Chapter 20 Pei Jinghuai caught the butterfly…
Silence, silence is the new house at this moment.
As if a deity had passed by, everyone in the room was simultaneously muted.
Pei Jinghuai and Shen Lingyue stared at each other, neither speaking nor making a move.
Pei Jinghuai was still tightly gripping the scale rod used to lift the veil in his hand.
...Shen Lingyue was terrified that he would hit her on the head the next second.
No, why didn't anyone tell her beforehand that Pei Er actually looks like this!
His temperament is so different from his brother Pei Da's, isn't it?
Shen Lingyue suspected she must be hallucinating from being too hungry for so long. LOL, how could the big-chested guy be wearing a groom's wedding robe? Hehehe...
The gaze slowly moved down from his handsome, dashing eyebrows and eyes, noticing the Adam's apple bobbing slightly beneath his round-necked robe, and further down to his chest, which was bulging from the fabric...
She wouldn't mistake that curve!
Oh no, oh no, oh no!
Shen Lingyue: Family members, who would believe this? The person is still alive, but the soul has been gone for half a day TAT
Pei Jinghuai was also staring at Shen Lingyue, his eyes unblinking.
Even if he were reduced to ashes, he wouldn't mistake her for "Ni Xiaodie," the one who climbed a tree to escape her arranged marriage!
"My mother wants to marry me off to someone I don't like..."
"People I don't like..."
"No...human..."
That dusty, grimy little cat face is quite deceptive.
Later, he sent people to plow the entire Sweetwater Lane five times, digging up the ground to a depth of three feet, but they still couldn't find a family surnamed Ni.
It's like searching high and low without finding it; she's walked right into my trap.
Pei Jinghuai gritted his teeth, his knuckles tightening slightly as he gripped the scale beam, making a soft cracking sound.
He was certain that Shen Lingyue had heard him, otherwise her body wouldn't have suddenly trembled.
Ha, now you know fear?
Pei Jinghuai couldn't help but glance at her a couple more times.
It is said that wearing a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe is the most beautiful day in a woman's life, and that is certainly true.
Her small, palm-sized face was fair with a pinkish tinge, not like a wall painted with a thick layer of white powder, but rather as if it had only been lightly brushed on. If you looked closely, you could see tiny, pale golden downy hairs, like a large peach that hadn't been washed properly.
She wore a huge phoenix crown inlaid with pearls and jade on her head, but even the most dazzling jewels could not compare to the shimmering light in her eyes.
Oh, so she was almost scared to tears :)
She sat obediently on the edge of the bed, like a cat that had run away and returned to its cage.
Pei Jinghuai had been wearing a cold expression since he woke up this morning, but suddenly he laughed.
I'm so angry.
"Wow, the bride and groom are both stunned by each other's beauty! They're such a perfect couple!"
In just a moment, the new house was bustling again, with auspicious words being scattered everywhere as if they were free, bringing the atmosphere to a climax.
An older woman smiled and nudged Pei Jinghuai.
"So many guests are waiting for you to toast them. We'll let you have a good look tonight!"
Pei Jinghuai put down the scale, coughed lightly, and touched his collar.
Strange, the buttons weren't undone, and there wasn't anything dirty on her. What was she staring at?
Forget it, I'll have plenty of time to interrogate him when I get back tonight.
He decided to tease her and gave her a wicked smirk.
"You just wait."
"Oh~~~~!"
The relatives and friends who were egging them on almost lifted the roof off the house.
Several members of the Pei family's collateral branches exchanged knowing glances, their desire to eavesdrop was obvious.
Shen Lingyue... Shen Lingyue was about to faint, and was only holding on by her willpower.
What are you guys chuckling about?! Didn't you hear him tell me to wash my neck and wait...?
The relatives and friends followed Pei Jinghuai out in a grand procession, and the room suddenly became quiet.
Shen Lingyue's shoulders slumped, and she fell backward in despair, collapsing onto the bed.
Qingchan and Shuangxu finally found an opportunity to bring the washbasin and towel into the house.
"Miss, quickly remove your makeup and relax, then you can eat something later... Huh?"
Shen Lingyue stared blankly at the sky: "Is it too late to run away from the wedding now?"
Qingchan: ?
Look how hungry the young lady is, she's talking nonsense.
She and Shuangxu stepped forward to help her up, then pressed her directly to the dressing table and began the fully automatic makeup removal process.
Qingchan kept her hands busy, which didn't stop her from chattering.
"Why are you trying to run away from the wedding? I just saw the groom-in-law. He's tall, handsome, and really impressive!"
With a physique like that, back in their hometown village, the son-in-law would be the mother-in-law's favorite son-in-law, capable of plowing ten acres of land a day!
Shuangxu rarely chimed in: "Although it was an imperial decree bestowing a marriage, it doesn't really count as..."
It's not considered matchmaking.
