Mon premier mari après ma transmigration

Chapitre 3

Chapter Seven

Danmei had no experience as a stepmother, and besides, she never really intended to be confined to this house and revolve around this man surnamed Xu for the rest of her life. Therefore, she had no plans to develop a deep mother-son relationship with his children. Now that they were here, she would simply take good care of their food and clothing, and supervise their studies. Looking up, she saw Sister Hui standing motionless in front of her, staring at her with wide eyes, so she smiled at her. Sister Hui took a small step back, her expression seemingly wary.

Xu Jinrong's decision to have Hui Jie follow Danmei was probably a spur-of-the-moment thing this morning, as the house hadn't even been tidied up yet. Although the wet nurse had asked the maid from Zhou's place to bring over her usual bedding, clothes, and other necessities, it would still take some time to tidy up and set up the house properly. It wasn't appropriate for Hui Jie to stay here, so after thinking for a moment, she took her back to her own room.

Hui-jie seemed to be entering this room for the first time, looking around as she went in. When the maid named Chang'er brought over a plate of fresh fruit, piled high with crabapples and apricots, Danmei called Hui-jie over to eat with her. Hui-jie responded and sat down on the jade-inlaid five-legged round stool opposite her, gracefully peeling and eating one.

Danmei observed carefully and, seeing that the girl wasn't what she had initially imagined, breathed a sigh of relief. She had thought that since she was the only legitimate daughter of the Xu family and had lost her mother's love and guidance from a young age, Zhou, who raised her, would probably not dare to criticize her, and might develop a difficult personality, causing headaches later on. Now it seemed that not only was that not the case, but she was also somewhat introverted and seemed wary of people. Could it be that since she hadn't had a mother since childhood, her father, Xu Jinrong, had seen her and Liang Ge trembling with fear when they saw him this morning, and knew that he was strict with his children, which explained her current behavior?

After Hui-jie ate a few fruits, the wet nurse standing to the side looked like she was about to speak, but she held back. When Hui-jie's hand reached for an apricot, the wet nurse probably couldn't resist any longer and spoke up to stop her, saying, "Young lady, you can stop now. You'll get a stomachache if you eat any more."

Sister Hui paused, then stopped on the apricot, her eyes turning to Danmei.

Danmei noticed that the wet nurse had only eaten three or four fruits, each no bigger than a baby's fist. Thinking back to when she and her nephew ate the loquats they grew themselves, they could eat their fill without any problems. So she glanced at the wet nurse and said, "It's only a few. You can eat two more, as long as you don't overeat at lunch."

Seeing her say this, the wet nurse, though still somewhat unwilling, dared not say anything more, and simply stood aside with a pout. Hui-jie then ate two more pieces and rested. Danmei washed her hands and told her to practice calligraphy in the room while she went to the east wing to check on her progress. As she went, she wondered if she should find a maid of similar age to keep her company. Such a lovely little girl, constantly watched over by such an older wet nurse, being forbidden this and forbidden that—even she herself would probably be bored to death.

The room in the east wing was regularly cleaned, so it was all tidied up before noon. Danmei personally escorted Huijie there, taking with her the half-finished paper she had been working on. She glanced at it and saw that Huijie's handwriting was neat and tidy, even better than her own after a year of hard practice. Suddenly remembering what Xu Jinrong had said that morning, she pursed her lips.

At lunchtime, since Madam Chen was still there, Danmei, as the new bride, naturally had to go and serve her. She took Miaochun and Miaoxia with her, told the maidservant in the room to pass on a message, and then stood on the steps outside the door to wait. After waiting for a long time, Xiqing finally came out. He glanced at Danmei, looking somewhat apologetic, and opened his mouth but didn't say anything.

Danmei already knew the outcome; she had only come to pay her respects. Seeing that Xiqing was in a difficult position, she smiled and said, "What did my mother say just now? Please tell me."

Helpless, Xiqing leaned closer and whispered, "It was the old lady who insisted that I say this, please don't be offended, madam. Just now, the old lady asked me to convey a message that she can't eat if you stand in front of her."

Danmei smiled slightly, not taking it to heart, and hummed in agreement. Just as she was about to leave, a thought suddenly struck her. She took off a gold bracelet from her wrist and tucked it into her sleeve. She stepped forward, took Xiqing's hand, and handed it to him, saying with a smile, "Then you should put in more effort to do your best for your unfilial daughter-in-law."

