After Lin Hao finished dressing, she went with Qi Shuo, who had been waiting for her, to the main courtyard.

On the way, Qi Shuo said in a low voice, “Don’t be nervous. Father and Mother are easy to get along with.”

Lin Hao smiled sweetly. “I know.”

Having been neighbors for many years, though she hadn’t had much contact with Prince Jing and his consort, she knew they were easygoing people. She had even become good friends with the young princess, so she didn’t need to worry about sister-in-law problems.

Lin Hao raised her eyes to glance at the person walking beside her, thinking to herself: The more I think about this marriage, the more satisfied I am.

“Why are you grinning foolishly?” Qi Shuo asked with a smile.

“I’m not. Who’s grinning foolishly?” Lin Hao worked hard to suppress her upturned lips.

Qi Shuo reached out to grasp her hand. His steps were so light it seemed he could fly at any moment.

The servants they encountered along the way couldn’t help but smile seeing the young couple’s sticky sweetness that they tried desperately to hide but couldn’t.

Who would have thought? The usually gentle and calm Heir seemed like a completely different person after marrying.

In the hall of the main courtyard, Prince Jing and Princess Jing sat properly, waiting for the newlywed couple’s arrival.

“Princess Consort.”

“Mm?”

“You don’t need to keep your back so straight…”

Princess Jing sent an eye roll his way. “Your Highness should drink less tea. You’ll have to drink more shortly.”

This was her first time being a mother-in-law. Couldn’t she be a bit nervous?

Was it that obvious?

Princess Jing quietly relaxed.

Before long, a maid at the door announced, “The Heir and Heir’s Consort have arrived.”

Princess Jing couldn’t help but stiffen her relaxed body again. From the corner of her eye, she saw Prince Jing sitting even straighter than her, and the corner of her mouth twitched slightly.

The curtain at the door was lifted, and Qi Shuo and Lin Hao walked in side by side.

Both wore red clothing, their brows and eyes showing joy and sweetness they couldn’t hide even if they wanted to.

Qi Qiong sat to one side, feeling that when her brother and sister-in-law entered, the entire hall brightened considerably.

“Greetings to Father and Mother.” The two bowed to Prince Jing and his consort together.

Qi Qiong stood to greet them. “Big Brother, Sister-in-law.”

At that moment, the door curtain was hastily lifted as someone rushed in.

Prince Jing’s face immediately darkened. “Why are you only just arriving!”

Qi Huan quickly scanned the room and discovered everyone was present. Silently groaning, he pulled out a big smile. “Greetings to Father, Mother, Big Brother, and Sister-in-law.”

Prince Jing wanted to scold him further but, remembering his daughter-in-law was present, suppressed his anger.

Next came the segment where the new bride served tea.

“Father, please drink tea.”

“Good, good.” Prince Jing drank the tea in one gulp, looking so forthright it was as if he were drinking wine.

Princess Jing’s eyebrows twitched as she restrained herself.

Lin Hao received Prince Jing’s gift, then served tea to Princess Jing.

Princess Jing took the tea cup and sized up the new bride serving tea.

She had to admit, just looking at the new daughter-in-law’s deportment, she was much better than she herself had been back then.

Princess Jing took a sip of tea and smiled. “Please rise.”

Though Prince Jing’s mansion and the General’s mansion were adjacent, the two families had had little interaction before. Princess Jing’s impression of Lin Hao was like everyone else’s—mostly based on what she’d heard.

Hearing those rumors, she had always felt Second Miss Lin didn’t quite fit the mold of a proper young lady from a great household. Of course, since her son truly liked her, she hadn’t opposed it.

But today, watching Lin Hao serve tea properly with impeccable movements and deportment, Princess Jing suddenly felt she’d gotten a bargain.

Cough, she couldn’t quite put it that way, but the reality exceeded her expectations.

The smile on Princess Jing’s lips became increasingly genuine. She removed the jade bracelet from her wrist and placed it on Lin Hao. “From now on we’re one family. Don’t be constrained. Our household has few people and not too many affairs.”

“Thank you, Mother.” Lin Hao thanked her sincerely.

