Noble Son-in-Law - Chapter 21.2

Chapter 21.2

The Li family was a wealthy businessman in the south of the Yangtze River, but as Concubine Chun became favoured by the Emperor, the entire Li family moved to the capital.

The Li family had three rooms in total.

Li Zhi’s father was the eldest son of the Li family. Years ago, he faced an unfortunate death in a storm when he was engaging in business. Li Zhi’s mother was also dead; she couldn’t bear her husband’s death, and not long after Li Zhi’s father’s death, she also died, leaving the brother and sister alone.

The second room: Li Zhi’s second uncle, his wife, and several concubines. The second wife gave birth to three daughters, and the other concubines had no children. As for the three daughters, two of them were married in Yangzhou, and only the youngest, the fourth girl, Li Zhen, was waiting in the boudoir.

The third room: Li Zhi’s third uncle was about Shen Tingwen’s age. He didn’t have any concubines, and after his wife, who was also his childhood sweetheart, passed away, he didn’t marry again. He had two children: the second son, Li He, and the fifth girl, Li Yu.

In addition to those people, Li Zhi’s grandmother, Mrs. Zhu, was still in good health and lived in Wanfu Hall in the Hou Mansion.

“Girl, a few years ago, the old lady reportedly adopted Miss Jiang, an orphan girl. She was stunningly gorgeous. In any case, she was the most gorgeous person the Hou Mansion’s servants had ever seen. The old lady also gave Miss Jiang excellent treatment, and it was not worse than her own granddaughters. It’s a pity that we couldn’t take a look at her.” Yudie said a little unconvinced. ‘In terms of beauty, who can compare with our girl?’

“What are you doing by looking at others?” Shen Qingqing asked, glancing at her through the mirror. “I didn’t get married in order to outdo anyone. Unless I instruct you otherwise, we should avoid other topics in the mansion from now on,” she said.

She didn’t even care about her husband, much less his family.

Yudie learnt the lesson and gave a nod.

“Girl, do you want something to eat?” Knowing that the master had not eaten enough in the morning, Yuchan whispered as she looked at the colourful fruits on the table.

Shen Qingqing didn’t sleep well last night, and her stomach felt uncomfortable after the bumpy ride. She shook her head and went straight to the bed to lie down. Before going to bed, Shen Qingqing told the two maids, “Remember to call me when someone comes.”

Yuchan and Yudie nodded, putting the bed curtains down.

On the bed lay Shen Qingqing. She could hear the excitement in the front yard. Shen Qingqing believed she would have trouble sleeping after arriving in this unusual place. Shen Qingqing, however, may have had too much sleeplessness the night before, and she fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow.

After sleeping until nightfall, Shen Qingqing woke up hungry.

“Let the kitchen make me a bowl of spring bamboo shoots and gammon noodles.” Shen Qingqing instructed Yuchan to “add more spring bamboo shoots.”

Yuchan went to the kitchen with a smile.

Yudie helped Shen Qingqing wash her face.

Shen Qingqing simply used a cloth to wipe her face twice.

Shen Qingqing was ready after simply putting her hair in a basic bun and wiping her face twice with a towel.

“Girls don’t apply rouge?” Holding the pink porcelain rouge box she had just taken up in her palm, Yudie asked her master. She was amazed by her master’s makeup-free face.

Shen Qingqing said lightly, “No need.”

Yudie suddenly understood that the girl had no intention of living a good life with the Marquis just like before she got married.

Shen Qingqing murmured, “No need.”

Although Yudie had a hazy feeling that this was bad, she had to obey her master because she was only a maid.

Yudie placed down the rouge box and went to the main room with her master.

When Yuchan returned, he smiled and remarked to Shen Qingqing, “I forgot to tell the girl. After knowing the girl likes Huainan cuisine, the Marquise has invited Aunt Liu to take charge of our small kitchen.”

Yudie secretly winked at Yuchan.

It was only when Yuchan observed her master’s expression.

