The husband I snatched halfway through his life is strange.

When Yu Tingwan arrived at the West Garden, she was somewhat surprised to see Ning Yunling sitting beside the Lady of Ningguo, who was behaving quite properly.

After exchanging greetings, she sat down next to Shen Zhiyi and glanced at the dishes.

They were all served on small, palm-sized glass dishes, with exquisite presentation. Each dish was served in just one or two bites, but the variety was impressive.

Yu Tingwan ate slowly, listening to the conversation on the other end.

Lady Ningguo pulled the Lu family girl, who had just changed her clothes, to sit down beside her. Her tone was familiar, unlike her usual courteous manner when entertaining other girls; this time, her tone was affectionate.

"It's all my fault, you wretched son, that you've suffered so much."

"Your mother and I are very close friends. The last time I saw you, you were still in her belly. It's wonderful how you've all grown up in the blink of an eye."

"It was your fault, Brother Ning, today. I apologize on behalf of this scoundrel. Please come to Auntie's house as a guest again in the future."

Lu Shiying glanced cautiously at Ning Yunling, who was sitting upright next to the Lady of Ningguo, and found that he was also looking at her. As if burned, she quickly looked away.

"No...it's okay."

Seeing this, Lady Ningguo said to Lady Lu, who was seated at the table, "You have such a soft temper, just like when you were young. It's good that you're back, so you don't have to worry about me every day and travel between the two places every year."

Madam Lu smiled and said, "Yes."

The Lu family has experienced too many changes, and she has come to see the coldness and indifference of the world.

"I don't ask for anything else now, I just hope she's doing well and can find a good husband."

Yu Tingwan noticed that Ning Yunling's posture had unconsciously straightened up slightly.

The more Lady Ningguo looked at the sweet and soft-spoken Lu Shiying, the more she liked her: "Your daughter is like half a daughter to me. I'll help you find a good husband later."

Knowing her own limitations, Ning Yunling bent down slightly again.

When Yu Tingwan saw his little trick, she almost spat out the soup in her mouth.

"How long has he been like this?"

Shen Zhiyi followed Yu Tingwan's gaze and looked over: "That delicate Lu family girl's hands are all scraped and blistered, how can he not feel guilty and ashamed?"

"But to be honest, with the delicate and frail appearance of the Lu family girl, and the tears in her eyes, any man would want to kiss her."

"However, Ning Yunling probably has no chance."

Although the Lu family has fallen on hard times in recent years, its integrity remains. The younger generation are all capable, but none dare to stand out.

Not only is the family a scholarly family, but the Lu family daughter is also the only girl in the family. Although she has always been raised in the old family, she is the apple of everyone's eye.

Even though the Ningguo Marquis's family is of high social standing, it doesn't necessarily mean they would be willing to marry their daughter into the family.

If Ning Yunling wants to marry him, he'll probably have to suffer a lot.

Yu Tingwan also understood this point: "Marriage is a matter of fate."

As she spoke, she looked at Shen Zhiyi and asked, "What did you drink?"

How come it has color!
"Wine."

This is peach blossom wine that Shen Zhiyi bought on her way here.

It was much more enjoyable to drink than the bland cherry blossom wine prepared by the Ning family.

Seeing that she was interested, Shen Zhi said, "Let me pour you some, want to try it? Take a small sip and try it first."

Just then, Lady Ningguo raised her wine cup and gestured to Yu Tingwan.

"The wine you make at home is made from cherry blossoms. It's not very strong and contains a lot of nourishing herbs. But you can't taste any herbs at all. It's very sweet and perfect for us women. Your mother-in-law is never a heavy drinker, but she does enjoy it. If you like it, take some back with you."

With that, she drank it all in one gulp.

Yu Tingwan: "Thank you for your trouble, Aunt."

She glanced at the wine Shen Zhiyi had just poured for her, picked it up without thinking, raised it towards the Lady of Ningguo, and brought it to her lips in return.

