Another ending. Su Zhen rested a hand against her lips, breathing slightly, her gaze a little hazy.
Sensing Han Zhi drawing near, she slowly shifted her gaze, letting him peck her on the cheek. She too lifted a slender, delicate finger and gently stroked his face.
Soon enough, however, she yawned, looking tired. Han Zhi gently smoothed her hair, lay down beside her, and asked, "Are you sleepy?"
"Mm..."
Su Zhen muttered something else, but Han Zhi didn't catch it. Seeing that his new bride's eyes were already closed, he leaned in slightly and asked in a soft voice, "What did Banniang say?"
"Your wife said... you really are a rascal, husband, utterly shameless..."
With that, Su Zhen lifted her eyelids slightly and gave him a smile. Then her eyes closed again, leaving only the sound of her gentle breathing.
Han Zhi smiled, shook his head, and tucked the quilt around her...
***
When Su Zhen woke up again, the person who had shared her pillow was already gone. Assuming he had simply gone to the study to read, she didn't give it much thought and braced herself to sit up.
Yet as she moved, a wave of discomfort washed over her. For some reason, this brought back memories of just before she fell asleep, and she softly bit her lip. Fortunately, her clothes had already been neatly folded and placed on the bed.
After dressing right there on the bed, she naturally prepared to get up, but the discomfort in her legs struck her once more.
As luck would have it, her bedroom door pushed open, revealing Yueping and several maidservants carrying dustcloths and towels, clearly intending to tidy up the room.
"Greetings, Madam," Yueping said the moment she stepped inside and caught sight of Su Zhen, hurriedly offering a bow.
Seeing Su Zhen's state, Yueping asked again, "Shall we help Madam dress and comb her hair?"
Acting on an impulse, Su Zhen nodded. The maidservants promptly filed back out, seemingly to gather their supplies, while Yueping stepped forward, gently supported Su Zhen, and led her to the dressing table.
"Where is my husband?"
Flanked by two maidservants as they tended to her hair, Yueping replied, "Answering Madam, the young master has gone out to buy some things."
"To buy things? Couldn't someone from the household have gone in his place?" Su Zhen asked.
Her original intention was out of concern, seeing as he hadn't slept much, but to Yueping's ears, it carried a hint of reproach.
"Madam misunderstands. The young master went out to buy books. None of us servants are literate, so we couldn't help him with that."
Hearing this, Su Zhen asked no further and let them finish dressing her hair. After washing up, it was time for makeup.
The maidservants brought out the cosmetics, holding eyebrow brushes and powders in their hands. Just as they were about to begin, a voice rang out:
"Step aside, I'll do it."
Recognizing the familiar voice, Su Zhen and the maidservants involuntarily looked over—it was Madam Han Zhou.
She walked forward with a beaming smile. The maidservants set down their things and immediately retreated from the room.
Picking up the cosmetics, Madam Han Zhou smiled and said, "Unadorned and yet she possesses such beauty. Add to that her vast erudition and immense talent—no wonder Zhi'er has lost his heart to you."
With that, she set to work. Su Zhen looked at Madam Han Zhou through the mirror and said, "You flatter me, Mother."
"My Zhi'er is naturally indolent and often acts on whatever whim strikes him. If the two of you go to The Capital in the future and he treats you poorly, come right back and find me. I'll see justice done for you."
Su Zhen was somewhat taken aback, as if the older woman were giving her parting instructions. Her eyes shifted slightly as she looked at Madam Han Zhou.
"My husband... surely wouldn't do such a thing, would he?" Though Su Zhen had not spent long with Han Zhi, she could tell he was a remarkably attentive person.
"I wonder if Mother might tell me what kind of person my husband truly is?" Su Zhen simply asked.
"What kind of person?" Madam Han Zhou looked at her new daughter-in-law and pondered for a moment.
"Well, he doesn't have any malicious intentions. There's nothing wrong with his conduct in the world, and he treats others with generosity. Though he doesn't usually make many acquaintances, he is always warm to people.
"It's just that his temperament is unrestrained, and he cares little for the opinions of those around him. In the past, such behavior mattered little, but now that he has taken a wife, if he persists in that disposition, I fear you will be the one to suffer grievances."
After a moment's thought, Su Zhen chose to speak up on Han Zhi's behalf: "Rest assured, Mother, my husband shouldn't be like he used to be."
"That's good then. They say marriage can change a young man, and I certainly hope Zhi'er undergoes some changes," Madam Han Zhou remarked.
"Beyond that, he is somewhat lazy. Once you follow him to The Capital, you must be sure to urge him to read diligently. You are well-read yourself, and Zhi'er admits his learning falls short of yours, so you can guide him when the time comes."
Midway through, however, Madam Han Zhou furrowed her brow in confusion. "Then again... ever since he returned from taking the Jieyuan examinations, he has become much more diligent."
"Still, I worry his enthusiasm will wax and wane. You must keep him in line."
"Mm..." Su Zhen nodded, deep in thought.
The room fell quiet for a moment before Han Zhi's shout suddenly echoed from outside:
"Banniang! Banniang!"
Both wife and mother turned their gazes toward the door. Han Zhi came running in with his arms full of packages. He was beaming with joy, but the moment he caught sight of Madam Han Zhou, he instantly reined himself in and behaved properly.
"Mother."
Seeing him like this, Madam Han Zhou chuckled. Su Zhen instinctively moved to stand up, but the lingering discomfort forced her right back down into her seat.
"Husband."
Han Zhi looked at Su Zhen with a smile and carried the load in his arms over to her side.
"What is all this... what did my husband buy?" Su Zhen asked, looking at the boxes of all sizes with some puzzlement.
"These are books—some of the Confucian classics, along with a few collections of poetry. I was afraid you might be bored, so I got them to amuse you."
The first box contained books, while the subsequent boxes held various pieces of jewelry and cosmetics. As he reached to open the very last box, he paused and asked with feigned mystery, "Banniang, care to guess what I bought in this final box?"
Su Zhen blankly shook her head. Without missing a beat with her makeup brush, Madam Han Zhou spoke up:
"Pastries, I assume?"
Han Zhi's expression shifted. Seeing this, Su Zhen knew Madam Han Zhou had guessed correctly. Sure enough, the box was opened to reveal the pastries inside.
Han Zhi picked up a piece of pastry and brought it toward Su Zhen's mouth, only to be promptly slapped on the hand by Madam Han Zhou.
"What's the rush? Banniang hasn't even applied her lip tint yet. What harm is there in waiting a moment?"
Looking rather awkward, Han Zhi pulled his hand back, once more drawing a chuckle from Su Zhen. Madam Han Zhou pressed the rouge paper to her lips, telling her to press them together.
With that, the makeup was finally complete. Han Zhi hurried to offer the pastry to Banniang again, urging, "Banniang, have a taste."
Su Zhen chewed, then nodded to indicate it was delicious, which finally brought a happy smile back to Han Zhi's face. Madam Han Zhou stood up at that moment, scolding with a smile, "You rascal. The moment you have a wife, you forget your mother."
Only then did Han Zhi hurriedly pick up a box, intending to offer some to Madam Zhou Han as well, but she simply tapped him on the forehead and walked away without looking back.