Xiqing was taken aback. Danmei had already let go of her hand, nodded slightly to her, and then turned and left.

Danmei returned to her room, but Xu Jinrong hadn't returned yet. She had just caught her breath when Miaochun came to report that her three concubines were already standing outside the courtyard, waiting to serve her meals. Danmei, recalling what had just happened, chuckled to herself and, without thinking, told Miaochun to refuse, adding that she didn't need to come again. Miaochun seemed hesitant, paused, and tentatively said, "Madam, this might be somewhat inappropriate. And if we don't establish rules for them on the first day, I'm afraid things will get worse later..." She now addressed Danmei as "Madam."

Danmei glanced up at her but didn't speak. Miaochun swallowed her words and hurriedly went out to deliver the message. Danmei asked Miaoxia to invite Huijie from the east wing, and the two went to the dining room together. On a large square table of mahogany with carved lingzhi and scroll patterns on the four corners, there were already four plates of sliced seasonal fruits: lotus root slices, pear cakes, sliced candied mushrooms, and bayberries. Then, four more plates of twisted fruits, such as lychee sago cakes, crispy walnuts, and twisted pine nuts, were served in succession. Only then did the main dishes arrive. The first dish was steamed quail with flowers and lychee pork kidneys; the second dish was braised pork belly and sprouted pork kidneys; the third dish was stewed pork feet and quail soup; the fourth dish was braised shark and crab stuffed oranges. In addition, there were small side dishes such as braised chicken, roasted steamed buns, diced pork ribs, and roasted quail breast. Danmei sighed inwardly at the sight.

Although she had lived in the Jixian Prime Minister's residence, a high-ranking official's residence, for over a year and had always enjoyed the finest food and drink, even a regular meal there wasn't this extravagant. And now, with only her and Sister Hui present, she couldn't help but call out to the cook, "Isn't it all served yet?" as the cook was about to leave.

The maidservant immediately lowered her head and replied, "Yes," and then added, "There are four more dishes to entice us to drink: fried whelk and tripe, crab skewers..."

Before she could finish speaking, Danmei frowned and interrupted, "Is this how meals are usually eaten in each courtyard?"

The maidservant replied, "The old lady's place is much more frugal because she doesn't often stay here, and she used to scold us for this. The three rooms in the west courtyard are a grade lower than the madam's, with each item reduced by half. If the master stays in any room for a meal, it will be prepared according to the current arrangement."

Danmei counted the dishes in front of her. Not counting the four that hadn't been served yet, there were already twenty dishes. Even if each dish was reduced by half, a woman in the Xu residence would have at least ten different dishes to eat with her rice when she ate alone. How much could one person eat? What happened to the rest?

If she had seen someone waste food like this before, she would have truly felt that she was being punished by the heavens. But now she only frowned slightly and was too lazy to interfere. She simply said to the maid, "From now on, if the master does not eat here, you can ask the kitchen to cook three or four dishes that are easy to eat with rice and send them over. He can't eat more than that."

The maidservant and the others serving in the room were all taken aback. Seeing her serious expression, which didn't seem like a joke, they quickly agreed.

Danmei smiled at Hui-jie, who had been watching her, and called her to eat. However, since there were only two of them, and both had small appetites, Danmei took two bites from each of the dishes placed in front of her. After finishing a bowl of rice, she felt full. Just as she put down her chopsticks, Hui-jie finished eating as well. She had the rest cleared away and distributed to the maids. After helping Hui-jie rinse her mouth and wipe her hands, she escorted her back to the east wing, sat with her for a while to digest, and when she saw Hui-jie yawn, knowing it was time for her afternoon nap, she asked the wet nurse to help her to bed, and then returned to the main room herself.

Danmei was tossed and turned until the wee hours of the morning before finally falling asleep, feeling utterly miserable. She got up before dawn this morning, and now her eyelids are heavy with sleep. She asked Miaochun to lower the bed curtains and leave, then took off her outer garment and lay down on the couch, trying to close her eyes and catch up on some sleep. But the more she tried to fall asleep, the less she could. Her eyes were fixed on the couch where she was lying, lost in thought.

