As the bride’s family, they placed particular importance on the return home ceremony.

The Li residence had been bustling since early morning—sweeping the courtyards, slaughtering chickens and sheep, with everyone from top to bottom busy at work.

Li Guangwen had skipped work again.

The Li family master, newly promoted to father-in-law, dressed himself properly and paced back and forth in the courtyard.

“Third Master and Third Mistress have returned,” a servant reported.

In the capital, married daughters were addressed as “mistress.”

Li Guangwen immediately headed toward the front courtyard. Because he walked too hastily, his foot slipped and he lunged forward, quickly grabbing onto a nearby tree to steady himself.

“Master, why are you in such a rush?” He Shi’s smiling voice came from behind.

Li Guangwen turned to see He Shi holding Brother Fu standing at the doorway, and couldn’t help but frown: “Why are you bringing the child out in such cold weather?”

“Zhaozhao has come home, so naturally I want Brother Fu to see his sister and brother-in-law.”

Li Guangwen cleared his throat lightly: “Then let’s go!”

The couple hurried toward the front courtyard. When they neared the guest hall, He Shi suddenly stopped, handed Brother Fu to the wet nurse to carry away, straightened her collar and hair, and asked: “Master, is my hair messy?”

“Not messy, not messy. You’re not a young girl going to a flower gathering—why do you care so much?” Li Guangwen dropped this comment, passed He Shi, and walked inside. At the doorway, he quietly tugged at his robe hem.

He Shi silently rolled her eyes.

What happened to not caring?

The couple entered one after the other. Shao Mingyuan immediately stood to greet them: “Your son-in-law pays respects to father-in-law and mother-in-law.”

“Ahem.” Li Guangwen walked in with his head held high and chest out. Seeing his daughter’s rosy complexion, he nodded with satisfaction, sat down, and gave a reserved “mm.”

“Lord Marquis, please don’t be so formal.” He Shi was increasingly pleased with her son-in-law.

When she had just entered the room, she had noticed that the son-in-law’s gaze never strayed from Zhaozhao’s side, showing he truly cared for Zhaozhao.

How a man treated a woman didn’t require listening to his words—his expressions and actions made it clear at a glance.

She didn’t care about her son-in-law’s other qualifications; treating her daughter well was most important.

Shao Mingyuan’s expression was respectful: “Mother-in-law may simply call your son-in-law by name.”

“I’ll just call you son-in-law then.” He Shi became even more satisfied.

At the returning home banquet, Shao Mingyuan took his seat at the head table, accompanied by Old Madam Deng, the Li Guangwen couple, and Li Hui.

Liu Shi was currently in confinement after childbirth, and the two daughters were observing mourning for their father, so naturally none could appear.

Shao Mingyuan first toasted Old Madam Deng, who smiled and said: “This old woman asks for nothing else, only that Lord Marquis treats Zhaozhao well.”

“Grandmother, please rest assured. Your grandson-in-law will remain constant toward Zhaozhao.”

Next was Li Guangwen.

Li Guangwen cleared his throat and said with a stern face: “Lord Marquis, just remember today’s promise. Also, it’s good for a man to earn money, but he must also manage it well. Don’t carelessly spend that two thousand shi annual salary of yours—you’re a family man now.”

Supporting a family wasn’t easy—he understood this deeply.

Shao Mingyuan maintained a humble smile: “Father-in-law speaks truly. Your son-in-law’s annual salary is five thousand shi, and in the future, I’ll leave it all for Zhaozhao to manage.”

“That’s good.” Li Guangwen nodded with a beaming smile, then suddenly froze. “Wait, wasn’t it two thousand shi? How did it become five thousand shi?”

Shao Mingyuan explained without changing expression: “Your son-in-law is ashamed—this is entirely due to my late father’s legacy.”

