Chapter 25 "Two clueless fools, yet they manage to put together..."
Wow, justice has fallen from the sky?
Shen Lingyue suddenly ripped open the curtain and peered out.
Fan Guangzu's legs were broken in the street. The immense pain completely sobered him up from his hangover. Looking at the servants wielding large boards and glaring menacingly, his face was filled with fear. He pressed his hands to the ground and retreated desperately.
"No, no, no, I didn't steal anything! I was definitely drinking at Tianxiang Restaurant last night... Someone must be trying to frame me! Someone, I'm reporting this to the authorities!"
He roared at the onlookers, "Are you all dead?! Quickly report this to the authorities, or the Duke of Ling's mansion will definitely not let you off the hook!"
When the crowd met his ferocious and crazed expression, they all backed away, their faces showing both fear and disgust.
Fan Guangzu was still in a fit of impotent rage, pounding the ground and cursing loudly.
Several servants exchanged glances, and one of them found a rag from somewhere, crumpled it up, stuffed it into his mouth, and quickly and skillfully dragged him away.
"Mmm-mmm-mmm—"
The servant bowed to the onlookers and said, "Don't listen to this drunkard's nonsense. We spotted him lurking around the area a few days ago, and we finally caught him red-handed last night! Now we've tied him up and are sending him to Shuntian Prefecture. Everyone, please disperse."
After everyone had enjoyed the spectacle, they went about their own business.
The road was reopened, and the carriage continued its journey.
Shen Lingyue clung to the car window, anxious to see if Fan Guangzu had really been sent to the authorities; she was so eager that half of her body was almost sticking out.
Suddenly, a hand grabbed her by the back of her collar and pulled her back.
"It's just catching a thief, is it really that interesting?"
Pei Jinghuai was very puzzled. If he hadn't pulled her out, she would have fallen out of the car.
Shen Lingyue sat back down, straightening her collar which he had pulled askew, and said dismissively, "Of course it looks good. Bad people get punished, evil deeds are punished, how can it not look good?"
Bad guy?
Pei Jinghuai asked, "Do you know that guy?"
Shen Lingyue blinked. "I've met her once. I heard she's a distant relative of the Duchess of Lingguo. She's been using her name to do all sorts of bad things. She's extremely despicable."
Pei Jinghuai responded with an "oh," showing little interest.
Even spoiled brats are divided into different levels, and he could never associate with such scoundrels who bully others.
However, when it comes to the Duke of Ling's mansion...
Pei Jinghuai recalled the fight he had with his older brother and curled his lip in displeasure.
Without Brother Gu Lin in charge, look at what the reputation of the Duke of Ling's mansion has become now.
Because of this little incident, the two stopped arguing for the rest of the journey and each went their own way, lost in thought.
We finally arrived at Shenfu.
As soon as Shen Lingyue got out of the car, she was startled by the sight of her entire family standing neatly at the door.
Is it really that grand?
Even my eldest and second eldest brothers took leave from the Imperial Academy and came back.
Shen Hang stepped forward and grabbed Pei Jinghuai, showing exceptional enthusiasm.
"Son-in-law, has my good-for-nothing daughter caused you any trouble?"
Pei Jinghuai: ...Does it count as scolding the old lady's people away twice?
He clenched his fist and pretended to cough twice, then said reservedly, "No, she's fine. My father and mother both like her very much."
Shen Lingyue glanced at him.
My mother-in-law seems to like her quite a bit; the gift she gave me upon meeting her was both generous and practical. But... are you sure the Marquis is satisfied with me?
In front of everyone, she simply lowered her head and acted shy: "Father, Mother, don't worry, I'm doing well at the Marquis's residence."
Zhao Lan spoke up at the opportune moment: "Master, let's go inside and talk first."
"Yes, yes, I was just so happy to see my son-in-law."
Shen Hang said, "We left in a hurry on the day of the wedding. Today, the kitchen has prepared a feast. Our family should have a proper reunion."
He waved to Zhao Lan, "You take Yue'er to your courtyard first. We, father-in-law and son-in-law, can talk in the study in the front."
As he spoke, he called his two sons over.
