Chapter 21 Who says the wedding night has to be...?

Shen Lingyue slept very soundly and even had a dream.

She dreamt that she was tied up in a dark cave. The cave was small and narrow, and the air was thin. She struggled with all her might, but the more she struggled, the more difficult it became for her to breathe.

Just when she thought she was going to suffocate there, a thick, long black snake emerged from some crack in the cave. Its eyes were green, like two small light bulbs glowing in the darkness, and it slithered toward her.

Shen Lingyue was terrified at first, but somehow the rope binding her disappeared, replaced by the snake, which coiled around her and tied her up.

You can't see anything, but the sense of touch is magnified and becomes even clearer.

The cool scales slid across her skin, relieving the stuffiness inside her acupoint. After a moment of inner turmoil, she finally succumbed to her instincts and grabbed the snake's body, pressing it against herself.

The snake was huge; when fully extended, it almost filled the cave. Shen Lingyue realized it had no intention of attacking her, so she pressed her advantage, scrambling up to hug it and trying to communicate with it: "Take me with you, let's climb out together, okay?"

The black snake remained silent, only relentlessly coiling around the person.

Enraged, Shen Lingyue poked its little head, "Stupid snake!"

But it feels so nice and cool...

Shen Lingyue gave up resisting. Let it be, even if the sky falls, she'll die a comfortable death.

After an unknown amount of time, the snake's body was no longer cold, but became hot and burning.

Shen Lingyue felt suffocated and tried to push it away, but it relentlessly coiled around her, wrapping her up tightly in circles. Its tongue licked her earlobe and the back of her neck, leaving a sticky residue wherever it touched.

She whimpered and squirmed, clearly disgusted.

You wicked snake, I was just trying to cool things down, why are you making things worse?

...

"Miss, Miss, wake up!"

Shen Lingyue groggily opened her eyes and met Qing Chan's face, then jumped up from the bed with a start.

"Oh no, I overslept again! Is Mom sending someone to wake me up again—"

She scrambled off the bed, and only when she stepped onto the carpet did she realize something was wrong.

Where am I? This doesn't seem to be my home.

Qingchan rubbed her forehead. "Miss, are you still half asleep? You married into the Changning Marquis's mansion yesterday. This isn't the Shen family anymore. You don't need to get up early to learn how to manage the household from the madam anymore."

"Oh? Oh, yes, I got married."

Shen Lingyue snapped out of her daze and shook her head, which felt like it was made of paste.

It's all that snake's fault; it made her dizzy!

She leaned against the bedpost, looked at the still dark sky outside, and said with dissatisfaction, "Then why did you wake me up so early?"

"You and your son-in-law need to go to the main courtyard to serve tea to your parents-in-law before Chenshi (7-9 AM). You also need to meet the Pei family's relatives in the morning."

Shen Lingyue gave an "oh," turned around to look at the bed, where only she was sleeping, her blankets were a mess, and asked, "Where's Pei Jinghuai?"

"The son-in-law got up an hour ago and went to the front yard to practice his martial arts."

With dark circles under her eyes, Qingchan looked at her with a hint of resentment: "Miss...why didn't you order water last night?"

She stayed up all night, only to have it all for nothing.

Besides, what groom gets up to practice martial arts the morning after his wedding? Does he have too much energy to spare?

When she and Shuangxu came in, they saw that the bed was clean and tidy, and the young master's quilt was folded and put away. Only their young lady was sleeping sprawled out, without any ladylike demeanor.

Qingchan's heart sank, and she couldn't help but ask, "You and your son-in-law didn't... huh?"

Shen Lingyue also realized this.

Yeah, she was really into touching me last night, and then what?

Then Pei Jinghuai seemed to push her onto the bed and kiss her.

And then... I can't remember.

Yes, it must be the sleeping pills taking effect; he fell asleep!

If he's asleep, then I must be asleep too.

Shen Lingyue nodded. Yes, the reasoning was correct.

She said to Qingchan with a straight face, "Who says the wedding night has to be like that? We've been working hard all day, can't we rest earlier?"

She used to watch videos and even saw the bride and groom staying up late at night counting the money they were giving as wedding gifts in bed.

Isn't counting money much more enjoyable than sleeping?

If you let her count money, she could do it all night!

However, the gifts received by the Marquis's mansion never reached her hands...

Shen Lingyue sighed with melancholy.

"Don't be sad, Miss. If last night wasn't enough, there's still tonight."

Qingchan encouraged her, "Let's get some rest today, recharge our energy, and come back tonight!"

Shen Lingyue: ...Thank you so much.

She waved her hand, "I'll talk to you later. Is there any hot water? I'm going to take a shower; I feel all sticky..."

