The Martial Arts Courtyard.
The morning light was already bright, illuminating the bluestone ground so intensely that it was blindingly white.
Pei Ciling knelt on the ground, the hard bricks beneath his knees biting painfully into his flesh. He kept his head lowered. Before his eyes were the dust-stained tips of his father's black boots, standing motionless as if rooted to the ground.
The air was so stagnant you could almost wring water out of it.
A long time passed.
Pei Fucheng finally moved.
He turned and gestured to the personal guards waiting outside the courtyard. Shortly after, a guard hurried in holding a palm-sized bronze mirror and handed it over with a respectful bow.
Pei Fucheng took it, didn't even look at it, and flipped his wrist—
Clang!
The bronze mirror was thrown in front of Pei Ciling, smashing against the bluestone with a crisp crash. It bounced twice before rolling to his knees.
The mirror faced upwards.
It reflected a blurry shadow distorted by the morning light.
"Pick it up," Pei Fucheng's voice was not loud, but it was as heavy as iron and stone. "Take a good look at yourself and see what you've become."
Pei Ciling's fingertips trembled.
He slowly reached out and picked up the cold bronze mirror.
The mirror surface was a bit dim and yellowed, its edges carved with rough interlocking branch patterns. It was an ordinary object used by the guards in the courtyard to tidy their uniforms. He raised his arm and pointed the mirror at himself—
And then, he froze.
The person in the mirror.
Was it him?
That face was both familiar and strange.
Beneath his eyes were two heavy, almost bluish-black shadows, as if someone had viciously smeared ink there. His complexion was an unhealthy pallor, revealing the hollow frailty of excessive indulgence.
His lips were chapped, and unkempt stubble sprouted on his chin. His once clear and bright eyes were now dull and cloudy, the whites bloodshot.
The most glaring thing was his expression—the decadence and listlessness of a man whose spirit and vitality had been hollowed out, along with a trace of a soft, sluggish languor unique to those drowning in the illusions of romance, which he hadn't even noticed himself.
How was this the heir of the Weiyuan Marquis Household?
This was clearly...
A useless fop whose body had been hollowed out by wine and women!
Pei Ciling's knuckles slowly turned white as he gripped the mirror's handle. He remembered that just over a month ago, he was still riding a horse and drawing a bow at the spring hunting grounds, shooting down a high-flying wild goose with a single arrow and winning the cheers of the entire audience.
At that time, the man in the mirror had a clean face, sharp eyes, and a posture as straight as a pine.
But... he had merely indulged in a few days of pleasure.
How did it...
"Seen enough?" Pei Fucheng's voice came from above. It was devoid of emotion, yet it struck his heart like a whip.
Pei Ciling opened his mouth, but something was blocking his throat, making him unable to utter a single word. He slowly put down the bronze mirror, placing it face down on the bricks in front of his knees with a muffled thud.
"I'm asking you," Pei Fucheng took a step forward, looking down at him from above. "Do you know your mistakes?"
Pei Ciling straightened his kneeling posture, head bowed. After a long time, he finally squeezed out a few words through his teeth: "Your son... knows his mistakes."
"Where did you go wrong?" Pei Fucheng did not intend to let him off easily.
Pei Ciling remained silent.
"You don't know?" Pei Fucheng suddenly laughed. There was no warmth in that laugh, only bone-deep disappointment and coldness. "Fine, then I will count them for you."
With his hands behind his back, he slowly paced in front of Pei Ciling, every word like a heavy hammer driving in a nail:
"First mistake: disregarding moral principles by having an illicit affair with your younger brother's fiancee, corrupting our family's morals, and bringing shame upon the Marquis Household. Second mistake: indulging in lust after your marriage, drowning in women, neglecting your martial arts, and forgetting the very foundation upon which the Pei family stands. Third mistake: slacking off in morning practice, disrespecting your elders, and even daring to ignore your father's summons—"
He stopped abruptly, turned around, and stared at Pei Ciling with eyes like knives. "Pei Ciling, tell me, out of these three points, does even one of them wrong you?!"
A chill ran down Pei Ciling's spine. He pressed his forehead against the cold floor tiles, his voice trembling: "Your son... dares not argue."
"Dares not?" Pei Fucheng sneered. "I think you dare to do anything! For the sake of a woman, what wouldn't you dare to do?!"
His chest heaved violently. He was clearly furious but forcibly suppressed his outburst. He took a deep breath, and his voice suddenly darkened:
"Starting today, until your official military post is assigned, you are to arrive at the Martial Arts Courtyard punctually at a quarter to six every morning to practice martial arts for four hours. If you dare to be late again—"
He paused, enunciating every word:
"You will be served the military cane!"
