Do you know: I should be fat and you should be thin!

After spending a long time cuddling with Minglan, the feast prepared in the small kitchen arrived!

The cold dish is crystal sashimi (a translucent jelly made from pork skin and fish scales), accompanied by pickled cucumber and fish sauce, offering a refreshing and palate-cleansing experience.

The main dishes include three kinds of braised mutton, crispy yellow glutinous rice balls, and crab stuffed oranges.

The soup is crab soup.

The snacks and fruits include five kinds, such as rose shortbread and candied kumquats.

Zhou Ning stretched out his chopsticks, picked up a piece of lean mutton that had been trimmed of fat from the edge of the plate, and placed it on Minglan's plate: "Eat more. If you go back to your parents' home in six days and see that you have become thinner here, your grandmother will definitely turn against me."

Minglan replied softly, "Mmm," sounding quite nervous, as Zhou Ning was going to stay at her place that night.

After the two finished their dinner, Zhou Ning accompanied Minglan to the courtyard to digest their food.

Half an hour later!

"Ning Lang," Minglan suddenly called out.

Zhou Ning asked, "Hmm? What's wrong?"

"Tonight... could we postpone consummating our marriage?" Minglan asked shyly. (✿◡‿◡)

Zhou Ning asked curiously, "You're unwilling?"

Minglan clutched her stomach and said, "No, I... I think I've started my period ⁄(⁄⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄⁄)⁄."

Zhou Ning naturally agreed and asked Xiao Tao to instruct the small kitchen to make some warm osmanthus honey drink!

Osmanthus honey warm drink can help relieve menstrual cramps and is gentle on the body, making it a common menstrual drink among officials and wealthy families in the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Zhou Ning carried her back to the courtyard and asked Xiao Zhu to tell the other young ladies in the courtyards that she was staying at Minglan's Zhufei Courtyard tonight and would visit them tomorrow.

Because Minglan suddenly became unwell, their union had to be postponed for several days.

Zhou Ning directly took over the task of bathing her, sending Danju, Xiaotao, and Cuiwei back to their homes, enjoying himself all to himself!

Minglan's resistance was futile. After lingering in the room for a long time, she finally took off her clothes and curled up in the bathtub, feeling extremely ashamed.

"Okay...okay!"

Zhou Ning immediately pushed open the door and entered the room. She saw the candlelight flickering, making her pretty face even more radiant.

He lifted her right arm, scooped water and gently poured it over her, stroking it back and forth, and couldn't help but kiss her fair and rosy arm.

Sheng Minglan couldn't stand his teasing, so she quickly used her other hand to gently push him away.

But as soon as she moved, those two proud mounds quietly surfaced, giving Zhou Ning a feast for the eyes, and he couldn't help but hide them for her.

Minglan felt both ashamed and embarrassed, so she shrank back into the bathtub and simply closed her eyes, refusing to look or think about it.

Zhou Ning smelled a faint fragrance emanating from her body. Seeing her cheeks flushed and her eyes closed in a pitiful way, he leaned in and kissed her, suppressing his lustful thoughts, and quickly helped her wash up.

That night, Minglan slept with her head resting on his shoulder, her pink cheek almost touching Zhou Ning's left cheek.

Zhou Ning smelled the fragrance of powder and perfume, and held a soft, warm body in his arms. He was filled with smug satisfaction and his mind was wandering, making it difficult for him to fall asleep.

The next morning!

Because the old emperor had passed away and the new emperor had not yet completed the formalities, he was not required to attend court for ten days. Zhou Ning slept until 5:45 a.m.

Seeing that Minglan was still sleeping soundly, Zhou Ning quietly got up and left the courtyard without making a sound.

Cuiwei, who was keeping watch outside the courtyard, immediately went forward to greet them, but Zhou Ning shushed her, saying, "Quiet down, let your young lady get some sleep. She works hard managing this inner quarters, so I've decided to exempt her from the daily morning and evening greetings. Tell her when she wakes up."

According to the rules of the Great Zhou Dynasty, concubines were required to go to the residence of the principal wife every morning to perform the morning and evening greetings, respectfully inquiring about her well-being, and could not be absent without permission.

However, if a concubine is favored by her master, this rule will be waived in private, a fact that everyone knows but doesn't tacitly agree to!

Cuiwei bowed and said, "Yes, my lord."