She and Qingchan stood by and watched the two couples perform their wedding rites.
The two young masters of the Pei family have very different demeanors and appearances, but they are both outstanding individuals with their own unique strengths.
The feng shui of the Changning Marquis's residence is truly auspicious.
Qingchan's eyes darted around, and she chuckled as she leaned close to Shen Lingyue's ear.
"The married women in the family who are in charge of household affairs like to talk nonsense when they drink. They say things like... when you're looking for a man, you should find a strong one who will take care of you."
Shen Lingyue: ...
She's supposed to be caring? She's probably going to die in bed tonight...
I wanted to laugh, but I quickly held it back.
Damn it, Shen Xiaoyue! The knife's practically at your throat, and you're still spouting lewd nonsense!
But it wasn't just anyone; it was the big-breasted guy she'd been dreaming about for ages...
Slurp.
Seeing Shen Lingyue wipe her drool, Qingchan silently quickened her pace.
The young lady must have been starving. The two of them worked together for a long time and finally managed to undo the bride's gorgeous and complicated hairstyle and simply tie it behind her head.
Shen Lingyue washed her face carefully again.
At her insistence in the morning, I didn't put on heavy makeup for her.
She didn't want to end up with a pale face and bright red lips, looking like she could end up as an NPC in a haunted house.
Phew... Now I can finally sit down and rest in peace.
No, it's about thinking about how to die tonight.
Neither of the two maids noticed anything unusual about her. After all, she was a bride who had left the home she had lived in for more than ten years and suddenly found herself in an unfamiliar environment. It was not surprising that she was uneasy.
Qingchan said to Shuangxu, "You stay here with Miss, I'll go out for a walk and get some food."
She has a pleasing appearance, a sweet tongue, and a lively personality, making her perfect for getting along with the servants in the Marquis's mansion and gathering inside information in advance.
The young lady's position in the Marquis's mansion depends entirely on them.
Qingchan strode out with great pride, and not long after, someone knocked on the door.
"Second Young Madam, is it convenient for you to come in now?"
Shen Lingyue gestured for Shuangxu to open the door.
A middle-aged woman walked in, followed by a maid carrying a food box.
Shen Lingyue stood up and tentatively asked, "May I ask who you are?"
The woman smiled and, without any hesitation, took her hand, saying, "Good child, I'm your aunt."
Shen Lingyue did her homework before marrying into the Pei family; at the very least, she knew who the Pei family members were.
As soon as the woman spoke, she began searching for information in her mind.
The most important person in the Changning Marquis's mansion was not the Marquis himself, but his mother, the grandmother of Pei Da and Pei Er, and the Grand Madam of the Marquis's mansion.
The old lady had a young daughter who married a newly appointed scholar in her early years. She accompanied him to take up his post in another region. However, her husband was swept away by the flood while personally directing flood control efforts on the dike, and his body was never found.
The Dowager Lady felt sorry for her youngest daughter who had become a widow at such a young age, so she took her and her two daughters back to the Marquis's mansion without saying a word, and they stayed there for ten years.
This must be the woman in front of me, Pei Yuzhen, my aunt whose husband's surname is Dong.
Shen Lingyue quickly greeted her.
"We're all family, no need to be so polite."
Pei Yuzhen had the maid put down the food box and personally laid out several small dishes, saying considerately, "You must be starving after a long day. This is something I asked the kitchen to specially prepare, it's still warm, have some to tide you over."
Just as Shen Lingyue was about to decline, her stomach betrayed her and started rumbling.
She was really hungry.
Pei Yuzhen heard this too and laughed, "Alright, alright, eat up."
"Then thank you very much, Auntie."
Shen Lingyue was surprised to find that the first elder she met after marrying into the family was quite nice.
She sat down, took a couple of bites, and then asked, "Did you come from Jiusi Academy, Aunt?"
Jiusiyuan was Pei Jingyi's residence, named after the phrase "a gentleman has nine thoughts".
The Marquis of Changning's residence has not yet appointed a heir apparent, so the heir apparent's residence in the central area remains vacant.
Pei Jingyi lived in Jiusiyuan on the east side, while Pei Jinghuai lived in Danyuexuan on the west side.
It's quite a coincidence that we share the same name.
Shen Lingyue secretly ate several pastries that Zhao Lan had stuffed into her purse while she was in the bridal sedan chair, and she was almost starving by now.
As for Yan Yi, her stepmother certainly wouldn't have thought of these details, and given her always had a weak stomach, she would probably find it even harder to endure.
Now that Pei Yuzhen had brought her food, she naturally thought of Yan Yi and asked this question.
According to the hierarchy of seniority, the eldest son's family should be given the gifts first, and then it would be her turn.
However, Pei Yuzhen's expression changed slightly upon hearing this, revealing a hint of displeasure.
"Why do you care about her? Jiusi Academy is the old lady's lifeline. There are plenty of people eager to curry favor with her. I don't need to worry about her."
