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"If not for the Marquis protecting us, with that little scoundrel from the Fan family rushing over like that just now, we sisters might all have fallen and been injured!" Eldest Daughter Shou Hua also spoke with a serene expression. Of course, her tone was as emotionless as before, but it directly hit the nail on the head. In her words, Fan Lianghan was no longer "Young Master Fan," but a "little scoundrel"! And the Marquis's actions just now were simply an act of righteousness, preventing a wicked incident from occurring in broad daylight within the Fan residence.
"What?" Wei Tingzhen stepped forward two paces, looking at Chai An, and said, "If Young Master Chai wishes to take responsibility for the Fan family's crime, then shall we all take a trip to Kaifeng Prefecture?" Her meaning was also very clear: if it went to Kaifeng Prefecture, it wouldn't just be Wei Tingyu involved; her Duke Jing's Mansion would also join in the fun! Seeing that so many eyes witnessed the recent events, and so many mouths could testify, he simply couldn't twist black into white and blame Wei Tingyu for this matter. He could only purse his lips, then turn around indignantly and walk directly out.
"What a joke!" Wang Yingxue coldly scoffed, looking at Chai An's retreating back. That's it? And he's quite famous in the capital's circle of noble young masters? The whole person combined can't even compare to a single strand of our Marquis's hair!
Night fell. The gates of the Four Fortunes Tea House were tightly shut, but the back courtyard was bustling with excitement! Although there were only eight people present in totalāLady Li Niang, her daughters, her servants, and Wei Tingyuāthe entire back courtyard had been decorated with great festive cheer! Red silk and lanterns hung everywhere, and large red "å" characters were pasted on the doors! It looked exactly like a lively wedding scene!
Although he couldn't welcome Shou Hua and Fu Hui into the residence with the rites of a principal wife, Wei Tingyu considered that both of them had been married before. Even though their bodies remained pure, to prevent the two women from feeling inferior, he held a small wedding ceremony in this back courtyard. Of course, suspended above was the sun, moon, mountains, and rivers! Wei Tingyu was amenable to bowing to heaven and earth!
Lady Li Niang watched as Wei Tingyu, the groom, walked in from the front hall, holding a red-veiled daughter on each side. Tears welled up in her eyes from excitement. Fu Hui's concubine contract had also been signed and handed over to Wei Tingyu earlier, so her two daughters now belonged to him! He could have simply turned around and led Shou Hua and Fu Hui into his residence, yet he still voluntarily gave them a wedding! This thoughtful gesture made Lady Li Niang exclaim in her heart that she had entrusted her daughters to the right person!
Third Daughter Kang Ning looked at Wei Tingyu and her two sisters, a faint smile on her face. Her heart was a little sour at this moment, but more than that, she felt blessings for her two sisters! After all, she also knew that Wei Tingyu was indeed a reliable and worthy husband! As for Fourth Daughter Hao De and Fifth Daughter Le Shan, they had no personal thoughts whatsoever, merely happily clapping and cheering with Qiong Nu!
"Brother-in-law!" Fifth Daughter Le Shan raised her wine cup towards Wei Tingyu, who had just led Eldest Sister and Second Sister into the room and came out to drink with everyone else. "I entrust my two sisters to you! I toast you!" After speaking, she didn't wait for Wei Tingyu to reply and directly drained the wine in her cup, displaying the demeanor of a valiant female hero!
Lady Li Niang, sitting in the main seat, frowned at this, then smiled at Wei Tingyu, saying, "My Fifth Daughter has always had this personality! She's a bit straightforward, but she's actually very gentle on a daily basis!"
"I know!" Wei Tingyu suppressed the urge to laugh and returned a toast to Fifth Daughter Le Shan, then nodded to Lady Li Niang. Isn't this personality just like my own noble concubine, Zhao Zhangru? This is good; now that Fifth Daughter Le Shan enters the residence, she'll have a companion! It would also save Zhao Zhangru, that little lass, from clinging to him all day, complaining that she was the only one practicing martial arts among the concubines in the residence and was terribly bored without anyone to accompany her.
