After the newlyweds completed their wedding ceremony, Qi Heng led Jiang Nian to the bridal chamber. The crowd laughed and clamored to see the bride. Qi Heng took the Xi Cheng and lifted the Red Veil, revealing a delicate, fair face that captivated everyone.
"The bride is truly beautiful."
Jiang Nian looked at the crowd with composure, her face adorned with a smile and not a trace of shyness. Qi Heng felt slightly disappointed—his wife seemed unaware of what it meant to blush. Whether he held her hand or embraced her, she showed none of the flustered reactions typical of a young woman.
Jiang Nian surveyed the bridal chamber with complex emotions. This was the room she had lived in for several years in her previous life, the very place where she had drawn her last breath. She could have described its contents with her eyes closed.
Once the crowd dispersed to enjoy the banquet, Qi Heng whispered in her ear, "The kitchen will send food for you shortly. If you need anything, have the maids call for me."
"Alright," Jiang Nian nodded. Qi Heng was then dragged away by his brothers to drink.
Two maids stepped forward and bowed. "Your servants, Baishuang and Baizhi, greet the Second Young Mistress."
Jiang Nian gave a slight nod. These two were maids assigned to her by Madam Qi—and were also Madam Qi’s informants. In her past life, they had looked down on her, neglected their duties, and frequently reported her to Madam Qi.
Back then, plagued by deep insecurity, she had even tried to win their favor and often avoided relying on their service. To her surprise, they had secretly tried to seduce Qi Heng behind her back. After Qi Heng discovered their schemes, he had them sold off.
This time, she intended to dismiss them early. However, being newly married, she knew it was unwise to draw too much attention immediately.
"Assist me with washing up," Jiang Nian stood and spread her arms.
The two maids were momentarily stunned, a flicker of disdain in their eyes. How dare this lowborn farm girl put on airs as the young mistress so soon after arriving?
"What? Are my orders not to be obeyed?" Jiang Nian’s gaze turned cold as she stared at the maids. Baizhi and Baishuang quickly curtsied.
"We wouldn’t dare, Second Young Mistress. We will attend to you at once."
Baizhi helped her remove the wedding gown, while Baishuang took off the heavy Feng Guan. Upon entering the inner chamber, Baizhi led her to the washbasin, which was empty.
"This is the washbasin, Second Young Mistress. You may wash your face yourself."
Jiang Nian let out a cold laugh. "Is this how you serve me? If you’re unwilling, you may leave."
Startled, Baizhi dropped to her knees with a thud. "Second Young Mistress, please calm your anger. This servant admits her fault."
Baizhi poured warm water into the basin, soaked and wrung out a white cloth, then respectfully handed it to Jiang Nian.
"Second Young Mistress, please cleanse your face."
Jiang Nian took the cloth, pressing it against her face to let the warmth seep into her skin. After wiping her face once, Baizhi handed her a second cloth, and Jiang Nian repeated the process before finally washing her hands.
Baizhi and Baishuang no longer dared to underestimate this country-born Second Young Mistress and attended to her with renewed vigilance. When the kitchen sent over the meal, Baizhi stepped forward to serve her dishes.
"I’ll manage on my own," Jiang Nian said. She preferred serving herself—waiting for others would only delay her meal. Having only eaten a few glutinous rice balls that morning, her stomach was growling with hunger.
After the meal, Liu Shi entered. Though Jiang Nian recognized her, she pretended otherwise.
Liu Shi smiled. "Sister-in-law, I am your elder brother’s wife."
Jiang Nian inclined her body slightly in a bow. "Jiang Nian greets Sister-in-law."
Liu Shi looked astonished—how could a farm girl perform such a proper bow? She stepped forward to help Jiang Nian up.
"There’s no need for such formality between sisters-in-law. Please, rise quickly."
Jiang Nian sat opposite her. Liu Shi discreetly observed her—every gesture carried grace and tranquility, her face like a lotus emerging from water, pure and ethereal, her figure soft and slender. She didn’t resemble a farmer’s daughter but rather a young lady delicately raised in a noble household.
Feeling somewhat overshadowed by a peasant girl, Liu Shi felt a twinge of displeasure, yet she maintained a smiling facade.
"Sister-in-law, since there are only the two of us sisters-in-law in the residence now, if there’s anything you don’t understand, you can come to me."
"Thank you, Eldest Sister-in-law."
Jiang Nian wore a perfectly measured smile, her eyes shimmering with a hint of charm at the corners. Liu Shi’s expression darkened as she clenched the handkerchief in her hand and stood up.
"Sister-in-law, rest well. I’ll go check on the front courtyard."
"Alright, Eldest Sister-in-law, take care." Her leisurely demeanor seemed oblivious to Liu Shi’s displeasure.
