The spring night was short and fleeting.

Song Fu felt he had just closed his eyes when he heard the softened footsteps of a maid outside the room.

“Young Master, it’s time to offer tea and pay respects to the master and madam.”

The speaker was the dowry matron Ming Xiang had brought. Her tone was gentle but she had no choice but to wake the two. This was the new bride’s first time offering tea to her mother-in-law and father-in-law—she absolutely could not be late under any circumstances.

Having said this, she gestured for the maid beside her to prepare hot water.

Song Fu opened his eyes and gently tucked the disheveled hair from the forehead of the person in his arms behind her ear, calling softly, “Ming Xiang…”

He called out gently, but Ming Xiang unconsciously stretched out her hand and burrowed herself into Song Fu’s embrace.

“Ha.”

Song Fu chuckled softly and lifted her up.

The young lady’s face was full of fatigue, her eyes half-open in a drowsy, confused manner, making Song Fu’s heart feel tender.

He got up and picked up both their clothes from yesterday one by one, organizing them neatly, then went to the wardrobe to get their undergarments and other clothing.

When Song Fu returned to the bedside, Ming Xiang was still lying on the bed sleeping soundly, with no intention of getting up at all.

The matron outside knocked on the door again. Song Fu said, “Go prepare the things for entering the palace today first. There’s no need for you to help with the rest of washing up and changing clothes.”

Smiling as he scooped up his little wife who had melted into a soft puddle from the blankets, Song Fu pulled out her undergarment to help her put it on bit by bit.

It wasn’t until he was teasing the person who was still sleeping in a daze that Ming Xiang opened her eyes in confusion.

But the moment she saw the bare-chested Song Fu, she turned red from head to toe in an instant.

“Hus-husband… I…”

She wanted to raise her hand to snatch the undergarment from Song Fu’s hands, but just as she reached out, she shyly withdrew quickly back into the blankets. The scenes from yesterday when the two were intimately entwined, their lips and teeth mingling, all came flooding back. Ming Xiang felt her face was about to catch fire.

“Take your time speaking.”

Song Fu laughed softly, his deep voice seeming to carry magic, making Ming Xiang’s entire head feel dizzy after hearing it.

Embracing her along with the blanket, Song Fu pulled out a soft undergarment to put on her.

“I… I…”

Song Fu’s eyes were full of mirth. “I remember yesterday you called ‘husband’ very smoothly.”

Already unable to speak clearly, being teased by Song Fu like this made Ming Xiang unable to say a single word. Song Fu wasn’t in a hurry either, just like arranging a small child, he put on her clothes and shoes one by one.

When she was pulled out of the room, Ming Xiang’s head was still dizzy, in a daze not knowing east from south, north from west.

“This servant will apply makeup and arrange Madam’s hair.”

The maid came forward to wash Ming Xiang’s hands and face, then carefully styled her hair in a married woman’s bun and applied rouge and powder before leading her before Song Fu.

“Are you feeling better? If you’re uncomfortable, I’ll have the household matrons carry you in a palanquin.”

Hearing this, Ming Xiang hurriedly shook her head. “My… my… self…”

She pointed at herself, indicating there was no need for anyone to carry a palanquin.

The number of maids and matrons she had brought when marrying into the Song household was already quite improper. But Grandmother cherished her and feared she would have no power to manage the household in the future, so she had arranged many stewards who could help her.

She was grateful for Grandmother’s love, but also feared arousing the Song household’s displeasure.

If she now also rode in a palanquin to offer tea to her parents-in-law, if word got out, people would say the new bride was putting on airs.

The more anxious she became, the less she could speak. All the matrons and maids in the room held their breath, not daring to make a sound, afraid that on the very first day of her marriage, their young lady would incur her husband’s displeasure.

Who would have thought Song Fu simply nodded with a smile. “Then I’ll support you as we walk.”

Ming Xiang’s face reddened as she smiled sweetly with pursed lips.

The two made their way to Song Lan’an’s courtyard.

