Since Lin Ji could handle it, it was inappropriate for her family to interfere. Gu Nanjiao went to Lu Yanzhao and stood beside him, observing the situation.

When Cui heard the words "Master Jieyuan," her legs went weak with fright.

“I didn’t sell her, I just married her off.”

Madam Lu spat at Madam Cui: "Just now you were insisting that the indenture was in your hands, and now you're saying you didn't sell it? Who would believe that?"

Lin Ji's gaze darkened as he coldly stared at Madam Cui: "A contract of indenture? What right do you have to sell your legal wife and legitimate daughter?"

"Go see the officials!" Lin Ji grabbed Cui Shi and said fiercely, "You have the indenture in your hand, the evidence is conclusive, you can't deny it."

Cui took out the indenture from her bosom and quickly swallowed it, choking so badly that her eyes rolled back, but she managed to swallow it down.

Taking a breath, Madam Cui said smugly, "There is no contract of sale. I clearly married her off. Her remarriage without the permission of her elders is against ethics."

Seeing the indenture being swallowed up, Lin Ji smiled. His earlier words were just to scare Cui Shi; this was the benefit of being well-read—using the law was always better than resorting to physical violence.

If the matter were to go to court, it would bring up Yingniang's past actions, which would be detrimental to her reputation.

Fortunately, this Cui woman wasn't very literate and was easily fooled. She swallowed the indenture in fear and unease, which made things much easier to resolve.

Lin Ji glanced at Yingniang gently, her tone calm: "Even if she has married out, her previous husband is already dead. The laws of the Great Chu support widows remarrying. Yingniang has a letter of severance in hand, so both publicly and privately, we are in the right."

“And you…” Lin Ji turned and stared intently at Cui Shi: “As a concubine, you have no right to interfere in the marriage of the legitimate daughter; otherwise, you are committing insubordination.”

Yingniang felt a warmth in her heart and subconsciously reached out her small hand to hold Lin Ji's large hand tightly.

Lin Ji smiled back, and Yingniang felt inexplicably at ease.

Gu Nanjiao couldn't help but give Lin Ji a thumbs up in her heart. She nudged Lu Yanzhao and whispered, "I really didn't realize that your classmate is such a man. He's a good man worth entrusting your life to."

Hearing Gu Nanjiao praise another man, Lu Yanzhao became unhappy: "What about me?"

"You're one of these too!" Gu Nanjiao gave him a thumbs up, her eyes glued to Cui Shi, eager to see what would happen.

"Perfunctory!" Lu Yanzhao thought to himself.

Hearing Lin Ji's words, Cui's heart pounded like a drum. Then she thought, the restaurant is gone, the family fortunes have declined, and the old man is dead. What about the wife, daughter, and concubines?

She hardened her stance: "What do you mean by a concubine interfering in the legitimate daughter's affairs? I have absolutely no relation to her now. Don't try to fool me. The old man is dead. I am no longer their concubine or stepmother. We've severed all ties. Don't try to intimidate me with traditional ethics and etiquette!"

Lin Ji's eyes flickered: "Since it's alright, then get lost and wait for me to send you to the yamen?"

Cui glared at Yingniang and fled in panic.

Yingniang's eyes reddened slightly, and she took the initiative to hug Lin Ji's arm: "Husband, you don't mind me, do you?"

"How could that be? I'm too busy taking care of you. Don't cry, I'll keep you safe from now on and won't let anyone bully you."

"My husband, you are so good to me. Meeting you is my good fortune."

Meeting you is my good fortune!

The three of them, including Lu's mother, were fed a dose of dog food (a Chinese slang term for witnessing public displays of affection), and stood at the door, unsure whether to leave or go.

Gu Nanjiao felt a little embarrassed to stare at the couple being so affectionate, so she looked up at the sky, the ground, and Yan Zhao instead.

After a while, the two who had been cuddling together finally left. When Yingniang saw the three third wheels, she blushed like a boiled shrimp and shyly lowered her head.

At least she didn't stomp her feet, cover her face, and run away. Getting married really changes things; she's not so thin-skinned anymore.

Lin Ji coughed awkwardly twice, and the bride looked over with a worried expression.

Lin Ji said dryly, "Haha, well, I've come to pick Yingniang up and take her home."

After talking with Yingniang for a while, Lu's mother arranged for Gu Nanjiao and Lu Yanzhao to see the two off.

