You will understand in the future. Remember, the most important thing is to have rules, so that rewards and punishments have a basis." Shen Xuan patted A'fu's hand and pushed open the door to enter the room.
...
"I heard you established your authority in front of everyone today?" Lu Yu asked with a smile as soon as she entered the room.
"Wife, how did you know?"
"I heard it from the young servants at home. They were all discussing privately how formidable our Master is." Lu Yu took off her outer coat, stepped forward, and hugged Shen Xuan, continuing with a smile, "Even A'fu told me when he saw me just now how amazing you were today."
"Xuan'er is becoming more and more like a Master." Lu Yu nuzzled Shen Xuan's hair with her face.
"Does Wife not like it?" Shen Xuan, nestled in Lu Yu's arms, spoke lazily.
"Of course I like it. I absolutely love this domineering side of you."
"Wife hasn't even seen it, yet you say that. Are you perhaps trying to coax me?" Shen Xuan huffed lightly and turned his head away.
Lu Yu raised her hand and gently stroked Shen Xuan's lustrous black hair, her eyes full of smiles and tenderness. "I can imagine it. If my husband doesn't believe me, then perform for me now, and I'll show you whether I like it or not."
"I won't."
Shen Xuan always appeared grand and gentle when outside, but only in front of Lu Yu did he act like a child, pouting, throwing tantrums, playful, and adorable.
Shen Xuan turned his head, leaving the back of his head to Lu Yu, who was holding him. Lu Yu suppressed a smile, slowly curved her lips, and leaned forward to plant a kiss on Shen Xuan's lips.
The fleeting kiss made Shen Xuan's heart flutter. "You're always like this."
Shen Xuan looked up at the secretly smiling Lu Yu, pouting.
"Your wife wants a reward today. Do you agree?" Lu Yu leaned close to Shen Xuan's ear, her low voice swirling into his ear.
"Why?"
"Because today I saw them whispering about you, and I reprimanded them for you." Lu Yu brought her face closer, rubbing against Shen Xuan's cheek, her expression full of appeasement.
Hearing this, Shen Xuan smiled and imprinted a sweet kiss on Lu Yu's lips.
Then, he gently pushed Lu Yu. "We'll be having dinner soon. Today, you, as the head of the household, should also let them recognize you, right?"
The setting sun cast its rays into the room, falling upon the two of them, a scene of tranquil beauty.
As night fell, Shen Xuan lay in Lu Yu's arms, chatting idly.
"Xuan'er, I want to tell you something. It might not be true, so don't get agitated."
Shen Xuan, hearing Lu Yu say this, was very curious. He nudged Lu Yu's arm, coaxing her to speak quickly.
"I think Gu Yitong might like A'fu."
"Oh, right. I was just about to ask you. Did Miss Gu upset A'fu yesterday at the medical clinic?"
"Yesterday?" Lu Yu frowned slightly, recalling carefully. "It should have been her. It seems only she spoke with A'fu yesterday."
"That must be it. Yesterday, when I found A'fu, he was talking to himself in the courtyard and wouldn't tell me anything. Now that you mention it, I think I understand."
"Are you suspecting that A'fu harbors feelings for Gu Yitong as well?" Lu Yu quickly grasped the meaning of Shen Xuan's words and finished his thought.
"I have a feeling he does, but you absolutely must not say anything. This concerns a man's reputation." Shen Xuan worried that Lu Yu might tell Gu Yitong and added the instruction with concern.
"I won't say anything. However, if the two of them can truly be together, it would be quite good."
"I think so too. We know Miss Gu well. If they truly have feelings for each other, I would be at ease entrusting A'fu to her."
"I'll probe Yitong's thoughts tomorrow. You don't need to worry too much." Lu Yu patted Shen Xuan's back, embracing him as they slowly drifted off to sleep.