Though she wasn’t the type of little daughter-in-law who would suffer in silence, being able to get along harmoniously with her mother-in-law was naturally even better.

Next it was Qi Huan and his sister’s turn to present their respects to Lin Hao.

“Greetings, Sister-in-law.” Qi Huan smiled. He opened his mouth wanting to ask what gift she’d prepared for him, but catching sight of his parents from the corner of his eye, he wisely refrained from being cheeky.

Lin Hao handed over the gift.

Qi Huan took the small box and opened it—oh, an inkstone.

Wait, what was beneath the inkstone— Seeing clearly it was a gold ingot, Qi Huan’s eyes widened.

This was truly his dear sister-in-law, actually giving him money to spend!

With a snap, Qi Huan closed the box, his face radiant. “Thank you for the inkstone, Sister-in-law. This younger brother will definitely practice calligraphy more in the future!”

Prince Jing and Princess Jing exchanged glances, somewhat puzzled.

Even if the two brothers had good feelings for each other and Huan’er wanted to be more friendly toward his sister-in-law, wasn’t this too much?

The lie was told far too earnestly.

Qi Qiong stood right beside Qi Huan and naturally knew what was going on. Suppressing her laughter, she paid her respects to Lin Hao.

Lin Hao gave her a pair of exquisite and lively flower hairpins and two silk handkerchiefs she’d embroidered herself.

Once the tea ceremony etiquette ended, the atmosphere became even more relaxed. On the way back to their courtyard, Lin Hao smiled. “Mother is even more amiable than I imagined.”

Qi Shuo also smiled. “Mother is actually quite different from the world’s impression of a high-born household mistress…”

Lin Hao nodded in understanding.

With Grandmother and Mother around, she wasn’t surprised at all.

The next two days could be called relaxed and comfortable. Soon it was time for the return visit.

When they went out together, Qi Shuo breathed a sigh of relief.

During their walks in the garden these past two days, whenever A’Hao’s gaze fell on the surrounding walls, he would start worrying whether she wanted to climb over the wall to return to her maiden home.

Climbing the wall to return to her maiden home wasn’t impossible, but having just married, even if just for good luck, it was better to observe the proper customs.

“What is it?” Noticing Qi Shuo’s inexplicable relaxation, Lin Hao asked with a smile.

Perhaps they’d been too clingy these past days—when she spoke, she unconsciously carried a touch of soft sweetness.

Qi Shuo slightly averted his eyes, secretly despising his almost nonexistent self-control in front of A’Hao.

“Thinking about going to my father-in-law’s home makes me a bit nervous.”

Lin Hao shot him a coquettish look. “Why do I feel you’re not nervous but rather relieved?”

“No, I’m not.”

The two walked out chatting and laughing.

Outside the General’s mansion, a steward had long been waiting. In the hall, Lin Shi clutched a handkerchief and complained to the Old Madam, “When Chan’er married out, I didn’t feel it much with A’Hao still here. But with A’Hao married, I suddenly feel the mansion is especially quiet.”

She sighed with a somewhat gritted-teeth quality. “Even Lin Xiaohua went to Prince Jing’s mansion wearing a red silk flower on the wedding day!”

When she saw that, her heart truly felt uncomfortable.

“A’Hao just married next door. Don’t be ungrateful.” The Old Madam was too lazy to acknowledge her daughter’s complaints.

A maid entered with a beaming smile to report, “Second Miss and Second Son-in-law have returned!”

Lin Chan and her husband arrived just one step behind Lin Hao and her husband—practically at the same time.

“After all, Second Sister lives close by. I thought I left quite early, but didn’t expect to still be behind you.” Lin Chan smiled, inevitably envious that her sister had married right next door.

Han Baocheng enthusiastically pulled Qi Shuo over. “I never expected to become brothers-in-law with the Heir. Today we must drink well together.”

The men had Cheng Shu and A’Xing for company, while on this side were the Old Madam, Lin Shi, and the Lin sisters. They were all family, so the atmosphere during the banquet was very relaxed.

However, when Lin Chan picked up a chopstickful of steamed sea bass and ate it, her expression suddenly changed.