Chapter 49: A Relaxed Shoulder, A Silent Sigh

"Even businessmen aren’t fools—they don’t do losing trades. The Emperor and the ministers are even less likely to be foolish. Since they allow this kind of thing, it must mean there’s something worth exchanging for it. Like the Yin family and the Shen family—mutually beneficial," Yin Zhi explained to the young man.

"You’re currently a seventh-rank official, with a monthly salary of seven and a half dan of grain. Converted into silver, that’s around three or four taels—not much difference." She continued, "Uncle is a fourth-rank official, so of course his salary is higher than yours. But I bet even the two of you combined can’t fully support the current lifestyle of your household."

Shen Ti replied, “Our family has land and business—there’s other income.”

Yin Zhi said, “That’s because the Shen family has heritage—generations of accumulation. But what about those officials who studied for years, coming from farming backgrounds? What should they do? Life in the capital is expensive, isn’t it? A single residence here could buy more than a dozen back in Huaixi.”

“Officials need to live decently before they can wholeheartedly serve the Emperor, right?” she said. “That’s why the Emperor tolerates it, and the ministers do too.”

Shen Ti sighed softly. “I know. I’m not naïve.”

Yes, he understood. He also knew the saying “When the water is too clear, no fish will live in it.”

But being young, it still troubled him when the water wasn’t clean enough.

And Yin Zhi—she understood exactly what was troubling him.

Because this is the same pain that every young person feels when they first step into society.

She had seen it often.

“Not everything runs strictly by the rules,” she said. “If everything truly followed hard rules, thunder would be thunder, and grace would be grace. How could people say, ‘Both thunder and rain are the Emperor’s favor’?”

“You’ve read the classics and pledged loyalty to the court, but the court itself runs on the rule of man. If the Emperor says yes, then it’s yes.”

“If you’re loyal to the Emperor, you have to listen to him.”

Truthfully, Shen Ti had understood all this. But when the purity of his ideals collided with reality, he couldn’t help feeling unsettled.

But now, after talking it through with her, the knot in his heart was slowly unraveled.

Shen Ti looked at her intently. “Sister, you know so much—far more than most men. How did you come to understand all this?”

It was odd.

He had a rough idea of the education the girls in the Huaixi Yin family received—typical of girls from respectable rural gentry households.

And since his engagement with Yin Zhi had been arranged ten months ago, if she’d had any notable literary talent, the Yin family would surely have showcased it to enhance her worth.

But they hadn’t, meaning she had no standout talent or literary brilliance—at least nothing like Feng Luoyi, who’d earned a name as a gifted woman through her gentle and elegant poetry.

The words Yin Zhi had just spoken were simple and casual, yet they clearly revealed an understanding of how the world really worked.

A man who had studied or seen the world might speak this way. But how could a woman, confined to the inner chambers, casually grasp such principles?

Especially something like “rule of man.”

The slow pace of transportation, the lack of communication, the primitive printing technology—it all led to information blockades and monopolies of knowledge. It was truly frustrating.

Say a few insightful things, and you’re immediately suspected.

But Yin Zhi wasn’t afraid.

Back in the Yin family, she’d been idle and lived alone. She’d kept a low profile to avoid trouble. But now that she was bound to Shen Ti for life, she couldn’t pretend to be an ignorant housewife forever.

“It’s all because of our engagement,” she said.

Shen Ti was puzzled.

“After the engagement, you and Auntie went back to the capital without a care, but I suffered,” Yin Zhi began her half-truthful explanation. “Grandfather said you were a Tanhualang (third place in the national exam). As your future wife, I needed to understand worldly matters, or I’d bring disaster. He lectured me every day about things outside. I had such a headache from it—my brain’s been force-fed with knowledge.”

In truth, Elder Yin had considered giving her special training, but Yin Zhi didn’t cooperate. Seeing her as average in ability, he gave up and just had the matron teach her household management instead.

After all, even if someone wasn’t brilliant, as long as they were steady, the household could still thrive. The real danger was someone of mediocre talent trying to do too much and stirring up trouble.

He’d lowered his expectations for her, figuring she just needed to keep the household harmonious.

Shen Ti found her explanation believable.

Among the Yin family of Huaixi, the only ones he truly respected were his maternal grandfather and uncle. The others didn’t catch his eye.

Now he felt grateful toward his grandfather.

Because he knew he couldn’t share this recent emotional struggle with his father—it would only draw criticism.

At least now he had someone who would listen, let him vent, and help him accept that the world wasn’t perfect.

Only children fantasize about perfection.

Shen Ti—Shen Jiyun—was no longer a child. He was a married man, already in officialdom.

And this person, if she only knew embroidery and romance, wouldn’t understand him. But his cousin did—she knew exactly what was bothering him and even helped soothe it.

He looked up and saw Yin Zhi watching him.

There was patience, tolerance, and gentleness in her gaze.

At that moment, he genuinely felt that having a wife was a good thing. Even a nominal one wasn’t so bad.

Someone to talk to. Someone who would quietly listen, chin resting on her hand, offering soft comfort when he couldn’t talk to parents, teachers, or colleagues.

Shen Ti couldn’t help but wonder: were other people’s wives like this too?

So this is why people grow up and get married—not just for heirs, but because from then on, you have a companion.

Someone who belongs to you and you alone.

