The Mansion of the Marquis of Pingning.
Although Jiang Fuyue said she didn't care, when she stepped into the mansion and saw that even the red wedding characters had disappeared from the gate, a sense of resentment welled up in her heart.
It was just that Pei Qing'an didn't notice her uneasiness at all. He only said, "I still have official business to attend to. You go and keep mother company first."
Leaving this word behind, he went straight to the study.
Jiang Fuyue was seething with resentment but had nowhere to vent it. She sat in front of the bronze mirror gloomily, feeling extremely aggrieved.
She had just returned from her wedding visit. Why did Qing'an ask her to serve her mother - in - law alone?
Clearly, before the wedding, Qing'an had cherished her and showered her with sweet words. In her past life, Qing'an had even...
"Miss, think about what the madam told you," her personal maid Chunhua advised when she saw her indignation.
Jiang Fuyue dug her long fingernails deep into her palm and frowned in pain.
Her mother had told her to be filial to her mother - in - law and gain her support. But she knew little about the Marquise of Pingning in both her past and present lives. How could she dare to serve her casually...
"Miss, think about that day in the Duke of Zhennan's mansion," Chunhua continued. "The Marquise protected you a lot. She must be easy to get along with. As long as you're willing to go, she will surely remember your kindness."
The annoyance faded a bit, and Jiang Fuyue suddenly gained confidence.
Chunhua's reminder made her suddenly recall her past life.
The Marquise of Pingning had taken Jiang Fuying to various banquets. She had not only taken good care of Jiang Fuying everywhere but also praised her for her virtue and good conduct.
Such a kind - faced lady, who could be so amiable to Jiang Fuying, would surely be even more lenient and kind to her, right?
With full hope in her heart, Jiang Fuyue suddenly stood up. "Let's go. I'll go and keep mother company."
After all, the Mansion of the Marquis of Pingning was just a marquis's mansion, so it was much smaller in area than the Duke of Zhennan's mansion.
It didn't take long for Jiang Fuyue to reach the main hall.
Just as she was about to step in, she was stopped by the maid guarding the door.
"Without the madam's order, no one is allowed to enter without permission!"
Jiang Fuyue was furious. She had come to serve the Marquise out of filial piety. How could this be considered an unauthorized entry?
If it were in normal times, she would have scolded this maid for being blind.
But now, she had just married Qing'an, and she needed to be a gentle and lovely wife.
So she had to swallow her anger and patiently explain, "I've just returned from my wedding visit and come to serve mother."
The maid still blocked the door. "The Lady of the Heir Apparent, please wait here. Enter only after you get the madam's permission."
"Okay. Please help me convey the message to mother," Jiang Fuyue said in a gentle voice, suppressing her temper.
The maid glanced at her indifferently and went inside to convey the message.
Jiang Fuyue originally thought that conveying the message would be a simple matter, so she stood upright, wanting to present the best posture to meet the Marquise of Pingning and leave a good impression on her.
But she never expected that the maid's message - conveying seemed to have disappeared without a trace. More than half an hour passed, and she didn't come out to reply.
By now, how could she not see that the Marquise of Pingning was deliberately disciplining her, the new bride?
Her body almost lost its balance, but Chunhua quickly caught her.
"Miss, let this servant find a soft stool for you to sit on and wait."
"No need," Jiang Fuyue managed to squeeze out these words through gritted teeth.
The door of the main hall was wide open, and there were many maids and servants coming and going. As a new bride being disciplined, how could she sit and wait for the Marquise of Pingning?
After standing for so long, she had already figured it out.
The Marquise of Pingning was kind - hearted. She was just following the etiquette and had to discipline her, the new bride.
When the time was right, the Marquise of Pingning would surely summon her immediately.
After comforting herself, she resignedly closed her eyes and continued to wait in place.
Time flew by. After waiting for an unknown amount of time, a majestic female voice suddenly came from the main hall.
