Chapter 20: The male lead in this angst-filled novel is technically incompetent.

Chapter 20: The male lead in this angst-filled novel is technically incompetent.

After Jiang Wei finished speaking, he did not see any joy on Li Lianniang's face. Instead, she turned back to look at Zhuqin Garden, looking very reluctant to leave.

She lowered her eyes and said calmly, "Thank you, my husband, for coming to fetch me. Let's go."

The maidservant lifted the curtain of the sedan chair high.

Jiang Wei arrived on foot.

These days, Li Lianniang has to walk around the mansion a lot, so she is bound to get tired.

Zhao Xian then gave her her own sedan chair and had already ordered her servants to make a sedan chair exclusively for Li Lianniang.

The interior of the sedan chair was very spacious, no less than that of a horse-drawn carriage, and even had a small table for her to read books.

There is more than enough room for two people.

The couple sat side by side in a sedan chair, helped by their maid.

Li Lianniang seemed to have something on her mind and didn't say a word.

Jiang Wei was a man of few words and rarely spoke first.

In the past, Li Lianniang would always speak while he listened, but this time no one spoke, and the sedan chair was very quiet.

Jiang Wei was somewhat unaccustomed to the silence for the first time, and spoke first for the first time: "What are you doing at Zhuqin Garden? You don't even know to return to Yunzhu Garden at night."

"To check the accounts, Mother asked me to manage the household and take my little sister Tingyue with me, and also to teach her a thing or two."

Lanterns were hung at the four corners of the inner wall of the sedan chair, but the lanterns were not large and the light was somewhat dim.

Jiang Wei looked down at Li Lianniang's profile and said, "Lianniang, do you know that you unconsciously touch the tip of your nose when you lie?"

Li Lianniang paused slightly with her finger resting on her nose. She hadn't even realized she had this habit. She quickly lowered her hand and said, "Husband, you're talking nonsense. My nose is just a little itchy."

"Lianniang, you know I don't like lying. Why aren't you back at Yunzhu Garden so late? What are you doing in Tingyue's courtyard?"

Li Lianniang looked up at Jiang Wei, her expression serious: "There is no deception. This matter has nothing to do with my husband. It is a secret between me and my sister Tingyue, and it is really inconvenient to tell my husband."

Since Li Lianniang has already said so much, it would be foolish of Jiang Wei to keep asking questions.

He turned his face away, placed his hands on his knees, and remained silent with a cold expression.

He just felt uneasy, but couldn't quite put his finger on why.

The atmosphere fell silent again. Jiang Wei sat alone for a long time. It was too quiet around him. Even though there were people next to him, it was unusually quiet. This made him realize for the first time that he did not like quiet environments.

In the past, whenever she returned home, Li Lianniang would have endless things to say, such as how her child had kicked her, what her favorite dish she had eaten that day, what books she had read, or a painting she had casually drawn that she would ask for his opinion on.

It seemed as if there were endless trivial and boring things to say.

But she was unusually quiet today, not even saying the things he usually found boring.

Jiang Wei belatedly realized that he seemed to be neglected by her. He turned his head and saw that Li Lianniang was asleep with her eyes closed, leaning against the inner wall of the sedan chair.

Jiang Wei's breathing became heavy for a moment. He had been away for several days, and when he returned, she hadn't offered him a single word of concern.

They don't even ask him if he's tired from being out there, if he's encountered any difficulties, or if he's been injured.

That's all fine.

As a wife, she stayed out all night, forcing her husband to come looking for her. She kept something from him, showed no remorse whatsoever, and even abandoned him to sleep.

The light inside the sedan chair flickered slightly, casting intermittent light and shadow on Li Lianniang's sleeping face.

Jiang Wei grew angrier and more resentful the more he thought about it.

He reached out and pinched Li Lianniang's chin, then leaned down and kissed her.

