9 – Returning to the Door
The next day, Ye Chen and Shen Qiu returned to the Shen family at the hour of Chen.
This time, Shen Qiu’s bridal homecoming was accompanied by three full carts of gifts.
The bridal homecoming gifts reflected how much the husband’s family valued the new bride.
In her previous life, although Xiao Taijun had prepared generously, Ye Chen had not accompanied Shen Qiu back.
The second young lady of the Shen family had mocked Shen Qiu back then: “They’re only doing this out of respect for Grandmother, to let you save face. This is the first time in the capital anyone’s heard of a bride returning home alone!”
This time, not only were there gifts prepared by Xiao Taijun, but Ye Chen had also contributed his own. Besides gold, silver, and jewels, there were many medicinal herbs.
Ye Chen was invited into the main hall, where Yong’an Marquis Shen Yaozu and his wife Li Cuilan—Shen Qiu’s grandparents—were seated. Like Ye Chen’s own grandparents, they were founding elders of the court.
However, Ye Chen’s grandparents held higher positions. Li Cuilan, the wife of Yong’an Marquis, and Xiao Hong’an, the wife of the Duke of Support, had once been sisters-in-arms who fought side by side.
Ye Chen was seated in the first seat on the right—the highest honor for a junior. He pulled Shen Qiu to sit beside him.
Looking up at Shen Qiu’s mother, Wang Linfang, he said, “Mother-in-law, please take the medicinal herbs I brought for the homecoming back with you to the northwest. They are high-quality wound medicines—Father-in-law and Eldest Brother may find them useful.”
“As for Grandfather and Grandmother here, I’ve prepared separate herbs for strengthening the body and prolonging life.”
Wang Linfang smiled warmly and said, “Thank you, Son-in-law. Has Qiu’er caused you any trouble?”
Ye Chen gazed at Shen Qiu and replied, “Qiu’er is my treasure—how could she cause me trouble? I’d be happy for her to give me trouble!”
His words left everyone momentarily stunned. Of course, it was good that the son-in-law cherished their daughter, but was it appropriate to say such things in front of so many people?
Eventually, Yong’an Marquis coughed to break the awkward silence and said, “Alright, you women take Qiu’er aside for some private talk. I’ll keep our grandson-in-law company.”
The Marquess then led Wang Linfang and Shen Qiu out. They had just settled in the pavilion in the back garden when a woman dressed like a gaudy butterfly fluttered in.
“Sister is back? Why didn’t anyone inform me? If not for the servants, I wouldn’t have known. How improper it would seem if word got out that I failed to welcome my sister on her homecoming!” The speaker was the daughter of Shen Qiu’s second uncle. Originally named Shen Dong, she found her own name unbearable after starting school and changed it to Shen Rouyun.
Shen Qiu had once joked with Ming Yue and Xing Er, “Forcing two completely unrelated characters together just comes off as tacky and ridiculous.”
Shen Rouyun’s words were blatantly unreasonable. Every subject of the Great Yin Kingdom knew that a bride returned home on the third day after marriage. Moreover, Yong’an Marquis had specifically instructed preparations to welcome the new son-in-law during last night’s dinner. How could she claim ignorance?
And if she hadn’t known, why was she so elaborately dressed—even wearing the gold Hairpin with Dangling Ornaments she usually treasured and seldom wore?
The Marquess, being straightforward, snorted coldly and said, “You didn’t know? It seems you don’t plan on having a homecoming after your own marriage someday. Every citizen of the Great Yin Kingdom knows about the third-day homecoming—only you are unaware. Since you don’t know, we’ll exempt you from yours in the future. No need for us to bother preparing.”Shen Rouyun’s father was Shen Qiu’s second uncle, born to the concubine of Yong’an Marquis. During those years, Yong’an Marquis was often away leading troops, with his wife accompanying him, leaving the household under the management of the concubine Aunt Zhao. Shen Rouyun’s father, Shen Baisong, was raised solely by this concubine.
