When the legal wife of a noble family enters her new household, the etiquette and rules are as complex and layered as fine embroidery.
From the early morning face-threading, dressing up, and wearing the wedding gown, to crossing the brazier in front of the Marquis's mansion, bowing to heaven and earth, lifting the bridal veil, and finally the drinking of the nuptial cup and the hair-tying ceremony in the bridal chamber—Shen Ninghuan had to maintain an impeccable demeanor throughout this day. Her back was as straight as bamboo, her movements as dignified as a lotus, and a perfectly measured faint smile played on her lips, making anyone who saw her praise her "excellent bearing."
But the price behind such perfection was that she had barely had a drop of water or a grain of rice.
When she woke up in the morning, the momo had only secretly stuffed a small piece of light tuckahoe cake into her hand. After that, she hadn't touched any food. The heavy phoenix coronet and robes pressed down on her shoulders, making them ache, and her stomach had long been empty.
However, she didn't show it on her face, still appearing calm and composed, as if she didn't know what hunger and thirst were.
Facing the snacks Pei Cijing had laid out, Shen Ninghuan didn't pretend to be reserved.
She was truly hungry.
Sitting down at the table, she picked up the jade chopsticks and began to eat in small bites.
The food was warm and light, exactly suiting her stomach at this moment—the shrimp dumplings were crystal clear, the sweet lotus root was sweet but not cloying, and the silver ear mushroom soup moistened her throat and warmed her heart. She ate quietly, her demeanor still elegant, every movement looking like a carefully drawn painting.
Pei Cijing sat opposite her, watching quietly, and his heart inexplicably settled down.
It was as if until this moment, this marriage—which had started from a "swapped marriage" and carried a bit of absurdity and helplessness—had truly landed, gaining the warmth of human life and the ordinary nature of a married couple facing each other.
As Shen Ninghuan ate, she could still "hear" the fragmented murmurs in his heart:
"She's eating with relish... Good thing I had the kitchen prepare it."
"Should I serve her another bowl of soup?"
"How can she look so beautiful even when eating... Holding the chopsticks properly, chewing without making a sound..."
Shen Ninghuan lowered her eyelashes, hiding the fleeting smile in her eyes.
This husband of hers, looking like a carefree and uninhibited young master on the outside, was actually quite attentive. Compared to those noble sons who only knew how to say pretty words, this clumsy yet sincere care caught her eye more.
After finishing the snacks.
Pei Cijing took the initiative to pour the nuptial wine.
Two gourd cups connected by a red string held amber-colored liquor, rippling with shallow light under the candlelight, reflecting their closely drawn silhouettes.
"Drinking from the same cup, sharing the same meat, forever tied in one heart," he softly recited the ceremonial words, handing one cup to her. Their fingertips accidentally touched, and the warm sensation made both of them pause for a moment.
Shen Ninghuan took it.
They crossed their arms and drank it all with raised heads.
The wine tasted clear and sweet, with a floral and fruity aroma. As it slid down her throat, a warmth gradually spread from her stomach, dyeing the tips of her ears red.
Next... it was time to consummate the marriage.
Pei Cijing put down the wine cup, his heartbeat suddenly a bit erratic.
Under the candlelight, her cheeks were slightly red, her eyes like water, her wedding gown like fire, breathtakingly beautiful.
Adding his two lifetimes together, he hadn't properly touched a girl's hand a few times—the most recent time probably dating back to his previous life in kindergarten, holding hands with a little girl to line up for snacks.
Yet right now...
"Is this... going to be the bridal chamber?"
"Will she be afraid? We've only met a few times and haven't spoken many words..."
"If she's unwilling... then I'll wait? After all, the days are long, there's no rush for this moment."
All his apprehension, hesitation, and cherishing flowed into Shen Ninghuan's ears without missing a single word.
Shen Ninghuan looked up at him.
He stood in the candlelight, dressed in dark red casual clothes that made his face look handsome and clear. The usual casualness between his brows had faded, revealing a rare seriousness, and even... purity.
