On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

Shangguan Wan'er turned and walked into the inner room behind the bead curtain. The crisp sound of the beads colliding seemed particularly lonely in the silent hall, as if it was a helpless sigh of aristocratic etiquette in the face of the arbitrariness of power.

Lin Zhen's gaze followed her elegant yet heavy and lonely figure until she disappeared behind the bead curtain, and he lowered his head to look at Qingwen in his arms.

Qingwen still had a happy smile on her face and the kiss mark from just now was still wet, and she snuggled in his arms.

"It's great to have my husband here."

Lin Zhen pinched her chin with a wicked smile: "Then how do you want to repay your beloved husband?"

After saying that, he pinched Qingwen's plump buttocks.

To be honest, among so many women, his favorite is Qingwen, not only because Qingwen is beautiful, but also has a perfect figure. Especially when she is on the bed, her crazy yet submissive look is simply fascinating.

But Qingwen did not show any expression of enjoyment. Instead, she gently raised her hand and pushed him towards the bead curtain.

The force was very light, but the meaning was extremely clear.

"Hmm?" Lin Zhen raised his eyebrows slightly, looking at her pretty face with a hint of surprise. Her pretty face contained a hint of complexity.

Qingwen raised her head slightly, meeting his inquiring gaze, and whispered, "Sister Wan'er must be feeling very bad. How about your husband go and keep her company? Don't come to my courtyard tonight."

These words came from Qingwen's mouth with a gentleness that was completely inconsistent with her hot temper.

The surprise on Lin Zhen's face grew even stronger, and a playful smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. He leaned over and leaned close to her ear, his warm breath brushing her earlobe: "Strange, when did my Wen'er learn to be so considerate?"

He reached out and scratched the tip of her upturned nose. "Don't you blame her for making you kneel?"

Qingwen's cheeks flushed slightly, and she avoided his probing gaze. Her voice, though soft, was remarkably clear: "If I were to blame, I wouldn't kneel down. I can understand why Sister Wan'er acted the way she did. Besides, do you think I'm just a vicious woman who only knows how to fight and kill, and who doesn't understand reason?"

"Of course not!" Lin Zhen answered without hesitation, his deep laugh filled with doting, "My Wen'er is genuine and sensible. She did the right thing today."

He changed the subject, the smile in his eyes deepening, "So... am I really going?"

The tone was tentative, yet also clear.

Qingwen felt a little embarrassed by his gaze and pushed him in the chest. The force was not strong but it was full of determination. "Go, go! Don't stand here! Sister Wan'er must not have gone to bed yet!"

After she finished speaking, she stopped looking at him and turned around, heading straight towards her own courtyard. Her steps were brisk, and with the fragrance of her skirt rustling in the breeze, she soon disappeared into the shadows of the corridor corner.

Lin Zhen looked at Qingwen's back as she left. The smile in his eyes faded and turned into a barely perceptible thought.

He turned around, lifted the still swaying bead curtain again, walked lightly into the inner room where Shangguan Wan'er lived.

The room was brightly lit with several huge red candles, illuminating the room like daylight.

The air was filled with Wan'er's favorite scent, a delicate and elegant Canaan incense.

I saw that the large and gorgeous rosewood bed was covered with a soft brocade mattress and a brocade quilt, which was also spread out but not uncovered.

As expected, Shangguan Wan'er was not asleep. She was only wearing a soft white middle-length dress embroidered with a lotus pattern. Her hair was loosely tied up in a bun, and a few strands of black hair hung down her shoulders.

She was not lying in bed with her clothes on. Instead, she lay on her back on the edge of the bed like a schoolgirl who strictly observed the etiquette. Her body was stretched straight, the quilt was covered evenly on her chest, her hands were folded neatly on her lower abdomen, and her eyes were fixed on the intricate and gorgeous lotus pattern on the ceiling of the tent, her eyes were empty and dim.

The soft candlelight danced on her beautiful and gentle profile, outlining her slightly furrowed brows and tightly pursed lips.

She was a lady from aristocratic families who were brought up in strict accordance with family rules and regulations, and she regarded etiquette and family traditions as her life.

