The two went directly from the palace to the Pei Manor.

Normally, according to custom, a new bride should go serve tea to her parents-in-law early on the morning of the second day. But because Li Rong was a princess, and Li Ming wanted to demonstrate his favor toward her, he held a banquet in the morning court to entertain the assembled officials. Thus, the matter of paying respects to the Pei family fell to the afternoon.

After the two finished discussing court matters in the carriage, they had wanted to each sleep for a while, but unexpectedly they arrived directly. As Pei Wenxuan helped Li Rong descend and they stepped through the gate, he couldn’t help whispering, “You still remember my family, right?”

“I remember.”

Li Rong answered quickly: “Your second uncle Pei Lixian is a smiling tiger. Your third uncle Pei Liwen is a good-for-nothing. You have three older male cousins and many younger female cousins. The three older cousins are respectively Major Jealous, Second Unscrupulous, and Third Rabbit Lord. Your mother…”

“That’s enough.” Pei Wenxuan feared if she continued, she could curse through his entire family. He quickly stopped Li Rong. “I know you remember very clearly. I won’t introduce them. Aside from my mother, do as you please.”

Li Rong looked up at him. Seeing her look over, Pei Wenxuan quickly smiled ingratiatingly: “I’ll massage your shoulders when we get back.”

“Then this palace will give Minister Pei this face.”

Hearing Pei Wenxuan’s offer of exchange, Li Rong immediately smiled.

The two were led by servants into the main hall. Upon entering, Li Rong saw a dark mass of people. This group stood up, led by Pei Liwen, to pay respects to Li Rong. Li Rong nodded and let everyone rise, then, guided by attendants beside her, sat in the first position on the left below the main seat.

Pei Wenxuan sat beside Li Rong. Pei Lixian sat across from Li Rong. Pei Wenxuan’s mother, Madam Wen, and Pei Wenxuan’s grandfather sat on the left and right of the main seat above, with Madam Wen’s chair positioned slightly lower to distinguish her status from Pei Wenxuan’s grandfather, Pei Xuanqing.

This kind of occasion clearly made her somewhat uncomfortable. Though Li Rong sat beside her without doing anything particular, Madam Wen felt an intangible sense of oppression. She looked up at Pei Wenxuan seeking help. Pei Wenxuan quickly said, “Mother, this is Princess Highness. Don’t be tense. Today is a family banquet. Just chat casually with Her Highness.”

Receiving these words, Madam Wen relaxed somewhat. Li Rong smiled without speaking, allowing everyone to secretly observe her openly and covertly.

These gazes were ones she was accustomed to, only the Pei family was slightly more exaggerated. From top to bottom, even the maids and servants from the inner courtyard had come, crowding into every gap to peek at Li Rong.

Pei Wenxuan felt somewhat embarrassed. Actually, the previous life had been much the same situation. He remembered Li Rong had somewhat mocked him then. He quickly turned to look outside and said in a low voice, “Clear the courtyard. How can just anyone come over?”

The nearby servants, receiving these words, reflexively looked at Pei Lixian. Pei Lixian coughed lightly before the butler beside him went out to clear people.

Li Rong glanced at Pei Wenxuan, then turned to look at Pei Lixian: “It seems Minister Pei manages the household.”

“Elder brother isn’t here,” Pei Lixian said respectfully. “Elder sister-in-law’s health is usually good, so I help manage things.”

“I see.” Li Rong nodded. “That must be tiring.”

Pei Lixian’s expression remained unchanged as he said respectfully, “It’s what should be done.”

As the two discussed this topic, everyone present felt somewhat fearful, worried Li Rong might tactlessly propose something like having Pei Wenxuan manage the household.

Having Pei Wenxuan manage was impossible, but Li Rong was also a princess—conflict would be inevitable at that point.

Pei Xuanqing also noticed this development. He coughed lightly and looked at Li Rong: “How is granddaughter-in-law today? Were you exhausted yesterday?”

Pei Xuanqing was no longer in court, but in his time he had reached the rank of Minister. Though he couldn’t compare to Pei Lizhi, he had held high office. Combined with his advanced age, he took the lead in setting aside Li Rong’s princess status to speak as family.

Li Rong smiled reservedly and inclined her head slightly, only saying, “Well enough.”