Shen Lingyue stopped chewing.
Oh dear, she's only been married for half a day, and she's already going to be in the thick of things?
The provocation came too quickly; she wasn't prepared.
Shen Lingyue blinked her big eyes, feigning innocence: "I don't understand what Aunt means. Does she mean that my sister-in-law's side is being looked after by Grandmother?"
Pei Yuzhen sneered inwardly.
No wonder everyone says that Minister Shen's family spoils their youngest daughter like a precious jewel; she really is a bit dim-witted.
She put on a kind and gentle expression. "Your aunt isn't the kind of person who likes to gossip behind people's backs. It's just that I felt an instant connection with you the moment I met you."
Shen Lingyue nodded and smiled: "Yes, yes, when I go out to visit guests, many ladies praise me like that."
Pei Yuzhen: ...
You actually took those polite words seriously?
She patiently explained, "Jingyi's birth mother was Princess Qinghe. She died young, and the old lady felt sorry for Jingyi, who lost his mother at such a young age. She raised him by her side until he was six years old before she agreed to let him move to the front yard."
Pei Yuzhen looked worried for Shen Lingyue, "Jingyi is capable in his work and is the eldest son of the first wife. Isn't his position as heir apparent a sure thing? I'm worried for you. Do you really want to be suppressed by that Zhou family girl for the rest of your life?"
Shen Lingyue feigned fear, "Then what should I do?"
Pei Yuzhen was pleased to see this expression on her face and said meaningfully, "I came here to give you a heads-up. Take advantage of these few days of your wedding to find an opportunity to suppress the arrogance of the main branch of the family. Don't be afraid, I'm here in this mansion, as are your mother-in-law. We are all on your side."
Some things are best left unsaid, so Pei Yuzhen got up and left after saying that.
As soon as she left, Shen Lingyue put down her chopsticks and snorted irritably.
"Shuangxu, take all this food outside and throw it away."
How dare he encourage her to go against Yan Yi? What kind of person is he?
What's strange is that Pei Yuzhen was only able to live in the Marquis's mansion because of her mother's pity; otherwise, as the widow of a sixth-rank local official, she would never have been able to live such a good life.
But instead of keeping in step with the Grand Madam, she sided with the Second Branch of the House and even tried to incite her and Yan Yi to fight each other.
Something must have happened that she doesn't know about.
Shen Lingyue secretly made a mental note of it, planning to have Qingchan go out and inquire about it later.
Just as Shuangxu finished putting the food into the food box, someone knocked on the door again.
"Second Young Madam, this servant is Mama Qi, who serves you. I've come to bring you some food."
Is this your mother-in-law's person? Quickly, welcome her in.
Before long, the table in front of Shen Lingyue was full again.
The dishes looked familiar, which made her feel a little dazed.
It's like time is looping.
Madam Qi was quite proper and didn't say anything superfluous. She only expressed her concern on behalf of Lady Meng, the wife of the Marquis of Changning, before getting up to take her leave.
Shen Lingyue stopped her and asked again, "Did they also send food to Jiusi Academy?"
Madam Qi's smile remained unchanged. "Of course. Today, the two young masters of the manor are getting married. Madam has been so busy that she hasn't had a moment to spare, afraid that something might go wrong, otherwise how could she explain it to the palace?"
Shen Lingyue breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't care whether the old lady's people or the madam's people, as long as someone delivered food to Yan Yi.
At the same time, in Jiusiyuan, in the new house.
Yan Yi faced two identical dishes on the table, while Qian Mama, who served the old lady, kept nagging in her ears.
"Our young master has had a hard life. He lost his mother at a young age and grew up alone in the manor. He has achieved his current position and status entirely through his own hard work."
"Stepmothers have always been heartless. How could they truly care for the children left behind by their stepmothers? Of course, they would only think of their own children if there were any benefits to be had."
"Everything else is secondary, but the position of heir must absolutely not be given to Dan Yuexuan!"
"Don't worry, young mistress. The old lady is very clear-headed. As long as you behave well, stay true to your place, and hurry up and have a son, she will definitely grant you two your wish."
"The first step is to take advantage of these few days of the wedding to severely suppress the arrogance of the second wife! Then, seize control of the household management as soon as possible..."
Yan Yi smiled, seemingly listening attentively, but her mind was already wandering.
Lady Hou is Pei Jinghuai's biological mother, so she probably wouldn't let her daughter-in-law go hungry.
She knew Shen Lingyue's appetite all too well; missing even one meal could kill her.
While grumbling, Qian's mother pushed aside the food delivered from the main courtyard with disdain.
"You absolutely mustn't be swayed by the chief's small favors; who knows if there's any poison in this food!"
Even with Yan Yi's good temper, she couldn't help but twitch her lips.
Drugging a newlywed bride is too cruel.
