Misty Rain of the Old Times

After washing up and changing clothes, Chen Xuan and the others changed into casual clothes. They would be getting to know the dowry members from the princess's residence later, so it was unusual for Chen Xuan to dress more formally outside of the wedding.

The young couple stood together; the man was exceptionally handsome, and the woman was stunningly beautiful. Anyone would have to agree that they were a match made in heaven.

Soon, Du Juan and the others brought lunch, a full twelve dishes, carefully prepared by the chef, nutritionally balanced and exceptionally delicious.

This wasn't their home in Yang County, so the usual rules still applied. That's why Du Juan and Su Roujia didn't sit at the table to eat together as usual.

Although the little princess was hungry, she had a small appetite and was full after just one bowl of rice. Her eating posture was incredibly dignified and elegant, and every move she made was pleasing to the eye.

The rice was cooked with tribute rice, which was cooked to the perfect consistency and was much sweeter than ordinary rice. The chopsticks were made of jade, and even the plates used to serve the rice and dishes were exquisite and obviously very valuable.

After finishing the meal, Chen Xuan thought to himself that this life was too extravagant and he was not used to it. He had the mindset of an ordinary person and his demeanor had not yet caught up.

Marrying a princess isn't just about hooking up with a rich woman; it's like bringing home a mountain of gold. The best is yet to come.

After the meal, Chen Xuan pondered for a moment and said, "From now on, unless there are special arrangements, let's have four dishes and one soup for our meals."

This was said to Yunlan, Yunxin, and Dujuan. Afterwards, Chen Xuan looked at the little princess and asked, "What does my wife think?"

It wasn't that Chen Xuan couldn't get used to a luxurious life; it was just that he had suffered hardships as a child and couldn't bring himself to waste food. Although he could eat a whole cow, there was absolutely no need to force himself on him.

Du Juan and Su Roujia didn't mind. Having followed Chen Xuan for so long, they had gotten used to the casual and simple lifestyle. However, Yun Lan and Yun Xin were a little embarrassed by the arrangement. The princess's meals were usually regulated. After all, her status was what it was. Even if she didn't eat, there had to be a certain standard and pomp. Even this twelve-course meal was a bit simple and meager. The newly arrived dowry cook hadn't figured out Chen Xuan's habits yet, so she didn't dare to make too much or too little.

Chen Xuancai was the head of the family, and Yun Lan and Yun Xin dared not argue or offend him. They looked at the little princess with a conflicted and cautious expression.

They were dowry maids and bed warmers, just like Du Juan and Su Roujia. As the personal maids of Chen Xuan and his wife, they did not have specific job titles, but they could be involved in and manage matters big and small. Their status was second only to Chen Xuan and his wife, and equivalent to the head steward.

Of course, although they held certain positions, their main responsibility was to take care of Chen Xuan and his companion's daily needs. They wouldn't really use their status to wield all the power, big or small. That would be too much to handle and would also be taboo.

The little princess smiled and nodded, unperturbed, saying, "I'll do whatever you say, Master."

"Yes, we'll give the kitchen a special instruction later," Yunlan and the others nodded in agreement.

Chen Xuan smiled and said, "Don't feel sorry for Madam. Just cook simple, refined meals and make sure she's well-fed. There's really no need for all those fancy things just to make things look nice. We don't care about those things, and we don't need to care what others think."

Many wealthy families in this era are clearly declining, but they grit their teeth and keep up the status quo for the sake of so-called dignity, afraid that others will see that they have fallen on hard times. Chen Xuan really doesn't understand the mentality of those people.

"Whatever the master says goes. Life is for yourself, not for others to see. Just be happy," the little princess said with a smile, resting her chin on her hand. As Emperor Shangxuan's most beloved princess, she never puts on airs unless it's a special occasion.

Yunlan and the others nodded to indicate that they understood. The master of the house was in charge, and the princess was, after all, married into the family. At the same time, they breathed a sigh of relief and felt somewhat fortunate that the master was approachable and easy to get along with. If it were the kind of master who would lose his temper at the drop of a hat, life would be difficult in the future.

