In the Heir's courtyard, the silence was presently terrifying.
The afternoon sunlight shone through the madder gauze windows, casting a blurred orange-red patch on the smooth, gold-brick floor.
The celadon plum vase with interlocking lotus patterns, placed on a tall stand by the window, had a glaze as warm and smooth as jade, reflecting an understated luster in the light—this was one of the few presentable items in Shen Ningyue's dowry, said to be the bottom-of-the-chest dowry of Concubine Fang from back in the day, a fine piece from a former dynasty's official kiln.
Shen Ningyue stood in front of the plum vase.
The fire in her chest burned so much that her internal organs ached.
Why?
She stared fixedly at the vase, her fingers clenching and unclenching, unclenching and clenching.
The business-like expression on the old maid's face when she came to pass on the message just now, every word like an ice awl piercing her ears: "The Marquis has ordered that during the Heir's period of self-reflection, he is not to set foot in the concubine's courtyard. The concubine is also requested to behave herself and not to..."
Not to what?
The old maid didn't finish, but Shen Ningyue understood the contempt in her eyes—not to bewitch the master like a vixen again, not to be shameless again.
"Bang!"
She suddenly raised her hand—
The plum vase was close at hand, its glaze reflecting her face twisted with anger.
With just one swing, this eyesore of an expensive object would be shattered into pieces, turning into broken porcelain all over the floor, and the anger in her heart would be vented out.
She wanted very much to smash everything right now.
But...
Her hand hung in mid-air, trembling, and ultimately failed to fall.
Shen Ningyue closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and when she opened them again, the madness in her eyes had receded, replaced by a powerless exhaustion.
She couldn't smash it.
If she smashed it.
The Marquis's mansion wouldn't buy her a new one.
Lady Li wished her room was empty, to highlight her "duty" and "shabbiness" as a concubine, while she herself... Shen Ningyue bit her lower lip, tasting a hint of rust-like sweetness.
Her dowry.
It was too thin!
Eight boxes sounded like a lot, but upon opening them—four boxes were seasonal clothing materials, two boxes were ordinary headpieces and jewelry, one box was silver for the bottom of the chest, totaling no more than five hundred taels, and there was another box of private savings her mother had stuffed for her, which was nothing more than some scattered gold and silver and a few jade items that weren't top-notch.
No land deeds.
No storefronts.
No money-making properties.
The monthly allowance the Marquis's mansion allocated to her was twenty taels—which sounded like a lot.
But in this Marquis's mansion, what was twenty taels enough for? Tipping the servants couldn't be shabby, otherwise who would be willing to serve wholeheartedly? Rouge and powder couldn't be too inferior, otherwise how could she maintain her looks in front of the Heir? She always had to buy a few new clothes and pieces of jewelry, otherwise when attending family banquets, standing next to Shen Ninghuan...
She was practically like a beggar.
Shen Ningyue dropped her hand dejectedly, her fingertips weakly tracing the cold body of the vase.
Her past self.
Married to that useless Pei Cijing.
Although she lived like a widow, her finances didn't seem to be this tight.
No matter how unsuccessful Pei Cijing was, the second branch's public fund always had income, and Lady Zhou was generous with money, never deducting her daughter-in-law's expenses. She remembered that although she was depressed back then, she was never strapped for cash when it came to clothes, jewelry, or tipping servants.
How is it that now that she was married to the Heir—a man who should have been more prominent and had a brighter future—her life had turned out like this?
Shen Ningyue slowly sat back on the round stool.
The sunlight slid past her shoulder, drawing a long and lonely shadow on the ground.
And the child...
She reached out and gently pressed her flat lower abdomen.
This was her biggest hope, and also her fastest shortcut.
She remembered clearly—in her previous life, Shen Ninghuan, less than three months after marrying Pei Ciling, had announced a pregnancy, and after ten months of pregnancy, gave birth to the legitimate eldest son, her status as steady as Mount Tai.
In this life, she had snatched this marriage, so this eldest son should naturally be hers too!
So for the past few nights.
She had practically gone all out!
Every night she clung to Pei Ciling, turning the clouds and rain upside down, insatiable.
She wanted to get pregnant before the legitimate wife entered the door, preferably with a boy in one fell swoop. As long as she had a son, a mother's status would rise with her son, and she would have the strongest bargaining chip to be elevated to legitimate wife. Pei Ciling loved her so much, how could he bear to let their son be a concubine-born child?
She calculated meticulously.
She knew her own body, these past few days were exactly her fertile window, Pei Ciling was young and strong, and she was so proactive... She had a seventy percent certainty that she would get pregnant this month.
But as luck would have it—
As luck would have it, that old immortal Marquis Weiyuan!
With a single ban, Pei Ciling couldn't even enter her courtyard! What did he mean by "not allowed to see each other during the period of self-reflection"?! The matters between them as husband and wife, how could he, a father-in-law, have the right to meddle so much?!
Shen Ningyue clenched her fists, her nails digging deeply into her palms.
Hateful...
Truly hateful!
But what else could she do besides sitting in this room sulking?