Fortunately, Madam Qian didn't watch her finish eating. After giving Yan Yi a lecture, she took her leave.
He walked to the door but suddenly turned back, saying, "Look at my memory, I almost forgot the important thing."
She mysteriously pulled a small booklet from her bosom and handed it to Yan Yi as if it were a precious treasure.
"This is the old lady's treasured secret recipe for conceiving a child. She only gave it to you, the eldest young mistress. The second branch of the family doesn't have it."
Madam Qian's eyes lit up as she poked at the cover of the booklet. "As long as you learn the postures and precautions in here, oh my, I guarantee you'll have a boy in one go, and two within three years!"
Even if Yan Yi was slow to react, she would realize it soon enough, and her face instantly turned bright red.
The light and airy booklet suddenly became a hot potato; it was neither safe to keep it nor to throw it away.
Lin Qiyu is a stepmother, so there was naturally no premarital sex education last night, and Yan Yi didn't think about it that way either.
I didn't expect that this step would still be completed today...
After seeing off Mama Qian and dismissing the two maids who had come with the Zhou family as part of her dowry, Yan Yi sat back down at the table and ate slowly, finding the food tasteless.
When she lifted the veil just now, she only glanced at Pei Jingyi briefly and didn't get a clear look.
All I remember is that he was tall and slender, with fair skin and deep, unfathomable eyes, like two pools of water that were impossible to see through, and I could not fathom his thoughts.
Indeed, being inexplicably betrothed to a stranger as a wife, wouldn't anyone feel good in that situation?
Yan Yi had little experience with relationships in her previous life. She was strictly controlled by her parents from a young age, and everything she did and learned had to be arranged by adults. Early romance? Not a chance.
She remembered that when she was in junior high school, a boy in her class slipped a love letter into her textbook. When she got home, her mother, who was checking her homework, discovered it first. The next day, her mother rushed to the school, called the boy out, and gave him a stern lecture.
From then on, the male students in the class would avoid her whenever they saw her.
Her female classmates stopped playing with her and secretly gossiped about how she was a hypocrite.
Yan Yi wanted to explain that she didn't mean it, but she didn't know who to talk to, and no one was willing to listen to her.
Later, she was admitted to a prestigious high school, where her homeroom teacher was a former student of her mother's. The teacher kept a closer eye on her, and no boy dared to make a move on her.
She only had one good friend, Little Moon, and this was the biggest act of rebellion she ever committed against her parents in her more than ten years of being obedient and well-behaved.
Even though her parents thought Shen Lingyue was a strange child without parents, with mediocre grades and no ambition, which would affect Yan Yi's grades, she refused to listen to them and simply went from openly dating to secretly dating them.
It wasn't until the two of them were admitted to universities in the same city and escaped their parents' control that Yan Yi felt truly free.
But she still had no interest in romantic relationships.
In her limited free time after attending classes, reading, and doing experiments, all she wanted to do was video call Shen Lingyue and listen to her excitedly talk about what novels she had recently read, what games she had played, and what club activities she had participated in...
She just listened, as if she were part of it.
If it weren't for this incredible time travel, she thought she would have lived like this forever, content with a quiet and peaceful life.
However, with Little Moon chattering around, it's probably not going to be peaceful.
Forget it, I don't want to think about it anymore.
Just as she advised Shen Lingyue not to act rashly, Yan Yi knew very well that they had to get married, and could only get married.
If a 25-year-old woman is unmarried, people will say she is an unwanted old maid.
If a 25-year-old woman loses her husband, people will say it's a pity that she has become a widow at such a young age.
The world has such a double standard in its attitude towards married and unmarried people.
They can't change it, they can only get used to it and adapt to it.
Yan Yi comforted herself: It's already good enough that I can get away from the Zhou family's quagmire in a reasonable and legal way.
It didn't matter how cold Pei Jingyi was to her.
She married into the family so that she could be with Shen Lingyue every day.
*
The front courtyard of the Marquis of Changning's residence was filled with guests, who were drinking and making merry, creating a lively atmosphere.
Pei Jingyi and Pei Jinghuai, as the two grooms today, were surrounded by a group of relatives and friends and went from table to table toasting each other, drinking countless cups.
Pei Jingyi's fair skin was flushed with a light blush, and his usually aloof and unapproachable peach blossom eyes were now glistening with tears, making him look more charming and amorous.
He drank a glass of wine, flicked his wrist to indicate that the glass was empty, and was about to speak when his brows furrowed slightly and he swayed unsteadily for a moment.
The personal servant, Shumo, quickly stepped forward to help him up, "Young Master, you've had too much to drink today. Let me help you sit down over there and rest..."
Before he could finish speaking, Pei Jingyi was pushed aside by a pair of long, strong hands.
"He can't drink, so if you want to toast him, come at me!"
Pei Jinghuai, holding a small wine jar, tilted his head back and gulped down a large mouthful. With a smear of wine on his lips, he exuded an air of heroic pride, "Who else?"
