Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law

Men in red and women in green.

The men are handsome, and the women are beautiful.

As the two walked together, standing two feet apart, someone among the crowd already started hailing them as an immortal couple.

Yi Qianchi and Zhao Daoxian were seated in the hall.

Chen Mo's parents had already passed away, and though his sister-in-law was a senior, their relationship was ambiguous. Moreover, since she was a woman, it was obviously inappropriate for her to show up, let alone sit at the head of the hall.

So, the task fell to Zhao Daoxian, who had set the wedding date with Yi Qianchi at that time.

Zhao Daoxian, being both a scholar and a senior, as well as the chief clerk of the government office, was quite fit to act as the witness for the wedding.

Yi Shiyin was very nervous, her fingers clutching the fan handle turned pale, and her heartbeat quickened. It was her first time being watched by so many people.

However, thinking that she was about to marry the man of her dreams, she felt a bit excited.

She suppressed her emotions, remembering Nanny Wang's earlier instructions, to not make any mistakes.

Soon, with a loud shout from the master of ceremonies, the two bowed to each other.

At the moment of bowing, Yi Shiyin stole a glance at Chen Mo, feeling a sweetness in her heart, along with some sense of illusion — she was getting married.

After bowing to each other, they paid respects to heaven and earth, and to their elders.

Then, a venerable old man from the Yi Family brought out a contract.

This contract was provided by the groom's side, and the contents were what Han Anniang had mentioned, written by Zhao Daoxian.

It mainly clarified the rights and obligations of both parties, the dowry, the upbringing of children, and other matters.

After Yi Shiyin confirmed it, she needed to sign it.

Of course, the contents were undoubtedly biased towards the groom's side.

After all, Yi Shiyin was merely a concubine, legally she wasn't much higher in status than a servant, and could be bought and sold at will.

Some officials even let their concubines serve their guests.

If the man was dissatisfied with the concubine, a divorce letter would suffice.

Yi Shiyin signed without the slightest hesitation.

Then, a maid brought two cups of tea, known as change-of-mouth tea.

After the couple drank the tea, they should call each other's parents "father" and "mother."

Finally, the two stepped over a fire basin, with Chen Mo leading Yi Shiyin by a red string into the already prepared bridal chamber.

At this point, the wedding was more or less over.

Since it was the taking of a concubine, even if there was a banquet, technically Chen Mo didn't have to offer drinks, but since he was doing a good deed to the end, he didn't skip this step either.

Chen Mo began offering drinks to the guests.

The guests were very respectful, and when Chen Mo came to offer drinks, each of them stood up, bent over to clink glasses.

As cups were exchanged, the sky gradually darkened.

...

That day, the county town was adorned with lanterns and decorations, bustling and noisy.

Everyone knew the county magistrate was taking a concubine, so they all went to the government office to try their luck.

The wine houses of the Wang and Yi families, and even taverns opened by some wealthy households, announced free drinks for the day to celebrate the happy event.

Of course, the security in the city did not slacken in the slightest, as night fell, teams of tall and imposing Divine Brave Guards in shiny armor patrolled the streets, maintaining order.

After all, it was the county magistrate's wedding, and if anything went wrong, they would lose face.

Outside the county government office.

Sun Meng was in charge of guarding with a team of personal soldiers.

Currently, the personal guard team led by Sun Meng had reached a strength of two hundred people, except for three who were originally guards of the Xia sisters, the rest were all elite selected from the Divine Brave Guard.

In the rear courtyard, Xia Zhining had just finished bathing and was grooming herself in front of a copper mirror.

Xia Zhining styled her hair into a delicate bun, looking at her beautiful, charming face in the copper mirror, beneath her gracefully arched eyebrows, her clear eyes fluttered lightly, finally resting on the gold ring worn on her finger, her eyebrows couldn't help but knit together.

Turning around, she gazed intently at her sister sitting on the soft couch, playing the pipa, her slim, fair, oval face stirred a sense of frustration in Xia Zhining's heart.

Since the day Chen Mo said those words, Xia Zhining began doubting herself, feeling she was inferior to her sister in every way, even though she just took a bath, her sister who hadn't even bathed looked prettier.

Xia Zhining pursed her cherry lips, suppressing the strange feeling in her heart, and said, "Sister, that bastard's words can't be trusted, claiming that his heart is only for you, but today he's taking a concubine, who knows what they'll be up to tonight."

"Dang..."

Xia Zhiqing's jade fingers paused slightly, and the pipa music stopped. For some reason, she was a bit off all day, and an image of a man and a woman being intimate inadvertently appeared in her mind.

Only now, the woman in the image was no longer her sister, but a stranger.

Upon thinking of this, Xia Zhiqing's expression momentarily froze, and she quickly dispelled this distraction, silently cursing herself.

It's all because he never avoided her whenever he was with her sister.

"Why bring him up so casually?" Xia Zhiqing put down the pipa and said, "It's good that he's taken a concubine. It means he'll cling to us less and, once he's married, he might have some scruples. When it's time to let us leave, he won't cause problems."

…

Although he toasted with the wine, Chen Mo didn't drink much. After all, he had to consummate the marriage tonight, and being drunk wasn't ideal.

