My Husband Is a Bit Crazy - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

By the time I returned to the main courtyard, the dishes on the table had already been reheated once.

I swept a glance over them and noticed the plate of Yuting Cake was gone.

Fusang leaned in and whispered by my ear, “His Lordship asked for the snacks back. But he had someone send over a plate of jade-stick crisps instead. You hate those most, Miss, so I didn’t have them brought to the table.”

…

Childish.

After dinner, I took a short walk around the courtyard to help with digestion, then eagerly climbed into bed to rest.

Tomorrow, I had to attend Princess Duanyang’s banquet. I would be wearing the new outfit Linglong Pavilion had just made. It was a matching set for men and women-a husband-and-wife design.

I would wear the women’s version to the banquet, while Chen Chongli would wear the men’s version when he went out to meet friends on his day off. After one day of us being seen in them, the design’s reputation would be established.

Chen Chongli was handsome. There was no better person to test out my new clothes. Anything he wore always sparked a wave of enthusiasm among the noble ladies.

My outstanding achievements in business owed no small part to Chen Chongli.

It was no exaggeration to say that he was my lucky charm, my money tree, my treasure bowl, my bamboo of fortune.

My walking clothes rack. My mobile jewelry vault.

I had always treated him like an offering on an altar.

That was why, today, I had endured so many of his inexplicable remarks without exploding.

But the moment I thought of Chi Wan’s face, the fire in my heart came roaring up again. I had no choice but to take several deep breaths to calm myself down.

Still, I fell asleep quickly. I couldn’t help it. My body was used to going to bed early and rising early. That was my secret to staying energetic.

In the middle of the night, half asleep and half awake, I sensed someone sneaking over and lifting my quilt.

I rolled over and kicked the person trying to climb into my bed straight down to the floor.

He gave a muffled grunt, then stubbornly climbed back up.

I was far too sleepy to bother with him. I only vaguely heard him murmur, “Fusang brought me the clothes. They fit perfectly, and they look wonderful. I like them very much. My lady, you must have put a great deal of thought into them. No wonder you were so busy some time ago that I could barely see you.

“I said the wrong thing today and made you angry, yet you’re still so good to me. I shouldn’t have…”

So noisy. With my eyes still closed, I slapped toward the endless source of noise.

At last, I could sleep in peace.

When I woke the next day, Chen Chongli had already gone out.

Fusang was smiling brightly. “Miss, His Lordship was nearly trapped into sharing someone’s bed last night. Thankfully, I delivered the clothes in time, so that wicked person didn’t succeed.”

I paused. My hazy memories reminded me that I hadn’t slept very peacefully last night. It seemed I had kicked someone and hit someone too?

Not important.

I shook my head. Fusang and I worked together with practiced ease: washing up, putting on makeup, having breakfast, then setting off for Duanyang’s flower banquet.

Princess Duanyang… was quite an interesting person.

She liked Chen Chongli but didn’t dare provoke him, so she had no choice but to provoke me instead.

But she had been a princess for so long that even the way she provoked people was somewhat detached from reality.

In public, she liked to go against me.

The more popular the clothes and accessories Chen Chongli and I wore became, the more ostentatiously she avoided them, insisting on buying the most expensive and extravagant dresses and jewelry from Cangchun House, Linglong Pavilion’s mortal rival.

She even tried to encourage other noble ladies and madams to do the same. But Cangchun House’s goods were far too luxurious, and everyone had some reservations about that, so the princess had never once succeeded in persuading them.

In private, she stopped pretending. She would scold me.

She called me an ugly freak, as ugly as the cloud cakes made by her wet nurse. She called me rude, as rude as the tabby cat of hers that often ignored her. Those words made me laugh every time. Then she would get so angry she broke down, but when she tried to keep scolding me, she couldn’t think of anything else to say. Her maids would panic and flail about, unsure whether they should help her curse me first or coax the princess, who was about to cry, first.

It was extremely entertaining.

The thought of it made me grin despite myself.

Once I arrived at the banquet, the moment I appeared, I was surrounded by the madams.

“Madam Chen, this outfit is newly made by Linglong Pavilion, isn’t it? When I came over this morning, I ran into Lord Chen. What he was wearing looked so much like yours.”

I smiled and nodded. “Yes. The embroiderers at Linglong Pavilion came up with a clever idea and made this matching husband-and-wife set. I thought the meaning was auspicious and the style lovely, so I wore it out first. Please don’t laugh at me.”

“What are you saying? You and your husband are so loving. We can only envy you.”

“Exactly. In all of the capital, you won’t find another gentleman like Lord Chen, who loves his wife as dearly as life itself.”

“My husband-sigh, never mind. I don’t even want to talk about him…”

Just as everyone was chatting enthusiastically, Princess Duanyang emerged in a blaze of flowers and finery.

She nearly blinded me.

What she was wearing today was a new piece from Cangchun House. Countless gold, silver, and jewels had been piled onto it. One look and anyone could tell it was expensive.

No wonder her complexion today looked like she had suffered some financial loss.

Duanyang lifted her chin, cast me a disdainful glance, and gave a cold snort.

That was the signal. The madams and noble ladies tacitly turned and gathered around her instead, repeating the same lines all over again. Only then was the princess finally satisfied.

Such a child’s temperament. Everyone was used to coaxing and flattering her with their words, but in action, no one ever let her persuade them into making trouble for me, the wife of Premier Chen.

Today, Duanyang had grown a little smarter. She chose to do it herself.

Halfway through the banquet, she suddenly brought up, “I heard Madam Chen’s younger sister came to seek out her family yesterday? Lord Chen seems to be taking very good care of this sister-in-law. Why didn’t Madam Chen bring your sister to the banquet?”

I raised my cup to toast her from afar. “My younger sister has been exhausted from travel and is better suited to resting at home. Besides, Your Highness sent the invitations long ago. I would not dare presume to bring my sister without permission.”

After saying that, I lowered my head and feigned shyness. “As for my husband… My husband has always taken care of the people around me. Not only my relatives-even old family servants from years past, he remembers them clearly and makes proper arrangements for them.”

The other madams also helped smooth things over, offering several words of envy.

Duanyang curled her lip.

I set down my wine cup and drew back the coldness in my gaze.