My Husband Never Oversteps The Bounds Of Propriety - Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Entering the Night

Listening to every word of the discussion around her, Shen Jiuyuan could not help but feel its influence. Yet, the situation at hand was her own choice. Although the mistress and master of the Shen family, and even the grandmother, had intended to force her hand, the path she took was ultimately one she secretly chose to gamble upon.

She had no choice but to ignore these remarks; they were of no benefit to her, and listening too much would only disturb her mind.

Beneath the veil, a faint trace of disdain flickered at the corners of Shen Jiuyuan’s lips. She held her breath and stilled her mind, casting aside all external noise to focus solely on the path beneath her feet and the guidance of the wedding matron.

So what if she was a substitute bride? So what if she was a concubine-born daughter? She had endured and remained submissive in the Shen Manor for one reason: to eventually leap out, to sever ties and disintegrate her connection with the Shen family, with Shen Zhilan, and with everyone in that house. Then, given the chance, she would watch the Shen family crumble bit by bit, even to the point of destruction.

As for the Eldest Young Master of the Su family, she did not hold much hope. To him, she was merely a stranger; to her, in plain terms, he was nothing more than a springboard.

Shen Jiuyuan was exceptionally rational.

Supporting herself on the wedding matron’s arm, she crossed a high threshold, which she presumed to be the main gate of the manor. After walking for a while, she crossed another, slightly lower threshold. The wedding matron gripped Shen Jiuyuan’s wrist, leading her further, guiding her up three steps, passing through what seemed to be corridors and courtyards, until finally, they came to a halt.

We must be there, Shen Jiuyuan guessed.

The clamor of voices became slightly more restrained here, yet it felt even more dense. She could sense countless gazes landing upon her.

“The newcomers have arrived Perform the Formal Bows ” the master of ceremonies called out once more.

Shen Jiuyuan was led to the center of the hall. Through the extremely narrow gap at the bottom of her veil, she could see the floor was made of “gold bricks” polished so brightly they could reflect a person. Ahead, there seemed to be an incense table with red candles burning high.

Beside her stood a person. He was quite tall, carrying a faint, crisp scent. His presence was steady; even through the veil, she could sense an invisible aura of pressure from his tall silhouette.

This should be her future husband, Su Jin the eldest grandson of the Su family and the Eldest Young Master of the Su Manor. He was known as a brilliant talent in the Jiangnan business world, a favorite of heaven. It was said that in Jinling City, the noble ladies who admired and pursued this young master could line up for more than half a street.

Because of this, marrying into the Northern Shen family was likely a matter of utter helplessness for this talented man.

At this moment, Su Jin stood a meter away from Shen Jiuyuan, not drawing closer, maintaining a perfectly calculated distance of detachment.

Bow to Heaven and Earth. Bow to the Elders. Bow to each other.

Throughout the process, Shen Jiuyuan followed the wedding matron’s cues with fluid and standard movements, her posture graceful. When bowing to Su Jin, she lowered her head slightly and could glimpse the hem of his robe also bright red for the wedding and a pair of gold-woven cloud-patterned boots through the gap in the veil. His movements were also impeccable, yet they carried a scripted indifference, lacking the warmth a groom should possess.

The ceremony was completed. The master of ceremonies shouted: “Send them to the Bridal Chamber.”

Shen Jiuyuan was escorted away from the main hall, winding through several turns before finally entering a courtyard named Yuanlan Pavilion. This was clearly where the bridal chamber was located.

The bridal chamber was decorated with extreme luxury. A purple sandalwood carved canopy bed was draped with sharkskin-silk treasure curtains, which were embroidered all over with silver-threaded begonia flowers and scattered pearls. When the wind moved the silk, it felt like falling into a sea of clouds and illusions.

On the couch were green jade pillows and soft silk covers. The floor was laid with white jade inlaid with gold pearls, carved into the shape of lotuses. Each five-stemmed lotus was so vivid and exquisite that even the stamens were finely discernible; stepping on them with bare feet felt only warm and smooth, as they were carved from Lantian Warm Jade.

White marble pillars stood in the four corners of the room, and the walls were entirely carved from white stone bricks. Gold-carved orchids bloomed seductively between the white stones. Truly a grand noble house; its overflowing luxury far surpassed the rugged, military extravagance of the Shen Manor. This single bridal chamber likely cost tens of thousands of taels of silver to create such a magnificent aura.

The precious textures, combined with a layout as if forged by nature, allowed every corner to shimmer with fragrance and light, giving the occupant a sense of warm comfort. The air was filled with a sweet fragrance a mixture of Spring Begonia and some unknown floral scent.

Shen Jiuyuan was led to sit at the edge of the bed. The wedding matron spoke a few auspicious words before leading most of the servants out, leaving only a few personal maids and matrons. The room instantly fell quiet, leaving only the slight crackle of the red candles burning.

Shen Jiuyuan sat upright and motionless, the veil still covering her face. She was waiting for her nominal husband to come and lift this final barrier.

Time trickled by. Outside, the sky grew dark. The red candles had burned nearly halfway, and the clamor of the banquet outside seemed to gradually fade. However, Su Jin never appeared.

The remaining maids and matrons began to grow uneasy, exchanging glances, yet none dared to speak. Finally, a steady set of footsteps echoed outside. The maids perked up, quickly bowing in preparation to welcome the master.

The door was pushed open, but it was not Su Jin who entered. Instead, it was a dignified, serious-looking matron dressed respectably, followed by two small maids carrying food boxes.

“This old servant’s surname is Song; I am from the Old Madam’s side.” The matron’s voice was steady, carrying the confidence of an elder in a high position. “The Eldest Young Master was entertaining guests at the front and drank a few cups too many.

