Chapter 7

The Second Madam, still upset from earlier, wanted to make trouble for the First Madam.

“Yi’er is always on time,” she said with concern. “Every time she greets the elders, she’s the first to arrive—even when she’s sick. But today, everyone is here except her. Could it be that because of what happened yesterday, Tan’er can’t accept it?”

Her words reminded everyone that Shen Qingtan and Zhao Jue grew up together, and they should have been a perfect match.
Zhao Jue was willing to give up his place for Shen Mingzhu.

But what about Shen Qingtan?

Would she willingly marry Zhao Yi, a man weak and sickly, who couldn’t even give her children?

Just then—

“Are we late?” Shen Qingtan entered the main hall with Zhao Yi. Her gaze swept over Second Madam, who had sharp triangular eyes, upturned brows, and a mean look when she was serious. Her hair glittered with heavy jewels, and she dressed richly.

Beside her sat the First Madam, dignified and elegant, with an air of authority even when not smiling.

Shen Qingtan quickly looked away and spoke with polite guilt: “Second Aunt, I wanted to dress more properly for my first tea ceremony with the elders, so I took extra time. That’s why we’re late.”

She glanced sideways at Zhao Yi, speaking softly with mock blame: “You told me you weren’t well, and that the elders always let you greet them later, so I shouldn’t hurry. Now look, we’re late.”

This little complaint was full of affection, clearly showing she had no problem marrying him.

Everyone turned to look at her. She wore a gold-and-jade crown, a wide red palace skirt, and looked both bright and graceful—so beautiful it was dazzling.

The younger generation was stunned. They had seen the gentle beauty Shen Mingzhu before, and thought Shen Qingtan’s looks had been exaggerated.

Zhao Jue stared blankly. He had never seen her so finely dressed. She had always been calm and modest in front of him, never showing such a charming side.

Especially that glance she gave Zhao Yi—it was so alluring he couldn’t look away.

Sensing his gaze, Shen Qingtan turned to meet his eyes.

They looked at each other for a moment. She smiled calmly—polite, distant, completely unlike the shy way she looked at Zhao Yi.

It was cool and detached, as if they had never been childhood sweethearts at all, and she didn’t need him like he imagined.

Zhao Jue felt upset, even angry. This wasn’t how she was supposed to react.

Shen Mingzhu noticed Zhao Jue staring and clenched her handkerchief tightly in her sleeve. She shot Shen Qingtan a glare—thinking this woman’s beauty was nothing but trouble.

“It’s my fault,” Zhao Yi said with a small smile, clearly indulging her.

Everyone except the Second Madam’s family smiled knowingly.

The Old Madam, happy to see the couple getting along, said kindly, “You’re not late—you came just in time.”

Seeing that Shen Qingtan had no complaints about marrying Zhao Yi and seemed willing to live well with him, the Old Madam felt some pity for her—and more displeasure toward the Second Madam for stirring trouble earlier.

She smiled warmly: “I thought Yi’er was cold and didn’t care about people, but seeing you two so close, I feel at ease now.”

Shen Qingtan’s cheeks warmed. “Grandmother, Second Master treats me very well.”

The Old Madam happily praised them several times.

Then Zhao Yi and Shen Qingtan served tea to her. She put a pair of jade bracelets on Shen Qingtan’s wrists, and Shen Qingtan thanked her and gifted her an embroidered headband in return.

Next, they served tea to the First Master and First Madam.

The First Madam, though angry with the Second Madam’s family, didn’t blame Shen Qingtan—after all, she was a victim in this marriage swap. Seeing Shen Qingtan’s attitude and her son defending her, the last of her reservations faded.

If her son liked her, she would like her too.

“My daughter-in-law is truly beautiful. She looks like a blessed person—it’s fate that we became family,” the First Madam said, giving her a jeweled hairpiece as a gift. She also praised the embroidered shoes Shen Qingtan had made: “Such fine work—the flowers look real.”

The First Master, always gentle and gracious, smiled: “The soles are sewn so well—they’ll be very comfortable.”

The Second Madam, seeing her plan to cause trouble fail, grew even more upset—especially when the First Madam called Shen Qingtan a woman of good fortune.

After all, a blessed woman only enters a blessed family.

“Doesn’t that mean their Second Branch has no good fortune?”

“Second Uncle, Second Aunt, please have some tea.”

Shen Qingtan held the teacup in both hands and offered it.

The Second Madam wanted to throw in a few more jabs, but when she caught the Old Madam’s cold stare, she swallowed her words. Instead, she pulled out a gold hairpin and placed it on the tray.

Even so, she was still holding in her anger. Forcing on a smile, she said, “Yi’er, Tan’er, your aunt wishes you a long life together and many children.”

The room instantly went cold.

Everyone knew Zhao Yi’s health was poor, and he couldn’t have children. This was clearly a stab at the First Branch.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for the First Madam to react.

“Thank you for your blessing, Second Aunt.” Shen Qingtan smiled sweetly and said, “I’ve heard that Hualing Temple is very spiritual. If a close family member lights a wishing lotus lamp there for the newlyweds, the Bodhisattva will bless them. I heard you’ll be going to Hualing Temple in a few days—could you light a lotus lamp for me and my husband?”

The Second Madam’s smile froze. Hualing Temple was indeed famous, but lighting a lotus lamp was a big commitment—it required three days of vegetarian meals at the temple and attending morning and evening prayers with the monks for two hours each.

Everyone in the household knew she was going there. If she refused Shen Qingtan, it would make her blessings seem fake—and the Old Madam would never forgive her.

This little brat had trapped her.

With the whole room watching, the Second Madam forced a smile. “It’s no trouble at all. I’ll light two lotus lamps for you.”

“Then I’ll trouble Second Aunt, thank you.” Shen Qingtan pretended not to notice her discomfort, turning to Zhao Yi with a bright smile. “Husband, you must thank Second Aunt properly.”

Zhao Yi looked at her clear, mischievous eyes and smiled. “Second Aunt is very thoughtful.”

Seeing one stir trouble and the other encourage it, the Second Madam was so angry her fake smile almost broke.

The old Duke had two legitimate sons, two illegitimate sons, and one legitimate daughter.

The legitimate daughter was the late Empress, who died in childbirth.

After Shen Qingtan and Zhao Yi served tea to the other uncles and their wives, they distributed the rest of their gifts to the younger family members.

Zhao Jue and Shen Mingzhu also served tea. Shen Mingzhu was a bit distracted—the gift the Second Madam gave her was far less valuable than what the First Madam gave Shen Qingtan.

And…

She glanced secretly at Zhao Yi, elegant and handsome.

His eyes never left Shen Qingtan, and he was attentive to her in every way. Sour jealousy rose in Shen Mingzhu’s chest.

This gentle, caring man was supposed to be her husband—until she rejected him for being “short-lived,” leaving Shen Qingtan to benefit instead.

She had expected to see a worn-out Shen Qingtan, but instead she saw her glowing with beauty and satisfaction.

The jealousy burned—why did everything good happen to Shen Qingtan?

Then Zhao Yi coughed into his fist, and her jealousy eased a little. There was nothing to envy—Shen Qingtan wouldn’t have many happy days ahead, and she’d be a widow sooner or later.

“Third Sister-in-law, this is my gift for you,” Shen Qingtan said, taking out a white jade carving of an interlocking knot from her sleeve. “I remember you liked it before, so I’m giving it to you today.”

The jade was fine, pure white, and exquisitely carved. Shen Mingzhu’s expression instantly changed.