Hearing steady footsteps approach, Shen Qingyin instinctively turned her head, only to see Pei Yu standing at the end of the corridor. His dark casual robes made him appear all the more solemn and cold, his deep eyes resting heavily upon her, his mood impossible to read.
The setting sun spread like molten gold across the boundary of light and shadow, tracing the sharp contours of the man's tall figure.
Flustered, Shen Qingyin hastily dropped the hoe, rose, and brushed the grass clippings from her skirt, offering Pei Yu a respectful curtsy. "Why have you come here, my lord?"
Pei Yu walked slowly toward her and said flatly, "Must I report to you simply because I'm dining in my own courtyard?"
Shen Qingyin felt a flicker of astonishment.
Others might not know, but as his wife, she knew well—since Pei Yu's return from Jiangnan, he had spent nearly all his free time in Changle Ward, never once setting foot in her Yuebai Courtyard during the day.
After all this time, this was the first meal he'd taken here since his return.
While she was still lost in thought, Pei Yu spoke: "Something has happened at Zhao Shuo's home today."
So that was it.
Zhao Shuo had been Pei Yu's close friend and classmate back in the Imperial Academy. Together with Lu Yi, the one Liang Wanyou had mentioned to her before, the three of them had been practically inseparable during their student days.
But after the incident at the Qionglin Banquet, Shen Qingyin had never seen Pei Yu and Lu Yi associate again.
What was certain, however, was that Zhao Shuo, like Pei Yu, looked down on her.
At this thought, Shen Qingyin lowered her eyes and stood in silence, at a loss for how to respond.
As she was quietly weighing her words, Pei Yu had already taken a seat on a nearby stone bench. His gaze shifted to the stack of account books on the table, and he remarked casually, "I heard Mother mention that she has entrusted all matters of collecting and auditing accounts to you."
Shen Qingyin nodded.
Pei Yu turned his gaze to her. "Since you've taken on this duty, you must devote yourself to it wholeheartedly, and not fail her expectations."
"Yes, I will do my utmost." Shen Qingyin stepped forward slowly, her brows knitted with earnest trouble.
"…However, my lord, Mother examined the accounts today and pointed out that Qingfeng Tower's profits and losses for this month seem off, but no matter how many times I recalculated, I couldn't find any discrepancy. I've racked my brains to no avail…"
Under Pei Yu's inscrutable gaze, Shen Qingyin steeled herself and asked, "Your mind is so meticulous, my lord—might you take a look for me…"
Since their marriage, this seemed to be the first time she had asked anything of him—aside from in bed.
But it was true that she had never learned household management or bookkeeping before marriage. She truly, truly had no idea where to begin checking.
The man remained silent for a long while. Shen Qingyin thought she had long since grown accustomed to his cold responses.
Yet after standing there so long, she found herself struggling to hold on.
"My lord…"
"Shen Shi."
Pei Yu finally spoke, but said, "The man handles affairs outside, the woman manages the home. Auditing accounts is your duty as the mistress of this household. You must understand that you are the one who will one day preside over the entire Pei household's estate. If you must lean on me over a mere puzzle in the accounts—"
"Then what use was there in my marrying you?"
That single remark left Shen Qingyin speechless.
Inexplicably, she recalled what Liang Wanyou had said to her yesterday—
Utterly useless.
Like mother, like son—even their rebukes of her were identical.
The air in the courtyard grew suddenly stifling. Shen Qingyin stood with her head bowed, unsure how to defend herself.
She was no good at managing a household or keeping accounts.
She didn't know how to please her husband or her mother-in-law.
And she couldn't bear a son.
It was only right that Pei Yu despised her.
The couple stood at a loss for words. It was Nanny Qing who came forward at just the right moment, lifting the bowl of medicinal soup from the table and gently reminding Shen Qingyin, "Madam, if the medicine sits any longer, it will go completely cold."
Nanny Qing meant to ease the awkwardness, and only then was Shen Qingyin able to move. She took the porcelain bowl, and Pei Yu's gaze fell upon the medicine as well.
The medicinal liquid in the bowl was thick and dark; before even drawing near, its bitter stench assailed the senses, enough to make one's stomach turn—clearly it would be hard to swallow.
Yet Shen Qingyin's expression did not change in the least. She tipped her head back and drank it all in one go.
Pei Yu was somewhat surprised.
Shen Qingyin handed the empty bowl to Nanny Qing. As the medicine slid down her throat, she calmly took out an embroidered handkerchief and dabbed gently at the corners of her lips.