Pei Ciling shuddered all over: "...Yes."
"Also," Pei Fucheng's gaze was as sharp as an eagle's. "Every afternoon, you will go to the ancestral hall and kneel for two hours to reflect quietly on your mistakes. This rule will only be lifted when you truly repent."
"...Yes."
"Lastly," Pei Fucheng's voice was as cold as quenched ice. "Lust leads men astray; this is an ancient teaching. From this moment on, you are not allowed to set half a foot into Shen Ningyue's courtyard. Until you genuinely repent and thoroughly correct your ways, you and she are forbidden to meet."
Pei Ciling jerked his head up: "Father!"
"What?" Pei Fucheng's eyes turned fierce. "You can't bear to part with her?"
"Your son... Your son just feels that Ningyue is, after all, already my woman. Treating her so coldly might break her heart..." Pei Ciling's voice grew lower and lower.
Under his father's icy stare, he ultimately lost his confidence.
"Break her heart?" Pei Fucheng acted as if he had heard a joke. "Then do you know how many people's hearts you've broken with your actions these past days? Your mother's heart, your second uncle and aunt's hearts, your grandmother's heart, and your younger brother's heart..."
He suddenly stopped and did not continue.
But Pei Ciling knew.
He had broken everyone's heart!
Pei Ciling dejectedly lowered his head. All words of defense choked in his throat, ultimately turning into a hoarse: "Your son... obeys."
Pei Fucheng gave him a deep look. That gaze was incredibly complex—containing anger, pain, disappointment, and a very faint, almost imperceptible trace of exhaustion.
"Leave. From today onwards, look out for yourself!"
He turned around.
And looked no more at this sinful son.
...
Anle Residence.
The sun had already climbed over the courtyard wall. Golden light spilled in through the window lattices, spreading a warm, dappled pattern across the bluestone floor.
Pei Cijing was awakened by the chirping of birds outside the window.
He groggily opened his eyes and subconsciously reached out beside him—
Empty!
The lingering warmth remained on the pillow, and a very faint scent of orchids hovered at the tip of his nose; it was the familiar fragrance that belonged to Shen Ninghuan. He sat up, wrapping the quilt around himself, rubbed his eyes, and looked out the window.
The sun was already high in the sky.
The dazzling light made him squint.
"...Overslept again."
Pei Cijing scratched his messy bedhead and let out a long sigh.
As expected.
After surviving the grueling senior year of high school in his previous life, making him study with a "purpose" in this life was simply harder than ascending to the heavens.
That little sense of crisis about "preventing the whole family from being dragged down by Pei Ciling in the future" was incredibly fragile and easily defeated by the dual temptations of a warm bed and a beautiful woman's company.
He slowly put on his clothes, got out of bed, and shuffled in his shoes to the outer room.
Breakfast was already set out on the round table.
A plate of crystal shrimp dumplings, a steamer of crab roe soup dumplings, two refreshing side dishes, and a bowl of thick, soft, and glutinous rice porridge. The surface of the porridge was sprinkled with finely chopped green onions and crispy fried dough sticks, emitting a mouth-watering aroma.
Shen Ninghuan was sitting at the table, holding a scroll in her hand. Hearing the sound, she raised her eyes to look over.
The morning light illuminated her clean, elegant profile.
Her brows and eyes were gentle.
A faint smile played at the corners of her lips.
"Husband, you're awake." She put down the scroll and stood up to serve him porridge. "Have your meal first. It's still warm."
Looking at her demure appearance, the guilt in Pei Cijing's heart grew wildly like weeds.
Who was it that patted his chest a few days ago, swearing to study tirelessly and never give up until he achieved academic honors?
Oh, it was him!
It was him!
That's right, it was him, our Second Young Master Pei!
And the result?
It had only been a few days, and he had already shown his true colors, sleeping in until the sun was high in the sky.
The more gentle, considerate, and unhurried Shen Ninghuan was, the more panicked he became. He always felt... this was exactly what they meant by the calm before the storm.
Pei Cijing sat down at the table, took the bowl of porridge, and scooped a spoonful into his mouth.
The porridge was cooked perfectly. The rice grains blossomed and melted in the mouth, sliding warmly into his stomach, so comforting it made one want to sigh.
"Wife..." Pei Cijing swallowed the porridge and stole a glance at her. "I... I woke up late today."
