Li Zhenchun, who was not very clever and was extremely nervous, sat on the edge of the bed.
She tucked her head down like an ostrich and didn’t dare look at Wei Nancheng.
Wei Nancheng glanced at her.
“I’ll sleep on the couch.”
Li Zhenchun nodded stiffly.
“Okay…”
She didn’t dare say another word to him.
When the room finally became quiet, she hugged her pillow and curled up in the corner of the bed.
After everything that had happened, she had still ended up marrying Wei Nancheng.
And there was Wei Xinian—that jerk. They had planned to become allies today, but instead they had become enemies. Who knew how he would make life difficult for her in the future?
She secretly looked toward Wei Nancheng.
The tall man was lying on the small couch. He looked tired.
After only one glance, she quickly looked away again.
She tossed and turned, becoming more frightened the more she thought about it.
Li Zhenchun had never had great ambitions.
She never wanted to become the wife of an important official.
She certainly didn’t want a husband as outstanding as Wei Nancheng.
Someone like the lazy and useless Wei Xinian would have suited her just fine.
Still curled up in the corner of the bed, she looked toward the couch and nervously said,
“I don’t think… you like me.”
Without opening his eyes, the tall man replied,
“We had never met before today. How could I possibly like you?”
Besides, until tonight, Li Zhenchun had been supposed to marry Wei Xinian.
Hearing his deep voice only made her more nervous.
Gathering all her courage, she quietly asked,
“Then… why didn’t you give me a divorce letter?”
“If you returned home tonight with a divorce letter,” he replied calmly, “people might think I am incapable as a husband. But they would also believe you had lost your purity.”
“If that happened, how would you marry again?”
His deep, steady voice was like the sound of an ancient temple bell, echoing in her ears.
Wei Nancheng continued,
“If your daughter were divorced on her wedding night, how could your parents hold their heads high before the neighbors?”
“How would your brothers and sisters explain it to their friends and colleagues?”
“In this world, not everyone’s eyes are fair, and not everyone’s mouth speaks kindly.”
“If you want to keep a good reputation and live with dignity, you must always think carefully before you act.”
Life was already difficult.
It was even harsher for women.
Li Zhenchun looked at him.
“Were you… thinking about me?”
“Not entirely.”
He answered calmly.
“I’m simply choosing the solution that protects everyone’s reputation.”
Li Zhenchun collapsed back onto the bed.
What could she say to that?
She couldn’t argue with him.
She didn’t even dare continue the conversation.
Those few sentences had already used up all her courage.
…
The next morning, Li Zhenchun followed behind Wei Nancheng with two dark circles under her eyes as they went to greet the elders.
Outside the Old Madam’s courtyard, she saw Wei Xinian.
He also had two huge dark circles under his eyes.
Wei Xinian walked behind Yue Jingque.
The moment he saw Li Zhenchun, his tired eyes suddenly lit up.
He waved his folding fan.
“Oh? Didn’t sleep well last night?”
He leaned closer.
“So… was my big brother too energetic?”
“Or did you spend the whole night alone?”
Li Zhenchun immediately knew what he was doing.
This jerk was holding a grudge.
She hadn’t even taken revenge yet, and he already had.
She smiled coldly.
“Judging from your face, you didn’t sleep well either.”
“Did you spend the night kneeling on a washboard, or sleeping on the floor?”
Wei Xinian, who had indeed slept on the floor all night, gritted his teeth.
Just as he was about to answer, Yue Jingque interrupted him.
“Big Brother. Sister-in-law.”
Li Zhenchun’s face stiffened.
She really didn’t like hearing the words “Sister-in-law.”
She had originally been the one who should have called Yue Jingque that.
Wei Nancheng simply nodded.
“Since we’re here, let’s go greet Grandmother together.”
“All right.”
Li Zhenchun and Wei Xinian followed behind.
Both silently thought the same thing.
Those two really should have been the married couple.
They were so quiet that it was boring.
The two looked at each other.
“Hmph.”
They turned away at the same time.
…
The Wei family didn’t have many elders left.
Only women remained.
There was the Old Madam, the First Madam, the Second Madam, the Fourth Madam, and one younger aunt.
The Old Madam had once had four sons and one daughter.
Her husband and two of her sons had died fighting for the late emperor.
Her youngest son had died of illness.
Only the third son still lived, guarding the northern border.
Her married daughter had returned to the Wei family after her husband died young.