It's probably because I drew the curtains before going to bed last night, and it felt stuffy.

Shen Lingyue had only taken two steps into the cubicle when she suddenly stopped.

Qingchan caught up: "What's wrong, Miss?"

She lowered her head to hide her burning cheeks and whispered, "Get me a new pair of underwear."

Oh no, how could this happen so early in the morning...?

Shen Lingyue immersed herself in the bathtub, closed her eyes, and began to engage in frantic self-suggestion.

It's okay, it's okay, this is a normal psychological phenomenon.

In any case, she had her fill of hand-holding before bed, and she also spent the night in the same bed with her handsome husband who was perfect for her in every way...

It's only human nature!

With mixed feelings, Shen Lingyue comforted herself, took a bath, changed her clothes, and just as she stepped out from behind the screen, she saw Pei Jinghuai push open the door and stride in.

He was dressed in a black short-sleeved shirt, his long hair was tightly tied on top of his head, revealing eyebrows and eyes that were even brighter and hotter than the summer sun, and his whole body was radiating hot sweat and heat.

"You've already taken a shower? Perfect, let me use the hot water."

Pei Jinghuai took a step forward as he spoke, and the overwhelming aura of hormones he exuded almost knocked people unconscious.

Shen Lingyue couldn't stand this and subconsciously took half a step back.

It's so hot, why does my nose feel so hot...?

Pei Jinghuai misunderstood, thinking she disliked the smell of his sweat, and raised his arm to smell it.

Thankfully, he took two cold showers this morning.

Maybe all girls are just this delicate; I won't stoop to her level.

"It'll be fine after washing."

Pei Jinghuai reached out and pulled Shen Lingyue aside, then quickly walked behind the screen and began to take off his clothes in no time.

The man's broad shoulders, slender waist, and long legs were vaguely reflected on the semi-transparent screen...

Shen Lingyue pinched her nose and ran away quickly, not daring to look back at all.

I still need to serve tea later, I can't let this disturb my Daoist concentration!

Pei Jinghuai washed up quickly, and by the time he came out looking refreshed, breakfast was already laid out.

He changed into a loose-fitting light blue undershirt, the color of which was very clear and transparent, like a mountain peak shrouded in clouds and mist meeting the sky, with a touch of white mixed in with the light blue.

Whether it was the usual practice of the Marquis's mansion or the special treatment for the new bride, the breakfast was very lavish. Small plates the size of a palm were laid out on the table, with more than twenty dishes in total. Each dish was small in quantity but exquisitely presented.

Shen Lingyue hadn't eaten all night and was starving. Seeing the table full of delicious-looking food, she immediately felt a surge of appetite and hurriedly picked up a small steamed bun, swallowing it in one gulp.

These are tea tree mushroom and meat buns with pre-cooked minced meat—so fragrant!

She squinted her eyes, her face full of satisfaction.

My stomach wasn't empty anymore, and I felt completely alive again.

Pickled goose feet, one please.

Sweet and sour smoked fish, take a piece.

The pickled chayote is crunchy and delicious.

There's also a cold mixed vegetable salad, where various seasonal vegetables are stir-fried separately, then mixed together with sesame oil. It's colorful, savory, and rich. Take a big bite sandwiched in a rose-shaped steamed bun, and the aroma fills your mouth.

Shen Lingyue ate with gusto, completely absorbed in the food. Qingchan kept giving her meaningful glances, and she forgot that there was someone sitting opposite her.

Pei Jinghuai ate slowly and deliberately. He had been eating the same dishes for more than ten years and was already tired of them.

It's more interesting to watch her eat.

Its face was already small, and its cheeks were full of food, puffing out like a little squirrel storing food for winter.

Shen Lingyue ate and drank to her heart's content, then took a big gulp of almond milk to smooth it down, and let out a soft burp.

I'm full.

Looking down, there was still half a bowl of chicken and millet porridge left unfinished.

She didn't have the habit of wasting food. Other snacks were fine, but the untouched ones could be taken away and distributed by the maids.

But she had drunk from this porridge before...

"Can't eat anymore?"

Pei Jinghuai noticed the struggle on her face; her delicate eyebrows furrowed, as if she had encountered some enormous problem.

Shen Lingyue nodded, then belatedly felt a little embarrassed.

She doesn't usually eat so haphazardly; she must have been starving today.

Fearing that Pei Jinghuai would laugh at her, she quickly said, "Tell them to put it away first, and I'll come back to drink it after I've digested it a bit."

"It's just a bowl of porridge, why make such a fuss?"

Pei Jinghuai scoffed, stretched his long arm across the table, grabbed the half-bowl of porridge she had left, and finished it in two gulps.

