My wife, Wei Gui, was 1.9 meters tall and fought against the Tang dynasty for the throne.

When the carriage stopped in front of the Li family's main residence, the sun was already high in the sky.

Wei Gui got out of the car, straightened her clothes, and took a deep breath. Li Ju stood beside her, took her hand, and gently squeezed it.

"Relax, I'm here for you."

Wei Gui nodded, released his hand, and stepped inside.

The main hall was empty.

Li Xiaochang was not there, nor was his stepmother. Only a maid stood under the eaves. Seeing them enter, she curtsied and said, "Young Master, Young Madam, the young master has gone to the yamen. Madam has not yet risen. Please wait a moment."

Wei Gui's expression remained unchanged, and he said softly, "Thank you." He then stood still in the hall, waiting with his hands at his sides.

Li Ju frowned slightly, but did not speak, standing beside her.

An incense stick has burned out.

Two incense sticks have burned.

The stepmother was still nowhere to be seen. Wei Gui stood ramrod straight, motionless, without the slightest hint of impatience on her face. Li Ju looked at her profile, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him.

Three incense sticks later, the stepmother finally arrived, albeit late. She wore a crimson dress, with a red-gold hairpin in her hair. Her expression was indifferent. She glanced at Wei Gui and then sat down in the main seat.

"You've arrived?" She picked up her teacup, took a sip, and said slowly, "Please sit down."

Wei Gui did not sit down immediately, but first bowed to her stepmother: "Daughter-in-law Wei greets Mother."

The manners were impeccable, and there was not a single fault to be found.

The stepmother put down her teacup, looked her over for a moment, her gaze lingering on the white magnolia hairpin in her hair for a brief instant, and said calmly, "The eldest daughter of the Wei family, indeed well-mannered. Please sit down."

Wei Gui sat down at the lower end of the table, while Li Ju sat opposite her.

A maidservant brought tea. Wei Gui rose, held the teacup in both hands, walked to his stepmother, and curtsied to offer the tea: "Mother, please have some tea."

The stepmother did not accept it.

The hall fell silent for a few moments.

Wei Gui maintained his bent-knee posture, holding the teacup steadily in his hand, his expression unchanged.

The stepmother glanced at her, then suddenly reached out and took the teacup, but didn't hold it steady—the teacup slipped from her hand and crashed to the ground with a thud, splashing tea all over the floor and wetting the hem of Wei Gui's skirt.

"Oh dear, my hand slipped," the stepmother said casually. "You can't even serve tea steadily."

Wei Gui glanced down at the wet hem of her skirt, neither flustered nor annoyed. She took a step back and said softly to the maid, "Please prepare another cup of tea."

Then she turned around and curtsied to her stepmother, saying, "It was my carelessness that disturbed you, Mother."

The stepmother narrowed her eyes slightly.

The second cup of tea was served. Wei Gui once again curtsied to offer the tea. This time, his stepmother accepted it but did not drink it, placing it on the table instead.

"The legitimate daughter of the Wei family has been wronged to marry the illegitimate son of our Li family, hasn't she?" the stepmother said slowly.

Wei Gui lowered his eyes: "Mother, you flatter me. Liu Lang is an official appointed by the imperial court, the Marquis of Wu'an County. It is my daughter-in-law's good fortune to marry him."

"Good fortune?" The stepmother smiled. "You certainly know how to talk. However, once you marry into the Li family, you must abide by the rules. The Wei family's ways won't work here."

Wei Gui remained expressionless: "Now that my daughter-in-law has married into the Li family, she should abide by the Li family's rules. Please enlighten me, Mother."

Her stepmother looked at her, trying to find a flaw in her face, but her face remained dignified and calm, without the slightest ripple.

"Come stand here," the stepmother said.

Wei Gui walked up to her and stood with his hands at his sides.

The stepmother looked her up and down, her gaze lingering for a moment on the jade pendant at her waist, before suddenly saying, "This jade is quite nice. From the Wei family?"

"It's something my daughter-in-law always keeps," Wei Gui said.

"It's inappropriate for the Li family's daughter-in-law to wear the Wei family's jade," the stepmother said calmly. "Take it off."

Wei Gui did not move. She raised her head, looked at her stepmother, her gaze calm and firm.

"Mother, this jade is a token of the Marquis's mansion, not a personal item. It should not be taken lightly."

