Chapter 7
Once the people in the Lin family’s small courtyard came to their senses, they began to shower the two with praise. All sorts of compliments rained down on them. Hearing them praise Chu Xihuan in so many different ways, the smile never left Lin Zhao’s face.
Although she thought Chu Xihuan was an annoying woman, hearing others praise her wife naturally made her heart bubble with joy.
She was happier than if she had been praised herself.
Chu Xihuan, on the other hand, didn’t react much to the compliments. She maintained a polite smile on her face so as not to seem dismissive, but she wasn’t particularly warm either.
“Lin Zhao, now that you’re married, you’re an adult. You can’t be a scoundrel like you used to be. Live a good life.”
Lin Yongchang, taking advantage of his status as an elder and the most respected person present, felt it was necessary to say a few words, especially since Lin Zhao had lost both her parents. As her uncle, he felt it was his duty to offer some guidance.
Hearing Lin Yongchang’s words, Chu Xihuan subconsciously glanced at Lin Zhao and saw that her expression had clearly soured. But perhaps due to some reservations, she remained silent.
Chu Xihuan recalled the news her maid had brought back during this time. It seemed Lin Zhao was truly not close to these Lin clan members.
“Clan Head Lin, you jest. I think Lin Zhao is quite fine.” Chu Xihuan spoke warmly, her smiling face feeling like a soft knife. “I have never heard of her doing anything heinous.”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Mao Xiaoyun, feeling she finally had a role to play, nodded vigorously in agreement.
Lin Zhao’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Chu Xihuan. She hadn’t expected Chu Xihuan to actually speak up for her! Turns out this person wasn’t so annoying after all.
Lin Yongchang looked disapproving. “If it had really reached that point, would she still be alive? You are her wife now; you should discipline her when necessary.”
Chu Xihuan smiled. “Don’t you think it’s inappropriate to say such things on our wedding day, Clan Head Lin?”
No matter what Lin Zhao had done wrong, she was her wife now, and only she had the right to criticize her. Not to mention that Lin Yongchang was embarrassing Lin Zhao in front of so many people.
Her words left Lin Yongchang with a sour expression. He looked at Chu Xihuan’s smiling face and her eyes, which held no trace of a smile, and felt a shiver run down his spine. He instinctively realized that this person was not to be trifled with.
With someone like her paired with a troublemaker like Lin Zhao, they would likely be even more difficult to deal with in the future.
“Why talk about such things on a joyous day? Everyone has seen the brides, and now it’s time for them to retire to their room!” Seeing the atmosphere growing tense, Official Matchmaker Zhang quickly stepped in to smooth things over and have Chu Xihuan and the others continue with the proceedings. Once they returned to their room according to the process, the two, who had been busy all day, could finally rest.
Hearing the matchmaker’s festive voice, everyone tactfully changed the subject. Since most of the guests were from the Lin clan, meaning people Lin Zhao had mostly offended, some wanted to use the pretense of wedding night teasing to get back at her. However, Lin Zhao and her party were surrounded and protected by the people from the Chu family, making it difficult to even get close, let alone cause any trouble.
Under the protection of the Chu family, they were escorted to their room. Mao Xiaoyun peeked in through the doorframe and asked, “Boss, can I do the wedding night teasing?”
Of all the people Lin Zhao used to hang out with, she had only invited Mao Xiaoyun. She hadn’t invited anyone else. Although she knew Chu Xihuan must be aware of her past, she inexplicably didn’t want to show that side of herself to her.
Lin Zhao smiled at her. “What do you think?”
She wished the people from the Chu family would leave as well. How could she possibly let Mao Xiaoyun tease them?
Besides, from what Chu Xihuan had said in the sedan, they still had a bunch of principles to discuss. Whether there would even be a “consummation” was another matter entirely.
Mao Xiaoyun pouted and went outside to eat at the banquet.
“You all may leave as well,” Chu Xihuan said to the remaining people.
“Yes, miss.”
As they left one by one and the door closed, only the two of them remained in the room. Lin Zhao felt the same nervous tension from the sedan creeping back in.
She sat down on the edge of the bed, her eyes on the nuptial wine on the table. “You said we needed to lay down three ground rules. How do we do that?” she asked.
Aren’t we supposed to drink the nuptial wine? Lin Zhao wondered. She had seen everyone else drink it at their weddings.
Since entering the room, Chu Xihuan had been surveying it. It wasn’t very large, at most about twenty square meters, but it was fully furnished and very clean. With the red paper decorations, it looked quite festive.
Her gaze fell on the bed where Lin Zhao was sitting. A large red quilt was spread over it. Perhaps because they were two women getting married, there were no red dates and peanuts scattered on the bed, which she found pleasing.