This large bed was part of Danmei's dowry, delivered by her family on the first day of their wedding when they prepared the bridal chamber. Looking from the inside out, it has five layers, each layer protecting the other. The first layer's eaves are carved with naturally extending vines, interspersed with five peonies symbolizing wealth and prosperity. On each side stand a pair of white-headed old men facing each other, signifying a long and prosperous life together. The second layer is carved with five auspicious fruits: a golden gourd, a Buddha's hand melon, a peach, a pomegranate, and a persimmon, representing good fortune, longevity, happiness, and peace throughout the four seasons. The third layer's wooden eaves are flanked by clusters of grapes, with a golden pheasant and blooming flowers in the center, subtly implying many children and blessings, adding to one's good fortune. The fourth layer displays gold and silver treasures, with tassels fluttering in the wind. The outermost layer, the one with the floor-length curtains, is carved with a pair of red lanterns hanging at either end. In the center is a magpie perched on a branch, to the left is a lotus flower and swimming fish, representing abundance year after year, and to the right is a reed and crab, a homophone for marital harmony.

This large bed was commissioned by the Qin family at great expense and crafted by skilled artisans, taking nearly half a year to complete. If it hadn't been prepared well in advance, how could it have been made in time for such a rushed wedding? However, as Danmei lay on the exquisite bed that embodied all her mother's best wishes, all she could think about was how to avoid the night that was about to begin.

It would be best if Xu Jinrong didn't come here. If he did, she would suffer the same torture as last night again. She couldn't fight back, and she wasn't good at cursing. Just thinking about it made her shudder.

She knew that a woman's first time was always painful, so she was mentally prepared, but she never expected it to be as excruciating as being slaughtered. She didn't know if her body was too sensitive or if the man was too rough. And judging from the pain last night, even if the second and third times were less painful, they would probably still be painful. In any case, she absolutely did not want to go through that again.

The more Danmei thought about it, the heavier her mind became. Finally, unable to resist the drowsiness, she drifted off to sleep. Miaochun probably knew she hadn't slept much the night before, so she didn't wake her. When she woke up, she felt refreshed, but it was already almost evening. She quickly got up, rinsed her mouth, and tidied herself up. Suddenly, an idea struck her. Only then did she feel much more at ease.

As usual, she went to wait outside the north room for dinner. This time, Xiqing came out quickly, smiling and waving at her. Danmei knew what was going on, nodded, and went back inside.

Xu Jinrong was still nowhere to be seen; Danmei and Sister Hui were having dinner together. Perhaps because of what she'd said at noon, the dinner menu, while not exactly four or five dishes as Danmei's instructions at lunch, was still significantly smaller than before. Danmei knew the kitchen probably wouldn't dare follow her orders completely, fearing reprimand for neglect, so she let it go. Being too meticulous would make her seem eccentric, which might not be a good thing.

After the meal, Danmei accompanied Huijie in the courtyard for a while, doing some needlework. However, she merely watched as Huijie, guided by the embroiderers in the manor, deftly observing. Seeing that it was time to light the lamps, she told them to stop so as not to strain their eyes. Huijie obediently followed her wet nurse back to the house, but before entering, she glanced back at Danmei. Danmei smiled and waved at her before going back inside.

The lamps were lit in the main room. Danmei quickly removed her makeup and bathed, wrapping herself up tightly before getting into bed. She told Miaochun to lower the curtains and close the door. Although Miaochun found it strange, she did as she was told, retreating to the outer room to keep watch with Miaoxia. Danmei immediately went downstairs and quietly bolted the door. Only then did she lie alone on the bed, fanning herself with a small fan, her ears constantly listening to the outside. She was thinking of what to say if that person came, to deflect the attack with her prepared words. She waited until nearly midnight without any movement, guessing that Xu Jinrong had most likely gone to one of the rooms in the west courtyard. Only then did she relax completely. She had enjoyed sleeping during the day, and now she was about to doze off again.

Just as Danmei was about to drift off to sleep, she suddenly heard the sound of the outer door being pushed open, followed by greetings from Miaochun and Miaoxia, indicating that Xu Jinrong had arrived. She cursed inwardly for not letting her have peace so late, and held her breath, listening intently to the sounds outside. Sure enough, the inner door was pushed, but it wouldn't open. Through the floor-length curtains, Danmei saw Xu Jinrong's shadow flickering on the window paper, cast by the candlelight behind him, looking like a giant wishing spirit released from a bottle.

