A warmth spread through Wen Ningxuan's heart upon hearing her words. He knew that no matter how much he concealed himself, even if the whole world misunderstood him, this little woman understood him completely. Moreover, she was intelligent enough not to pressure him, and her tone was remarkably lighthearted.

Wen Ningxuan offered her a gentle smile, pulling Lin He closer, and murmured, "We'll be there soon enough. Why ask so many questions? Won't you know everything once we arrive?"

Lin He looked up at Wen Ningxuan and asked nothing further. She simply rested quietly in his embrace, gazing out the carriage window. After watching for a while, Lin He suddenly realized the road looked intensely familiar—it seemed to lead toward the Lin family estate. Could this scoundrel be taking me back to my maiden home?

However, as they passed behind her family's residence, the carriage didn't stop. It seemed to circle for quite some time before finally drawing to a halt before a sprawling manor. Wen Ningxuan picked up Lin He, saying, "He'er, we've arrived. Let's get down."

Lin He stepped out of the carriage and stared at the grand residence before her. She couldn't help but muse that the "simplicity" wealthy people spoke of could not be measured by the same yardstick as her own understanding of simplicity.

Lin He had once asked Wen Ningxuan what this house was like, how large it was, and so forth. At the time, Wen Ningxuan had merely said it was a simple courtyard, not too large, but with pleasant scenery. In Lin He's mind, this conjured an image of a small entrance leading into a plain building, perhaps just a few rooms, at best a slightly refined siheyuan courtyard house.

But now, standing before this estate, Lin He realized it wasn't the house that was simple, but her own conception of simplicity that had been too naive. The two massive stone lions guarding the entrance alone, and the sheer breadth of the gate, were likely worth more than several houses combined.

Entering the main grounds, the layout was surprisingly unconventional, unlike the standard, rigid structures. Upon crossing the threshold, a path of pebbles stretched through the center, flanked by a patch of lawn, immediately followed by a pavilion, an artificial lake, and a rockery.

To the right, the first things that caught the eye were a row of buildings, closely bordered by a white wall topped with azure tiles. Though the interior behind the wall was not fully visible, the glimpse of the rooftops suggested immensely spacious interiors.

Seeing Lin He standing there, lost in awe at the entrance, Wen Ningxuan smiled faintly. "What is it? When this house was built, the land area was a bit restricted, so it isn't overly expansive, but its virtue is its quietude. I thought you might like it."

Lin He rubbed her temples, slightly exasperated by his understatement. She gave him a wry look. "Young Master, I agree this place is a tad small. I suspect you’d need to construct four or five more residences of this size before it’s enough for me to occupy." With that, Lin He walked forward.

Behind her, Ziyu lowered her head and chuckled, quickly catching up to Lin He. "Young Mistress, this house is truly beautiful—both gorgeous and tranquil. As I walked over, I noticed we aren't far from the Eastern family’s residence; it's only a short walk. If only we could live here permanently."

Lin He shot Ziyu a sidelong glance. This maid was pushing her luck. The price for staying here this time was burning down the old house. If they were to live here long-term, she shuddered to think what the cost might be.

Ignoring Ziyu, Lin He continued forward until she reached an archway, realizing then that true wonders lay beyond.

Passing through the arch, the main courtyard's layout finally became apparent. It was far more spacious than the initial view suggested, featuring numerous buildings of varying heights. Though they appeared staggered from the outside, upon closer inspection within, their arrangement followed a distinct, harmonious pattern.

The main courtyard began with an open space, yet it wasn't empty; instead, it was planted with a grove of plum trees. Winding among these trees, a path paved with pale white stone led toward the central building. This small tower was constructed of white stone, with lush green vines draping from the second-floor balcony. The ground-floor corridors were lined with peonies and peach blossoms, while the latticed windows, framed with ice-flower patterns, were painted a pale blue, and the window paper as white as snow. From a distance, the scene possessed an elegance truly worthy of an immortal realm.

The buildings flanking the main tower were slightly lower but equally distinctive in their design, forcing Lin He to admire the vision of the original builders.

Just as Lin He was absorbed in admiration, Wen Ningxuan's tall figure appeared before her, a gentle smile gracing his face as he asked, "He'er, do you like it here? Let me show you where we will be staying. If you need anything else added or procured, tell me now, and I'll have Shunzhu send someone out this afternoon."

Lin He nodded and followed Wen Ningxuan into the tallest structure they had just observed. The interior layout and style mirrored the outside; it lacked the formality of a typical main hall, exuding a comfortable atmosphere. Furthermore, the lower floor featured several small side rooms on either side—perfect accommodations for maids like Ziqing and Ziyu, making it convenient for them to keep watch or attend to her needs.

When she followed Wen Ningxuan upstairs, the internal décor did not disappoint Lin He. The space was divided by bead curtains, and although the furnishings were all antique pieces fitting the era, Lin He found herself deeply fond of them.

Although Lin He felt that furniture from her past life would be more convenient, she conceded that such modern pieces in this setting would clash horribly; this house demanded accessories that matched its own character.

Lin He wandered around. Everywhere was immaculately clean, suggesting constant upkeep. Yet, upon entering the courtyard, she hadn't seen a single attendant. Where were the servants?

As if reading her thoughts, Wen Ningxuan chuckled softly. "Besides four older women who handle the heavy chores and the former head steward of the Wen family, there is no one else in this residence. If that proves insufficient, I can have a broker send more people over this afternoon."

Wen Ningxuan maintained his usual gentle demeanor, but a shadow of annoyance crossed Lin He’s mind. Why was this man, clearly carrying burdens and hiding much beneath that warm expression, refusing to share anything with her? What secrets needed to be kept between husband and wife?

Since Wen Ningxuan was unwilling to speak, Lin He didn't know how to prompt him to vent. After hearing his comment about staffing, Lin He retorted with a slight petulance, "Second Young Master, how many more people do you think are necessary? There are only two masters in this courtyard, yet we have over ten servants. Even if one person specialized in just one of your needs, that should suffice. I never realized Second Young Master was so particular."

Finishing her retort, Lin He paused as if struck by a thought, raised an eyebrow at him, and continued coolly, "Second Young Master, if you truly feel the staffing is thin, don't go buying new people. Why not just send over your four precious maids? Those girls have been missing you endlessly. Now that you are gone, I imagine they must be pining away."