Chapter 48: A House in Harmony

Shen Ti didn’t sleep well that night.

He woke up the next morning feeling exhausted, yet even so, his body was still... responsive.
Well, youth has its advantages.

He hesitated, debating whether to quietly get up and go to the privy. But just as he moved, Yin Zhi suddenly turned over—it seemed she was awake.

Shen Ti froze, not daring to move.

Yin Zhi rubbed her eyes, mumbled something softly, then reached out to pull the thin blanket up over his chest. She then flopped back down, turned to face the inside, and continued sleeping.

Shen Ti: "..."

Suddenly, everything made sense to him.

Given the nature of their current relationship, he figured—he might as well stop viewing her as a woman.

Think of her as an older sister. Maybe even a mother.
Right—he vaguely remembered being tucked in like that only during childhood, when his mother used to nap with him at noon, always worried he’d catch a chill.

Clearly, his cousin regarded him as family too. Like a younger brother. Like a son.

They were going to share a bed for the rest of their lives. If they were going to be embarrassed and awkward over this every day, it would never end.

He had to accept that she wore only inner garments, that he’d inevitably see her bare, delicate feet—something no other man had ever seen. She had even said that she’d definitely go shirtless in the summer. All these private details, he couldn’t avoid them. He’d have to face them and get used to it.

And in turn, she would also need to adjust to the fact that his body was different from hers.

Once that thought clicked, he felt completely at ease.

Thinking about the woman lying next to him—who wasn’t really a “woman” but more like a sister, a mother—especially recalling her maternal gesture earlier, his body’s earlier reaction magically disappeared.

Perfect.

After sharing a bed for two nights, by the time they got up today, everything already felt more natural.

The young couple went together to greet Lord and Lady Shen.

Lady Shen said, “Take Zhi-niang around the house, let her get familiar with the place.”

Shen Ti agreed and left with Yin Zhi.

Watching the couple depart, Lady Shen turned to Lord Shen and said, “Did you notice?”

Lord Shen: “Notice what?”

Lady Shen covered her mouth with a chuckle. “Jiyun has dark circles under his eyes.”

Lord Shen wanted to laugh too, but thought better of it. He gave a cough and said seriously, “Newlyweds. It’s natural for a couple to be affectionate.”

Parents who truly care about their children naturally hope that their son and daughter-in-law share a loving bond.

They exchanged a smile and got up to host their guests.

Most of the Shen relatives had come from the old family estate. Some had homes in the capital, some didn’t. They wouldn’t leave right after the banquet. Since they were already here, they would stay a day or two before heading back. Guests came and went over yesterday and today.

Lord and Lady Shen had to see them off personally.

Shen Ti took Yin Zhi for a proper tour around the estate, familiarizing her with every area.

Once that was done, he brought her back to her courtyard and said, “I’ll go see Father for a bit.”

Yin Zhi knew he was going to ask about the silver and raw silk, so she reminded him, “Stay calm.”

Shen Ti replied, “I will.”

Lord Shen had just seen off two groups of guests and returned to his study when Shen Ti arrived. “Father, I have a question.”

“What is it?” Lord Shen asked.

Shen Ti said, “Regarding the financial dealings between our family and the Yin family—could you explain them to me?”

“Oh?” Lord Shen was a bit surprised. “What made you think to ask about this?”

“I heard that my cousin brought ten thousand taels of silver and a large shipment of raw silk?”

Lord Shen frowned. “She told you? How did she say it?”

Shen Ti paused, but saw no reason to hide it. Besides, he agreed with what she said. “She believes that since I’m now married and starting my own household, I shouldn’t remain ignorant about such matters. It’s time I understood them.”

That was a fair point.

Lord Shen nodded. “I was thinking I’d tell you in another year or two, after you’ve been in office for a while.”

Young men who’ve never managed a household don’t know how costly daily life can be—let alone how complicated social relations are. They bury themselves in their books and tend to be overly idealistic. Especially those at the Hanlin Academy, who are even more prone to arrogance.

Some naïve young officials even disdain the Ministry of Revenue, thinking everyone there reeks of money.