Chu Xihuan sat down at the table and poured herself a cup of tea. Ignoring the noisy banquet outside, she took a sip and seemed to relax as if a heavy burden had been lifted. She then turned to look at Lin Zhao.
Being stared at like that made Lin Zhao’s scalp tingle, and her body tensed up.
“W-what are you doing? If you have something to say, just say it!” Lin Zhao was so scared she started to stutter. Did all the young ladies from prominent families like to scare people like this?
Just staring at you without saying a word?
Chu Xihuan glanced at her. “Look at you, so spineless. Am I that scary?”
She hadn’t even figured out how to talk to her yet, and she was already acting like a frightened rabbit. Was this really the street ruffian who ran rampant outside?
Lin Zhao was speechless.
The impression this person had left on her was not exactly gentle. The first time they met, she had caught her cheating and threatened to hand her over to the casino if she didn’t marry her. How could someone like that not be scary? Lin Zhao felt that even eight of her wouldn’t be a match for her.
She didn’t speak, but Chu Xihuan could already guess the answer from her aggrieved expression. A hint of amusement appeared in her eyes. She felt that this person wasn’t completely hopeless. If she were truly one of those irredeemable ruffians, she probably wouldn’t be sitting there so obediently, but would have likely tried to threaten her instead.
“You probably don’t know this, but my family does not approve of my marriage to you,” Chu Xihuan said after a moment of thought.
Lin Zhao fell silent. Even if she wasn’t very smart, she could understand this. A good-for-nothing like her, who had nothing, wouldn’t be accepted by even an ordinary family for their daughter, let alone a prominent official’s family like the Chus.
“They still don’t approve, so the price is that after marrying you, I have lost the support of the Chu family. Don’t think you can get any benefits from them. They have already said they will act as if they don’t have me as a daughter.” As Chu Xihuan spoke, she took off her elaborate outer wedding robe. Her attitude was calm throughout, showing no sadness over her family disowning her.
Lin Zhao subconsciously took the robe from her hands, then paused, silent.
Why do I feel like I’m rushing to be her maid?
“Aren’t you sad or regretful?” Lin Zhao asked, confused.
Falling out with her family for an outsider like her didn’t seem worth it at all.
“Why should I be sad or regretful? Once I have made a decision, I will never regret it.” A dark look flashed in Chu Xihuan’s eyes as if she had thought of something, her tone firm. Seeing that Lin Zhao had hung up her clothes for her, she sat down again, poured another cup of tea, and placed it opposite her, gesturing for Lin Zhao to sit down so they could talk.
Seeing this, Lin Zhao bit her lip, took off her own outer robe, hung it up carefully, and sat down opposite her, taking a sip of tea.
These were all things Chu Xihuan had brought. Her own home didn’t have any decent tea.
“Laying down three ground rules, the first point is naturally a very important one.” Chu Xihuan was not one for idle chatter and got straight to the point.
Seeing that she was finally going to talk about this, Lin Zhao immediately looked at her, a little nervous about what she was going to say.
She just hoped it wouldn’t be too difficult for her to accomplish.
“Since we are married, you are absolutely forbidden from fooling around outside or doing anything to wrong me. Otherwise, there is no need for this relationship to continue,” Chu Xihuan said seriously.
“You want to divorce me?!” Lin Zhao’s eyes widened in disbelief. Although she thought Chu Xihuan was fierce, she was actually very happy about her arrival.
Chu Xihuan frowned and tapped her finger on the table. “Get it straight. It’s only if you do something to wrong me that we will divorce. If you behave yourself, why would I, with nothing better to do, seek a divorce from you?”
Why was this person so easily agitated?
Hearing her say this, Lin Zhao realized she had overreacted and looked a little embarrassed. “I’m just an idle loafer. How could anyone possibly flirt with me?”
Chu Xihuan looked at her silently. “So if someone is willing, you won’t refuse?”
“No, no! Absolutely not!” Lin Zhao quickly shook her head like a rattle-drum and raised her hand to swear. “I will never do anything to wrong you, or may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death!”
Chu Xihuan nodded in satisfaction. “How much money is left in the house?”
The sudden change of topic caught Lin Zhao off guard. She looked at Chu Xihuan blankly and asked uncertainly, “How much money is left in the house?”
Since Chu Xihuan disliked her going to the casino, she hadn’t been back. Without that source of income, the money in the house had naturally dwindled, and there was almost nothing left. Thinking of this, she fumbled in her robes and finally pulled out a faded, old money pouch that had clearly been used for many years. She opened it and emptied its contents onto the table.
Five copper coins rolled and spun on the table.
“This is all of it,” Lin Zhao said in a small voice.
Chu Xihuan stared at the five copper coins on the table and fell completely silent.
**
Author’s Note:
Xixi: I knew she was poor, but I didn’t expect her to be this poor. [Cracking Up]
A certain Zhao: [Please][Please]
