“C-can I?” Pei Shuyi chirped eagerly.
Xie Linheng’s expression darkened. “No.”
Pei Shuyi shot him a furtive glance. If she couldn’t leave, why had he deliberately asked her?!
A maid entered and announced, “Old Madam, the Second Madam has arrived.”
The Second Master of the household had drowned five years ago, and since then, the Second Madam had devoted herself to serving the Old Madam, seeking a quiet corner to settle in.
“Mother!”
Second Madam Cui Shi swept her gaze over the assembled company, curtsied, and took a seat beside the Old Madam.
“Yesterday was truly an auspicious day—Eldest Brother and Sister-in-law fulfilled two of their heartfelt wishes.”
“Linheng and Chiyu both took brides. Today, I’ve come to share in the joy.”
The Old Madam tapped her forehead lightly. “Your little mouth is as sweet as honey. Come, take a look at your two nieces-in-law.”
Second Madam examined Pei Shuyi carefully, her smile deepening slightly.
“Seeing this young lady standing beside Linheng, with such dignified bearing, she must be Muyin.”
She then turned to Pei Muyin and said, “Then this one must be Shuyi?”
Her questioning tone was directed at the Old Madam.
The Old Madam’s expression shifted.
“You’ve mistaken them. There was a slight mishap yesterday, causing the two brides to enter the wrong wedding chambers.”
“The one beside Linheng is Shuyi, and the one beside Chiyu is Muyin.”
Second Madam’s smile remained gentle and graceful.
“Looking at Shuyi’s refined demeanor, she seems even more like a noble lady of the capital than Muyin.”
“My mistake, my mistake! I confused the two sisters for a moment—I deserve a scolding!”
Pei Shuyi was radiant and alluring, favoring vibrant shades like crimson, apricot-yellow, and blended blues, with a preference for opulent jewelry—much like the fox spirits from storybooks.
In contrast, Pei Muyin preferred plain colors, leaning toward elegance and simplicity, and disliked extravagant hairpins, resembling a lotus emerging from clear water.
The Old Madam was displeased.
Pei Shuyi seemed like a seductress who could drain Linheng dry!
Pei Muyin’s smile did not reach her eyes, her lips curving into a cold arc. “Aunt, you jest.”
“My sister and I have always been different, much like peach blossoms and pear blossoms—each flower has its season, and their times of blooming differ as well.”
“As for what makes a noble lady, it isn’t determined by one’s outward demeanor, nor by who wears more gold, silver, or jade ornaments.”
Second Madam frowned.
She hadn’t come here to share in the joy but to embarrass the currently flourishing eldest branch.
This retort from the second daughter-in-law left her with a bellyful of prepared words unsaid!
Pei Shuyi lowered her head, playing with the gold-thread embroidery on her waistband.
In her heart, she marveled at the exquisite quality of Yunheju’s clothing—even better than what she had at home.
A maid standing nearby reminded her softly, “Young Madam, it’s time to serve tea.”
Pei Shuyi snapped back to reality and rose, lifting the teacup from the tray.
Following the order of seniority and precedence, she first offered tea to the Old Madam.
“May Grandmother enjoy boundless fortune and peace.” She bent her knees, kneeling on the cold floor. “Please accept this tea, Grandmother!”
The Old Madam did not take the tea, instead chatting and laughing with Second Madam.
Pei Shuyi knelt for a long while, unable to understand why the Old Madam harbored such hostility toward her.
Before long, it dawned on her—it must be Second Madam Cui Shi stirring trouble behind the scenes.
I’ll have to keep my distance from this aunt in the future, Pei Shuyi thought to herself.
Just then, a pair of black boots suddenly appeared before her eyes.
Xie Linheng half-crouched, took hold of her arm, and helped her up.
His slender, well-defined hand took the teacup from her grasp and offered it to the Old Madam.
His voice was low and firm as he said, “Grandmother, please have some tea.”
The Old Madam’s face instantly turned ashen—her eldest grandson was now publicly slighting her.
“I’m old and forgetful. I was so engrossed in conversation with your aunt that I neglected your new bride.”
Xie Linheng curved his lips. “When did your memory become so poor? Should I use my grandson’s name card to request a court physician for you?”
The sarcastic remark left Old Madam speechless. She quickly took the teacup and drank it all, then offered a few words of admonishment.
“Shuyi’s temperament still needs improvement. She will be the mistress of the ducal mansion in the future and should fulfill the responsibilities that come with it…”
Pei Shuyi nodded, then proceeded to serve tea to the First Madam and First Master.
The couple had no particular objections to their daughter-in-law and did not make things difficult for her.
