The dimly lit room was awash in red, but the groom on the bridal bed lay unconscious—while another groom sat comfortably at a table piled high with delicious food.

Ye Xiangwan lounged in a chair, one leg crossed over the other, tapping his foot energetically. After glancing at the sleeping man on the bed, he took a huge bite of the chicken drumstick in his hand, then lifted his wine cup and downed a hearty gulp.

“System, are you there?”

“System? Systie? Buddy? Big Bro System? If you’re around, can you at least make a sound?” Ye Xiangwan paused his chewing, waiting silently for a response. When none came, he let out a sigh and bit into the drumstick again.

Other people who transmigrated became royalty or wealthy heirs. At the very least, they had some golden fingers (cheat code) and rose to glory in their new world. And me? I just crossed over and immediately got dragged into a ghost marriage to ward off evil spirits!

He, a proud and upright man of the great Huaxia, had gone to sleep and woken up to find himself riding in a bridal sedan chair—as the bride.

And not just any bride, but one marrying another man to dispel bad luck! Who was he supposed to complain to about this?

As Ye Xiangwan silently cursed his fate, he took another big bite of chicken. Gotta admit, though, this family’s food wasn’t bad—packed with flavor.

Grabbing the wine jug, he took several large gulps straight from the spout to wash it down, then casually tossed it aside. He grabbed a nearby cloth to wipe the grease off his mouth and hands, burped contentedly, and walked over to the bed.

He’d clearly overestimated this body’s alcohol tolerance. After just a few gulps, his head was already spinning.

Ye Xiangwan kicked off his shoes and tossed them aside, then drunkenly nudged the unconscious man inward on the bed. “Scoot over, brother. It is our wedding night, after all. Technically, half this bed’s mine. Hic…”

His bleary eyes landed on the man beside him. Suddenly, he reached out and pinched his face. “Damn, bro, didn’t think you’d be this handsome. Such a pretty boy. C’mere—gimme a kiss, mwah…”

His greasy, wine-scented lips landed on the sleeping man’s cheek, leaving behind a faint oily lip mark.

Still dazed, Ye Xiangwan collapsed onto the bed, not forgetting to tug the blanket over himself. He patted the man beside him a few times. “Sleep tight. G’night…”

Before he could finish the sentence, he had already drifted into sleep, snoring lightly.

In the quiet of his mind, a faint mechanical voice suddenly echoed:

[System detected. Binding in progress… If the host does not object, binding will proceed by default.]

Ye Xiangwan scratched his cheek, rolled over, and clung tighter to the warm body beside him, falling into even deeper slumber.

The next morning, Ye Xiangwan was awakened by a knock at the door.

He rubbed his eyes, dazed for a while before he came to his senses. Looking at the sleeping beauty beside him, he recalled that he had gotten married in this strange world just yesterday.

Yawning, he threw back the covers and got out of bed.

“Second Young Madam, are you awake?”

Ye Xiangwan’s drowsiness was instantly blown to the farthest corners of the heavens by that one phrase—“Second Young Madam.”

A man like him… being called Second Young Madam?

But since he still hadn’t figured out the situation, he had no choice but to suppress his frustration and open the door.

The moment the door opened, he was greeted by the sight of a girl as beautiful as a flower standing outside. Beside her were a few other girls around the same age, all dressed identically.

The leading girl stepped forward with a bright smile and curtsied deeply. “Greetings to Second Young Madam.”

Some of them held brass basins, others carried trays. Ye Xiangwan didn’t get a good look at what was on the trays—he was too distracted by the title, which sent a chill down his spine. Without a word, he stepped aside and let them in.

One maid went to draw open the bed curtains, another set the brass basin onto a stand, and a third walked toward Ye Xiangwan, intending to help him undress.

Ye Xiangwan hurriedly covered his chest, giving an awkward laugh. “I can manage on my own, thanks.”

The maid pressed her lips together in a polite smile and said, “Since young master has entered the household, you are now one of the masters of this residence. The customs in your former home may have been different, but here in our household, Second Young Madam should get used to having maids serve you.”

As she spoke, she reached to untie his sash.

Ye Xiangwan grabbed her hand quickly and smiled, “I’m new here, from a poor background. Still not used to all this luxury.”