He picked up a handkerchief and wiped his mouth, then looked at her and said, "Alright, hurry up and get ready, don't be late for the tea ceremony."

Shen Lingyue was stunned and didn't come to her senses for a long time.

He actually drank the leftover porridge she left... Brother, aren't you being very informal?

Looking at the table again, she was shocked to find that all the dishes she had eaten were now empty.

Only two rose-shaped steamed buns and a plate of pine nut honey cake remained on the table.

Maybe it's too sweet and he doesn't like it?

Shen Lingyue looked at Pei Jinghuai with a hint of admiration.

Wow, you can really eat! No wonder you're so big... oh no, so tall...

She noticed it yesterday; Pei Jinghuai was the tallest man she had ever met. He had to duck when he entered the room. She estimated him to be at least 1.86 meters tall, maybe even two centimeters taller.

She secretly measured herself at home and found that this body was the same as her previous life, 1.67 meters tall. When she went out to visit others, she could be considered one of the taller women of her age.

But when she stands next to Pei Jinghuai, why does she look like a little chick?

It looked like he could lift himself up with one hand.

While Shen Lingyue was lost in thought, Qingchan and Shuangxu had already begun applying makeup automatically.

Don't ask, the answer is they're used to it. After all, they have a daughter who loves to sleep in and is clumsy.

Pei Jinghuai sat to the side, sipping tea and rinsing his mouth, not urging him on, and waited quietly.

This new house was specially prepared before the wedding; before that, he just lived wherever he wanted. Sometimes, when he came back late from outside, he didn't want to disturb the elders in the back courtyard, so he would often spend the night in the guest room in the outer courtyard.

The room, which was empty just a few days ago, is now crammed with wardrobes, a dressing table, a long desk for writing and painting, and a wall full of bookshelves behind it. A painting of flowers and birds with graceful brushstrokes hangs on the wall between two carved windows, and an embroidery frame sits in the corner.

They were all part of Shen Lingyue's dowry, just like her—recklessly barging into his life and gradually invading everything about him.

Pei Jinghuai thought he was used to living alone, and that getting married suddenly might be difficult and would require some time to adjust.

But he slept surprisingly well last night.

If someone hadn't kicked off the covers, climbed all over him on all fours, reached inside his clothes and groped him, pressed their face against his chest and even seemed to be drooling...

If she doesn't behave tonight, I'll just tie her up with a rope.

Pei Jinghuai thought viciously.

"My husband, I'm all better now."

Shen Lingyue walked up to him, bringing him back to his senses.

Pei Jinghuai got up and went behind the screen, where he changed into a maroon brocade round-necked robe with a dark floral pattern.

Shen Lingyue is wearing crimson today, after all, it's her first day of marriage, so she should dress in a festive way.

The two walked out the door side by side, their varying shades of red complementing each other, creating a harmonious scene.

A rather clever young servant stood at the entrance of the courtyard. Pei Jinghuai casually introduced him: "This is Ping An. He usually runs errands for me. If you need anything, just tell him."

Ping An moved swiftly, kneeling down and kowtowing to Shen Lingyue.

"Greetings to the Second Young Madam. You and our young master are truly a perfect match, a match made in heaven! I wish you both a loving and harmonious marriage, many children, a long and happy life together, and that you never leave each other..."

Shen Lingyue was amused by his witty remark and took the purse from Qingchan, saying, "Then I'll take your good wishes."

The moment she held the purse, she knew its weight. Ping An grinned from ear to ear, "Oh, the Second Young Mistress is truly beautiful, kind-hearted, generous, and like a fairy descended from heaven..."

Pei Jinghuai couldn't stand it anymore and kicked him lightly, "Get out of here."

He didn't recognize this lackey.

"Okay." Ping An pocketed his purse and quickly ran off.

Shen Lingyue smiled as she looked at Pei Jinghuai: "You're quite a lively little fellow."

"It's alright, but it's really noisy." Pei Jinghuai touched his nose.

The two walked out of Danyue Pavilion and into the garden alley.

"here……"

Pei Jinghuai wanted to take this opportunity to explain the layout of the Marquis's residence, so that she wouldn't get lost when she went out alone.

Shen Lingyue suddenly quickened her pace, walking faster and faster, as if she were in a hurry.

Did I get delayed by going out earlier and not have time to serve tea?

There's no need to rush, it won't hurt to wait a little longer.

Pei Jinghuai kept thinking about it, but he still subconsciously chased after him.

The two continued walking through the garden until they reached the long corridor leading to the main courtyard.

Just then, a pair of figures walked over from the east.