Marquis Zhenyuan had been posthumously elevated to Duke Zhenyuan by Emperor Mingkang, and the title should naturally be inherited by his only son, Shao Mingyuan. However, Emperor Mingkang was particularly fond of the title “Marquis Guanjun,” believing that changing it randomly would affect his fortune, so he continued to address him as such. In reality, Shao Mingyuan’s treatment already matched that of a duke.

Since Great Liang’s founding, only a few families held ducal positions, with astounding annual salaries.

Emperor Mingkang, currently in seclusion, sneezed.

The New Year was approaching again. By rights, he should make up the partial salaries owed to officials from last year. Just thinking about it was annoying—should he simply remain in seclusion through New Year?

Hearing Shao Mingyuan’s explanation, Li Guangwen was already dazed.

An annual salary of five thousand shi meant over five hundred shi per month, while his was eight shi per month…

Thinking this, Li Guangwen felt terrible.

Such a huge disparity—was this forcing people to rebel?

Seeing her husband’s subtle expression, He Shi feared he might say something inappropriate and quickly laughed and scolded: “Master, why talk about such things? It’s not important anyway.”

She had given her daughter such a generous dowry that even if her son-in-law earned only eight shi monthly, her daughter could live comfortably. Anything that could be solved with money wasn’t a big deal.

Li Guangwen quickly glared at He Shi.

What did she mean it wasn’t important? This woman didn’t understand the hardship!

Shao Mingyuan pretended not to notice the silent exchange between his father-in-law and mother-in-law. After toasting to He Shi, it was Li Hui’s turn.

Seeing Shao Mingyuan raise his cup, Li Hui immediately stood up, feeling somewhat at a loss under everyone’s gaze.

“This cup is for a brother-in-law.” Shao Mingyuan drained his wine without changing expression.

Li Hui’s face immediately turned red: “Lord, Lord Marquis, please don’t be so formal…”

Although his sister’s husband calling him “brother-in-law” wasn’t wrong, this person was several years older than him. He was still a student at the Imperial Academy, dependent on his parents’ protection, while the other was already the renowned Marquis Guanjun.

Hearing Marquis Guanjun call him “brother-in-law” made him feel truly apprehensive.

Old Madam Deng watched coldly but became even more satisfied.

That Marquis Guanjun could respectfully address Hui’er, his peer, as “brother-in-law” showed he truly cared for Third Girl.

A man only respected his wife’s family when he cherished his wife.

After the meal, Li Guangwen and his son entertained the new son-in-law with tea, while Qiao Zhao was pulled away by He Shi for an intimate conversation.

“Zhaozhao, how have these past days been? Are you adjusting well?” He Shi dismissed the serving maids and took Qiao Zhao’s hand to ask.

Qiao Zhao nodded: “Mother, please rest assured. There are no elders in the marquis residence, so your daughter makes all decisions. There’s nothing special to adjust to.”

Who knew He Shi would roll her eyes upon hearing this: “Who asked you about that?”

Qiao Zhao was slightly stunned, looking at He Shi in confusion.

He Shi glanced at the doorway, confirmed the maids were stationed outside with no one coming in, and pulled out an exquisitely packaged small booklet from her breast.

Qiao Zhao couldn’t help but freeze seeing the familiar packaging.

While she was stunned, He Shi had already opened the small booklet, calmly flipping through it: “Did you follow mother’s recommendations?”

Qiao Zhao: “…”

“Don’t just blush without talking—this is a major matter concerning women’s health and offspring.”

“No.” Qiao Zhao replied awkwardly.

So there wasn’t just pre-marital education, but post-marital evaluation too!

“No?” He Shi immediately raised her voice. “How can that be? Didn’t your mother tell you that you’re young, so intimate relations between husband and wife can’t be taken lightly? What about afterward? Did you take precautions? Mother told you that the contraceptive soups commonly given to concubines in ordinary families mustn’t be touched—drinking too much of those medicines will inevitably harm the body…”

Seeing He Shi about to continue her lecture, Qiao Zhao quickly said: “Mother, I mean… we haven’t yet…”

Why did she have such a responsible mother? Could she exchange it for a different one?