That scoundrel, always bullying her!

Yu Tang grumbled inwardly, yet didn’t realize that the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned, curving into a sweet smile.

Today was the day for paying respects to the family—of course she couldn’t really leave Pei Yan behind.

After running a few steps, she gradually slowed to a stop.

Pei Yan watched and laughed silently to himself. He quickly caught up and decided to stop teasing her, instead telling her of his plans: “After we perform the ancestral rites and pay respects to the family at Grandmother’s place, we’ll have lunch there at noon. When we return, you can see if you want to rest. If you do, we’ll take an afternoon nap first. If you still have energy and don’t want to rest, we’ll meet with the people serving us. In the evening we’ll probably need to dine at Grandmother’s place again. When we return in the evening, we’ll prepare the things for tomorrow’s return visit to your natal home. Tomorrow we’ll rise early and go to Qingzhu Lane together. What do you think?”

His tone was completely consultative.

Yu Tang looked at Pei Yan in surprise.

Pei Yan couldn’t help but laugh, saying: “Isn’t this a matter for both of us? Of course we should decide together?”

When his father was alive, this was how he handled family matters with his mother.

Yu Tang felt a little bit of happiness in her heart.

She nodded with a beaming smile.

Thinking of how shy she was, Pei Yan worried she might feel uncomfortable meeting the family members later, so he comforted her: “Don’t worry too much about the family members. Ultimately, you’ll be living with me and with Grandmother. As for the others—those you get along with, interact with more; those you don’t get along with, just maintain appearances. As for people outside the Pei family, you need pay even less attention. You are now a clan wife of the Pei family, representing the Pei family. If they don’t respect you, they’re not respecting the Pei family. If you encounter such confused people, feel free to ignore them. Whatever happens, let them come at me.”

By the end of his words, his voice carried a hint of aloofness, which reminded Yu Tang of when she first met Pei Yan—he had been just as cool and just as proud.

This was Pei Yan’s true nature, wasn’t it?

Yu Tang speculated, her heart filling with yearning.

For a person to be able to live according to their own preferences—that required real ability, didn’t it?

She couldn’t help but tug on Pei Yan’s fingers, softly humming in agreement.

A warm, delicate sensation came through Pei Yan’s fingers, suddenly giving him a feeling of satisfaction, as if his heart had been filled.

Perhaps it was because they were newlyweds?

He thought.

Before marriage, he had feared he would greatly dislike marital intimacy. Who knew that after marriage, it would be like obtaining a fascinating toy he couldn’t put down?

It was all those paintings’ fault for being so ugly.

If he had the chance, he thought he could paint a book himself.

Modeled after A Tang.

He looked toward Yu Tang.

Yu Tang smiled at him sweetly, as innocent as if she knew nothing of the world.

That appearance—as naive as could be.

Pei Yan smiled as well.

Then suddenly felt that painting wouldn’t be quite right.

While he was alive, naturally only he alone could appreciate it, but if he were gone, or if by some mishap it leaked out… Just thinking about it lightly made him feel extremely unhappy.

Better think of another way!

With a dignified and solemn expression on his face but his thoughts in complete disarray, Pei Yan arrived with Yu Tang at Old Madam Pei’s residence.

The Pei family’s ancestral hall wasn’t far from here.

They first went to pay their respects to Old Madam Pei.

Though Old Madam Pei was widowed, today was Pei Yan’s wedding day, so she had unprecedentedly worn a date-red jacket embroidered with gold all over and a forehead band adorned with turquoise. She looked magnificent and very dignified.

Seeing the perfectly matched pair before her, she smiled. After they performed their grand salutations, she beckoned to Yu Tang, took her hand, and instructed Pei Yan: “You’re an adult now. From now on, in your conduct you must not only be more steady, but also remember that in all matters you must consider your wife and children at home.”

Pei Yan respectfully acknowledged each instruction.

Old Madam Pei then asked if they had eaten breakfast. Learning they already had, she said: “Go on then! The auspicious hour is approaching. First go offer some incense sticks to the ancestors, then come back here.”

The ceremony for paying respects to the family would be held at Old Madam Pei’s residence.

The two acknowledged her words and went to the nearby small Pei family ancestral hall.

Old Master Yi and the others were waiting there. They had all changed into formal attire, and led by Old Master Yi, they went to offer incense.

Returning to Old Madam Pei’s residence, the family’s female relatives and close kin had all arrived. The courtyard was full of chattering people, with several children running wildly about. Their wet nurses or head maids followed behind them, sweating profusely as they called out warnings. The scene was comparable to New Year’s.

But in the eyes of the Pei family’s older generation, this was a manifestation of a thriving clan.

Old Master Yi even stroked his long beard and said with a smile: “Watch them carefully—don’t let them fall.”

The steward beside him naturally stood respectfully with lowered hands and responded affirmatively.

Everyone prepared to cross the courtyard to the main hall, but several children fearlessly swarmed forward, some hugging Old Master Yi’s legs, others hugging Pei Yan’s legs, calling out “Third Uncle” or “Third Grand-Uncle” and demanding red envelopes.

Old Master Yi laughed heartily, picked up one of the children hugging his thigh, and kindly told the other two children clinging to his legs: “You’ve grabbed the wrong person. Today is your Third Uncle’s wedding—you can’t hug your Grand-Uncle.”

The children looked confused, glancing at this person and that. Their pale blue eyes were pure as clear skies, making one’s heart soften just looking at them.

Yu Tang quickly glanced at Xing’er behind her.

Xing’er immediately came forward and handed over a large stack of red envelopes.

Yu Tang was about to give each child a red envelope when she heard the oldest of the children shout: “For weddings you wear red clothes—we need to ask Third Uncle in red clothes for red envelopes!”

