Chapter 43: Punishment, please follow the family rules
Zhao Yi looked up.
Jiang Mu felt a chill on his neck and immediately squatted under the window.
Shen Qingtan was very surprised. Zhao Yi came from an aristocratic family and had lived a life of luxury since childhood. His noble and unparalleled temperament made him look completely ordinary.
She stared at Zhao Yi. He had been wearing a jade-colored robe before, but now he was wearing a smoky green crepe robe, which was still clean and tidy.
During these days of getting along, she found that Zhao Yi was very fond of cleanliness, and today he even cooked for her.
Shen Qingtan felt conflicted, after all, this was Zhao Yi's intention.
"As long as you pray sincerely and don't do anything taboo in Buddhism, you don't have to be too strict with yourself and follow the Buddhist rules." Zhao Yi looked into her clear and gentle eyes and said softly, "When I was in the dining hall, I saw some monks having dinner. Not all of them only eat one meal a day."
"Really?" Shen Qingtan was skeptical.
"I don't lie, even if it's a white lie." Zhao Yi didn't want to embarrass her, so he called out to Jiang Mu, "Take the food away."
"etc."
Shen Qingtan stopped Jiang Mu from taking the food away. He really couldn't bear to let someone down, and what Zhao Yi said made sense.
"I'll copy a few more volumes of scriptures in the next few days."
She picked up the coarse porcelain bowl, took the porcelain spoon, scooped half a spoonful of porridge and put it in her mouth.
The plum porridge is still warm, with a dense texture, sweet and fragrant.
She likes porridge with thick rice soup. She originally planned to eat only half a bowl, but before she knew it, she finished the whole bowl of porridge and her stomach felt warm.
Shen Qingtan curled his eyes and said contentedly, "The porridge is delicious."
Then, she asked curiously, "When did you learn your craft?"
"I was weak when I was little, and I was sick most of the time. Every year I would return to my hometown to recuperate, and I would live in the temple. There was only one old abbot in the temple, and the vegetarian food he cooked was very much to my liking, so I learned to cook a few dishes." Zhao Yi handed her a pair of chopsticks: "Would you like to try the Forget-Sorrow Rice Cake?"
Shen Qingtan thought to himself: You are not feeling well now, and you cough a few times all day long.
Thinking of this, she frowned and became less interested.
She took the chopsticks, picked up a tender sprout and tasted it, "This one is not bad either."
Although he said this, he put down his chopsticks and stopped eating.
Zhao Yi asked, "Not to your taste?"
"It's late at night, it's not advisable to eat too much." Shen Qingtan paused for a moment, pursed her lips and smiled, "I'll ask the cook to make it after we get home."
Zhao Yi laughed and handed her a handkerchief.
Shen Qingtan's eyes paused on the handkerchief for a moment, then he reached out to take it and gently wiped his lips.
She smelled the bitter medicinal fragrance on the handkerchief. Perhaps because it was in the temple, it was tainted with a hint of cool sandalwood scent. The two scents blended together, and it smelled a little bit pleasant.
Shen Qingtan sniffed subconsciously, quickly came to his senses, and realized what he had done. His snow-white face turned red instantly, and he suddenly felt annoyed.
She was so hungry today.
Zhao Yi saw her move her body and turn sideways to face him, revealing half of her soft face, and her white and soft ears were slightly red.
He was stunned for a moment, then he saw her kneading his handkerchief with both hands, and he immediately understood.
"You should get some rest early." Zhao Yi coughed lightly and said carefully, "I live next to my grandmother. If you need anything, please ask Liu Yue to find me."
Shen Qingtan nodded.
Zhao Yi took Jiang Mu back to his residence.
As Jiang Mu undressed Zhao Yi, he couldn't help but ask, "Second Master, you're so kind to Second Madam."
Zhao Yi is gentle, polite, understanding and considerate in front of Shen Qingtan.
Those who had served him since he was a child knew very well that Zhao Yi was slow to warm up, cold and difficult to approach.
A line was drawn in front of him, clearly separating him from everyone else.
"She's my wife, I shouldn't be doing this?" Zhao Yi lowered his eyes and said indifferently, "Have I treated her well? This is not even one-tenth of what my father treats my mother."
Jiang Mu: “…” That’s because the Second Madam is not as capable as the First Madam.
Zhao Yi had his own considerations. After getting married, his mother said to him, "Yier, women cannot fight for their future like men do. They are trapped in the inner chamber all their lives.
They need to serve their parents-in-law, wait on their husbands, take care of their children and grandchildren, and manage the household business. Their life is no easier than men working outside, but they lack the freedom that men have.
Only when the husband is honored can the wife be distinguished, have someone to rely on, and be confident.
However, this requires the husband to be good to his wife and give her the greatest respect, so that no one dares to bully her.
You must treat your wife well. Without her taking care of everything at home and allowing you to work hard for your future outside, how can you live a happy life?
Look at those men who favor their concubines over their wives. They bring unrest to their families and ruin their careers.
Besides, you are a man of eight feet tall, more than a head taller than your wife, so we should be more considerate of the weaker one."
Zhao Yi now feels helpless when he thinks back to how his mother confidently judged strength based on height.
His attitude towards Shen Qingtan was partly influenced by his father's attitude towards his mother.
The remaining reason is that he cannot give Shen Qingtan a normal married life, and he doesn't know how long he can accompany her. If he treats her coldly and kills her enthusiasm for life, she may not have the courage to face a new life.
It was like she suffered malice from Zhao Jue, and he showed her kindness.
Even if she encounters difficulties and hardships in the future, she will hold on to hope in her heart, and there will be light waiting for her ahead.
Zhao Yi smiled and said, "She is weaker than me, I should give in to her."
Jiang Mu was so shocked that his eyes almost popped out of his head.
——Second Master, do you want to listen to what you are saying?
Is there anyone in this world weaker than you???
——
The next morning, Zhao Jue took Shen Mingzhu and Qiu Chan back to Duke Zhao's mansion.
The second wife was afraid that Duke Zhao would severely punish Zhao Jue, and she really didn't want to stay in Longhua Temple and suffer, so she wanted to go back home with him.
The old lady ordered her to stay for three days before returning home.
The second wife wrote a letter to Zhao Jue.
Zhao Jue opened the letter, glanced at it quickly, tore it into pieces expressionlessly, and threw it away.
After returning to Duke Zhao's mansion, Zhao Jue went to see Duke Zhao who was on leave at home.
Zhao Jue knelt on the ground and said, "Grandfather, I have done something immoral and dishonorable, bringing disgrace to our family. Please punish me."
The old lady sent her attendants back to the mansion last night to tell Duke Zhao what happened in the mountains.
Duke Zhao finished practicing calligraphy calmly, put down the wolf hair brush in his hand, and picked up the towel beside him to wipe his hands.
"As a man, you should stand tall and have lofty aspirations. If you are not upright, how can you stand firm?" Duke Zhao threw down the handkerchief in his hand, his face stern. "Look at you, you have no manliness at all, and you are being played around by a woman."
Zhao Jue clenched his fists: "Grandson knows his mistake."
Duke Zhao said in a deep voice, "According to family law, twenty lashes."
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