GTEMP[QT] - Chapter 8 (Patreon)

Gu Wenjing had only three days of wedding leave, so he rested in the Mansion for two days and on the third day, he brought Cheng Yuhua back to her own home.

Unlike the anger and hostility from the Cheng family towards him after the original owner called off the engagement, Gu Wenjing, who had become the top scorer in the imperial examinations after arriving, was now marrying Cheng Yuhua in a grand manner. Naturally, the Cheng family treated Gu Wenjing, their son-in-law, warmly and kindly.

Upon his return to the Cheng family's residence, Cheng Shangshu (Minister Cheng) mostly wore a smiling face towards Gu Wenjing. Both of Cheng's elder brothers were also waiting at home for their brother-in-law to arrive.

Cheng Yuhua followed Lady Cheng into the backyard to have a private conversation.

"Yuhua, are you living well after marrying into the Ningyuan Mansion?"

Cheng Yuhua smiled shyly and whispered, "My husband treats me very well." Unlike the careless and boorish men of ancient times, Gu Wenjing was gentle, considerate, diligent, and ambitious. Cheng Yuhua naturally felt that he was treating her exceptionally well.

Seeing Cheng Yuhua's radiant and contented appearance, Lady Cheng finally let go of her worries and smiled with narrowed eyes. "As long as you're doing well, I can rest assured... But since Wenjing treats you well, you should also respond to him more. Grasp his heart, that's the way for husband and wife to get along..."

When they returned home after the incident, Cheng Yuhua's cheeks were flushed, and even when their eyes met, she couldn't help but shyly avoid his gaze.

This made Gu Wenjing very curious. "Did my mother-in-law say something to you? Why do you have such a shy look?"

Cheng Yuhua's face turned even redder.

It wasn't until later in the evening, when Gu Wenjing experienced Cheng Yuhua's warmer response, that he vaguely figured out the truth.

In the morning, when Gu Wenjing got up early to go to the Hanlin Academy for work, he quietly got up beside his wife, whom he had only known for three days, and dressed himself before going out to wash up.

Gu Wenjing instructed Cheng Yuhua's accompanying maid, Biyu, who was guarding the door, "Madam is still resting, there's no need to disturb her."

After saying that, he went to have his breakfast and then went to work.

When Cheng Yuhua was awakened by Biyu, there was no warmth left beside her. She furrowed her brows slightly and asked, "Has my husband already gone to the Hanlin Academy?"

Biyu answered, "The Young Master left early in the morning, but he instructed this servant not to wake the young Madam in advance. However, this servant was worried that the Madam might miss the proper time for paying respects..."

Cheng Yuhua smiled and said, "You didn't do anything wrong, I can't miss paying respects." But Gu Wenjing didn't want the maid to disturb her and allowed her to rest a while longer. She also appreciated his thoughtfulness.

After Cheng Yuhua finished dressing up and had a small meal of porridge and two spring rolls, she couldn't eat anymore. She took her maid and headed to the main hall to pay respects to Lady Yuan

.

As the Marquis of Ningyuan, who was a high-ranking noble, had important responsibilities, he had to attend court every day. He left the house earlier than Gu Wenjing, as Gu Wenjing was currently only a sixth-ranked minor official and didn't have the qualification to attend the morning court.

Therefore, Cheng Yuhua didn't need to pay respects to the Marquis of Ningyuan in the morning, and as a daughter-in-law, it was not convenient for her to meet her father-in-law. She only needed to pay respects to her mother-in-law, Lady Yuan, every day.

When Cheng Yuhua arrived at the main hall, Lady Yuan was already waiting.

"Daughter-in-law pays respects to Mother!" Cheng Yuhua greeted with respect and glanced at Yuan Susu behind Lady Yuan. It seemed that every time she came to the Lady Yuan, she would see her.

Lady Yuan had a smile on her face and held Cheng Yuhua's hand as she praised, "When we agreed to the engagement, I knew you would be a gentle, virtuous, and generous daughter-in-law. Now that I see you, it's just as I expected."

Cheng Yuhua modestly responded with a few words, feeling that Lady Yuan was being overly enthusiastic.

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The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law chatted about household matters for a while, and then Lady Yuan suddenly said, "Since you have already married into the Ningyuan Mansion, you will eventually take charge of the household affairs. How about you start handling some of the matters now?"

Cheng Yuhua couldn't believe it. She was able to obtain some of the household management rights from her mother-in-law right after entering the family? Even if it was only partial control, it still surprised her. She had prepared herself to wait until she had a son, or until her mother-in-law was unable to manage the household due to declining energy, before taking over the management rights.

The surprise came too suddenly, and she couldn't refuse. She humbly said, "Thank you, Mother, for your trust. I hope you can guide me more."

With a smile, Lady Yuan changed the topic, "Mother knows you are virtuous." She pulled Yuan Su beside her and said to Cheng Yuhua, "This is your cousin Su Su. She and Wenjing have been childhood friends with deep feelings. She is willing to become a concubine for Wenjing. What do you think about letting Su Su become a noble concubine?"

Cheng Yuhua's smile froze on her face.

A noble concubine? A noble concubine could be elevated to the position of the primary wife after the death of the legal wife!

How could they ask her, a newlywed bride, to bring a noble concubine to her husband just three days after the marriage? It was too much of a humiliation!

Cheng Yuhua finally understood why it was so easy for her to obtain some of the household management rights. They had initially given her a sweet date by mentioning her husband's childhood friend!

She wanted to refuse, but when she saw Lady Yuan's seemingly amiable but unquestionable expression, and thought about her own shallow foundation just after entering the family, her husband's deep feelings for his cousin, and her mother-in-law's support for her niece, she ultimately lowered her head and said, "Mother, it's up to you."

Both Lady Yuan and Yuan Su had satisfied smiles on their faces.

Cheng Yuhua tightly clutched her handkerchief. She had been immersed in her husband's tender care for the past few days, but now she finally woke up.

Thinking of her mother's previous warning that all men were the same, even her father, Minister Cheng, had several concubines, Cheng Yuhua began to calmly consider how to deal with this noble concubine, Yuan Susu.

Although she had been forced to agree under the pressure of Lady Yuan, having a noble concubine who had emotional ties and a cousin relationship with her husband posed a significant threat to her. She couldn't just sit idly by.

After the greeting, Cheng Yuhua returned to her room without saying a word, her face gloomy.

Her nanny couldn't help but speak up for her, "Miss, the Ningyuan Mansion is so unreasonable. You've only been here for three days, and they are already pushing a noble concubine onto you. It's clearly bullying! Why did you agree?"

Cheng Yuhua felt bitter in her heart, "What else can I do? Yuan Su is my husband's cousin, and they have had feelings for each other for a long time. If I stubbornly refuse, not only will the old Madam think I'm not virtuous and generous enough, but even my husband will blame me. It's better to agree now than to let Yuan Su enter the household after our relationship as husband and wife deteriorates." As for Yuan Su, she would find a way to deal with her.

The nanny hesitated, "Shouldn't we inform Madam?" referring to Cheng Yuhua's mother, Madam Cheng.

Cheng Yuhua helplessly replied, "It's useless to tell Mother now. She will find out sooner or later. If I send someone to Cheng Manor to inform her now, it will only make the Ningyuan Mansion think I'm tattling. It would be a waste of effort for me to reluctantly agree."

Biyu entered with a displeased expression, "Young Madam, the old Madam has sent someone to bring Miss here."

Cheng Yuhua sighed, "Arrange for her to stay in the West Courtyard!" At least the West Courtyard was farther away from the main courtyard, out of sight, out of mind.