"Mhm," Shen Ninghuan replied softly, picking up a shrimp dumpling and placing it on his plate. "Husband has been working hard studying lately, it's only right to sleep a little more."
Pei Cijing was speechless.
What should he do? He was even more panicked now!
He silently took a bite of the shrimp dumpling. The sweet and savory juice burst in his mouth, but he tasted nothing.
Shen Ninghuan looked at him quietly, able to hear the messy muttering in his heart:
My wife must be very disappointed in me, right?
She must be! She definitely is!
Boohoo, what do I do? What happened to working hard and striving for success? It's only been a few days and I've already reverted to my old self...
How about... I go read a book right after eating? To show off a bit?
A very faint smile flashed through Shen Ninghuan's eyes. She put down her chopsticks, picked up a handkerchief to wipe the corners of her mouth, and said softly, "Husband, there is something I would like to say, but I don't know if I should."
Here it comes!
Pei Cijing straightened his back and sat up properly. "Please speak, my wife."
"Although studying for the imperial examinations is the right path, there is no need to be too rushed." Shen Ninghuan looked at him, her eyes clear and bright. "This path of examinations is a long-term plan, not something achieved overnight."
Pei Cijing blinked.
This...
It didn't seem like she was going to scold him?
"I feel," Shen Ninghuan smiled slightly, "that what Husband needs to do right now isn't to bitterly endure studying day and night, but to first adjust your mindset and develop a habit of reading every day. Proceeding step by step is the way to long-term success."
She paused, her voice even softer:
"After all, your health is the most important thing. If you ruin your health for the sake of studying, the loss would outweigh the gain. Combining work and rest, and knowing when to relax, is the right way."
Pei Cijing was stunned as he listened.
This...
Was she really this reasonable?
He had been prepared to be lectured on studying, but unexpectedly, his wife not only didn't push him, but even advised him not to work too hard?
Could it be, he muttered in his heart, that this is the legendary method of retreating to advance? A gentle knife?
Shen Ninghuan lowered her eyes, hiding the smile that flashed through them.
Of course she knew that forcing her husband, who was lazy to the bone, was useless. Pushing him too hard would only easily provoke his rebellious nature.
It would be better to...
Try another method.
She stood up gently, walked to Pei Cijing's side, and leaned over slightly. A few strands of dark hair slid down her shoulder, bringing a faint orchid fragrance.
Pei Cijing's breath hitched.
Shen Ninghuan leaned close to his ear, her red lips parting slightly, and spoke a few words in a low whisper that only the two of them could hear. Pei Cijing was stunned at first.
Immediately after...
Boom!
The base of his ears rapidly turned red at a visible speed, spreading all the way down to his neck.
He widened his eyes and turned his head to look at her, his eyes filled with disbelief.
W-what did Shen Ninghuan just say?
She said...
If he could persist in completing the homework she assigned every day for ten consecutive days...
She would...
Pei Cijing's throat went dry, and his heart pounded wildly, as if it were going to jump out of his chest.
This woman!
She actually used this kind of method to motivate him! This, this was simply naked temptation! What young man could withstand such temptation?
Shen Ninghuan had already straightened up and taken half a step back. Her face still wore that gentle and dignified expression, as if those wild words from just now hadn't come out of her mouth.
She looked at him with clear eyes, the corners of her lips curving slightly. "What does Husband think?"
Pei Cijing opened his mouth, but couldn't say a single word.
Only those few whispered words from just now echoed repeatedly in his mind, blasting him into a dizzy daze.
After a long time.
He took a deep breath and suddenly slammed his hand on the table:
"...I'll study!"
"Your husband loves reading the most. It's definitely not for my wife's reward!"
Pei Cijing's voice was decisive and resonant, and a raging fire ignited in his eyes. It was a strange light mixed with fighting spirit and some unspeakable expectation.
Looking at his appearance, the smile on Shen Ninghuan's lips deepened slightly.
People always said that beauty leads people astray.
But if used in the right place...
This beauty might very well become a driving force for progress.
She gently picked up the teapot, poured him a cup of clear tea, and her voice was as soft as spring water. "Then... I shall wait and see."
Outside the window, the sunlight was just right.
The old osmanthus tree in the courtyard swayed gently in the wind, its fine golden blossoms rustling down, filling the courtyard with a sweet fragrance.
Pei Cijing picked up his teacup and drained it in one gulp.
His heart was filled with boundless enthusiasm.
This studying...
He was definitely going to do it!
For future stability.
And for... his wife's reward.
