The rain alternated between heavy and light downpours, pattering relentlessly until it finally stopped just before dawn.

Qing Yuan had already finished dressing and grooming, preparing to go serve at the bridal chamber.

The little maid serving her pushed open the window, gazing at the ground still bearing traces of moisture and the sky tinged with the pale white of fish belly, and said with a smile: “Third Master really chose an excellent wedding date. The past few days were bright and sunny, and just as the bride entered the household and all the guests had dispersed, it started to rain. But who would have known this rain would only last one night—by daybreak, when the bride needs to pay respects to the family, the rain stopped. The great masters at Zhaoming Temple are truly remarkable!”

This was an auspicious sign.

Qing Yuan also felt that Yu Tang’s luck was very good.

She smiled and said: “This date wasn’t calculated by Zhaoming Temple though—Third Master consulted the imperial calendar and chose it himself.”

This showed that Third Master was even more capable.

She then instructed the little maids around her: “From now on, you cannot keep calling her ‘new bride,’ ‘new bride’—you must address her as Third Madam.”

The maids chorused their acknowledgment in unison.

Qing Yan arrived with two maids.

Qing Yuan glanced at the sky and, feeling that Pei Yan and Yu Tang probably hadn’t risen this early, invited Qing Yan to sit inside the room and asked why she had come so early.

Qing Yan was two years older than Qing Yuan and by rights could have been released from service. But she was unwilling to leave the household and had petitioned Old Madam Pei—once Yu Tang entered the household, she would take the self-combing vow. If Yu Tang employed her, she would stay by Yu Tang’s side; if Yu Tang had no intention of promoting her, she would go serve Old Madam Pei instead.

She smiled and said: “I was worried you’d be too busy here, so I came early to see if there’s anything I can help you with.”

Qing Yuan poured her a cup of tea and smiled: “We still don’t know how Third Madam has arranged things—we need to wait for instructions from the main chamber.”

Qing Yan was in no hurry and inquired with Qing Yuan: “I heard Third Madam only brought two maids with her—one called Xing’er and one called Lan’er. She didn’t bring any dowry servants. Have you dealt with these two maids? Do you know what kind of temperaments they have?”

To save face for Yu Tang, Pei Yan and Old Madam Pei had written on the dowry list that there were four dowry maids and two dowry households. But those close to the family knew that only Xing’er and Lan’er had truly come from the Yu household.

When Qing Yuan first entered the household, she had received much care from Qing Yan, and she also intended to help Qing Yan. Hearing this, she said: “I used to be quite friendly with Shuang Tao from Third Madam’s side, but she married in September. These two young girls who came this time are my first time dealing with them too, so I don’t know their dispositions. However, Third Madam is very kind and easygoing as a person, so I imagine they won’t be difficult types.”

As someone who had risen to become a head maid managing affairs in the Pei household, Qing Yan wasn’t afraid of anyone being difficult—she only feared not gaining Yu Tang’s trust.

The two chatted for a while about Yu Tang’s dowry servants.

Yu Tang’s other two “dowry” maids had both been personally selected by Pei Yan. They hadn’t seen them either and didn’t know whether they had been chosen from which Pei family estate or purchased from outside.

Both Qing Yuan and Qing Yan felt somewhat concerned.

Qing Yan could only comfort Qing Yuan: “Lei Zhi and Liu Xu are both serving by Third Madam’s side, and the two dowry households are also familiar with them. If even with all this they get manipulated by people around Third Madam, we’d have no face to remain in the Pei household.”

Qing Yuan thought the same.

She nodded with a smile. Seeing it was getting late, she called over a little maid to keep Qing Yan company while she herself led Liu Xu, Lei Zhi, and the others to Pei Yan and Yu Tang’s bridal chamber.

Unexpectedly, Pei Yan had already risen from bed and had even finished tidying and washing up. He was holding a small gilt scissors, trimming branches from that pot of orchids placed in Yu Tang’s study for ornamental viewing.

Qing Yuan hurried forward to pay her respects to Pei Yan, while also using the corner of her eye to quickly glance at him.