Pei Jinghuai breathed a sigh of relief. His elder brother and sister-in-law had just arrived, which meant they weren't late.

Pei Jingyi was never late. Even his times for getting up, eating, and going to bed remained unchanged for ten years. He was very strict and disciplined.

He had good eyesight and could see the petite figure walking beside Pei Jingyi from a great distance.

He had previously heard that his sister-in-law was the daughter of a military general, and he had wondered if she and his elder brother would not get along.

Now she looks serene and gentle, just the type her older brother likes.

Pei Jinghuai watched as the man opposite him walked along, then suddenly stopped, raised his hand and gently helped the woman beside him to avoid a withered branch growing obliquely from the roadside.

The older sister-in-law seemed startled by his sudden movement and looked up at him.

Pei Jingyi offered an explanation.

The older sister-in-law gave him a faint smile, then lowered her head, focused on the road beneath her feet, and took a half-step back from him.

Pei Jingyi's fingertips, hanging by his side, twitched slightly, but he quickly regained his usual cold demeanor in front of others.

Pei Jinghuai clicked his tongue.

My sister-in-law is so pitiful; she'll have to face that ice-cold, wooden face every day from now on...

"Yan Yan!"

Pei Jinghuai suddenly felt something fly out beside him.

He turned his head and saw that Shen Lingyue had already run three zhang away.

The crimson skirt fluttered and danced, making her look even more like a lively little butterfly.

Upon hearing her call, the woman opposite her also raised her head, her eyes sparkling. She quickly overtook Pei Jingyi beside her and skipped ahead.

Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi met in the middle of the road, looked each other over, and then suddenly laughed at the same time.

The two brothers who were lagging behind and hadn't had time to react: ?

Were these two really that close?

Shen Lingyue had a lot to say to Yan Yi when, just then, the main gate of the courtyard slowly opened in front of them, and Qian Mama, who was by the side of the Grand Madam, walked out with her head held high.

Yan Yi reacted quickly, immediately releasing Shen Lingyue and taking two steps back, pretending to walk over with Pei Jingyi.

Pei Jinghuai on the other side also quickly caught up and stood quietly beside Shen Lingyue.

Madam Qian came on behalf of the Dowager Madam, waiting to see the new bride serve tea.

She smiled at Yan Yi, then turned to Shen Lingyue with a blank expression and said, "You two young mistresses have arrived at just the right time. Please come in."

Shen Lingyue was somewhat puzzled. Which courtyard did this stewardess belong to? Her double standards were too obvious.

Yan Yi walked behind Qian's mother and turned back to give Shen Lingyue a reassuring look.

Shen Lingyue nodded to indicate that she understood. Perfect timing, she would also remind Yan Yi to be careful of Pei Yuzhen later.

The granularity of both sides needs to be aligned to form a vertical matrix, connecting the underlying logic and creating a perfect closed loop...

Ugh, it feels like something dirty got into my brain!

Upon entering the main hall, Marquis Pei Xian of Changning sat at the head of the left, his expression indifferent. Even though both of his sons had gotten married, he showed no sign of joy.

Opposite him, on the right, sat an empty seat—the memorial tablet of Pei Jingyi's birth mother, Princess Qinghe, was placed there.

The current wife of the Marquis, Meng Wanyin, could only sit in a slightly lower position on the right.

Although she was dressed up today, the slightly thick makeup on her face betrayed her mood.

Shen Lingyue felt the man beside her clench his fist, and the body next to her stiffened.

Her heart skipped a beat, and without saying a word, she grabbed his fist, concealing it with her wide sleeves.

Her hands were too small to cover his, so she used her fingertips to slip between his fingers.

Until her clenched fist was slowly pried open a crack, her fingers immediately squeezed in, intertwining with his, gripping tightly, as if to soothe his restless and frantic emotions.

Pei Jinghuai's anger was strangely calmed down little by little by her.

He held her delicate fingertips, gently pinching them twice, as if assuring her that he wouldn't act impulsively, before slowly letting go.

Mrs. Qian stood in front of the two couples, her expression haughty.

"The matriarch has spoken, and today the newlyweds are to come to the hall to recognize their relatives and offer tea. The eldest son's birth mother passed away early and was unable to witness her son's marriage. Surely her ancestral tablet can receive the bride's respect and drink a cup of tea offered by her?"

"Furthermore, Princess Qinghe is a member of the royal family, of noble status, and the Marquis's first wife. She should be honored above Lady Meng. Madam, don't you agree?"

Meng Wanyin twitched the corners of her mouth and said softly, "The Marquis's mansion should naturally respect the Princess."

Madam Qian was finally satisfied and instructed the maid to place cushions in front of each of the two newlywed couples, preparing to kneel down to greet them and offer tea.