"Miaochun, has the master returned? Tell him I'm feeling extremely unwell today, which is why I went to bed early. Please rest in another room. It wouldn't be good if I passed away and left him."

Danmei spoke, her voice sounding weak and listless.

Chapter Eight

There was a moment of silence in the outer room, then Xu Jinrong's voice rang out, "Why are you suddenly feeling unwell? Did you not serve me properly today?" He seemed to be asking Miaochun and Miaoxia, and his tone sounded somewhat displeased. Before they could reply, Danmei interjected, "I'll be fine after I rest; it has nothing to do with them. Please make yourself at home, sir."

After Danmei finished speaking, she focused on the sounds outside. After a short while, she heard his footsteps fading into the distance, and he had indeed left. She had been a little worried that he wouldn't believe her and that she would have to explain herself more, but she didn't expect to get rid of him so easily. Just as she was feeling somewhat relieved, she heard a knock at the door. Knowing that it was Miaochun and Miaoxia, she got up, slipped on her shoes, and opened the door.

"Madam... are you truly feeling unwell?"

Miao Chun stood outside the door, holding a candle stick, glanced at Danmei, and asked cautiously.

Danmei hummed in response, turned around and went into the tent, then lay down on the bed again. Seeing Miaochun follow her in and still standing outside her tent, she said indifferently, "It's getting late. Go and tell the gatekeeper to lock the courtyard gate. You should also get some rest. You've all had a long day."

Miao Chun hurriedly responded, placed the candlestick on the table, opened the lid of the jade-carved pine and crane incense holder, filled the copper liner with a piece of moon-scale benzoin, shook it well, and screwed the lid back on. After a few wisps of white smoke rose straight up from the small hollow hole, she hung it back on the incense stand, took the candlestick, and quietly closed the door and went out.

Miao Chun had always been attentive to her, and Danmei naturally remembered her kindness. However, ever since she learned of Miao Chun's feelings for her, she had become more reserved in her presence. Seeing that Miao Chun had also been sent away, and hearing a slight creak of the outer door, Danmei assumed Miao Chun or Miao Xia had gone to call for the lock to be closed. She finally breathed a long sigh of relief. Once relaxed, she felt that sleeping in this heavy bed in her undergarments at this time of year was a little stuffy, so she took off her clothes, leaving only her undergarments and trousers. Then she sprawled out on the large, soft couch, thinking how comfortable it would be if she could sleep alone in this large bed like this from now on.

The thought had barely crossed her mind when she heard the footsteps again, the same ones that had left not long before. Only that person's footsteps made such a carefree sound in the entire house. Danmei was startled. Before she could understand why he had returned, she saw the door to her inner room, which hadn't been bolted, being pushed open. Xu Jinrong strode in, followed by Miaochun who hurriedly lit the candles in the room.

"Why are you calling me down so early? Since you said you weren't feeling well, I've sent someone to fetch a doctor. Go to sleep after he's taken a look at you!"

As soon as the sound rang out, the curtain was suddenly lifted, and Xu Jinrong entered, leaning slightly to look at the pale plum blossoms on the couch.

Danmei hadn't had time to dress, so she rolled up a spring quilt and wrapped herself in it. In her haste, a section of her snow-white ankle and toes were still exposed on the scarlet brocade. When she saw that he was staring at her, she immediately shrank back into the quilt.

He just left, and it turns out he sent someone to fetch a doctor!

"Didn't I just say I can rest by myself? I don't need to see a doctor!"

Danmei was furious, and her tone became tinged with annoyance.

“You’ve only been married into my family for a short time and you’re already complaining about feeling unwell. If we don’t get you proper treatment, your parents will think I’ve wronged you when you return to your parents’ home tomorrow.”

Xu Jinrong glanced at her, only her head peeking out, and said something unhurriedly before leaving the tent. He sat down at a table, adjusted the candlelight, picked up a book, and started reading. It seemed he wasn't going to leave.