After offering incense to the ancestors, Song Fu accompanied Ming Xiang as they met all the household elders, juniors, and stewardesses one by one. Nearly everyone in the entire Song household appeared. Even Yang Pianzhi arrived early with a happy expression waiting in the main hall. Only Madam Song was absent.

The married couple paid respects to everyone. Ming Xiang also met the household’s younger siblings and gave meeting gifts. They were busy until noon before finding time to rest.

Song Fu was fine, but the person in his arms was thoroughly exhausted.

“Husband, I… I… Madam… attend to illness?”

Song Fu shook his head. “No need.”

After thinking, he added, “You’ll understand in time.”

Although Ming Xiang had a pure heart, she was still a young lady from an aristocratic family. Just hearing these words, she knew Madam Song’s serious illness was false, and there must be other hidden circumstances.

Thinking carefully about Madam Song’s background and origins, she felt she had guessed four or five parts of it.

“Father has entrusted the household management to you. Just take it on. If there’s anything you don’t understand, go ask Nanny Song. She’s an old servant Mother left behind—you can trust her.”

Ming Xiang smiled faintly with pursed lips, her eyes full of adoration for Song Fu.

The two had lunch at the Song residence before taking a carriage to the palace.

In the carriage, Song Fu held Ming Xiang, letting her lean against him for a brief rest. Only when the carriage arrived at the palace gates did he wake her.

“Aunt is kind. You need not worry.”

When Changping came to receive them, he saw this young couple being so loving and sweet with each other. He covered his mouth with a smile and quickly welcomed them to Changxin Palace.

Song Yuning and Song Wan had been waiting in Changxin Palace early. Both wore very festive clothing today. Even Shen Qianbai wore a water-red straight robe embroidered all over with silver-patterned blessings.

Several people sat in the bedchamber quietly waiting. Song Yuning nervously fidgeted with the gold hairpin on her head.

“Aunt today seems more nervous than the new bride herself.”

Song Wan smiled gently, teasing Song Yuning.

“Now you’re even making fun of your aunt.”

Being teased like this, Song Yuning relaxed. She touched Shen Qianbai’s cheek and said, “You need not wear this mask when seeing your cousin.”

Hearing this, Shen Qianbai paused and removed the face covering.

When Ming Xiang stepped into Changxin Palace, she saw the three people inside all stand up together. Already nervous, seeing this situation, the forms of address she had been silently reciting all along the way suddenly became difficult and unfamiliar again.

“Greetings to Virtuous Lady Yun, Third Prince, and Chenghui Song.”

Song Fu bowed to the three. Shen Qianbai and Song Wan both stepped aside to avoid his bow.

As soon as her husband finished speaking, Ming Xiang nervously opened her mouth. “Gree… greetings… Your Ladyship, greetings… Third… Pri… Prince, greetings… Chen… Chenghui.”

She spoke slowly, but her face had already turned red with anxiety.

When facing Song Fu, she didn’t feel particularly embarrassed, but when facing Song Yuning and Song Fu’s juniors, she felt ashamed of losing face for her husband.

Who would have known that neither Shen Qianbai nor Song Wan minded these things? Both returned the greeting, saying they had met Cousin’s Wife and Sister-in-law.

Song Yuning also laughed heartily. “Good child, no need to be nervous. If you can’t say it well, just say it slowly. After all, we’re family who will spend a lifetime together. How can we rush this moment?”

“Sister-in-law, just listen to Aunt. You can’t go wrong.”

No one mocked Ming Xiang, nor did they act like other people she had encountered before, pretending nothing was wrong and never mentioning her speech impediment. Instead, everyone gave her gentle kindness, making Ming Xiang develop a stubborn determination from the bottom of her heart.

Why should she have to speak in such a halting manner forever?

Turning her head to look at Song Fu, who was gazing at her with a gentle expression, Ming Xiang secretly vowed that next time she entered the palace, she would definitely be able to greet Virtuous Lady Yun and the others smoothly and clearly.