"Hmm—"

A few days ago, her mother-in-law fell seriously ill. Although Li Lianniang was not allowed to serve her, she was always worried about her. There were also many things to do in the household. Xiujie'er's full moon celebration was approaching, and many things needed to be prepared in advance. She was so busy that she didn't have time to rest.

After her mother-in-law's health improved, she was no longer so worried. Tingyue asked about the items that were given to the princess as compensation.

Tingyue said she learned double-sided embroidery from a young age. Her mother-in-law treated her well, and she wanted to repay her, so she thought of embroidering a double-sided peony fan or ornament. However, the peonies she had seen were all very common, and she could not draw any unique flower patterns.

It just so happens that Li Lianniang is quite skilled at painting, and she also saw many rare varieties of peonies at the flower appreciation banquet.

The two then discussed it, with one drawing and the other embroidering.

They thought that if the princess pressed them for answers, they would have something to say.

Because the embroidery wasn't finished yet, she couldn't tell anyone.

Having finally found a moment of respite, and just as I was drifting off to sleep, my lips felt soft against hers, followed by an aggressive assault. Before I could react, my teeth were pried open, and my breath was gradually taken away.

"Um."

Li Lianniang was both sleepy and annoyed, but she was forced to wake up and reached out to push the person.

Jiang Wei stepped back slightly, listening to her slightly rapid breathing, and gently bit her rounded earlobe, his voice low and seductive: "You never used to hide anything from me."

The warm breath filled her ears, making Li Lianniang feel weak, but she bit her lip and remained silent.

"Did Mother instruct you to do something that prevented you from telling me?"

The more Li Lianniang refused to speak, the more Jiang Wei wanted to know.

"No." Li Lianniang shook her head. Tingyue said that she should not tell anyone before she finished embroidering, for fear that if she did not do a good job, she would give people expectations, but in the end they would be disappointed.

She understood this feeling and therefore strongly agreed with it.

"Is my wife trying to distance herself from me?"

Seeing that Li Lianniang only shook her head, Jiang Wei lost his patience and became even rougher, while uttering threatening words: "If my wife refuses to tell me the truth, I will have no choice but to go to the study."

In the past, Li Lianniang would have grabbed him and wouldn't let him leave.

This time, Li Lianniang thought about it very seriously, "My husband is going to the study, may I return to Zhuqin Garden?"

Jiang Wei froze for a moment. If his previous actions were merely deliberate attempts to elicit information, this time he was genuinely angry: "Li Lianniang, do you still remember that I am your husband?"

In the dim light inside the sedan chair, Li Lianniang's lip rouge smudged at the corners of her lips as she stared at him with a slightly dazed expression.

Is it necessary to emphasize this statement?

Jiang Wei's usually expressionless face rarely showed a smile, but it was somewhat ferocious and helpless.

Before Li Lianniang could say anything, her lips were sealed again, this time with a fierce kiss that hurt her a little.

Already exhausted, and having been the housekeeper for several days, her aura was no longer strong enough to intimidate the servants, so she lost her temper and bit Jiang Wei hard.

Jiang Wei winced in pain, but he didn't let go of her; instead, he hugged her even tighter.

Li Lianniang reached out and punched him, saying that he had promised to go to the study, but he hadn't kept his word.

Both sides seemed to be carrying some anger.

--

The next morning, Jiang Wei went to the Dali Temple early to report for duty.

Li Lianniang felt like her body was about to fall apart, but she forced herself to get up and let the maid serve her.

By the time she had finished getting ready, she led Jiang Shuxiu and a group of maids and servants to Haitang Residence to pay their respects. It was almost 11:00 AM.

Cui Tingyue ate her tea and snacks with a smile and said, "Usually, it's my sister-in-law who comes to pay her respects first, but today I got to be the first to come."

Li Lianniang blushed slightly and gave her a reproachful look: "So you wanted to compete to see who could pay their respects to Mother first? Fine, I'll come an hour later from now on, so you can have her."

"Then I'll thank you in advance, sister-in-law."

