My Husband Never Oversteps The Bounds Of Propriety - Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Morning Respects

The dawn in the South arrived much more subtly than in the North.

The horizon did not brighten abruptly; instead, a vast expanse of heavy, dark cyan gradually bled into a layer of “fish-belly white,” which then filtered out a faint pinkish-orange, much like the shy cheek of a young maiden. The humid air was permeated with the fresh scent of earth and flowers, mingled with the nearly imperceptible scent of cooking fires from the distant kitchens.

Inside Yuanlan Pavilion, Shen Jiuyuan had already risen.

She did not need a maid to urge her; having lived cautiously in the Shen family since childhood, she had long ago formed the habit of rising at the Hour of the Tiger (3 AM – 5 AM).

Last night, Shen Jiuyuan had dismissed all her maids to rest alone in this strange and magnificent bridal chamber. The canopy bed was so spacious it felt empty; though the brocade quilts were soft and warm, her sleep was not deep. In her half-dreaming, half-waking state, blurred visions of her mother’s face, Shen Zhilan’s venomous eyes, and the chilling, detached aura of Su Jin whom she had not even met yet constantly surfaced and intertwined.

Shen Jiuyuan cleansed her face with cold water. The piercing chill dispersed the last trace of hazy sleepiness.

When combing her hair and applying makeup before the mirror, she rejected all vibrant colors. She chose a lotus-root-colored satin jacket with hidden patterns and a cross-collar, paired with a moon-white pleated cotton skirt. Her dark hair was wound into a simple, neat round bun, secured with a plain silver hairpin inlaid with a pearl. The hairpin featured several small flowers strung from seed pearls.

She applied no powder or rouge to her face, yet her eyebrows appeared dark without drawing, and her lips red without tint a natural display of clear and elegant grace.

“Young Lady, you are truly beautiful.”

Lily (Linglan), who was permitted to enter and serve, whispered her praise while straightening the hem of Shen Jiuyuan’s skirt. A trace of worry was hidden in her eyes. “However, is this perhaps a bit too plain? Young Lady is going to pay respects to the Old Madam and the other mistresses today…”

Shen Jiuyuan glanced at Lily in the mirror, her gaze calm.

“When a new bride first meets her elders, the emphasis is on dignity and reverence, not on being vibrant and eye-catching. This is fine as it is.”

She knew well that in a great family like the Su clan, where rules were strict and eyes were set high, a Northern woman like herself who was a substitute bride with shallow foundations would only invite gossip and contempt if she displayed an overbearing beauty or deliberate finery. It was better to show weakness and use stillness to control motion.

Once she was ready, a small maid sent by Matron Song was already waiting outside the door to lead her to the Old Madam’s Baicao Hall.

They walked through layers of winding corridors and past three craggy rockeries. Not far from the rockeries was a pond covered in thin ice, crossed by a stone-arched wooden bridge. Shen Jiuyuan silently memorized the paths and the scenery along the way. The Su Manor occupied a vast area; the pavilions, terraces, and upturned eaves were all exquisitely elegant. Every plant and tree was arranged with ingenious craftsmanship, far beyond the rugged style of the Shen Manor.

When the servants saw Shen Jiuyuan, they all stopped, lowered their heads, and performed respectful bows, addressing her as “Eldest Young Grandmother.” Their etiquette and posture were impeccable. However, the prying curiosity that flashed deep within their eyes did not escape her.

Baicao Hall was located on the central axis of the Su Manor, the most spacious and solemn courtyard in the estate. Before entering the door, she smelled a distant, quiet scent of sandalwood. Several tall pines and cypresses were planted before the hall; surviving the winter without withering, their deep green was striking, living up to the hall’s name.

Stepping inside, warmth mixed with a stronger scent of sandalwood hit her. The floor was covered with a thick “Auspicious Ruyi” patterned carpet, making her steps silent.

At the head of the main hall sat a silver-haired, lean-faced elderly woman on a purple sandalwood carved Luohan bed. The bedframe was carved with patterns of longevity, and the woman wore a deep brown brocade cotton robe with a treasure-flower pattern. Around her forehead was a headband inlaid with emeralds, and around her wrist was a string of glossy agarwood prayer beads.

Though she did not speak, she exuded an aura of authority without anger. This was the matriarch of the Su Manor, Su Jin’s grandmother Old Madam Su.

Beside the kanga bed, on two rows of Huanghuali wood armchairs, sat many female relatives adorned with pearls and emeralds. They were dressed in silks and satins, whispering in low voices, their gazes simultaneously landing on Shen Jiuyuan the moment she stepped through the door. Curiosity, scrutiny, comparison, and even a trace of subtle disdain a thousand people had a thousand different thoughts, their gazes weaving into an invisible net.

Shen Jiuyuan took a deep breath, suppressed the ripples in her heart, and walked forward with a composed step. At a distance of about five paces from the Luohan bed, she stopped. Following the Su family etiquette she had studied intensely the previous day, she folded her hands at her waist and performed a deep, standard “Wanfu” bow, saying:

“Your granddaughter-in-law, of the Shen clan, pays respects to Grandmother. I wish Grandmother fortune, longevity, and health.”

Her voice was clear and gentle, neither high nor low, just enough for everyone in the room to hear clearly. She did not use her personal name but used the more formal and detached “of the Shen clan.”

Old Madam Su stopped the beads in her hand and lifted her eyelids. Her eyes, which had experienced many vicissitudes yet remained clear, now landed on Shen Jiuyuan, scrutinizing her from head to toe. The hall fell instantly silent. After a moment of silence that felt like an eternity, the Old Madam finally spoke.