Pei Yu's gaze settled back on her, then quietly drifted to the orchid embroidered on her handkerchief.
"How is it that I remember Mother instructing that this Fertility Decoction is to be taken only after the evening meal?"
At these words, the taut string in Shen Qingyin's heart suddenly loosened, and most of the unease weighing on her dispersed.
She hastened to explain, seizing the opportunity: "I was just about to say so… I didn't know you would return today, my lord, so I had dinner early with Tang-jie'er. If it pleases you, I'll have the small kitchen reheat everything right away and serve you your meal—"
"There's no need."
Before Shen Qingyin could finish, a thin layer of anger flashed across Pei Yu's face.
The anger was not violent—merely restrained, sunk deep in his eyes—yet it was enough to alarm Shen Qingyin.
She hurriedly knelt before him.
Seeing this, Pei Yu felt she was using retreat as an advance, forcing him to keep his temper in check. So the man rose with dignity, turned, and strode off, stirring up a sharp gust of wind.
If I'm not welcome here, I'll find somewhere I am.
Shen Qingyin stood rooted in place, staring at that cold, hard back, another wave of bewilderment washing over her.
In the past, whenever she was caring for Tang-jie'er or punished by Liang Wanyou to copy scriptures in the ancestral hall and returned too late for the meal, she had eaten Pei Yu's leftovers countless times.
It was true that in the Shen household, there was a rule that no one could raise their chopsticks until every family member was present, but after eating leftovers so many times, she had assumed this was normal in the Pei household.
Only today, when she had merely eaten first without knowing, had Pei Yu flown into such anger and stormed off…
So it seemed this rule was one only she, an outsider, had to observe.
Once again, a quarrel that was not quite a quarrel.
By usual custom, Shen Qingyin assumed he would not come to her again that night.
And so, in the deep quiet of night, the woman—exhausted in body and mind—fell into a heavy sleep the moment her head touched the pillow.
Amid her hazy slumber, Shen Qingyin suddenly sensed the edge of the bed beside her sink slightly, and in the next instant, a cool, crisp fragrance enveloped her entirely.
Before she could gather her wits, a pair of warm, strong hands had already slipped beneath her sleeping robe, roaming freely. The sudden touch jolted Shen Qingyin wide awake.
Her breath hitched, and once she saw who it was, she hastily murmured, "My lord! My lord, why have you come?"
Pei Yu paid her no heed, only burying himself toward familiar places, and only then did Shen Qingyin catch the faint scent of wine on him.
How could this be…
He had never touched a drop of alcohol before!
"My lord, have you been drinking?" she asked cautiously.
In that single instant, her sleeping robe was cast out beyond the bed curtains.
Pei Yu leaned down close to her neck, his voice low and husky: "…Shen-shi, have I not told you? At times like this, you must not call me 'my lord.' You are to call me Ziyan."
His warm breath brushed past her ear, scorching Shen Qingyin's cheeks until they burned and flushed red.
Though she didn't know why Pei Yu had this particular quirk, she obligingly changed her address. "Ziyan… I—I thought you wouldn't come tonight."
Her waist was still aching, and she wondered whether she could handle a drunken man.
At her words, Pei Yu quietly lifted his head from below her collarbone, gazing at her across the valley between them. Seeing the helplessness in her eyes, the corner of his lips curled into an exceedingly cold smile.
The next instant, the back of his hand came down with measured force upon the flowing stream, and fine, shivering tremors mixed with shame instantly swept through her entire body.
Shen Qingyin bit her lip and tilted her head back, when suddenly she heard the man say, "Since you've drunk that Fertility Decoction, if I didn't come tonight, wouldn't that be a waste of my mother's painstaking efforts?"
The man who had been so cold to her by day now wore a faint smile on his face. Even on past nights, when he'd seemed determined to devour her whole, Shen Qingyin had never once seen Pei Yu smile at her.
That smile sent chills down her spine.
Two hours passed, and Shen Qingyin nearly ground her teeth to pieces. Pei Yu tonight seemed still angry that she had eaten dinner without him, and was deliberately tormenting her, leaving densely packed marks of varying depths across her abdomen.
She had tried begging him, and had even tried pressing his head down as Nanny Qing had suggested, but all her pleading words and movements were swallowed up between his lips and teeth.
The long night stretched on, and only as dawn faintly broke did everything fall silent at last.
Shen Qingyin lay utterly weak and limp, her consciousness dim and scattered.
By the time she barely recovered her senses, the space beside her was already empty.