Barge into the martial arts courtyard? That would only subject Pei Ciling to more punishment, and make the Marquis hate her even more. Go to Lady Li to plead for mercy? That old pious woman would be kind enough not to kick her while she was down.
A deep sense of powerlessness surged up from the soles of her feet, soaking through her limbs and bones.
Since her rebirth, this was the first time she felt so clearly—some things seemed not as simple as she remembered. She was clearly walking the same path, why were the destinations completely different.
The sunlight outside the window gradually slanted westward.
The celadon plum vase stood quietly in the light, the interlocking lotus patterns on the glaze winding and coiling, endlessly regenerating, as if silently mocking her predicament and struggle.
...
In stark contrast to the cold and stifling atmosphere of the Heir's courtyard, the Fugui Courtyard was currently filled with warmth and joy. This courtyard, named after the Second Master Pei Fugui, exuded the word "wealth and honor" everywhere.
As soon as you entered the courtyard gate, there was a path meticulously paved with five-colored pebbles in the pattern of koi playing with lotuses, sparkling in the sunlight. The pillars of the corridors on both sides were all painted vermilion and traced with gold thread, and a row of gilded bronze bells hung under the eaves, tinkling crisply and pleasantly when the wind blew.
Not only were four-season flowers and trees planted in the courtyard, but there was also a small pond fed by a live spring. A few rare koi were kept in the pond, their scales gleaming with a jewel-like luster in the sunlight.
The main room was even more spacious and bright.
A set of red sandalwood furniture, deep and luxurious.
The multi-treasure shelves were filled with either antiques and jade artifacts, or ingenious items imported from overseas—mirrors inlaid with various gemstones, silver jugs embossed with exotic styles... Every item was of considerable value, yet exuded a fresh and lively charm different from traditional aristocratic families.
At this moment, Lady Zhou was holding Shen Ninghuan's hand, sitting on the heated brick bed by the window.
The bed was covered with a thick carmine interlocking peony pattern velvet blanket.
It felt soft and warm to the touch.
On the bed table were several plates of exquisite pastries—not the styles commonly seen in the capital, but southern specialties like lotus pastry, almond junket, and crystal cake, made small and exquisite, sweet but not cloying.
"Huan'er, try this." Lady Zhou personally picked up a piece of lotus pastry and brought it to Shen Ninghuan's lips, her eyes filled with unconcealable smiles. "This was made by a southern pastry chef newly hired at my shop. It's rare in the capital, try it and see how it tastes."
Shen Ninghuan took it with a smile.
She took a small bite.
The flaky layers were distinct, melting in the mouth, and the filling was sweet lotus paste, indeed refreshing.
"It's very delicious," she praised sincerely.
The smile on Madam Zhou's face deepened, her peach-blossom eyes—which resembled Pei Cijing's by seventy or eighty percent—curving into crescents. "As long as you like it, as long as you like it! I'll have them deliver it to your courtyard every day!"
"You are spending too much, Mother," Shen Ninghuan said gently.
"Spending too much? Nonsense!" Madam Zhou waved her hand, completely unconcerned. "Our family might not have much else, but we have plenty of money! You know how your father-in-law is; he has absolutely no interest in an official career or managing finances, but thankfully, he doesn't squander money either. As for my maiden family, their business has been growing bigger and bigger over the years. Ever since they opened up the maritime trade routes, it's been even more..."
She paused, seemingly realizing that flaunting her maiden family's wealth in front of her daughter-in-law was somewhat inappropriate. Changing the subject, she just held Shen Ninghuan's hand and patted it gently. "Anyway, now that you've married into our family, I can't guarantee other things, but when it comes to money and expenses, I will absolutely never let you suffer the slightest grievance! Whatever you want, just tell Mother!"
Shen Ninghuan could "hear" the unreserved joy and affection in her mother-in-law's heart. Feeling a slight warmth in her own heart, she replied softly, "I don't lack anything. You treat me exceptionally well, Mother."
"You child, you are just too sensible." Madam Zhou sighed. Her gaze fell on Shen Ninghuan's elegant and beautiful face, and the more she looked, the more satisfied she felt.
She was truly satisfied.
Born into a merchant family and married into the second branch of a Marquis's household, she had lived a life of luxury over the years. Her husband loved her, and although her son wasn't the most ambitious, he was healthy and safe. Logically speaking, her life was complete.
Yet, there had always been a knot in her heart.
It wasn't that she hadn't attended the tea parties and flower banquets hosted by those aristocratic ladies.
But sitting among that group of women who prided themselves on being "noble and pure" and "heirs of poetry and etiquette," she always felt inferior. They chatted about poetry and songs, about the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, about the political trends in the royal court, and about raising children...
She couldn't get a word in edgewise.
She could only talk about clothing fabrics, jewelry and hair ornaments, or which shop had the most delicious pastries, only to receive a few subtle, pitying glances in return.
That was it.
In their eyes, she, Zhou Yueniang, was nothing more than a lucky nouveau riche daughter who had married into a Marquis's estate. No matter how much money she had, she was still covered in the stench of copper and unfit for high society.