"Wait a moment."

Shen Lingyue suddenly stepped forward and said naturally, "I have an objection."

Pei Jinghuai widened his eyes slightly, looking at her incredulously.

When she came to hold his hand, wasn't she advising him not to act impulsively?

Or does holding hands mean—don't move, let me do it?

Meng Wanyin also raised her head, leaned forward, and looked anxiously at her newlywed daughter-in-law, her brows furrowed, very worried.

Is this child going to stand up for her? Sigh, she's gotten used to it all these years, why bother upsetting the old lady over something like this?

Pei Yuzhen's eyes flickered as she picked up her handkerchief to hide her gloating expression.

It was worth it for her to subtly probe in her mother's room last night and come up with such a brilliant idea.

The second son's wife is indeed brainless and impatient; she couldn't help but jump out so quickly.

She's definitely going to stand up for her mother-in-law, right? That would offend not only her mother, but also her older brother and Jingyi and his wife.

Moreover, given Meng Wanyin's timid and cowardly nature, she probably wouldn't appreciate her kindness and would even complain that she had gone to unnecessary trouble.

Tsk tsk, now they're truly surrounded by enemies on all sides.

Pei Yuzhen gripped her handkerchief tightly, afraid she might accidentally burst out laughing.

Sure enough, after Shen Lingyue spoke, Qian's mother raised her eyebrows and glared angrily.

"Second Young Madam, please forgive this old servant for saying something I shouldn't have..."

Shen Lingyue interrupted her rudely: "You know you're an old servant, right? You know you shouldn't have said those words? Then why did you say them? You kept saying that the Grand Madam had given an order, that the Grand Madam had spoken. So let me ask you, are the words you're saying your own choice, or are they what the Grand Madam was supposed to say?"

She looked around and tilted her head innocently. "Before I got married, my mother taught me that the more prestigious the family, the more you should be wary of servants who might bully their masters. Be careful that the servants below you may outwardly obey but inwardly defy you and ruin your reputation."

She smiled at Qian's mother, who was already speechless from her barrage of questions.

"Alright, Aunt Qian, now you can tell me, what instructions did Grandmother give?"

Mrs. Qian opened her mouth.

What instructions could the Grand Madam possibly give? The Grand Madam never expected that her new daughter-in-law, the Second Young Mistress, would dare to question her.

But she was used to being powerful in the Marquis's mansion and was unwilling to be subdued by Shen Lingyue so easily. She composed herself and said, "Although the Second Young Mistress is eloquent and keeps saying that a servant is bullying her master, I have served in the Marquis's mansion for decades. All the masters have seen how I behaved, and Heaven can bear witness. Today, I will take the liberty of saying something based on my seniority—it is not for a junior like you to interfere in the affairs of your elders, is it? Is there something wrong with the rules that the Grand Madam mentioned?"

Shen Lingyue shook her head, "Grandmother is right to respect the majesty of the royal family and the etiquette of our ancestors."

Madam Qian smiled triumphantly, her eyes sweeping over the cushion on the ground. "Then the second young mistress should hurry up and kneel down to serve tea, lest she miss the time for the family reunion later."

"but--"

Shen Lingyue drew out her melody with a turn, interrupting Qian Mama again.

"However, there is a slight flaw in this rule."

She pinched her thumb and forefinger together, squinted, and frowned slightly, as if she were troubled by this little imperfection.

“Since Princess Qinghe is a noblewoman from the imperial family, and as Mother just said, the Marquis's mansion always treats her with the utmost respect, then both publicly and privately, her ancestral tablet should be placed here—”

Shen Lingyue flicked her finger, pointing directly to the left, to where Marquis Changning, Pei Xian, was.

She smiled at Pei Xian and said, "Father, don't you think that makes sense?"

Pei Xian never imagined that the fire would eventually burn him, and a look of astonishment appeared on his face.

Mrs. Qian opened her mouth in surprise.

No, that's not how it works.

No matter how noble Princess Qinghe is, she is still the Marquis's wife. The husband is the head of the household, so how can her memorial tablet be above the Marquis's?

Besides, the Dowager Madam only wanted to use the name of the dead Princess to slap Meng's face, not to slap her own son!

Madam Qian was in a state of confusion, but when she looked at Shen Lingyue's pretty face, which had a half-smile and seemed to carry a hint of mockery, she instinctively felt that she would not get the better of her.

"I agree with my sister-in-law."

In the deathly silent hall, it was Pei Jingyi who finally broke the deadlock with his voice.

The eldest son of the Marquis's family, the only biological son of Princess Qinghe, with one-quarter royal blood flowing through his veins, was the most qualified person present to say this.

