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"..." The next morning, Fu Hui stirred awake in Wei Tingyu's embrace. The moment she opened her eyes, she saw his face so close, and memories of the previous night flooded her mind once more. After all, it was her bridal night! Every detail of what happened would surely be etched in her memory for a lifetime! Of course, some rather intimate things were no exception!
Yet, Fu Hui felt immeasurable bliss, for it had become a vital, inextricable part of her life. At this moment, she felt utterly languid, as if a night's rest hadn't quite restored her strength. Of course, it was also possible that she had simply grown indolent after completely immersing herself in love! Fu Hui didn't know her exact state, only that the Marquis's embrace felt incredibly comfortable and safe!
She gazed devotedly at Wei Tingyu's still-sleeping face for a long time, finally unable to resist reaching out her jade-like hand to gently caress his cheek. The slightly prickly stubble tickled her palm, and at the same time, her heart felt incredibly warm.
"Naughty!" However, just as Fu Hui was blissfully reveling in the man's embrace, she heard Wei Tingyu's throat emit two soft words. Fu Hui's mischievous little hand immediately froze on Wei Tingyu's face. She felt no embarrassment at the Marquis's playful comment; instead, she was overjoyed! For the tone of those two words from Wei Tingyu was clearly brimming with affection! She was certain of this!
"Is the Marquis awake?" Fu Hui asked very gently, thinking of this. Of course, the moment the words left her lips, she regretted them. Wasn't that just obvious nonsense? If the Marquis wasn't awake, was he talking in his sleep just now? Thinking of this, she couldn't help but laugh at herselfâhow could I be so foolish?
"Even if I wasn't awake, your naughty little hand woke me!" Wei Tingyu said, slowly opening his eyes and looking at Fu Hui in his arms, smiling contentedly. This young woman truly looked as if she had fallen into a honey pot. Setting everything else aside, her smile in his embrace alone was enough to bring great comfort to Wei Tingyu's heart. After all, who wouldn't be infected by this face full of sunshine and vitality? Compared to when he first met Fu Hui, with her gloomy expression and suppressed eyes, she was like two entirely different women now! It seemed that taking Fu Hui as a concubine had, in a sense, truly saved this young woman! To gain a beauty and save someone from dire straits at the same timeâmay more such good fortune come my way!
"Where's Elder Sister?" At this moment, Fu Hui's eyes suddenly lit up, remembering something very important, and she quickly asked. Wei Tingyu didn't speak, only looked to his other side. Fu Hui immediately understood, propped up her soft body, and secretly peeked. She saw Shou Hua lying on the other side, sleeping soundly. This young woman's mischievous spirit immediately stirred. She even picked up a small strand of her own hair and gently tickled Shou Hua's smooth, fragrant shoulder.
Shou Hua, who was sound asleep, naturally felt the tickling sensation and immediately frowned slightly, murmuring something unintelligible. Then her eyelashes fluttered slightly, and her beautiful eyes slowly opened!
"Eldest Sister!" Fu Hui had only intended to playfully tease Shou Hua, but she hadn't expected her to wake up directly? At that, the two women's eyes met, and they instantly felt a little awkward!
"Naughty!" However, Shou Hua's next words immediately amused both Wei Tingyu and Fu Hui. Goodness! She and the Marquis truly shared a telepathic connection! Even the words and tone they used to playfully chide Fu Hui were identical! And Shou Hua, seeing their smiles, also looked puzzled. She was somewhat perplexed, unsure what had happened!
"Marquis!" Fu Hui knelt respectfully before Wei Tingyu, tying his belt, and at the same time, looked up at him and asked, "When will the Marquis come to see me and Elder Sister again?" In Fu Hui's view, it was naturally impossible for Wei Tingyu to stay at the Four Fortunes Tea House indefinitely; after all, he had so many wives and concubines at home. However, though she understood this, she still felt reluctant, for they were newlyweds, after all!
"Second Sister, what are you saying?" However, before Wei Tingyu could speak, Shou Hua, who was tidying his robes behind him, poked her head out from the side and somewhat coyly glared at Fu Hui, who was kneeling in front, saying, "Do you still want to live here?"
"Ah?" Fu Hui was startled upon hearing this, momentarily not understanding what Eldest Sister meant.
"We are noble concubines taken in by the Marquis!" Shou Hua directly pursed her lips, seeing her Second Sister's bewildered expression. "We're not an outside residence! We naturally have to return to the Marquis's Residence with the Marquis to live!"
"Oh! Right!" Fu Hui was startled upon hearing this, only then realizing that Eldest Sister was correct. However, fortunately, everyone was in the capital, and Wei Tingyu had said before that the Marquis's Residence wasn't actually that strict about concubines! If a concubine wished to go out, she only needed to inform Eldest Matron Dou Zhao and bring two or three female bodyguards, and she could leave! At the same time, the Marquis's carriages were also available for concubines to use! In other words, even if the two sisters married into the Marquis's Residence, they could still come to the Four Fortunes Tea House during the day to accompany their mother and younger sisters, only needing to return to the Marquis's Residence before nightfall. Of course, when they moved about, they had to be accompanied by the Marquis's female bodyguards. This was partly to protect their safety, and partly to prove their chastity to the Marquis and the Matron! The two women felt that this request was not at all excessive. After all, in current society, for a husband's family to allow concubines to go out, the Marquis Jining's Residence was already an unparalleled existence! What did they have to complain about? For the Marquis's and the Matron's tolerance, the two women felt only gratitude!