She suddenly remembered those fragmented thoughts in Shen Ningyue's mind—how the "Pei Cijing" of the previous life was cold and distant, becoming strangers after marriage, leaving her alone in an empty room for years.
But the person in front of her was clearly sincere and warm.
So she gently stood up and walked up to him.
Pei Cijing was startled.
The next moment, a pair of soft arms wrapped around his neck. Shen Ninghuan tilted her face up, clear light rippling in her eyes, a shallow smile on her lips. Her voice was low and soft, yet every word was clear, striking right into his heart:
"I hope my husband will... cherish me."
Pei Cijing's brain buzzed.
All his hesitation, all his wild thoughts, were shattered in this moment by her active approach and words. He was no Liu Xiahui, and certainly not a block of wood!
With a warm, fragrant, and soft body in his arms, eyes like autumn waters, and breath like orchids brushing against his neck.
If he retreated now.
He would truly be a fool!
His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and with a wrap of his arms, he gently pulled her into his embrace. When he lowered his head to kiss her, his movements were still a bit raw, but extremely gentle, as if treating a fragile treasure.
The candlelight flickered, casting their overlapping figures onto the brocade bed curtains embroidered with intertwining lotuses, like two vines finally leaning on each other and growing together, branches and leaves entwined, inseparable.
The red silk curtains slowly fell, hiding the deep spring within the room.
...
The next morning, the dawn light was faint, filtering through the double happiness paper cutouts pasted on the window lattice, spilling into scattered golden spots on the ground, dancing with warmth on the blue brick floor.
Shen Ninghuan woke up first.
Beside her.
Pei Cijing was still fast asleep.
One hand rested unconsciously on her waist, his head half-buried in the crook of her neck, breathing evenly and warmly. Stripped of his usual lazy or teasing expression, his sleeping face looked exceptionally quiet, even revealing a bit of unguarded childishness, like a kitten that had retracted its claws.
She watched quietly for a moment, the corners of her lips curving slightly, and extended her index finger to gently poke his cheek.
Soft and warm.
Pei Cijing mumbled indistinctly, his eyelashes fluttering. Not fully awake yet, he subconsciously pulled her closer into his arms, muttering vaguely, "Sleep a little longer... it's still early..."
"It's time to get up." Shen Ninghuan's voice was still slightly hoarse from just waking up, but had regained clarity. "Today we must pay our respects and serve tea to Grandmother, Father, and Mother. It won't be good to miss the hour."
Pei Cijing finally opened his eyes, meeting her smiling gaze.
He froze for a moment.
The memories of last night rushed back like a tide—her soft lips, warm skin, low pants, and those eyes that were always bright as stars, yet tainted with passion...
The roots of his ears suddenly turned red.
He sat up abruptly, scratching his slightly messy long hair, feigning composure: "Ahem... yes, it's time to get up. I'll have someone bring in water."
They called the maidservants in to serve them with washing and dressing.
Hot water, fragrant balm, and clean clothes had already been prepared.
The maidservants and older female servants of Anle Residence all kept their eyes downcast and were quick and neat in their movements. Clearly, Madam Zhou had given instructions earlier to ensure the Second Young Madam was served impeccably, without the slightest neglect.
Shen Ninghuan sat in front of the mirror, letting the maidservant comb her long hair.
The person in the mirror had loosely coiled hair, and with the flow of her gaze, she had an indescribable soft and charming grace that she didn't have yesterday. The corners of her eyes and brows were tinged with traces of being carefully cherished.
She caught a glimpse of Pei Cijing secretly looking at her in the mirror. When their eyes met in the mirror, he quickly looked away, pretending nothing had happened as he adjusted his sleeves. That look made her couldn't help but smile.
After getting ready, the two left Anle Residence together and headed towards "Yifu Hall," where the Old Madam of the Marquis of Weiyuan's mansion resided.
The courtyards of the Marquis's mansion were deep, and the winding corridors twisted and turned.
The morning dew had not yet dissipated, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of vegetation. Occasionally, a few bird calls came from the eaves, crisp and pleasant to the ear.