The two teased each other, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

Without the male lead from the angst-filled novel interfering, they could get along well, since there were no grudges between them.

Just as they were talking and laughing, a servant came to report that Madam Li and her daughter's carriage had entered the gates of Jin'an City.

Zhao Xian was teasing Xiu'er when she heard this and looked up: "We'll be in the city soon. Tell people to keep watch along the way and keep in touch."

Li Lianniang's smile froze slightly, then she nodded: "Okay."

Upon learning that the Li family mother and daughter were almost at the gate of the Jiang family mansion, Zhao Xian clapped her hands and stood up, "Prepare a sedan chair, we'll go to the gate to greet them."

The other party was Li Lianniang's family. The original owner of the book looked down on the Li family, so she had to make some changes.

If it's for no other reason than to establish Li Lianniang's authority within the household, then it's only right.

Li Lianniang helped Zhao Xian up and advised, "Mother, you just recovered from a cold a few days ago, so you shouldn't go out too much. We're all family, so don't worry about these formalities."

To everyone's surprise, Li Lianniang didn't come to help her out, but instead advised her to sit down.

Zhao Xian: "??"

I was trying to give you face, and you ruined it?

Seeing this, Cui Tingyue quickly chimed in, "Yes, Mother, you've only just recovered from your illness. If it worsens, you'll have to take medicine again."

Zhao Xian immediately sat back down: "Fine, I won't go then. Why are you threatening me?"

Until the Li family mother and daughter were welcomed into Haitang Residence by maids and servants.

Zhao Xian remained seated in the outer room without moving.

For some reason, Li Lianniang seemed to be behaving strangely.

Because she hadn't gone to greet anyone, her face was full of smiles, and she felt that she had been somewhat impolite.

Unexpectedly, when the Li family mother and daughter went around the screen and entered the room, Zhao Xian almost lost her bright smile.

Mrs. Li has a round face and a rather ordinary appearance, but her smile is exceptionally radiant, with a cluster of wrinkles around her eyes.

Upon entering the house and seeing Zhao Xian, he greeted her warmly, "My dear in-law, it's been a long time! You've become even younger and more beautiful."

Seven words flashed through Zhao Xian's mind: 'How dare she show her face?'

She could barely maintain her fake smile, but tried her best to remain calm and composed: "Madam Li has arrived. What a rare guest. Please have a seat."

He had already half-raised his buttocks, intending to get up to greet people, but then he sat back down.

Cui Tingyue keenly noticed the changes in her adoptive mother.

It seemed that not only the stepmother, but also the sister-in-law's expression was a bit off. They didn't seem as happy as when they saw their own family, and their attitude wasn't friendly.

She stood behind Zhao Xian with her hands at her sides, observing Madam Li opposite her.

After Zhao Xian sat down, she patted Li Lianniang's hand and said, "Good child."

Luckily, I persuaded her not to go to the door to greet them, otherwise she would have been disgusted.

Upon seeing Madam Li's face, Zhao Xian immediately saw the original owner's memories of Madam Li, and she then understood why the original owner disliked, and even hated, Li Lianniang.

Contrary to what is written in the book, the original owner of this body was not materialistic and thought that Lord Li was not ambitious and had a low official position, and that Li Lianniang was not good enough for her son.

The real reason is... well, how should I put it? Anyway, from the original owner's perspective, it's disgusting.

Zhao Xian felt that the gossip about the parents' generation of the male and female protagonists in the tragic novel was just as interesting as the plot of the book.

Recalling that day, when the servants told her that the Li family mother and daughter had disembarked, Li Lianniang looked distraught.

It's no wonder she wasn't happy; this Madam Li was her stepmother, not her biological mother.

"Why are only you and your daughter here for your granddaughter's one-month celebration?"

Is there no one left in the Li family?

Upon opening her mouth, Zhao Xian realized that the original owner's emotions were taking over, and thankfully she didn't say the last sentence.

A note from the author:

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