Pei Yan wore a silver-red Hangzhou silk plain-faced long robe. The corners of his eyes and brows all contained smiles, which further accentuated his graceful bearing and jade-like elegance. Even Qing Yuan, who forced herself to regard Pei Yan’s beauty as if it were nothing, couldn’t help but feel her heart flutter irregularly a couple of times before speaking: “Third Master, should we place the hot water for Third Madam’s washing here or pour it into the basin?”

For such a simple question, Pei Yan actually hesitated for a moment, glanced at the chiming clock in the hall, then said: “Wait a moment. I’ll go wake Third Madam.”

Qing Yuan and the others naturally dared not move or look around carelessly.

Everyone held their breath and concentrated. Faintly, they could hear sounds from the inner chamber.

Yu Tang murmured lazily, Pei Yan spoke in patient, gentle low tones, and shortly after came the rustling sounds of dressing.

One could guess they were dressing themselves.

The trusted little maid by Qing Yuan’s side couldn’t help but whisper to her: “Didn’t those serving by Third Madam’s side stand watch last night?”

Qing Yuan, terrified that Pei Yan might overhear, glared fiercely at the little maid, then turned to Qing Lian and said softly: “When you go in to help Third Madam dress her hair later, don’t let your eyes wander.”

Both Qing Lian and Qing Rong pursed their lips in smiles, their faces flushed red as they nodded repeatedly.

After quite a while, the sounds from the inner chamber finally ceased.

They heard Pei Yan call out “Come in.”

Qing Yuan lowered her hands and eyes respectfully and led the maids filing into the inner chamber.

The inner chamber had at some point had its window lattices opened. The cold wind of October poured straight through the window. Fortunately, the floor heating had already been lit, so not only did it not feel cold, but the crisp air actually invigorated everyone’s spirits.

Qing Yuan raised her head to look and saw that Yu Tang, like Pei Yan, also wore silver-red Hangzhou silk plain-faced clothing. Though men and women differed and the styles were different, one could tell they were cut from the same cloth.

She was already seated at her dressing mirror table. Her hair was roughly gathered into a bun, held with a single drop of lustrous gold hairpin. The bedding had been tidied very neatly, with the dragon-phoenix happiness quilt already folded and placed orderly on the bed.

Seeing Qing Yuan, she smiled at her.

The little maids all felt Yu Tang’s smile was radiant as flowers and dazzlingly beautiful. They were all stunned, calling out “Beautiful!” in their hearts. Only Qing Yuan, who had more contact with her, could see that her smile contained considerable shyness.

All new brides should be like this, shouldn’t they?

Qing Yuan also smiled at Yu Tang, then began directing the little maids to bring water for Yu Tang to wash her face, dress her hair and apply makeup, and tidy the room.

Yu Tang was naturally very cooperative. Even when choosing what jewelry to wear, she followed Qing Lian’s suggestions and selected a complete set of filigree gold phoenixes. But the little maids tidying the room felt somewhat awkward.

Pei Yan remained sitting on the bed throughout, watching Qing Lian and the others dress Yu Tang’s hair.

Should they tidy that bed or not?

Two little maids used their eyes to appeal to Qing Yuan for help.

From Qing Yuan’s experience serving Pei Yan, at times like this one certainly couldn’t disturb him.

She gently shook her head at the two little maids. Once Yu Tang was dressed up, Liu Xu and Lei Zhi brought in breakfast.

No talking while eating, no speaking while resting.

Though neither Yu Tang nor Pei Yan spoke, Pei Yan attended to Yu Tang from beginning to end—at one moment having Qing Yuan serve Yu Tang a bowl of black-bone chicken soup, at another placing a piece of snowflake cake on Yu Tang’s plate. When they were almost finished, he even said something unprecedented to Yu Tang: “Eat more.”

He must be feeling guilty, mustn’t he?

Yu Tang was too embarrassed to raise her head, but inwardly she grumbled endlessly.

So domineering last night, and now he was humbling himself to her—she wouldn’t forgive him so easily!