"The Second Young Master has a huge capacity for alcohol!"
"Come, come, let me toast you—"
The point of a wedding is to have a lively atmosphere, and the guests, seeing that Pei Jinghuai was a good drinker, all urged him to come forward and pour him drinks.
Pei Jingyi was left standing there in the cold.
Shumo looked indignant.
Why is the second young master acting like this? Today is supposed to be the brothers' wedding banquet, but he seems to be the main character...
He stood up for his young master and let out a soft snort.
"Let him drink if he wants to, young master. I'll go get you a bowl of hangover soup."
The news quickly reached the backyard.
When the old lady heard that Pei Jinghuai was drinking happily with the guests while leaving his brother aside, her face immediately fell, and she said something sarcastic to her daughter-in-law.
"The waiter certainly has a good capacity for alcohol; no wonder he frequents those restaurants so often. Madam Meng, how have you raised your son? Doesn't he even know the most basic distinctions of seniority and hierarchy?"
Lady Hou, Meng Wanyin, quickly stood up. "Mother, Jinghuai had absolutely no intention of disrespecting his elder brother. He must have been afraid that the eldest young master wouldn't be able to hold his liquor and would miss the auspicious time tonight, so he drank on his brother's behalf..."
She was not good with words to begin with, and she stammered as she spoke, her face turning red with anxiety, and she was very embarrassed.
The old lady persisted: "You're saying the waiter was drinking for my brother? Does that mean he won't have his wedding night tonight?"
Meng Wanyin stammered, unable to speak, secretly blaming her son for being heartless.
What kind of good wine is that that you insist on drinking? Are you trying to impress me?
Pei Yuzhen's eyes flickered slightly as she advised her mother, "Mother, don't get angry on such a joyous occasion. My sister-in-law is about to become a mother-in-law, so you should give her some face in front of the younger generation."
The old lady then dropped her arrogance, still looking sullen, "as if no one has never been a mother-in-law before."
Don't think that just because you have a daughter-in-law, you can hold your head high and act arrogantly.
She's not dead yet.
Meng Wanyin felt extremely uncomfortable. After a while, she left her seat under the pretext of changing clothes and called over Mother Qi.
"Have you sent the meals to the two young mistresses? Did they say anything?"
Madam Qi's expression was somewhat unpleasant. "Second Young Mistress is naturally very grateful, after all, she is your own daughter-in-law. But over at Jiu Si Courtyard... I hadn't gone far when I saw Madam Qian, who was beside the Old Madam, also carrying a food box inside."
Meng Wanyin sighed: "The old lady has always favored the eldest son, so it's normal that she's thinking about her eldest granddaughter-in-law."
"However, the second young mistress did ask a question," Mama Qi added. "She asked whether the meals I delivered were only for her, or whether everyone received them?"
Meng Wanyin felt a headache coming on. She had long heard that the girls from the Zhou and Chen families were mortal enemies who couldn't stand each other. And now, on her very first day in the family, they were already competing with each other?
But as the mistress of the Marquis's mansion, she couldn't be too biased towards her own son; she still had to maintain a balance on the surface.
She clasped her hands together and said, "God bless me and let me have a couple of peaceful days."
If she had to deal with her two daughters-in-law's lawsuits every day as soon as she opened her eyes, she would rather lock herself up and play with her cats!
"I'm not eating anymore. Let's go back inside and feed Rongtuan'er."
*
After eating and drinking her fill, Shen Lingyue took a shower, lay down on the bed and took a nap. When she opened her eyes again, it was already dark.
Thick, long dragon and phoenix candles were lit in the new house, illuminating the entire room as brightly as day.
It is said that the wedding candles should burn until dawn, symbolizing that the newlyweds will grow old together.
She sat up, stretched, and asked Qingchan, "When did the banquet in the front yard end?"
"I heard that the commotion lasted until 1 p.m. before the Marquis finally ordered it to stop."
Qingchan didn't have a moment's rest that afternoon; she went out and struck up a conversation with the maids and servants who served at Danyue Pavilion.
She laughed and said, "They said our son-in-law was forced to drink a lot of alcohol, and in the end he didn't just drink it cup by cup, but went straight for the wine jar."
Shen Lingyue's eyes lit up: "He's drunk?"
It's good to be drunk. It would be best to sleep until tomorrow morning and forget about "Ni Xiaodie"!
Under Shen Lingyue's expectant gaze, Qingchan suppressed a laugh and shook her head.
"The son-in-law was still standing steadily even after the banquet ended, but he smelled bad from the alcohol. He said he needed to wash up and tidy himself up in the front yard first. Judging by the time, he should be back soon."
Seeing that she was still wearing her nightgown, Qingchan asked, "Miss, would you like to take a bath and change your clothes?"
Shen Lingyue was a little resistant; it sounded like he wanted her to wash up and wait for him to come back...
