Chapter 2 Husband, it's time for the wedding night.
What is the price of trying one's talents?
The number of guards standing watch outside the side room increased from two to four.
Inside the house, Xiaodie was also there to keep watch over him, which was euphemistically called "keeping watch".
She really knows how to "stalk".
However, Chen Yi didn't say a single word of "no." On the contrary, he raised both hands to welcome him.
After all, confining one person to their home is like being banished to the cold palace, while confining two people is like huddling together for warmth.
If there are still four armored soldiers guarding him, it means that the Xiao family values him highly and is protecting him.
Are you kidding me? He can't even beat one of them, why would he need four?
At this moment, Xiaodie rummaged through the bedding, lifted a table leg, and asked suspiciously, "Young master, where did you hide that rebellious poem?"
Anti-poetry?
As expected of you, Little Butterfly, a master of close-up surveillance.
In the early Qing Dynasty, during the reigns of Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong, this phrase could mean a life sentence in prison awaiting execution in the autumn, or, if one was unlucky, the extermination of nine generations of their family.
While copying the Xiao family rules, Chen Yi said with a blank face, "Xiao Die, is it possible that your son-in-law didn't write that poem?"
"impossible!"
Xiaodie may be naive, but she's very clever—she has an excellent memory.
In three breaths, she opened and closed her mouth seventy or eighty times, reciting the poem "Shuzhou Yin: Marrying into the Xiao Family" perfectly.
Her pronunciation is clear and her voice is clean and bright. Even famous crosstalk performers would kowtow to her and beg her to become their apprentice.
After listening, Chen Yi turned the tables and said, "Your poetry is not bad, but it's still a bit worse than mine."
Xiaodie panicked, "Oh dear, son-in-law, it's clearly you, not me!"
"Your poetic reputation is all about marrying into the Xiao family."
Chen Yi rolled his eyes. "You've got the point right, Miss Xiaodie."
Seeing that he didn't speak, Xiaodie put her hands on her hips as if she had won a battle, her little face tense, and said seriously, "Young master, with me watching you, don't even think about running away."
"Okay, okay, I won't run away..."
Chen Yi has no immediate plans to run away, especially after learning that someone wants to harm him.
Even if he were to run away, he would only consider it once he had a certain ability to protect himself.
Moreover, he has found that staying in the Marquis's residence is not bad during this time.
He was a frail scholar who couldn't lift heavy objects or carry heavy loads, so he didn't have to do any hard labor. In addition, he had food, clothing, and servants to take care of him. It was the dream life of someone who had been a beast of burden for several years.
If he were to be released from confinement in the future, he could continue to live the life of a carefree son-in-law, drinking tea, fishing, and enjoying his leisurely days. Thinking about it carefully, there's nothing wrong with that.
"Young master, are you thinking of running away?" Xiaodie became extremely alert when she saw him sitting there laughing.
Chen Yi snapped out of his reverie, placed the copied family rules aside, and said without looking up:
"I'm wondering if the chef will make beef again tonight. The pot we had at noon was all eaten by a certain little pig."
Xiaodie froze for a moment, then lowered her head shyly and said coyly, "Young Master, I'm not a little pig..."
She just has a big appetite.
But you can't blame her, you have to blame... her husband.
That's right, it's all the son-in-law's fault!
It's all his fault for always thinking about running away, which forced her to travel from Chunhe Garden to the neighboring Jiaxing Garden to find the young lady.
I ran back and forth several times.
When you're exhausted, you naturally eat more.
After Chen Yi finished copying one page, he took Zhang Yunsong's paper and said mischievously, "Little Pig Butterfly, you'd better not be."
"Oh, son-in-law, don't change my name like that, it sounds awful..."
Having spent these past few days together, Chen Yi had already figured out Xiao Die's foodie nature.
If it weren't for the food incentive, he'd probably still be being complained about by Xiaodie all the time, just like at the beginning.
It was said that his elopement had caused great suffering to the second young lady and the Xiao family, and even made the old master seriously ill. It was said that the news had spread throughout the nine provinces and three prefectures of the Great Wei, and even the children had to change their nursery rhymes.
—What stunning beauty, runaway groom, and perfect match were all just a dream; the Xiao family will henceforth be nothing but a laughing stock.
I don't know who's so talented.
