The first rays of dawn filtered through the gauze curtains, gently bathing the bridal chamber in light. The red candles had burned out, their wax dripping onto the candlesticks like the frozen sweetness of the previous night. A faint, sweet fragrance lingered in the air.
Lin Qingwan woke up in Shen Wenbai's warm embrace. The embarrassing scenes from last night instantly flooded her mind, causing her cheeks to flush again. She stirred slightly, wanting to get up. But the arms around her waist tightened. Shen Wenbai, with his eyes closed, nuzzled her head, his voice languid and husky with the early morning ache: "Lie down a little longer..."
"It's time to serve tea to Father and Mother." Lin Qingwan's voice was soft, carrying the gentle grace of a newlywed. She sat up, the silken quilt slipping down to reveal her shapely figure in a plain undergarment. Shen Wenbai opened his eyes, gazing at his wife's beautiful profile in the morning light, his eyes filled with contentment and tenderness. He sat up and placed a good morning kiss on her smooth forehead: "Okay."
Before the dressing mirror, Lin Qingwan sat upright, letting her newly assigned personal maid, Qiaoyun, comb her hair. Shen Wenbai was already dressed, his royal blue casual clothes making him appear even more handsome and dashing. He didn't leave, but leaned against the soft couch beside him, his gaze gently following her reflection in the mirror, occasionally whispering instructions to the maid on which pearl hairpin would best suit her.
Lin Qingwan saw his focused gaze in the mirror, and a sweet feeling welled up in her heart. She raised her hand to smooth her hair, her gaze inadvertently sweeping over Shen Wenbai's wrist, which lay on the small table beside the couch—the red string tied with a peach pit from last night was still there, particularly striking in the morning light. The doubts that had been diluted by the intense emotions of last night quietly resurfaced in her mind. Her fingertips paused slightly, then she casually looked away, picked up the silk handkerchief that Shen Wenbai had given her last night, embroidered by Shen Yuewei, and carefully tucked it into her sleeve pocket.
"Let's go." Shen Wenbai walked to her side and naturally took her hand. Lin Qingwan took a deep breath, suppressed the distracting thoughts in her mind, squeezed his hand back, and put on a gentle and graceful smile.
Inside the main hall, the entire Shen family had already gathered. Shen's parents sat at the head of the table, while the eldest brother, Shen Wenqing, and his sister-in-law, He Mingzhu, sat to one side. He Mingzhu held Shen Rui, who had just woken up and was curiously looking around with his big, dark eyes. Shen Wensong, dressed in a neat training uniform, clearly had just returned from the martial arts training ground; a thin layer of sweat still clung to his forehead as he stood energetically to the side.
"Greetings to Father and Mother, and offer them tea." Shen Wenbai and Lin Qingwan stepped forward together and bowed respectfully.
A maidservant presented a tray with two steaming celadon covered bowls. Lin Qingwan gracefully picked up one bowl with both hands and offered it to Father Shen first: "Father, please have some tea." Father Shen accepted it and nodded with satisfaction: "Good, good." He took a small sip and handed over a thick red envelope.
Then, Lin Qingwan picked up another cup of tea, walked to Chen's mother, slightly curtsied, and said in a gentle and clear voice, "Mother, please have some tea." She raised her head and looked at Chen's mother with sincere eyes.
Looking at the new bride before her, Madam Shen was struck by her delicate features, graceful demeanor, and the shy, submissive air of a newlywed. She took the teacup, her gaze sweeping over Lin Qingwan's wrist—where she wore one of the pair of mutton-fat jade bracelets her daughter, Shen Yuewei, had given her the day before. The warm, lustrous jade complemented the bride's fair skin, creating a harmonious effect. Madam Shen felt a warmth in her heart; the lingering sadness in her eyes from missing her daughter was washed away by the sight of this perfect union. She took a sip of tea, set down the cup, and slipped a vibrant, translucent jade bracelet from her wrist.
“Good child,” Madam Shen took Lin Qingwan’s hand and personally slipped the warm, cool jade bracelet onto her wrist, placing it next to the white jade bracelet. “This bracelet has been with me for many years. Today I give it to you, hoping that you and Wenbai will live happily ever after and that you will soon have children for the Shen family.” Her voice was gentle, filled with the love and expectations of an elder.
"Thank you for your kindness, Mother. I will remember it." Lin Qingwan felt the weight of the bracelet and the warmth of Shen's mother's palm. Moved, she quickly curtsied again.
Next, Lin Qingwan offered tea to her elder brother, Shen Wenqing, and sister-in-law, He Mingzhu. Shen Wenqing didn't say much, simply nodding as he accepted the tea, saying, "Sister-in-law, no need for such formalities," and also handing over a red envelope. He Mingzhu smiled gently, holding Shen Rui in one arm and accepting the teacup with the other: "Sister-in-law, please rise quickly. From now on, we're family." She placed the teacup aside and gestured to the maid behind her to bring over an exquisite brocade box, "This is a small token of our appreciation from your elder brother and me. It's a Hetian jade peace pendant that Rui-ge'er received when he was a month old. We wish you peace and good fortune." Lin Qingwan quickly accepted it and thanked her.
Little Shen Rui seemed very interested in his new aunt, reaching out his chubby little hand to grab Lin Qingwan's sleeve. Lin Qingwan smiled and took out a small, exquisite longevity lock made of pure gold, strung with a red cord, which she had prepared beforehand. She gently shook it, making a crisp, melodious sound. Shen Rui was immediately attracted, giggling as he reached for it. He Mingzhu smiled and said, "Sister-in-law is so thoughtful, Rui-ge'er, quickly thank your aunt." Lin Qingwan gently placed the longevity lock in Shen Rui's little hand, and the little guy immediately clenched it tightly, curiously putting it in his mouth. Everyone laughed.
When it was Shen Wensong's turn, he cheerfully accepted the tea, not bothering with formalities, and drank it all in one gulp: "Thank you for the tea, Second Sister-in-law!" He put down the teacup and, as if by magic, produced a slender brocade box from behind his back, handing it to Lin Qingwan: "Second Sister-in-law, here! I specially went to the storeroom yesterday to pick this out; it's a fine item that Second Brother brought back from Southeast Asia!"
Lin Qingwan opened it and saw a dagger inlaid with various dazzling gems. The scabbard was ornate, but the blade had a restrained, cold gleam, clearly a priceless treasure. She looked at Shen Wenbai with some surprise, and Shen Wenbai explained with a smile, "This kid certainly knows how to pick things. This was something I brought back to give him as a birthday gift, but he used it to present to Buddha."
Shen Wensong scratched his head and chuckled, "Of course, good things should be given to Second Sister-in-law! Second Sister-in-law, don't be disgusted, this dagger is very sharp, it can cut through iron like mud! You can keep it for self-defense or for cutting paper!"
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