Sima Jing was unaware of her mischievous plans. Seeing her pout and settle back into her seat, the air around him thickened again, no longer as thin as before.
“Ranran, you must try this green onion and pepper mandarin fish.”
Second Brother Yun Rui sat diagonally across from the young couple, his dark face beaming. “I bought this early this morning at the market — specifically picked a big one! It was still alive and hopping when I brought it home. Super fresh!”
This was the siblings’ second meeting.
The first time they met, they were a little awkward and unfamiliar.
Now, after the wedding, their bond had deepened.
Although Yun Ran still thought Second Brother looked as black as coal, he was a handsome, tall, and sturdy black coal.
Moreover, this black coal brother had gone to the market early just to buy fish for her.
That kindness was truly touching.
“Thank you, Second Brother! I’ll eat a lot!”
Yun Ran picked up her chopsticks and took several pieces of the pure white fish meat.
The fish hit her tongue, first with a slight tingling sensation, like a silkworm gently nibbling mulberry leaves, teasing her taste buds.
Chewing, the snow-white fish was tender enough to melt on the tongue, carrying the mandarin fish’s unique sweetness blended with the fresh aroma of green onions, sliding smoothly down the throat.
Soon, a subtle, just-right spicy heat rose from the back of her tongue — not fiery like burning oil but warm like winter sunshine, embracing the fish’s flavor and tempting her to pick up a second bite.
“Delicious!” Yun Ran’s eyes shone brightly.
That was undoubtedly praise for Yun Rui’s effort.
Watching his sister devour the fish, Yun Rui felt both happy and sentimental.
Two months ago, she was still an unmarried girl.
Now, with her hair done up in a married woman’s bun and a stern, seemingly unapproachable man sitting beside her, she was fully wed.
Indeed, this Jing Prince brother-in-law was flawless in appearance, but looks alone mean little.
Lu Lingzhen had said a good husband should be gentle, considerate, aware of his wife’s needs, and always have his heart with her.
She had given up many charming young men and chosen this somewhat scholarly warrior because he was thoughtful and devoted.
If the brother-in-law’s status and cold demeanor weren’t factors, she would have insisted on teaching him the “Way of the Husband.”
Sima Jing noticed Yun Family Erlang frequently glancing at him.
He raised his eyes; Yun Family Erlang quickly looked away and helped Second Sister-in-law with her dishes.
The other Yun men, whether married or not, didn’t serve their wives but instead went about their own business.
Even Fourth Young Master Yun, who was unmarried, held a soup bowl to cool down little Azong.
After a moment of silence, Sima Jing picked up his chopsticks and placed a piece of White Bamboo Chicken on Yun Ran’s plate.
Yun Ran, busy eating the pile of food Zheng Shi had served her, suddenly noticed something added to her bowl.
She puffed her cheeks and looked up. “Mother, slow down. I can’t eat…”
Before she could finish, she was horrified to see the one serving the food was Sima Jing!
What was wrong with him?
Had the devil possessed him?
Seeing the girl’s wide-eyed, puffed-cheeked stunned expression, Sima Jing’s brows twitched.
She looked like a golden hamster.
Especially those chubby cheeks made one want to reach out and poke them.
“Eat.”
He glanced away lightly. “No need to be polite.”
Yun Ran: “…?”
She was baffled.
Only when she caught the amused smiles from the three sisters-in-law did she realize he was fulfilling a promise to help her play the role of a loving couple.
Surprised by his faithfulness, Yun Ran gratefully returned the favor by picking up a glossy, fragrant piece of Sweet and Sour Litchi Pork and offering it to him. “Your Highness, you eat some too.”
Sima Jing’s hand froze.
Yun Ran smiled brightly at him. “You don’t have to be polite either.”
Sima Jing: “…”
His gaze fell on the piece of litchi pork on the white porcelain plate.
He never ate food touched by others.
But…
He had just given her a piece, and she ate it without disgust.
If he showed disdain now…
“Your Highness, why aren’t you eating?”
Yun Ran noticed he was slow to move his chopsticks. “This Sweet and Sour Litchi Pork is my family chef’s specialty. It’s sweet and sour with a wonderful flavor. I can eat half a plate by myself!”
Seeing her shining black eyes full of expectation, and others at the table also watching him, Sima Jing’s brows twitched before he finally lifted his chopsticks, took a piece, and put it in his mouth.
The sweet and sour was just right; the meat fragrant and juicy, fatty but not greasy.
“How is it? Isn’t it delicious?”
Sima Jing: “It’s okay.”
Taste was secondary; the main issue was the difficulty of eating food served by others.
The meal was pleasant overall.
After eating half full, Fourth Young Master Yun brought out a special bottle of Twenty-Year West Market Xiang Wine.
Since today was the celebration of Yun Ran’s homecoming, even Li Wanrong, who rarely drank, poured herself a cup.
The Changxin Marquis and the four Yun brothers each had a large bowl.
Yun Ran originally planned to drink from a cup but after one sip found the wine fragrant and mellow and switched to the bowl.
Zheng Shi looked worried. “Ranran, can you handle it?”
Yun Ran patted her chest. “Don’t worry, Mother, I’m good with alcohol. At the Daoguan, I brewed peach blossom wine in spring, green plum wine in summer, osmanthus wine in autumn, and plum wine in winter — there was always wine to drink. I don’t get drunk easily.”
