Drawing aside the bed curtains and lighting a candle, the room instantly brightened.

Jin Chao lay on the bed feeling completely exhausted. The square beaded lantern overhead made her dizzy, and she fell asleep in a daze. Chen Third Master blew out the fire stick and turned to look at her, lying motionless with closed eyes, which he found somewhat strange.

Her small face was nestled in the crimson brocade quilt, fine sweat beading on her forehead, making her appear somewhat pitiful, though her breathing was steady. She had fallen asleep…

She must be too tired.

He sighed helplessly and strode toward the door. Jin Chao’s night servant was waiting outside. Chen Third Master ordered hot water, and soon a matron carried in a huanghuali wood bathtub. Lead Matron Wang came to consult with Chen Third Master: “…The servants have prepared everything. Should we wake the Lady?”

Chen Yan Yun gazed at Jin Chao’s sleeping face for a moment before saying softly: “…No need.” He walked to the bed, lifted Jin Chao in his arms, entered the washing room first, and placed her in the bathtub. Then Matron Wang led two maids inside.

Chen Third Master glanced at these two maids, about fifteen or sixteen years old, with unfamiliar faces. One wore a brand-new silver-red sleeveless jacket, while the other wore a light blue short jacket, both with lowered heads. He asked Matron Wang: “Are these maids part of the Lady’s dowry?”

Matron Wang replied: “They were originally selected by the Elder Lady to serve you, but since you never used them, they’ve been serving the Fourth Miss. The Elder Lady instructed me that they are now assigned to serve the Lady…”

Chen Third Master gave a slight nod and said: “New maids probably won’t know how to serve properly. Go fetch the Lady’s dowry maids.”

Matron Wang curtseyed in acknowledgment and went to find Qing Pu and Cai Fu.

The two maids stood awkwardly in the washing room, where the candlelight created an intimate atmosphere. Just moments ago, the Third Master had personally carried his wife in for bathing. Third Master wore only a straight robe; though tall and straight, his temperament was quite gentle… When Matron Wang brought Qing Pu and Cai Fu in, both maids looked up. These maids wore satin clothing and could wear either pure gold bracelets or silk flowers, indicating they must be the new Lady’s maids.

The maid in the silver-red sleeveless jacket bowed first: “Greetings to both sisters.”

Matron Wang said: “Young ladies, please help the Lady bathe first.” She dismissed the maids who had entered with her.

Chen Yan Yun waited in the west side room, reading a book.

Jin Chao was gently awakened by Qing Pu and saw the red candles still lit in the washing room. She found herself in a warm bathtub, soaking comfortably…

“It’s just past the third watch… Please dress now,” Qing Pu whispered, helping Jin Chao put on her clothes.

Jin Chao was quite awake now but felt her stomach growling… She hadn’t eaten all day.

“Tomorrow you’ll need to accompany me for the tea ceremony and family introductions. You should rest early too,” Jin Chao said. “There are maids keeping watch outside.” She knew the two were concerned about unfamiliar maids watching over her during the night, but being tired tomorrow would be worse.

Both smiled and agreed, then withdrew from the washing room.

Jin Chao emerged wearing a lake-blue plain satin padded jacket and saw Chen Third Master reading by lamplight. Hearing her approach, he closed his book and said: “You sleep on the inside.” It would be better for him to keep some distance from her.

Jin Chao glanced at the luohan bed… Earlier there had been a tray of food on the kang table…

Had it been removed?

Her stomach ached with hunger, but calling for food now would seem improper.

When Chen Yan Yun didn’t hear her response, he looked up. She wore a lake-blue padded jacket that accentuated her porcelain-like skin. Why was she looking at him this way? He avoided her gaze, stood up, walked over to her, put his arm around her shoulders, and closed the lattice screen.

They lay on the bed again. However, Chen Third Master slept on the outside, lying on his side, keeping his distance from her.

Jin Chao’s stomach ached with hunger. After Chen Third Master stopped moving, she carefully turned, trying to find a comfortable sleeping position.

With eyes closed, invisible things became extraordinarily clear through other senses: Jin Chao’s faint camellia fragrance, the soft rustling sounds of her careful movements, teasing his heart and lungs.

Chen Third Master finally couldn’t bear it and sighed softly: “Stop moving…”

Jin Chao immediately froze. Wasn’t he asleep? She asked quietly: “Did I disturb you? I thought you were asleep…”

It seemed useless to keep his distance; even far apart, she was still beside him, their breaths close enough to smell each other. Chen Third Master reached out again to pull her over, helplessly pressing himself against her, his voice deep: “You didn’t disturb me… do you understand?”

That burning thing… Jin Chao’s face instantly reddened.

Everything else was manageable, but across her two lifetimes, her experience in this area was the poorest. How had she spent her wedding night in her previous life? She couldn’t quite remember, except that she had closed her eyes and endured, never even seeing Chen Third Master’s expression throughout, and determinedly making no sound. After once or twice more, he had noticed her coldness, and they had stopped sharing a bed; he had moved to the east wing room next to his study.