…
Just as the hour of Chen arrived, cheerful laughter filled Xueqing Court.
Madam Wei had always had a sweet, pleasing tongue. With just a few artful, soft-spoken words, she had struck right at the heart of Liang Wanyou's sentiments, coaxing the notoriously dignified, stern, and unsmiling old madam's brows to relax again and again, an irrepressible smile on her face.
Madam Zhang, seated nearby along with the ladies of the other households, occasionally covered her lips and giggled. The room was warm and harmonious, bustling with liveliness.
But the moment Shen Qingyin stepped into the main hall, the laughter cut off abruptly, and the room fell so silent one could hear a pin drop.
Everyone's gaze drifted more or less openly onto her.
It was no wonder they were making such a fuss—it was just that…
It was just that the mistress of the house had made such a scene berating Shen yesterday that it would have been hard for any of them to pretend they hadn't heard.
Liang Wanyou's imperious gaze swept carefully over her daughter-in-law's tightly wrapped collar. Seeing that her clothing had grown even thicker, she knew that last night, after Shen had taken the medicine, the couple's consummation must surely have gone smoothly.
Her long-cherished hope that the first household would flourish with children finally had some promise, and the fury that had been building in her heart for a full day and night instantly dissipated by more than half. Her expression softened visibly.
Madam Wei, seated off to the side, slid a slanted glance past Shen Qingyin, the smile gradually fading from her lips. In the end, she said nothing more.
Only Madam Zhang actively beamed a smile at Shen Qingyin and spoke up. "Sister-in-law, you're here! We were just discussing the arrangements and dishes for the Mid-Autumn Reunion Banquet coming up soon. We thought we'd settle the plans early so we won't be scrambling later. You've come at just the right time to help us come up with some ideas."
The Pei household's Mid-Autumn Reunion Banquet had always been managed by Liang Wanyou. In previous years, Shen Qingyin had merely served as her assistant, mostly doing thankless, exhausting chores.
At these words, Shen Qingyin first curtsied to Liang Wanyou, and only after taking her seat did she reply to Madam Zhang, "Third Sister-in-law flatters me. The reunion banquet is an important occasion for the household, and I know myself to be dull-witted, incapable of offering any good ideas. I shall simply follow Mother's arrangements."
Though Liang Wanyou had publicly reprimanded her just yesterday, after three years of marriage she had long since learned the rules.
Namely, that a daughter-in-law must never, under any circumstances, quarrel with her elders.
And so today it was only proper for her to lower herself, yield first, and offer an apology to Liang Wanyou.
Shen Qingyin glanced slightly to the side, casting a look at Nanny Qing behind her. Taking the hint, Nanny Qing immediately stepped forward and gently placed two exquisite brocade boxes into Shen Qingyin's hands.
Shen Qingyin rose and moved before Liang Wanyou, holding the brocade boxes respectfully in both hands, her head slightly bowed in a humble posture. "Mother, the weather turns dry as autumn sets in. This is a sour jujube wellness tea specially prepared by my family's Shen apothecary. It calms the spirit, eases dryness, strengthens the spleen, and nourishes the stomach—perfect for this season. My own mother prepared it herself and instructed me to bring it as a token of respect to you. Please do try it, Mother."
As she bowed her head, her collar loosened slightly, and the marks Pei Yu had left the night before quietly peeked into view.
Liang Wanyou's gaze abruptly sharpened, a complicated emotion flashing through her eyes.
To be sure, this daughter-in-law before her appeared dignified and demure on the surface, but in truth she was a seductive little vixen.
Yet on second thought, these marks had been left by her own son—proof that the arrival of a legitimate grandchild was not far off.
So Liang Wanyou gave an "mm," her tone already considerably softened, and turned to instruct the nanny standing at her side, "Since this is a token of regard specially sent from the Shen family, brew it and let everyone present have a taste."
The nanny complied, stepping forward to open the brocade boxes and prepare the tea.
As boiling water poured into the cups, wisps of steam rose, and the tea bloomed into an amber hue, its faint jujube fragrance and delicate medicinal aroma spreading through the room—one whiff was enough to soothe the mind.
As the cups were passed to the ladies, Madam Zhang was the first to take a sip, and astonishment instantly lit her eyes.
"Oh my! Eldest Sister-in-law, this tea is wonderful! Smooth and sweet on the tongue, with a long, lingering aftertaste—so comforting to drink!"
The other ladies tasted it as well, offering praise one after another, all agreeing that the tea was both healthful and uniquely flavorful. The tea served earlier was set aside and forgotten.