Danmei was so angry that she couldn't move for a long time. Just as she was feeling resentful, the person outside, with his eyes fixed on the book, said, "What are you still standing there for? The doctor will be here soon. Are you going to let someone treat you like this?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Miao Chun and Miao Xia, who had been waiting outside the door, hurriedly came in to her, took her an inner garment to put on, draped a jacket over it, and tied up her loose hair before leaving.

Danmei had no choice. It was too late to say she wasn't sick now, so she could only lie there fully clothed. She made up her mind to wait for the doctor to come and then insist that she was feeling unwell, and see what he would say.

While she felt uneasy, Xu Jinrong sat outside, seemingly calm and composed. Danmei could only hear the soft rustling sound of him turning the pages of his book. Sure enough, the doctor arrived shortly after.

This commotion had already alerted the servants in Danmei's room, and they were all waiting outside for orders. When the doctor arrived, a table was placed in front of Danmei's bed with a piece of silk in the middle. When examining the patient, she would extend her hand out of the silk for him to take her pulse.

The doctor's surname was Hu. His family had been practicing medicine for generations, especially specializing in women's ailments. If a woman from a wealthy family in the capital fell ill, besides the imperial physicians, the first person they would think of was Doctor Hu; he was quite famous. He had already closed his clinic to rest when someone knocked on the door. Upon closer inspection, he saw that although the person summoned was dressed as a steward, the fabric of his clothes was of the finest quality, and he was very generous. The capital was not lacking in hidden talents, and knowing that this was someone of importance, he hurriedly followed with his medicine chest. After entering the main house in the courtyard, he saw half a room full of maids and servants in the outer room. A tall man of about thirty years old came to greet him. Although he was dressed in casual clothes, the clothes, which would not have been particularly noticeable on others, were stretched taut on him. His expression was solemn, and knowing that he was the master of the house, he did not dare to look at him too much. He gave a slight greeting and was led into the inner room. Seeing that the room was still decorated as a new house, filled with a sweet fragrance, and with every furnishing and decoration being extremely exquisite, it was clear that the newlywed mistress of the house was unwell. Not daring to be negligent, he sat down on a stool that had been placed there beforehand and said, "Madam, please extend your hand."

Danmei knew there was no way to avoid it, so she had no choice but to extend one hand out of the silk and place it on the board.

The physician, seeing the hand so white and lustrous in the candlelight, was almost blindingly so, and dared not look at it for long. He placed his own two fingers on the wrist, closed his eyes, and began to examine it intently. The more he examined, the more puzzled he became. The pulse seemed to belong to a young woman; it was thin, even, and smooth, showing no apparent problem. But if there was nothing wrong, why would she have gone to such lengths to invite him to her clinic at this late hour? Just as he was pondering this, he suddenly heard a soft cough from behind the wrist, a delicate voice that, in an instant, seemed to enlighten him.

He had long treated the women of wealthy families in the capital, and knew all too well that these households were notoriously corrupt. He was used to seeing sick women feign illness and healthy women claim to be sick. Now it seemed that the woman behind the silk robe was most likely faking illness to gain the attention of the man he had just met. Having made up his mind, he withdrew his pulse-taking fingers and turned to the man, saying, “Sir, there’s no need to worry. Although your wife’s pulse is somewhat weak, I believe it’s due to emotional distress, nothing serious. I have a prescription here called Hibiscus Horn Fragrance Pills; prescribe them and have your wife take them for half a month. However, a heart ailment requires a heart remedy. If you, sir, can be more considerate and attentive, your wife’s blood and energy will be stronger, making her recovery easier.”

Xu Jinrong thanked him and then had someone escort him home.

When Physician Hu left, he was still thinking about how he had smoothed things over for the woman behind the silk and had taken the opportunity to speak well of her. He imagined she must be extremely grateful to him, and he felt a little smug. Usually, when he treated patients and encountered such situations, he would only say the first part of the story, and rarely mention the second part about the man spending more time with her. But today, for some reason, seeing such a delicate and beautiful hand, he suddenly felt a sense of pity and tenderness. Only after his own person had been escorted away did he begin to imagine what the face behind the silk must look like.

