Noble Son-in-Law - Chapter 25.1

Chapter 25.1

“Grandma, please drink tea.” Shen Qingqing, who was kneeling on the ground, took out the teacup from the tray and handed it to Mrs. Zhu with a smile.

Although she married Li Zhi, she still represented the Shen family, so she didn’t want others to laugh at her Shen family. Therefore, even with a reluctant mind, she followed the customs. As for Li Zhi, he was a hypocrite in her mind, and Shen Qingqing didn’t care what Li Zhi thought.

Mrs. Zhu smiled and nodded, then looked more closely at her eldest grandson’s wife while she drank the tea.

To be honest, she didn’t know about this marriage until the Emperor’s edict came to the mansion. She was deeply dissatisfied with the marriage. She raised her eldest grandson after his parents’ death, so why didn’t he even discuss such a big matter with her?

However, after Li Zhi analysed the pros and cons, Mrs. Zhu felt much better.

Shen Qushenge was in charge of the civil affairs while Li Zhi was in charge of military affairs.In terms of lintel, the Shen family was worthy of their Li family. There was a queen in the Shen family, while there was a noble concubine in the Li family. If the situation changed in the future and the two families became hostile, with Shen Qingqing, they would be able to solve it. So it would be better if Shen Qingqing married her grandson.

After drinking tea, Mrs. Zhu bent down, held Shen Qingqing’s little hand, and said with a smile, “Okay, okay, Qingqing, Zhongchang praised you so much, but your grandmother didn’t believe it. But now I see the real person, and she indeed looks like a fairy. It is Zhongchang’s luck to marry you.”

[Tl: I think “Zhongchang” is Li Zhi’s nickname.]

“Thank you, Grandma.” Shen Qingqing bowed her head with a shy face and replied. All she wanted was to go with the scene. ‘I’m not foolish enough to believe it.’

“This is your grandmother’s wish. So please take it, Qingqing.” Mrs. Zhu took out the meeting gift she had asked the maids to prepare and handed it to Shen Qingqing.

The rosewood box’s lid was open, revealing a set of green emerald nugget earrings and heads valued at thousands of gold. Such heads and nuggets were unfamiliar to the majority of the capital’s official ladies.

Shen Qingqing simply gave it a quick look before smiling and closing the box and saying, “Thank you, Grandma.”

Mrs. Zhu gave a nod as a response.

Shen Qingqing gave the box to Yu Chan after Li Zhi helped her get up, and then she followed Li Zhi to serve tea to the second master, Mr. Li, and his wife.

At last, while serving tea, Shen Qingqing became aware of Mr. Li’s eye movements. Unconsciously, she glanced at Li Zhi and noticed that his normally cheerful face had now turned icy and appeared extremely serious.

When the second wife noticed that Li Zhi was angry, she quickly gave Shen Qingqing the meeting present she planned to give and introduced her daughter to Shen Qingqing, saying, “This is your fourth sister, Azhen. At daytime, Zhongchang has to run errands, so you can ask Azhen to come over and chat with you if you’re bored.”

Li Zhen, a fifteen-year-old, affectionately called Shen Qingqing her sister-in-law.

With a smile, Shen Qingqing answered, “Fourth sister”.

The pair quickly reached the third bedroom after continuing past the second.

The third master, Mr. Li Sanye, had been widowed for many years and had not remarried. So he had to personally hand over the meeting gift he had prepared for Shen Qingqing, which was a rabbit-shaped mutton-fat jade paperweight.

“Thank you, Third Uncle,” Shen Qingqing said respectfully. Shen Qingqing had a positive opinion of Third Master Li because he never forgot his dead wife.

“This is your cousin Zhongjing.” Li Sanye introduced his son, Li He, pointing to him.

Shen Qingqing gave Li He, who appeared solemn, a nod.

The young man with a quiet voice yelled out, “Sister-in-law!” and saluted.

Introducing his daughter once more, Mr. Li Sanye said, “This is your fifth sister, Ayu.”

Grinning, Shen Qingqing called her fifth sister.

Although the fourteen-year-old Li Yumei was beautiful, her features were cold and arrogant. She lowered her eyes after calling her sister-in-law lightly.

Shen Qingqing didn’t take it to heart.

Everyone started eating after the tea ceremony.

The Li family was wealthy, and the meal was very rich. Thankfully, Shen Qingqing was not a poor girl, and she knew to behave without making herself a joke.

After the meal, Li Zhi and Shen Qingqing had to go to the palace to meet Noble Concubine Chun.

Li Zhi said to Shen Qingqing as they left, “The second uncle behaves badly. You are not required to show him respect. The rest of the family is free to come and leave.”

Shen Qingqing gave a noncommittal nod. She would show civility to those like the Li family if they were courteous; if not, she would disregard them.

As he was talking, they arrived at the gate of the Li Mansion.

A carriage was ready in front of the gate.

Li Zhi kept walking beside Shen Qingqing. When the coachman set up the stool, Li Zhi smiled gently and said, “I’ll help Madam.”

The man stretched out his hand gracefully. The hand was slender and white with clear knuckles.

However, it was this hand that made waves on her body last night, forcing her to beg for mercy repeatedly.

Shen Qingqing’s face grew hot as she thought about last night.

In the eyes of the servants and maids waiting around, the young and delicate Mrs. Li was shy.

Li Zhi could understand his young wife’s flushing instinctively, and the reason actually made him think wicked thoughts once more.

Li Zhi thus gripped it a little more tightly when Shen Qingqing placed her hand in his.

Shen Qingqing had to halt before she could stand firmly because she was so uncomfortable with the man’s warm palms.

Li Zhi gave her a considerate hand.

Shen Qingqing hurriedly got into the carriage.

Li Zhi trailed closely behind. He spotted her sitting next to the car window when he got in.

Her lips were pursed gently, round and delicate, which complemented her crimson face, very tempting to taste.

Have a nice day!