She mistakenly got into the bridal sedan chair and married a sickly but powerful minister, becoming

Just as Liu Mama left Lanxue Garden, Guan Mama, who was by the First Madam's side, arrived and invited Shen Qingtan to have lunch at Jingde Hall.

Shen Qingtan dismissed Guan Mama, tidied herself up, and went to Jingde Hall alone without taking any maids with her.

A maidservant was guarding the entrance to Jingde Hall. Upon seeing Shen Qingtan arrive, she opened the door and said, "Second Madam, Madam is waiting for you in the side hall."

Shen Qingtan nodded slightly and stepped into the room. She then heard the First Madam's voice coming from the side room: "Yi'er, your grandfather summoned you to the study. Did he tell you anything?"

Zhao Yi sat with his back to the entrance of the side hall and said succinctly, "The army in the northern border is short of food, and my grandfather has arranged for my third brother and me to collect food."

“The Northern Qi Kingdom is taking advantage of the fact that our Great Zhou has experienced natural disasters, so they are using delaying tactics to exhaust our military supplies and wear us down.” The First Madam said anxiously, “Yi’er, your uncle and cousin are fighting against foreign enemies in the north. The matter of military supplies cannot be delayed.”

“Mother, my third brother will gather military rations and send them to the northern border within ten days.” Zhao Yi coughed a few times, covering her mouth with a handkerchief, and said gently, “I will also try to gather rations. My uncle and cousin will be fine.”

The First Madam looked worried. Seeing that Zhao Yi's face had become even paler from coughing, she said with heartache, "You've been coughing frequently these past two days since you stopped taking your medicine. Shall we resume your medication tomorrow?"

Zhao Yi coughed a few more times, and just as he was about to speak, he suddenly turned his head to look at the door.

Shen Qingtan stood at the doorway and unexpectedly met Zhao Yi's gaze.

Under the bright spring sunshine, his skin was pale, and his eyes were extremely dark and deep as he gazed at her with a melancholy look.

Shen Qingtan felt a tightness in her chest under his gaze, a guilty feeling as if she had stumbled upon a secret.

He suddenly stopped taking his medication for two days, probably because he was getting married and was afraid it would be bad luck.

She smiled gently at him and walked towards him.

Hearing footsteps, the First Madam followed Zhao Yi's gaze and saw Shen Qingtan's slender figure appear in the side hall.

Her smile was warm: "Tan'er, you've come."

Shen Qingtan curtsied and said, "May Father be well and Mother be blessed." She added somewhat apologetically, "I've kept you waiting."

“The father and son just arrived.” The First Madam instructed the maid, “Quickly, bring the meal.” Then, the First Madam pulled Shen Qingtan to sit beside her, took out the marriage certificate from the tray beside her and handed it to her: “This is your marriage certificate with Yi’er. Take a look, and if there are no problems, put your fingerprint on it.”

Shen Qingtan was taken aback, then held the marriage certificate and looked down to examine it closely.

The format of writing the man's name on the left and the woman's name on the right includes the names, birth dates, place of origin, ancestors for three generations, land ownership, and official positions of both parties.

The guarantor and matchmaker have already signed and sealed the document.

Zhao Yi placed the inkpad beside her.

Shen Qingtan gently pursed her lips, dipped her index finger in ink, and pressed her fingerprint onto the marriage certificate.

Zhao Yi handed her a damp handkerchief.

"Thank you." Shen Qingtan took the handkerchief and wiped her hands.

The First Madam secretly observed the couple and saw that Zhao Yi was truly thoughtful and considerate, taking meticulous care of Shen Qingtan.

Others, unaware of Zhao Yi's temperament, might perceive him as gentle and refined, a true gentleman. In reality, however, he is a cold, aloof, and difficult person to get along with.

This is the first time I've seen him take such good care of someone.

The First Madam realized once again that Zhao Yi truly loved Shen Qingtan, and was not using this as an excuse to make her treat Shen Qingtan well.

She glanced at the old man calmly sipping tea to the side, cleared her throat, and coughed.

The master was startled and quickly put down his teacup. He took the madam's teacup, skimmed off the foam with the lid, and handed it to her.