Having finished eating, Chen Xuan stood up and said, "Go and make arrangements for everyone to gather in the courtyard outside the hall. Let's get to know each other and also arrange some things."

"Yes, sir, I'll go right away," Xia Mei replied from outside the door and quickly left, so that Du Juan and the others didn't have to make a trip.

With so many people suddenly in the house, Dujuan and the others actually had less work to do, and they were a little unaccustomed to it for a while, as if everyone was trying to take over their work.

“My lady, let’s go over there. Although I often visit you and know many people there, we should still have a formal meeting on the first day,” Chen Xuan said, standing up and reaching out to help the little princess, who still had some difficulty walking.

She gave Chen Xuan a playful glare, and the couple walked hand in hand toward the hall.

Seeing the little princess's awkward gait from behind, Yunxin and Dujuan naturally understood what was going on. Their pretty faces flushed slightly as they looked away, not daring to say anything more.

When they arrived at the front hall, everyone in the mansion was already there. Two large and exquisite armchairs were placed on the steps under the eaves, with people holding incense burners and canopies on either side of the armchairs, making the ceremony extremely ceremonial.

Chen Xuan used to be carefree and never paid much attention to such things, but now he suddenly realized that the little princess was always surrounded by a large group of people whenever she went out, except when she was with him. The difference in their lifestyles was quite big, and it would take time for them to adjust to each other.

That being said, things are different before and after marriage. After all, couples live together day and night, and with such a difference in lifestyle, won't conflicts arise over time? It seems that many families end up in chaos over trivial matters.

Chen Xuan glanced at the little princess and thought to himself that with such a gentle and considerate wife, there was no chance of the couple fighting. He hoped so.

When this thought popped into Chen Xuan's mind, he felt a surge of joy. A couple of days ago, he was drinking and chatting with Deng Lingfeng and the others when he heard that Gao Jingming and his wife, Lü Qingrong, had gotten into a fight last month. Gao's face was scratched all over, and he was too embarrassed to go to work for two whole days. Fortunately, his cultivation was quite good, and he recovered quickly without being disfigured.

When a husband and wife fight, it's not a matter of who has higher cultivation level to win. They're not enemies, so why would they kill each other? Even if the man has great skills, he has to hold back. Like the couple who were Chen Xuan's neighbors across the river in Mo City back then. I really thought Aunt Rong's husband couldn't beat her. He was always being beaten like a dog, but he still let her have her way.

Tsk, why do I suddenly have so many strange thoughts after getting married? Chen Xuan chuckled to himself. He sat down on the left side of the two armchairs with an air of authority. Next to him was the little princess. He suppressed his smile and sat with a dignified and imposing demeanor. The majesty of the imperial family was so great that people dared not look him in the eye.

Don't be fooled by her petite and dependent demeanor next to Chen Xuan; when she puts on a show of authority, she can be truly intimidating.

Caught off guard by his wife's posture, Chen Xuan's mind raced with strange images. What if his wife adopted a haughty demeanor, lifting her skirt to reveal her long, stockinged legs and disdainfully stepping on him...

Ahem, I can't think about it anymore. But then again, it's not like I won't have a chance to experience it.
A large group of people stood below, their hearts pounding with anxiety. The silence was so profound you could hear a pin drop. There were nearly a thousand people in total, including guards, palace maids, eunuchs, servants, and other attendants. And that wasn't all; many more were scattered throughout the princess's fiefdom and various properties.

Fortunately, Chen Xuan's mansion was large enough, otherwise it would have been difficult to accommodate so many people. Only those with relatively special status had separate rooms, and most of them actually slept in a large dormitory. Just like when Chen Xuan was in the Gao family, only his page had a separate room. If a dozen or so people like Hou Jin were crammed into one room, which family would arrange separate rooms for their servants? It's not like they're raising pampered masters.

Facing the nervous crowd, Chen Xuan smiled and said, "Everyone, don't be nervous. This is just a brief meeting to get to know each other. We'll have plenty of time to spend together in the future. I'll be troubling you all here, inside and out."

"You flatter us, sir. We will certainly abide by the family rules and do our duty," everyone said in unison, as if they had rehearsed it beforehand.