Pei Jingyi raised his head, his handsome face expressionless, only his deep black eyes staring straight at Pei Xian.

"Father, please rise and give up your seat."

Pei Xian seemed to be jolted awake as if struck on the head with a hammer. He suddenly stood up, walked to the right, and picked up the heavy memorial tablet of Princess Qinghe.

At this moment, Pei Jingyi said from behind him, "Sister-in-law is well-versed in etiquette; she must have received the true teachings of Master Zhao."

Pei Xian suddenly realized what was happening.

I almost forgot, my second daughter-in-law's maternal grandfather is the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate!

What kind of place is the Censorate? It's a pack of mad dogs that will report anything based on hearsay, biting anyone indiscriminately. Who among the officials, nobles, and relatives dares to offend them?

And the Left Censor-in-Chief is the leader of that pack of mad dogs. Isn't that terrifying?

Pei Xian had no doubt that, given Shen Lingyue's sharp tongue and unwillingness to back down, if he dared to object today, she would dare to go back to her parents' home and complain tomorrow.

Forget it, I can't afford to offend them...

And Mother, it's just a memorial tablet. We could have let the eldest son and his wife go to the ancestral hall to offer incense to the princess separately. Why did she have to put it out there and make everyone unhappy...

Pei Xian admitted defeat, quickly placed the memorial tablet on the chair to the left, and even wiped it twice with his sleeve.

Pei Jingyi pulled Yan Yi forward and knelt down, bowing to the memorial tablet of Princess Qinghe and Pei Xian in turn, and then offered tea.

Pei Xian was quite satisfied with Yan Yi's obedient and gentle appearance, especially after comparing her to Shen Lingyue.

What's wrong with a military officer's daughter? She's much more gentle and obedient than the daughter of that vice minister.

He gave Yan Yi a thick red envelope and encouraged her with words of praise, wishing her a harmonious marriage and many children soon.

The couple got up and stepped aside.

It was Pei Jinghuai and Shen Lingyue's turn.

After her outburst, Pei Jinghuai was no longer so resistant to the idea of ​​kneeling before the princess's memorial tablet.

Anyway, Princess Qinghe not only outshone his mother, but also Pei Xian.

They looked down on everyone in the Marquis's mansion without any regard for their status.

Thinking about it this way, he felt much more at ease, his mind was clear, and he knelt down with great pleasure.

Shen Lingyue, always obedient to her husband, blinked her big eyes and offered him a teacup: "Father, please have some tea."

Wishing you prosperity and good fortune! Give me a red envelope!

Pei Xian took the tea, his mood heavy, and he didn't really want to drink it.

It's choking me.

He took a symbolic sip and quickly put it down, then handed over a red envelope, saying dryly, "At home you obey your father, and after marriage you obey your husband. Now that you are a daughter-in-law of the Pei family, you must be careful with your words and actions when you go out..."

It's fine at home, but when you go out, be careful not to talk nonsense and offend people, he can't afford to take the blame!

Good heavens, what kind of marriage has His Majesty bestowed upon us...?

Shen Lingyue: I won't listen to this bastard's chanting.jpg

Pei Jinghuai had just stood up when Shen Lingyue tugged at the corner of his clothes.

He looked puzzled: Wasn't it all over?

Shen Lingyue turned the cushion around and knelt down in front of Meng Wanyin. She said calmly, "Although Mother is a second wife, Father married her in a proper and respectable way. You raised the Second Young Master with great care and hard work, and then married him to such a knowledgeable, gentle, and virtuous wife. How can you not drink a cup of tea with your wife?"

Everyone: ...Well-educated, reasonable, gentle, and virtuous? You?

Shen Lingyue didn't care what others thought. She picked up the extra cup of tea that the maid had prepared and offered it to her with a smile: "Mother, please have some tea."

"Alright, Mother will drink it."

Meng Wanyin's eyes welled up with tears. She took the tea and drank it all in one gulp. Then she asked Qi's mother to hand her a thick wooden box that had been prepared beforehand.

"Good boy, live a good life with Huaizhou from now on."

After she finished speaking, she glanced at Pei Jinghuai, who was still standing there like a wooden stake.

This son is better off gone; you couldn't even get two pounds of cotton back if you threw him away.

Shen Lingyue was also helpless. Her teammates were good in every way, but they were just too clumsy to carry.

She knelt down while he stood, and reached out to pinch his thigh.

Pei Jinghuai finally realized what was happening, knelt down, and together with Shen Lingyue, formally kowtowed to Meng Wanyin.

Overjoyed, Meng Wanyin burst into tears, wiping them away repeatedly. "Alright, alright, get up now."