First Madam looked at Xie Linheng. “Although you are busy with official duties, you should still make time to accompany your new bride.”
“I understand, Mother,” Xie Linheng nodded. “However, on the day of the return-to-home banquet, I truly cannot free myself.”
Pei Shuyi lowered her eyes dejectedly. Would she have to return alone for the banquet?
First Madam continued, “What kind of behavior is this? Are you going to spend your whole life buried in official work? Handle things in advance—freeing up a single day shouldn’t be difficult.”
Upon further reflection, Xie Linheng also felt it inappropriate. Others might think he was mistreating his new bride.
His gaze swept over Pei Shuyi as he said gently, “I will be returning late these next few days.”
Pei Shuyi rubbed her knees. Why was he reporting his schedule to her?
Moreover, when Old Madam had deliberately made things difficult for her earlier, he could have stepped in to help much sooner. Why let her kneel for so long?
Clearly, he was holding a grudge because she had urged him to see a physician!
She felt somewhat anxious about the days ahead.
Pei Muyin’s tea-serving ceremony went much more smoothly. Old Madam was very fond of her, seeing her as the ideal granddaughter-in-law in her heart.
After leaving Shouningtang.
Xie Linheng and Xie Chiyu excused themselves on the pretext of urgent matters and departed first.
Pei Shuyi, rubbing her waist while supporting herself on Pei Muyin’s arm, walked out.
Pei Muyin keenly observed, “If you sprained your ankle, why are you rubbing your waist? Did you bump into something somewhere?”
Pei Shuyi glanced around. Seeing they were in the garden, she whispered:
“Actually, it wasn’t a sprained ankle.”
“Last night, Xie Linheng pinned me down the entire night.”
Pei Muyin widened her eyes. “Why did he pin you down all night?”
Pei Shuyi frowned. “Because he holds grudges! I said a few things to him yesterday that upset him, so he took revenge on me!”
Pei Muyin’s gaze turned cold. How could her younger sister be bullied by anyone?
“Don’t be afraid. I’ll go find him.”
Pei Shuyi suddenly froze, then stepped forward to stop Pei Muyin. “Why are you going to find him?”
Pei Muyin smiled.
“To teach him a lesson, of course.”
Pei Shuyi was stunned.
Wasn’t her elder sister a renowned noble lady in the capital?
Something seemed different.
She watched as Pei Muyin produced a burlap sack from who-knows-where, her cold expression suggesting she was serious about confronting Xie Linheng.
“Elder Sister, don’t go hit him! He has many Shadow Guards around him. How could a delicate woman like you handle them?”
Pei Muyin smiled faintly.
“Merely Shadow Guards—I don’t take them seriously. If Xie Linheng dares to humiliate you, I’ll make him regret it.”
Seeing her elder sister’s stubborn determination, Pei Shuyi hurriedly grabbed her hand. Biting her lip, she steeled herself, closed her eyes, and said:
“Actually… actually, I… I like Xie Linheng!”
Pei Muyin stared in disbelief. “What did you say?”
At that very moment.
Under the peach tree, a tall and imposing figure appeared.
Xie Linheng, who had been on his way back to Yunheju to retrieve some documents, halted in his tracks.
Xie Chiyu and Zhou Jing, who were following closely behind, also froze in surprise.
Pei Shuyi’s gaze was clear and bright: “I fell in love with Xie Linheng at first sight, but I dared not entertain any improper thoughts because people outside said he kept his distance from women.”
“Yet unexpectedly, through a twist of fate, I became his wife.”
Xie Linheng snorted coldly—so she had long harbored improper thoughts about him!
Pei Shuyi blinked, tilting her head to look at her elder sister, the tips of her ears slightly flushed.
“Last night, he performed very well. I was extremely satisfied—so much so that I gave my heart completely.”
Xie Linheng’s lips twitched.
The first time, she probably wasn’t very satisfied, but the later times were extremely satisfying.
Recalling last night, he couldn’t help but curve his lips, letting out a sudden chuckle.
Xie Chiyu and Zhou Jing looked at him with complicated expressions.
Xie Linheng lowered his voice: “My wife is young and speaks carelessly of private matters of the inner chambers. I will teach her a lesson.”
Xie Chiyu’s peach blossom eyes curved slightly.
It was the first time he had seen his elder brother wear such a peculiar expression, unsure of what he was thinking.
In Xie Linheng’s palm, a withered peach blossom fell.
He lowered his gaze to stare at the petals, the crease between his brows deepening.
He couldn’t indulge her willful temperament. Tonight, he would have to communicate and negotiate with her.