She made an excuse, "I just woke up and I'm hungry. Go find me something to eat."
We should try to stall for as long as possible.
Qingchan didn't think much of it, responded, and went out.
Shen Lingyue walked to the dressing table. The makeup box on the table was her dowry, which had been brought over with the wedding procession today.
She opened the bottom drawer, inside which were several plain-colored small porcelain bottles.
She hadn't finished using the aphrodisiacs she'd asked He Rong to buy last time, so she asked him to get some more sleeping potion.
She originally thought that if the man she married was too awful and she couldn't bring herself to eat him, she would just drug him and make him faint, determined not to wrong herself.
But now... it turns out that men are not only delicious, but also feel very... off-putting...
But it's going to kill him!
After struggling internally for a long time, Shen Lingyue finally made up her mind, grabbed the small porcelain bottle, and hid it in her sleeve.
Never mind, let's just get the medicine out of there first.
Just then, Qingchan suddenly ran back, her voice filled with surprise and delight.
"Miss, the young master has returned from the front yard and has asked the kitchen to prepare a table of food and wine for you to eat together."
Shen Lingyue: !
She hurriedly ran behind the screen and grabbed two pieces of clothing that she usually wore at home to put on.
Pei Jinghuai had already arrived outside the door. Hearing the rustling sounds inside, he didn't urge him and just stood at the door waiting unhurriedly.
After a while, Qingchan opened the door and nodded cautiously to him.
"Young master, you may come in now."
Pei Jinghuai entered the room and saw that Shen Lingyue had changed out of her dazzling bright red and gold wedding dress. She was wearing a peach-colored embroidered swallow and grass patterned collared jacket and a parrot green floral skirt. Her face was clean and her black hair was loosely tied back.
She stood by the bed, her hands clasped together, head bowed, silent, like a quail with its beak tied.
Pei Jinghuai wanted to laugh even more.
Now you're scared? Where's the energy you had when you climbed trees to eavesdrop?
He pretended not to know anything, sat down at the table with an air of nonchalance, and tapped the surface.
"Why are you standing so far away? Come here."
Shen Lingyue slowly moved over and sat in the furthest seat opposite him, still keeping her head down and remaining silent.
Qingchan and Shuangxu brought over the wine, dishes, bowls, and chopsticks and set them out. Just as they were about to serve the two of them, Pei Jinghuai raised his hand.
"Get out, all of you. You don't need to serve me tonight."
Qingchan pursed her lips, suppressing a laugh as she squatted down. "Yes, this servant will be on night duty outside tonight. If the young master has any orders, just call out."
Before they came, Liu's mother had given them a training session, telling them to be on their best tonight and to have hot water ready at all times.
No, don't go...
Shen Lingyue watched longingly as the two maids left the room, and Qingchan winked at her as she closed the door.
The moment the door closed, Pei Jinghuai's expression changed.
"Are you going to confess honestly, or do I have to use some methods?"
Shen Lingyue took a deep breath and forced a smile that looked more like a grimace.
"My lord... what do you want me to tell you?"
"Still pretending?" Pei Jinghuai raised an eyebrow. "Do I need to remind you, Miss Ni Xiaodie?"
“I can explain, really, it’s all a wonderful misunderstanding…”
Shen Lingyue racked her brains to stall for time, and took the initiative to pick up the wine pot, "How about we drink and chat?"
Just as Pei Jinghuai was about to stop her, he heard her say to herself, "No, my husband has drunk too much wine today. Let's change it to tea."
She picked up the wine pot, stood up, walked to the round table where the teapot was placed, turned her back to Pei Jinghuai, and fiddled with something.
Pei Jinghuai didn't say anything, but simply raised his hand and slightly adjusted the angle of the bronze mirror on the dressing table.
The candlelight was bright, and the bronze mirror clearly reflected Shen Lingyue's movements—
She took a small porcelain bottle from her sleeve, uncorked it, and poured it into a cup.
However, the powder in the bottle seemed to have clumped due to moisture, and it couldn't be poured out for a long time.
Pei Jinghuai watched in the mirror as she stomped her feet in frustration, her face contorted as she intensified her movements, even tapping the bottom of the bottle twice... He pinched his thigh to stop himself from laughing out loud.
With such rudimentary skills, you think you can drug him?
Shen Lingyue returned with two cups, and Pei Jinghuai quickly suppressed his smile.
"Can we talk about it now?"
Shen Lingyue gestured with her eyes, "Have some tea first, to soothe your throat?"
"I drank a lot of hangover soup earlier, so I'm not thirsty."
Pei Jinghuai changed his posture, propped up one long leg, leaned forward slightly, and stared straight at her with his dark eyes.
"I want to hear what you have to say right now, my wife, hmm?"
Faced with the man's magnified handsome face, she shamefully wavered.
Ahhh, beauty has ruined me!