"Rarely is she so sensible. Dinner is about to be served. Let her go to the dining hall to serve the dishes."
Jiang Fuyue's beautiful face completely crumbled for a moment.
Did she hear correctly?
The Marquise of Pingning meant that she, the Lady of the Heir Apparent, should go to the dining hall to serve the dishes herself?!
As if to confirm her suspicion, the next second, a serious - looking nanny walked out of the main hall.
"Lady of the Heir Apparent, please follow this old servant."
"Nanny, I..."
She instinctively wanted to refuse, but the nanny interrupted her coldly, "Lady of the Heir Apparent! The madam is your mother - in - law. You should be filial. How can you disobey the madam's order?"
The word "filial piety" was all - important, so Jiang Fuyue had to shut up.
But she never expected that having her serve the dishes with the maids in the dining hall was just the beginning.
When dinner was served, the Marquise of Pingning ordered her again, "Fuyue, come and serve the dishes for me."
She cast a pleading look at Qing'an, who was also at the table, but Qing'an ignored her.
Helplessly, she had to put down her chopsticks and obediently walk to the Marquise of Pingning's side.
She was used to being served in the Jiang family. How could she do such a delicate job as serving dishes?
When she put an unpalatable dish into the Marquise of Pingning's bowl, she was scolded, "You can't even serve your mother - in - law properly. Have you really put your heart into it!"
When the soup accidentally splashed on the Marquise of Pingning's sleeve, she was scolded again, "Jiang, do you want to harm your mother - in - law?"
Jiang Fuyue was full of grievances and hoped that Pei Qing'an would defend her.
But the latter remained silent throughout. He only put down his chopsticks at the end and said, "Mother, I'm full. I'd like to go back to our room with Fuyue first."
Only then did the Marquise of Pingning reluctantly let her go.
On the way back to their room with him, Jiang Fuyue poured out all her grievances.
"Qing'an, mother tortured me like that just now, and you didn't even say a word for me!"
Tears welled up in her eyes and fell like broken beads. "This afternoon, mother disciplined me and made me stand for several hours. She also made me go to the dining hall to serve the dishes, and then serve the dishes for her during dinner. I..."
Pei Qing'an gently pulled her into his arms. "I know. You've suffered grievances."
"Mother is always kind - hearted. I think she didn't mean to make things difficult for you," he coaxed her gently. "But you know, according to the rules, the mother - in - law always has to discipline the new bride."
Jiang Fuyue almost wanted to retort.
In her past life, Lady Lu hadn't disciplined her!
But when she met his affectionate eyes, she swallowed the words back.
Since she had finally married Qing'an as she wished, what was wrong with following the rules?
As they were talking, they had already returned to their room.
The red wedding characters were still pasted on the window lattice, and the candlelight was dim. Looking at her in front of him, a hint of darkness flashed in Pei Qing'an's eyes.
Jiang Fuyue was still tugging at his corner of the clothes and coquettishly said, "Qing'an, can you talk to mother for me and ask her not to be too strict with the discipline..."
"Okay, I'll talk to mother for you."
He couldn't wait to kiss her, sealing her lips with his.
"Um ~ Qing'an..."
The remaining words were all drowned in the bed.
After a moment of tenderness, he held Jiang Fuyue contentedly in his arms and told her.
"Fuyue, mother had a very hard time raising me. You and I are one. Usually, I'm busy with official business. I'll have to trouble you to be more filial to mother for me and try not to disobey her."
Jiang Fuyue was so dizzy from his coaxing that she readily agreed. "Qing'an, I'll listen to you."
In her opinion, as long as Qing'an had her in his heart, that was enough.
As for the Marquise of Pingning?
Sooner or later, she would be able to move her with her sincere heart!
This life was completely different from her past life.
Now that she had successfully married Qing'an and they were in love, her life would surely be a thousand times better than Jiang Fuying's in her past life!