Seeing that her two maids were winking at each other. “You just know what I’m thinking,” Shen Qingqing said with a smile. “Even if we are here, we’ll continue to live the same way we did back home. You don’t have to worry.”

“Okay girl,” Yuchan and Yudie spoke one after the other.

The noodles were made very quickly, and it didn’t take long for the kitchen to bring over the spring bamboo shoots and noodles ordered by Shen Qingqing. In addition to a bowl of hot and fragrant noodles, Aunt Liu also prepared a plate of sour noodles, dried radish, and pickled cucumbers for Shen Qingqing.

Shen Qingqing began by biting into a dry radish, then chewing it in her mouth. It was sharp, chilly, tangy, and revitalising. She was compelled to take a second piece.

The ham was thick but not greasy, the noodles were chewy and silky, the spring bamboo shoots were soft and fresh, the side dishes were delectable, and the soup was very fragrant.

If she hadn’t thought about the ladylike manners, she would have finished the whole bowl of soup.

“Girl, is it delicious?” Yuchan asked with a smile.

Shen Qingqing wiped her mouth with a warm towel, looked at the soup bowl without any noodles left, and nodded.

Yuchan motioned to the little maid to clear away the dishes.

Just as Shen Qingqing was ready to rise up, she noticed two people entering via the courtyard door.

Li Zhi was the tall, lean man in the lead, dressed in red robes.

Pursing her lips, Shen Qingqing entered the inner room right away.

In an instant, the bride’s figure vanished.

When A-Rong helped him over, Li Zhi grinned and said, “Go back.”

After that, A-Rong retired.

Li Zhi entered the chamber.

As he arrived at the door, the maid who was carrying the empty dishes out stopped her steps and bowed respectfully.

Li Zhi entered the main room upon witnessing it and commanded Yudie, “Prepare water.”

Yudie said nervously, “Yes, Lord Marquis.”

Although Shen Qingqing was not afraid of Li Zhi, the two maids were very afraid of him.

Li Zhi approached the inner room at a leisurely pace.

Just in time, YuChan hurried over and raised the curtain for him.

Li Zhi stooped to go inside. He looked up to see Shen Qingqing sitting near the window with her side facing him.

The bridal chamber was decked up in excitement on the wedding day; the tea bowls and plates on the table were red, the bed curtains and comforters were red, and the dragon and phoenix candles, which were as thick as a child’s arms, were glowing even more brilliantly red.

In such an environment, Shen Qingqing’s cheeks were dyed with an intoxicating crimson colour as if a begonia had turned into essence.

It had been two years since Li Zhi last saw Shen Qingqing.

He saw that the girl had grown up, and her appearance had also changed a lot.

The childlike look on her face had quietly transformed into the charm of a beauty. With such a cold face, her face was full of charm.

‘If she were willing to smile, wouldn’t it make people enchanted?’Li Zhi stood at the door, silently admiring his bride.

Shen Qingqing had long been ready to engage in negotiations with Li Zhi and was aware that he was approaching. Although she was sitting up straight, she was surprised to see Li Zhi motionless at the entrance.

She felt like the man was looking at her as she was naked. So Shen Qingqing gradually couldn’t sit still and said, looking outside the window, “Either come in or go out; you are blocking the door.”

Li Zhi smiled and joked. “So it turns out Madam knew I was coming. But I thought she was thinking about something, so I didn’t dare to disturb her.”

Shen Qingqing didn’t say a word.

Li Zhi slowly walked to the opposite side of her, lifted up his clothes, and sat down.

Shen Qingqing continued to stare outside of the window.

The window paper had a crimson paper cut of Double Happiness on it. Li Zhi gave it a quick glance before turning away to observe the beauty across from him. “Two years no see, Madam…”

“Don’t call me Madam.” Shen Qingqing scolded the man in an icy tone.

Stunned, Li Zhi said, “Madam, if you don’t like that, how about I call you Qingqing?”

Shen Qingqing: “…”

End of chapter 21

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