Shen Lingyue closed her eyes, mustered her courage, and shouted, "I didn't mean to lie to you. Who knows if you were trying to kill me to cover it up? Am I crazy to tell you my real name!"
"Your fear that I would kill you to silence you proves that you overheard our conversation."
Pei Jinghuai's eyes were deep and unfathomable. "You—"
Shen Lingyue immediately pointed to the sky and swore, "I didn't tell anyone, really, I forgot everything as soon as I got home."
She smiled brightly at him: "Look, we're family now, of course I won't report you, what good would that do me?"
Pei Jinghuai remained silent, which could be considered a reluctant acceptance of her reason.
Just as Shen Lingyue breathed a sigh of relief, he suddenly asked again, "Why were you in that abandoned house, and why did you climb up the tree?"
There was nothing to hide, she said truthfully: "My brother-in-law's mistress lived next door... oh, not anymore."
Yao Niang was a woman of her word; once she said she was breaking up with Han Zhihuan, she did. Her brother-in-law was distraught for quite some time.
Then the maid that the eldest sister arranged in the courtyard of the Marquis of Pingxi took advantage of the situation and successfully rose to power when Han Zhihuan was most lonely and helpless. Now she is Aunt Xia.
Pei Jinghuai was speechless for a moment, then put on a stern face and warned her, "I won't hold it against you for lying to me, but this is a one-time exception. From now on, you're not allowed to run around, climb trees, or..."
You're not allowed to jump into another man's arms!
The more he thought about it, the more uncomfortable he felt. What if it wasn't him who caught her under the tree that day?
Did she touch him...?
Pei Jinghuai's eyes widened, and a question rolled on his lips several times, but he ultimately didn't ask it.
Hmph, a real man doesn't stoop to her level.
Pei Jinghuai was unwilling to admit that Ni Xiaodie was actually his type, both in appearance and personality.
That's why he sent people to Sweetwater Lane to inquire repeatedly, and after failing to find anyone, he sulked for several days.
Now that "Ni Xiaodie" has transformed into his lawfully wedded wife, with whom he has formally married and paid homage to heaven and earth, shouldn't he be happy?
Pei Jinghuai couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he felt like something was off.
"My lord, I know I was wrong. Let me offer you a cup of tea instead of wine as an apology."
Seeing that he hadn't spoken for a while, Shen Lingyue took the initiative to pick up her teacup again.
Pei Jinghuai couldn't help but laugh when he saw her urging him to drink tea several times.
"Drinking tea is so insincere." He grinned, his bright, even teeth quite noticeable. "Have you forgotten that we still have something to do tonight?"
Shen Lingyue stammered nervously, "Wh-what's wrong?"
Is it really going to get to the point so soon? She's not ready yet...
Pei Jinghuai replied matter-of-factly, "Let's drink the nuptial wine."
He took the wine jug, poured two more small cups of wine, and then stood up, saying, "I'm going to wash my hands."
Great opportunity!
Shen Lingyue quickly took out a small porcelain bottle and, following the same method, put the drug into Pei Jinghuai's glass of wine.
As a result, the powder that had been impossible to pour out suddenly gushed out, almost submerging the wine.
Shen Lingyue: !
She quickly stirred the wine in her glass with her chopsticks, and when she heard footsteps behind her, she quickly sat up straight.
Pei Jinghuai sat down, picked up his wine glass, and then put it down again.
Shen Lingyue: ...What is it now?
He turned his head, his ears twitching slightly, and looked towards the west window. "It looks like there's someone outside."
The window was open, just a crack, and Pei Jinghuai picked up two peanuts and tossed them out.
Ouch!
Cries of pain came from under the window; the voices sounded like those of several teenagers.
Pei Jinghuai raised his voice, his tone cold and sharp: "How dare you listen to what's going on in my backyard? Get out of here."
"Second Brother, don't be angry, we'll leave now, we'll leave now..."
The footsteps and pleas for mercy gradually faded away. Shen Lingyue looked out the window, still shaken.
Good heavens, thank goodness they didn't actually do anything...
Pei Jinghuai tapped the table to remind her to come back to her senses, "It's time to drink."
As Shen Lingyue turned her head, a small wine cup was shoved into her hand.
Pei Jinghuai pulled her to sit down on the edge of the bed, raised his right hand, and gestured for her to come closer.
Shen Lingyue swallowed, raised her wine glass, and slowly leaned closer.
The distance between them grew closer and closer, so close that she suspected Pei Jinghuai could hear her wildly beating heart.
She carefully placed her arm on his and tied it in a knot.
The man's arms were very strong and hard to the touch; he could probably punch her ten times over.
Shen Lingyue was too nervous to notice that the person opposite her also had red ears.
She smelled wonderful; I don't know what she used, but it smelled so good that I wanted to smell it some more.
"that……"
Shen Lingyue tried to ease the tension by asking, "You don't hit women, do you?"
