Upon hearing Liu Yunyan's words, the old lady frowned as if she was thinking.

Seeing this, Madam Chang smiled and said, "Miss, you are mistaken. You learned the rules of being a mistress at home. Being a concubine is different from being a mistress."

“One serves others, and the other is served; the difference is huge.”

"Don't worry, I will definitely teach you well."

Liu Yunyan: "..."

She almost choked and tried to struggle, but Madam Pei put down the small white porcelain bowl in her hand and made the final decision with a stern face.

“What Aunt Chang said is true. You really should learn some manners. Once you get married and grow up, you can’t be the same as before.”

"..."

With her eyes reddening, Liu Yunyan almost burst into tears, but biting her lip, she could only force herself to hold back her tears and retreat.

"Yun girl is too cunning, you should give in to her."

As soon as Liu Yunyan left, the old lady pleaded for her. Jiang Shuwan smiled and nodded, knowing that the old lady ultimately felt sorry for Liu Yunyan.

"Don't worry, Grandma, your granddaughter-in-law understands the principle that harmony in the family brings prosperity."

Then she told the maids to bring out the account books. The old lady nodded as she looked at them, saying, "I trust you to do things right."

She didn't even finish reading it before trusting Chang Mama and asking her to take it to the accounting office.

Afterwards, Jiang Shuwan chatted with the old lady for a while, and then helped her to sleep before leaving.

In the garden.

The night was darker than before. Qingxing carried the palace lantern and walked ahead, while Jiang Shuwan, holding a hand warmer, lagged behind her. Perhaps it was just her imagination, but the night seemed even darker and the palace lantern even brighter.

Qingxing, on the other hand, had a sour face.

"Who upset her?"

Jiang Shuwan asked the two maids beside her in a low voice.

The maids exchanged glances, hesitant to speak, but finally the one on the left whispered, "The gatekeeper's wife just came to report that Miss Biao died in the Prince's courtyard. It was late at night and they had a disagreement. The gatekeeper wouldn't let her in, and the argument disturbed the Prince, who then let her in directly."

"I heard from the old woman that Miss Cousin started crying as soon as she went in, saying that she, a perfectly good young lady, actually had to learn the rules of serving the mistress from Chang Mama."

"..."

No wonder Qingxing's face was so sour.

That's how it is.

As Jiang Shuwan sighed inwardly, she happened to pass by Pei Yanzhi's courtyard, where she saw that the courtyard was brightly lit, with every detail clearly visible.

Especially the library, the two-story building was lit up from top to bottom.

I heard that ordinary people are not allowed to enter, but now there is a shadow on the window paper.

Her shadow was slender and graceful; at this time and place, there was no one else but Liu Yunyan.

"Hmph, lighting so many lamps, as if they're afraid they don't know the young master likes her, so they're sending her to the Imperial Study, right?" Qingxing said angrily.

“That’s a good point, a double entendre,” Jiang Shuwan said.

"..." Qingxing was stunned for a moment. "When did I say something with a double meaning? Miss, what kind of riddle do you think you are? I don't understand at all."

Qingxing looked bewildered, while Jiang Shuwan just smiled and didn't say anything. She took a step forward, flicked her left hand, and took the palace lantern from Qingxing's hand.

In the darkness, the girl walked ahead carrying a lantern.

Behind me was a brightly lit two-story library.

A cold wind howled from the horizon, and the lamps in the library flickered, sometimes bright and sometimes dim, but the lamp in her hand shone even brighter.

"It works well, otherwise I wouldn't want to use it."

Upon returning to the room, Qingxing immediately put the palace lantern away.

Now, whenever she sees this palace lantern, she thinks of the brightly lit two-story study, and the conversation Liu Yunyan had with the old lady in her room.

"Miss Biao is clearly not a well-behaved girl. She's already finding ways to bully our young lady before she's even entered the household. Who knows what she'll be like once she's inside?"

"You'll never lack anything in terms of food and clothing."

Jiang Shuwan smiled and replied that it was getting late. She soaked her feet and went straight to bed, while Qingxing clung to the window, gazing towards the study.

"It's already past midnight, why hasn't Miss Biao gone back yet? Isn't it said that the young master values ​​etiquette and rules the most..."

“Maybe it’s not that heavy.” Jiang Shuwan replied to her while comfortably reading a storybook on the bed.

"Huh?" Qingxing turned around to look at her in surprise.

"You forgot? Before, when I ate with him, I had to sit up straight and not talk while eating or sleeping. Later, I got too lazy to pretend anymore, and he didn't say anything."

"That's right, you came back drunk in the middle of the night before, and the young master didn't say anything."

Qingxing looked like she suddenly understood.

“No ordinary person would tolerate a woman not returning home in the middle of the night, especially drunk. Let alone their own wife, even a stranger would be disgusted with her. The young master is different from others.” Qingxing said, glancing curiously at the library.

"Stop looking. The person who makes the rules won't be bound by them. Go to sleep." Jiang Shuwan said, about to blow out the lamp.

Qingxing quickly ran to her small bed. It was a cold winter day, and like Jiang Shuwan, her bed was heated by a kang (heated brick bed), so she sighed with relief as soon as she got on.

After rolling around comfortably on the bed a few times, Qingxing suddenly stared in Jiang Shuwan's direction.

"Miss, will you also become someone who follows the established rules?"

"..."

The only answer she received was the sound of Jiang Shuwan's deep breathing as she slept.

"That's true, Miss is too lazy. She won't be motivated unless she's forced to."

Qingxing muttered to herself, turned over, and fell asleep.

On the second day, New Year's Eve, the Pei family relatives arrived early. Jiang Shuwan led the group to greet them at the door. The ladies of the family were very happy to see her and held her hand affectionately.

Then came the ancestral worship ceremony.

This is Jiang Shuwan's second time participating in the ancestral worship ceremony at the Marquis's residence.

The Hou Mansion Ancestral Hall is located deep within the mansion, with its vermilion gates tightly closed and imposing stone lions standing before it. Stepping inside, a sense of solemnity immediately washes over you.

I don't know why the threshold of the ancestral hall is much higher than the others. The interior is spacious and bright, with pillars supporting the high ceiling and beams carved with exquisite patterns. The floor is paved with bluestone, and in front of it are the ancestral tablets. The offering table is rich with offerings, including a cow's head and fresh fruit.

Incense smoke curled from the altar, and portraits of ancestors hung on the walls on both sides. The figures were all dressed in exquisite armor, with long swords at their waists or spears in their hands, their expressions dignified and unapproachable.

The first time she came, Jiang Shuwan didn't have time to look closely. This time, after taking a good look, she realized that the Pei family, along with the Earl's Mansion, had ancestors who were all military officers, each one of them imposing and awe-inspiring.

The largest and most imposing painting depicts the late Marquis.

The old lady, supported by Chang Mama, stood at the front of the group, while the rest of the people lined up at the door according to their seniority and status.

Looking at the majestic portrait of the late Marquis, the old lady seemed lost in thought.

Jiang Shuwan stood in the queue without speaking. In front of her were Madam Wen, Madam Bo, Third Aunt, Fourth Aunt, and other ladies of the clan. Behind her were Pei Shushu and other young ladies from the Marquis's mansion.

Pei Yanzhi stood on the left, in the position of male members. Apart from his uncles and elders, he held the highest position among the younger generation.