The maid froze and looked up at him. Though his smile remained warm, his eyes were filled with unmistakable firmness. She instinctively released her hand.

Ye Xiangwan rolled up his sleeves and walked over to the basin stand. He scooped up a handful of water and splashed his face. Droplets sprayed outward, prompting one of the nearby maids to subtly take a step back.

“What are your names?” he asked.

“I’m Ning Bi,” said the maid beside him, handing him a clean cloth. When Ye Xiangwan looked at her, she smiled. But hidden behind that smile was a barely concealed disdain and contempt.

Ye Xiangwan didn’t care. He took the cloth and wiped his face, then looked toward the other two maids. “And you two?”

“I’m Qing He,” replied a round-faced girl with a cheerful smile as she stepped forward.

Ye Xiangwan looked up—it was the one who had tried to undo his belt earlier.

The last girl had delicate features and a reserved smile. “I’m Hong Zhu.”

Ye Xiangwan gave a small nod, then stepped behind the folding screen. He took off his rumpled, wine-scented clothing and changed into a brand-new pale blue robe. Thanks to the videos he’d seen in his past life, he managed not to embarrass himself while getting dressed. He tied a matching sash around his impossibly narrow waist, which only made his already tall and slender frame look even more elegant.

He glanced down and, curious, reached out to measure his own waist with his hands. Not even two palm-widths. He couldn’t help clicking his tongue in amazement.

If this were the modern world, women would be green with envy.

What a shame about his six-pack abs!

While he’d figured out how to dress himself, doing his hair was a different story.

Ye Xiangwan sat in front of the vanity, staring at the reflection in the bronze mirror, utterly stunned. The face staring back at him looked exactly like the one he’d had in his previous life!

Qing He stepped up behind him and picked up a comb from the vanity, gently brushing his hair. She tied it back with a pale blue ribbon, then placed a jade hair crown atop his head to finish the look.

“Second Young Madam is truly handsome. You and the Second Young Master are like a match made in heaven.” As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized she had overstepped and quickly added, “The fortune-teller said that now that the Second Master is married and the ill luck has been driven away, he’ll wake up very soon. Second Young Madam needn’t worry.”

Ye Xiangwan forced a smile. He really wanted to say he wasn’t worried in the slightest about whether the man woke up or not. But remembering where he was, he swallowed all his complaints.

He stood up from the stool and turned around—only to see Ning Bi gently wiping the face and neck of the man in bed—his “husband.” Ye Xiangwan narrowed his eyes slightly, quietly taking note.

Just then, Qing He reminded him, “It’s getting late, Second Young Madam. You should go pay your respects to the Master and Madam.”

Damn these morning greetings.

Ye Xiangwan didn’t want to go at all, but he knew how important this ritual was in households like this. He just never imagined he’d one day be the bride going to greet her in-laws.

He glanced at the man still asleep in bed and said, “Ning Bi and Qing He will come with me to greet Father and Mother. Hong Zhu will stay to look after Second Master.”

Hong Zhu was about to respond when Ning Bi spoke up first. “Second Young Madam, I’ve always been the one to serve Second Master. Why don’t you let me stay? Hong Zhu has never looked after him before. I’m afraid she may not serve him properly.”

Ye Xiangwan raised an eyebrow slightly. “That won’t be necessary. Caring for Second Master is no easy task. It’s too much for one person. This time, let Hong Zhu take over—it’s good to have more hands to serve him. As for whether she’ll do a good job, she’ll get the hang of it after a few times.”

Although he hadn’t figured everything out about this place yet, one thing was clear: the man in bed was now officially his “dear husband.”

Until a formal divorce happened—not that he had a say—he had no intention of letting the back courtyard catch fire while the main house was still asleep.

When she heard this, Ning Bi glanced at Hong Zhu, a flash of displeasure crossing her eyes. But she could only respond with a reluctant “yes” and walked over to toss the cloth in her hand onto Hong Zhu.

Hong Zhu caught the cloth and looked at Ning Bi. Noticing the hostile look thrown her way, she remained unfazed. They were both first-rank maids. Ning Bi only acted superior because the Second Master had once looked her way a few more times. Now she fancied herself something special and carried herself like a concubine-in-waiting. Everyone knew what she was aiming for, especially those serving in Second Master’s quarters.

