In Jianguo Houfu, apart from Lady Hou and Old Madam having their own small kitchens, none of the daughters-in-law had such privileges. The midday meal was brought over by Feixu.
To Yuping, these dishes were not particularly impressive. People in the houfu often fawned on those in higher positions while trampling on those below. Unless one was an expert, it was hard to tell the difference. For instance, the lamb hotpot served to Shizi Furen and Princess Duanmin was made with fresh, tender meat, while what was sent to the Third Branch consisted of tough tendons or meat that had been sitting for several days.
But Third Young Madam seemed not to mind at all. In fact, she ate with great relish.
This was largely because Yuping had been sold into the houfu at a young age and knew little of the hardships of common folk. Even though Yun Niang was the daughter of a prefect and her family, Xià Jiā, was relatively well-off, servants might have to subsist on porridge during famines, and even the masters did not have meat dishes at every meal, let alone something like a lamb hotpot.
Regardless of whether the lamb was freshly slaughtered or had been stored for a few days, to Yun Niang, it was still a delicacy. Moreover, lamb was nourishing. After enjoying a hearty hotpot and replenishing her energy, she slept soundly for a long time.
Feixu and Shuangyan, of course, also ate to their hearts’ content. It was almost a joke—servants in the houfu even had stewed pig’s trotters with soybeans, which was far better than what they had eaten in the prefect’s residence.
Servants often mirrored their masters. Yun Niang was content and cheerful by nature, and her servants were the same.
In truth, the lives of women in the inner quarters were quite monotonous. While men could go outside, women were confined to the rear courtyards. Without the waist token issued by Lady Hou, servants could not leave at all. At night, the gates of each household were locked, and the management was extremely strict.
Mu Shi, being on his wedding leave, did not need to go anywhere. However, according to Yuping, he was always seen with a book in hand, never wasting a moment on leisure reading. Thus, even when at home, it was difficult for him to spend time with her.
Fortunately, he returned in the evening, just as the maids were serving dinner.
It is said that beauty is best appreciated under lamplight. Originally, Madam Xia was already exceptionally beautiful, but under the lamplight, her appearance seemed even more radiant than during the day.
She proactively served him a portion of shredded eel. “I don’t know what you like to eat, but I’ve heard that eel is like an earthly dragon. Please try it.”
“Hmm, thank you,” Mu Shi replied indifferently, his expression neither pleased nor displeased.
Yun Niang said to Yuping and Feixu, “I can attend to the master here. You may leave now.”
When she dismissed the servants, Yuping and Feixu dared not question her. Only after they had left did Mu Shi raise an eyebrow and look at her.
To his surprise, she sat herself in his lap. “I haven’t seen you all day. I missed you so much.”
His indifferent expression finally cracked slightly. Then, she coquettishly complained, “Didn’t I ask you to come back earlier? Why were you so late today? Don’t do that again next time!”
Mu Shi was not exactly a good person. He had been deceived before and had also set traps for others. But being young after all, with a soft, warm beauty in his arms, he couldn’t help himself.
However, Yun Niang stopped him at that moment. “Let’s eat first. You need to be full to have the strength for work later.”
As newlyweds, even though Mu Shi tried to maintain distance, he found it hard to resist temptation. Moreover, she truly delivered on the positions she had whispered in his ear that morning. In his satisfaction, he couldn’t help but gaze at her eyes, which shimmered like autumn waves.
“Are you alright?”
Yun Niang nodded, “Though it may not be proper, I wish to be closer to you. I came alone from Huzhou to marry into this household, and in this mansion, only the two of us are truly family. I know you must be thinking, ‘How bold this woman is,’ but I don’t know how else to draw closer to you. My mother said that after what happened, if the Changfeng Marquess’s Mansion had no wish to marry me, that would have been one thing, but since Shèngshàng issued the decree, it has bound the two of us together.”
In Mu Shi’s experience, such words were usually followed by lengthy complaints about one’s hardships, pleading for his pity and care.
Unexpectedly, she continued, “When I married here, I thought to myself: if the man I married was mediocre, overly ordinary, pedantic, or weak-willed, I would never be able to endure it. But it turns out you are far more intelligent than I imagined.”
Mu Shi raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean by that?”
Yun Niang smiled. “You might think I’m overstepping by saying this, but the truth is, your birth mother will likely only receive a rank when you reach the pinnacle of power.”
Mu Shi had never imagined that the thoughts he kept hidden deep in his heart would be guessed by her.
Between clever people, a hint was enough. Yun Niang added, “I think it’s only right. Although your birth mother doesn’t like me, she sent an extravagant gift. I know she always wants to uphold her son’s dignity. As for your legal mother, no matter how much you respect her, she will only send trifling things to brush you off.”
This was something Mu Shi hadn’t been aware of. Yun Niang placed two identical boxes side by side, and the difference was immediately apparent. His birth mother, Concubine Sun, had sent a pair of white jade Ru Yi, an auspicious gift made of high-quality jade. In contrast, Lady Hou had merely sent a pair of golden Buddha statues. While valuable, they were clearly chosen at random, with no thought for the newlyweds—likely picked by a servant on a whim.
Perhaps it was because Mu Shi had overshadowed the Heir Apparent, prompting such casual disrespect from the servants.
“Husband and wife are one. Though people often say, ‘When disaster strikes, each flies their own way,’ I am different from others. I may not be a particularly good person, but if someone treats me well, I will certainly treat them well in return. If someone treats me poorly, I’d rather fight to the bitter end. A marriage decreed by the emperor can never be dissolved. Instead of becoming resentful spouses, why don’t we strive to become a deeply devoted couple?”
Mu Shi now looked at her, her lips slightly upturned and her expression calm. Gone was the naive demeanor she had displayed upon arrival; here was an undeniably clever person—exceptionally so.
No wonder her stepsister had paved the way for her own sister. Beyond her beauty, with a mind like hers, she would never find herself at a disadvantage.
The thought excited him. He could not stand dull, lazy, or foolish people. It seemed having her as an ally would be excellent indeed!
He looked at her and said, “Your analysis is sound, but why should I listen?” Though he knew Xia Yunniang spoke the truth—after all, she was nominally his wife and had more legitimacy than his birth mother. If she caused trouble, he would also suffer the consequences. But he couldn’t agree too quickly.
Mu Shi added, “And don’t use the phrase ‘deeply devoted couple’ so lightly!”
For ordinary couples, mutual respect was already an achievement. How could he promise something as profound as a deeply devoted bond?
Yun Niang glanced at him and, seeing he was still putting on airs, chuckled, “Aren’t you a virgin? You don’t have any ‘white moonlight’ in your life, and your first time was with me. If you don’t want to be deeply in love with me, who do you want to be with?”
Mu Shi quickly crossed his arms, his expression instantly flustered. “You… how did you know it was my first time?”