“Father, Mother.” Pei Jingzhou bowed in greeting.
“Jingzhou, you… you’ve returned,” said Pei Maokun.
Pei Jingzhou explained directly to Pei Maokun, “Yes, last night there was an urgent matter at the yamen. Minister Yang and Minister Wu were injured, so I had no choice but to rush there overnight to handle official affairs. I just returned to the estate and came straight to see you and Mother.”
“Minister Yang and Minister Wu were injured?” Pei Maokun exclaimed in shock.
Pei Jingzhou nodded.
Pei Maokun anxiously asked, “How are their injuries now?”
Pei Jingzhou replied, “Fortunately, they have strong constitutions. With a month of rest, they should fully recover.”
Pei Maokun let out a long sigh of relief and asked, “How is the situation at the yamen?”
“It has been resolved.”
“That’s good. Let the tea ceremony begin.”
“Yes.”
The marriage between Jiang Zhaoyue and Pei Jingzhou had been arranged by the late Duke and the late Marquis Chengnian during their lifetimes. Despite being well aware of Jiang Zhaoyue’s many criticized flaws and her extreme incompatibility with Pei Jingzhou, Pei Maokun had steadfastly fulfilled the wishes of the two elders.
He had thought that Pei Jingzhou still could not accept Jiang Zhaoyue and had deliberately fled to the yamen on their wedding night to express his dissatisfaction with the marriage.
Unexpectedly, there truly had been an emergency at the yamen.
Pei Jingzhou had returned as soon as the matter was resolved, explaining the reason to everyone and giving Jiang Zhaoyue ample face. It seemed his son was not as averse to Jiang Zhaoyue as he had imagined.
A smile involuntarily spread across his face as he ordered the maids to prepare for the tea ceremony.
The Duchess, Madam Wang, had never agreed to her second son’s marriage with Jiang Zhaoyue.
Despite her repeated attempts to obstruct it, she had not succeeded, and she harbored resentment toward Pei Maokun.
Ignoring Pei Maokun’s enthusiasm, she turned her gaze and saw Jiang Zhaoyue dressed in a bright red brocade gown with yellow hidden patterns, wearing a green gemstone and gold hairpin, dangling gold earrings with tassels, and a pair of gold bracelets with taotie motifs on both wrists.
It was a very festive attire for the tea ceremony.
Most people could not carry off such bright red and gold colors, which would appear gaudy.
Yet Jiang Zhaoyue, with her snow-white complexion, slender and tall figure, ample bosom, narrow waist, and long legs, possessed a radiant face with gentle, well-shaped eyebrows and clear, sparkling almond-shaped eyes.
She effortlessly commanded the outfit, appearing dignified and proper while exuding a subtle playfulness.
Truly beautiful.
Unfortunately, she was an empty-headed, malicious, and notoriously ill-reputed beauty.
Madam Wang could not bring herself to approve and disdainfully averted her gaze.
Others in the room also showed varying degrees of contempt.
Jiang Zhaoyue had long been mentally prepared and did not feel bothered. Gracefully, she knelt with Pei Jingzhou on the cushions before Pei Maokun and Madam Wang, offering tea to Pei Maokun.
Pei Maokun accepted it, took a sip, and happily gave Jiang Zhaoyue a large red envelope.
Seeing the thickness of the envelope, some could not help but feel envious.
Jiang Zhaoyue respectfully kowtowed with a resounding thud. “Thank you, Father!”
“Zhaoyue,” Pei Maokun said with some emotion, “you have finally married Jingzhou. Your grandfather and Jingzhou’s grandfather, watching from heaven, would be very happy.”
“Yes, Father,” Jiang Zhaoyue replied.
Pei Maokun sincerely advised, “From now on, you must settle down, learn from your mother about how to conduct yourself and handle affairs, and live well with Jingzhou. Do you understand?”
Upon hearing this, Madam Wang let out an almost imperceptible snort.
Jiang Zhaoyue obediently replied, “Yes, Father. In the past, I was indeed somewhat immature and did many foolish things, leading others to misunderstand my conduct. From now on, I will certainly correct myself, devote myself to living well, and show everyone a different side of me.”
Hearing her speak so earnestly, Pei Jingzhou instinctively glanced at her.
Madam Wang shot her a disdainful glance.
The others inwardly criticized her: “A dog can’t change its habit of eating dung.”