Pei Jinghuai: ...
He used a little force to pull her whole body towards him, and said fiercely, "Drink it quickly."
The two of them then drank their drinks in this awkward, twisted position.
Slurp...
Shen Lingyue smacked her lips. Why was the wine at the Marquis's mansion different from the wine at home? It was a bit too mellow.
She quickly let go of his hand after drinking the wine, and made a move to walk towards the table.
"We've had our drinks, let's eat something first..."
He hadn't taken two steps when someone pulled him back and gently pushed him down onto the large bed.
"What's the rush? Are you hungry?"
As Pei Jinghuai spoke, he slowly unbuttoned his shirt.
Shen Lingyue lay motionless on the bed, like a puppet, watching as he took off his outer robe and casually tossed it onto the screen.
Pei Jinghuai was only wearing a moon-white inner garment, with a dark floral pattern and a light, sheer material.
Key point: Transparency.
He reached out and untied the bed curtains, and layers of gauze curtains fell down, covering the dragon and phoenix wedding candles that were burning brightly outside.
The space inside the four-poster bed suddenly became cramped and dim, adding an indescribable sense of daily intimacy and unease.
Shen Lingyue jumped up and quickly squeezed to the corner of the bed, not forgetting to pull the blanket over herself.
Pei Jinghuai's outstretched hand froze in mid-air. After a moment of silence, he gritted his teeth and said, "Come here. I'm not going to eat you."
Shen Lingyue was inwardly groaning.
She clearly put in so much sleeping potion, why hasn't it worked yet?
We can only delay a little longer...
She lingered closer, her face flushed, and said, "I'm just... a little nervous."
"Didn't your mother-in-law teach you this beforehand?"
Pei Jinghuai asked a question, then coughed twice, pretending to be mature and comforting, "That's how it is between husband and wife, you'll get used to it."
He looked down, found Shen Lingyue's hand, pulled it over, and grasped it firmly.
Her hands were small and soft, and he could fit them completely into his palm with room to spare.
It was a little cold, and she was shivering. Was she scared?
Pei Jinghuai didn't know what to say. In a moment of impulse, he suddenly grabbed her hand and pressed it against his chest.
"You like it here, right? Here, you can touch it."
Shen Lingyue: !!!
Who understands? It's like my hands suddenly found their way home :)
She pressed her hand against his chest, too afraid to move. Pei Jinghuai was also too nervous to move, but he couldn't control his heartbeat.
Then Shen Lingyue felt the burning heat in her palm throbbing slightly...
She mustered her courage and gently grabbed a handful.
It's firm yet soft, a very peculiar feel, completely different from her own.
Shen Lingyue, as if she had received a new toy, curiously pinched and pressed it everywhere.
Pei Jinghuai rested his hands on the bed behind him, not moving, just watching her explore with curiosity and excitement.
But he soon realized something was wrong; wherever her hand touched, it felt like a fire had been lit.
His eyes gradually darkened, and his voice became slightly hoarse as he spoke, "You can stop now."
Shen Lingyue was having a great time and refused to admit that she was a little drunk and confused. She pretended not to hear and continued poking.
Pei Jinghuai could no longer bear it, and suddenly rolled over, pulling her onto the blanket.
He leaned closer to her and kissed her deeply on her fragrant cheek.
Then……
Then he watched helplessly as Shen Lingyue's head lolled to the side, as if she had lost consciousness, and he couldn't wake her up no matter how he called her.
Pei Jinghuai: ...
He got out of bed with a dark face, found the wine cup that Shen Lingyue had used, dipped his fingertip in the remaining wine, licked it, took a couple of small sips, and laughed in anger.
She went to great lengths, changing the tea and the wine, just to slip him some sleeping potion.
Pei Jinghuai returned to the bedside and lifted the curtain.
Shen Lingyue was completely asleep, sprawled out like a pancake, and if you listened carefully, you could even hear her snoring softly.
I heard the bride had to get up before dawn to get ready, which must have exhausted her.
Pei Jinghuai's romantic thoughts vanished, and he resignedly stripped off her outer garment, then tucked it into the quilt.
He bent down and traced her eyebrows and eyes little by little, then suddenly reached out and covered her face with his hand.
It's small and round; he can hold it completely in one hand.
Looking at it this way, getting married doesn't seem so bad.
He turned and went to the shower stall.
There's plenty of time ahead; the butterfly has already landed in his palm, and there's no escaping it now.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Moon Child: Even if I die, I'll still be a pervert!
The next second: ZZZ...
*
First time I've released a 10,000-word update!
Hehe, I suddenly realized today is June 1st, a good day for weddings (just kidding).
Then, on behalf of my two daughters and sons-in-law, I wish everyone a happy holiday! May you always keep a childlike heart! [heart emoji]
Consider today's comments a gift to my daughter and son-in-law~~~ Mwah mwah!
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