Chapter 538: How Could a Home Not Prosper with a Virtuous Wife?

Night.

Weiguo Gongfu.

Inside the Shufang.

Chen Yan had just returned from the Left Martial Guard, wearing only a plain Brothel, and leaned alone against the back of a pear‑blossom wood chair.

He relaxed his eyebrows slightly, his face bearing a hint of post‑drinking flush, his fingertips still sticky with wine, and a long sigh rolled from his throat: "Hoo— these Old Feng, Old Dong, Old Peng really can drink!"

Between the lines there is resignation, yet also a touch of exhilaration.

The three commanders of the Left Martial Guard had astonishing drinking capacities; at the table they passed cups and goblets, all displaying the boldness of the army's men.

Even though he had taken half‑dose of sobering medicine, he still held his liquor well.

As the words finished, the Shufang door was gently pushed open, and a sweet fragrance with warmth poured in.

Pei Suiwan entered carrying a white porcelain bowl, steam curling from its rim.

The woman wore a moon‑white ru‑skirt, its hem embroidered with delicate entwined‑branch lotus patterns; her long hair was loosely tied into a bun, adorned with a single Jade Hairpin, exuding gentle elegance.

As she approached the desk, the strong wine odor pierced her nose; her fine brows furrowed slightly, but her eyes were full of concern as she softly said, "Husband, you've drunk quite a lot!"

While speaking, she gently placed the bowl before Chen Yan; inside was amber‑colored sobering broth, floating with a few red dates and ginger slices, "Drink the sobering broth quickly, soothe your stomach, lest you feel uncomfortable tonight...."

Hearing this, Chen Yan sat up straight, his gaze landing on his wife's gentle brows and eyes; the wine's effect seemed to fade a bit, and he replied, "Alright."

He then reached out, lifted the porcelain bowl, his fingertips feeling the bowl's warm wall, the warmth spreading from his fingertips to his heart.

He tipped his head back and took a few sips; the sweet taste carried a hint of ginger's spiciness, sliding down his throat, soothing the post‑drinking dryness, and his whole body felt considerably more comfortable.

Setting the bowl down, he suddenly recalled something and asked, "Suiwan, have the children fallen asleep?"

"Mm." Pei Suiwan moved behind Chen Yan, her slender fingers gently resting on his temple, massaging with moderate pressure, her voice as soft as moonlit water: "The wet nurse had already coaxed the two of them to sleep early....."

Chen Yan tightened his grip on the bowl, a trace of regret on his face, his tone indulgent: "You said come back earlier to tease the two little ones!"

"We'll have to wait until tomorrow....."

The candle flame flickered, casting Pei Suiwan's profile even softer; her massaging paused briefly, she pressed her red lips, her lashes trembling lightly, and whispered, "Husband, I have something to discuss with you......"

"What is it?"

Hearing this, Chen Yan turned, seeing his wife's solemn expression, unlike their usual chatter; he placed the bowl on the desk, leaned forward slightly, and stared at her intently: "It's just the two of us, but feel free to speak......"

Inside the Shufang, the candle's wavering light projected Pei Suiwan's silhouette onto the wall, delicate yet resolute.

She inhaled deeply, slowly sat on the pear‑blossom wood chair opposite Chen Yan, her fingertips clutching the lotus‑branch pattern on her skirt hem, her gaze clear and earnest, and she began softly, each word crisp: "Husband, Qingyu has followed you the longest, and she's not young anymore....."

"It's time to give her a proper status!"

"Hm?" Chen Yan was startled by the words, blinked, and the wine's effect vanished completely.

He looked at his wife's serious expression, somewhat surprised, tentatively leaning forward, and asked, "Suiwan, do you mean we should bring Qingyu into the household?"

Chen hadn't expected his own wife to bring up this matter, let alone propose it herself......

"Exactly!"

Pei Suiwan lightly nodded, a gentle smile flickering in her eyes, meeting Chen Yan's gaze calmly, she smiled faintly and softly retorted, "Husband, haven't you already had this thought in your heart?"

Chen Yan let out a light sigh, reached to rub his brow: "I thought you might be unwilling to let Qingyu enter the household......"

One must know that Qingyu is different from other women.

The bond is too special!

She has followed you since childhood and is the "relic" left by your late mother; if a jealous woman were to replace her, she would most likely be married off to eliminate any risk.....

Pei Suiwan, hearing this, gently released her fingers from the skirt hem, smoothed the folds, then rose and walked to Chen Yan's side, leaning down to grasp his hand.

