Whether it was due to Xiao Chu having few friends, a terrible temper, or both, Mi Yao only realized after he left that no one had come to disturb the bridal chamber. There was no ceremony officiant to arrange traditions like having a boy bed-presser or eating fruits.
To her, however, this was a welcome simplification.
Unfortunately, her peace lasted less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. The women who learned Xiao Chu had gone to the banquet soon gathered in the bridal chamber to see the new bride.
The room instantly grew lively. Mi Yao attempted to mimic Xiao Chu's cold expression, but her stunning beauty made her appear inherently kind and good-natured—a stark contrast to his unappealing face—rendering her efforts useless.
Forced to change tactics, she either pretended not to hear comments about her large breasts and hips being "ideal for childbearing" or lowered her head to feign shyness and daydream.
"She's a bit older, but young ladies just coming of age lack this kind of charm. No wonder Commander Xiao specifically went to Jiangnan to seek her hand."
"Haven't you heard she's called the Number One Beauty of Jiangnan? I bet her hips were already this full when she came of age—how else could she earn that title?"
"She'll likely have two children in three years."
…
As a military officer, Xiao Chu's wedding guests were mostly his colleagues. While there were elegant wives and young ladies among them, refinement often yielded to vulgarity—especially with a bed present and everyone well aware of what Mi Yao and Xiao Chu would be doing in an hour.
As the conversation progressed from Xiao Chu's thick, dark hair and tall nose bridge to increasingly indecent topics, Mi Yao spotted Xiao Shan peeking through the crowd. She wanted someone to carry the child out, but then noticed Xiao Shan clutching the hem of a woman's dress.
Meeting Mi Yao's gaze, the woman smiled and addressed her as "sister-in-law."
Seeing Mi Yao's confusion, the woman grew slightly nervous and awkward. "Your husband Xiao Chu is my younger brother. I've been married out of the Xiao family for many years…"
Others, noticing Mi Yao didn't recognize Xiao Rou, helpfully explained: "Yu Niang, this is your husband's own elder sister, born from the same parents as Commander Xiao. Her name is Xiao Rou."
"The bride doesn't even recognize her own sister-in-law? Seems the rumors are true—Commander Xiao genuinely dislikes this married sister."
"Her own brother's wedding, and they don't live far apart, yet she only comes on the wedding day? Probably because Commander Xiao forbade it earlier. No wonder some say his heart is as sharp as a blade…"
"Keep your voice down."
Hearing the murmurs around her, Mi Yao roughly understood who the woman was. After addressing her as "Elder Sister," their eyes met, and Mi Yao found herself at a loss for words.
On closer inspection, Xiao Rou's features did resemble the Xiao family's, but deep frown lines were etched between her brows. Her habitually pressed lips and downturned corners of her mouth gave her an air of perpetual hardship.
Beyond her appearance, her slightly worn plain brocade cotton clothes with broken flower patterns indicated she didn't live comfortably.
Whether Mi Yao had missed it while reading or the book simply never mentioned it, this was her first time learning Xiao Chu had a full sister.
And judging by appearances, Xiao Chu treated her the same way he did his three children—with a let-them-grow-wild attitude, not allowing his own sister to benefit from his status in the slightest.
"Ninth Sister-in-law, you're truly beautiful. I'd heard you were the Number One Beauty of Jiangnan and thought people were exaggerating. Now I see you really are a celestial maiden descended to earth."
Mi Yao was pondering how to exchange pleasantries with her elder sister-in-law Xiao Rou when she heard a young girl's crisp, attention-grabbing praise. A young lady wearing a peach-red cloud satin skirt with dangling gold-carved hibiscus flower tassel swaying ornaments emerged from the crowd and linked arms with Mi Yao. "I've heard Ninth Sister-in-law was renowned for her virtue even before marriage. You must grace my future flower banquets with your presence."
Unlike her unpreparedness when facing Xiao Rou, Mi Yao knew exactly who this young lady was.
Xiao Chu's adoptive father Zhao Tianhe shared the same fate as him—both destined to be widowers.
All four of Zhao Tianhe's biological children had passed away due to various reasons before he turned forty, after which his lawful wife followed them in death from excessive grief.
After Madame Zhao's death, Zhao Tianhe never remarried, instead adopting sons and daughters one after another while also grooming descendants from the Zhao collateral branches.
This lavishly dressed young woman, whose makeup was even thicker than Mi Yao's, was the seventh young lady from a Zhao collateral branch.
Mi Yao could identify her as Zhao Qi Niang not only because Yu Xiu had investigated which female guests required attention, but also because Zhao Qi Niang played significant roles in the original story.
While both were villainous female characters, the original host schemed within the Xiao family's inner quarters, whereas Zhao Qi Niang targeted every beautiful married woman and young lady across Yi Zhou.