"Then, are we returning to the Marquis's Residence with the Marquis later?" Fu Hui blinked, then looked at Wei Tingyu and asked. Her heart was indeed a little nervous at this moment, because she had been to the Marquis's Residence before and had met Dou Zhao and the others. However, the last time she went, it was as Young Mistress Fan; at that time, she was still another man's wife! Although only in name! And now, going back, she would be a noble concubine in the Marquis's Residence. Fu Hui was somewhat worried whether the Matron and the other concubines in the Marquis's Residence would look down on her because of this?
"Of course!" Wei Tingyu nodded and said, "After all, you two are now officially concubines of the Marquis's Residence. You still need to return this morning to offer tea to the Eldest Matron!"
"Yes!" At this moment, Shou Hua also completed her task. She walked to Wei Tingyu's front and, together with the rising Fu Hui, bowed slightly to him, nodding at the same time. Both women naturally understood these rules!
"Oh dear! Son-in-law!" However, the moment Wei Tingyu opened the door with Shou Hua and Fu Hui, they heard Lady Li Niang let out a shriek and quickly run over.
"Mother! Is something wrong?" Shou Hua and Fu Hui, who were following behind her, were startled by their mother's flustered appearance and quickly asked.
"Nothing, nothing! All is well!" Lady Li Niang was startled, then waved her hands repeatedly. Then she smiled and circled around Wei Tingyu, simultaneously scanning him up and down with her eyes, a meaningful smile plastered on her face. "I'm just looking at my precious son-in-law!"
"Mother!" Fu Hui was speechless upon hearing this. Her mother, always so startled and dramatic! But thinking about it, it made sense; now that the in-law relationship with Wei Tingyu was finally established, Lady Li Niang must be incredibly excited. So, her exaggerated speech and actions now were quite understandable! And judging by Lady Li Niang's appearance, she must have woken up early and been waiting by the door for Wei Tingyu and the others to open it! Thinking of this scene, it was indeed quite comical! But it also matched Lady Li Niang's behavior!
"Mother!" Shou Hua also smiled faintly, then said to Lady Li Niang, "Later, Second Sister and I will return to the Marquis's Residence with the Marquis!"
"Of course! Of course!" Lady Li Niang was naturally well-prepared; she wasn't surprised at all and nodded repeatedly, "Then let's have breakfast with us first, alright?" After speaking, she didn't bother with Shou Hua and Fu Hui, and directly went forward to hold Wei Tingyu's arm, pulling him towards the front hall. "Today's breakfast was personally prepared by me! Son-in-law, you must eat more!"
Looking at Wei Tingyu's helpless back as he was dragged away by her mother, Shou Hua and Fu Hui exchanged glances, then both smiled. Of course, after smiling, both women quickly lifted their skirts and followed.
For breakfast at the tea house, Wei Tingyu naturally sat in the principal seat! Shou Hua and Fu Hui sat on either side of him, serving him his meal. Lady Li Niang sat beside Shou Hua, meaning she was only one person away from Wei Tingyu. She also assiduously added rice and dishes for Wei Tingyu. This enthusiasm left Kang Ning, Hao De, and Le Shan wide-eyed with astonishment.
Especially Kang Ning, upon seeing Wei Tingyu's pampered appearance, being fed and having his clothes tended to, she pursed her lips and immediately began to complain. "This dignified Marquis now looks like a useless person?" Kang Ning blinked, looking at Wei Tingyu, and said, "It's probably the same in the Marquis's Residence too! The Marquis probably can't even eat without women serving him!"
Wei Tingyu wasn't at all surprised that this young woman dared to publicly mock him. After all, if she didn't have that courage, she wouldn't be the Li family's Third Daughter! On the contrary, the current Kang Ning ignited a desire for conquest in his heart! And seeing Wei Tingyu's gaze directed at her, Kang Ning keenly sensed that this man's interest in her seemed to be growing stronger and stronger!? But the problem was, she hadn't intended to actively attract his attention at all! Could it be that he just liked her type? Thinking of this, Kang Ning's small face actually flushed slightly, completely losing the imposing air she had when criticizing Wei Tingyu just now.
Of course, her words immediately drew Lady Li Niang's displeasure at the dining table.
"Third Daughter! What kind of talk is that?"
"The Marquis's hands are for doing great things! For small matters like eating, having women serve him is enough!"
"You should learn properly from your Eldest Sister and Second Sister! Lest you be clumsy in the future and become a laughingstock to others!"