How could they not be uneasy? Although Chen Xuan was just a commoner, his strength was undeniable, and who would dare to act recklessly? Furthermore, although the little princess had married into the family, her title remained, and her status had not changed. This was no ordinary wealthy family; if they broke the rules and were beaten to death, they would have nowhere to turn for help.

A princess's status is equivalent to that of a prince, and her family can establish its own system. In a sense, the family rules are comparable to the law. The saying that "the emperor is subject to the same laws as commoners" is only for outsiders, and it's something to be taken with a grain of salt; only a fool would take it seriously.

Nodding, Chen Xuan's smile faded. He pointed to himself and said, "Remember this face, the master of this house." Then he looked at the little princess and said, "And the lady, the mistress of this house." Chen Xuan then looked at everyone and said firmly, "I don't care what you were like before, but from this moment on, I hope you remember that anyone who commits any act of disrespect will be severely punished. If that ever happens, don't blame me for not warning you beforehand!"

Upon hearing this, everyone trembled and fell silent. The undisguised coldness in Chen Xuan's eyes was chilling. How could they withstand even a trace of a Grandmaster's aura? They almost collapsed to the ground in embarrassment.

"We pay our respects to our lord, and will obey your orders and perform our duties in accordance with the rules," the crowd said in unison, kneeling down in unison. This was a necessary procedure, equivalent to a ceremony of allegiance.

Seeing this, Chen Xuan glanced around, and after a moment, he put on a smile again and said, "You don't need to worry. I'm a very easy-going person and I don't lose my temper easily. As long as it's not intentional, I'm forgiving of people who make mistakes by accident. After all, everyone makes mistakes. Just do your job well in the future. I'm fair in rewarding and punishing. You'll be punished for doing wrong, but you'll also receive rewards for doing good."

"We will remember this," everyone quickly said. Chen Xuan concealed his aura, and they immediately felt much less pressure.

Nodding and humming in agreement, Chen Xuan continued, "From now on, Madam will be in charge of all matters at home, big and small. If anything happens outside, just report to me. Do you understand?"

The traditional saying goes that men should be in charge of external affairs and women should be in charge of internal affairs. Chen Xuan is actually just lazy and prefers to be a hands-off manager. After all, how much can there be outside? Even if there is, it's just a matter of a word. Otherwise, what would be the point of having so many people under him? When he really needs to step in personally, it's no small matter.

The timing was right, and Chen Xuan looked at the little princess, signaling her to say a few words as well.

Nodding, the little princess surveyed the crowd with a dignified gaze, and said, word by word, "I have only one sentence: the master's words are my words, and the master's will is the direction in which you all strive. From now on, the master is in charge of this household. Do you understand?"

"Understood," everyone nodded in unison, knowing that although the princess would still have the title of princess after marrying into the family, her life would revolve around the master. As the saying goes, there are only vines that entwine trees, not trees that entwine vines. After all, Chen Xuan was not marrying into the family as a prince consort, otherwise the situation would have been reversed.

Then the little princess looked at Chen Xuan and smiled, her previous haughty attitude of looking down on everyone was nowhere to be seen, indicating that she had finished speaking.

Upon receiving the signal, Chen Xuan smiled and said, "Alright then, that's settled. Everyone get up, disperse, and do what you were doing."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief; they had passed the test and were secretly glad that the master hadn't made an example of them.

Normally, we should do something to dampen their arrogance, but given Chen Xuan's cultivation level and the little princess's status, there's absolutely no need. Do they even dare to defy the heavens?

After Chen Xuan finished speaking, out of habit, everyone subconsciously looked at the little princess.

Chen Xuan didn't care about this, but the little princess's face immediately turned cold, and she said in an icy voice, "Have you forgotten what I just said? Or have your words failed you? This is the first time, and considering the recent joyous occasion, I will not pursue the matter further. You will all be fined half a month's salary as a warning to others. I hope this is the last time. If you disobey your master's orders again, you can get out of the manor. Remember this. Rise."

"Yes, sir!" the crowd replied, rising in trembling fear. They were all sweating profusely, regretting their mistake so much that they wanted to slap themselves. Fortunately, the master and prince did not take the opportunity to make trouble but instead punished them leniently. Otherwise, such a taboo mistake would have been quite serious if investigated.