Her legitimate elder brother was lustful, so she would scout prey for him. Using her status as a Zhao family daughter, she would befriend attractive women, then secretly drug them to let her brother take advantage. Afterwards, she'd use the Zhao family's influence to threaten them into silence.
In the original story, Zhao Qi Niang had also approached the host. Fortunately, the host had better luck—Xiao Chu descended like a savior and intervened before she could drink the drugged fragrant beverage, preventing her from falling into the trap.
However, Xiao Chu never explained why he overturned the drink and dragged her away from Zhao Qi Niang's banquet to confine her in Xiao Manor.
Therefore, when Zhao Qi Niang and her brother's schemes were later exposed, the original host never realized Xiao Chu had saved her.
She only believed Xiao Chu intentionally humiliated her—his dramatic actions clearly made others misunderstand she had fallen into Zhao Qi Niang's trap like other women and become involved with Zhao Qi Niang's brother.
Facing a villainess who dared scheme against her, Mi Yao couldn't even muster the energy for pretense. Responding to Zhao Qi Niang's invitation, she withdrew her arm and lowered her head with a faint smile, not even opening her mouth as she pretended to be deaf.
Seeing this, Zhao Qi Niang attempted to speak again, but other female guests interrupted. By the time the matchmaker announced the auspicious hour had arrived and the crowd dispersed, the additional remarks she made among the others still received no response from Mi Yao.
"Who does she think she is? Just a daughter from a fallen noble family—how dare she put on airs before me in Yi Zhou!"
Zhao Qi Niang had managed to restrain herself in the bridal chamber, but the moment she left the room, she gnashed her teeth and kicked at the lush flowers along the corridor.
"Young lady, be mindful of observers."
With guests everywhere along the path, Zhao Qi Niang's maid noticed women glancing their way from a distance and reminded her mistress.
"Since when do I need you to tell me!"
Zhao Qi Niang's foot landed on her maid instead. "What if others see?! This Yi Zhou—no, the entire Jiannan region—belongs to my uncle. These people are just ants clinging to the Zhao family."
The more she spoke, the more dissatisfied she grew with Mi Yao's attitude. Xiao Chu was merely a Zhao family hound—how dare the wife of a mere hound put on airs before her!
She did not return to the women's seating area but instead had a servant relay a message to her fifth brother. When the two met in the corridor, Zhao Qi Niang eagerly said, "Fifth Brother, why didn't you join the wedding chamber festivities? Lady Yu is as beautiful as a celestial maiden. Even as a woman, I couldn't help but be enchanted by her graceful demeanor beneath the wedding fan."
Zhao Wu Lang had drunk quite a bit at the banquet, and hearing Zhao Qi Niang lavish such praise on Mi Yao made his heart burn and his body itch with desire.
"How could I not want to see Lady Yu's true appearance? But Xiao Chu is so petty—he didn't even bother making an excuse. He just glared coldly at the generals who suggested disturbing the wedding chamber, making everyone else drop the idea. No one dared mention it in front of him."
Among Zhao Tianhe's adopted sons, Zhao Wu Lang despised Xiao Chu the most and feared him the most.
The other adopted sons knew whose rice they were eating and understood how to humble themselves before the Zhao family, but Xiao Chu simply didn't take them seriously.
Once, when his elder brother spoke offensively to Xiao Chu, Xiao Chu directly beat him up. Instead of standing up for the Zhao family, Zhao Tianhe was greatly amused, praising Xiao Chu for having spirit and even rewarding him.
"What a pity! I hadn’t expected Fifth Brother to be so intimidated by Xiao Chu that he wouldn’t dare show interest in Lady Yu. Lady Yu comes from a noble family, excelling in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. A talented woman like her deserves a refined scholar like you to cherish her. Pairing her with a brute like Xiao Chu is nothing short of a waste!"
"Who says I’m intimidated by Xiao Chu!"
Seeing Lady Yu's alluring figure in the wedding hall had already stirred his heart. He wished he could take Xiao Chu's place in the bridal chamber tonight.
If such a rare beauty were far away in Jiangnan, he might let it go, but since she was right here in Yi Zhou, he naturally had to sample her charms.
"Find opportunities to interact with her more in the future, just as before. If I succeed in winning Lady Yu, you’ll have your share of benefits."
"I only feel sorry that a talented and beautiful noble lady like Lady Yu is to be defiled by Xiao Chu. I truly believe she and Fifth Brother are a match made in heaven—it’s not about any benefits from you."
Zhao Qi Niang smiled coyly, already eagerly anticipating the moment Mi Yao would be violated—her lovely face pale with fear, her beautiful eyes filled with hatred and terror, with no recourse but to hang herself to prove her purity.