"If you've become the head maid, then do your job well. If there are any maids in the manor who don't obey orders, even if they are first-class maids, your young lady can sell them off! Go ask Madam Wei for the indenture today."

After giving his instructions, Zhou Ning left and went to the main courtyard.

He saw that Rulan was there, but she was still sleepy and swaying as she stood, so he helped her sit down.

"My lord, Rulan came to pay her respects early this morning," Yu Yanran praised.

After paying her respects, the girl refused to leave and insisted on staying, saying she wanted to see when the other concubines would arrive!

Rulan said unhappily, "Why haven't they come to pay their respects yet? Look, Ning-di, I'm the only one following the rules!"

Zhou Ning chimed in, "That's right, I'll talk to them about it later. Fifth Sister deserves a reward! From now on, I'll waive the daily morning and evening greetings for Fifth Sister, just to spite them."

Rulan asked happily, "Really?" and looked at Yu Yanran.

Who doesn't want to sleep a little longer?

Yu Yanran nodded and said, "Okay, no need. From now on, just come at noon and have lunch together at my Jiaxi Residence. After lunch, we can enjoy tea, flower arranging, and needlework together. It's much more interesting than staying in your own courtyard. Of course, if you want to go out, you must let me know first."

"Okay!" Rulan said.

Since Rulan had already come, Zhou Ning invited her to stay, and the three of them ate breakfast together, saving Taoran Restaurant from having to book an extra table.

"My lord, during the period of national mourning, those noble families should not be coming, right?" Yu Yanran asked.

Zhou Ning nodded and said, "During the national mourning period, we won't entertain guests if they come! Besides, our Cheng Garden still needs repairs and cleaning, so it's not suitable for receiving guests right now. By the way, Minglan had her period last night, so please take good care of her these next few days and don't let her get too tired. I'll be staying at Taoran Pavilion tonight, so please tell the ladies at lunchtime."

Rulan's eyes lit up, and she beamed with joy. Taoran Pavilion was her own courtyard, so she had to dress up nicely tonight.

Yu Yanran agreed.

After the meal, Zhou Ning bid farewell to the two women and went to Zhentang Pavilion to see Wei Zhi.

Wei Zhi was used to getting up early, and now that she had been relieved of her heavy responsibilities, she was already practicing her dance in the open space of the courtyard, her long sleeves fluttering in the breeze!

Zhou Ning peeked at it for a bit, then clapped and cheered!

"My lord!" Wei Zhi stepped forward and leaned against Zhou Ning.

"Is it my fault that I took away your power as housekeeper?" Zhou Ning asked.

Wei Zhi laughed, "Isn't this a good thing? Look, I even have time to practice dancing now. It's just that Minglan will have to work hard. Now that the master's family business is getting bigger and bigger, there are more and more concubines in the house. Just thinking about it gives me a headache!"

"You must be exhausted after three years as the housekeeper. Take a good rest for a while!" Zhou Ning said with concern.

Wei Zhi asked, "Since you stayed at Minglan's last night, shouldn't you be going to Taoran Pavilion tonight?"

Zhou Ning rubbed his hands together and said, "Wei Zhi understands me best! So guess what I want to do now?"

Wei Zhi gently brushed his face with a silk handkerchief, leaving a faint fragrance, and said sadly, "It's a pity we can't do it. I got my period the day before yesterday, and my husband was busy saving people in the palace and didn't come to my courtyard, so he didn't have time to tell you!"

Zhou Ning froze. Was this some kind of mistake?

Do people always seem to be getting married so close together?

Could it be inconvenient for Sheng Rulan as well?

It seems I should have Xiaozhu ask her in advance!

Fortunately, there are many people now, so there's no worry about not having anyone to serve them. If they're so capable, all five of them can bleed within this week!

It seems I need to find a way to bring Sister Hualan over as well. It's just a poor, run-down count's mansion, and they still have to spend their daughter-in-law's dowry. All they have left is the title. Why would they be afraid?

Forcing Yuan Wenshao to divorce is inappropriate. Even if the Earl's Mansion is only in name, it is still the Earl's Mansion. If Sheng Changbai finds out, he will definitely turn against him.

It would still be best to kill Yuan Wenshao quietly in the dead of night, and when Sister Hualan is kicked out of the Zhongqin Earl's Mansion and is all alone and miserable, there will naturally be ways to coax and deceive her.

Yuan Wenshao: "o(╥﹏╥)o"

......