“Good, good, good. It’s right for you to think this way. Just keep doing as you are from now on.” Pei Maokun, on the other hand, was overjoyed, as if Jiang Zhaoyue were already an excellent daughter-in-law. He turned to Pei Jingzhou: “Jingzhou.”
“Yes, Father,” Pei Jingzhou responded.
Pei Maokun spoke earnestly: “You are four years older than Zhaoyue, you’ve eaten more rice and salt than she has. In the future, teach her more, take care of her, and be considerate of her. The two of you should advance hand in hand.”
What kind of talk was this?
Why should Jingzhou have to teach her, take care of her, and be considerate of her?
Was she even worthy?
Upon hearing this, Madam Wang immediately frowned in displeasure.
Jiang Zhaoyue sighed inwardly: “This father-in-law is really good.”
Pei Jingzhou replied calmly and without emotion: “Yes, I will respectfully follow Father’s teachings.”
Pei Maokun nodded in satisfaction: “Now, serve tea to your mother.”
Jiang Zhaoyue presented the tea bowl with both hands.
Madam Wang took it, took a small sip, placed the bowl on the table, perfunctorily gave Jiang Zhaoyue a pair of gold bracelets, and uttered a few indifferent words.
In terms of etiquette, there was not the slightest error.
However, anyone could see that she was dissatisfied with Jiang Zhaoyue as her daughter-in-law.
Worried that Jiang Zhaoyue might overthink it, Pei Maokun quickly smoothed things over: “Well, these past two days of your wedding, your mother has been busy running around. It’s been truly exhausting, and she’s a bit worn out.”
Madam Wang glanced at Pei Maokun, too lazy to refute his words.
Jiang Zhaoyue said respectfully: “I’ve troubled Mother.”
But Madam Wang did not respond.
Pei Maokun subtly tugged at Madam Wang’s sleeve.
Madam Wang directly pulled her sleeve back, still not responding to Jiang Zhaoyue.
Pei Maokun had no choice but to speak up again: “As parents, it’s only natural to worry. Just be filial in the future.”
“Yes,” Jiang Zhaoyue replied.
“Alright, the tea ceremony is over. You may all rise.”
Pei Jingzhou reached out to help Jiang Zhaoyue up, but she suddenly stood up on her own.
Jiang Zhaoyue saw Pei Jingzhou’s hands frozen mid-air, looking surprised.
Pei Jingzhou gave a light cough, withdrew his hands, and stood up.
“Jingzhou, introduce Zhaoyue to the relatives,” Pei Maokun said.
Pei Jingzhou introduced everyone in the main hall one by one.
Shizi Furen, Third Master Pei, Fourth Master Pei, Third Miss Pei, Fourth Miss Pei, and so on. They nodded politely but coldly toward Jiang Zhaoyue.
Jiang Zhaoyue took it in stride.
Knowing that everyone held strong prejudices against Jiang Zhaoyue, Pei Maokun enthusiastically brought up matters concerning the old Duke and the old Marquis of Chengning, seizing every opportunity to praise how adorable, sensible, kind, and endearing she was as a child.
This father-in-law was really trying hard to improve his second daughter-in-law’s image.
Jiang Zhaoyue was starting to feel a bit embarrassed.
Unfortunately, Madam Wang was not buying it, her expression remaining indifferent.
Pei Jingzhou listened quietly.
The others were growing somewhat impatient.
At that moment, a maid whispered a few words into Madam Wang’s ear.
Madam Wang looked at Jiang Zhaoyue in surprise and asked, “You beat Heng-ge’er until he cried?”
Pei Maokun stopped mid-sentence.
Pei Jingzhou was astonished.
Sun Momo and Xiang Qiao were horrified.
The others were shocked.
“What?” Pei Maokun doubted his own hearing.
Madam Wang stated: “She beat Heng-ge’er until he cried.”
Pei Maokun asked in astonishment: “Zhaoyue, you beat Heng-ge’er until he cried?”
“Replying to Father, your daughter-in-law did not,” Jiang Zhaoyue answered.
Pei Jingzhou secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
“Exactly, Zhaoyue is kind-hearted by nature,” Pei Maokun immediately laughed. “How could she possibly hit a five-year-old child? Madam, you must have misunderstood.”
Jiang Zhaoyue promptly added, “Your daughter-in-law made him cry by throwing a rattan ball at him.”