A daughter-in-law is the best; she's like a warm, comforting cotton-padded jacket for her mother-in-law.

Pei Yuzhen, who witnessed the entire process of Shen Lingyue's actions: ...

Oh no, how could this happen!

*

After the tea ceremony, the family recognition ceremony began. Members of several branches of the Pei family who were closely related by blood arrived one after another and were arranged to wait in the main hall.

Without any trouble from people like Qian Mama, Shen Lingyue was happy to play the innocent, following Pei Jinghuai and sweetly greeting him all the way, presenting various gifts she had prepared in advance, and accepting several red envelopes from the elders.

Pei Jingyi and Yan Yi followed a similar procedure.

The two stopped in front of a girl who looked about sixteen or seventeen years old. Pei Jingyi introduced her, saying, "This is my cousin Lanyi from my aunt's family."

Today is the day the bride is to meet her relatives. Most of the relatives who came to the Pei family were dressed in solemn and festive colors such as red and blue, which made Dong Lanyi's moon-white dress stand out.

Her skin was very pale, almost bloodless, her eyebrows were thin, and her lips were also pale, making her look like a sickly orchid.

She stood up, holding onto the chair armrest, her watery eyes darting between the two of them.

"Cousin, cousin-in-law, this is a love knot that Lan Yi tied herself. I wish you a long and loving life together... cough cough!"

Dong Lanyi coughed after saying only a few words. She held a delicate and intricate love knot in her slender white fingers and sent it towards Pei Jingyi.

Yan Yi blinked gently, without speaking or making any movement.

Pei Jingyi remained silent for a moment before speaking: "Since it's my cousin's kind gesture, please accept it."

He lowered his head slightly, looking at Yan Yi with a long, fixed gaze.

Yan Yi stared at him for a few moments, then finally looked away as if defeated.

She smiled politely and reached out to take it, saying, "Thank you, cousin..."

Dong Lanyi suddenly dodged to the side, and Yan Yi missed her target.

Dong Lanyi raised her hands, which were holding the love knot, even higher, and stubbornly looked at Pei Jingyi, "Cousin, have you forgotten all the bond we've shared since we grew up together, now that you're married?"

Pei Jingyi frowned deeply, his Adam's apple bobbing as if he was trying his best to suppress some emotion.

Yan Yi withdrew her hand, lowered her eyelashes, and concealed her cunning gaze.

Little Moon is right, cousins ​​are definitely a high-risk relationship in ancient times.

"cousin."

Seeing his silence, Dong Lanyi bit her lip, becoming even more unwilling. "This is a small token of my sister's affection. Don't you even want to accept it?"

She pressed on relentlessly, as if Pei Jingyi accepting the love knot would signify something significant.

Suddenly, a hand reached out from the side and snatched the love knot.

“Cousin, you are so skillful. This love knot is much more exquisite than the tassels you gave us earlier. Why don’t you give them both to me?”

Shen Lingyue spoke with a grin, while forcefully stuffing the love knot into her sleeve.

They didn't give her a chance to ask for it back at all.

Dong Lanyi swayed, her face turning even paler with anger.

"This was a gift for my cousin, how could you..." This is outright robbery!

"I'm your cousin too, why haven't you given me one?"

A head popped out from behind Shen Lingyue, and Pei Jinghuai said casually, "Alright, it's not anything valuable. If your second sister-in-law likes it, just let her have it."

After saying that, she gave Pei Jingyi a seemingly casual nudge, "Hurry up, there are still a few uncles and aunts waiting ahead."

Pei Jingyi didn't forget to take Yan Yi with him when he left, and the four of them ran off together.

Dong Lanyi: ...

*

After struggling for half the morning, I finally managed to recognize these relatives to some extent.

Shen Lingyue rubbed her cheeks, which were sore from laughing, and couldn't help but complain to Pei Jinghuai, "What if I forget who they are next time we meet?"

"So what if you forget? It's not like it'll do anything to you." Pei Jinghuai shrugged and comforted her, "Actually, I can't remember many people either. During holidays, there are so many heads crowding into the ancestral hall, who knows who it is?"

Shen Lingyue was amused and kept laughing.

Pei Jinghuai looked at her playful smile, his heart stirred, and he was about to say something.

At this moment, Pei Jingyi and Yan Yi came out of the hall.

Shen Lingyue turned around and headed straight for Yan Yi.

She pulled Yan Yi up and asked Pei Jingyi politely, "Hello, elder brother. May I take a stroll in the garden with my sister-in-law?"

Pei Jingyi looked at their hands, which seemed to be stuck together, and said, "...Okay."