Gu Nanjiao and Yingniang walked ahead hand in hand. Gu Nanjiao teased, "I really didn't realize that Lin Ji cared about you so much. You two are so sweet and loving, it's truly enviable."

Yingniang blushed: "No way, you and Lu Jieyuan are a perfect match, the envy of everyone."

Behind them, Lin Ji and Lu Yanzhao walked at a leisurely pace, keeping a distance from them.

Lin Ji slowed his pace, covered his mouth with his hand, and asked in a low voice, "Brother Lu, how long does it last each time, and how many times a day?"

Lu Yanzhao was taken aback, but quickly realized what was happening. His ears involuntarily felt hot.

He pursed his lips, unsure how to answer. He and Gu Nanjiao weren't even together, so how would he know how long it had been, or how many times a day!

"Wait a minute," Lin Ji asked, "How many times a day?"

Lu Yanzhao, looking somewhat awkward, asked Lin Ji, "How many times a day do you do that?"

Lin Ji scratched his head a little embarrassedly: "I did it three times on our wedding night, but Yingniang cried. I feel like something's wrong with me, so I wanted to ask if you did it too?"

"I……"

Lu Yanzhao really didn't know how to answer. After a pause, he could only lie without blushing or skipping a beat: "It's normal, I have twice as many as you!"

Gu Nanjiao felt that it was enough to take them to the intersection, so she said to Yingniang, "Let's stop here!"

The two turned around and happened to see Lin Ji's indescribable expression.

How to describe Lin Ji's complex feelings? It's a mixture of disbelief and envy, envy mixed with a hint of frustration, and frustration mixed with a sense of accomplishment.

Lu Yanzhao remained calm and composed, revealing nothing of his thoughts.

Gu Nanjiao smiled gently: "Yanzhao and I will see you off here. See you later!"

Yingniang replied with a smile, "See you at Delicious Restaurant in a couple of days."

Lin Ji still wore that indescribable expression. Before leaving, he suddenly said to Gu Nanjiao, "Sister-in-law, take it easy. Even the healthiest person can't withstand all that!"

Gu Nanjiao was completely confused. What did Lin Ji mean?

Lu Yanzhao pulled Gu Nanjiao aside and urged Lin Ji, "It's getting late, and your uncle is home alone. You should go back now!"

On the path, Gu Nanjiao couldn't help but ask, "What were you two talking about in the back? Why did Lin Ji have that expression?"

"Nothing?" Lu Yanzhao changed the subject: "Didn't you say you were going to visit your father-in-law? The sooner the better, go quickly!"

Seeing that she couldn't get an answer, Gu Nanjiao simply stopped asking.

...

At the Lin family home, Lin Ji pounced on Yingniang and pinned her to the bed, frantically tearing at her clothes.

Yingniang blushed and pushed him away, saying, "What are you doing? It's still daylight!"

Lin Ji, panting heavily, said, "I don't care. I may not be as good as Lu Yanzhao in other aspects, but I must surpass him in this one!"

"I want six times too, no, seven times..."

Yingniang is now a married woman, so there's nothing she doesn't understand about Lin Ji's words.

Thinking of her wedding night, Yingniang couldn't help but back down. She couldn't take it three times, and then...seven times...

Lin Ji's dejected appearance must have been caused by something Lu Yanzhao said. Men love to compare themselves to others, and they are no exception.

Thinking of this, Yingniang chuckled.

Lin Ji grabbed Yingniang's waist and said in a hoarse voice, "You're still laughing? I'll make sure you can't laugh anymore later, then you'll beg for mercy."

Lin Ji's crude remarks made Yingniang blush, and she whispered something in Lin Ji's ear.

"What? They haven't consummated their marriage yet?"

Yingniang quickly covered Lin Ji's mouth: "Why are you shouting so loudly? They want to hold the wedding after the palace examination, that's why..."

Lin Ji didn't think so. How could any ordinary man, with a beautiful wife lying beside him, possibly be a saint?

unless?

Thinking of Lu Yanzhao's words, Lin Ji suddenly felt a little sorry for Lu Yanzhao.

They're probably useless, that's why they're so stubborn about saying seven times and half an hour.

"Alas, Brother Lu is truly pitiful!" Lin Ji sighed, genuinely feeling sorry for Lu Yanzhao.

He had to think of a way to prevent his brother from losing face in front of Gu Nanjiao.