Pei Jinghuai only had time to glance at Shen Lingyue before his enthusiastic father-in-law took him away.
Shen Lingyue took Zhao Lan's arm and asked softly, "Why did Father change his mind today?"
Their enthusiasm was frightening.
Didn't he previously look down on Pei Jinghuai, saying that he had neither official rank nor official position?
Zhao Lan smiled and said, "It's all because you went to the palace to meet the Emperor yesterday. In the afternoon, His Majesty sent an eunuch to the mansion to convey an imperial edict, saying that your father had done a good job of raising his daughter, praising you for being clever and lively, and that you and your son-in-law were a perfect match. This bestowed marriage is very satisfactory, and His Majesty is very pleased."
Having heard similar things, the eunuch went to the Zhou family and relayed the same message.
Shen Lingyue thought for a moment and muttered softly, "Because our marriage was arranged by the Imperial Concubine, His Majesty must have just wanted to please her."
She had already sensed the extent of the Imperial Concubine's favor in Yan Yi's dream.
The old emperor is now providing aftercare for his beloved concubine.
—See? The Imperial Concubine's matchmaking was very successful. Your two families no longer need to worry about your daughters marrying badly.
Although the important matter of their daughter's marriage was now over, and everyone in the household could finally breathe a sigh of relief, Zhao Lan hadn't slept well for the past few days, deeply worried about Shen Lingyue's situation at the Marquis's residence.
Is she getting along well with her son-in-law? Have the elders made things difficult for her? Has Miss Zhou been trying to compete with her?
Seeing Shen Lingyue standing safely in front of her, radiant and refreshed, she finally felt a little relieved.
Shen Songyi and Aunt Liu were relegated to the back as background figures throughout the entire event, and she clenched her handkerchief in resentment.
Father is such a fickle person. After receiving a few polite compliments from the palace, he eagerly had the whole family come to the door to greet her early in the morning.
She just married the second son of a marquis's family. People who didn't know better would think it was a royal concubine visiting her family. What a grand spectacle!
The more she tried to comfort herself like this, the more bitterness welled up inside her.
Just wait and see, she'll marry better than Shen Lingyue sooner or later.
*
The two groups separated at the second gate, and Shen Lingyue finally found an opportunity to call out to Shuangxu.
"Have He Rong go out and find out which family Fan Guangzu has offended?"
It wasn't that she was being paranoid; it was just that the timing was too coincidental.
Although Fan Guangzu was a despicable scoundrel, he had no worries about food and drink in the Duke of Ling's mansion, so he really had no need to steal chickens or dogs.
There's something strange about what happened today.
Shen Lingyue gave the order and then temporarily put the thought aside.
As she walked, she looked at the flowers and plants on both sides of the road. It was strange; she had only been away for a few days, yet she missed this "home" where she had only stayed for three months very much.
I miss her yard, her room, her bed—especially the big bed where some big dog won't climb up in the middle of the night to claim its territory!
Shen Lingyue suddenly cheered up and said to Zhao Lan, "Mother, shall I go back to my own courtyard?"
"Go ahead, your room is cleaned every day."
As Zhao Lan watched Shen Lingyue skip away, she suddenly called out to Qing Chan.
"Come back to the main courtyard with me, I have something to ask you."
*
In the front yard, Shen Hang, accompanied by his two sons, chatted with Pei Jinghuai for a few moments, inquiring about the health of the Grand Madam and the Marquis, before tentatively speaking.
"It is said that a real man should settle down before establishing a career. Although you are a son of a marquis and have no worries about food and drink, you should still think about your future and Yue'er's future, right?"
"What are you considering?"
Pei Jinghuai shrugged. "She eats and sleeps well at our house, and no one dares to mistreat her."
“I’m not talking about now, what I mean is…” Shen Hang racked his brains to hint at him, “You’ll have children soon, you have to think about their future.”
Either strive for a title or find a job; you can't just drift along aimlessly every day.
"The child? My child with her?"
I wonder if I'll have a son or a daughter? A daughter, I hope she looks more like her, sweet and soft, riding on his shoulders and calling him "Daddy" in her sweet little voice…
Pei Jinghuai's thoughts drifted away, and he suddenly blushed, looking down and chuckling twice.