Such concise words left people somewhat unable to continue. Everyone realized Li Rong wasn’t easy to deal with—certainly not docile. For a moment, they were at a loss. Seeing this, Pei Lixian smiled: “Why not serve tea first? Yesterday was the wedding, today the palace held a banquet—Your Highness must be tired. Wenxuan,” Pei Lixian looked at Pei Wenxuan, “you must be considerate and take good care of the Princess.”

These words from Pei Lixian pleased Li Rong somewhat. She glanced at Pei Wenxuan. Pei Wenxuan smiled and stood, leading Li Rong forward to serve tea to Pei Xuanqing and Madam Wen.

Li Rong didn’t need to kneel when serving tea—she only needed to present it. However, in the previous life, Li Rong had feared the Pei family would be too constrained by her status, thinking she was domineering, and would later create distance between her and Pei Wenxuan. So she had softened her nature and knelt before Madam Wen and Pei Xuanqing according to ordinary new bride customs.

Thinking back now, she only felt her youthful naivety had been laughable.

With a family like the Pei family, if you showed weakness, they would think you easy to bully. Already positioned high, there was no need to lower oneself. To have power and not use it—that would be foolish.

After Li Rong finished presenting tea, Madam Wen and Pei Xuanqing gave Li Rong red envelopes. Then Pei Wenxuan led Li Rong around in a circle, introducing everyone one by one.

Li Rong’s bearing was too imposing. Standing before the Pei family members, they couldn’t speak, hastily giving red envelopes and saying a few auspicious words before letting Li Rong quickly move on.

Thus the entire process went extremely quickly. After completing the circle, the whole room fell silent with no one daring to chat. Li Rong drank a sip of tea, turned to look at Pei Wenxuan and said, “Are there other matters?”

Pei Wenxuan turned to look at Pei Lixian: “Second Uncle, are there other procedures?”

“There aren’t any.”

“Then let’s go.” Li Rong said languidly. “This palace is weary.”

These words sounded as casual as condescending to eat at any random household. The Pei family members’ expressions all turned unpleasant. Pei Wenxuan’s expression remained unchanged as he stepped forward to help Li Rong rise. He turned to Pei Xuanqing: “Grandfather,” then turned to look at Madam Wen, “Mother, your son will take his leave first.”

Pei Xuanqing’s expression wasn’t good. Madam Wen was stunned. Li Rong nodded slightly and elegantly toward everyone before walking out.

Only then did Madam Wen react, quickly rising: “Won’t… won’t you stay at home?”

According to Madam Wen’s thinking, even when marrying a princess and living at the Princess Manor afterward, when coming to the Pei family to pay respects, they should stay one night.

After all, though Pei Wenxuan had married into the princess’s household, he hadn’t married in as a son-in-law. He should have some dignity.

Originally, Madam Wen didn’t have the courage to say such things. But the wives of the second and third branches had fanned the flames, making her feel that if the two just left like this, it would be embarrassing. So now, seeing Li Rong leading Pei Wenxuan away, Madam Wen couldn’t hold back.

Li Rong stopped and looked at Pei Wenxuan.

She understood Madam Wen’s temperament—she wanted face. Having promised Pei Wenxuan to give Madam Wen face, Li Rong didn’t speak directly. She just looked at Pei Wenxuan, turned to glance at Madam Wen, then smiled: “It’s not impossible. I’ll follow Wenxuan’s lead entirely.”

Hearing this, Madam Wen immediately breathed a sigh of relief and looked up at Pei Wenxuan: “Wenxuan, then…”

“Mother,” Pei Wenxuan knew that though Li Rong said this, if he truly dared stay, she could flay him alive. So Pei Wenxuan smiled: “The Princess Manor still has many matters to arrange. I’ll come back another day to keep you company. When things are less busy in a while, the Princess and I will come visit you together.”

Madam Wen’s face stiffened, but with the conversation reaching this point, she couldn’t say anything more and could only stutter, “Then… then you two attend to your business first.”

Pei Wenxuan bowed to everyone, then left together with Li Rong.

Once in the carriage, Li Rong yawned: “Finally can rest.”

With that, she looked up at Pei Wenxuan sitting across from her, lost in thought: “What are you thinking? Are you upset I made you lose face?”

“No.” Pei Wenxuan came back to himself and smiled. “Isn’t it appropriate?”

“Oh?” Li Rong was somewhat curious, propping up her chin. “You don’t think it’s embarrassing?”

“You have your life,” Pei Wenxuan poured tea calmly. “You can’t wrong yourself just because you married me. Live however you want. They can’t do anything to you anyway.”

“What about your mother…”

“I’ll talk to her myself. You married me, not her.”