Doctor Hu thought he had done a good deed, but little did he know that Danmei was dumbfounded, inwardly groaning with misery. She never expected to encounter such a quack doctor. As she sat wrapped in the covers, her face contorted with grief, she saw Xu Jinrong enter the bedchamber and stand before her, looking at her with a half-smile, lost in thought. Suddenly, she became extremely nervous, her mind a jumbled mess. She wanted to say she wasn't sick, so why had she locked the door and chased him away? But admitting the doctor's words was even more undesirable. Finally, after much internal struggle, she stammered, "I don't have the heart ailment the doctor mentioned. He's talking nonsense. I don't need your company." Immediately after saying this, she realized her mistake, filled with regret, and simply remained silent.

A hint of a smile seemed to flash across Xu Jinrong's eyes, but it disappeared in an instant. He grunted and said, "This doctor is very famous, so what he says can't be too bad. Since he said so, I will naturally be more considerate of you as he suggested. From now on, unless I send someone to tell you, you will be sleeping here. Don't let me find you locking the door for no reason next time."

As he spoke, Danmei slightly raised her head and saw a dark glint flash in his eyes as he stared at her from above. Her heart tightened. She took a breath and was about to speak again when he had already left with his hands behind his back.

Danmei felt a wave of frustration and wanted to scream to vent her dissatisfaction. She didn't even bother to take off her outer clothes before collapsing back onto the bed, knowing that her plan to feign illness and avoid the situation had completely failed. After a while, she heard footsteps outside again, presumably Xu Jinrong had returned. By the time he bolted the door and lifted the curtain to come in, she had already rolled into the innermost part of the bed, fully clothed and wrapped in the quilt, and pressed herself against the bed wall.

Xu Jinrong must have just returned from a bath, as he was only wearing a loose-fitting single garment. He took it off and tossed it onto the upturned table. Danmei felt the bed sink beneath her; he had already climbed on top of her. The moment her back touched the mattress, his long arm scooped her up, and she was pulled to his side, the spring quilt wrapped around her now crumpled into a ball. Seeing that she was still fully clothed, his face darkened, and he reached towards her collar.

Tonight, she feared she couldn't escape that torment again, and Danmei felt utterly disgusted. He was her husband, and she had no choice but to force herself on him, but she couldn't suppress the resentment in her heart. She dodged his hand, took off her outer jacket and threw it at the foot of the bed, then angrily took off her undergarment, leaving her only in her undergarments. Only then did she look up at him coldly and say, "Will you do the rest, or do I have to do it myself?"

Xu Jinrong's eyes swept over her snow-white arms and slender legs exposed outside her red bodice and panties, and he suddenly laughed.

The first time Danmei saw him smile, the lines at the corners of his mouth curved up, making his facial features appear much softer. For a moment, she wondered what he was up to and stared at him suspiciously.

Before Xu Jinrong's laughter had even subsided, he suddenly reached out and pressed her down onto the auspicious mandarin duck pillow next to him, closing his eyes and saying, "You're so frail, I'm afraid I'll break your back if I use too much force. Starting tomorrow, give me an extra bowl of food at every meal, so I can have a better appetite once I'm a bit fatter. It's getting late, go to sleep. Get some rest so we can go to your mother's house together tomorrow."

Chapter Nine

Danmei felt a little uncomfortable with his heavy arm pressing down on her stomach, but the implication in his words was that he was letting her go. Although the reason was somewhat harsh, it was like the greatest blessing to her. She secretly glanced up and saw that he had indeed closed his eyes, and only then did she believe it. She didn't dare to move, but just huddled beside him, motionless, and closed her eyes to pretend to sleep. After a long while, she secretly opened her eyes, holding her breath. She saw that the man beside her was still lying motionless on his side, probably asleep. His warm breath brushed against her forehead, making a few strands of her hair flutter like butterflies in the wind, and tickling her skin. Her lower abdomen felt heavier and heavier under his arm, so she couldn't help but grab his arm with both hands, lift it up, and gently place it on the mattress. She slowly moved her body over him, and only when she could no longer feel his breath and the warmth emanating from his body did she stop and truly prepare to sleep.

Danmei closed her eyes, but Xu Jinrong, whom she thought was asleep, opened his eyes and stared at her.