Shen Hang: ...I'm tired. It seems like my son-in-law can't understand human speech.
He could only entrust this arduous task to his eldest son, saying, "I'll go talk to your brother-in-law and then go outside for some fresh air."
Sigh, why can't he have a son-in-law who is a scholar who has passed the imperial examination?
Shen Hang looked up at the sky, feeling deeply melancholy.
*
"You mean, Yue'er and her husband haven't consummated their marriage yet?"
Zhao Lan sighed and rubbed her forehead. This child, didn't she swear before getting married that she had learned everything?
If they haven't consummated their marriage after three days, what kind of couple are they? They'll be laughed out of the house if word gets out.
Qingchan had been afraid of Zhao Lan since she was a child, and dared not hide anything from her when she asked questions.
She tried to explain for Shen Lingyue: "Actually, this matter can't be entirely blamed on Miss..."
Zhao Lan waved her hand, "Go and call her over, I want to ask her myself."
So Shen Lingyue hadn't even gotten comfortable in her own bed before she was dragged to the main courtyard.
Zhao Lan narrowed her eyes and scrutinized her: "What's going on between you and your son-in-law?"
Shen Lingyue blinked, still trying to play dumb: "We're fine, didn't you see everything just now?"
Zhao Lan slapped the back of her hand, "Qing Chan has already told me, why don't you just tell me the truth?"
Why would you ask something like this...?
Shen Lingyue muttered something, then quickly raised her hand to swear, "But this isn't my fault, it's all Pei Jinghuai's fault!"
Having finally escaped the interrogation of his two brothers-in-law, Pei Jinghuai, who was about to pay his respects to his mother-in-law, stopped outside the door with a question mark on his head.
Why is it his fault?
They've only been separated for a short time, and Shen Lingyue is already complaining about him to her mother-in-law?
Pei Jinghuai moved quietly, slowly approaching, and pressed his ear against the crack in the door.
Inside the house, Shen Lingyue was still arguing, "On our first night together, he got drunk and fell asleep immediately. I couldn't wake him up no matter how I called him, so I had to wash up and go to sleep."
She counted on her fingers: "On the second night, he was punished for beating his older brother and had to kneel in the ancestral hall for half the night. How could he have the mind to think about anything else?"
“The third night… the third night was even worse.” Shen Lingyue widened her eyes dramatically. “He ran off somewhere to fool around with some shady friends, and didn’t come back until almost dawn!”
Finally, she concluded with a regretful shrug.
"You see, it's just such a coincidence, it really has nothing to do with me."
Pei Jinghuai outside the door clenched his fist silently.
As expected of Ni Xiaodie, you're spouting nonsense again.
Just as he was about to rush in and expose Shen Lingyue's true colors, he heard his mother-in-law slam her hand on the table.
"This is utterly ridiculous!"
“When I was about to prepare a concubine for you, you refused no matter what, threw a tantrum and refused to eat, saying that you and your husband couldn’t tolerate a third person. I believed you, and I believed that you would live a good life with him.”
Zhao Lan deliberately provoked her, "Since you're so unwilling to be with him, why don't you take the other two girls back with you when you leave this afternoon? You can raise their children under your name when they're born."
Shen Lingyue immediately shook her head: "No, no!"
She hasn't even had any meat herself, how could she possibly share it with others?
She clenched her fist to express her determination to Zhao Lan.
"Tonight, tonight I'll definitely take him!"
"...Cough cough cough!"
A series of disordered coughs came from outside the door.
Zhao Lan frowned, and Liu's mother immediately went to open the door, only to be stunned.
"Son-in-law? When did you arrive?"
Pei Jinghuai coughed until his face turned red, and it took him a long time to stop. He gasped for breath and said, "I just got here. I wanted to greet my mother-in-law..."
Mrs. Liu quickly welcomed them in.
Pei Jinghuai stood there awkwardly, completely unaware of what he was saying in the face of Zhao Lan's concerned inquiry.
All I can think about is getting him, getting him, getting him...
