Shang Yunruo raised her wine cup. "Husband, finish this cup first, and then I'll tell you."
The candlelight flickered, casting a soft glow on her creamy complexion and smiling cheeks. It was said that a beauty looked even more charming under the lamp. A woman as stunning as Shang Yunruo was even more alluring with every smile and frown.
Chu Jinli had unconsciously stared at her for quite a while. When she called him again, he snapped out of his daze and covered his embarrassment by downing the wine in his cup.
Shang Yunruo naturally wanted to get him drunk so that he wouldn't be so clear - headed and she could entice him to consummate their marriage.
However, before she could even persuade him to drink the second cup, he slumped onto the table and wouldn't wake up no matter how much she called him.
Shang Yunruo, who had a relatively good drinking capacity, was stunned. She had calculated everything, but how could she have failed to find out that he got drunk after just one cup!
Zhuoxi Courtyard was not as lively as Muchenxuan at this time. The courtyard was pitch - black, and only a single candle was burning on the desk in the main house.
Chu Yan leaned against the desk. His hair was let down, and a lock of his inky black hair was casually tied up with a silver ribbon. His snow - white straight - fronted robe was thin and light, and a gust of wind from outside the window could blow up his sleeves.
Although the desk was shabby and the environment was simple, his lazy and leisurely posture exuded an otherworldly elegance like a celestial being. His features were so beautifully drawn that he didn't seem real.
Suddenly, a man in green clothes poked his head out from the eaves. His body was lying on the roof, which was quite scary in the dark.
Chu Yan just lifted his eyelids slightly and calmly asked, "Has he left?"
Yin Shan replied, "No, he spent the night in her room."
The tip of the pen in Chu Yan's hand paused, leaving an ink blot on the white paper.
Yin Shan, who liked his own rhythm of speaking, continued, "He's drunk. He's sleeping on the bed, and she's on the couch."
Chu Yan's well - defined fingers continued to hold the pen and write. He drawled, "You observed so closely?"
Yin Shan said, "I didn't need to. The maids in her courtyard have spread the news everywhere."
The corner of Chu Yan's lips twitched slightly. "Then we'll have some fun to watch."
---
Shang Yunruo woke up the next day and found that her husband was still sleeping. She didn't disturb him.
It was the day for the newly - wed couple to visit the bride's family. According to the custom, the husband should accompany the bride out of the groom's family and back to her natal family before the hour of Si. But at this moment, Chu Jinli was still asleep. With two hours left, Shang Yunruo went to pay respects to her grandmother first.
After paying respects, she remembered that she had promised Chu Yan to visit him today. She quickly asked Chuyao to send someone to inform Chu Yan that she would visit him after returning to her natal family.
When she returned to Muchenxuan, she was hesitating whether to wake up Chu Jinli when Chuyao quietly whispered in her ear, "Just now when I passed by the kitchen, I heard the servants talking. The news that the marquis spent the night in your room but slept in separate beds has spread overnight."
Shang Yunruo's expression turned solemn. She knew the news would spread, but she didn't expect it to spread so quickly. Her courtyard was as leaky as a sieve.
She said seriously to Chuyao, "Gather all the servants in the front courtyard. I'm going to give them a lecture."
The sun at the end of the Chen hour was already quite scorching. The servants, including the guards, maids, and old women, stood in the sun, whispering at first and then chatting and arguing loudly.
Shang Yunruo sat on a chair in the corridor. After a quarter of an hour, she coughed lightly. Chuyao shouted, "Be quiet! The mistress has been sitting here for a while. Have you no manners?"
Everyone looked unhappy and secretly disdainful.
Shang Yunruo's eyes were covered with a silk ribbon. Her voice was not loud, but it gradually silenced the whole place. "Granny Wang bought the fish at a price two taels higher today. Aunt Liu suspects she took kickbacks. Zhao Yong went to the toilet twice more today, and Jiang the guard said he was being lazy on purpose. Taoling likes to wear rouge and powder the most, and Ye Ying mocked her for trying to climb into the marquis's bed."
After she finished speaking, the whole place was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
Shang Yunruo continued, "This is what I heard you talking about in the past quarter of an hour."
Everyone looked around. Those whose names were mentioned all blushed, and some glared at each other as if they were about to fight.
Shang Yunruo paused for a moment and then spoke again. "I didn't know that the maids in the marquis's courtyard were like this. I just came to this mansion and haven't set any rules for you. I'll let the past go, but if you make the same mistakes in the future, don't blame me for not warning you."
"Are you scolding the servants so early in the morning, mistress?"
Chu Jinli's voice suddenly came from behind her. After he woke up, he heard Shang Yunruo scolding the servants in the courtyard. Immediately, he remembered her reputation for being domineering and thought that she was indeed a tough character.
Shang Yunruo smiled and was about to get up to greet him when she heard him add indifferently, "In the future, just manage the servants in your own courtyard. Don't interfere in the affairs of the neighboring mansion. Send a visiting card before you go. Don't lose your manners."
After saying that, he strode away with his servant. The maids, servants, and old women in the courtyard began to whisper again. Shang Yunruo's face changed several times, and her lips were pursed so tightly that they turned white. She guessed that her uncle and aunt must have complained to him.
The servants didn't obey her because, firstly, she didn't have the power to manage the household, and secondly, Chu Jinli didn't show her the due respect.
She knew that Chu Jinli didn't like her. He married her only because of her father's power.
Remembering the disgusted look on his face in her dream when he said she was domineering and troublesome, her heart sank. She forced herself not to get angry and decided to slowly change his opinion of her and live a good life with him.
After a while, Shang Yunruo suddenly remembered about returning to her natal family. She had forgotten all about it because of this interruption!
She quickly called Chuyao. "Hurry up and find a fast - running servant to chase after the marquis. We have to leave before the hour of Si!"
After a quarter of an hour, the servant who had gone to chase after the marquis came back to report. "Mistress, I couldn't catch up with the marquis. The guards at the gate said he had left the mansion, but they didn't notice which direction he went."
Shang Yunruo tried to stay calm and calmly gave orders. "Send more people. Search in the neighboring mansion, the patrol camp, and the taverns and restaurants he often goes to. Just tell him that we have to leave at the hour of Si. Don't say anything else. Go quickly!"
Chuyao responded and quickly went to make the arrangements.
Shang Yunruo rubbed her forehead. She didn't understand how he could forget such an important thing as returning to the bride's family on the third day after the wedding. This was not just about the return visit; it was also a matter of face for the prime minister's mansion and the marquis's mansion. Many people were watching.
The incense stick was almost burnt out, and the hour of Si was approaching.
According to the custom in the Great Liang Dynasty, the bride must leave for her natal family before the hour of Si. Otherwise, it meant that the marriage would not go smoothly in the future.
She had already prepared a five - horse carriage at the gate, showing the utmost courtesy. But if she was the only one in the carriage, it would be extremely embarrassing.
The servants who had been sent out came back one by one to report that they couldn't find the marquis. The hour of Si had arrived, and even if she had to go alone, she had to return today.
She straightened her back and could already imagine the looks and comments from those who were deliberately or accidentally observing her outside the mansion.
Just as she was about to step out of the mansion, Chu Yan's voice came softly. "Are you planning to return to your natal family alone today?"
Shang Yunruo stopped in her tracks. She felt a warm hand gently hold her arm. His voice was right beside her ear.
"I'll accompany you, sister - in - law. I look a bit like my brother. It'll look better than you going back alone."