“Rise.” Her voice was moderate, her expression calm yet dignified. “Lift your head first and let Grandmother have a good look. Grandmother is old; if I don’t look closely, I fear I’ll forget what you look like in a moment.”

Shen Jiuyuan obeyed and slowly raised her head, her gaze submissively cast downward. She was neither impolite nor overly bold. What the Old Madam saw was a face without powder or rouge, yet of an absolute, clear beauty especially those eyes, as still as water, which were truly unique.

A trace of nearly imperceptible surprise flashed in the Old Madam’s eyes. This woman was different from the spirited, heroic “daughter of a general” she had imagined from the North. She seemed far removed from either panic or brashness. This calmness and reverence made her look like a lady carefully raised in a scholarly Southern household.

“Mhm, a tidy child,” the Old Madam nodded slightly, her tone unreadable. “The journey was hard. Now that you have entered the Su family’s gates, you are a member of the Su family. You must strictly observe the virtues of a wife, live in harmony with your sisters-in-law, serve your husband with all your heart, and continue the family line.”

“Yes, your granddaughter-in-law will keep Grandmother’s teachings in mind,” Shen Jiuyuan bowed again.

Next, under the guidance of Matron Song, she paid her respects to each elder.

Sitting in the first position to the Old Madam’s left was Su Jin’s mother, the current managing mistress of the Su Manor, Lady Lin. Lady Lin was roughly forty years old, wearing a crimson-purple jacket with butterfly patterns and a red-gemstone-inlaid gold headpiece. She was beautiful, though her eyes carried a trace of lingering gloom and pickiness.

Lady Lin accepted Shen Jiuyuan’s bow, said a faint “rise,” and removed a jade bracelet of average quality from her own wrist. She commanded her matron to hand it to Shen Jiuyuan as a meeting gift, her attitude lukewarm. Shen Jiuyuan accepted it respectfully and gave her thanks. From this single act, she knew that this mother-in-law likely harbored a grudge toward this marriage and perhaps toward her as a person.

Next was the Second Branch Mistress, Lady Wang, who was Su Yu’s mother. Lady Wang was round-faced and wealthy-looking, smiling before she even spoke. She wore a sapphire-blue gold-woven satin skirt and appeared very friendly. She took Shen Jiuyuan’s hand, praised her beauty, and gave her a gold hairpin with some weight, her attitude very warm. Yet, even as her smile was joyous, it was only a shallow ripple at the corners of her eyes; it did not fully reach the depths of her gaze.

Next was the Third Branch Mistress, Lady Zhao, who was younger than the other two. Her expression was somewhat arrogant, her meeting gift a pair of pearl earrings, and her attitude perfunctory.

Shen Jiuyuan paid her respects to several other aunts from the side branches as well. Her etiquette was perfect and her responses appropriate—neither humble nor arrogant, yet appearing very submissive.

After the elders came the sisters-in-law and sisters of the same generation. The several concubine-born daughters of the Second Branch were still young and stared curiously at their new sister-in-law. The Third Branch daughter, Su Wen, who was of a similar age to Shen Jiuyuan, had a pretty face but eyes that danced with pickiness; her bow was somewhat arrogant.

From this round of introductions, Shen Jiuyuan had formed a general outline of the relationships within the Su Manor. The Old Madam was authoritative, Mother-in-law Lin was cold, Second Aunt Wang was superficially warm, and Third Aunt Zhao was detached. Among those of her own generation, those with goodwill were few, while those watching and waiting were many.

And the most crucial figure, her husband Su Jin, had never appeared from start to finish.

As the morning respects drew to a close, the Old Madam waved her hand and said, appearing slightly tired: “Very well, you have all met. You may disperse. Eldest Daughter-in-law,” she looked at Lady Lin, “Jin-er’s wife has just arrived and is unfamiliar with many rules. Take care to teach her.”

Lady Lin rose and replied, “Yes, Mother.”

Shen Jiuyuan followed Lady Lin out of Baicao Hall. Lady Lin’s pace was neither fast nor slow, and she did not speak much to her daughter-in-law. It was only when they were about to turn onto the path leading back to Yuanlan Pavilion that she stopped, turned slightly, and said flatly: “From today on, come to me at the start of the Hour of the Dragon (7 AM). I will explain the household affairs and familiarize you with the rules.”

“Yes, Mother,” Shen Jiuyuan replied respectfully.

Lady Lin glanced at her, her gaze lingering for a moment on her plain clothing, but she ultimately said nothing more and walked away, supported by her maid.

Shen Jiuyuan stood in place, watching Lady Lin’s retreating back. She looked up at the blue sky above the Su Manor, which was partitioned by the pavilions and held a faint morning mist. This first step had finally been taken. Though it was like treading on thin ice, she had not lost her composure.

Returning to Yuanlan Pavilion, Lily hurriedly served hot tea and whispered, “Young Lady, you’re finally back. Just now, a servant from the Eldest Young Master’s side came with a message. He said the Eldest Young Master is busy with affairs and will be staying in the outer study for the near future. He told the Young Lady not to wait for him for meals.”

Shen Jiuyuan took the tea cup. Her fingertips felt the warmth of the white porcelain. Her expression did not change; she merely gave a soft “mhm.”

On the second day of the marriage, the husband had explicitly stated he would stay in the outer study. This news had likely already grown wings and spread to every corner of the Su Manor.

Shen Jiuyuan lowered her head and blew aside the floating green tea leaves. The rising steam blurred her calm features.

Su Jin, are you telling everyone that you do not acknowledge this marriage, nor do you acknowledge me as your wife?

Very well.

The more you act this way, the more I must establish a firm foothold in this Su Manor.

She took a sip of the clear tea and looked out the window. Several stalks of emerald bamboo in the courtyard remained upright even in the bitter winter.

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