Lord Shen had intended to let Shen Ti fumble around the bureaucracy for a couple of years, gain some practical understanding, and then gradually guide him—so he wouldn’t be too averse to hearing about money matters.

“But since you’ve asked, I’ll explain.”

He got up, opened a cabinet in the study, and took out two account ledgers. After flipping through them, he handed them to Shen Ti.

Shen Ti read quickly, skimming line after line.

Only now did he realize—the Yin family had been sending money to the Shen family every year.

Even that trip his mother took with him to Huaixi ten years ago wasn’t just a visit to her maiden home.

He looked up. “What did our family do for the Yin family in return?”

Thanks to Yin Zhi’s earlier groundwork, he was able to process all this without emotional turmoil—just calm curiosity.

Lord Shen was pleased. He replied, “The Yin family uses our name cards in their dealings. Their merchant ships travel with official convoys thanks to our connections. For us, it’s no trouble—but for them, it saves countless expenses and opens countless doors. Rest assured, your mother’s family is not being taken advantage of.”

He invited Shen Ti to sit and explained the various connections in detail—including other merchants who maintained ties with the Shen family.

Overall, he was very satisfied with Shen Ti’s reaction—not the kind of naïve scholar who knew nothing about money or power.

Today, he had essentially laid out the family’s entire financial picture. Most households wouldn’t do that so early, but Shen Ti was an only son, so it was fine.

A father was always glad to see his son mature early.

Shen Ti had also handled himself well—Lord Shen even praised him a little.

He remained calm even as he left the study.

Back at Jingrong Courtyard, Yin Zhi had gone to the kitchen, so they didn’t run into each other.

At lunch, Lord Shen gave Yin Zhi a look.

She noticed.

Shen Ti had asked about the silver and silk; Lord Shen would naturally ask how he found out. With it being the honeymoon, and the bride still busy helping in the kitchen while the groom had nothing to do—not even hosting guests—it could only have been her who told him.

And Lord Shen, a seasoned official, would understand the implication behind her telling him.

No wonder he gave her that extra look.

But Yin Zhi wasn’t worried. Unless a father-in-law was deliberately trying to sabotage a marriage by gifting his son a concubine, a daughter-in-law’s day-to-day happiness had little to do with him.

What mattered were the mother-in-law and husband. Those were the two she had to focus on.

Lord and Lady Shen had overlapping yet distinct tastes in food, but both of the senior maids—Qin Mama and Wang Mama—were from Huaixi and favored Yin Zhi. They’d already briefed her.

So when Yin Zhi served dishes at the table, she didn’t make a single mistake.

What she didn’t know was that Lord Shen’s lingering look stemmed from a question he’d asked Shen Ti that morning: “Do you still call your wife ‘Cousin’?”

Shen Ti replied, “She’s my cousin, after all.”

“And what does she call you?”

“By my courtesy name, naturally.”

Shen Ti didn’t see the issue.

But Lord Shen, a man married for decades, silently cursed: Foolish boy.

These subtle dynamics between husband and wife—whether east wind overwhelms west or vice versa—aren’t things that can be explained in a few words. And given how private marital matters are, a father-in-law couldn’t just speak his mind.

But clearly, Shen Ti had already let himself be “suppressed” under the guise of cousinly affection. Who knew when he’d come to his senses?

Especially considering that Yin Zhi had told Shen Ti about the money and silk, and the financial ties between the families, Lord Shen thought: Don’t be fooled by her sweet and gentle looks—she’s shrewd.

Hence, the extra glance.

Since table manners dictated no speaking during meals, Shen Ti didn’t talk, and no one found it strange.

After the meal, they split up for tea.

Lady Shen said, “The gifts for your return visit are all ready. We’ll give the list to Jiyun later. You two can look it over. Don’t worry.”

Yin Zhi smiled sweetly. “With Aunt taking care of it, what would I worry about?”

After all, they shared the same maiden family. As the current matron, Lady Shen would never disgrace her own birth home.

Back at Jingrong Courtyard, Shen Ti gave her the gift list. “Have a look.”

He added, “If anything seems off, tell me. There’s still time to change it.”

The maid had brought in tea and left, so now they were alone. No need to keep up appearances—they could relax.