Among the younger generation, only Wei Nancheng from the eldest branch and Wei Xinian from the second branch remained.
Wei Xinian was a spoiled playboy who had hardly read any books.
Except for the third uncle stationed at the border, nearly all the responsibility of supporting the family rested on Wei Nancheng’s shoulders.
Wei Nancheng knelt respectfully.
“Grandson greets Grandmother.”
Li Zhenchun knelt beside him and respectfully served tea.
“Grandmother, please have some tea.”
“First Aunt, please have some tea.”
“Second Aunt, please have some tea.”
“Fourth Aunt, please have some tea.”
“Aunt, please have some tea.”
Fortunately, the Wei family didn’t have many relatives.
The tea ceremony was finished in only about fifteen minutes.
Afterward, both Li Zhenchun and Yue Jingque knelt before the Old Madam.
The Old Madam raised a hand.
An elderly maid stepped forward carrying a tray with two jade bracelets.
“There are few people in the Wei family, but we value our rules.”
“Now that you’ve married into our family, you must follow those rules.”
She picked up one bracelet and personally placed it on Li Zhenchun’s wrist.
Li Zhenchun was both surprised and honored.
Yesterday, the Old Madam had barely acknowledged her existence.
The Old Madam said,
“You are the eldest daughter-in-law.”
“You represent the honor of the Wei family.”
“Think carefully before every word you speak and every action you take.”
“Yes, Grandmother.”
Li Zhenchun quickly agreed.
The Old Madam then took Yue Jingque’s hand.
“The Second Young Master is lazy and dislikes studying.”
“I’ve often heard that you are one of the capital’s most talented young ladies.”
“I hope you will supervise him and make sure he studies seriously.”
“Yes.”
…
After leaving the courtyard, Wei Xinian called out to Li Zhenchun.
He first glanced at Wei Nancheng.
“Big Brother, you can go ahead. I need to speak with her.”
Li Zhenchun didn’t dare say anything in front of Wei Nancheng.
Besides…
She secretly hoped Wei Nancheng would think she and Wei Xinian were having an affair and divorce her.
Unexpectedly, Wei Nancheng only looked at Wei Xinian and calmly said,
“Study hard.”
Then he left.
“You! Come here!”
Wei Xinian called.
“I need to talk to you.”
Li Zhenchun hesitated before following him.
…
In the back garden, Wei Xinian turned around.
Li Zhenchun had expected him to scold her.
After all, the idea of having a marriage in name only had been hers.
If she hadn’t suggested it, Wei Xinian would never have put on wedding clothes yesterday.
Instead, he simply looked at her.
“My mother told that woman to supervise my studies.”
Li Zhenchun blinked.
“What does that have to do with me?”
“So what?”
Wei Xinian slapped his folding fan against his palm.
“The thing I hate most in this world…”
“…is studying!”
Li Zhenchun nodded in complete agreement.
“I hate studying too.”
Seeing page after page of words made her dizzy.
Wei Xinian looked at her.
“Do you know what the most annoying color combination in the world is?”
She nodded seriously.
“Black words on white paper.”
“They’re so disgusting they make my head hurt.”
Black and white were the two colors that should never be put together.
Wei Xinian looked touched.
“You really understand me.”
“It wasn’t a waste that I ended up married to that vicious woman because of you.”
Li Zhenchun proudly lifted her chin.
“A true friend is hard to find.”
Wei Xinian nodded with satisfaction.
“I’m going to visit a brothel later.”
“Cover for me.”
Li Zhenchun blinked.
“…What?”
“Wait a second.”
“It’s the first day of your marriage, and you’re already going to a brothel?”
What a shameless jerk.
She immediately turned to leave.
“I think your brother was looking for me.”
Wei Xinian casually said,
“I think my mother was looking for you.”
Li Zhenchun smoothly turned right back around.
She looked at him seriously.
“I really can’t help with this.”
“I’m a woman too.”
“No woman wants her husband to visit a brothel on the very first day of marriage.”
Especially not a noble young lady like Yue Jingque.
Wei Xinian snorted.
“What husband?”
“I slept on the floor all night.”
“Do you know what it’s like to sleep on the floor for an entire night?”
Li Zhenchun actually did know.
She looked at him and replied,
“Do you know what it’s like to spend a whole night kneeling in the ancestral hall?”
“If I help cover for you…”
“I’ll be the one kneeling there all night.”
“Without even a blanket.”