“I suddenly discovered,” having talked this through with Pei Wenxuan, Li Rong mused, “marrying you is actually quite comfortable. If I’d married someone like Lu Yu from those great households with all their rules—even if my husband could tolerate me, those aristocratic elders wouldn’t. Tomorrow they’d probably send a memorial to Father Emperor…”

Before finishing, Li Rong suddenly remembered: “Wait, Pei Lixian won’t submit a memorial tomorrow, will he?”

“Submit what memorial?” Pei Wenxuan laughed. “Saying you left right after tea?”

“True enough.”

Li Rong nodded. “I gave face. It’s their own fault they couldn’t handle it.”

Reaching this point, both couldn’t help laughing. Thinking of Li Rong standing before those relatives with everyone frightened and wanting her to leave quickly, they both felt somewhat happy.

Li Rong fanned herself cheerfully: “Today finally had one pleasant matter. But this Pei family,” Li Rong turned to look at him, “when do you plan to take it back?”

“When it’s time to take it back,” Pei Wenxuan picked up his teacup to drink tea, saying blandly, “it will be taken back.”

Li Rong acknowledged.

The two chatted idly all the way back to the Princess Manor, then returned to their room together, instructing servants not to disturb them as they went back to the bedroom planning to sleep soundly.

Pei Wenxuan had wanted to make a floor bed, but the room only had one extra set of bedding. When he asked for another set, the servant looked bewildered: “Does the Prince Consort feel cold? Why need so much bedding?”

Pei Wenxuan couldn’t find words to respond. So he didn’t ask for more and directly returned to the room.

Just entering the bedroom, he saw Li Rong had already removed her makeup and hair ornaments, taken off her outer garments, and was about to burrow into the covers. Li Rong slept on the innermost side. On the outer side of the bed lay the blanket he had brought over last night, folded neatly and placed aside.

Seeing him enter, Li Rong looked up at him: “What, didn’t get the bedding?”

“They asked if I was cold.”

Pei Wenxuan was somewhat helpless and walked to the basin to wash his hands. “I couldn’t answer well, so I came back.”

“Then just sleep,” Li Rong lay on her side, propping up her head, gently resting her hand on her hip, saying gently, “Anyway, I trust Minister Pei is an upright gentleman, a reincarnation of Liu Xiahui. I don’t mind—what does Minister Pei mind?”

“You…” Pei Wenxuan felt helpless. “Could you not…”

“Could I not be more modest.” Li Rong turned over, drawling, “Can you change your tune? Whether I’m modest or not, don’t you know?”

“Li Rong!”

Pei Wenxuan called out in a low voice. Li Rong stopped playing around and lay on the bed: “Fine, there are still so many days ahead. Can you make a floor bed every day? Every day sending out bedding to wash, getting up in the morning to put away blankets—aren’t you tired?”

Pei Wenxuan hesitated a moment. Li Rong closed her eyes: “Fine, let’s sleep. We’ve slept together before anyway. Minister Pei, stop creating trouble for yourself.”

Having spoken, Li Rong closed her eyes and slept. Pei Wenxuan hesitated a moment, then still removed his outer robe and walked over. He sat on the bed’s edge, hesitated a moment, then lay down on the bed. He thought for a moment, then said, “Don’t worry, I have no interest in you.”

Li Rong, with her back to him, laughed aloud with a “pfft.” Pei Wenxuan frowned: “What are you laughing at?”

Li Rong turned around. Each with their own blanket, she pillowed her hand under her face and smiled: “If you have no interest in me, what if I have interest in you?”

“Nonsense.” Pei Wenxuan’s face immediately reddened as he turned over. “You never have a serious word—always teasing me.”

“Pei Wenxuan,” Li Rong propped up her head to look at him, “I’ve discovered that in this lifetime, you’re quite easily embarrassed.”

“Who’s like you,” Pei Wenxuan closed his eyes, “without shame or modesty.”

“People have natural desires—why should I be ashamed?” Li Rong spoke frankly. Pei Wenxuan covered his ears and urged, “Sleep, sleep.”

Li Rong smiled as she watched him. Seeing him with his back to her, she watched with a smile for a while. Somehow, she found teasing Pei Wenxuan extremely interesting.

After watching a while, she also felt sleepy and closed her eyes to lie down.

Pei Wenxuan slowly opened his eyes. He looked ahead, repeatedly reminding himself.

Li Rong was someone who loved to joke—it couldn’t be taken seriously.