A Poor Man's Son-in-Law: He Picks Up the Daughter of a Duke's Mansion at the Start

May 18th was the third day of the newlyweds' marriage, and according to custom, they were supposed to return to the bride's parents' home.

As soon as it was light, Chunxing led the maids into the room to serve her. Yun Shuwei had changed into a lotus-colored satin dress embroidered with magnolia branches, paired with a moon-white pleated skirt. Her hair was styled more elegantly than the previous two days, and she wore a red-gold and kingfisher feather hairpin. The tassels swayed gently as she moved, making her look radiant.

Lu Qingyan also changed into a brand-new dark blue robe, with a jade belt around his waist, making him look even more upright and handsome.

When the two went to the main hall for breakfast, the homecoming gifts had already been prepared. Eight items were neatly arranged in the hall: two jars of fine Jinhua wine, four kinds of Beijing-style pastries, two bolts of brocade, two boxes of bird's nest, and two old ginseng roots that Lu Qingyan had specially asked Lin Guangbiao to find.

Yun Shu glanced at it and nodded, "It's quite thorough." Then she said to Chunxing, "Bring me that sandalwood box from my makeup case."

Chunxing responded and went to fetch a moment later, returning with an exquisite sandalwood box. Yun Shu opened it slightly, revealing a pair of mutton-fat jade bracelets inside, their jade warm and lustrous, their carvings exquisite.

"This is for my mother." She closed the box and then said to Lu Qingyan, "My father loves calligraphy and paintings. I'll borrow that painting 'Visiting Friends in Autumn Mountains' by Li Mubai in your study first, and I'll find a better one to return to you later."

Lu Qingyan was slightly taken aback: "That painting..."

"Reluctant to part with it?" Yun Shu raised an eyebrow slightly.

"No." Lu Qingyan paused, "It's just that the painting was a gift from Scholar Li, and it would be disrespectful to give it to someone else."

Yun Shu blinked slightly: "Who said you were going to give it away? Just say you're borrowing it for him to admire for a few days. My father knows these things best. He'll be delighted to see Scholar Li's original work, he won't actually want yours."

She spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and after thinking about it, Lu Qingyan agreed and nodded in agreement.

At 7:45 AM, the carriage was ready. The two men, carrying gifts, boarded the carriage and headed to the Duke's mansion.

The Duke's mansion was also newly decorated today. The vermilion gates were wide open, and the red silk from the wedding still hung on the lintel, only now it had been replaced with brand new silk. The steward had been waiting outside, and upon seeing the carriage arrive, he hurried forward to greet them: "Young master and young lady are back!"

Upon entering the mansion, one should first pay respects to the elders in the main hall.

The old Duke and his wife sat at the head of the table, with Yun Chengzong and Madam Wang on their left, and the brothers Yun Qingwen and Yun Qingwu on their right. Several uncles and aunts, all close relatives of the Yun family, were also present in the hall.

Lu Qingyan and Yun Shuwei knelt down side by side and performed a grand ceremony.

"Grandson-in-law Lu Qingyan, accompanied by his new bride Shu Wei, returned to his parents' home to pay respects to his grandparents, father-in-law, and mother-in-law."

The old lady laughed first: "Get up, get up." She beckoned, "Qingyan, come here and let me take a look at you."

Lu Qingyan stood up and walked forward. The old lady took his hand, looked him up and down, and nodded repeatedly: "Good boy, you look well. Shuwei didn't bully you, did she?"

This made everyone laugh. Yun Shuwei chided from the side, "Grandmother!"

Lu Qingyan said gently, "Shu Wei is very well."

"That's good." The old lady patted his hand and took out a piece of mutton fat jade with excellent texture and color. "This was given to me by my grandmother. Wear it for fun."

The bracelet had excellent clarity and was clearly a rare treasure. Lu Qingyan hurriedly declined, but the old lady insisted on putting it on his waist: "It is a gift from an elder, and one cannot refuse."

Over there, the old Duke also called Yun Shuwei over, looked her over carefully, and saw that her brows and eyes had lost some of their former arrogance and gained more gentleness. He nodded with satisfaction: "After getting married, things are indeed different." He then gave her a red envelope, "Take this, buy whatever you want."