Her delicate face, which could only be described as pretty, was now completely free of makeup, her skin so supple and tender that one almost wanted to bite it. Aside from her muscular physique, the only thing pleasing to the eye was her eyes, sparkling and bright, making her whole face seem lively. Her eyes were gently closed, perhaps because she wasn't truly asleep yet; her feathery eyelashes were still trembling slightly. He couldn't resist the urge to gently stroke them with his thumb to stop the trembling, but the moment his hand moved, the candle on the tortoiseshell octagonal candlestick outside, its flame custom-made to measure the time, burned out, collapsing and extinguishing in an instant, plunging the room into darkness.

Danmei woke up the next day feeling quite refreshed. Xu Jinrong probably really disliked her for being too thin, as he hadn't touched her at all last night, which pleased her greatly. She even had a thought that she should never gain an ounce of weight again.

According to the customs of the time, three days after the wedding, the son-in-law should take the bride back to visit her parents-in-law's home. If possible, the first or second day is best, and if it's far away, the seventh day is also acceptable. The Xu family lived only seven or eight streets away from the Jixian Prime Minister's residence, so they had to return on the second day.

Danmei dressed herself in the gilded sunflower and phoenix mirror on the dressing table. Since today was her first homecoming after the wedding, she dared not be negligent. Although her attire was not as formal as on her wedding day, it was still extremely festive and solemn. She wore a crimson cross-front jacket with gold-embroidered peony patterns on the upper body, and a bright red brocade skirt with embroidered butterflies on the lower body. Her waist was properly tied, and a long silver-red silk sash that reached past her knees was adorned with a double-bodied auspicious knot in blood-red color. As she walked, the pearls and jade necklaces all over her body jingled.

Just as Danmei finished getting ready, Huijie was brought over by her wet nurse to greet her. Huijie was momentarily stunned by Danmei's magnificent attire, her eyes filled with envy. The wet nurse, taking advantage of her age, chuckled and said, "Young lady, in a couple of years you'll be ready to marry. Even if you don't look like this, you'll still be dazzling." This made Huijie blush deeply, feeling incredibly embarrassed. Although Danmei knew that it was common for girls to be engaged in their teens at this time, she still disliked the wet nurse's words. She frowned slightly, but spoke gently to Huijie, "I'm going back to my mother's house today. After you finish your studies this morning, go play after your afternoon nap. Don't worry about anything."

She said this because she had learned from Hui-jie yesterday that Xu Jinrong was extremely strict with her upbringing. Not only had he hired maids to teach her calligraphy, poetry, painting, and embroidery, but he also made her learn to cook, with teachers taking turns from morning till night. It seemed he was grooming her to be a perfect matriarch. Hearing this, Danmei secretly shook her head, feeling even more pity for Hui-jie, and thus offered her a few words of advice. Hui-jie's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and she smiled slightly at her.

Although the wet nurse didn't know what she had done to offend the new madam, she was good at reading people's expressions. Seeing that Danmei didn't pay much attention to her, she shut up and carefully led Huijie away.

Danmei ate breakfast casually, then led Miaochun and the others out of the main room and into the main hall. There, she saw Xu Jinrong already there, with a middle-aged man who looked like a steward pointing to a large, long sandalwood box inlaid with mother-of-pearl. He said to Xu Jinrong, "The Minister of Rites has never been more fond of rare stones. The Lingbi stone in this box is over a foot tall, which is rare to begin with. Moreover, it is a white Lingbi stone, and its shape resembles plum blossoms and snow vying for spring, making it one in ten thousand. What do you think, Third Master?" As he spoke, he opened the box to show it to him.

Danmei had met this steward yesterday and knew he was a relative of Xu Jinrong, having served him for many years. Therefore, she did not address him as "Master" like the other servants in the mansion, but continued to use the old form of address. Hearing his words now, she knew that the box contained a gift prepared to be given to her father today as a homecoming present. She couldn't help but glance at it curiously and saw that it was a smooth, snow-white stone, dotted with rough, ochre-brown stones, which indeed looked like the mottled mountainside revealed when the first snow melts in early spring.

She had previously known nothing about these things, but after this, due to her father's fondness for them, she gradually became somewhat acquainted with them, learning that Lingbi stones have been precious ornamental stones since ancient times, remarkable for their unparalleled sound quality. Whether lightly tapped with a small stick or gently tugged with a finger, they produce a clear, resonant sound with a long, lingering resonance, earning them the reputation of "jade vibrating with golden sound." Lingbi stones are naturally formed, generally mostly black, yellow, or brown; those of this size and jade-white color must be extremely rare.

