Mu Sheng was tall with long legs and took large strides, but he didn’t walk fast, he consistently kept a half-step distance ahead of Yun Xi, so she had no trouble keeping pace with him.
Two maids followed a step behind them.
She quietly observed the situation and confirmed, Mu Sheng was accommodating her pace.
Yun Xi added a bit more goodwill toward Mu Sheng in her heart.
This man really did know how to be considerate.
In fact, while Yun Xi had been observing Mu Sheng, he had been observing her too, otherwise, how could he have maintained such a precisely measured half-step distance?
Seeing that his little wife’s face no longer showed the slightest trace of fear or unease, that her eyes held only pure curiosity and clarity, and that her face even carried a faint smile the whole time, with a look toward him that seemed almost appreciative, Mu Sheng ventured to speak: “Don’t worry. Father and Mother are both very reasonable people. They like you a great deal and would never make things difficult for you. And besides, even if something comes up, I’m here, I’ll help you.”
Yun Xi smiled at him and said, “I was just too nervous yesterday. I’m not afraid anymore now.”
Mu Sheng smiled. “That’s right. We’re husband and wife, we’re going to live together our whole lives. If you kept being afraid of me forever, how would we manage to live together? Besides, am I really that frightening, your husband?”
Yun Xi glanced at him with a smile and said nothing more. But her smile said it all, she wasn’t the least bit afraid of him now.
Mu Sheng extended his hand toward her. Yun Xi hesitated for a moment, then placed her hand in his palm. The two of them walked hand in hand toward the main hall, side by side, without even a half-step of distance between them anymore.
The general’s estate covered a large area of land. The old general and old lady’s main hall was situated deepest within the grounds, some distance from the small courtyard where Yun Xi lived. It took the two of them several minutes of walking to arrive.
By this time, the old general and the old lady were already prepared and waiting for the newlyweds to serve tea. Even Mu Xuan had arrived early and was waiting in the main hall.
The moment Mu Sheng and Yun Xi entered, maids placed two cushions on the floor. Yun Xi followed Mu Sheng’s lead and knelt on a cushion, taking a teacup from a maid’s hands and lifting it steadily, saying, “Father, please have tea. Mother, please have tea.”
The old general and the old lady didn’t make things difficult for her in the slightest, they quickly took the cups and each drank a sip, saying, “Good child, get up now.”
The old lady gave Yun Xi a set of hair ornaments as a gift.
“This is what Mu Sheng’s grandmother gave me when I married in. It suits a young person, wear it and have some fun with it.”
Yun Xi accepted it, saying, “Thank you, Mother.”
The old general was even more practical, giving her a small gold pig.
Yun Xi accepted it with a smile too, saying, “Thank you, Father.”
It was at this point she realized, as the elder sister-in-law, she was supposed to have prepared a gift for Mu Xuan. But she had forgotten.
Mu Sheng pulled Yun Xi down to sit. The moment they’d settled, Mu Xuan stood up and bowed to Yun Xi.
“Greetings, elder sister-in-law.”
Yun Xi was just trying to figure out how to smooth over the missing-gift situation when she saw Mu Sheng take an inkstone from a maid’s hands and hand it to Mu Xuan: “This is your sister-in-law’s gift to you.”
Yun Xi: “…”
The surprise caught her completely off guard, and she shot Mu Sheng a grateful look.
Mu Xuan: “…”
Was he trying to fool a ghost? This was clearly something the emperor had bestowed on his elder brother, he’d coveted it for ages and never had the nerve to ask for it, and now he’d finally gotten his wish.
“Thank you, elder sister-in-law.”
Mu Xuan smiled with unusual delight.
Yun Xi maintained an awkward but polite smile and said, “…No need to thank me.”
Mu Sheng glanced at her with a smile. He’d been a little worried that handling the gift-giving for Yun Xi himself might hurt her pride, but she’d taken it surprisingly well. Mu Sheng was pleased. A married couple was one unit, there was no need to fuss over such details.