Song Nian bit her teeth, wanting to speak several times but unable to succeed.

She had always only known that one must not demean oneself, but now she discovered that lacking self-awareness was even more terrifying.

It was true that she and Song Yao were legitimate daughters, but now that Elder Sister had already entered the palace, based on the Crown Prince’s previous actions, she would certainly not stop at the position of Chenghui in the future. If Elder Sister had great fortune later on, even without the two of them, the Song household could probably flourish for another thirty years.

So Father no longer forcing Second Sister to marry that Hu-surnamed disciple—was this truly a good thing?

How did it look to her more like Father had completely abandoned Song Yao because he had a better path forward?

And then there was Mother…

Hearing the waves of commotion coming from the outer courtyard of the household, Song Nian’s heart grew heavier and heavier.

With Elder Brother’s wedding imminent, no one went to ask Mother to come out and manage the wedding affairs for him. Not only that, these past few days, not a single stewardess had gone to inquire with Mother about household matters. But the storerooms were open, with people coming and going, taking things in and out, yet no one was seen reporting to Mother or retrieving tallies.

Mother had clearly been… sidelined by Father.

Looking at Song Yao, who still wore a proud expression, Song Nian bit her lip, unable to speak a single word.

No one cared about or was concerned with what the two of them were thinking. The marriage between the Song and Ming families proceeded step by step under the Song household’s orderly preparations.

Once the household’s ancestral worship offerings were prepared, Song Lan’an led Song Fu and Song Lan to worship the ancestors, heaven, and earth to inform the Song family’s ancestral spirits that a new bride would be added to the household. After the ancestral worship, Song Fu bowed to the Bed Mother. After settling the new bed with the household servants, they only waited for tomorrow’s bridal procession.

“Raise the palanquin!”

As gongs and drums sounded, Song Fu mounted his horse and headed to Duke Yingguo’s residence to fetch his bride.

Ming Xiang wore a bright red cross-collar wide-sleeved gown, with a phoenix crown on her head and a ceremonial cape draped over her body, quietly waiting for Song Fu to come receive her.

She originally had a somewhat timid nature, but ever since meeting Song Fu last time at Song Wan’s residence, she had been waiting for this day.

Whenever she thought of Song Fu’s words—”Take your time, tell me slowly”—Ming Xiang felt her heart soaked in honey, unbearably sweet.

“Miss, the young master has come to fetch you.”

Ming Xiang’s dowry maid came close to quietly remind her. She nodded slowly with a flushed face, quietly waiting for Song Fu to come receive her.

The palanquin circled through the city for a long while before entering through the Song residence’s main gate.

With a thud, the palanquin landed. A man’s hand with distinct knuckles and slender fingers lifted the curtain. Amid the clamor, she immediately heard Song Fu’s voice clearly.

“I’ll help you.”

Ming Xiang placed her hand over his, her maiden’s heart filled with sweetness, sourness, worry, yet also full of expectations for the future.

“This sister-in-law certainly has airs, bringing so many dowry attendants.”

Song Yao snorted softly and said to Song Nian, “Look, I just counted—just the personal serving maids and servants alone number no less than twenty…”

“Where are you going?”

Seeing Song Nian about to leave, Song Yao pulled her hand and frowned. “The household is chaotic today. Don’t wander around.”

“I’m going to bring some food to future sister-in-law.”

“Ha.”

“Fine, fine, fine. Go curry favor with your future sister-in-law then.”

Song Yao pursed her lips, looking at Song Nian with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, as if she were doing something foolishly self-degrading.

Song Nian lowered her head to look at the very festive pink-green vest embroidered with gold peonies she wore, then gently smoothed out the somewhat tangled waist ornament, and strode toward the small kitchen.

“Are you the second miss or third miss of the household?”

A kind-looking young maid stood at the bridal chamber door. Seeing Song Nian, she asked very warmly.

Song Nian smiled sweetly. “I’m the third. Today I wanted to come see my new sister-in-law.”

Pushing forward the pastries in her hand stamped with the red character for double happiness: “I was afraid sister-in-law rose early and hadn’t had time to eat anything, so I brought these happy pastries to fill sister-in-law’s stomach.”

