Husband, It's Time for the Bridal Chamber

What price does one pay for a small display of talent?

The armored soldiers standing guard outside the side chamber had increased from two to four.

Inside the room, Xiao Die remained by his side, ostensibly to keep him company—but in truth, to keep watch.

She truly understood the art of "keeping watch."

However, Chen Yi didn't utter a single word of complaint. On the contrary, he even raised both hands in welcome.

After all, being confined alone was like being cast into the cold palace, but two people together meant huddling for warmth.

And if four armored soldiers stood guard outside, it only meant the Xiao Clan valued him enough to protect him.

Joking aside—he couldn't even beat one of them, so why would they need four?

Just then, Xiao Die flipped through the bedding and lifted a table leg, asking in confusion, "Son-in-law, where did you hide that rebellious poem?"

Rebellious poem?

As expected of you, Miss Xiao Die, master of the face-to-face surveillance technique.

That term, if uttered during the Kangxi or Qianlong reigns of the Qing Dynasty, could land a man in prison until autumn execution, and if luck was poor, it might even bring annihilation upon nine generations of his clan.

Chen Yi, while copying out the Xiao Clan's family rules, replied with a wooden expression, "Xiao Die, is it possible that I never wrote that poem?"

"Impossible!"

Xiao Die might be simple, but she had a sharp mind—her memory was exceptionally good.

In the span of three breaths, her mouth opened and closed seventy or eighty times as she recited the "Ballad of Shu · Marrying into the Xiao Gate" without missing a single word.

Her enunciation was clear, her voice clean and bright—even a famous crosstalk performer would kneel and beg her to take them as a disciple.

After hearing her out, Chen Yi turned the tables: "You've got some poetic talent, but you're still a bit behind me."

Xiao Die grew flustered. "Oh, Son-in-law, it was clearly you, not me."

"Your poem is literally titled 'Marrying into the Xiao Gate.'"

Chen Yi rolled his eyes. You sure know how to latch onto the key point, Miss Xiao Die.

Seeing him fall silent, Xiao Die planted her hands on her hips like she'd won a victory, her small face taut with seriousness as she said, "Son-in-law, with me watching, don't even think about running."

"Alright, alright, I won't run..."

Chen Yi had no immediate plans to flee, especially after learning someone wanted to harm him.

Even if he did decide to run, he'd only consider it once he had some means of self-defense.

Besides, over this period, he'd found that staying in the Marquis's mansion wasn't so bad.

He was a frail scholar, unable to lift heavy loads or carry burdens—no one would force him into hard labor. He had food, clothing, and servants attending to him. It was practically the dream life for someone who'd spent years as a beast of burden.

If his confinement were lifted one day, he could continue living as an idle son-in-law, sipping tea, fishing, and passing his days in leisure. When he thought about it carefully, there was nothing wrong with that.

"Son-in-law, are you thinking about escaping?" Xiao Die, seeing him grinning to himself, cranked her vigilance to maximum.

Chen Yi pulled his thoughts back, set aside a completed page of family rules, and said without looking up:

"I was wondering if the chef will make beef again tonight. That whole pot at noon was devoured by a certain little pig."

Xiao Die's face went blank, then she blushed and lowered her head shyly, twisting her fingers. "Son-in-law, I'm not a little pig..."

At most, she just had a big appetite.

But that wasn't her fault—it was... the Son-in-law's fault.

Yes, that's right, all the Son-in-law's fault!

Who told him to keep thinking about running away, making her run from Chunhe Garden to the adjacent Jiaxing Garden to find the Eldest Miss?

She'd made several round trips.

She'd exhausted all her energy, so naturally she ate a bit more.

Chen Yi finished copying one page and picked up another sheet of Zhang Yunsong paper, teasing, "Miss Pig Xiao Die, you'd better not be."

"Oh, Son-in-law, don't go changing my name like that—it sounds awful..."

Over these days together, Chen Yi had long figured out Xiao Die's gluttonous nature.

If not for the lure of food, he figured she'd still be complaining about him all day, just like at the start.

Saying his escape had ruined the Second Miss and the Xiao Clan, caused the Old Master to fall gravely ill, that the tale had spread across all three prefectures of the Great Wei Nine Provinces, and even the children had new nursery rhymes.

—Something about the Jinghong Woman and the Runaway Groom, a golden match that was but a dream, and the Xiao Manor becoming a laughingstock from then on.

