The Marquis Mansion’s Elite Class

Before the wedding, the matchmaker had taught Xu Wan everything she needed to know. She understood what was expected of her. In her view, the intimacy between a man and a woman was a natural necessity, nothing to be overly shy about. So when she spoke of consummating the marriage, it was as casual as commenting on how lovely the moonlight was—nothing particularly special.

But for Zong Zhao, her response felt like a bucket of cold water poured over his head, extinguishing all his passion in an instant.

Because they were husband and wife, they were supposed to consummate the marriage—not because it was him, not because she particularly desired him, but simply because he happened to be her husband now…

Zong Zhao’s hands clenched tightly.

Xu Wan waited for a response but was met with silence, as if she were being ignored. She leaned over and asked, "Why aren’t you saying anything?"

"……"

"Are you asleep?"

"……"

"Zong Zhao?" She kept probing, but in the pitch darkness, she couldn’t see clearly. Reaching out, she felt him still sitting there, deliberately ignoring her.

The next moment, her hand was pushed away by the man.

Then came Zong Zhao’s muffled voice: "I don’t want to."

Xu Wan: "……"

After waiting so long, this was the reply she got?

Zong Zhao was refusing to consummate their marriage?

Xu ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‍Wan asked skeptically, "Are you sure? You were burning up just now—weren’t you thinking about it?"

Exposed, Zong Zhao was overcome with embarrassment. He immediately lay down, pulling the blanket over himself and scooting to the far side of the bed, changing the subject. "I’m going to sleep."

Listening to his voice, Xu Wan realized he really had settled in for the night.

She quickly lay down as well, turning on her side to face his direction. "You’re so strange. I don’t really understand you… But you’re sure, right? You really don’t want to?"

Zong Zhao had already been struggling with his desires, and now she kept asking, like dangling a water pouch in front of a starving man—it took every ounce of his willpower to resist.

He yanked the blanket over his head and muttered, "Sleeping."

Xu Wan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Watching the man burrow into the blankets, she wondered if he’d been possessed by a child. He clearly liked her. He clearly wanted to consummate their marriage… She had even set the stage perfectly for him, and yet he chose to sleep?

Xu Wan turned onto her back. The bed was spacious enough that even with an extra person, it didn’t feel cramped. Closing her eyes, she couldn’t help but smile, silently teasing him in her heart: You fool…

The next morning, Xu Wan woke up as usual. The person beside her had already left. She called Cui Zhi in and asked, "Where did Zong Zhao go? The main study?"

Cui Zhi replied, "No, the General left the estate. It seems he went to the Dali Temple again."

Xu Wan frowned. "I thought he’d be free after wrapping up Chancellor Yan’s case, but he only rested for a day before leaving again… and to the Dali Temple, no less."

Cui Zhi offered, "Perhaps there’s still some cleanup work for Chancellor Yan’s case. Does Madam need the General for something? This servant can send someone to deliver a message."

Xu Wan waved her hands dismissively. "No, no, no. It’d be ridiculous if people heard I was looking for him after just a short while apart."

Cui Zhi chuckled. "What’s the big deal? Newlyweds sticking together is perfectly normal. Madam overthinks things too much."

Xu Wan smiled lightly. "Speaking of which, shouldn’t a wife normally attend to her husband when he wakes up? Yet here I am, still in bed at this hour. Why didn’t you wake me?"

Cui Zhi scrambled for an excuse. "The General got up so quickly that by the time we noticed, he was already dressed and out the door."

Xu Wan: "……"

Fair enough. That sounded exactly like Zong Zhao.

Sitting at the dressing table while Cui Zhi styled her hair, Xu Wan asked, "What are the usual duties of a new bride? Later, go ask Mother Zhao to make me a list and bring it over."

Cui Zhi giggled as she reminded her, "Madam doesn’t need to follow the rules so strictly. The General doesn’t care about these things, and the Old Marchioness doesn’t interfere with our household. You can just carry on as before."

Xu Wan thought for a moment. "It’s different. When someone treats me well, I should remember it. Taking kindness for granted isn’t sustainable. I should at least understand how other families manage their households."

Cui Zhi nodded. "Understood. This servant will arrange it shortly."

As Xu Wan studied her reflection in the mirror, she suddenly added, "By the way… what is Zong Zhao like when he’s angry?"

"Angry?" Cui Zhi pondered. "It depends. If it’s serious, he might beat someone—like your brother-in-law, for example."

Xu Wan: "……"

Well, that wasn’t quite the level she was thinking of.

She just felt that Zong Zhao had been acting strangely last night—like he was upset but didn’t lash out, or maybe not, since he suddenly stopped talking to her.

Xu Wan pressed further. "What about with family? Like if the Old Marchioness or the Old Marquis made him angry, how would he react?"

Cui Zhi thought back. "There was one time when he was younger. The Old Marquis forbade him from studying, so he gave the Old Marquis the silent treatment. Eventually, the Old Marquis couldn’t take it anymore and relented."

Xu Wan’s curiosity piqued. "How long did he ignore him?"

"Three days."

Xu Wan: "……"

Old Marquis, you really have no backbone. Your son ignored you for three days, and you caved?

Compared to He Zheng’s father, the Old Marquis had zero stubbornness in him.

Cui Zhi recalled another incident. "There was also the time when the Second Young Master was little and mischievous. He scribbled all over the General’s desk and ruined a rare manuscript he treasured. The General didn’t speak to him for days either."

"A rare manuscript?" That struck a nerve with Xu Wan. As someone who adored books, even a minor stain on a regular book annoyed her. Destroying a centuries-old manuscript? That was like dancing on her last nerve.

She fully sympathized with Zong Zhao and declared, "Ignoring Zong Yan was too lenient. If it were me, I’d chase him down three streets to give him a beating."

Cui Zhi burst into laughter. "So you see, Madam, the General’s temper isn’t so bad, is it?"

Xu Wan didn’t respond.

Because she still felt that Zong Zhao had been upset last night—but it didn’t quite match the patterns Cui Zhi described.

After turning it over in her mind without reaching a conclusion, Xu Wan decided to drop it. This was the "no overthinking" philosophy she’d learned from the four young troublemakers.

Mother Zhao’s handbook for the lady of the house arrived soon after. Xu Wan dismissed Cui Zhi and began flipping through it with great interest.

"First rule: Rise at the fourth watch to attend to the husband before court… Ugh, that’s so early, it’s still dark out. Never mind, Zong Zhao gets up on his own anyway."

"Second rule: At chenshi, prepare breakfast for the husband’s return from court… Still so early. But the kitchen staff are always on standby—can’t the maids just serve it?"

"……"

"Fifth rule: When the husband writes, the wife must grind ink for him." Xu Wan turned the handbook over, double-checking the cover to confirm it was indeed for the lady of the house. She muttered in disbelief, "The mistress has to do all of this?"