Returning home, also known as Guining.
It is the bride's first visit to her maiden home with the groom after their wedding, usually held three days after the marriage, hence it is also called the Three-Day Guining or Three-Morning Return. This is not only a ceremony for the new bride to report her safety to her maiden family and show off her married life, but also the first formal interaction between the two families.
Early morning, Anle Residence.
Shen Ninghuan had already washed up and was being attended to by her maidservants as she dressed.
Today she wore a lotus-root-colored brocade long skirt embroidered with magnolia branches, covered with a moon-white thin silk jacket edged with silver thread. Her hair was styled elegantly, adorned only with a pure gold kingfisher-feather hair ornament and a few fresh magnolia flowers, looking refined yet dignified.
Pei Cijing stepped out from behind the folding screen, having changed into a sky-blue brocade robe. A mutton-fat white jade pendant hung at his waist, and his dark hair was tied up with a jade crown. He looked handsome and gentle, truly exuding the high spirits of a newlywed husband.
My wife looks beautiful in this outfit today. He walked behind her, looking at her through the mirror with a smile in his eyes.
Shen Ninghuan looked back at him through the mirror, the corners of her lips curling slightly. My husband also looks energetic today.
The two smiled at each other.
The air was filled with the unique, sweet warmth of newlyweds.
A maidservant brought over a carved mahogany box. Shen Ninghuan took it and opened it—inside lay neatly arranged lists of the return gifts to be taken back to her maiden home today.
Father loves tea, so I prepared some top-grade Mingqian Longjing tea and a set of purple clay tea ware; for Concubine Fang... there, according to custom, I prepared four-color brocade and two boxes of pastries; my brother just returned from out of town, so I picked an inkstone and a few quires of Chengxintang paper.
Her voice was gentle and clear, and every gift took into account the recipient's preferences and status.
So comprehensive.
Pei Cijing naturally had no objections, while secretly thinking to himself: It is great to have a wife! Everything is arranged perfectly! If it were up to a late-stage indecisive patient like me, my head would probably explode from choosing return gifts!
It is so good to have you, my wife!
Pei Cijing hugged his wife from behind.
Shen Ninghuan felt that this husband of hers seemed a bit clingy, but she did not say much. She just closed the gift list and handed it to the nanny beside her. Is everything ready?
Replying to the young mistress, everything has been loaded onto the carriages. According to the regulations for a legal wife's return, there is only more, not less, the nanny replied respectfully.
Shen Ninghuan nodded.
A legal wife's return. Initially, she had arrived in grand style, and returning in grand style was also a must. This was the dignity she deserved, and it would not change just because she married into the second branch of the family.
...
At the same time, in the Heir's Courtyard.
The atmosphere was completely different.
Shen Ningyue had also gotten up and was dressing in front of the mirror. Today, she specially chose a water-red dress embroidered with intertwined lotuses—this was the brightest color she could wear at present. In her hair, she pinned a pure gold pomegranate flower hairpin, her earrings were red agate, and her makeup was exquisite, striving to look bright and beautiful.
The face in the mirror, under careful dressing, finally concealed the exhaustion and faint resentment in her eyes.
Concubine, the carriage is ready, a little maidservant came in cautiously to report.
Shen Ningyue's hand paused, her voice turning cold. What carriage?
Just... the usual green-curtained small carriage used in the manor, pulled by two horses... The little maidservant's voice grew lower and lower.
Shen Ningyue suddenly slammed the jade comb in her hand onto the dressing table.
With a crack, the teeth of the comb broke.
The little maidservant fell to her knees in fright.
Pei Ciling came in from the outer room and frowned at the sight. What is wrong?
Shen Ningyue turned around, her eyes already filled with tears, but she forced them not to fall. Biting her lip, she said, Brother Ciling... I, I just did not expect that for such a major event as returning home, there would not even be a decent carriage. I know I am a concubine and do not deserve to compare with my sister, but... but the Shen family is my maiden home after all. Going back looking so shabby will make Father and my mother lose face...