After paying their respects to the elders, Madam Wang took her daughter to the inner courtyard to talk, while Lu Qingyan was led to the study by Yun Chengzong and his two brothers-in-law.

In the study, Yun Chengzong had tea brewed and pointed to the painting "Visiting Friends in Autumn Mountains" on the wall, asking Lu Qingyan, "Did you bring this painting?"

"Yes," Lu Qingyan said. "I heard that my father-in-law loves calligraphy and paintings, so I borrowed them for him to appreciate."

Yun Chengzong walked up to the painting and examined it closely, praising it more and more as he looked at it: "Li Mubai truly deserves to be called the unparalleled master of both calligraphy and painting in this dynasty. The skill of the brush, the artistic conception..." He turned to look at Lu Qingyan, "The fact that he was willing to give you this painting shows that he holds you in high regard."

Lu Qingyan humbly replied, "Scholar Li's kindness and gentleness towards his students is a blessing to me."

Yun Qingwen chuckled from the side, "Brother-in-law, there's no need to be so modest. Li Mubai has very high standards; there are only three or five people in the court who have received paintings from him." He paused, then added, "By the way, I met Vice Minister Zhou yesterday, and he asked about you."

Lu Qingyan's expression hardened slightly: "Minister Zhou?"

"It is Zhou Wenyuan's father." Yun Chengzong sat down in the armchair, picked up his teacup, and said a few polite words when he heard that you were married to Shu Wei, but his tone... He shook his head. "You and Zhou Wenyuan are both in the Hanlin Academy, so you should be careful."

"I understand."

Yun Qingwu said, "What are we afraid of? Does our Yun family fear the Zhou family?" He patted Lu Qingyan's shoulder, "Don't worry, with your second brother here, he won't dare to openly make things difficult for you."

Lu Qingyan cupped his hands in thanks: "Thank you, Second Brother."

"We're family, no need for thanks." Yun Qingwu laughed heartily, then lowered his voice, "But brother-in-law, my sister's personality... please bear with her. She's been spoiled since she was little, she speaks bluntly, but she's not a bad person at heart. If she does anything wrong, you can tell me, and I'll talk to her."

Lu Qingyan recalled Yun Shuwei's spoiled yet direct words and actions over the past two days, and smiled slightly: "Shuwei is very good."

Yun Qingwu was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter: "Good! Good! I'm relieved that you think that way!"

While the men were discussing matters concerning the imperial court and the academy, in the inner courtyard, Madam Wang was pulling her daughter aside to ask her detailed questions.

"How have you been these past two days? Has Qingyan treated you well? Are the servants being obedient?"

Yun Shuwei sat down next to her mother, holding a piece of almond shortbread in her hand and taking small bites: "Everything is fine. Lu Qingyan... he has a very good temper, he agrees to whatever I say."

Madam Wang carefully observed her daughter's expression and, seeing that her brows were relaxed and that it didn't seem fake, she breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good. Qingyan comes from a poor family and doesn't understand many rules, so you should teach him more. But he must also remember that now you are a daughter-in-law of the Lu family, and you can't be as willful as you were at home."

"I know." Yun Shu put down her snacks and took her mother's arm. "Mother, although his courtyard is small, it is decorated elegantly. I thought the koi in the pond were not pretty, and he said he would replace them with better ones for me. I also had the orchids in the study moved there by myself, and he didn't say anything."

Mrs. Wang noticed the slight smugness in her daughter's tone and chuckled, tapping her forehead. "You're happy already? A few fish and a few potted plants are enough to win you over?"

Yun Shu smiled slightly, "It's not about bribing him, it's... it's because I feel he's willing to go along with me."

"He goes along with you, so you should also be understanding of him," Madam Wang said seriously. "Qingyan has become a third-ranked scholar at a young age and entered the Hanlin Academy, with a bright future ahead of him. But the court is a treacherous place. Now that you have married him, you must learn to be considerate of him and think of his needs. You can no longer just act on your whims."

Yun Shuwei listened attentively and nodded: "Daughter has remembered."

The mother and daughter chatted intimately for a while, when Wang suddenly remembered something: "Oh right, the Shen family also sent gifts on your wedding day."