The First Madam glanced at him, and seeing his eager expression, she took the teacup and sipped it.

With the crisis averted, the old man breathed a sigh of relief, secretly glaring at Zhao Yi: Go back to your room and serve your wife again, don't show off in front of your mother!

Your dad has his pride too!

Zhao Yi paused for a moment, then watched as the maid placed the food on the table, picked up a piece of fish belly with a pair of serving chopsticks, removed the fish bones, and placed it on Shen Qingtan's small plate.

First Madam: "Hmm!"

The eldest man: "..." Treason!

Shen Qingtan's eyelashes fluttered as she stared blankly at the snow-white fish meat on the plate.

When the two of them had breakfast together before, Zhao Yi had never served her any food.

She turned her head to look at Zhao Yi, in front of him were two vegetarian dishes, and he was slowly eating the soup with his long, slender hands holding a silver spoon.

The serving chopsticks that had been used to serve her food were left untouched.

He used a separate pair of serving chopsticks when picking up his own vegetarian dishes.

Shen Qingtan looked away and saw the First Madam with a relieved smile, her eyes looking at a loving couple.

Suddenly, she had an epiphany: Zhao Yi serving her food was a deliberate act to impress his mother.

She knew perfectly well that Zhao Yi treated her well only because she was his wife.

Anyone who becomes his wife will be treated the same way.

After lunch, the First Madam kept Shen Qingtan behind to discuss the matters concerning the homecoming gifts.

Shen Qingtan went to the second wife's house to move her dowry, causing quite a stir. The first wife heard about it but didn't dare to ask any questions, since it was her daughter-in-law's private property.

Zhao Yi then returned to his study in Lanxue Garden and took out a map of the Great Zhou Dynasty to look at.

A moment later, the servant Jiang Mu brought in a bowl of dark, murky medicine: "Second Master, the medicine is warm, please drink it first."

"Take it away." Zhao Yi didn't even lift an eyelid: "Take the medicine after you return to your parents' home."

Jiang Mu said with difficulty, "Second Madam instructed me to fry it."

Zhao Yi was taken aback and looked up at the medicine bowl.

Jiang Mu stammered, "Second Grandmother said that on such a joyous day, all bad luck will be washed away."

He then remembered something, took out the small earthenware jar tucked under his arm, and made a clanging sound.

Once the lid was lifted, a ceramic jar was found to be completely full of lactose.

Jiang Mu said, "Second Grandma said that's all the medicine she has left. She told you to take your medicine and take good care of yourself."

Zhao Yi: "..."

-

On the day of her return visit to her parents' home, Shen Qingtan got up early to dress up and had breakfast with Zhao Yi.

"Second Master, I need to go to Baixiangzhai to pick up some snacks. Can I leave a little earlier?" Shen Qingtan had been having a peaceful two days, as no one from the second branch of the family was causing him any trouble.

Either the second wife had received her dowry and was causing trouble at this critical juncture, but fearing exposure, she refrained from further antics.

Either the second wife is harboring evil intentions, just waiting for the day of her return visit to her parents' home to erupt.

Zhao Yi asked, "Shall we go out now?"

"May I?"

"can."

Zhao Yi instructed Jiang Chao to prepare the carriage.

The couple exited through the side gate, where a three-horse carriage, adorned with jewels and sparkling brilliantly in the sunlight, was parked at the entrance of the mansion.

Shen Qingtan looked at Zhao Yi in surprise, seemingly not expecting that such an elegant and refined person would have such a rich and luxurious aesthetic sense.

Zhao Yi calmly replied, "The carriage was prepared by my mother."

“Oh, Mother has good taste.” Shen Qingtan’s eyes were full of smiles: “The most common is the most elegant.”

Zhao Yi: "..."

Shen Qingtan boarded the carriage first, still without Chun Jiao and Qiu Chan.

Zhao Yi followed closely behind and sat down opposite Shen Qingtan.

The carriage headed towards Baixiangzhai. Just as they were about to arrive, Shen Qingtan lifted the curtain and saw Zhao Jue riding a horse and stopping at the entrance of Baixiangzhai.