"Then I'll also toast brother-in-law!" Fourth Daughter Hao De, seeing her younger sister toast Wei Tingyu, quickly stood up and mimicked her, toasting him as well. Wei Tingyu naturally welcomed all toasts; it was rare for him to be so happy today! Especially since the Li family's major affairs were basically resolved, and these remaining three young girls would eventually be his, so he was extremely relaxed at this moment and not in a hurry at all.
However, Wei Tingyu's demeanor, seen through Kang Ning's eyes, made the young woman's delicate brows furrow involuntarily. Now that Eldest Sister and Second Sister had successfully entered the Marquis's Residence, surely she would be next in line, wouldn't she? But seeing the Marquis's current manner, it was clear he had already taken her for granted, believing she had no one else to marry besides him. Although Kang Ning herself thought the same, for truly, no other man besides Wei Tingyu could stir her heart. But thinking of how smug this fellow was, and how she seemed like fish on a chopping board, to be handled at his whim, Kang Ning's competitive little spirit grew somewhat rebellious.
She still had to marry! But she absolutely wouldn't marry so easily! Kang Ning's eyes darted about as she thought of this.
"Third Daughter!" However, her little expression, of course, couldn't escape her mother, Lady Li Niang. The moment she saw her daughter's eyes darting, she immediately understood that this little lass's thoughts were surely spinning as rapidly as her eyes.
"What is it?" Third Daughter Kang Ning was startled upon hearing her mother's words, then asked with some doubt.
"Let me tell you!" Lady Li Niang's heart burden was already half lifted, with the remaining half being the safe and smooth entry of her three remaining daughters into the Marquis's Residence. So she immediately spoke to Kang Ning, "You are not allowed to cause any messy troubles! Just wait peacefully to be married!" Of course, the "waiting to be married" she spoke of meant waiting for the Marquis to marry her! As for when, that was entirely up to the Marquis's will.
"I know!" Kang Ning pursed her lips and eventually agreed offhandedly. And Lady Li Niang also knew that her daughter wouldn't be persuaded so easily and would inevitably cause some trouble. However, fortunately, Kang Ning wasn't an insensible person, so she probably wouldn't cause any major chaos, right?! Lady Li Niang felt helpless but could only try to console herself.
"Third Sister!" Fourth Daughter Hao De, after toasting Wei Tingyu, looked at Kang Ning and asked, "Why don't you toast brother-in-law?"
"What 'brother-in-law'?" However, Kang Ning merely chuckled and said, "I think you two should just call him 'Young Master'! It'll save you the trouble of changing it later!" The moment her words fell, Fourth Daughter Hao De and Fifth Daughter Le Shan surprisingly blushed. After all, even young girls, no matter how small, knew how to be shy. How could they not understand the hidden meaning in Third Sister's words? Right now, they called Wei Tingyu "brother-in-law," but once they entered the Marquis's Residence in the future, wouldn't they still call him "Young Master"?
"Oh dear! Oh dear!" Lady Li Niang immediately stepped in to mediate, saying, "What nonsense are you talking? You haven't entered the Marquis's Residence yet, so of course you still have to call him 'brother-in-law'!" After all, future matters were for the future. If her three unmarried daughters were to call Wei Tingyu "Young Master" now, wouldn't outsiders laugh them to death?
"What's the difference?" Third Daughter Kang Ning, on the contrary, pursed her lips and said, "Isn't it going to happen sooner or later?"
"Alright, alright!" Wei Tingyu, seeing this young woman argue with her mother and sisters, quickly said, "Call me whatever you wish! I don't mind. If it's truly difficult, you can even call me Marquis!"
