Chapter 6: Big Brother

“Ah? The young prince fears the lady might have ill intentions toward him?” The sword attendant was completely taken aback by such a response and muttered softly, “This new son-in-law is truly peculiar!”

Shen Ruojin sighed lightly, “Long trapped in a cage, who wouldn’t develop a few quirks?”

Quirks or not, so be it.

She had never intended to become a loving wife to Qin Lang; this marriage was a reluctant necessity, an arrow already nocked and forced to be released.

She had planned to enter the bridal sedan first and then clarify matters in the bridal chamber, but servants and visitors kept interrupting both inside and outside the manor, leaving her no chance to lay down any rules with Qin Lang.

Fortunately, the young prince was a busy hero even on his wedding night, rushing off to save a beauty. It seemed he welcomed this sham marriage as well.

On their wedding night, Shen Ruojin slept alone.

***

At dawn the next day, Shen Ruojin went to the main hall to offer tea to the prince and princess.

Everyone in the manor knew the young prince had left the bride behind to rush out for an actor, and their eyes were filled with ridicule and pity.

Before Shen Ruojin could enter the hall, she heard a sharp scolding.

“The one who arranged the sudden marriage and brought her here is him; the one who left the bride alone in the bridal chamber on their wedding night is also him. Does this rebellious son wish for his father’s death? How dare he mistreat his new wife like this!”

The Northern Duke was so righteously angered he wanted to personally go to the theater to drag the rebellious son back for a proper punishment.

“Er Lang now has a wife; his affairs are his wife’s concern. There is no need for you, his father, to shout and make a scene,” the princess interjected, stopping the Northern Duke.

The steward and others tried to persuade them that dragging the young prince back for punishment now was useless; the most important thing was to comfort the bride first.

Everyone was chattering, making the early morning quite lively.

“Your Grace, please calm down,” Shen Ruojin stepped inside, bathed in the soft morning light. “My husband left the manor last night to save someone; it was neither reckless nor meant to neglect me. Your Grace and Princess need not worry.”

All eyes turned to her—the bride who had spent the night alone in the bridal chamber.

Her expression was calm, her eyes gentle, and the corners of her lips slightly lifted in a faint smile. Even though her newlywed husband had been lured away by a siren outside, she neither cried nor caused a scene, showing no hint of resentment.

Seeing Shen Ruojin like this, the Northern Duke felt even more that she had been wronged. “I’ve said before, that rebellious son doesn’t deserve you! You’ve been at the border for so long, you don’t know how despicable he truly is—”

***

“I know,” Shen Ruojin replied slowly. “Three hundred pearls gifted to the courtesan, a lavish sum spent on the actor. Don’t say there’s no romance today—Qin Lang’s charm is known throughout the land. Though I have only recently returned to the capital, I’ve heard plenty of rumors.”

The young prince Qin Lang was too famous in the capital, having monopolized nearly every scandal of the past two years.

Rivals fighting over courtesans, throwing money at actors—it was nothing. It was said he even had a beloved scarlet mark on his heart, someone who saved his life years ago but whom he searched all over the realm in vain.

Whether he was a scoundrel or not, his amorous nature was undeniable.

Her composure stunned the Northern Duke. “If you know all this, then why marry him?”

Shen Ruojin hesitated briefly, ready to tell a bold lie, “Naturally, because—”

“Because fate has brought you together,” the princess finished for her. The more she looked at Shen Ruojin, the more satisfied she became. Among the many noble ladies vying for Qin Lang’s hand, most sought the Northern Duke’s power or were drawn by Qin Lang’s handsome looks. But Shen Ruojin was different.

She seemed dignified and capable—perhaps the only one who could truly tame Qin Lang and help him settle down and strive for progress.

With this thought, the princess pressed the Northern Duke’s shoulder, urging him to sit, and smiled at Shen Ruojin, “Last night was your wedding night. Even if Er Lang went out to save someone, he was still wrong. Earlier, Your Grace wanted to have him brought back for family punishment. Since you spoke up to stop it, I suppose you already have a plan. So…”

She took off the jade pendant at her waist and handed it to her. “This is the household token of the manor. Since you are Er Lang’s wife, I entrust you with the management of the household today. From now on, you may handle the manor’s finances and personnel at your discretion. If Er Lang misbehaves, you may discipline him as you see fit.”

This was both a gesture of comfort and a way to consolidate loyalty.

The Northern Princess had made a grand gesture indeed.

Shen Ruojin nodded, “I appreciate Your Highness’s trust, but this household token is no small matter—”

The princess pressed the token into Shen Ruojin’s hand. “We are family. No need to call me Princess. Ruojin, are you still angry with Er Lang, refusing to call me Mother?”

With the token in hand, Shen Ruojin acquiesced and said obediently, “Mother.”

“Ah, good daughter-in-law,” the princess smiled, pleased with her daughter-in-law’s sincerity and lack of pretense.

Shen Ruojin then calmly offered tea to her new parents-in-law. With the groom absent, the formal introductions to relatives were skipped.

The Northern Duke summoned the family rules and handed them to Shen Ruojin personally. “If Qin Lang misbehaves, does anything to wrong or upset you, just use this to punish him—beat him thoroughly. He wouldn’t dare fight back!”

In ordinary households, family rules often involved rods or whips, but the Northern Duke’s family rule was a golden mace—a deadly weapon for war. If used on Qin Lang, one had to be careful; too much force might result in a funeral for the manor.

Understanding their intentions, Shen Ruojin accepted both the token and the family rules.

She also agreed to the task of finding Qin Lang and bringing him back.

Having just entered the manor, she couldn’t simply take benefits without fulfilling duties.

The old steward and the head maid prepared a carriage and gathered dozens of guards and servants, arranging a grand procession to escort the second young madam out. The main concern was that the young prince might stubbornly refuse to return, so more people would bolster the bride’s confidence.

Shen Ruojin waved them off with a smile, “I’m just going out to find someone, not to kidnap any townsmen. Why bring so many?”

“The second young madam will understand once you take them along. You’ve just married in and don’t yet understand the young prince…” The steward looked troubled.

Earlier, when the prince was summoned back in anger, it took this many people. How much more for the new bride?

Shen Ruojin took only one sword attendant and started walking out, politely declining the steward’s concern. “Too many people would be troublesome. Leave a driver; I’ll go alone.”

“But the young prince—”

The steward, old and experienced, wanted to persuade her further.

Shen Ruojin suddenly stopped at a corner of the long corridor.

A tall figure emerged, his low voice following, “Don’t go. Wait quietly in the manor. I’ll bring my second brother back.”

The man wore a jade crown and a deep blue silk robe. About twenty-four or twenty-five years old, his features handsome and posture upright like a pine. He was Qin Qi, heir of the Northern Duke’s manor.

Qin Qi was the eldest legitimate son of the Northern Duke’s first wife, who had passed away early. The current princess was the duke’s second wife, and Qin Lang was her legitimate second son.

Thus, the manor had two princesses and two legitimate sons—one the heir apparent, the other the emperor’s officially titled “Young Prince Qin.”

Though their ranks seemed equal, the Northern Duke favored the eldest son, while the princess doted on Qin Lang. The brothers, one praised as a talented youth, the other notorious as a dissolute playboy, were not on good terms.

Shen Ruojin stopped about ten paces away from him and gently declined, “This is between Qin Lang and me. No need to trouble the heir apparent.”

Qin Qi stepped closer along the corridor, his gaze complicated. “You used to call me Brother Qin, so why, after marrying the second brother, do you now address me as ‘Heir apparent’? So distant?”