Lin Zhen's undisguised protection and support for Qingwen today, as well as the brutal rule he set, "If you dare to come again, your legs will be broken," were like a heavy hammer, hitting the rules and mercy that she had worked hard to maintain and regarded as her guiding principle, making her feel powerless and extremely sad.

But I can't express this sadness, and it can only turn into a sour and empty feeling in my chest.

Lin Zhen's heart softened slightly.

He walked to the bed, but did not lie down immediately. Instead, he sat on the edge of the bed.

The brocade mattress beneath him sank slightly.

He stretched out his hand, and his broad and warm palm gently placed on Shangguan Wan'er's shoulder through her soft undershirt, patting it twice in a soothing manner.

"Wan'er," he said in a low voice, with an imperceptible softness, "Are you still angry about what happened just now?"

The call and touch seemed to wake up Shangguan Wan'er, who was immersed in her own thoughts.

She trembled slightly like a frightened deer, and then sat up immediately.

As she moved, the quilt slipped off, revealing a white neck and delicate collarbone.

She lowered her eyes and did not look directly at Lin Zhen, but her straight back, her hands folded in front of her and slightly clenched, and the gentle calmness that she tried to maintain on her face all revealed a kind of almost rigid respect that was unique to girls from aristocratic families.

"My lord," her voice was as gentle and pleasant as ever, yet it seemed as if there was an invisible veil between them. "How dare I be angry?"

The tone was respectful and the posture was submissive, but the sense of alienation was even greater than usual.

Lin Zhen understood her expression and sighed. His tone was full of earnestness and instruction: "You have only a shallow foundation in Daqian. You only understand the principles in books about many things, but you don't understand the true ways of the world and the way to survive. Listen to me."

His voice was low, but every word was clear: "Those so-called relatives like us, who can't make ends meet, can certainly do some charity and donate some money to help orphans and widows have a few full meals. This is not a bad thing, and it is also the virtue of a superior. But -"

He changed the subject and his eyes suddenly became sharp and calm.

"Giving alms is giving alms, but we must not let them think that the money in this palace is blown by the wind and that they can take whatever they want! We must not let them think that relying on thick skin, throwing tantrums, and relying on those blood connections that have long since faded, they can come to the dignified Regent's Palace to extort money and seize things! The difference between the two is as clear as heaven and earth! What Qingwen encountered today is the latter! If we let them start this and taste the sweetness, do you believe it, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, countless cats and dogs, aunts and uncles, will flock to the palace door, holding all kinds of banners to ask for money, official positions, and jobs! What relatives are they? If that happens, they will be exhausted to death!"

He paused, looked at Wan'er's eyes which were lowered but obviously listening carefully, and continued.

"What Qingwen did today may seem crude and blunt to you, even insulting, damaging the 'pure and noble aura' of the palace. But I tell you, she handled it cleanly and efficiently, eradicating the root of the problem without a single flaw. Those people, those wicked guests whose hearts were blinded by greed, deserve to be beaten! Beat them until they learn their lesson! Beat them until their hearts are broken! Make sure their calves cramp whenever they think of the word 'palace' for the rest of their lives! Only in this way can the threshold of the palace be truly defended! Otherwise, we simply can't live like this!"

Shangguan Wan'er's hands on her legs curled up slightly, and her fingertips sank into the soft silk fabric of her inner garment.

She still didn't look up, but stubbornly turned her face slightly towards the inside of the bed, her voice filled with suppressed persistence: "I didn't say Sister Qingwen did anything wrong. It's just... I just feel that the method used was a bit too harsh. After all, we are a royal palace, a wealthy and powerful family standing above everyone else. Every word and action has its own style and etiquette. Ordinary people are ignorant and foolish. If we treat them like this, it will probably cause controversy and damage the reputation of the royal palace."

According to the education she received, those in power should win over others with virtue and kindness, and using force at will is unbecoming.

"Hahaha." Lin Zhen sneered, his eyes brimming with disdain and coldness, a look of worldly wisdom. "Those in power really shouldn't attack the common people at will. That's their duty. But Wan'er, think carefully about who those people were today."