The two walked at an unhurried pace. Shen Ninghuan's bearing was elegant and proper, while Pei Cijing trailed half a step behind her. This was the new bride's first formal presentation to the elders; he had to let her walk ahead. It was the rule, and it was a matter of dignity.
Just as they passed through a moon gate, the sound of footsteps and voices echoed from the corridor ahead.
Looking up, they saw who it was.
It was none other than Pei Ciling and Shen Ningyue.
Pei Ciling wore a sapphire-blue brocade robe today, a jade pendant suspended at his waist. However, his face looked slightly weary, with faint dark circles under his eyes—clearly, he had overexerted himself the previous night.
Beside him, Shen Ningyue was dressed in a water-pink gown. She had no right to wear true red; this water-pink was already the most vibrant shade a concubine was permitted to wear. A pure gold hairpin adorned her hair, and her makeup was exquisite. Yet, her smile carried an air of deliberate fragility, like a meticulously painted mask.
The two couples met in the corridor.
"Eldest Brother," Pei Cijing spoke first, his tone flat and betraying no emotion.
"Second Brother." Pei Ciling nodded. His gaze swept past him and landed on Shen Ninghuan. For a fleeting moment, his eyes grew complex—guilt, embarrassment, and a trace of inexplicable regret flashed through them before he quickly looked away. "Sister-in-law."
"Heir," Shen Ninghuan offered a slight curtsy, her manners impeccable, her tone politely distant.
At this moment, Shen Ningyue was staring intently at Shen Ninghuan's face. After a single night, her legitimate elder sister did not look haggard in the least. On the contrary, her complexion was rosy, her eyes as clear as morning stars. The faint smile playing at the corners of her lips revealed a languid satisfaction, the look of a woman who had been tenderly cherished.
How could this be possible?
Shen Ningyue's heart was filled with shock and doubt, as if an invisible hand were squeezing her chest.
She clearly remembered that in her previous life, after she had married Pei Cijing, their relationship had been as cold as strangers. Though they appeared to respect each other on the surface, she had actually slept in an empty bed for years. She had never looked like this... so nourished and loved.
Even faced with her own beauty, he had remained completely indifferent.
Therefore, Shen Ningyue had come to a conclusion: as a man, Pei Cijing was impotent!
But now, looking at her elder sister's radiant complexion and the spring-like bliss in her eyes, it was obvious what had happened between the two of them last night... Could it be that something was different in this lifetime?
She couldn't help but look at Pei Cijing again.
He was turning his head to whisper something to Shen Ninghuan. His features were gentle, and a trace of imperceptible care lingered in his eyes—an expression she had never seen in her past life.
No! This was completely wrong!
"What are you looking at, Sister?" Shen Ninghuan suddenly looked up. Her clear gaze fell upon Shen Ningyue, like a cold, deep pool that could reflect the depths of one's soul.
Shen Ningyue's heart skipped a beat. She hurriedly lowered her eyes, her fingernails digging deeply into her palms. "N-nothing. I just thought you looked wonderfully radiant today, Sister. I suppose you... rested well last night."
The words were spoken tactfully, yet they concealed a sharp edge.
Shen Ninghuan smiled faintly, her voice calm and unruffled. "You as well, Sister. However, the dark shadows under your eyes are rather heavy. Did you not sleep well last night? But then again, it is a new environment; it is inevitable that you might not be used to it yet."
Her tone was gentle, every word seemingly filled with concern, but to Shen Ningyue's ears, they pricked like needles.
Pei Ciling frowned. He seemed to feel that this conversation was inappropriate, but he didn't know how to interrupt.
He looked at the composed Shen Ninghuan, then at Shen Ningyue, who was forcing a smile beside him. An indescribable wave of irritation surged in his heart once more.
"It is getting late. Let us not keep Grandmother waiting," he finally spoke, his voice somewhat dry.
The four fell silent for a moment. A subtle quiet descended upon them, leaving only the sound of their footsteps echoing through the long corridor.
The sun gradually rose higher, casting four elongated shadows onto the bluestone pavement. Two in front, two behind, distinctly separated—like a silent boundary.