Therefore, she had always hoped her son would make her proud.
Cijing had been smart since he was a child.
He could recite poetry at three and match couplets at five; even his teachers praised him for his extraordinary natural talent.
How happy she had been back then, thinking that if her son could pass the imperial examinations, enter officialdom, and become a government official, wouldn't she, as his mother, be able to earn an imperial mandate? Wouldn't she be able to... straighten her back and sit as an equal with those noble madams?
But who could have known...
The older her son got, the more he resembled his father!
All day long, all he knew was how to stroll around, drink tea, and listen to gossip, showing not the slightest interest in studying or the imperial exams. She was anxious; she urged him, coaxed him, and even tried threats and bribery—but it was all useless.
The boy would agree perfectly to her face, only to turn around, slip away to the teahouse, and sit there for half the day.
Madam Zhou had almost given up and accepted defeat.
But unexpectedly—
It had only been a few days since her daughter-in-law married into the family!
Cijing had actually volunteered to study! He said he wanted to take the imperial exams!
This morning, he had even done the unprecedented and hadn't stayed in bed. Although he still didn't wake up particularly early, he had at least sat at his desk and read a book for a whole hour!
Madam Zhou had hidden outside the window and secretly watched for a long time, almost weeping tears of joy.
Sure enough!
Marriage makes a man grow up!
Marrying a good wife is more effective than any pushing or prodding!
"Huan'er," Madam Zhou said, holding onto Shen Ninghuan's hand tightly, her eyes turning slightly red. "You don't know how... how happy Mother is in her heart."
Her voice choked up a little. "That child Cijing has been undisciplined since he was young. His father and I never expected him to achieve great success; we just wanted him to be safe and happy. But deep down... I still hoped he would have some sense of responsibility, some ambition. Now that he is willing to strive for progress and work hard, the heavy stone in Mother's heart... has finally been lifted."
Shen Ninghuan listened quietly, able to clearly perceive the complex emotions in her mother-in-law's heart—a mixture of relief, pride, and the slight unraveling of a years-long knot.
She held Madam Zhou's hand in return, her voice soft but firm. "Rest assured, Mother. My husband... he actually understands everything in his heart. He just needed some time, and someone... to give him a little push."
"And you gave him a wonderful push!" Madam Zhou wiped the corners of her eyes and smiled again. "Mother knew you were a blessed and capable girl! For Cijing to marry you is a blessing he cultivated over several lifetimes!"
Saying this, she suddenly remembered something. She stood up and walked into the inner room, returning shortly with a red sandalwood jewelry box inlaid with mother-of-pearl.
As the box opened—
The dazzling brilliance of jewels and pearls almost blinded the eyes.
It wasn't the gaudy accumulation typical of the nouveau riche, but rather, every piece was an exquisite masterpiece.
South Sea pearls the size of pigeon eggs, jadeite bracelets of the finest translucency, gold filigree phoenix hairpins inlaid with precious stones, and a full set of ruby hair ornaments. Every gemstone was cut to perfection, swirling with an intoxicating radiance under the light.
"These are some items my maiden family sent over, and some are pieces I found myself." Madam Zhou pushed the box toward Shen Ninghuan, her tone as casual as if she were offering a plate of pastries. "Take a look, take whatever you like! You can take them all if you want! Mother is getting older anyway, and I can't wear this much. Leaving them sitting here is just a waste."
Shen Ninghuan was slightly startled.
She could estimate the value of these jewels at a glance—any single piece would be enough for an ordinary family to live on for several years. And her mother-in-law was just... giving them all to her?
"Mother, this is too precious..." she softly declined.
"What do you mean, too precious!" Madam Zhou gave her a reproachful look. "Aren't jewels meant to be worn? If Mother gives them to you, just take them! When you go out to socialize in the future, you'll need a few pieces to keep up appearances. Even though our second branch won't inherit the Marquis title, we can't let people look down on us!"
She paused, lowered her voice, and her eyes sparkled. "Although it's not good to talk behind people's backs, especially about that Shen Ningyue... Hmph, doesn't she love to show off? Huan'er, from now on, you wear these and show her clearly what true confidence looks like!"
Looking at her mother-in-law's adorable 'we have money, so who are we afraid of' demeanor, Shen Ninghuan couldn't help but smile.
She suddenly understood who Pei Cijing took after with his undisciplined yet sincere, pleasure-seeking yet ungreedy personality. Having a mother like this and growing up in such a family, it was no wonder he only wanted to lie back, watch the drama unfold, and avoid getting dragged into conflicts.
Because in his world, there had never been a lack of warmth and affluence.
Thus, there was no need to fight over anything.
"Then... I thank you, Mother." Shen Ninghuan no longer declined and accepted with a smile.
Only then was Madam Zhou satisfied. She pulled her daughter-in-law close again, chatting about how she would take her to the best silk shop in the capital tomorrow to tailor new clothes, to the Treasure Pavilion to forge new jewelry, and even invite a theatrical troupe to their home for a private performance...