When had they ever been this intimate…

Pinned beneath him, she couldn’t move, and her breathing gradually grew warmer…

Chen Third Master thought of her earlier demeanor, closed his eyes to restrain himself for a moment, withdrew from her body, and covered her with the thin quilt. Then he asked: “Why can’t you sleep? Are you thinking about tomorrow?” His voice remained hoarse, desire not fully retreated.

His attempt to change the subject was too obvious… but Jin Chao found it convenient. She adjusted herself and said: “It’s nothing, just that I slept a bit on the way here, so I’m not sleepy now. Dawn will break soon; you should sleep first…” Her stomach was hungry, but she would never say such a thing. The stomach pain would pass if she endured it a while; it wasn’t a big deal.

They lay down again. Jin Chao couldn’t fall asleep for a long time, staring at the sachets hanging from the four corners of the stepped bed, with the colored lantern light filtering through the crimson gauze curtains. She suddenly felt a strange yet comforting sense…

Her hand suddenly touched something at the edge of the bed. Jin Chao felt it for a moment and determined it was a peanut. It must have been thrown during the bed-scattering ceremony, and the matrons hadn’t cleaned thoroughly. It was Matron Wang who had called servants to clean… Jin Chao remembered this Matron Wang, a wet nurse brought by Madam Jiang as part of her dowry, skilled at embroidery. In her previous life, the woman had never been truly loyal to her, though she had been serviceable enough.

As she thought about this, the peanut had already found its way into her mouth, quite naturally. What could one be picky about when starving? She carefully chewed and swallowed the peanut.

A soft laugh came from beside her: “Is there a mouse?”

Jin Chao was startled—he was still awake!

Wasn’t he tired? After a full day of wedding processions, entertaining guests, and staying up so late.

Having been through everything, she remained composed. She explained: “This concubine is hungry.”

Chen Yan Yun finally couldn’t help laughing, his body shaking. Then he cleared his throat and explained: “It’s my fault. I noticed you hadn’t touched the meal. I meant to remember, but later…” He rose and helped her up. “Eat something before sleeping.”

Would they disturb the matrons outside? That would certainly reach Elder Lady Chen’s ears by tomorrow. Coming over on her first night and asking for food, how would that look? Jin Chao declined: “Let’s forget it. It’s already so late.”

Chen Yan Yun smiled: “We won’t light a candle. There are tangerines and cakes in the west side room. I’ll get them for you…”

Was he trying to ease her concerns? Jin Chao thought as she sat up. She saw him exit through the lattice screen, and shortly after, he brought her tangerines and chestnut cakes, sitting at the edge of the stepped bed. His gaze still held a smile as he looked at her as if she were still a child who liked eating in bed…

The Chen family was a great household with a scholarly tradition. How could one eat by the bedside? He wasn’t being proper at all.

Jin Chao took the chestnut cake and sat in the grand armchair to eat.

When Matron Wang brought sugar-water poached eggs for her to eat the next morning, Jin Chao naturally couldn’t eat anything.

She took just one bite before setting it aside. Qing Pu helped her with her toilette.

Women’s preparations were always more complicated. Chen Third Master was already dressed and waiting for her in the west side room, reading while he waited.

Today they would not only offer tea and pay respects, but people from the Third Branch would also come to meet her. Her appearance couldn’t be too simple or too elaborate. Jin Chao chose a bright red auspicious-patterned padded jacket, styled her hair in a married woman’s round bun, and wore a jeweled knot inlaid with purple crystal and pearl drops. Her features were already striking, so heavy makeup wouldn’t suit her. She simply drew fine eyebrows. Feeling this was appropriate, she went to call him from the west side room.

Chen Third Master took a sip of tea. Looking at her with her married woman’s hairstyle, her bright face still showed traces of youthfulness, emphasizing her slender neck and snow-white skin… He nodded and said: “This is good.”

They subsequently went to Elder Lady Chen’s residence.

The rear courtyard of the Chen family mansion wasn’t arranged in the usual east-west wings, but designed in the style of a Jiangnan garden. Various buildings were connected by pathways and winding corridors. Following Chen Third Master out of the bridal chamber, Jin Chao discovered they were in a three-section residence. The bridal chamber was located on the right side of the second section, with five main rooms and two side rooms, and a connecting corridor linking the east and west wing rooms. Several fragrant osmanthus trees grew in the courtyard, with a stone vat on the right holding pale yellow water lilies in full bloom…

She remembered now. This residence was close to the front courtyard and was called Osmanthus Hall. In her previous life, Elder Lady Chen’s granddaughter had lived here while staying with the Chen family. Now it had been given to her.

Chen Third Master took large but slow steps to wait for her, explaining how to navigate the Chen family residence. He told her which families lived where, and also spoke about the residence: “…Father served as an Imperial Censor in Suzhou for over ten years, so it was renovated in a garden style. One shouldn’t wander around without a guide.”

Jin Chao looked at the familiar scenery gradually unfolding before her, thinking that while others might not be familiar with it, she knew it very well.

Past this path lined with fragrant locust trees, the pink walls and black tiles visible among the crabapple trees marked the residence of Second Lady Chen. Further in, past a waterside pavilion, was the Sixth Branch’s residence. In another direction, beside a large bamboo grove, was Elder Lady Chen’s residence, connected to a small Buddhist shrine, with a lotus pond behind it…

Though somewhat hazy, she still remembered it clearly.