Xiao Qiao was startled, feeling Wei Shao’s hot breath on her ear and neck. Goosebumps instantly rose on her skin as she quickly leaned back, trying to avoid his pressure.

“What’s the matter, husband? I don’t understand what you mean,” she responded, her voice slightly wavering due to her nervousness.

Her eyes had gradually adjusted to the darkness. Although she still couldn’t see clearly, she could distinctly feel his gaze fixed upon her.

After a moment, Wei Shao finally sat up slowly. The space between them opened up.

Xiao Qiao exhaled, only then realizing that one of her hands was still pressed against his thigh.

His thigh muscles were firm and lean. Through the thin layer of clothing, she couldn’t tell if it was her palm or his skin that felt so warm. She quickly withdrew her hand and tried to crawl back into bed. As she moved off his leg, she found herself stuck, her clothes somehow caught under his foot.

Xiao Qiao tried to tug it free.

She couldn’t tell if he was doing it on purpose or if his leg was truly that heavy, but it didn’t budge.

She tugged again.

“Husband, you’re pressing on my clothes,” she reminded him softly.

After a moment, Wei Shao seemed to let out a cold snort from his nose and slightly lifted his leg. Xiao Qiao, finally free, hurriedly crawled into bed and lay down on the innermost side. She couldn’t help but grumble inwardly.

Due to the concept of male superiority and female inferiority, one of the teachings women typically received before marriage was that when sharing a bed with their husbands, they should follow the order of the man sleeping on the inside and the woman on the outside.

This man, probably out of habit, had been sleeping on the outside since their first night together. Xiao Qiao didn’t feel comfortable asking him to move inside, so she ended up sleeping on the inner side.

And yet, he had so many annoying habits.

She truly preferred sleeping on the outside – more space and easier to get up and down!

…

Wei Shao felt his thigh relax as she withdrew her hand.

The spot where her palm had been pressing seemed to cool down quickly.

He remained sitting, motionless. The spot on his forehead where he had bumped earlier still ached faintly. It might bruise by tomorrow.

He had heard her laughing earlier.

And before that, when he had just returned and stopped at the doorway to clear his head due to his drunkenness, she had looked concerned, telling the maids to come and support him, but she just stood there without approaching.

She thought he couldn’t tell, but the concern on her face was feigned.

If she were truly concerned, wouldn’t she have come over to help? Would he have broken her arm if she had?

Men often tend to be like this – even if they don’t care for their wives, they subconsciously expect her to be utterly devoted to them.

Wei Shao was just such a common man.

If Xiao Qiao had come over to support him earlier, he might not have even let her touch him.

But since she didn’t move, it became her fault.

If he understood correctly, the Qiao family had proactively married off their daughter to him as a gesture of goodwill.

Was this how they had instructed her to serve him before the marriage?

Wei Shao glanced at the figure on the inner side of the bed.

She was now curled up in the farthest corner, motionless like a cat, emanating an air of obedience from head to toe.

Wei Shao finally felt a bit better. He touched his forehead once more, then fell back onto the bed.

As he lay down, he suddenly recalled the fleeting sensation when she had stumbled and fallen onto him earlier.

Her front had felt… quite soft.

…

The next morning, Wei Shao woke up.

He had drunk far too much last night, and after sleeping off his intoxication, he still had a slight headache.

He opened his eyes and immediately saw a face, his gaze fixed.

After a brief moment of confusion, his consciousness quickly cleared.

Somehow, after sleeping through the night, he and this woman had ended up face to face, quite close, with only about an elbow’s distance between them.

To be more precise, he had rolled towards her in his sleep.

She was still in a deep slumber, her long hair slightly disheveled over one side of her neck, with a few strands sticking to her lips. Her cheeks were flushed from sleep, and her curled eyelashes had a hint of mischief about them.

Wei Shao’s gaze lingered on her face for a while, then, almost instinctively as a man, he naturally looked down at her slightly loosened collar.

Although they had only lived together for a few nights, Wei Shao had already noticed that she always kept her collar tightly closed when sleeping, as if he might do something to her.

He found it somewhat amusing, her childish behavior.

But now, since her collar had loosened on its own, he felt it was harmless to take a look.

Wei Shao felt a small sense of vindictive pleasure at this thought and glanced at the few inches below her exquisitely formed collarbone that were visible from her collar.

He began to feel uncomfortable down below and wanted to relieve himself.

At this moment, Xiao Qiao’s eyelashes fluttered slightly.

Wei Shao quickly averted his gaze and turned his back to her.

Xiao Qiao opened her eyes to see Wei Shao still sleeping with his back to her. She rubbed her eyes, and her gaze fell on the window outside the bed curtains. Suddenly, she was wide awake.

She had overslept! The day was already bright!

It was too late now to go with Old Madam Xu good morning!

She wanted to try and leave a good impression on Wei Shao’s grandmother. Even if she hadn’t originally intended to, after meeting her yesterday, the idea didn’t seem so far-fetched anymore.

But how unlucky to oversleep like a pig on the very next morning after Madam Xu’s return!

