From Hoarding to Time-Travel: My Supplies Saved Him

Her crimson brocade robe trailed upon the floor, her voice a warbler’s soft and shifting tune. A green silk cap held fast by a rhino pin, while phoenixes swayed on a golden step-shaking hairpin.

Her skin was as smooth and fine as soft red jade, her gaze a subtle promise of passion. Too shy to slip beneath the lovers’ quilt, their affections deepened in the glow of the scented lamp.

When she opened her eyes again, their gazes met. Jin Qianqian hadn’t even a moment to feel shy before Ancient Wen Heng burst out laughing.

"What are you laughing at?"

"You’re finally mine," Ancient Wen Heng said. With his long-held wish at last fulfilled, he felt as if his world was now complete.

Jin Qianqian glanced at the light filtering through the window and whispered, "Shouldn’t we be getting up?"

They had made such a commotion yesterday, calling for water several times, and Jin Qianqian couldn’t help but feel a little awkward.

However, the two had long been as comfortable as an old married couple, so Jin Qianqian quickly adjusted.

Ancient Wen Heng gazed at her still-pale face, knowing he had been too rough the night before. His heart aching for her, he said, "It’s alright. In this house, what you say, goes. Rest a while longer."

Jin Qianqian was truly exhausted. She closed her eyes. "Then I’ll rest a little longer. Wake me in half an hour."

Watching Jin Qianqian drift back into a deep sleep, Ancient Wen Heng carefully climbed out of bed, picked up the robe tossed on the floor, and casually draped it over his shoulders.

"Master, you’re awake." Seeing the door to the room open, Hong Tianbao quickly trotted over.

"Tell everyone to be quiet, and bring water for me to wash up." Ancient Wen Heng waved him away, then turned and walked to the study off to the side.

When Jin Qianqian woke again, she immediately clutched her growling stomach.

She struggled to sit up, and just as she was about to call for someone, Qing Mei, having heard the stirring, asked softly from outside the door, "Madam, are you awake?"

"Come in!"

Qing Mei gently pushed the door open to see Jin Qianqian already dressed.

"What time is it?"

"It’s almost noon," Qing Mei said, walking over to help straighten her dress. "Madam must be hungry, yes? The kitchen is ready at a moment’s notice. Should I have them send something over?"

Jin Qianqian asked, "Where is the Master?"

"The Master is still in the study. Shall I go find him?"

Jin Qianqian shook her head. "No, that’s alright. I’ll wash up first. Tell them to serve the meal."

Qing Mei had only just left when Ancient Wen Heng entered. "Are you hungry?"

Jin Qianqian pressed a hand to her stomach and shot him an eye-roll. "Of course I am. If not for my stomach’s protest, I probably could have slept until dark."

"Didn’t I tell you to call me after half an hour? Why didn’t you wake me?"

Ancient Wen Heng chuckled. "A little more rest is good for your recovery. If you hadn’t woken up on your own just now, I was about to wake you anyway."

Jin Qianqian glanced at a few unfamiliar maidservants. "Where did they come from?"

Ancient Wen Heng replied, "These are high-class maids I asked Prince Bai to find for me in Shangjing. Two female stewards came along with them."

"Changing masters midway through their service, won’t there be a problem?" Jin Qianqian understood how these things worked. Servants trained by a great family were loyal to their original masters to the bone.

Ancient Wen Heng lowered his voice. "They’re all household servants from families that were wiped out. Most prominent families might be wary of them, but for us, they’re perfect."

Only then did Jin Qianqian breathe a sigh of relief. "That’s excellent. We’re still lacking in certain knowledge, and we can learn a thing or two from them."

At the same time, ’For the first time, a sliver of fear toward imperial power took root in her heart. She felt a looming sense of crisis in this dynasty where a subject must die if his monarch commands it.’

Just then, Jin Qianqian saw Hong Tianbao leading people over with trays of food. She pointed at him with feigned annoyance. "You little rascal, you’ve gotten quite sly. Your acting was so convincing yesterday, you nearly scared me to death."

Hong Tianbao immediately put on a placating smile. "Madam, you have no idea! I had to summon all my courage to even go."

"But rest assured, the senior maids have already punished me. I’ll never dare to do it again."

Hearing Hong Tianbao begging for mercy, Jin Qianqian grew curious. "Oh? Tell me."

Ancient Wen Heng ladled a bowl of chicken soup for her. "Here, have some soup first."

Hong Tianbao dared not linger to curry favor. He stole a glance at Ancient Wen Heng and quickly excused himself.

Jin Qianqian ate until she was about seventy percent full before putting down her utensils.

"I didn’t really get a good look at this courtyard yesterday. Aren’t you going to give me a tour?" Now that her stomach was full, Jin Qianqian’s leisurely mood had returned.

Ancient Wen Heng took her hand and began to show her around the estate.

This new courtyard was not only in a much better location than the place they had been renting, but it was also two or three times larger.

After a full tour, Jin Qianqian marveled once more at these quaint and elegant manors. She never expected that a three-courtyard residence could be designed with little bridges and flowing streams.

"It’s wonderful. A grand courtyard like this... I’m afraid I won’t be able to get used to our little house when we go back." The more Jin Qianqian looked, the more she liked it. The standard southern architecture was exactly to her taste.

Ancient Wenheng said, "If you can’t get used to it, we’ll get a new one."

Two deep dimples appeared on Jin Qianqian’s face. "Husband, so much like a domineering CEO!"

"Mischievous," Ancient Wen Heng said, unable to resist poking her dimples. "Our other courtyard really is too small. There won’t be enough room when we bring all these people back."

"After the New Year, I’ll write a letter and have Xiao Dongzi keep an eye out."

Jin Qianqian gazed at the pavilions and terraces. "I doubt our little county town has courtyards this large or with this kind of design. Let’s not make things difficult for Xiao Dongzi."

"If we really can’t fit, we can just buy a smaller place nearby. We can make do if we have to."

At this, Jin Qianqian glanced at Ancient Wen Heng. "Aren’t you taking the provincial exam next year? If worst comes to worst, we can just buy a place in Dao City!"

Jin Qianqian was more than willing to purchase more real estate. ’Having houses and land to her name would set her mind at ease.’

＆

When it was time for dinner, Jin Qianqian discovered that Hong Tianbao had brought even Hong Da, Huang Ying, and Mrs. Huang over to the new courtyard.

"Then what about our home over there?" Jin Qianqian couldn’t break the habit of calling it home. Although the house was rented, she felt a sense of belonging there.

"From now on, we’ll all live here. As for the other house, we’ll return it to the landlord when the lease is up." Ancient Wen Heng thought of his nephew still living there and decided not to terminate the lease early, letting them continue to stay.

’The rent was paid until early spring anyway. When the time comes, I’ll send him back to our hometown. As his uncle, I will have fulfilled my duty to the family.’

Jin Qianqian looked thoughtfully at Hong Tianbao. "You brought Mrs. Huang and the others over. Didn’t the Le Family ask any questions?"

Hong Tianbao replied, "It seems Young Master Le and the others didn’t go back yesterday. My father said they went to the Song family’s home for the festival."

Jin Qianqian glanced at Ancient Wen Heng. "I was home all morning yesterday and didn’t hear them mention it."

Ancient Wen Heng had long given up on Gu Lejia. "Let him be. We’re going back in about two months anyway."

Everyone understood his unspoken meaning, and the topic was naturally dropped.