As she spoke, her tears finally fell like rain on pear blossoms, looking delicate and pitiful.
Pei Ciling's heart softened. He stepped forward and held her hand. You have been wronged. On Mother's side... I tried to argue for it, but she said that a concubine's return home should naturally be low-key. If it is too flashy, outsiders will say the Marquis Manor has no rules, which will also hinder my future search for a legal wife.
He paused, his voice lowering. Do not worry, I have prepared all the gifts. Although they are not as generous as my second brother's, they will definitely not embarrass the Shen family. In the future... I will definitely make it up to you.
Shen Ningyue leaned into his arms, burying her face in his chest, her voice muffled. Brother Ciling, I do not blame you. I know you are in a difficult position... I just hate myself for not being able to control my feelings back then, causing you to be reprimanded by your elders...
She said she did not blame him, but in her heart, she bitterly hated Madam Li's harshness and envied Shen Ninghuan's glory.
On what grounds?
She had clearly made the more correct choice by marrying Pei Ciling, who would become a Duke in the future. How could she end up living worse than in her past life?
In her past life, she had married that useless Pei Cijing.
Although she was not favored.
At least when she returned home, it was still according to the regulations of a legal wife. Nothing like now, where she did not even have a decent carriage!
Pei Ciling did not know what she was thinking. He only felt that she was so sensible it made his heart ache, and he held her, comforting her softly.
After a long time, Shen Ningyue raised her head, wiped her tears, and squeezed out a smile. It is getting late. Let us go. We should not keep Father waiting.
She had to go back.
She had to let the Shen family see that although she was only a concubine, Pei Ciling treated her with true sincerity. Her future would absolutely not stop here!
...
In front of the Weiyuan Marquis Manor.
Two carriages were parked, one behind the other.
The front one had red wheels and a magnificent canopy, with pure gold bells hanging from the four corners of the carriage roof. The four horses pulling it were snow-white and extremely majestic. The carriage curtains were made of brand-new lake-blue cloud-patterned brocade, gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight.
This was the carriage of Pei Cijing and Shen Ninghuan.
The one behind it was an ordinary green-curtained small carriage, pulled by two brown horses. The curtains were half-new, so plain that it bordered on shabby.
When Pei Ciling supported Shen Ningyue as they came out, they immediately saw this stark contrast.
Shen Ningyue's footsteps paused, her nails digging deeply into her palms.
Pei Ciling also looked embarrassed and whispered, Let us go.
The two silently walked toward the rear carriage.
Ahead, Pei Cijing was helping Shen Ninghuan into the carriage. His movements were meticulous, lifting the curtain with one hand and steadily supporting her arm with the other. He whispered something to her, and Shen Ninghuan turned her head to reply. The two smiled at each other, looking so natural and intimate.
The sunlight spilled over them and their splendid clothes.
What a perfect couple.
Shen Ningyue took only one glance before quickly lowering her eyes and slipping into the green-curtained carriage. The cabin was narrow and dim, a world away from Shen Ninghuan's spacious and bright canopy carriage.
The carriages slowly began to move.
Sitting inside, listening to the crisp ringing of bells from ahead, the fire in Shen Ningyue's heart burned ever brighter. She kept telling herself—
She had to persevere.
As long as she gave birth to a child before the legal wife entered the household, her status would rise with her child. Pei Ciling loved her so much that he surely would not want their son to be a concubine's child. As long as he insisted, as long as she gave birth to the eldest son...
The position of the Heir's wife.
It would be just around the corner!
When that time came, she would demand payback for the humiliation she suffered today, ten or a hundred times over!
Shen Ninghuan... just enjoy your glory for now.
Let us see who will have the last laugh!
...
In front of the Shen Manor.
The Shen family had already been waiting for a long time.