Now that Second Master was unconscious, even if he woke up and heard about this, she’d only been following orders. There was no way the blame could fall on her.

Ning Bi begrudgingly took the lead to guide Ye Xiangwan, walking ahead at a brisk pace. Ye Xiangwan, however, wasn’t in a rush. He moved at his own speed, taking in the surroundings as he walked. Every brick, tile, and beam oozed wealth and refinement, and he couldn’t help but sigh inwardly—this really was the home of the rich and powerful.

“Second Young Madam ought to hurry. You mustn’t be late,” Ning Bi said sharply, raising a delicate brow.

Ye Xiangwan turned to ask Qing He, “Are we at risk of being late?”

Qing He shook her head. “You needn’t worry, Second Young Madam. We won’t be late. For one, our courtyard isn’t far from where the Master and Madam reside. And two, there’s still time before the proper hour for morning greetings.”

Ning Bi shot Qing He with a glare. “The Master and Madam are elders. How can we make them wait? Even if Second Young Madam’s background is humble, surely you’ve read the classics and understand the importance of respect and filial piety.”

Ye Xiangwan abruptly stopped walking. “Who are you, again?”

Caught off guard, Ning Bi replied, “I’m Ning Bi, a maid who serves Second Master.”

“And just a maid. You’re not the nanny who raised him, nor are you his elder. What gives you the right to lecture me, the Second Young Madam, about filial piety?” Ye Xiangwan looked at her with a faint smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

What a joke.

He was now a master of this household. A maid trying to step on him to climb up the ladder and humiliate him in public? Not on his watch.

He didn’t care much for this husband of his, but that didn’t mean he would let a maid slap him in the face without consequence. If word got out, how could he possibly maintain any authority in this household?

So what if a little maid looked down on him? He was the one in charge now. He had no intention of indulging these nasty habits—he would not be the one getting trampled on!

As for that “real men don’t argue with women” nonsense? Utter crap.

Letting people take an inch would only make them grab a mile—and in the end, he’d be the one suffering for it. He wasn’t doing charity work here.

Ning Bi was startled by the sharp glint in Ye Xiangwan’s eyes and quickly turned red-eyed with grievance. She bowed and said, “I dare not, Second Young Madam. I only meant well and didn’t expect you to think of me like that.”

“Think of you like that?” Ye Xiangwan chuckled softly. “What a clever tongue. But clever words don’t work on me.”

With that, he turned and walked off. Qing He hurried to catch up, while Ning Bi bit her lip nervously, clutching her handkerchief and twisting it around her fingers. After a moment’s hesitation, she followed too.

At the residence of the Master and Madam, Ye Xiangwan waited a moment in the courtyard until an older woman stepped out. She was well-dressed, clearly someone of status—though exactly who, he wasn’t sure.

“Greetings, Second Young Madam,” she said, though her body didn’t move at all. The smile on her face was filled with mockery. “What a pity you made this trip. The Madam was in high spirits yesterday due to the wedding and had a few extra drinks. She’s woken this morning with a headache—likely caught a chill. To avoid passing her illness on to Second Young Madam, she will not be seeing you today. Perhaps once she’s better tomorrow, she will speak with you.”

Ning Bi covered her mouth and giggled. When she glanced at Ye Xiangwan, she sneered and even rolled her eyes.

So she’s just a housekeeper. Ye Xiangwan now understood who this woman was and didn’t bother saying much. He simply replied, “Since Madam is unwell, I won’t trouble her further.”

The housekeeper, Wang Shanbao’s wife, gave Ye Xiangwan a cursory look with her chin slightly lifted, then turned and went back inside.

With the Madam refusing to see him, there was still the Master left.

Ye Xiangwan waited a bit longer in Lord Jia She’s courtyard before a maid finally came out.

“Greetings, Second Young Madam. Master says he is feeling tired today and won’t receive guests. He asks that you focus on caring for Second Master.”

“Please give my regards to the Master and tell him to take care of his health,” Ye Xiangwan replied with a polite smile, and turned to leave with Qing He and Ning Bi.

But before they could go far, Qing He said, “Second Young Madam, you still need to visit the Old Madam.”

Ye Xiangwan sighed inwardly.

Sometimes having too many in-laws is just too much trouble.

Still, he had no choice but to go.