That’s what she thought, but seeing Pei Yan treat her this way, her heart couldn’t help feeling both soft and sweet. It seemed that last night’s events weren’t really so unacceptable after all. Moreover, she found herself unconsciously wanting to lean toward Pei Yan—as if just being close to him made her heart extremely happy.

How could she be so lacking in backbone?

Yu Tang felt somewhat dejected and viciously mashed the pastry in her bowl with her chopsticks.

Finally finishing the meal, Yu Tang, bringing Liu Xu and Lei Zhi with her, followed Pei Yan out of the bridal chamber.

It appeared Pei Yan planned to first perform ancestral rites and pay respects to the family.

Qing Yuan hastily gave instructions to a few little maids who would continue tidying the room, then followed along.

The Pei family’s ancestral hall was at the foot of Tianmu Mountain, but a smaller ancestral hall had also been established at the Pei ancestral residence. Routine incense offerings were performed here, while festivals like Qingming required going to the ancestral hall at the foot of Tianmu Mountain.

Yu Tang could only be formally entered into the ancestral register three months after marriage—that would be when she needed to go to the Tianmu Mountain ancestral hall. Today’s ancestral rites would be held in the small ancestral hall at the Pei residence.

She followed behind Pei Yan, walking slowly toward the small ancestral hall. All along the way were verdant trees and picturesque scenery. Everything that met her eyes was different yet everywhere similar.

Yu Tang couldn’t help but feel grateful to Pei Yan in her heart.

If he hadn’t let her familiarize herself with and understand the Pei household beforehand, marrying in like this would certainly have left her utterly confused—she’d probably get lost just trying to walk around.

But Pei Yan was somewhat worried about her physical condition. He turned around and asked her in a low voice: “Are you alright?”

Yu Tang’s face immediately burned hotly. She hastily distanced herself, saying: “I, I’m perfectly fine. You just focus on leading the way properly—don’t keep the elders waiting.”

Pei Yan smiled but suddenly stopped walking.

Yu Tang, caught off guard, nearly collided with his back.

She glared at Pei Yan with annoyed reproach.

But Pei Yan’s eyes contained laughter as he looked at her with an expression full of indulgence.

This reminded her of how he looked when he first kissed her last night.

She had been foolishly unaware of anything, staring dazedly at his handsome face, not only letting him succeed but even actively leaning toward him…

Yu Tang’s face grew even hotter.

She asked in a low voice, fierce on the outside but timid within: “You, what do you want to do?”

He didn’t want to do anything.

He just wanted to touch her.

Thinking this, Pei Yan reached out and touched Yu Tang’s face, which was as tender and smooth as a freshly peeled egg.

From the corner of Yu Tang’s eye, she could see the maids’ dumbstruck faces.

Extremely embarrassed, without thinking much, she slapped Pei Yan’s hand away with a “smack.”

Pei Yan froze.

Yu Tang also froze.

Of course she knew that what happened last night was something every married couple should do. Before her wedding, fearing she wouldn’t understand, her mother had specially had Madam Wu talk to her for a long time. She also didn’t dislike Pei Yan treating her this way and that… But knowing was one thing, experiencing it was another. She couldn’t help feeling somewhat flustered, which was why she… She certainly hadn’t meant to do it.

Yu Tang lowered her head, her eyes downcast.

From Pei Yan’s angle, he could see her raven-black lashes drooping like they’d been soaked by rain, falling limply with a touch of dishevelment, which inexplicably stirred his compassion before he found it amusing.

This little girl—just married to him and already extending her claws again, ready to scratch him at the slightest displeasure.

But this spirited Yu Tang made him cherish her all the more.

He simply pulled her into his embrace and whispered in her ear: “Well then! Getting bold, aren’t you—daring to hit me now. Just wait until we’re back in our room to see how I deal with you!”

Yu Tang’s mind flashed back to the last time Pei Yan had said those words.

Her legs went weak. If Pei Yan hadn’t been holding her, she felt she would have stumbled.

“You, you, don’t you dare!” Yu Tang said, pushing Pei Yan away and running off.

Behind her came Pei Yan’s hearty laughter.

That laughter was not only loud but also utterly carefree.