When Chen Mo first met Yi Shiyin, she struck him as a well-behaved girl, petite and adorable, so naturally, Chen Mo wanted to make a good impression on her.

Outside the bridal chamber, Xiaoling sat on the threshold of the loft on the first floor, propping her cheeks up with her hands, her mind filled with jokes of other maids.

About how if the bridegroom lacked strength during the wedding night, she, as a maid, had to be responsible for helping.

And if the lady couldn't handle the intimacy, she would have to complete the consummation.

"For such a formidable person as the bridegroom, how could he lack strength? But the lady, she might not be up for the... intimacy. If I have to help, oh dear..."

Just imagining this scene made Xiaoling feel weak, yet there was a sense of anticipation, alongside a twinge of regret for not spending more time with the booklet Nanny Wang had given her...

"What are you thinking so intently?"

Seeing that he had walked right up to her without her noticing, Chen Mo couldn't help but ask.

"Ah..." Upon hearing the voice, Xiaoling looked up. Realizing it was Chen Mo, she stood up hurriedly, her face flushed red, murmuring incoherently, "Sir, how... why is it you?"

"Tonight is my wedding; who else would it be besides me?"

"Oh." Xiaoling wished she could slap herself for saying such nonsense, then quickly added, "Sir, the lady... is upstairs."

Chen Mo nodded, saying, "You seem uncomfortable, perhaps you should rest early. I'm here."

"Alright, no... no, I can't." Xiaoling nodded and then shook her head. If she left, what if the lady needed her help? Besides... there was an unfulfilled longing in her heart.

To this, Chen Mo didn't say much, heading towards the bridal chamber on the second floor.

Inside the room, he saw Yi Shiyin holding a small booklet, absorbed in reading, her jade face flushed with embarrassment.

"Xiaolu." Chen Mo softly called her by her nickname, closing the door behind him as he approached, "What are you looking at?"

"Ah, hus... husband..."

Upon seeing Chen Mo, Yi Shiyin hastily closed the booklet, looking around to find a good place to hide it.

When Chen Mo took it from her, Yi Shiyin stood up in a rush, trying to grab it back, "It's nothing, husband, you... please return it to me."

Once Chen Mo opened the booklet, Yi Shiyin gave up on snatching it back, instead sprawling on the bed and pulling the nearby quilt over her head, mumbling, "I can't face anyone, I just can't..."

Though the illustrations on the booklet were vivid, they were far inferior to Han Anniang, the Xia Sisters, or Yi Shiyin, so after a glance, he lost interest, saying, "I thought it was something of significance..."

Chen Mo lifted the quilt, helping her sit up, "It's just the two of us here, Xiaolu, I won't tell anyone, why the embarrassment? Besides, this is something every young man and woman experiences, you shouldn't be shy..."

With that, he casually placed the booklet aside.

Yi Shiyin lifted her face, revealing a lively, pure, and rosy complexion. Her large, bright eyes under slender eyebrows shimmered like water, reminding Chen Mo of a character from a two-dimensional game, her voice adorably uncertain, "Really?"

Chen Mo looked at the table nearby, with a wine jug and cups. It should be the toasting wine. He poured wine into two cups, passing one to Yi Shiyin and taking the other for himself, "Of course."

"Xiaolu, it is said that ten years are needed to cross the same boat, a hundred years to lie in the same bed, come, let's finish this wine."

Chen Mo raised his cup.

"Husband..." Yi Shiyin stared fixedly at the young man, her eyes flickering intensely.

In truth, Yi Shiyin was smaller in stature compared to Han Anniang or the Xia Sisters, but her eyes were larger, seemingly able to speak, very endearing.

The two drank the toasting wine, placing the cups back down. Yi Shiyin sneaked a glance at Chen Mo, her expression barely concealing her bashful joy. Summoning courage, she said, "Husband, the piece you wrote for me... 'Peach Blossom Beauty,' I love it. To marry you as a concubine is my... honor. I pledge my life to never part."

The cowlick atop her head swayed slightly as she spoke.

After she finished speaking, Yi Shiyin's face was flushed with embarrassment, her eyes lowered, hands unsure where to hide.

Seeing her this way, Chen Mo's spirits lifted inexplicably, and he chuckled softly, saying, "Alright, it's getting late, we should rest."

"Okay." Yi Shiyin nodded, then as usual, stood up and opened her arms, expecting a maid to help her change clothes. But she quickly remembered this wasn't before.

This was her wedding night.

"Allow me to serve my husband as he rests." Yi Shiyin recalled Nanny Wang's teachings, moving to undo Chen Mo's collar.

"Xiaolu, no need, I can do it myself."

"No... please, it's my duty to do that."

She didn't want her husband to disdain her.

"Alright." Chen Mo opened his arms, letting Yi Shiyin undo his wedding robe.

Next, Yi Shiyin had Chen Mo sit down, then removed his shoes.

Finally, she gently pushed on his shoulders. Once Chen Mo lay on the bed, she conquered her shyness to take off her wedding dress, removed her embroidered shoes, climbed onto the bed, and, copying the booklet's guidance, straddled Chen Mo.

And then...

She forgot.