Liang Wanyou sat in the seat of honor, listening to the room full of compliments, and lifted her own cup.
Though her face betrayed no expression, she drank the entire cup down to the last drop.
Shen Qingyin finally breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that Liang Wanyou had forgiven her this time.
Before long, the morning greetings concluded, and the ladies rose one by one to take their leave.
Shen Qingyin had not forgotten that she still owed Madam Wei an apology, so she signaled Nanny Qing to carry the remaining sour jujube tea, and mistress and servant hurried after Madam Wei, who was walking ahead.
But though she called out softly twice—"Second Sister-in-law"—Madam Wei ahead seemed not to hear at all, merely pressing on at a brisk pace.
Even the dullest of observers could see that Madam Wei was deliberately ignoring her.
Besides, after last night, her whole body ached all the more. After a few steps of chasing, Shen Qingyin began to flag, and could only stop helplessly, watching Madam Wei walk farther and farther away.
As she stood there, Madam Zhang came forward with a smile, gently taking Shen Qingyin's arm to comfort her. "Eldest Sister-in-law, don't take it to heart. Second Sister-in-law is always like this."
Before Shen Qingyin could answer, Madam Zhang affectionately took her hand and warmly invited her, "Since we've nothing to do at the moment, why don't you come sit in my Glazed Yellow Courtyard, sister-in-law?"
……
In Green Mountain Courtyard, Madam Wei, seething with pent-up frustration, stormed through the courtyard gate and hurried into the inner chamber.
But the moment she stepped into the bedroom, a lingering sweet, musky scent aggressively assailed her nostrils.
Having been a married woman for many years, she knew this scent all too well—one light sniff and she instantly identified its source. Her temper exploded on the spot.
In an instant, Madam Wei strode right up to the bed's gauze curtains, seized Pei Zhan by the ear, and yanked hard. "Well, well, Pei Zhan! What do you think you're doing?!"
"We haven't been intimate in so long, and last night when I wanted to be close to you, you brushed me off saying you were tired. I felt sorry for you and let you rest early! And now, after I've only been gone a short while paying my respects at Snow Violet Pavilion, you're here pleasuring yourself all alone!"
Watching her husband wince in pain while still hurriedly pulling his hand out of his underdrawers, she was both furious and aggrieved, her voice rising sharply.
"……Even a dull, tight-lipped woman like Madam Shen can keep Big Brother lingering in her bed night after night, but when it comes to me, my husband would rather entertain himself than come near me! It's unbearable! If word of this gets out, how will people mock me? Where am I supposed to put my face as your wife?!"
Pei Zhan's ear was being twisted painfully, and he was just about to break free and lash out when he suddenly heard his wife mention his sister-in-law. His heart lurched, and he swiftly stuffed the handkerchief embroidered with orchids deep into his sleeve.
Only after hiding it did he dare wrench himself free from Madam Wei's grip, rubbing his reddened ear and saying in a flustered manner, "I—I—I, how was I to know you'd come back so quickly today!"
In the past, whenever his wife went to pay her respects in the Old Madam's courtyard, she would always spend half an hour boasting with the others. When had she ever returned this early?
It was precisely because he counted on this that Pei Zhan had dared to take advantage of the opportunity today to do that thing with Shen Qingyin's handkerchief—
"How dare you bring that up!"
Pei Zhan's words only stoked Madam Wei's fury further.
She plopped down heavily in front of her dressing mirror, reached up to fuss with the pearls and jade ornaments in her hair, and complained through gritted teeth, "This morning everyone was fawning over Madam Shen's ridiculous sour jujube tea. That tea is cheap and shabby—just the smell of it turns my stomach!"
"But not only did these people with no taste whatsoever keep praising it, even the Old Madam gave her face and drank it all down! The Pre-Rain Cloud and Mist Tea I presented was casually set aside without so much as a touch—what a complete waste!"
Not to mention that Madam Shen had offended her without so much as an apology. At this thought, Madam Wei felt her chest tighten with anger.
Unexpectedly, a pair of large hands reached around to her chest. She raised her eyes and, through the dressing mirror, clearly saw her husband's expression.
As he kneaded, Pei Zhan teased, "Don't be angry, my dear. Have you forgotten about Chang-lang and Madam Shen's younger sister's affair?……In the future, with that connection to lean on, why worry we won't be able to keep her in check?"
Madam Wei froze at his words. In the mirror, the woman's originally furious expression slowly gave way to a meaningful smile.