After a few casual words...
When Chen Yi saw that Xiao Die had stopped making a sound, he looked up and couldn't help but chuckle.
She was sitting on a small stool with her legs together, her hands supporting her knees and her chin, already asleep.
With his eyes half-closed, drool dripping from the corner of his mouth, and his head nodding occasionally, he looked rather cute.
"Xiaodie has a good personality. She's carefree and doesn't have any bad intentions. If she were my wife, life would definitely be very interesting."
Actually, Chen Yi was quite grateful to Xiao Die.
If it weren't for Xiaodie talking to him these past few days, he wouldn't have gotten used to this world so quickly.
They might even feel that the people in the Marquis's mansion are cold and unapproachable.
In reality, most people are not bad.
This can be seen from Xiaodie's own experience—if the family rules were strict or the head of the household were harsh and ruthless, she would not have such an innocent and kind nature.
However, while the Xiao family is indeed capable, they are no longer at their peak and are instead declining step by step.
Old Master Xiao was quite old, and years of fighting on the frontier had left him with constant injuries and illnesses; otherwise, he wouldn't have fainted because of his son's elopement.
The old lady passed away before the Lunar New Year.
Lady Xiao Jinghong's father and several uncles were either killed or maimed in the war, as were her mother and several aunts.
Like the female generals of the Yang family.
Nowadays, all the affairs of the household are managed by the eldest daughter, Xiao Wan'er, with the help of several collateral branches, such as the eldest son and grandson of the second patriarch.
Another member of the direct line has a young marquis named Xiao Wuge, who is said to have been studying at the manor's school. He must be a scholar with both talent and learning.
As for Madam Xiao Jinghong, Xiao Die rarely mentioned her, as if she was afraid of her, and each time she would stammer and be unable to speak.
Chen Yi thought to himself, "Could it be the same as what my predecessor knew? Rumors in Jiangnan Prefecture say that Xiao Jinghong is eight feet tall, as strong as an ox, with eyes like copper bells, and thick body hair..."
It's probably not true; it must be some busybody spreading rumors.
After all, if someone dares to use the name "Jinghong" (惊鸿), even if it's not as beautiful as "Pianruo Jinghong, Wanruo Youlong" (翩若惊鸿，婉若游龙), it must at least be somewhat related, right?
Thinking about these things.
After copying the family rules again, Chen Yi rubbed his sore wrists, took a sip of spring tea, and leaned back in his chair to rest.
Before long, he also started to doze off.
Spring drowsiness, autumn fatigue, and summer naps—it's all just like that.
...
In a daze, Chen Yi heard someone calling him. The voice was soft and gentle, with the delicate charm of the Jiangnan water towns.
He laughed and opened his eyes.
Then a burly woman, resembling Zhang Fei, stood by the bed and said in a rough voice:
"My husband, you're awake. It's time for our wedding night. Are you getting impatient?"
Chen Yi's smile froze. He stared at her blankly and murmured, "Second brother, you've mistaken me for someone else. I am your eldest brother, Liu Bei."
"What are Liu Bei and Cao Cao compared to this wonderful night? Let's go!"
Then she pinned Chen Yi down on the bed and rocked him back and forth...
"Young master, wake up, it's time for dinner."
Chen Yi suddenly woke up with a start, and only after seeing Xiao Die did he wipe the cold sweat from his forehead as if he was still in fear.
Good heavens, thank goodness it was just a dream.
"Young master, did you have a nightmare?" Xiaodie asked with concern.
Seeing him nod, Xiaodie found a bell from somewhere.
They walked around him, knocking as they went.
With a tinkling sound, Little Butterfly chanted: "Evil spirits retreat, may your soul remain, evil spirits retreat..."
Chen Yi found it amusing and asked, "Where did you learn that?"
This kind of work is not something a maid can do casually.
"When I saw the old lady before, this was how she drove away the nightmares and evil spirits from Young Master Wuge."
Xiao Die stopped, her smile returning. "Young Master, it's very effective. Since then, Young Master Wu Ge has never had a nightmare again."
"I hope so..."
Chen Yi felt goosebumps all over his body as he recalled the nightmare he had just had.
Unable to resist asking, "Xiaodie, answer me honestly, is the Second Miss prettier than Madam?"
(End of this chapter)
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