"The Shen family?" Yun Shu was slightly taken aback. "Which Shen family?"

"Who else could it be but the Shen family of the Prime Minister's residence?" Madam Wang lowered her voice. "It was sent by Shen Mingzhu. It's a set of pure gold jewelry, quite valuable."

Yun Shuwei's expression changed slightly: "What is she doing...?"

"Like a weasel offering New Year's greetings to a chicken," Wang sneered. "Although that matter was suppressed, the Shen family definitely holds a grudge. She sent this lavish gift simply to appear generous and, incidentally, to disgust us." She grasped her daughter's hand. "I've kept the gift for you; I didn't send it to you. We'll find an excuse to return it to you later."

Yun Shu bit her lip slightly: "Mother, does Lu Qingyan know about that matter?"

"Your father spoke to him," Wang sighed. "Qingyan is a sensible man and knows what's important. You should also relax. Now that you're married, look to the future. The Shen family is powerful, and we can't touch them right now, but there's plenty of time."

Yun Shuwei was silent for a moment, then nodded emphatically: "Daughter understands."

The luncheon was held in the garden's waterside pavilion. It was May, and the peonies in the garden were in full bloom, a vibrant tapestry of purple and red. The pavilion overlooked the lake, and a cool breeze made it exceptionally pleasant.

During the meal, Yun Qingwu was the most active, pulling Lu Qingyan to drink. Yun Shuwei watched from the side and saw that Lu Qingyan's face had turned slightly red after a few drinks, so she couldn't help but tug at his sleeve: "Drink less."

Seeing this, Yun Qingwu laughed loudly: "Little sister, you're already feeling sorry for her? This is nothing!" But he stopped urging her to drink.

The old Duke was in high spirits today and drank a few extra cups, becoming quite talkative. He asked Lu Qingyan about the scenery of his hometown and the mountains, rivers, and people of Yongning County. Lu Qingyan answered each question, his words revealing his deep affection for his hometown and his concern for his parents, moving everyone present.

"He's a filial son," the old Duke said to Yun Chengzong. "He values ​​relationships and doesn't forget his roots; that's better than anything else."

The banquet lasted until late afternoon. Before they left, Madam Wang held her daughter's hand and gave her many instructions before letting them go.

On the return journey in the carriage, Yun Shuwei noticed that Lu Qingyan had his eyes closed and was resting, his face still showing signs of alcohol. She took out a sobering stone from a hidden compartment and handed it to him: "Hold it in your mouth, it will make you feel better."

Lu Qingyan took the medicine and felt the cool sensation spread, which indeed made him feel much better. He opened his eyes and saw Yun Shuwei looking at him with concern in her eyes.

"Are you tired today?" he asked.

"It's alright." Yun Shu paused slightly. "My second brother got you drunk, don't take it to heart. That's just how he is, he likes to cause trouble when he's happy."

Lu Qingyan smiled slightly: "Second brother is a straightforward person."

Yun Shu observed his expression and, seeing that he truly didn't care, breathed a sigh of relief. She lifted a corner of the carriage curtain to look at the street scene outside. The carriage had already left the affluent neighborhood where the Duke's mansion was located and was gradually heading towards Wutong Lane in the south of the city. The streets were narrower and the houses were simpler, but they had a more lively and down-to-earth feel.

"Lu Qingyan," she suddenly called out.

"Um?"

"I will learn to be a good wife." Her voice was soft but earnest. "Although I may learn slowly, you...you teach me more."

Lu Qingyan looked at her. The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the car window onto her face, outlining her delicate features. At this moment, she was devoid of her usual arrogance, like a child earnestly making a promise.

"Okay," he said.

When the two returned to Wutong Lane, it was already dusk. Lanterns were lit in the courtyard, their warm yellow light bathing the newly green sycamore leaves.

Yun Shuwei stood in the courtyard and took a deep breath. The air was filled with the familiar fragrance of osmanthus, the mist from the pond, and the scent of home.

She turned to look at Lu Qingyan and smiled sweetly, "Let's go home."

Lu Qingyan smiled and took her hand: "Yes, let's go home."

The red lanterns swayed gently in the evening breeze, illuminating the two figures walking side by side, gradually disappearing into the door that belonged to them.