He stole a glance at Shen Lingyue and found that she wasn't looking at him either. She had her head down and seemed to be concentrating on pulling at the tassels hanging from the tablecloth.
Oh no! I blurted it out and he heard me!
Zhao Lan took in all the subtle interactions between the two, wanting to laugh but pursing her lips.
"Moon".
She said to Shen Lingyue, "Take your son-in-law to your courtyard for a walk, let him see where you used to live. I'll have someone call you when the banquet starts."
Shen Lingyue wanted to linger there, but Zhao Lan pushed her away without hesitation, saying, "Go on."
As soon as the young couple left, Mrs. Liu immediately covered her mouth and smiled, "Congratulations, Madam, you can finally rest assured now."
Zhao Lan finally smiled, shaking her head and sighing, "Two clueless people have ended up together."
It seems that the rumors from the outside world cannot be entirely believed. The son-in-law's impetuous manner clearly indicates that he is still inexperienced and naive. How could he be a dissolute playboy?
I really don't know what the people spreading these rumors are thinking...
Mrs. Liu chimed in, "I think the young master is extremely satisfied with our young lady. This young couple will surely live a happy and harmonious life in the future. You can just wait to hold your grandson."
Zhao Lan nodded, then couldn't help but sigh, "I both hope she can stay happy like this forever, and I'm afraid she'll be sad in the future."
It is said that raising a child means worrying for ninety-nine years of life.
I hope Yue'er will be luckier than her older sister.
*
"Look, this is the room I used to live in."
Shen Lingyue acted like an emotionless tour guide, solemnly introducing each place.
It was as if by doing this, the two of them could pretend that what had just happened had never occurred.
Pei Jinghuai cooperated and carefully looked around, concluding, "It seems to be much smaller than the rooms in Danyue Pavilion."
“How can our family compare to the Marquis’s mansion?” Shen Lingyue spread her hands. “The Marquis’s mansion is a grand residence bestowed by the emperor. This place was bought by my mother after years of saving and careful budgeting.”
In the capital, land is incredibly valuable. The Shen family wasn't a wealthy or powerful clan. It was only after Shen Hang married her mother that she accumulated her wealth by buying shops and estates over the years, thanks to her business acumen.
She had previously learned how to manage a household and read accounts from Zhao Lan, and only then did she realize that Zhao Lan also had business partnerships with several of her aunts; otherwise, the Zhao family's life would have been even more difficult.
Pei Jinghuai said with a hint of pride, "Of course, the Pei family ancestors followed the founding emperor in conquering the country, and our family has been loyal to the emperor for generations."
He raised his hand and flicked Shen Lingyue's forehead, as if showing off, "If you hadn't married me, you wouldn't be living such a good life."
Shen Lingyue gave a forced smile: "Yes, yes, thank you so much, my husband."
She took a few steps into the room, just as she was about to find something new to amuse him, when Pei Jinghuai suddenly hugged her from behind.
He lowered his head slightly, rested his chin on the crook of her neck, and blew a breath into her ear.
"So how are you going to thank me?"
Shen Lingyue froze.
This is blatant flirting!
She blushed and pinched his waist, pretending to be fierce.
"Would it be enough to take care of you?"
"You keep your word?"
"...I'd be a dog if I lied!"
*
During lunch, Zhao Lan clearly sensed a change in the atmosphere between the young couple.
Pei Jinghuai solemnly placed a piece of rose-flavored soy sauce chicken on her plate, saying, "Eat more, don't you like this?"
Shen Lingyue kept her head down and didn't say anything, silently picking up a piece of chicken for him... with ginger underneath.
Then Pei Jinghuai actually ate it!
Shen Lingyue rolled her eyes and picked up another red chili pepper for seasoning for him, smiling, "Husband, try this."
Pei Jinghuai wasn't fooled this time. He picked up a clove of garlic from another dish and said with a loving expression, "You eat too."
Zhao Lan: ...Are you two ever going to stop?
Only Shen Mingda was still stunned and couldn't react. He looked left and right, wondering, "My little sister and brother-in-law have such strange tastes."