"My good son-in-law! He's just so understanding!" Lady Li Niang's face immediately broke into a wide smile upon hearing Wei Tingyu's words. Strictly speaking, she was only the mother of Wei Tingyu's concubines and was not qualified to call him "son-in-law." But Wei Tingyu had told Lady Li Niang before that in the Marquis's Residence, whether a lady or a concubine, regardless of their status as principal wife, co-wife, or noble concubine, he treated them all as wives in his heart! In this way, Lady Li Niang calling Wei Tingyu "son-in-law" felt perfectly right and proper.
As the saying goes, a mother-in-law looks at her son-in-law, and the more she looks, the more pleasing he becomes. Lady Li Niang's heart bloomed even more joyfully as she looked at Wei Tingyu! After all, a son-in-law who was so wealthy, of such high status, and so doting towards her daughters would truly be impossible to find a second of in the entire capital!
"Then I'll just keep calling him 'brother-in-law'!" Fifth Daughter Le Shan looked at Wei Tingyu, then said, "It's not too late to change it later!"
"Me too!" Fourth Daughter Hao De nodded repeatedly upon hearing this, indicating that she would stand with her Fifth Sister and advance and retreat together.
"..." And Third Daughter Kang Ning, upon hearing her Fourth and Fifth Sisters' words, immediately looked helpless again: "You two stick together for everything. I think when you enter the Marquis's Residence in the future, it'll be just like Eldest Sister and Second Sister today! You can enter the bridal chamber together!"
"..." The moment Third Daughter Kang Ning said this, her Fourth and Fifth Sisters immediately wilted, and their small faces turned beet red. After all, they were young girls, and it was impossible not to be shy when talking about the bridal chamber! Of course, when they were shy, they didn't dare to argue with their Third Sister, but instead directly went to their mother to complain playfully.
"Mother! Look at Third Sister..."
"Third Sister is bullying us again!"
Seeing her Fourth and Fifth Daughters pulling on her arms, one on each side, endlessly complaining playfully, Lady Li Niang's heart swelled with joy. These five daughters of hers! Each one is a treasure! She had originally thought that after they married, they would be scattered far apart, and it would be difficult for her to even see one of them again. But she never expected that the Marquis would be willing to take all five daughters into his residence, and they would all live in the capital. Wouldn't it be very convenient to visit each other later?
"Hehehe..." Lady Li Niang grew happier the more she thought about it. She ignored her two daughters' playful complaints and simply giggled foolishly.
"Mother, what are you thinking about again?" Kang Ning was also bewildered upon seeing this scene. Sometimes her mother was just a bit inscrutable.
"Nothing! Nothing!" Lady Li Niang, of course, wouldn't tell her daughters these thoughts. Seeing Third Daughter Kang Ning looking at her, she quickly waved her hand and said, "Alright, alright! Just eat, drink, and play, then go to sleep. Today is the Marquis's great joyous day; don't stay up too late!"
"Since it's a joyous day, what's wrong with staying up a little late?" Fifth Daughter Le Shan was the most mischievous, and upon hearing this, she immediately became unhappy again.
"That won't do..." And Fourth Daughter Hao De shook her head and said to Fifth Sister, "You'll have had your fun, but wouldn't that leave our sisters waiting anxiously in the room?" Lady Li Niang was originally a bit embarrassed, unsure how to explain to her Fifth Daughter, that little lass, that the bridal night was a very arduous affair, especially since she had two daughters marrying out today! For the groom, it was somewhat of a challenge! However, upon hearing her Fourth Daughter's words, she immediately nodded in agreement, going along with the flow: "Exactly, exactly! They are your own sisters; do you want them to wait anxiously?"
"Oh!" Fifth Daughter Le Shan only then nodded, at the same time playfully sticking out her small tongue.
"Since that's the case, I'll go into the room first!" Wei Tingyu, upon hearing the conversation between mother and daughters, felt a bit awkward and superfluous being there. So he smiled, stood up, and lightly spoke to Lady Li Niang.
"Son-in-law..." Lady Li Niang immediately stood up, wanting to say something to Wei Tingyu by way of instruction, but halfway through, she froze again, because the words that followed seemed difficult to utter. She flushed slightly, her lips trembled a few times, and after a few seconds of holding back, a few words finally squeezed out from between her teeth.