He looked away briefly, then returned his gaze. “Do you think the return gifts are appropriate? Anything that needs changing?”

Yin Zhi shook the list in her hand. “It looks fine to me. Auntie and Uncle must’ve drafted it. Since she’s from my maternal family too, she’d never go wrong.”

Shen Ti replied, “Father and I wrote it. We just had Mother review it before finalizing.”

All children like praise, and Yin Zhi never held back compliments. She immediately praised him: “You’re already handling these matters? That’s great. Uncle will surely entrust more to you in time. You’ve really changed since taking office.”

“Not really,” Shen Ti said calmly. “Just doing what I’m supposed to do.”

He was “calm” again. Yin Zhi smiled.

On the third day of the wedding, Yin Zhi and Shen Ti got up earlier than the two previous days. They first went to greet Lord and Lady Shen.

Lady Shen said, “Tell your brothers to come visit me tomorrow.”

Yin Zhi agreed.

Lord Shen reminded, “Don’t forget proper manners.”

Shen Ti also acknowledged.

Yin Zhi boarded the carriage; Shen Ti rode his horse. Together, they set off with the return gifts to visit the place where Yin Zhi’s elder cousin and real brother were staying. As someone married far away, she couldn’t return to her natal home—this was the only way to do the “third-day visit.”

Few women who married far away, like Lady Shen, had the luxury of returning home twice.

Many daughters, once married off, never saw their parents or family again.

The visit went smoothly.

Yin Zhi’s two cousins and her eldest brother had been eagerly awaiting them since early morning.

When they saw the couple, the three married brothers subtly observed and found the atmosphere between the two harmonious. They exchanged glances and nodded approvingly.

The return gifts were generous, showing how much the Shen family valued this second-generation marriage alliance.

Of the three, Yin Zhi’s eldest brother had studied at the Shen household and was closest to Shen Ti.

He remarked, “Who would’ve thought our families would become in-laws again?”

Then added, “I’m entrusting Fourth Sister to you.”

Shen Ti bowed formally. “Please rest assured, Brother. I will treat Fourth Sister well for the rest of my life.”

The three cousins returned the bow.

Yin Zhi loved moments like this.

Young men, all well-dressed and good-looking, exchanging bows—what a beautiful scene.

This era, for all its flaws, still had many beautiful things.

Leisurely pace. Elegant surroundings.

Yin Zhi had a knack for finding beauty. She wasn’t afraid of her future life—in fact, she even looked forward to it a little, because Shen Ti was still a sincere, idealistic, good-hearted young man.

They all had lunch together. While her cousins spoke to Shen Ti, her real brother pulled her aside.

As expected of a brother from her natal family. Shen Ti glanced once, then respectfully gave them space.

Her brother, Yin Wangcheng, asked quietly, “Everything going well these past few days?”

“All good,” she said. “Just tell Father, Mother, and Grandfather not to worry. Auntie is here—everything’s fine.”

Yin Wangcheng had lived at the Shen family’s old estate for a few years. He knew their character and wasn’t worried about them.

What he was worried about… was Yin Zhi.

Lowering his voice even further, he asked, “Have you met that concubine of Jiyun’s?”

“Not yet,” Yin Zhi replied. “They’ll officially bring her in after I’m settled. I’ll meet her in a few days.”

Yin Wangcheng cleared his throat and lowered his voice more: “She’s just a concubine, from a low-class background. She’ll never rise. You should give the Shen family a grandson quickly—that’ll put you above her forever. Don’t let her bother you. If Jiyun favors her, let him. Don’t make a fuss over something like this. Don’t let Auntie and Uncle worry.”

“Honestly, if it weren’t for her, this great marriage wouldn’t have fallen into your lap.”

Yin Zhi smiled as she listened to these patriarchal platitudes.

What could she do? She’d been born in this era. She didn’t have the power to topple the imperial system and create an equal society.

So she just listened.

“I know,” she said seriously. “I’m the official wife—no one can outrank me.”

“If Jiyun likes her, how could I—his rightful wife—be jealous of that?”

“But who knows about having children? Maybe she’ll bear the eldest grandson first.”

“No matter. I’ll still be the legitimate mother of that child, and I’ll raise the Shen family’s precious heir with full responsibility.”

“Brother, don’t worry.”

Yin Wangcheng: “……”

Something about what she said felt… off. But he couldn’t pinpoint it. Everything she said was textbook correct—the very model of a virtuous, tolerant wife.

It just didn’t sound quite right.

“Silly girl,” he muttered, only for her ears. “A child from your womb and one from hers—they’re not the same.”

One would be a grandson of the Yin family. The other… well, technically, even a concubine’s child would be considered a Yin grandson.

But that’s in theory. Reality was different.

“Give her some medicine if needed—don’t let her get ahead of you.”

He offered some “helpful” advice, only to be sternly lectured by his now-married sister:

“You’re wrong, Brother. As long as it’s Jiyun’s child, it’s a child of the Shen family.”

“As the Shen daughter-in-law, how could I block the family’s line? There’s nothing in the Three Obediences and Four Virtues that says I should.”

“Don’t worry.”

“Tell Grandfather I’ll be the model of a virtuous wife. I won’t embarrass the Yin family of Huaixi.”

Yin Wangcheng: “……”

How do I tell Grandfather that my sister’s gone stupid after getting married?

She must’ve spent too many years chanting scriptures—fried her brain.