Shen Hang chuckled twice: "Eat vegetables, everyone eat vegetables."
After you finish eating, hurry back to the Marquis's mansion and go play your little house game.
Once a daughter is married, she cannot be returned!
*
On the other side, Yan Yi had taken the sedative medicine prescribed by the doctor last night, and since there was no one else around, she slept very soundly.
By the time she and Pei Jingyi returned to the Zhou residence by carriage, it was almost noon.
Pei Jingyi also received a warm welcome from his father-in-law, Zhou Chuan, who was very satisfied with this son-in-law. He had never imagined that his eldest daughter would have such good fortune.
Pei Jingyi noticed Yan Yi's nervousness and unfamiliarity with Zhou Chuan as soon as he entered the room.
Considering her background, he understood.
When no one was looking, Pei Jingyi asked her softly, "If you feel uncomfortable, we can sit for a while and then go back early?"
Yan Yi nodded.
If she weren't worried about gossip in the Marquis's mansion, she would have skipped the whole homecoming ceremony.
There's really nothing to miss about the Zhou family.
Lin Qiyu exaggeratedly supported her six-month-old belly and forced a perfunctory smile: "It's almost noon. I thought the young lady and her husband were too busy to come back today."
Is this a veiled criticism that she came back too late, leaving an elder, a pregnant woman, waiting in vain?
Yan Yi frowned, about to speak, when Pei Jingyi pulled her behind him.
His expression was indifferent, with a hint of arrogance befitting a superior: "Madam Zhou, you are overthinking it. I had some official business to attend to this morning, which is why I was delayed for a while."
Zhou Chuan sensed his protectiveness towards Yan Yi and glared at Lin Qiyu, saying, "What's wrong with you, woman? Why are you being so nosy?"
She then tried to ingratiate herself with Pei Jingyi, saying, "Young master, don't listen to her nonsense. Once a girl is married, she's a precious guest when she returns home. What's wrong with waiting a little longer?"
Lin Qiyu was unwilling, but when she thought that Zhou Chuan's future promotion might depend on this son-in-law, she didn't dare to say anything more, but secretly glared at Zhou Yanyi.
How did she end up marrying someone of such high social standing?
Yan Yi looked at Zhou Chuan with a calm expression: "I came back to offer incense to my mother. I'll leave after that and won't take up too much of General Zhou's time."
Zhou Chuan frowned, and Pei Jingyi had already taken Yan Yi's hand. "Where is the ancestral hall? I should go and pay my respects to my mother-in-law."
The two went straight into the mansion, leaving Zhou Chuan and Lin Qiyu behind.
Lin Qiyu rolled her eyes at her husband. "See? Your good daughter harbors a lot of resentment towards you. I don't think you can count on her."
Zhou Chuan, feeling embarrassed, complained to her, "If you had been nicer to her earlier, things wouldn't have turned out this way."
He usually lived in the military camp outside the city and only returned home once a month. Lin Qiyu took care of all the big and small things at home, so he inevitably neglected his eldest daughter.
Zhou Chuan angrily flicked his sleeve and hurriedly chased after him.
"Young master, wait a minute. I'm going to offer incense to Yan Yi's mother too."
Lin Qiyu rolled her eyes, then walked away, clutching her stomach.
Inside the ancestral hall, Yan Yi earnestly offered incense to her birth mother's memorial tablet and kowtowed.
Since I've taken on this role, I have to fulfill my obligations.
...If the original owner has already passed away, I wonder if her soul and her mother's soul can reunite in heaven?
She was kneeling on the prayer mat, lost in thought for a moment, and didn't notice that there was someone next to her.
Pei Jingyi knelt down and offered incense with utmost care, then turned to her and said, "You have paid respects to my mother's memorial tablet, so I must also pay respects to my mother-in-law."
Smoke curled upwards, the scent of sandalwood spreading in circles, obscuring the man's handsome features, like a mountain shrouded in mist, making them difficult to see clearly.
Yan Yi stared at him blankly for a while, then lowered her head and said softly:
"Yes, we should go home."
