Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The Marchioness was an impatient woman, terrified that I would make a scene and ruin the Second Young Master’s marriage.

Before the Eldest Young Master had even returned home, she hurriedly had Li Jing registered under his name.

She did not even look too closely into my identity or age before allowing me into the household registry, making me the Eldest Young Master’s lawful wife in name and in truth.

The only one who seemed suspicious was Nanny Zhang, the quiet, taciturn woman at her side.

Nanny Zhang studied me carefully for a moment, then asked doubtfully, “Are you truly twenty-four this year?”

The household registry and travel permit I held belonged to my elder sister. She had just turned twenty-four when she died.

As for me, I had only turned seventeen a few days ago.

I smiled shyly and said, “In answer to Nanny, I was born in the Year of the Tiger. I only look young because I know a few beauty-preserving remedies. If you don’t mind, I can give you a prescription.”

Nanny Zhang did not soften just because I was trying to curry favor.

She merely said in a lukewarm tone, “You seem obedient enough. You are now the Young Madam of the Marquis’s Mansion. There is no need to be so courteous to a servant like me.”

She collected some daily necessities, then led my nephew and me to a remote courtyard.

The moment the door was pushed open, we all froze.

The courtyard was overgrown with weeds, covered in dust and cobwebs. Clearly, no one had tended to it in a long time.

Before coming here, I had asked around about the Marquis’s Mansion.

I had heard that the Eldest Young Master was not favored by the Marchioness, and I had assumed it was merely a case of mother and son not getting along.

I had never imagined that after he had been away at war for so many years, his family would neglect even the courtyard he once lived in to such a degree.

Nanny Zhang also seemed not to have expected this.

She opened her mouth, about to scold whoever had been in charge of looking after the place, but when she glanced up and saw me, she held it in.

After all, no matter how unsightly the Marquis’s Mansion’s family affairs were, they could not let an outsider like me watch the joke unfold.

I smiled and said, “This courtyard is quiet and secluded. The Eldest Young Master is a martial man, so this place suits him perfectly. And look how lush the plants are. The feng shui here must be excellent. I like it very much.”

Nanny Zhang’s tightly knitted brows slowly eased. Only then did she look me over properly.

With a complicated expression, she said, “You are a blessed person. Settle down and live here properly. Don’t pay attention to the gossip outside.”

Those words were a warning.

The Eldest Young Master was unloved, and by extension, I, his wife from the countryside, would be neglected as well.

If I went around clamoring, fighting, and arguing, I would only lower myself and make others look down on me.

I smiled, took a sachet from my sleeve, and handed it to her. Gently, I said, “Nanny, I see your eyes are bloodshot and your complexion is a little sallow. You must often have trouble sleeping. There are some calming herbs inside that I blended myself. If you place it by your pillow when you sleep, it can help you rest.”

Nanny Zhang did not take it. Instead, a young maid beside her accepted it.

Still, her tense expression relaxed a little.

Before leaving, she said to me softly, “I often keep night watch for Madam. I cannot keep anything of unknown origin on me. I will have to take it to a physician to examine. Don’t take it to heart.”

The young maid looking down at the sachet suddenly burst into a giggle. “Mother, you usually treat words like gold, yet you seem to get along with Young Madam. You’ve said so much to her.”

Nanny Zhang rapped her on the head as punishment and snapped, “Xinyu, don’t be rude.”

After a moment’s thought, I took a brand-new silk handkerchief from my bundle and gave it to the young maid.

She had been turning the sachet over and over to look at the embroidery on it. I figured she must have liked it.

That made the young maid blush. She muttered, “I just thought the pattern was fresh and unusual. It’s not as if I’ve never seen anything nice before.”

She accepted the handkerchief, stuck out her tongue, and smiled again. “I’ll remember this favor.”

Xinyu repaid favors with impressive speed.

Before long, she brought a large group of servants over to help clean the courtyard and repair the rooms.

That saved me a great deal of effort.

When I finally had some free time, I sat beneath the magnolia tree to rest.

My nephew brought over a pot of tea and a plate of pastries.

As he fanned me, his little face darkened, and he said, “You’ve been busy until now and haven’t even had a sip of water. Li Zhichun, do you regret bringing me here to acknowledge my kin? I told you long ago! I’d rather learn medicine from you and become a barefoot doctor someday than let you suffer like this! Just look at you. To please those people, you’ve nearly smiled your face off.”

He was so young, yet he spoke like a little old man, his eyes full of worry.

That face of his looked exactly like my sister’s.

Especially when he was lecturing me. Then he looked even more like her.

I pinched his little cheek and said gently, “Li Jing, it’s a good thing you were born looking like your mother. Otherwise, I would have poisoned you long ago.”

His face fell even further.

He muttered, “It’s not like you haven’t poisoned me plenty already.”

I kicked him lightly in the backside. “Those were tonics! Go make dinner. I want sweet-and-sour pork!”

He grew even angrier. As he walked away, he grumbled, “Look at this wonderful future you’ve found for me! You said once we got here, servants would bring food to our mouths and clothes to our hands. In the end, I still have to cook! If you ask me, we might as well go back to Hutou Village.”

When he reached the door of the small kitchen, he poked his head back out and asked, “Should I add a dish of stir-fried green bamboo shoots?”

I lazily waved a hand, indicating that he could decide for himself.

A soft breeze drifted past, and a drooping white magnolia blossom fell into my hair.

There was one thing I had not said merely to placate Nanny Zhang.

I truly did like this courtyard, because the magnolias planted here had been my sister’s favorite.

I gently stroked the flower, and my heart softened.

Sister, I will not fail your wish. I will raise Li Jing safely into adulthood.