"Zhao Qi Niang and Zhao Wu Lang may look respectable and carry themselves as noble ladies and young masters, but who would have thought their minds could be so vile? The things they said are utterly despicable."
Yu Xiu had been observing Zhao Qi Niang in the wedding chamber. Seeing her adorned with pearls and jade, dressed in vibrant reds and greens, she sensed she was someone difficult to deal with, likely trying to steal her elder sister’s spotlight.
Later, when her sister ignored Zhao Qi Niang and the latter left the wedding chamber with a resentful expression, Yu Xiu followed her. She first witnessed Zhao Qi Niang scolding her maid, then overheard her conspiring with Zhao Wu Lang.
"Should we tell Brother-in-Law about this?"
After recounting the Zhao siblings' conversation, Yu Xiu asked worriedly.
The siblings were colluding like beasts, clearly having done what they spoke of before—and succeeded.
As the saying goes, one can steal for a thousand days, but one cannot guard against theft for a thousand days. Since both of them bore the Zhao name, she feared that her sister, even knowing they were not good people, might let down her guard and allow them to succeed.
"Of course we must tell him. He is the head of the household, and matters like these should be handled and resolved by him."
Mi Yao had never intended to waste energy on Zhao Qi Niang. She had planned to wait until Zhao Qi Niang visited again, then fabricate some story to have Xiao Chu deal with the siblings.
But who could have expected the Zhao siblings to be so brazen? In someone else’s residence, without even checking if anyone might be eavesdropping, they freely exchanged their secrets.
It's unclear whether they were too foolish or so arrogant that they believed the surname Zhao could dominate Yi Zhou, viewing all beautiful women as their exclusive possessions.
"Just tell Brother-in-law; he will surely protect Sister."
"That's not necessarily true." Mi Yao curled her lips teasing Yu Xiu. "Look at Xiao Shan and the others—even their own aunt—Commander Xiao has no habit of shielding his own people."
Putting aside other matters, in her marriage with Xiao Chu, she must maintain boundaries with him and never let him consider her as one of his own.
Being regarded as family by someone who not only fails to protect but actively mistreats their own—just thinking about it feels like a living hell.
Sitting before the gilded openwork dressing case, Mi Yao removed the heavy peony red-gold inlaid jadeite East Pearl ceremonial crown from her head while continuously pondering how to maintain that boundary of not being family with Xiao Chu.
By the time Xiao Chu returned to the bridal chamber reeking of alcohol, Mi Yao had already taken down her cloud-like hair bun, her slightly curled black tresses cascading down her back. She wore a dawn-red scattered flower silk damask inner skirt, draped with a layer of rouge-red gold thread embroidered Luan bird and Phoenix harmony gauze.
Their eyes met briefly. Seeing that he had no objections to her having removed the crown and changed clothes, Mi Yao felt at ease and continued sitting on the bed.
Xiao Chu walked to the dressing table, removed his hair crown, and freshened up in the washroom. When he emerged, his face, flushed from the alcohol, was still damp with water, and he had changed into his inner garments.
At this point, Mi Yao still felt everything was fine.
But when Xiao Chu climbed onto the bed, she caught a glimpse of his white silk trousers and vaguely sensed something amiss.
Before she could figure out what was wrong, she saw Xiao Chu starting to lift his clothes. Startled by his intention to proceed directly, Mi Yao had no choice but to gather her wits. She wrapped her arms around his neck, drew closer, and actively kissed the corner of his lips.
After the kiss, she gazed at him with seductive, silken eyes. "With my delicate skin and soft flesh, doesn’t Xiao Lang want to kiss and touch me?"
Several dragon-and-phoenix candles burned brightly in the room. Under the candlelight, Mi Yao’s skin seemed veiled in a soft, jade-like haze. Her clever smile was enchanting, like a captivating, otherworldly creature from a storybook.
Xiao Chu’s gaze fell on her lips. Though Mi Yao’s features were exquisite, she did not have cherry-like lips. Her full, fleshy lips occupied a significant part of her oval face, complemented by a slightly upturned lip pearl. They were more alluring and bewitching than the reddest petal flower, as if they could devour a man’s darkest, most sordid desires.
Of course, he wanted to kiss her.
Xiao Chu leaned down and, following Mi Yao’s cue, kissed her lips. After a few sucks, he touched the tip of her tongue that peeked out.
Recalling the fire-avoidance pictures he had glanced at, he instinctively wrapped his arm around Mi Yao’s slender waist, seating her on top of him to make it easier to change positions and kiss her more deeply.
It was at this moment that Mi Yao realized something was wrong.
After kissing for a while, Xiao Chu was like boiling water, his neck flushed rouge-red, eager to proceed to the next step.
But Mi Yao, shedding her previous softness and charm, furrowed her brows tightly. Pressing her palm against his chest, she firmly declared, "No!"