Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 512 - 0481 The Fairy of the Day Became a Little Woman at Night (2)
Pei Shenyan glanced at her and gave a slight smile, neither moving his foot nor admonishing her, letting her step on it.
He placed a piece of venison into her bowl and said, "This is venison hunted by the villagers yesterday; I bought the whole deer."
Li Yuwen suddenly felt uninterested and withdrew her foot.
"Thank you." She glanced at him.
Pei Shenyan was momentarily stunned, and after a while, the smile at the corner of his lips deepened.
The two sat facing each other and finished their meal.
Pei Shenyan was sipping tea to rinse his mouth when the old servant Pei Ji arrived, saying, "Young master, the guests are about to leave."
"I’ll be right there." He put down the teacup and said to Li Yuwen, "I’m going to see the guests off, I’ll be back soon."
Li Yuwen nodded, "Go ahead."
Without him around, she could feel more at ease.
Pei Shenyan glanced at her, stood up, and followed Pei Ji to the main hall.
In the main hall, the guests had finished the banquet and were bidding each other farewell.
Li Xingmao was talking to the workshop supervisor.
Pei Shenyan walked over, and everyone congratulated him and said, "Thank you for the hospitality," then left in twos and threes.
He and Li Xingmao escorted the guests to the doorway of the residence before turning back into the courtyard.
The sky was dark, and the neighbors outside the small house had lit candles in every household.
With Pei Shenyan’s new marriage, there were red lanterns everywhere inside and outside the courtyard, creating a festive atmosphere.
Especially the two large red lanterns at the entrance illuminated the gate area brightly.
"Brother, I’ve prepared a Warm Pavilion for you in the West Courtyard; you can rest here with peace of mind." Pei Shenyan lead Li Xingmao towards the guest room.
Li Xingmao felt assured about Li Yuwen; his sister had always been the one taking advantage of others since she was young, never the opposite.
He was more worried that the frail Pei Shenyan might be upset to death by Li Yuwen.
Hopefully, their fake marriage would last long enough to fool the people at court.
"Thank you for your hard work." Li Xingmao nodded and smiled.
"It’s my duty, brother." Pei Shenyan smiled.
Pei Shenyan personally led Li Xingmao to the guest room in the West Courtyard.
Though this small residence had only eight rooms, it was well-equipped despite its size.
The small residence had five rooms in the East and West Courtyard, one main hall, one room beside the entrance facing inward, and one storeroom.
The East Courtyard had three rooms: a larger bedroom which was the new couple’s room, a study room for Pei Shenyan to the left of the new room, and a slightly smaller maid’s room to the right.
The West Courtyard contained two rooms.
The rooms had warm beds, cabinets, tables, and chairs.
In front of the bed laid a large burning brazier.
Upon entering the room, Li Xingmao felt the warmth.
Pei Shenyan noticed him looking at the brazier and added, "The new room has four braziers, Yu Wen won’t be cold."
Li Xingmao nodded, "You’ve arranged everything well."
Pei Shenyan then said to the young servant Pei Fusheng, who had followed them, "You will serve my brother-in-law here; I won’t need you for the time being."
Pei Fusheng grinned widely; with maids and the mistress, what use was a male servant?
"Understood, young master."
After settling Li Xingmao, Pei Shenyan returned to the new room.
Li Yuwen was sitting at the dressing table, undoing her hair bun.
Her hair was long and thick; when she undid the bun, her hair cascaded down, covering her back.
Pei Shenyan watched in a slight daze. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶
Cui Xi noticed him approach and said, "The young mistress wants to rest; Aunt Zhou has gone to fetch hot water."
"Make the bed; the young mistress is weary and should rest." Pei Shenyan said.
Cui Xi went to make the bed.
On the bed were two thick quilts, one crimson, the other green.
Red symbolizes festivity, green symbolizes fortune and longevity.
The implication is that the union of man and woman brings lifelong fortune and prosperity.
Li Yuwen finished undoing her hair bun and looked back at Cui Xi making the bed.
There was only one bed in the room.
She certainly wanted to sleep on the bed, but where would Pei Shenyan sleep?
With the young maid present, she was hesitant to ask, only casting a glance at Pei Shenyan.
Pei Shenyan glanced at her, smiled slightly, but said nothing.
Li Yuwen, "..." What does he mean? Does he intend more to this farce? Dream on!
Cui Xi finished making the bed and opened the cabinet to find Li Yuwen’s casual clothes. Today, Li Yuwen had come dressed in festive attire; she wouldn’t need the festivity tomorrow and could wear casual women’s clothes.
She asked Li Yuwen which set of clothes to wear tomorrow.
Li Yuwen was skilled with embroidery and made several sets of clothes for herself to bring.
She pointed to a water-red jacket and skirt, "That set."
"Yes, young mistress." Cui Xi took out the clothes and placed them on the bed.
Aunt Zhou brought in hot water, and Pei Shenyan said he would go to the study next door to read, wisely stepping aside.