When the Xu family steward saw Danmei approaching, he bowed respectfully and stepped aside without saying a word. Xu Jinrong sized her up, his expression unreadable, and told the steward, "Move everything upstairs," before turning and heading towards the gate. Danmei rolled her eyes at his retreating figure and followed him. She saw several carriages already parked outside the gate; from the outside, they looked similar to those in ordinary homes, but once inside, they were surprisingly luxurious and spacious.

Xu Jinrong rode ahead on horseback, the carriage following behind, slowly leaving the Xu family gate. Danmei looked out through the cross-shaped window beside her, and saw that the Xu family gate was painted vermilion, with a pair of facing chiwen (mythical beasts) at both ends of the ridge above the gate, a pair of beast-face door knockers in the center of the door, a drum-shaped stone on each side, and a stone lion on each side at the end of the ruyi-shaped steps, with blue brick walls on both sides. The gates of the slightly larger houses in this area were all decorated in this way, looking quite ordinary. After passing through Kaifeng Prefecture for seven or eight streets, the Jixian Prime Minister's Mansion came into view.

Knowing that her daughter and new son-in-law were returning home early that morning, Madam Qin, the gate was wide open, waiting for them. The gatekeeper, seeing a procession approaching from afar, immediately rushed in to announce their arrival. Danmei had only been married for two nights, yet returning home felt as if two months had passed. When she saw her mother, surrounded by her sister-in-law and a group of maids, hurrying over from behind the screen wall, and embracing her tightly, calling her "my dear girl," she felt a pang of grievance, her eyes reddening as she buried her face in Madam Qin's arms and wiped them away.

Xu Jinrong was welcomed inside by Wen Xiang and his brother-in-law, while Danmei followed Qin and Liu into the house. As soon as they sat down, Qin pulled Danmei up and down, left and right, looking her over with delight.

It turned out that after Danmei was carried away in the sedan chair the day before yesterday, Qin Shi was terrified of hearing the bad news that her new son-in-law wouldn't survive the night, so she stayed awake all night until dawn. Yesterday, upon learning that the two of them were returning today to pay their respects, she was overjoyed and waited early in the outer hall. When she heard the servant announce the arrival of the newlyweds, she rushed out as if on air to greet them. After welcoming Danmei into the house, she inquired in detail about the Xu family, to which Danmei answered in detail. Liu Shi, who was nearby, heard that even the concubines in their household were treated with such pomp and circumstance, and her eyes showed a hint of envy. She smiled and said, "My dear sister-in-law has finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel, and now she's married to such a wonderful husband. You two have a private chat, I'll go to the kitchen and keep an eye on things so the new son-in-law can have his meal." With that, she took her maid and left.

Seeing that Liu had left, Qin dismissed the maids as well, then sat down next to Danmei and whispered a few questions in her ear. It would have been better if Qin hadn't asked; when Danmei heard Qin mention her wedding night, the lingering resentment that had been building up since she entered the room resurfaced, and her eyes reddened again. This startled Qin, who hugged her tightly and pressed her for more information. Danmei had long considered Qin her own mother, and seeing her so affectionate, she felt for a moment as if she were truly Qin's sixteen-year-old daughter. Finally, unable to hold back any longer, she tearfully recounted some of her grievances. Upon hearing this, Qin burst out laughing, then sighed, "Most men are just like that, lacking in consideration. It's my fault for being careless; I thought I'd mentioned it to you before, but I forgot to explain it to you in detail this time. No matter how hard a man is, a woman should be as soft as water, tolerant of his stubbornness, only then can they be truly happy together. How can you not feel pain if you're so hard on yourself? My poor daughter..."

Danmei was taken aback by Qin's words and was momentarily stunned, even forgetting to wipe the tears welling in her eyes. Qin affectionately took a handkerchief and wiped them for her before leaning close to her ear and whispering intimate techniques. Although Danmei had known most of these techniques before, she still felt somewhat uncomfortable hearing Qin impart these secrets in person. However, after Qin finished speaking, she felt deeply moved.