Liu Shi’s face turned extremely grim. Her family background couldn’t compare to the yet-to-arrive third and fourth sisters-in-law, and she had thought she could suppress the second sister-in-law, who came from a peasant family. Who would have thought a peasant girl would be even more beautiful than her, with manners and etiquette beyond reproach? She felt a stifling frustration, wanting to vent but unable to.
After Liu Shi left, Jiang Nian had the maid clear the meal and closed the door, a cold smile curling on her lips.
In her previous life, this Liu Shi had also rushed to see her. Back then, she knew nothing, suddenly entering the Prefectural Residence and feeling constrained everywhere. Faced with Liu Shi, who was exquisitely dressed and brimming with superiority, she was too self-abased to even lift her head.
When Liu Shi offered to teach her etiquette, she thought she had met a kind person and treated her with sincerity. Instead, Liu Shi made a fool of her, having her bow repeatedly and slapping her palms for the slightest mistake, all while threatening her not to tell anyone.
How could injuries on her palms escape the notice of her husband, Qi Heng? When he found out, he applied medicine for her and warned Liu Shi. Liu Shi cried injustice, claiming she had genuinely wanted to help and accusing Jiang Nian of repaying kindness with ingratitude.
How foolish she had been back then—unable to see Liu Shi’s true intentions, she thought she had wronged her and felt guilty and uneasy. She even persuaded her husband to let the matter drop and not pursue it further.
Jiang Nian slapped her forehead. "How could I have been so stupid, counting money for someone who sold me out?"
Setting aside thoughts of Liu Shi, Jiang Nian busied herself organizing the dowry she had brought. With two thousand taels of silver in hand, she planned to buy land in various places to grow grain. In two years, the world would fall into chaos, and before that, she needed to stockpile as much food as possible—the more, the better.
She had discussed this with her grandfather earlier, and he agreed with her idea. This year’s grain harvest looked promising, so her grandfather provided funds to buy more land and store the extra grain in dry cellars.
By the time she finished organizing, dusk had fallen. The maid brought another meal, and as she was eating, Qi Heng returned, reeking of alcohol.
"You’re back."
Jiang Nian stood to greet him. Qi Heng smiled and pulled her into an embrace. "Wife."
"Look at you, covered in the smell of alcohol. Let go and go wash up." Jiang Nian patted his back.
"I won’t let go." Qi Heng held her tightly, refusing to release her. Jiang Nian pursed her lips into a smile as the two embraced and moved into the inner chamber. Qi Heng took a towel to wipe his hands and face.
"Nian Nian, I feel so strange today."
"What’s wrong?" Jiang Nian asked him.
Qi Heng placed the towel in the water basin, his brow furrowing deeply.
"I feel like everything today is so familiar. I could accurately predict what everyone would do or say next, as if I’ve experienced it all before."
Jiang Nian’s heart skipped a beat, and she froze completely. Could it be that Qi Heng had also been reborn? Unlike her, he only had fragmented memories of his previous life.
"How could that be." She feigned composure and teased, "Then can you guess what I'll do next?"
Qi Heng shook his head. "You're different from what I imagined. Every step you take is unexpected. I feel you shouldn't be like this, though I can't quite explain what I mean. Only you are different."
Jiang Nian calmed down and advised him, "Don't overthink it. You're probably just too tired today. Rest tonight and you'll feel better tomorrow."
"No." Qi Heng held her playfully. "I'm spending the wedding night with my wife tonight. I won't sleep."
"You won't sleep?" Jiang Nian's expression changed. "Are you planning to consummate the marriage all night?"
"Underestimating me." Qi Heng picked her up and carried her toward the bed.
Sitting on the bed, Jiang Nian calmly removed her clothes without a trace of shyness. Having been married for many years in her previous life, she genuinely couldn't feign bashfulness.
Qi Heng pointed confidently at her inner thigh. "You have a red mole here, don't you?"
Jiang Nian's cheeks suddenly flushed crimson.
Qi Heng leaned close to her face. "Judging by your expression, I guessed right again."
Pinning her down on the bed, Qi Heng's fingers skillfully caressed her fair, delicate waist. Jiang Nian, being ticklish, laughed and squirmed away.
"You always laugh when I touch here." Qi Heng maintained a serious expression, as if genuinely conducting an experiment, his slender fingers gradually moving downward. Jiang Nian's face burned with embarrassment as she snapped in flustered irritation:
"Qi Heng!"
"Nian Nian." Qi Heng held her close, their noses touching, his warm breath brushing against her face. "I don't know what's happening, but I feel strangely familiar with your body."
Jiang Nian reached out to trace his refined brows and eyes. "Don't overthink it. Let's sleep."
Qi Heng gently kissed her lips.