The stepmother frowned slightly, about to speak, when Li Ju spoke up.

The voice was soft and unhurried, yet everyone in the hall could hear it clearly.

"Mother, this jade is a gift from your son. If you feel it's inappropriate, I can exchange it for another one."

His stepmother glanced at him, her gaze slightly somber.

Li Ju didn't continue speaking, but simply picked up his teacup and slowly took a sip.

The hall fell silent again.

The stepmother was silent for a moment, then changed the subject, saying, "You are now the Lady of the Marquis, your status is different. But in this family, you are the daughter-in-law. You also need to learn to manage the household affairs."

Wei Gui bowed her head: "Your daughter-in-law will heed your teachings, Mother."

"The kitchen is short-handed today, so go and help with the vegetable picking," the stepmother said calmly. "Madam, I'm sure you won't mind these menial tasks."

Wei Gui's expression remained unchanged: "Daughter-in-law will go right away."

She turned to leave, but Li Ju put down his teacup and stood up.

"Mother."

His stepmother looked at him and asked, "What's wrong?"

"This is Gui'er's first time meeting Mother. We can learn about the kitchen another day. Besides—" He paused, his tone still unhurried, "I have official business to attend to at the Water Conservancy Bureau today. Gui'er will accompany me. The servants can handle the vegetable preparation."

The stepmother's expression changed slightly: "You—"

Li Ju didn't give her a chance to speak and continued, "Mother, now I am an official appointed by the court, and Gui'er is the wife of a marquis. We must uphold family etiquette, and our national titles must also be respected. If word gets out that the mistress of the Li family is disrespecting the wife of a marquis, it may damage public opinion and put Father in a difficult position."

The stepmother's face darkened completely.

Li Ju's words were all reasonable. Wei Gui was an imperial consort, and although she had not been formally appointed, her status as the wife of the Marquis of Wu'an County was undeniable. If she continued to make things difficult, it would be seen as "disrespecting the Marquis's wife," and the officials of the Censorate would not let her off the hook.

Footsteps came from under the corridor, and Li Xiaochang appeared at the door at some unknown time.

He had changed into official clothes, clearly having rushed back from the yamen. He glanced at the scene in the hall and understood a few things in his mind.

"Madam," he spoke, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable authority, "it's Gui'er's first time here, please don't be too harsh on her."

The stepmother bit her lip and remained silent.

Li Xiaochang walked in, sat down in the main seat of the main hall, and nodded to Wei Gui: "Gui'er, sit down."

Wei Gui glanced at Li Ju, who nodded slightly. Only then did she sit down, remaining dignified and composed.

Li Xiaochang then turned to his stepmother, his tone softening slightly: "Madam, Huairun is now an important official in the court, and Gui'er is the legitimate daughter of the Wei family. Harmony in the family brings prosperity in all things; let's not allow others to laugh at us."

The stepmother took a deep breath, suppressing her resentment, and said calmly, "I understand."

She stood up and said to Wei Gui, "Since you're here, please stay for dinner. I'll go tell the kitchen."

After saying that, he turned and left the main hall.

Wei Gui stood up and curtsied to her retreating figure, saying, "Thank you, Mother."

Li Xiaochang looked at Wei Gui with a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.

"Gui'er, you did very well today," he said. "Your mother has a quick temper, so don't take some of her words to heart."

Wei Gui lowered his head: "My daughter-in-law understands."

Li Xiaochang nodded, glanced at Li Ju again, said nothing more, and got up to go to the study.

Only the husband and wife remained in the hall.

Li Ju walked over and took Wei Gui's hand. Her hand was slightly cool, and her fingertips were still trembling slightly.

"I'm sorry to have troubled you."

Wei Gui shook his head and looked up at him: "I'm not wronged."

Li Ju gently embraced her.

"Let's go," he said, releasing her. "Let's go home."

The two left the main hall and boarded the carriage. The curtain fell, and Wei Gui leaned on Li Ju's shoulder, letting out a long breath.

"Mukuro."

"Um."

"You just called me Gui'er. Won't Mother think you're being too protective of me?"

Li Ju looked down at her and said, "It's only natural for me to protect you."

Wei Gui smiled and buried her face in his chest.

The carriage slowly drove out of the alley and headed towards their home.