*
In the afternoon, Shen Lingyue and Pei Jinghuai returned to the Marquis's residence. She asked the gatekeeper, "Have my elder brother and sister-in-law returned?"
The gatekeeper shook his head: "Not yet. The eldest young master and his wife left late, so they'll probably be back late too."
Shen Lingyue was puzzled. There was nothing about the Zhou family that Yan Yi should stay in for long, right?
Could it be that her stepsister, Zhou Yanling, is refusing to release her?
Back at Danyue Pavilion, she quickly asked Qingchan to help her take off her hair and change her clothes, as she wanted to be as comfortable as possible in her own courtyard.
Just before dinner, Shuangxu came into the house with the news He Rong had inquired about.
"The family that arrested Fan Guangzu is surnamed Wei, and they are the chief administrators of the Prince An's mansion."
Prince An was Emperor Qingxi's younger brother. He was a leisurely prince and also a great philanthropist in the eyes of the people.
I heard that he and Princess An used their own money to build several charitable halls in the capital, specifically to take in abandoned babies and homeless elderly people, giving them a place to live.
Women from some prominent families in the capital would sometimes donate money and goods to charitable organizations as a way of doing good deeds and accumulating merit.
“The chief secretary of Prince An’s mansion would not have fallen out with Fan Guangzu without a reason.”
Shen Lingyue let her imagination run wild, "Could it be that he received instructions from Prince An? But even if Fan Guangzu had ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare to provoke the prince."
After much deliberation, she concluded that the person most likely to take action against Fan Guangzu was Zheng Chunyun, who had previously received warnings from them.
"...Sister Zheng is amazing! How did she manage to get Prince An to intervene?"
Pei Jinghuai pushed the door open and came in. "Because when Prince An was still a prince, he studied under Minister Zheng and was considered one of his disciples."
Shen Lingyue was startled. "Why did you come in without knocking?"
"Do I have to knock to get back to my own room?"
Pei Jinghuai glanced at Shuangxu and said, "Go out, I have something to say to her."
Frosty Fluff stood still in place.
She belongs to the young lady, not the son-in-law.
Pei Jinghuai was speechless and looked at Shen Lingyue: "Do you want her to stay and listen, or should we talk alone?"
Shen Lingyue had no choice but to let Shuangxu go out first.
She tried to play dumb: "What are we talking about? Are you also interested in Prince An?"
Pei Jinghuai tapped the table. "Let's talk about that guy whose leg was broken today—how did you know it was the Zheng family who did it?"
Or rather, she was Zheng Chunyun, the wife of the heir who was abandoned by Gu Yuan and then forcibly given to Gu Lin's elder brother.
Shen Lingyue covered her mouth.
Did she just accidentally blurt something out?
"Because...because I heard it from Sister Zheng. She said that Fan Guangzu is particularly lewd and always stares at her with a lecherous look. She must be very troubled by it!"
Shen Lingyue racked her brains and made up a story: "Besides, I'm just guessing. Who knows if Fan Guangzu just had bad luck and offended someone outside?"
Pei Jinghuai snorted, as if he had won a round, and shook his finger at her provocatively.
"You complain that I'm not honest enough with you... but don't you also have secrets you're hiding from me?"
Shen Lingyue guiltily looked away.
She has many secrets, but the most crucial one must never be known to him.
That was a secret shared only between her and Yan Yi.
"But I'm not like you."
Pei Jinghuai changed the subject, "I allow you to have your own little secrets."
A man should have a confident and open mind!
Shen Lingyue still couldn't quite believe it.
Why is he being so easy to talk to today?
Overjoyed, she jumped up and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you, my husband!"
-----------------------
Author's Note: If someone asked Yuezai: If Pei Jinghuai and Yan Yi fell into the water at the same time, who would you save first?
Moon Child: Without a doubt!
Pei Jinghuai (confidently): Without a doubt!
//A quick patch: While checking the previous text, I noticed that Moon Child's father and Prince Heng share the same name... I didn't notice [crying emoji] So I've decided to avoid using the same name for Father Shen (just kidding). The rest of the text will be changed to "Shen Hang," haha. I'll also go and revise the previous chapters tonight [let me see][let me see]
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