She was small and clever, not only full of smiles but calling “sister-in-law” with every phrase, making everyone from Duke Yingguo’s household in the room beam with delight.

“Good girl, come in and sit quickly.”

A kind-faced matron walked out from the room, her face full of smiles.

After welcoming Song Nian into the bridal chamber, the matron pulled out a large red envelope from her bosom. “To honor the young lady, I hope Third Miss will give this old servant some face.”

“Thank you, Nanny.”

The nanny beamed with joy and let Song Nian go to the innermost part of the bridal chamber to see Ming Xiang.

“Sister-in-law, I’m your third younger sister. I came to bring you some happy pastries. Remember to have some later.”

Thinking that Ming Xiang had difficulty speaking, after finishing, she left with a smile, not lingering at all.

After Song Nian departed, all the maids and matrons in the room praised her endlessly. Who wouldn’t like a sweet-tongued young girl?

Ming Xiang was also very happy seeing that plate of happy pastries. This first gesture of kindness received in her future husband’s family, she appreciated deeply.

As night gradually darkened and the commotion outside drew closer, Ming Xiang bit her lip and wrung her fingers, her heart full of bashfulness and fear.

“Greetings to the young master.”

Voices rose and fell in the room. Ming Xiang heard a warm, gentle male voice slowly speak: “You’ve all worked hard today.”

The nanny who came with Ming Xiang’s dowry smiled and said it wasn’t hard. Just as she was about to ask the young master for a lucky charm, she saw Song Fu’s expression become solemn.

“I have something I want to ask.”

Seeing his serious expression, everyone in the room, including Ming Xiang, had their hearts rise to their throats.

“When at Duke Yingguo’s residence, were there rules preventing your young lady from speaking?”

The matron was startled and thought carefully before saying hoarsely, “Miss… because it didn’t conform to aristocratic family propriety, there were indeed situations where we would restrain Miss from speaking when outside.”

Song Fu said, “I don’t know Duke Yingguo’s household rules, but now that she’s at my Song residence, from now on you must not and cannot restrain her from speaking.”

She already had difficulty speaking. Repeatedly interrupting her—wouldn’t that just add insult to injury?

Song Fu had long disliked this rule of Duke Yingguo’s household. It was just that previously, although he knew about it, he had no way to speak against it. Now that Ming Xiang had married him as his wife, he naturally didn’t want her to suffer such grievance anymore.

“You may all withdraw. There’s no need to attend.”

Song Fu didn’t want the wedding attendants waiting nearby. After sending everyone away, he walked before Ming Xiang.

Feeling Song Fu standing beside her yet making no movement for a long time, Ming Xiang couldn’t help but grow nervous and worried.

“Husband…”

The young lady’s delicate, sweet voice came from beneath the veil. Song Fu was startled upon hearing it, his tone instantly softening by seventy to eighty percent.

“I’ve been touched by some wine fumes and fear they’ll bother you.”

He reached out his hand to lift the steelyard and raise the veil. The young lady beneath the veil opened a pair of round, smiling eyes and stared at him blankly.

Song Fu didn’t know why, but suddenly he also began to smile.

The young lady’s cheeks were flushed, as if shy, yet also as if unaware of shame as she gazed at him foolishly.

“You…”

Being stared at by her made him somewhat restrained. Song Fu gave a soft hum. “Truly… I can do nothing with you.”

Having said this, he gently covered Ming Xiang’s dark eyes that tugged at his heartstrings with his hand and pressed his lips against the young lady’s slightly parted mouth, lightly colored with rouge.

“Mm.”

She was startled and instinctively made a sound, which gave Song Fu the opportunity to attack and gradually devour her completely.

With one hand hooking the bright red happy curtain on the bed, Song Fu encircled Ming Xiang in his embrace and pulled her backward as they fell.

“Husband…”

The word “husband” didn’t know how many times the young lady had secretly called it. Song Fu couldn’t hear any trace of difficulty in her speech.

He propped himself up on his arms before Ming Xiang and said in a low voice, “You may call it a few more times, call it for me to hear.”

Having said this, he gently leaned down upon her.