Hearing this, the other little tots immediately abandoned Old Master Yi, who wore a deep purple silver-red five-bat patterned long robe, and rushed toward Pei Yan.

Even the child being held by Old Master Yi struggled to get down.

Old Master Yi chuckled.

An attendant beside him immediately took the child from him.

The little child then trotted on short legs toward Pei Yan as well.

Yu Tang pressed her lips together in laughter and hurried to hand out red envelopes to each one.

The children had all been well taught. They came one by one to receive their red envelopes, and after receiving them, said in baby voices “Thank you, Third Uncle’s Wife” or “Thank you, Third Grand-Uncle’s Wife.”

Yu Tang was of the youngest generation in her own family, so being called “Uncle’s Wife” right after marrying over was acceptable, but being called “Grand-Uncle’s Wife” was rather startling.

She looked at Pei Yan with some embarrassment.

But Pei Yan was smiling at her.

Yu Tang could only lower her head and gently pat the tops of the children’s heads.

The children’s wet nurses or head maids came forward one after another to take their respective young masters and mistresses.

Old Master Yi led them into the hall.

A luohan bed was placed in the central hall. Old Madam Pei sat in the seat of honor on the right, while the seat of honor on the left was empty. Several other old madams sat below Old Madam Pei, and the other Pei family female relatives sat behind the old madams according to seniority. The men were arranged to sit on the left side.

Because Old Master Yi had led Pei Yan and his wife to the small ancestral hall, the seats near the lower end on the right side were also empty. The First Madam sat there chatting with the old madams, while the Second Madam directed the household maids in serving tea and refreshments and receiving the family’s relatives.

When Yu Tang entered, the First Madam lifted her eyelids for a glance. A trace of coldness appeared at the corners of her mouth, then she continued conversing with the old madams as if she hadn’t seen her.

The Second Madam was extremely busy and only nodded toward Yu Tang.

Yu Tang immediately spotted several craning necks.

It was Fifth Miss and the others.

Yu Tang’s face couldn’t help but flush red.

Since she and Pei Yan had formally become engaged, they hadn’t seen each other.

Fifth Miss and Fourth Miss giggled with laughter.

Yu Tang bashfully returned them a smile.

They laughed even more joyously.

Yu Tang had no time to exchange knowing glances with them. The master of ceremonies began his announcements, and she and Pei Yan had to begin offering tea to the family elders.

Old Madam Pei’s gift for recognizing Yu Tang as family was a banknote. Yu Tang was too embarrassed to open it to see the amount.

The First Madam gave a set of lapis lazuli jewelry, the Second Madam gave a set of amber jewelry—both of similar value.

The other Pei family female relatives gave either a pair of gold hairpins or a pair of gold bracelets. Compared to ordinary households, these were naturally quite valuable, but compared to a Jiangnan aristocratic family like the Peis, they were quite ordinary.

This made Yu Tang breathe a sigh of relief in her heart.

From today onward, these items would be considered her small household’s income. Whatever she received, she would have to return equivalent amounts to others’ households in the future.

The Pei family’s internal gift-giving customs put relatively little pressure on her.

She gave return gifts to the Pei family uniformly—two pairs of shoes and two pairs of socks each, then according to seniority, she would add either a forehead band or a pair of fan cases or similar items.

The Pei family had many relatives. With all the commotion, an entire morning quickly passed.

Everyone stayed at Old Madam Pei’s place for lunch.

Several Pei family juniors brought wine to press upon Pei Yan, clamoring: “Yesterday Third Uncle (Third Grand-Uncle) got away—today we must make up for it.”

Pei Yan also let loose, refusing no one. He even began exchanging witty repartee with the juniors, with wine flowing back and forth.

Yu Tang found it amusing, but the Second Madam told Yu Tang with a helpless smile: “Your Second Uncle was gotten drunk this way back then. You should be careful too. You still have to make the return visit to your natal home tomorrow!”

“What should I do then?” Yu Tang had no solution either.

These were matters of social form. Everyone was taking this opportunity to have some fun. If one kept a straight face and didn’t engage, it would be too much of a killjoy.

The Second Madam had no solution either, saying: “Then I’ll have the kitchen prepare sobering soup for Third Uncle. Just remember to feed it to him when the time comes.”

Yu Tang nodded gratefully.

The First Madam glanced at the two of them wordlessly and looked thoughtfully at her son, who was joining Pei Chan and others in pressing wine upon Pei Yan.

Pei Yan again feigned drunkenness to escape several rounds from the juniors, but ultimately still felt a bit dizzy. Upon returning to the bridal chamber, he began ordering Yu Tang about—one moment wanting water, the next wanting sweets, then wanting to wash his face. He wouldn’t accept service from anyone else; it had to be Yu Tang. While being served, he also held Yu Tang’s hand and wouldn’t let go. Whenever Yu Tang showed any intention of withdrawing her hand, he would whimper, making Yu Tang so nervous she nearly went to summon a physician.

Pei Yan lazily said: “That medicine woman you mentioned last time—did you later invite her to the villa again for moxibustion treatment? If you think she’s honest and reliable, we should keep her in our household. If you have any headaches or fevers in the future, she can help.”

The Pei family clan had many members living together, so some matters inevitably became known to others, especially things like summoning physicians.

Lingan City only had those few physicians, and even fewer with superior medical skills. The Pei family was the most prominent household in Lingan City. Whenever anyone felt unwell, they would seek out these few physicians. Even if one didn’t know immediately what illness afflicted which family member, within a couple of days everyone would know.

Pei Yan didn’t want Yu Tang’s matters known to others.