Its rich, refreshing fragrance is delightful, and its color is crystal clear.

Shen Zhiyi: "This is not..."

Then Yu Tingwan gulped it all down in one go.

Even Shen Zhiyi, who has a high alcohol tolerance, wouldn't dare to do that.

Yu Tingwan felt terrible after drinking it.

It tastes awful.

My throat feels burning.

I even felt like throwing up.

She had never drunk alcohol before and didn't know if all alcohol was like that.

If even Ning Su Chan likes something, how could it be bad!

Miss Dong, sitting opposite, said shyly, "This cherry blossom wine is really good. I'd be so shameless as to ask you to give me some, Madam."

"Yes."

The girls all chimed in.

"I've long heard of the Ningguo Marquis's cherry blossom wine, and now that I've had the chance to taste it, it's comparable to celestial nectar. Perhaps only those who don't know how to appreciate fine wine would find it unpalatable." Yu Tingwan, who found it unpalatable: ...

But how could she possibly admit that she doesn't understand appraisal?

Yu Tingwan remained expressionless.

Pretend.

Seeing Shen Zhiyi staring at her in fear, Yu Tingwan spoke calmly.

"good."

"I love so much."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Yu Tingwan heard a girl next door say, "At home, my mother doesn't let me drink alcohol, saying that if I get drunk, I'll make a fool of myself. It's only because I came to the Ningguo Marquis's mansion that I'm lucky; this wine doesn't taste like alcohol at all."

"Yes."

"It's sweet, even more refreshing than drinking mint syrup in the summer."

A chorus of praise followed.

Yu Tingwan remained silent for a moment, doubting herself, but not doubting that there was something wrong with the wine.

The burning sensation seemed to start from the throat and go down to the lower abdomen, and then quickly spread from the lower abdomen to all parts of the body.

Yu Tingwan put down her wine cup, pondered for a moment, and, stubbornly clinging to her pride, said, "What those girls said is right."

"It's just that I'm a little different from them."

"The only downside to this wine for me is that it's not strong enough."

Shen Zhiyi couldn't see a trace of boasting at all.

"The General's wife."

Just then, a few well-mannered girls came over with wine glasses.

"I am overjoyed to meet you today, Madam. I wonder if I may have the honor of offering you a toast?"

Yu Tingwan: ...

She was a little stiff.

"You look even more dignified and beautiful than the rumors suggest."

Yu Tingwan took the wine from Shen Zhiyi's hand and poured herself a glass.

"you're right."

"I did it."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The streets were bustling, and the cries of vendors filled the air.

At Ying Yin's command, the Imperial Guards stormed into the Duke of Zhou's mansion.

Ying Yin stood in the street, ignoring the surprised whispers of the people. He looked up at the plaque above the gate of the Duke of Zhou's mansion.

Even under the light, it still glitters with gold, exuding majesty.

But in Ying Yin's eyes, it was a piece of wood that was about to rot, which would be smashed down and broken in two sooner or later.

All the glory of those years has been destroyed in an instant; rise and fall are but a fleeting moment.

"My lord, Jia, the advisor, is looking for you."

The trusted confidant stepped forward at that moment.

Ying Yin thought it was something important, so he looked up at the street and saw an ordinary-looking carriage parked there.

"Please invite him here."

As the Imperial Guards bound everyone in the Duke of Zhou's mansion, Ying Fuyan bowed to Ying Yin and whispered.

"Congratulations, Fifth Prince."

Ying Yin felt a surge of comfort: "What's wrong? Is there something downstairs..."

"No."

Ying Fuyan: "It's actually a private matter."

He was holding a hot water bottle, his face was pale, and he looked extremely unwell.

How shameless!

He can just open his mouth and say it.

"I've recently found a house I like, but I'm a little short on cash."

Ying Yin: ?!

I just gave you a whole stack of silver notes not long ago? How come you've spent it all again?

(End of this chapter)