Shen Lingyue gave a small cheer and said as she passed Pei Jinghuai, "Go back first, you don't need to wait for me."

Pei Jinghuai could only respond with an "oh".

Soon only the two brothers remained in front of the gate, and they left one on each side of the gate towards their respective courtyards.

Upon closer inspection, the figure appears somewhat lonely from behind.

*

"Ahhh, I can finally speak loudly! I've been so suffocated!"

The two arrived at the depths of the garden. After confirming that no one was around, Shen Lingyue could no longer contain herself and began to jump around wildly.

There were too many people just now, and she had to try her best to pretend, which made her feel extremely uncomfortable.

Yan Yi laughed as she watched her struggle, teasing, "The way you argued just now is exactly the same as before."

Shen Lingyue stopped moving, raised her head and said, "I call this reasoning that prevails everywhere—why should the living have to give way to the dead?"

Pei Jinghuai's mother didn't do anything wrong. She was a legitimate remarriage, which was reasonable and legal.

As a result of the madam's interference, she was treated like a concubine who couldn't be brought into the open, and she couldn't even accept the gifts from her own son and daughter-in-law.

Shen Lingyue clicked her tongue, "I thought the Marquis's mansion was at least a respectable family, but I never expected it to be even worse than ours."

They actually pulled this old cliché of first wife and second wife, living and dead, deliberately humiliating people.

"Oh, let's not talk about this anymore. Anyway, they can't do anything to me."

Shen Lingyue waved her hand, remembering that Pei Jingyi had just mentioned her maternal grandfather, implying that Pei Xian should compromise.

Her eyes darted around mischievously. "I think your husband is a reasonable person. Hmm... he must have had a good night and be in a good mood, don't you think?"

She was extremely concerned about her best friend's wedding night, let me tell you!

Yan Yi wasn't as thick-skinned as Shen Lingyue. When Shen Lingyue asked her that question, her whole face turned bright red, and even her earlobes seemed to bleed.

Shen Lingyue circled around her, pestering her for a long time, before she finally managed to squeeze out two dry words.

"It's acceptable."

Shen Lingyue revealed a mysteriously satisfied smile.

As we all know, when you ask a top student how she did on her exam, she will only say "not bad".

So, to put it another way, "尚可" means "very good"!

Tsk, tsk tsk tsk.

It turns out my brother-in-law just looks frail, but he's actually very healthy!

Shen Lingyue stood there chuckling, looking so convincing that outsiders would think she was possessed by a ghost.

Yan Yi blushed and pushed her away, somewhat flustered, changing the subject, "Don't just ask me, what about yourself?"

Shen Lingyue cupped her hands around her heart, her expression one of pure bliss, "It feels so good!"

It's even better than the 300-yuan pinch pads she bought at a huge cost!

The next second, her ears drooped again, "It's a pity I only pinched a few handfuls, I haven't even tasted the meat yet..."

Yan Yi slightly widened her eyes.

What does that mean? Could it be that Little Moon also... last night?

She coughed twice, somewhat annoyed.

If she had known this would happen, she wouldn't have lied...

"That's right, that's right, that's right!"

Shen Lingyue didn't remain depressed for long. She suddenly regained her spirits and pulled out the stolen love knot from her sleeve.

"Now I finally understand why my aunt instigated me to go against you!"

Shen Lingyue looked like a fighting rooster, her eyes gleaming.

"Because her daughter likes your husband!"

That must be it. Pei Yuzhen wants Dong Lanyi to marry Pei Jingyi, so that when Pei Jingyi inherits the title, Dong Lanyi will become the Crown Prince's wife.

For some reason, the marriage didn't happen, or perhaps it might have happened but was interrupted by an imperial decree.

That's why Pei Yuzhen sees Yan Yi as a thorn in her side.

That's why Dong Lanyi looked at Pei Jingyi with the same resentful eyes one would give a heartless man.

"Okay, I understand."

In contrast, Yan Yi's reaction was surprisingly calm.

She was about to share her news with Shen Lingyue.

"Yesterday, Aunt Qian came to the new house to see me and mentioned Madam Tai's attitude..."

Just then, Qingchan's anxious cries suddenly came from afar.

"Miss, Miss, where are you?"

"Here it is."

Shen Lingyue peeked out from behind the flowers and waved to her, "What happened?"

Qingchan ran over, her forehead covered in sweat, and said urgently, "You should go back and check on things quickly!"

"—The son-in-law and the eldest son are fighting!"

-----------------------

Author's Note: Yuezai: Hehe, I made a big splash on my very first day here! [doge][doge]

P.S.: Dreams are just dreams, with no negative connotations (serious face).

[Let me see][Let me see] I'm still asking for lots of comments today~~~