Chen Xuan understood that his wife was helping him establish his authority and make people distinguish between primary and secondary roles. Otherwise, these people who came with him as part of the dowry would inevitably side with the princess over time, thus undermining Chen Xuan's authority.

After everyone had left, Chen Xuan turned back and smiled, "Thank you, my wife, for your kindness."

Du Juan coldly watched the backs of the group, her gaze sharp. She thought to herself, "So what if these people from the princess's dowry came? They almost embarrassed the master on the first day. It seems I'll have to teach them a lesson later."

The little princess gave Chen Xuan a dissatisfied look and said seriously, "Husband, don't take this lightly. This kind of fundamental mistake cannot be set as a precedent, otherwise who will respect you in the future?"

"Alright, alright, I understand. My wife is doing this for my own good. My wife is the best in the world," Chen Xuan nodded earnestly.

Unable to do anything about him, the little princess could only shake her head helplessly and say, "My husband..."

"It's alright, no need to make a fuss. It's only the first day, there's no need to make the atmosphere so tense. We need to give them some time to adjust," Chen Xuan interrupted, then added, "I'll have someone invite Madam Gao and the others over for a meal later. They've been so helpful these past few days, we really need to thank them properly."

"I really have to thank them. If it weren't for the Gao family, how could I have been so fortunate to marry such a wonderful husband?" she nodded sincerely.

While the couple was talking, the former head steward of the princess's residence hesitated for a moment before stepping forward and saying, "Master, Your Highness, the congratulatory gifts and dowry from the past few days have all been inventoried, registered, and recorded. Please take a look."

Chen Xuan showed little interest in the stack of account books in her hand, and said dismissively, "Give them to Madam; she'll be in charge of all matters at home from now on."

To be honest, judging from that stack of account books, this wedding was a windfall. However, with Chen Xuan's current cultivation level, he no longer cared about these worldly things. They were readily available, so what was so surprising about them?

The little princess glanced at Chen Xuan, both amused and exasperated, and said speechlessly, "I think my husband is just lazy, dumping all the troublesome things on me."

Then she looked at Steward Hua and said, "Give this to Yunxin and the others. I'll look at it again later. Remember, at home you can call me Madam. Don't call me Your Highness unless it's a special occasion. Please have Steward Hua give this instruction to your subordinates."

"Your humble servant obeys," Steward Hua nodded in agreement. She came from the palace and had previously served as the steward in the princess's residence. She was a formally appointed official, so it was correct for her to refer to herself as "your humble servant."

The couple weren't particularly interested in wealth, since they shared a bed.

Chen Xuan laughed and said, "My wife has seen through that. You're not happy that the family finances are in your hands? From now on, I'll have to be careful what I say if I want some pocket money. I hope my wife will have pity on me and be more generous."

"That depends on how my husband behaves. If he makes me happy, he'll be more than willing to do anything," the little princess said, covering her mouth with a smile, laughing at herself.

Seeing the newlyweds enjoying each other's company, Steward Hua and the others secretly thought that Her Highness had truly married a perfect husband, and their future days would surely be blissful.

Chen Xuan patted his chest and assured her, "Just watch how I perform; I won't let my wife down."

Joking aside, Chen Xuan then looked at Steward Hua seriously and said, "From now on, I will have to trouble you with the duties of steward of the manor. Please take good care of all the matters, big and small, inside and out."

Chen Xuan didn't want to go through the trouble of personnel arrangements, so he simply kept things as they were. There was no need to make a fuss and show off. Besides, the little princess had married into the family, and if the people she brought with her were scattered and reorganized, it would be like changing her environment, which she would definitely not be used to. Everything could remain the same.

Steward Hua wasn't greedy for the position and power of steward; in fact, she was prepared for a leisurely life. However, since Chen Xuan had already spoken, she had no choice but to say, "It is my honor that you trust me, sir. It is my duty, how could I dare to ask for trouble? I will certainly not disappoint you."

That was settled.

Next, Chen Xuan and his newlywed husband had to host a banquet to thank Madam Gao and the others who helped with the wedding arrangements… (End of Chapter)