It was bad enough that she had slept late, but why hadn’t Chun Niang come to knock and remind her? Could everyone in the West Chamber have slept through as well…

Xiao Qiao was on the verge of tears as she sprang up from the bed like a coiled spring.

Wei Shao opened his eyes and turned his head, frowning as he watched her clumsily climb over his legs: “What’s wrong with you? Is there a wolf chasing you this early in the morning?”

“I’m late! Overslept! I’ll be late to greet Grandmother!” Xiao Qiao replied hastily, ignoring him as she got off the bed with a dejected face.

Wei Shao slowly turned and sat up, adjusting his collar with a mocking smile: “Is it really necessary? Grandmother won’t eat you if you’re a bit late!”

Of course, you have nothing to worry about!

Xiao Qiao grumbled inwardly, somewhat resentful towards him. If he hadn’t returned so late last night and caused a fuss before bed, she wouldn’t have overslept this morning.

Xiao Qiao ignored him, hastily closed her collar, and hurried to open the door. As expected, Chun Niang and the maids who assisted with washing up were already standing in the corridor. Seeing Xiao Qiao, Chun Niang immediately said in a low voice, “My Lady, please don’t worry. Old Madam just sent word that she knows the Young Master returned late last night after drinking, so you two need not rise early to pay respects. That’s why I didn’t knock.”

Xiao Qiao finally relaxed a little and let the maids in to help her wash and dress.

Wei Shao seemed to deliberately oppose her, moving at an excruciatingly slow pace. She, a woman, was already fully prepared, while he was still putting on his outer robe. Even tying his belt took forever, making Xiao Qiao’s eyes blaze with frustration as she watched, wanting to slap him. Finally, when he was ready, he ate a few bites of the breakfast that had been brought in. Only then did he glance at Xiao Qiao and say leisurely, “Let’s go.”

Xiao Qiao followed him out.

By now, it was almost half an hour past the normal time for paying respects. The sun had already risen above the ridge of the North Chamber. The couple walked to the North Chamber under the watchful eyes of the servants, but not to yesterday’s main hall. Madam Xu was in her usual living room, which was quite crowded. Besides Madam Zhu and Zheng Shu, even Wei Yan was present. He looked spirited, chatting and laughing by Madam Xu’s side. When he heard the maid announce Wei Shao and Xiao Qiao’s arrival, he stopped and turned his head.

Not just him, but everyone else in the room also turned to look at them.

Wei Shao walked in with a nonchalant expression, while Xiao Qiao lowered her eyes and stood beside him in front of Madam Xu.

She had already noticed Madam Zhu’s gaze fixed on her, and the feeling was indescribably uncomfortable.

“Grandmother, your granddaughter-in-law pays her respects,” Xiao Qiao curtsied. “I’ve been truly disrespectful. On the day after Grandmother’s return, I’ve been so lazy. I beg Grandmother to punish me, I won’t dare to do it again.”

“It’s alright,” Madam Xu seemed quite amiable. “I told them not to disturb you. Have you eaten? If not, there’s still some hot porridge here, you two can have some.”

“We ate before coming. Grandson thanks Grandmother for her love and understanding of my late return last night. It won’t happen again,” Wei Shao said with a smile.

Wei Yan laughed heartily, “It’s my fault. I insisted on keeping Zhong Lin for drinks last night and let him go quite late. He probably couldn’t even recognize the way home. The fact that he could get up this morning shows that his wife has taken good care of him. If Grandmother wants to blame someone, blame me.”

Xiao Qiao didn’t look up, but she felt his gaze sweep over her as he spoke.

Madam Xu smiled, “It’s natural for you brothers to sit down and drink together after not seeing each other for so long. But next time, don’t drink too much. It’s bad for your health.”

Wei Yan and Wei Shao both agreed. The brothers stayed a while longer, discussing the upcoming birthday banquet with Madam Xu. She told them not to be too extravagant, that a simple affair would suffice. Then they were dismissed and left in turn. Wei Yan and Wei Shao went to discuss matters with the steward, while Xiao Qiao returned to the West Chamber.

In the North Chamber, Madam Xu kept Madam Zhu behind and sent Zheng Shu out, leaving only the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

Madam Zhu knelt beside her, and seeing that her mother-in-law remained silent for a long time, she felt uneasy, having feared her for most of her life. After some hesitation, she finally ventured with a smile, “In a couple of days, it will be Mother-in-law’s birthday. The whole household has been busy these past few days, and I haven’t had a moment’s rest either. Though it’s tiring, I’m happy in my heart.”

Madam Xu smiled faintly, “It’s just a small matter. According to my wishes, there’s no need for such elaborate preparations. But since you all insist on not listening, I can only go along with it to avoid being accused of not appreciating your filial piety.”

Madam Zhu laughed along, “How could that be? It’s truly the younger generation’s filial duty. It’s only right.”

The Old Madam nodded, her single eye looking towards Madam Zhu. Suddenly, she said, “I remember that Miss Zheng is now eighteen or nineteen, isn’t she? A girl at this age should be married off soon. It’s not good to keep her at home any longer. Keep an eye out, and if there’s a suitable family, arrange her marriage.”