Last night must have thoroughly exhausted her. Ji Xiaosong didn't wake until the sun was high in the sky.
It wasn't until nearly noon that she finally fluttered her eyes open, her gaze still hazy and drowsy.
The first thing she saw was the exquisitely embroidered bed canopy, and then her gaze slowly focused on Xiao Shen, who was beside her.
Xiao Shen was sitting on the edge of the bed, his attention focused on a scroll in his hands.
"Rongrong, he's so handsome."
Hearing Ji Xiaosong's message via Divine Sense, Rongrong finally descended from the heavens.
"You sure know how to sleep. Any longer and it would've been time for lunch."
Ji Xiaosong didn't reply, instead continuing to gaze at Xiao Shen.
Sunlight streamed through the latticed window, dappling his form and bathing him in a soft halo. He looked like an Immortal who had stepped right out of a painting.
His eyes were focused on the scroll, his long eyelashes casting a faint shadow beneath his eyelids. Below his high-bridged nose, his thin lips were pressed together in a line that was both elegant and firm.
"Am I handsome?"
Xiao Shen suddenly spoke, his voice deep and rich. It was like the distant toll of a temple bell, or a hidden spring in a deep valley, its alluring tones flowing gently through the quiet room.
Every word was like a feather brushing against Ji Xiaosong's heart, making it flutter.
"Handsome."
'He's clearly a warrior, yet he always gives off such a scholarly air.'
Ji Xiaosong replied in a hoarse voice, smiling in a daze.
'In her previous life, the original owner of this body married Song Yuxi. On their wedding night, she waited until midnight, only for him to finish things hastily before being called away by Yue Niang, who was feigning a stomachache.'
'This life… is different.'
'It's true that Xiao Shen has trouble siring heirs, but that clearly doesn't affect his performance.'
'And besides, he's so much more handsome.'
Realizing his young wife was watching him, the smile on Xiao Shen's lips deepened. He turned slightly, picking up a glass of warm water that had been prepared on the small bedside table. After gently testing the temperature to ensure it wasn't too hot, he brought the cup to Ji Xiaosong's lips.
"My lady, first drink some water to soothe your throat." His voice remained gentle and bewitching.
Ji Xiaosong tilted her head back slightly, taking a few sips from the cup in Xiao Shen's hand. The warm water flowing down her throat was comforting, washing away the morning dryness.
'These small details… This is so much better than what the original owner experienced with the Song Family.'
'Back with the Song Family, the old maids woke her before dawn the next day. She was forced to perform endless rituals until she was exhausted and starving, only then being allowed to serve tea to her mother-in-law.'
'There was no one else in the Xiao family. The two of them were the masters of the entire household now.'
'There was no one to give her grief. If anyone dared to make her unhappy, she could simply have them thrown out.'
'She was completely certain that Xiao Shen would stand by her.'
"The meal is ready. Would my lady care to dine?" Xiao Shen asked warmly.
"I think I am a little hungry."
'She'd used up too much stamina last night and still hadn't recovered.'
'As expected, a General who's been to war is completely different from a scholar who only knows how to play with ink and paper.'
'The difference between Song Yuxi's hasty few minutes and Xiao Shen was simply immense.'
Ji Xiaosong shook her head, trying to shake away the original owner's memories.
Most of the original owner's memories from that life were painful—a stark contrast to her life now.
Xiao Shen pulled the bell cord by the bed, and faint footsteps immediately sounded from beyond the door.
Two maids gently pushed the door open, followed by four older maids who entered in an orderly file, walking in pairs and carrying exquisite food containers and washing basins.
Their heads were all lowered respectfully, their steps light and uniform.
Once inside, the maids moved swiftly, taking the dishes from the food containers one by one and arranging them on an immaculately polished, carved dining table.
In no time, the table was laden with steaming, fragrant delicacies.
Two maids flanked Ji Xiaosong. One gently helped her sit up, draping a soft satin cloak over her, while the other knelt to carefully put on her embroidered slippers.
As Ji Xiaosong rose, washed up, and walked to the table, an older maid followed closely behind, ready to straighten her hem lest she trip on it.
Xiao Shen took Ji Xiaosong by the hand and led her to the table. He only sat down beside her after she was comfortably seated.
The maids began to serve, first carefully placing several choice dishes onto the delicate porcelain plate before her, then pouring a cup of fragrant, mellow wine for both her and Xiao Shen.
The entire process was conducted in silence, the only sounds being the soft clink of tableware and the rustle of clothes.
"Is all this just for the two of us?"
Looking at the table laden with delicacies, Ji Xiaosong couldn't help but marvel at the Xiao Mansion's extravagance.
'This dazzling array of dishes feels a bit too wasteful.'
"The servants are not yet familiar with my lady's preferences and rules, so they've brought up a bit of everything in the hope that you might try them. If you find any dishes you like, we can have them as part of our daily meals. As for those that aren't to your taste, you can give them to the servants. Think of it as a small gesture."
Ji Xiaosong gently shook her head. "Husband, it's just the two of us eating; there's no need for such extravagance. From now on, four or five well-made dishes per meal, a mix of meat and vegetables, along with some simple congee and side dishes, will be more than enough. That way we can eat our fill without being wasteful, and the household expenses will be more reasonable."
As Xiao Shen listened to Ji Xiaosong's words, a warmth spread through his heart.
His arm snaked out and wrapped firmly around Ji Xiaosong's slender waist.
Then, with a gentle tug, he lifted her from her seat and pulled her snugly into his embrace.
His other hand quickly came up, his broad palm gently cradling the back of her head. He pressed her head gently against his chest, letting her hear the fierce, joyful thumping of his heart.
"My lady," he murmured, "With you in this home, my heart is finally at ease."
"Since we are husband and wife, our lives are bound as one. It is only natural that we should plan and manage all household matters together, with one heart."
Ji Xiaosong didn't know how a husband and wife were supposed to get along. As a blade of grass born of heaven and earth, back when she first gained sentience, she'd heard a long-bearded elder say: "A husband and wife must share weal and woe, weather storms together, and respect one another. Only then can they live in perfect harmony, and the family's fortune will be Yongchang."
At the time, Ji Xiaosong had been naive and thought the words were just overly literary. Now, finding herself in a marriage, she was beginning to understand their profound meaning.
She looked at Xiao Shen and saw that his eyes were nearly overflowing with tenderness.
"Okay."
Xiao Shen slowly lowered his head, his warm lips gently pressing against Ji Xiaosong's forehead.
"After our meal, I will take you to inspect the storehouses. From this day forward, all matters in this mansion, large or small, are for my lady to decide. I shall follow my lady's lead in all things; everything is for you to determine."
"Song, does this mean Xiao Shen is basically handing over his salary and family fortune?"
"I guess so? Back when I was in the modern world, I overheard people say that when a couple gets married, the man has to hand over his salary card to his wife. I never expected the rules to be the same in this world I've traveled to."
Ji Xiaosong was even starting to look forward to her married life. Everything seemed to be going so well.