He is feeling somewhat unwell and fears the smell of alcohol might offend the newcomer. He has already been escorted to rest in the study. The Old Madam specifically commanded me to inform the Young Mistress and bring some pastries. Please, Young Mistress, help yourself first; there is no need to wait further.”

As soon as Matron Song finished speaking, the air in the bridal chamber seemed to freeze for several seconds of silence.

On the wedding night, the groom refused to enter the bridal chamber and went to rest in the study! Regardless of the reasons given, it was a declaration of contempt for the bride and an unmasked humiliation.

The faces of the maids who had come as part of Shen Jiuyuan’s dowry turned pale. Lily (Linglan) was so anxious her eyes turned red, but she dared not speak.

Shen Jiuyuan sat at the edge of the bed. Her face could not be seen clearly under the veil, yet her posture remained unchanged; even her breathing rhythm did not falter. It was as if what Matron Song had said was a matter of utter insignificance.

This moment of silence actually caused a flicker of abnormality in the heart of the once-imposing Matron Song. This new mistress from the North was reacting far too calmly.

After a long while, Shen Jiuyuan’s rippleless voice emerged from beneath the veil, devoid of any anger or grievance: “I trouble Matron Song to report back to Grandmother; this granddaughter-in-law understands. My husband’s health is the priority; please ask Grandmother and my husband not to worry.”

Her voice was clear and gentle, like jade beads falling on a plate, exceptionally distinct in the overly quiet room.

A flash of surprise crossed Matron Song’s eyes, but she quickly resumed her usual composure. “The Young Mistress is truly magnanimous; I shall certainly report this. Please, Young Mistress, rest early.” Having said that, she signaled the maids to place the food boxes on the table and led her people out.

The door was closed once more. This time, the silence in the room became even deeper, permeated by an indescribable awkwardness and weight.

“Young Lady!” Lily could finally no longer hold back, stepping forward with a sob in her voice. “The Young Master, how could he…”

“Be quiet,” Shen Jiuyuan interrupted Lily calmly. Her voice was not loud, yet it possessed a natural authority. “This is the Su Manor; how can you allow yourself to gossip about the master? Leave us; your service is no longer required here.”

Lily was intimidated by the coldness in her mistress’s tone. She choked on her words and ultimately dared not say more, retreating uneasily with the other maids.

When the door was completely shut and only Shen Jiuyuan remained in the room, she slowly reached out her own hand and lifted the heavy veil that had sat atop her head for nearly the entire day.

Under the candlelight, Shen Jiuyuan’s face was as calm as water, yet within her ink-black eyes, a trace of icy mockery flickered.

Not entering the bridal chamber? A show of strength? Or is it that he, Su Jin, simply disdains this forced marriage?

Very well.

Regarding this Eldest Young Master of the Su family, Shen Jiuyuan had not held many expectations, and thus, there was no great sense of loss.

She stood up, walked to the table of lavish but cooling pastries, and scanned the exquisite cakes without touching them. Instead, she turned and walked to the dressing table, beginning to personally remove the complex and precious jewelry from her head, one piece at a time.

The mirror reflected her absolute beauty and those overly calm eyes. Su Jin’s avoidance, though outside her expectations, was within the realm of reason upon deeper thought. A favorite of heaven like him, forced to marry a woman he had never met and a woman from a military family that was completely incompatible with the Su family how could he not feel resistance? This act tonight was merely his way of expressing dissatisfaction.

So be it.

Since Su Jin was not coming, Shen Jiuyuan was happy for the peace; it saved her the awkwardness of mutual pretense on their wedding night.

She removed all the jewelry from her head and wrists, carefully placing them into the vanity case, and changed out of the bright red wedding robe into a simple, elegant moon-white inner garment. Then, she walked to the window and pushed open a pane.

The cold night wind rushed in, carrying the humidity of the South. It dispersed the cloying sweet fragrance in the room and refreshed her spirit. Outside was the courtyard of Yuanlan Pavilion. By the light of the lanterns hanging from the corridors and the bright moonlight, she could see exquisite rockeries and winding paths. Many Southern flowers and plants she could not name were growing there, appearing lush and green even in winter.

In the distance, the layers of buildings in the Su Manor were shrouded in deep night and mist, their lights sparse and seemingly boundless. This was the place where Shen Jiuyuan would need to establish herself, maneuver, and conquer for a long time to come.

A husband who disliked her, a mysterious in-law family, watchful servants, and her own shallow foundations. The road ahead was strewn with thorns. There were also too many uncertainties. It felt as though at any moment, she might face a letter of divorce from her husband’s family.

A female member of a branch of the Shen clan had previously married the son of a wealthy Southern merchant; in less than half a year, she had been divorced and sent back to the clan because the husband’s family disliked her rugged and outgoing Northern personality. Thus, even though she had entered the Su family’s gates today, being divorced one day was not an impossibility.

However, far from showing fear, a nearly imperceptible flame ignited in Shen Jiuyuan’s eyes.

She gently stroked the cold carvings on the window frame, a faint sneer crossing her lips. This future husband likely thought that by not entering the bridal chamber tonight, he was showing her the most thorough disregard. Little did he know that to Shen Jiuyuan, this did not even amount to one-ten-thousandth of the pain she suffered in the Shen Manor.

A cool breeze brushed across her eyes and brows. A slight ripple rose in her heart as she thought: Su Jin not entering the bridal chamber is only the beginning. What I need to face in the future will likely be more than these simple appearances. Whether the waters within are deep or shallow, I will only know the truth after wading through them, step by step.

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