Shen Zhongcheng, dressed in a dark green casual robe, stood with his hands behind his back in front of the steps, his expression solemn. Beside him stood Concubine Fang. Today was Shen Ningyue's first visit home after her wedding, so as her biological mother, she naturally had to come out to welcome her. However, as a concubine standing at the main entrance, it was ultimately somewhat improper, and her face appeared slightly uneasy.
Next to her was a young man of about twenty-five or twenty-six, dressed in a dark blue brocade robe with arrow sleeves. His features were sixty to seventy percent similar to Shen Zhongcheng's, but with an added touch of heroic sharpness. This was Shen Ninghuan's legitimate older brother, the legitimate son of the Shen family, Shen Mingxuan.
He had just returned this morning from handling a case out of town.
He was covered in the dust of his journey.
He just had not expected that such a huge change would occur at home while he was away. This caused him to frown slightly, his gaze looking worriedly toward the end of the long street.
"They are here," Shen Mingxuan suddenly spoke.
At the other end of the long street, two carriages drove over, one after the other.
The canopied carriage in front had crisp-sounding bells, and its four white horses marched in neat, imposing strides. The small carriage with green curtains behind it was much more low-key; if it had not been following closely, it would have been almost entirely ignored.
Shen Zhongcheng's gaze narrowed slightly.
Concubine Fang stared intently at the small carriage in the back, her fingers unconsciously twisting her handkerchief.
The carriages stopped in front of the manor gates.
Pei Cijing stepped down first, turned, and reached out a hand, steadily helping Shen Ninghuan down.
The sunlight was perfect today, spilling over the two of them. With their fine clothes and beautiful faces, standing hand in hand, they truly looked like a match made in heaven.
Shen Ninghuan looked up at her family on the steps, a gentle smile lifting the corners of her lips, and stepped forward with Pei Cijing.
"Your daughter pays her respects to Father."
"Your son-in-law pays his respects to Father-in-law."
The two bowed in unison, their postures respectful and their etiquette flawless.
Shen Zhongcheng's gaze lingered on his daughter's face for a moment. Her complexion was rosy, her brows relaxed, and her calm demeanor had an added touch of serenity compared to before her marriage. It was obvious that she had not suffered any grievances at her in-laws' home.
Feeling slightly relieved, he then looked at Pei Cijing.
This son-in-law from the second branch, whom he had once thought of as mediocre, now stood beside his daughter with a tall and straight posture, gentle features, and a clear gaze. There was not a hint of frivolity about him. His posture while bowing was upright, and his tone was sincere. He truly possessed the demeanor and grace of a young master from an aristocratic family.
However, it was still just that!
Even so, the bit of regret in Shen Zhongcheng's heart over this marrying down suddenly faded a little.
"Rise," he raised a hand to gesture them up, his tone softening. "You have had a hard journey."
At this moment.
The small green-curtained carriage behind them also stopped.
Pei Ciling stepped out first, then turned to help Shen Ningyue down.
Shen Ningyue was dressed in water-red today, her makeup exquisite. But standing next to the elegantly dignified Shen Ninghuan, she instead appeared overly deliberate. She lowered her eyes, not daring to look directly at her father, and simply followed Pei Ciling forward.
"Your daughter pays her respects to Father..."
"Your son-in-law pays his respects to Father-in-law."
Their voices were noticeably lower, lacking confidence.
Shen Zhongcheng's gaze swept over her, then looked at the shabby carriage behind her, his brows furrowing imperceptibly.
Concubine Fang could not help but take a step forward, her eyes reddening. "Yue'er..."
Shen Ningyue looked up at her biological mother, her eyes also filling with tears, but she held them back and only called out softly, "Concubine."
The atmosphere became somewhat delicate for a moment.
Shen Mingxuan stepped forward at the right time to break the silence. "Father, Younger Sister and Brother-in-law have traveled a long way. Why don't we go inside the manor before catching up..."