Yong’an Marquis only returned after his eldest son Shen Bolin took over military authority. Having spent long years in harsh, cold regions, he suffered from numerous health issues.
With Shen Rouyun’s arrival, Shen Qiu and the others could no longer continue their previously harmonious conversation.
Later, Shen Qiu took Ming Yue and Xing Er back to her own bedchamber.
Ye Chen and Yong’an Marquis went to the study. Ye Chen knew exactly what the old man was concerned about, so upon entering, he went straight to the point: “The people of Yong’an Marquis’ household are safe, but Compiler Shen will be exiled.”
Upon hearing this, Yong’an Marquis sighed and bowed to Ye Chen with a cupped-hand salute, but Ye Chen raised a hand to stop him.
Yong’an Marquis said, “Thank you, Lord Duke. Otherwise, this matter would have been a catastrophic disaster for the Shen family!”
Ye Chen smiled and replied, “This outcome also benefits His Majesty, so it’s not entirely my merit.”
Ye Chen continued, “Grandfather, are we done here?”
Yong’an Marquis uttered a puzzled “Huh?” not understanding what Ye Chen meant.
Ye Chen added, “I miss Qiu’er. I want to go find her.”
Yong’an Marquis instantly felt exasperated. They had only been apart for a quarter of an hour—was it really appropriate to be so blunt?
Clearing his throat awkwardly, Yong’an Marquis said, “Go ahead. She’s either in the rear garden or in Qiu’er’s bedchamber. I’ll have someone show you the way.”
Without hesitation, Ye Chen turned and left. Yong’an Marquis called after him, “Slow down! Wait for the servant—you won’t find it on your own!”
Ignoring him, Ye Chen jogged all the way directly to Shen Qiu’s courtyard. Not find it? How could that be? In his previous life, after Shen Qiu passed away, he had schemed to buy this Yong’an Marquis estate and lived in her very bedchamber.
After Shen Qiu’s departure in his past life, every time he dreamed of her, it was only the scene of her death. His Qiu’er never once came to him willingly, not even to scold him.
He lived there hoping to see Shen Qiu. Originally not believing in ghosts or spirits, he prayed daily afterward to encounter her ghost, wishing that when his Qiu’er returned, she would see him and enter his dreams.
When Ye Chen reached the courtyard, Ming Yue and Xing Er were chatting outside. He dashed straight into the room.
Shen Qiu was lying on the bed, staring blankly at the canopy. Hearing someone enter, she bolted upright.
Seeing it was Ye Chen, panting and out of breath, she stood and asked, “What’s wrong? Why are you so out of breath? Did something happen?”
Looking at Shen Qiu, Ye Chen immediately embraced her and kissed her. Before she could react, she was kissed into a daze.
Only when both were breathless did Ye Chen stop, saying, “I missed you, so I ran all the way here.”
“Qiu’er, do you miss me?”
Shen Qiu lowered her head and said, “We’ve only been apart for a quarter of an hour! I hadn’t had time to miss you yet, and you’re already here.”
As if tasting honey, Ye Chen pressed his forehead against hers and asked, “If I had come a little later, would you have missed me then?”
“But I couldn’t wait. Just now, when I saw you leaving with your mother and grandmother without even glancing back at me, I missed you right then. So after finishing my talk with Grandfather, I rushed over.”Then, Ye Chen said to Shen Qiu, “Qiu’er, can I kiss you again?”
Shen Qiu shot Ye Chen a glare and said, “We’re at my parents’ house—behave yourself. We’ll be eating soon.”
If anyone noticed something, how embarrassing would that be!
Ye Chen chuckled, tightened his embrace around Shen Qiu, and said, “Alright, we’ll kiss when we get home.”
Shen Qiu reached out and pinched Ye Chen’s waist, but to her surprise, he only laughed more boldly.