His voice rose a few notches, questioning, "Qingwen gave us one hundred taels of silver, enough for their family to eat for three years! Isn't that enough? But that brat took the silver and still wants to get more! He even insulted and humiliated us! He relied on that shaky blood relationship to make a scene in public, using foul language like a shrew! He kept digging up Qingwen's past and even implicating the prince's palace! He threatened to make the scandal known to the whole city! Are they ordinary people? They are a bunch of bastards and unruly people who have been emboldened by greed! Break their legs? Humph! In my opinion, just breaking their legs is already a mercy based on Qingwen's past relationship and so-called blood relationship! They can save their lives!"

These words were like a heavy stone, smashing down on the tower of "benevolence and forgiveness" that Wan'er had built in her heart.

She wanted to refute, but she felt that what he said made sense, and the persistence in her heart seemed increasingly pale and powerless.

Lin Zhen's voice became calmer, with an unquestionable conclusion.

"You know, someone came to Huanbi's house before and asked for money. Back then, the palace wasn't as grand as it is today, but I still gave him fifty taels of silver. What happened? He took the money and left, but after he left, he used the banner of being a relative of the palace to force people to buy and sell things, causing trouble. Li'er intervened several times, but he didn't stop. In the end, didn't he have a leg chopped off? The lesson is right before our eyes! So, Wan'er."

He stared deeply at his wife who finally turned slowly to look at him, his tone firm.

"From now on, if any so-called relatives, especially those distant relatives who are not even remotely related, come to the palace to ask for money, don't be polite. For the sake of blood, give them a hundred taels first and send them away. If there are any ignorant ones, like that kid today who is not satisfied and still speaks wildly and intends to linger, no matter how close they are, they will be dealt with according to the rules Qingwen established today - break their legs and throw them out of the palace! Let them learn a lesson with blood!"

Lin Zhen's words carried the cold power of reality.

Shangguan Wan'er fell completely silent.

All her grievances, all her persistence, and all her protection of the family's dignity and benevolence and forgiveness, in the face of this naked logic of power, collapsed like ice and snow encountering the scorching sun.

She lowered her head deeply, and her thick eyelashes concealed all the emotions in her eyes.

After a long while, he uttered three words clearly, as if accepting his fate:

"I... understand."

Seeing her lowering her brows and suppressing all her resentment, a complex look flashed in Lin Zhen's eyes.

He knew that it would take a long time to change Wan'er's character, but it didn't matter. Lin Zhen was confident that he could make Wan'er a lively, flesh-and-blood woman while upholding traditional female virtues.

She will no longer be the feudal woman who regards traditional etiquette and education as her life, but a mistress who is adept at dealing with the real society.

"I'm glad you know. Stop thinking about it." He suddenly smiled evilly, pulled up Wan'er's soft but slightly cold hand, and held it in his warm palm.

"It's late, we should rest. Come, take your medicine." The word "medicine" in the sentence carried a mischievous hint.

Unexpectedly, the usually docile Wan'er struggled, trying to pull her hand back. She tilted her head to one side, and her voice was muffled, with imperceptible fatigue and a kind of rejection:

"I...I don't want to take medicine today." She avoided his gaze, and her tone suddenly changed, with deliberate consideration.

Lin Zhen was a little confused.

In the past, she always agreed to whatever I asked for, but today she changed so quickly!

Could it be that what I just said worked?

"Husband, why don't you go and see Sister Yue Wu? It seems like you haven't visited her for a long time since she got pregnant."

The smile on Lin Zhen's face froze slightly.

He looked at Wan'er's obviously evasive attitude, and when he heard her mention the pregnant Yue Wu, his eyes flickered for a moment, and then he naturally let go of her hand, stood up, and his face regained the composure that showed he was in control of everything.

"Well, I really should go check it out." He stopped forcing me and said nothing more. He walked out the door and said, "Then you should have a good rest."

"I respectfully bid farewell to my husband." Wan'er lowered her head and replied in a low voice, her voice calm and without any waves.

Lin Zhen strode away, and the thick curtains in the inner room blocked out the light and shadow from outside.

The steady footsteps quickly disappeared at the end of the corridor outside the door.