Whoever came up with that was quite talented.

After a few more idle exchanges.

Chen Yi noticed Xiao Die had gone quiet, so he looked up and couldn't help but chuckle.

There she sat on a small stool, legs together, elbows on her knees and hands cupping her cheeks, already drifting off to sleep.

Her eyes were half-closed, drool trickling from the corner of her mouth, and her head bobbed now and then. She looked oddly adorable.

"This girl Xiao Die has a good nature—carefree, no malice, no scheming. If she were my wife, life would certainly be interesting."

Actually, Chen Yi was quite grateful to Xiao Die.

If not for Xiao Die keeping him company and chatting these past few days, he wouldn't have gotten familiar with this world so quickly.

He might even have thought everyone in the Marquis's mansion was cold and indifferent.

But in truth, most people were pretty decent.

You could tell a thing or two from Xiao Die herself—if the household rules were strict or the masters were harsh and vicious, they wouldn't have let her develop such an innocent and kind disposition.

Still, while the Xiao family were good people, they were no longer at their peak; instead, they were sliding downhill step by step.

Elder Master Xiao was advanced in years, and years of guarding the border had left his body riddled with injuries and ailments—otherwise, he wouldn't have fainted over Chen Yi's wedding escape.

The Old Madam had passed away before the new year.

As for Madam Xiao Jinghong, her father and several uncles had died or been crippled in the war, and the same went for her mother and a few aunts.

Just like the Yang Family Women Generals.

Now, all household matters, big and small, were managed by the Eldest Miss, Xiao Wan'er, with help from a few branch families, like the legitimate sons and grandsons of the Second Elder Master's line.

Additionally, the direct line had a Young Marquis named Xiao Wuge, who was said to have been studying at the manor's academy all along—likely a scholar of both talent and learning.

As for Madam Xiao Jinghong, Xiao Die rarely brought her up, as if she was terrified of her; every time she stammered and couldn't get the words out.

Chen Yi thought to himself, It can't be the same as what my predecessor knew, can it?—the Jiangnan Prefecture gossip said Xiao Jinghong was eight feet tall, built like an ox, with eyes like brass bells and a thick crop of body hair...

That probably wasn't true; it must have been exaggerated by busybodies.

After all, daring to take the name "Jinghong"—even if she wasn't as beautiful as "swift as a startled swan, graceful as a swimming dragon"—she had to at least come close, right?

Thinking about all this.

Chen Yi finished copying the family rules one more time, rubbed his sore wrist, took a sip of Spring Tea, and leaned back in his chair to rest.

Soon enough, he started dozing off.

Spring drowsiness, autumn fatigue, summer naps—it was nothing more than that.

In a daze, Chen Yi heard someone calling him, a voice soft and sticky, carrying the gentle weakness of the Jiangnan Water Town.

He grinned and opened his eyes.

Then he saw a rough, burly woman who looked like Zhang Fei standing by the bed, speaking in a gruff voice:

"Husband, you're awake. Time for us to consummate the marriage—been waiting long, haven't you?"

Chen Yi's smile froze. He stared at her blankly and murmured, "Second brother, you've got the wrong man. I'm your elder brother, Liu Bei."

"What Liu Bei, what Cao Cao—none of that matters tonight. Here we go!"

Then she pinned him down on the bed and shook him, shook him, shook him, shook him...

"Son-in-law, wake up. Time for dinner."

Chen Yi jolted awake. When he saw Xiao Die, he wiped the cold sweat off his forehead in lingering fear.

Damn, thank goodness it was a dream.

"Son-in-law, did you have a nightmare?" Xiao Die asked with concern.

When he nodded, Xiao Die produced a bell from somewhere.

She walked around him, ringing it.

Ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling, Xiao Die chanted, "Evil Spirits retreat, souls do not scatter, Evil Spirits retreat..."

Chen Yi found it amusing and asked, "Where did you learn that?"

That kind of ritual wasn't something a maidservant could just whip up on her own.

"Before, I saw the Old Madam do this to drive away the nightmare Evil Spirits for Young Master Wuge."

Xiao Die stopped, a smile returning to her face. "Son-in-law, it really works. After that, Young Master Wuge never had nightmares again."

"Hope so..."

Chen Yi recalled the nightmare he'd just had, and goosebumps crawled all over his skin.

He couldn't help asking, "Xiao Die, tell me honestly—the Madam... I mean, the Second Miss—is she pretty?"