“Besides, last time we agreed we wouldn’t leave until we were drunk. How can I break my word?”
At these words, Yun Rui laughed out loud. “Ranran, don’t blame me for reminding you—the West Market wine is stronger than the stuff you brew. Take it easy.”
Yun Ran lifted her chin. “Don’t underestimate me. Anyway, let’s have a drinking contest and see who gets drunk first.”
Though Yun Rui was older, he was still young at heart and got excited. Rolling up his sleeves, he stood. “Fine, I’ll compete with you. As the elder brother, I’ll let you have half. We play drinking games. If I lose, I drink a bowl; if you lose, half a bowl. Deal?”
“Deal! Bring it on! I’m not afraid!”
Yun Ran’s eyes sparkled as she rolled up her sleeves, eager to start.
The siblings quickly got into it.
“Good, good, two brothers, three stars shining, four joys and wealth! Five champions, six six six…”
They were close in age, and once started, neither would yield, fully engaged.
Watching their children play like kids, the Changxin Marquis and Zheng Shi both sighed and covered their faces.
It was one thing when they played like this before, but now that their daughter was married and her husband was right there…
What did this look like?
Sima Jing indeed frowned.
Before coming, Yun Ran said she wouldn’t leave until drunk.
He thought it was just talk.
But now, seeing the flushed, sleeves-rolled-up little woman throwing punches in the game, he realized she was serious.
One hour later.
The Changxin Marquis and Madam carefully helped Yun Ran onto the carriage, apologizing to Sima Jing. “Please excuse her today. She’s just very happy and drank a bit too much.”
“And Fourth Young Master Yun was the worst — next time we won’t let him drink with Ranran.”
“Sorry for any shortcomings in our hospitality today, Your Highness. Please don’t mind.”
Sima Jing said nothing.
Only when reaching the carriage did he say, “Father-in-law, mother-in-law, please stay. No need to see me off.”
The Marquis stopped, but Zheng Shi worriedly looked at the carriage and suggested, “Why not rest a while before returning? It’s still early anyway.”
In truth, it was already late afternoon.
Sima Jing did not want to stay longer at others’ residences. “Come back when there’s time. Let the Princess Consort visit her parents then.”
With that, he stepped onto the carriage.
The early winter sunlight dimmed.
Watching the royal escort slowly leave Xuanhua Lane, Madam clutched her handkerchief, reluctant to look away.
The Marquis put his arm around her shoulders. “Though the Prince seems silent and taciturn, he’s quite patient with our Ranran.”
Zheng Shi sighed. “It’s better than I expected.”
But only slightly.
The Jing Prince’s cold demeanor didn’t seem like someone who could be tender.
Especially his attitude toward their daughter — if it was care, it was very faint. If it was indifference, he still knew to serve her dishes and steady her when she staggered drunk.
“Sigh, I just hope they get along well. Even if not in love, at least respectful.”
“They will.”
The Marquis said, “Our Ranran is a good girl.”
Unless the Jing Prince was blind and deaf, having such a lovable and obedient daughter for a wife was a blessing for the Sima family.
The red-wheeled carriage rolled onward.
Inside the cramped cabin, sapphire-blue curtains filtered the outside light into a dusky glow.
The faint scent of wine mingled with Yun Ran’s fresh, sweet feminine fragrance, creating a subtle, delicate atmosphere in the confined space.
Yun Ran leaned against the soft cushion, her cheeks flushed from the wine.
Her usually clear eyes were now veiled with a thin mist, like glass blurred by raindrops.
“Your Highness, smile for me.”
She reached out a finger, teasingly waving it before Sima Jing’s eyes, her voice soft and slurred with drink. “You’re so handsome, you’d look even better smiling.”
Sima Jing sat upright, his dark ink-colored robes appearing even more somber in the dim light.
Seeing Yun Ran’s tipsy, tilted-head expression, his brows furrowed deeper.
Drunk like this, yet still boasting about his own tolerance — how ridiculous.
Yun Ran saw he ignored her and wasn’t annoyed.
She kept her head tilted, staring at him with wide, sparkling eyes as if studying a rare treasure.
Sima Jing: “…”
She was drunk and probably wouldn’t remember this tomorrow.
He leaned forward, preparing to gently turn her head aside.
Suddenly, the carriage jolted violently.
Yun Ran cried out softly and couldn’t control herself, pitching forward.
Sima Jing’s eyelids twitched.
His long arms instinctively reached out, encircling her slender waist.
In that instant, his hands touched something soft, and his nose caught a familiar, faint sweetness.
His gaze shifted slightly.
Only when the woman in his arms murmured softly did he lower his head.
Unexpectedly, she also raised her face.
Their eyes met, and the silence seemed to hum like a gentle chime.
Yun Ran’s large eyes, so close now, reflected his image clearly.
Sima Jing felt as if something inside his chest lightly bumped.
A strange, restless feeling.
He took a deep breath and was about to push her away when Yun Ran grabbed his collar and, staring at his mouth, murmured dreamily, “Your Highness, has anyone ever told you that your lips are very beautiful?”
For a moment, she felt a rebellious urge.
If he hated her touching and being near him so much, then one day, if he really pissed her off, she’d jump on his back and cling like a sticky plaster, refusing to let go!