Lady Li Niang glared at Kang Ning, scolding her in a rapid-fire manner. Of course, although her words weren't heavy, her tone was quite strict, making Kang Ning shrink her neck and dare not retort.
"Mother is right!" Eldest Daughter Shou Hua also nodded slightly at this moment, then turned to Kang Ning and said, "Otherwise, Third Sister, why don't you switch places with me and learn how to serve the Marquis now?"
"I..." Kang Ning was startled. She hadn't expected Eldest Sister to say such a thing, and her face immediately flushed even redder. Looking at her Fourth Sister Hao De and Fifth Sister Le Shan beside her, they were covering their mouths and secretly giggling. Of course, in such an embarrassing situation, Kang Ning naturally blamed Wei Tingyu again! Her small hands under the table also clenched into two small fists!
"Serve then, serve! What's the big deal!" Kang Ning was silent for two seconds, then actually stood up with a whoosh, and walked to Eldest Sister Shou Hua's side, saying, "Eldest Sister, let me serve the Marquis his breakfast!"
"You?" Shou Hua hadn't spoken yet, but Lady Li Niang was startled first. Her Third Daughter Kang Ning wasn't as gentle and sweet as Shou Hua! She had even planned to give her intensive training after today! Now, she was going to personally serve her precious son-in-law his breakfast? Let alone others, Lady Li Niang herself wasn't at ease! However, Shou Hua smiled and nodded, then looked at Wei Tingyu, as this matter still needed the Marquis's approval! Wei Tingyu also wanted to know what this young woman Kang Ning was up to, so he simply smiled, agreeing. Seeing this, Shou Hua immediately stood up and bowed, then exchanged places with Kang Ning.
The moment Kang Ning sat down, she found something amiss, because everyone's eyes on the scene were now fixed on her. However, she already had an idea in mind. Without another word, she picked up Wei Tingyu's bowl and added a large chopstick-full of every dish on the table, piling it high before him.
"Brother-in-law! Eat more!" Of course, Kang Ning's attitude after this action was still very good; her face was smiling so brightly it almost bloomed. Wei Tingyu, however, had a black line on his forehead. Is this young woman feeding him like a pig? Lady Li Niang was also bewildered at this moment. Indeed, her Third Daughter was simply here to cause trouble! Fortunately, Wei Tingyu's marriage with her Eldest Daughter and Second Daughter had already concluded, so he probably wouldn't get angry over such a small matter.
However, she still quickly said, "Kang Ning is just impatient, but her heart is good! Son-in-law, don't mind her! Don't mind her!"
"Ah?" Wei Tingyu was also stunned upon hearing this. What kind of good intentions are these? Why can't I feel them?
"Third Daughter is also worried that you were too tired last night!" Lady Li Niang, of course, dared to say anything. She simply smiled and said, "So she added more dishes for you to replenish yourself!"
"Mother!" However, the moment Lady Li Niang's words fell, Fu Hui's small face immediately turned beet red. And Shou Hua also looked a bit embarrassed. After all, they were the ones who knew most clearly why Wei Tingyu was tired yesterday. Not only did they know, but they experienced it firsthand!
Kang Ning was also dumbfounded. She never dreamed that her mother would come up with such a reason. But for a sister-in-law to give her brother-in-law food to reward him for his hard work in the bridal chamber last night... it sounded awkward no matter how she heard it! Thinking of this, Kang Ning slowly turned her head, and just then, her eyes met Wei Tingyu's amused gaze.
"I'm not... it's this... it's not what my mother said... it's just..." Kang Ning stammered, trying to explain, but it seemed wrong no matter what she said. After all, once she got caught in this topic, she, as a sister-in-law, would definitely be the target of teasing in front of Wei Tingyu, her brother-in-law. At this moment, Kang Ning truly wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into. Of course, this time, she couldn't blame Wei Tingyu! After all, it was Eldest Sister Shou Hua who suggested switching places, it was herself who agreed to switch places, and it was her mother who gave that embarrassing answer! Wei Tingyu hadn't even said a single word in this entire scenario!
After finishing this awkward breakfast, Wei Tingyu naturally took Shou Hua and Fu Hui in the Marquis's carriage.
"Good son-in-law! Come visit whenever you're free!" Lady Li Niang, with her unmarried daughters, stood at the entrance, respectfully sending off the Marquis's carriage. However, even before the carriage had completely disappeared from sight, she began to call out and wave exaggeratedly towards it. This scene naturally drew much discussion from the surrounding neighbors and diners!
"Goodness! It's the Marquis's carriage! Is the master of this Four Fortunes Tea House truly related by marriage to the Marquis's Residence?"
"Didn't you see her daughters go back to his residence with him? Is that still fake?"
"Marrying off two daughters at once?! That's quite a sacrifice!"
"What about two daughters? For ordinary merchants like us to be related by marriage to the Marquis Jining's Residence, we'd be willing to send in twenty daughters!"
"Indeed! It's a pity I have no daughters, and even if I did, the Marquis probably wouldn't fancy them!"