Chapter 425: Chapter 409 Daily Life
She was someone who loved comfort and had a somewhat leisurely temperament. Having grown accustomed to a life of luxury and ease at the Feng Mansion in the Capital City, she especially loved to sleep in. Indulged by her family, she was never forced to learn embroidery or study. Knowing her frail health, they wouldn’t make her exercise or endure hardship. So back then, when Xie Xun realized he couldn’t push her, he simply took matters into his own hands and began rigorously training Fengyu for her benefit.
When Fengyu arrived in West State, there was a period when she would train daily to improve her fitness. But as autumn and winter came, her laziness kicked in. Fengyu managed the affairs of three northern provinces in West State, staying busy with official duties, and occasionally needing to conduct inspections of surrounding regions. She also oversaw all commerce across twelve provinces—a task that would overwhelm anyone—but she deftly delegated to her trusted associates. Chunlu and Manager Wen had practically taken over all decision-making in business matters and only consulted Fengyu on rare occasions when they were unsure.
She didn’t need to worry about patrol and security, as Zhang Da, along with the formerly rough bandits Zhang Hu and Zhang Meng, managed that perfectly. At home, Qiuxiang ensured every domestic affair was meticulously handled.
Nangong Heng could supervise all major and minor matters within West State’s territory. This granted Fengyu a good five hours of sleep daily. Naturally inclined to sleep in, she found herself chastised by Xie Xun once he arrived. Thinking she was far too indolent, he strictly limited her to three hours of sleep a day and spent the rest of the time drilling her. Before dawn, she’d be up running and practicing swordplay.
After lunchtime, she’d rest for an hour before being taken horseback riding or trekking up mountains on foot, sometimes with added weights. To prevent Fengyu from getting bored, Xie Xun switched the mountains they climbed every other day. By now, Fengyu was intimately familiar with every peak around West State. Over the past two years, her physique had notably improved, growing taller and fuller. Thanks to Qiuxiang and Chunlu’s care, and West State’s diet of rice and wheat, she now looked healthier and more rounded compared to her time in the Capital City, where her thin face barely had much weight to it. However, after just four days under Xie Xun’s regimen, Fengyu noticeably slimmed down.
But her complexion had become much brighter!
After sticking it out for five days, Fengyu couldn’t take it anymore. But Xie Xun was someone who stuck to things relentlessly. Whenever Fengyu trained, he tripled the effort himself. If Fengyu couldn’t keep up, he’d personally take the punishment.
Protests from Fengyu were pointless. Reluctantly, she followed his regimen begrudgingly, though she didn’t bother to show him any pleasant demeanor.
Her little temper didn’t faze Xie Xun one bit.
"Why are you training Ayu like this?" Xie Jue handed a clean handkerchief to Ruyi for him to wipe his mouth and hands. Ruyi, however, took the handkerchief and began blowing on it energetically while swaying it around. Xie Jue remarked, "Are you treating her like a new recruit in training?"
"Her health isn’t good!" Xie Xun, staring at Fengyu’s rosy cheeks, lied without blinking. "She eats and sleeps but won’t move around. Even the doctor said her circulation is poor."
Fengyu rarely allowed her dignity to be slighted in front of Xie Jue. Feeling her reputation maligned, she couldn’t help but retort, "You took my pulse yourself, don’t play doctor."
"I learned pulse diagnosis in military medicine. I can practically treat patients now," Xie Xun replied with a hint of self-satisfaction, finally understanding why Chunlu seemed to have a knack for medicine—prolonged exposure to Fengyu’s illnesses had turned those close to her into amateur healers.
Xiaoqi reflected inwardly. After returning to West State, didn’t her health seem fine? Even the doctors said regular maintenance was sufficient. But one couldn’t deny that after Xie Xun’s arrival, her health had indeed improved further.
Xie Jue, observing Fengyu’s glowing complexion, found it hard to believe she wasn’t in good health. Back when he saw her in the Capital City, she had been frail to the point where it seemed a gust of wind could topple her. She didn’t look like someone with a long life expectancy. Now, though still slender, she wasn’t weak. Her gaze was clear, her cheeks were rosy, and she appeared healthier than the average young lady from noble families. He wondered, what on earth was Xie Xun’s standard for assessing poor health?
While engaging in casual conversation, Xie Jue didn’t interfere in their matters. If Fengyu were truly upset, she would’ve already had a falling-out with Xie Xun. Instead, their playful bickering seemed more like a form of affection, so Xie Jue couldn’t be bothered to involve himself.
His thoughts drifted back to certain events years ago. Lost in brief contemplation, someone tactlessly brought up an awkward topic, "Second Brother, I remember you weren’t in great health as a child either. Didn’t Fang Chuning force you to get up before dawn for sword practice and horseback riding? Didn’t you fight him over it and knock out one of his teeth?"
Fengyu: "?"
Second Brother was that fierce? Able to injure Fang Chuning? Junjun once said her elder brother was trained by a general to wrestle with tigers on a mountain at the tender age of seven.
Xie Jue, expressionless, responded, "Stop spreading rumors. He was simply losing a baby tooth."
"You didn’t hit him?" Xie Xun teased while watching Ruyi play with the handkerchief. "He goes around telling everyone it was you who knocked his tooth out."
Fearing Xie Xun might snatch his handkerchief, Ruyi anxiously flailed his legs while tightly clutching it, clearly enjoying his newfound toy. Xie Jue observed the child playing with what was supposed to be a hand-wiping cloth. Fengyu silently mused—uh-oh, Ruyi was about to get scolded. Sure enough, Xie Jue squinted his eyes and said sternly, "Ruyi, don’t play with the handkerchief."
Ruyi, with his round, innocent eyes, obediently wiped his hands, then his mouth, before flashing a charming grin at Xie Jue, his eyebrows curved in hopes of earning praise.
"Ruyi is so good!" Fengyu pinched his chubby little cheek. "So well-behaved and smart."