"Take it easy!"
The moment these words came out, Wei Tingyu almost couldn't help but laugh. This Lady Li Niang is truly concerned! But didn't she have confidence in her son-in-law's body? However, thinking about it, although Lady Li Niang knew Wei Tingyu was skilled in martial arts, she also knew that he had many wives and concubines at home. So, this man's kidneys must have gone through a lot of tempering! If he didn't take it easy, it certainly wouldn't be a long-term solution!
"Yes! Thank you for your concern, Mother-in-law!" Wei Tingyu's mouth twitched, and he managed to squeeze out a reply after a long pause. He then nodded to Lady Li Niang and turned to walk back towards the room.
As for Third Daughter Kang Ning, she understood what Wei Tingyu and her mother were discussing. She gazed at Wei Tingyu's back, her pretty face slightly flushed, until he disappeared from her sight, then she somewhat forlornly withdrew her gaze. What to do? That sour feeling in her heart had actually intensified by a few points? But this wasn't strange! After all, the man she most admired and longed for was now going to share a bridal chamber with other women, even if those women were her own sisters!
"What?" And Lady Li Niang turned and looked at Third Daughter Kang Ning, directly asking, "Feeling unwell?" This question was certainly not without purpose; as a mother, she naturally understood the forlorn expression in her daughter's eyes.
"..." Kang Ning did not lie; she simply looked deeply at her mother. But the moment their eyes met, she was certain that her mother also understood her true feelings.
"Ah!" Lady Li Niang also shook her head helplessly and said, "Who told you to fall in love with the Marquis too? It's only to blame this man... he's too alluring!"
Kang Ning nodded. Indeed, there was a bitterness in her heart, but the joy and happiness when she was with Wei Tingyu were even stronger! Perhaps after some time and adaptation, this bitter feeling would gradually disappear! But Kang Ning then jolted again, suddenly looking up at her mother, Lady Li Niang. Why did Mother's words just now also seem to carry some deeper meaning? Did she truly understand her thoughts? Kang Niang blinked, feeling as though her mother also had a similar state of mind to her own. What exactly was going on?
Meanwhile, in the bridal chamber, Fu Hui and Shou Hua sat side by side on the edge of the bed. The red veils on their heads prevented them from seeing their surroundings, but they could hear the breathing of their sister beside them. Of course, neither of them was experiencing their bridal night for the first time, but at this moment, their state of mind was as if it were their very first time. Their previous experiences were merely preliminary rehearsals! At this moment, their hearts were truly nervous, and they felt what a bride's true feelings were like.
"Elder Sister!" After a long while, Fu Hui finally couldn't hold back and whispered, calling out to Shou Hua beside her.
"What is it?" Shou Hua wasn't surprised; it was as if she had long anticipated her Second Sister would ask her a question, and she answered directly.
"When the Marquis arrives later..." Fu Hui pursed her lips, a bit embarrassed but still spoke, "How... how shall we... arrange it?" In Fu Hui's mind, the bridal chamber would certainly be attended by only one person! When Wei Tingyu arrived, she and Eldest Sister Shou Hua would definitely have to leave first! Who would it be? She wasn't sure, so she wanted to ask Shou Hua first.
"When the Marquis arrives, I'll go sleep next door!" Shou Hua said without any hesitation, because she had already thought about this matter.
"No!" Fu Hui immediately gripped Shou Hua's hand and said, "You are the Eldest Sister; tonight, it should logically be me, the younger sister, who leaves..."
"I already... spent the bridal night with the Marquis last night!" Shou Hua hesitated for a few seconds upon hearing her sister's words, then said, "Today, I'm just riding on your coattails; the Marquis is merely fulfilling my wish for a wedding ceremony. Tonight, you are the Marquis's true bride!" Shou Hua's voice actually trembled slightly as she said this. It was clear that she was also quite nervous. After all, discussing this matter with her younger sister... even though she was the elder sister, she still felt a bit embarrassed!