During the tea-serving ceremony, the Marquis of Wu’an and his wife, Madam Zou, sat at the head of the hall, looking at the pair of newlyweds standing side by side below them, their eyes filled with undisguised satisfaction.
They had watched both children grow up and knew them inside and out. Now that the two had become husband and wife, there could be no better match.
Only…
The atmosphere between the newlyweds was rather peculiar.
They performed every ritual properly, bowed and served tea with impeccable manners, and spoke all the appropriate auspicious words. There was not the slightest fault to be found in their etiquette.
And yet, from beginning to end, their eyes never met even once.
One kept his gaze lowered, staring at the floor, while the other turned her face slightly toward the window, as though the person beside her were nothing more than thin air.
Madam Zou was a perceptive woman. At first, she had secretly worried that these two childhood rivals—who had been bickering and fighting ever since they were young—might not get along. She had even wondered what kind of chaos their wedding night might have brought.
Her gaze swept carefully over the two of them.
Then, suddenly, a look of understanding flashed through her eyes, and her worries melted into barely suppressed amusement.
She had noticed it.
On the side of her son’s upright neck, close to his collar, several faint little bite marks could be seen. The marks were light, but under the morning sun, they were unmistakable.
And on the other side, the corner of her new daughter-in-law Lu Jiaojiao’s beautiful lips had a small patch of broken skin, covered by a tiny dark-red scab.
Madam Zou exchanged a knowing glance with the Marquis of Wu’an beside her.
They both saw the same meaning in each other’s eyes.
So that was it.
What incompatibility? What childhood rivals? Clearly, all of that was merely an illusion. They were newlyweds, after all—young and full of passion. When things became heated, they simply hadn’t known their own strength.
Just look at the state of the “battle”…
Biting and bumping into each other like that.
Madam Zou accepted the tea Lu Jiaojiao offered her and took a gentle sip. The smile on her face became even more affectionate and satisfied.
Warmly, she said, “Good child, get up quickly. From now on, we’re family. If Ran’er ever does anything wrong, just come and tell Mother. I’ll discipline him for you.”
The words sounded as though she were reprimanding her son, but in truth, they were full of affection and protection for her new daughter-in-law.
Lu Jiaojiao lowered her eyes obediently and answered, “Yes.”
But the tips of her ears quietly turned red.
Huo Shiran, meanwhile, gave an uncomfortable cough.
Watching the two awkward young newlyweds, each bearing the other’s “marks,” the two elders finally felt completely at ease.
These two children might not say anything aloud, but their bodies were certainly honest.
It seemed that this imperial marriage decree had, by sheer coincidence, brought together a pair of quarrelsome lovers.
The Huo residence would likely never lack excitement in the future.
The moment they stepped out of the main hall and escaped the elders’ watchful eyes, the two—who had only barely managed to maintain a façade of peace—immediately revealed their true colors.
With remarkable unspoken coordination, they simultaneously headed in opposite directions.
Neither could be bothered to spare the other so much as a glance.
They were the perfect example of going their separate ways, each leaving swiftly and decisively without looking back.
Huo Shiran kept a stern expression as he strode straight toward the study. The faint bite mark on the back of his neck seemed to burn under the sunlight, constantly reminding him of last night’s chaos and this morning’s embarrassment.
Meanwhile, Lu Jiaojiao turned toward the rear courtyard.
Yet her steps grew lighter and lighter, and the corners of her lips could not help but curve upward.
Earlier, inside the hall, her mother-in-law, Madam Zou, had held her hand and spoken to her with warmth and affection. Not only had she shown none of the airs of a mother-in-law, but she had even lowered her voice and cheerfully told Jiaojiao several embarrassing stories about Huo Shiran from his childhood.
For example, when he was five years old, he had still been afraid of the dark and insisted on sleeping while hugging one of his father’s boots.
And when he was seven or eight, he had secretly put on his elder brother’s armor, only to get stuck inside it and become unable to move. He had cried so loudly that the heavens themselves might have been shaken.
Such “precious” intelligence delighted Lu Jiaojiao more than any reward could have.
From now on, if that iron-headed Huo dared to provoke her again, she would have plenty of ways to make him squirm with embarrassment!
Thinking about it this way, marrying into the Huo family didn’t seem quite so unbearable after all.
After all, aside from that bastard Huo Shiran, everyone in the Huo household—from the Marquis and Madam Zou to the stewards and maids—had known her since she was little.
When she was young, she had often come to the Huo residence to play and mooch meals. The Marquis of Wu’an had treated her like his own daughter, while Madam Zou had practically watched her grow up.
Even Huo Shiran’s formidable grandmother, the Old Madam, had always been especially fond of her. She often said that if Jiaojiao had been a boy, she would definitely have wanted to bring her into the family as a grandson-in-law.
The more Lu Jiaojiao thought about it, the more she realized—
This was practically her own territory!
Dealing with one isolated and helpless Huo Shiran would be easy enough.
Even Huo Shiran’s grandmother, who was usually the strictest about rules and possessed an especially sharp eye, had specifically called Jiaojiao over earlier. She had taken Jiaojiao’s hand and gently patted it.
Her aged eyes, cloudy yet clear, were filled with affection as she said softly, “Jiaojiao, Ran’er is a little stubborn and a little unruly, but you’re a good child. Grandmother knows that well. If he ever dares to bully you, just come and tell me. Grandmother will teach him a lesson for you.”
At the time, Lu Jiaojiao’s heart had felt both warm and sore, and she had almost burst into tears.
Look!
Even Grandmother, the most perceptive person in the family, was on her side!
Compared to that, Huo Shiran’s position within the Huo household was looking increasingly precarious.
Lu Jiaojiao was in an excellent mood. Even the familiar plants, trees, and scenery throughout the residence seemed far more pleasing to the eye.
She began considering whether she should first visit Grandmother’s courtyard to keep the old lady company and have a chat, or go find some familiar faces to gossip about the latest happenings in the capital.
In any case, there was only one thing she knew for certain—
As long as she stayed away from that damned Ironhead, everything would be fine!