And relaxed as they were, Yin Zhi noticed something. “You’re unhappy?”

Shen Ti didn’t even flutter an eyelash. “I’m not.”

Yin Zhi narrowed her eyes at him, scrutinized him for a moment, then said confidently, “You are unhappy.”

Finally, Shen Ti lifted his eyelids and looked at her. “How could you tell?”

Yin Zhi was exasperated. “Do I need to? You’re radiating ‘I’m unhappy’ all over.”

Really?

Shen Ti felt the need to reflect. This went against his training in composure. A scholar should not wear emotions on his sleeve. Even if Mount Tai collapsed before him, he should remain unmoved.

Wait—

He glanced at Yin Zhi and realized something.

He had relaxed in front of her.

He hadn’t relaxed in front of his father in the study, nor in front of his mother at lunch. But once he returned to this courtyard, with the maids gone and only the two of them in the room—he relaxed.

That’s why she noticed.

Was that his fault?

Probably not.

How could one not relax when alone in a room with someone like her? She wandered around barefoot in her underclothes, didn’t mind him seeing, sat with her legs folded, and even tucked the blanket over him.

It was hard not to mirror her ease.

Actually... it probably started last year at Donglin Temple—when she mercilessly tore away his pretentious mask. Since then, he’d had nothing left to hide in front of her.

No reason to keep up appearances.

With her, he had this strange “screw it, what’s there to hide” feeling.

“I’m not really unhappy,” he said.

Which, of course, was an indirect way of admitting he was.

“Oh?” Yin Zhi leaned on the small couch, chin in hand, moving closer. “Tell me?”

Her bright eyes locked on him, brimming with curiosity.

Not the posture of someone having a serious talk—more like a nosy neighbor catching wind of gossip.

Yet strangely, Shen Ti felt like opening up.

He couldn’t explain why, but he felt that she was a good listener. The kind who’d really hear him.

And not in the same way his father did. He didn’t want to tell his father, because he knew it would only bring criticism—that he was still immature.

He wasn’t a child anymore. He no longer went to his father with every problem.

After the major disagreement they’d had about his marriage, he no longer wished to reveal any of his weaknesses to him.

“Is it about the Shen and Yin families?” Yin Zhi guessed. It wasn’t hard—he hadn’t done anything else that morning.

Shen Ti admitted, “Yes. But I’m not exactly upset. Father told me a lot—everything I needed to know.”

That made Yin Zhi even more interested. She leaned in further. “What did he say? Can you tell me? No one else in the household ever tells me anything—I’m actually really curious.”

Her enthusiasm was genuine—he could feel it.

And really, there was nothing he couldn’t say. It was just that most women in the inner quarters had no interest in such matters, and men had no reason to bore them with it.

But since she was interested, Shen Ti repeated everything Lord Shen had told him.

Yin Zhi listened with great interest.

Though these matters were far from her daily life and not immediately useful, they helped her understand this world and its society more deeply.

Which was good.

In the end, she said, “Your father was right. And I told you too—merchants aren’t stupid. The two families must be benefiting mutually. No one’s losing out.”

“No,” Shen Ti said. “That’s not quite it.”

“It’s not just about the Shen and Yin families. What Father said—including merchant ships sailing with official convoys, properties registered under officials’ names... yes, both sides benefit. But what about the court?”

“All those taxes being avoided—who’s really losing out, if not the imperial treasury?”

“But Father says, this is normal. His Majesty knows, and allows it. The ministers in the State Council know, and allow it too.”

“And that—is what troubles me.”

Yin Zhi was stunned.

So that’s what it was.

Nearly a year had passed since they last saw each other. He seemed taller, more grown up, more composed—she thought he had become a young man.

But now she saw—he was still a boy.

In her past life, Yin Zhi had seen many like him—young people fresh out of school, full of ideals, crashing headfirst into the real world, bewildered.

She knew that one day, Shen Ti would become like them too—his edges worn down, his illusions broken, his innocence faded. He would become a seasoned official like Lord Shen, treating everything as routine.

But right now, while he was still idealistic, pure, and sincere—this was indeed the most clear-eyed and endearing phase of a man’s life.

Facing such a boy, Yin Zhi’s heart softened.