BDSMST -Chapter 11 The “Concern” from the Marquis’s Residence in the Capital

The days passed in the steady rhythm of “work at sunrise, rest at sunset.”

Half a month later, the once-ruined estate had begun to take shape.

Under the quiet nourishment of the spiritual spring water, the vegetable patch Jiang Suisui had reclaimed was flourishing. The jade cabbages and flame peppers—seeds taken from her space—had sprouted tender green shoots that competed to grow taller each day. Their growth was several times faster than ordinary crops, vibrant and full of life.

Gu Xuan’s own little “private plot” had also transformed under his daily clumsy efforts. What had once looked like it had been chewed over by a dog now resembled something respectable. Though still not as neat as Jiang Suisui’s land, the sight of seedlings he had planted and watered with his own hands growing day by day often brought an unconscious smile to his small face.

He was no longer the little heir who only cried and threw tantrums. His skin had turned a healthy honey-brown from the sun, and his small body had grown noticeably sturdier. Although he still grumbled from exhaustion and occasionally argued back at Jiang Suisui, his hands never stopped working.

He had learned to pop the blisters on his palms by himself, to recognize several common wild vegetables, and to cherish every grain of rice in his bowl.

Because he knew—he had earned it.

At noon one day, just as Jiang Suisui was teaching Gu Xuan how to thin out the vegetable seedlings, an unexpected “guest” broke the estate’s quiet.

It was Steward Liu from the Marquis of Yongning’s residence in the capital.

Accompanied by two servants on tall horses and escorted by a carriage piled high with goods, he arrived at the estate gate. When he saw the place before him—still simple, yet clearly renewed—his eyes filled with shock.

The courtyard walls had been repaired. The weeds had been cleared. The broken roofs had been rethatched with fresh straw, making the houses look tidy and presentable. Most astonishing of all was the lush, thriving greenery in the vegetable patch.

This… was nothing like the desolate, ghostly ruin he had imagined.

He had come under orders from the Old Madam Zhou of the Marquis’s residence.

By her calculations, it had been nearly a month since that merchant-born woman had brought the young heir to this remote countryside. According to her expectations, they should have long since run out of money and be crying to return. She had deliberately sent Steward Liu with food and supplies to display the Marquis household’s “benevolence,” then conveniently “invite” the fallen mother and son back—where they could be properly reprimanded.

But the scene before him swallowed all his carefully prepared words of “sympathy.”

He saw Jiang Suisui.

The once gentle, unobtrusive Madam of the Marquis’s residence now wore patched coarse clothing and a straw hat, mud dotting her trouser legs. She was squatting in the field, patiently explaining something to… to the young heir.

And that little tyrant who had once run wild in the residence—throwing things and beating servants—was dressed in a small set of work clothes, his face darkened by the sun. He crouched properly beside her, listening intently, carefully holding a seedling he had just pulled.

Steward Liu rubbed his eyes, almost unable to believe what he saw.

Was this really the little devil who smashed things at the slightest provocation?

“Steward Liu? What brings you here?” Jiang Suisui stood up and brushed the dirt from her hands. Her tone was calm, revealing no particular emotion.

“Ma… Madam…” Steward Liu hurriedly dismounted and bowed respectfully. “The Old Madam was worried about the young heir and ordered this servant to come and visit, bringing some clothes and food for you both.”

As he spoke, he gestured toward the carriage. The servants immediately began unloading items—boxes of exquisite pastries, bolts of luxurious silk, and all kinds of fashionable trinkets from the capital.

When Gu Xuan saw those familiar objects, his eyes brightened for a moment. But then he glanced down at the lush green vegetable patch at his feet, and that flicker of excitement quietly faded.

“Many thanks for Mother’s concern,” Jiang Suisui said lightly, not even glancing at the goods. “We are doing well here and lack nothing. Please take these things back.”

“Th-this…” Steward Liu froze. He had expected Jiang Suisui to be overwhelmed with gratitude. He had never imagined she would refuse outright.

“Madam, this is all from the Old Madam’s sincere concern…”

“I appreciate the thought, but the items aren’t necessary,” Jiang Suisui interrupted. “We have no use for silks and satins here, nor are we accustomed to fine flour and polished rice. Bringing these things would only be a waste.”

Her words were polite, but the distance in her tone was unmistakable.

Steward Liu’s expression grew awkward. Clearing his throat, he turned to Gu Xuan and put on a kindly smile.

“Young Heir, look—Old Madam sent your favorite osmanthus cakes, and even a newly made little bow and arrows! Come back to the residence with this old servant. This countryside is no place for you.”

He assumed that if he coaxed the little ancestor properly, Jiang Suisui would have no choice but to follow.

Gu Xuan stared at the plate of fragrant osmanthus cakes and swallowed. But when his gaze met Jiang Suisui’s calm, unreadable eyes, he somehow straightened his small chest and declared loudly:

“I’m not going back! I still need to… I still need to farm!”

Steward Liu’s jaw nearly dropped to the ground.

Farm? The young heir said he wanted to farm?!

Jiang Suisui took a letter she had prepared earlier from her sleeve and handed it to Steward Liu.

“Life here is simple, so we won’t trouble Steward Liu to stay for a meal. Please deliver this letter to Father and Mother. Tell them we are well and need not be worried about.”

Steward Liu accepted the letter mechanically, his mind still in chaos.

He couldn’t understand what had happened to cause such earth-shaking changes in just half a month—transforming a delicate Marquis’s wife and a little tyrant into… this.

Filled with confusion and shock, he had the servants load the goods back onto the carriage untouched and left in a rather embarrassed retreat.

After they had gone far away, Chunxing asked worriedly, “Madam, you just sent them away like that? What… did you write in the letter?”

“Nothing much,” Jiang Suisui smiled faintly. “Just eight words.”

Chunxing did not know that the letter read:

‘All is well. Do not worry. We await the autumn harvest. Our return will be decided in due time.’

When these eight words reached the Marquis of Yongning’s residence in the capital, they were like a pebble tossed into a calm lake.

Old Madam Zhou gripped the thin sheet of paper, her face turning livid with anger.

“Await the autumn harvest? Return decided in due time? Wonderful! Just wonderful! Has she grown addicted to that wretched countryside? Her wings have hardened—she doesn’t even want to come home anymore?!”

She had expected a tearful plea for rescue. Instead, she received this indifferent message—almost tinged with defiance.

Beside her, the old Marquis, Gu Yuan, frowned deeply.

From Steward Liu’s rambling report, he had sharply picked out several key points: the estate had changed, Jiang Suisui was farming, and most absurd of all—his fearless, unruly grandson was farming too, and didn’t want to come back.

This was far too abnormal.

“It seems we have underestimated this merchant-born woman,” Gu Yuan said gravely.

Old Madam Zhou snorted. “What waves can a mere woman stir? I’d like to see how long she can endure in that place! Without the Marquis’s protection, does she think planting a few vegetables can sustain her for a lifetime? Dream on!”

Things seemed to be developing in a direction they had never anticipated.