Her fingertips were slightly cool yet full of warmth, her gaze sincere and earnest, and she said earnestly, "Qingyu is like a sister of our family, obedient and capable, delicate‑minded; my joy in my heart has not even had time to arrive, how could I be unwilling?"

She paused, her face still bearing a gentle smile, then added, "Besides Qingyu, there's also Mingyue, who likewise deserves a proper status....."

Pei Suiwan saw clearly; she had already given birth to the legitimate eldest son, leaving no hidden worries.

As the matriarch of the State Duke Mansion, what she must now consider is how to let the Chen clan flourish.....

At the same time, this is also scheming for her own son!

Ji'an will later need a brother's support, right?

Chen Yan gripped Pei Suiwan's hand tightly, his fingertips tracing the delicate lines of her palm, his heart full of emotion and reflection.

He looked up and let out a long sigh, his tone carrying an ineffable satisfaction and admiration: "The ancients truly do not deceive me!"

"How can a household not prosper with a virtuous wife?"

"Suiwan, having you as my wife is truly the luck of my life, Chen Yan!"

Pei Suiwan's cheeks flushed slightly, her eyes sparkling with sweet laughter; she gently wriggled the hand being held, smiled gracefully, and softly said, "Husband, please stop teasing me!"

"I have only done what is within my duty; the mansion is harmonious, and you can be at ease outside, which is exactly what should be."

She paused, her fingertips lightly tracing Chen Yan's back of the hand, pursed her red lips, her expression becoming a bit serious, and continued, "Miss Yun has long been infatuated with you, and has remained in the State Duke Mansion....."

"Although she is a guest, a lone man and a lone woman sharing a mansion for a long time inevitably invites gossip, which is ultimately harmful to a woman's reputation."

"I was thinking, why not use this chance to also bring Miss Yun into the household, so her status becomes proper and legitimate!"

Chen Yan, hearing this, narrowed his eyes slightly, a hint of thought flashing in his gaze, and said meaningfully, "Miss Yun is a direct disciple of the Divine Doctor; her marriage will likely need Gong Sun Divine Doctor's approval!"

Pei Suiwan's eyes showed a glimmer of understanding, having grasped her husband's thought; she lightly nodded, then displayed a clever smile, and said, "Then we'll send someone to propose to Gong Sun Divine Doctor!"

"It would be best if Miss Yun's master could also stay in Chang'an......"

Chen Yan nodded, praising, "That is indeed most appropriate!"

The candlelight reflected Pei Suiwan's smiling brows and eyes; she suddenly seemed to recall something, her fingertips paused on Chen Yan's back of the hand, a spark of liveliness flashing in her eyes: "By the way, husband, Zhu Yi's age is not small either, yet she has remained unattached....."

"I have been thinking, our Pei Clan happens to have a charming young sister, gentle and virtuous; why not betroth her to Zhu Yi as his wife....."

Saying that, she looked up at Chen Yan, eyes seeking counsel: "Husband, what do you think?"

Chen Yan, hearing this, thought briefly, then nodded, "I'll follow your arrangement!"

Had it not been the delicately thoughtful Suiwan mentioning it, Chen Yan, this great master, truly had never considered this angle.....

Zhu Yi really should take a wife now!

Since mother is gone, he must handle lifelong affairs, and taking a Pei Clan concubine‑born daughter wouldn't be unfair to Zhu Yi.

Pei Suiwan, upon hearing this, smiled even more, lightly drummed his fingertips on the table, fell into thought, and after a moment said softly, "As for Wen Run, he now serves as Chief Historian of the Left Martial Guard, but his experience is still shallow......"

She paused, then continued, "I think we should let him train for a few more years, so that later in the army or court he can rise further, accumulate merits and reputation, and then take a legitimate daughter of the Six Surnames as his principal wife, which will match his future prospects!"

Although Wen Run does not come from a top‑tier noble family, he has talent, potential, good conduct, and is a retainer of the State Duke Mansion.

Pei Suiwan's considerations are not only for his marriage, but also to plan his long‑term future, and to make Wen Run later become her husband's Gutou.

Chen Yan responded lightly, "Hmm."

His voice was faint, yet full of agreement.

As the fire flickered, Pei Suiwan suddenly blinked her beautiful eyes, long lashes fluttering like butterfly wings, a depth that ordinary people seldom perceive flashing in her gaze, and her tone softened a bit, "As for Lu Ning, Miss Lu......"

Her words halted, and subconsciously her fingertips tightened, gripping Chen Yan's hand with a slight pressure.

She pondered for a moment, weighed the pros and cons, then looked up at her own husband, her gaze becoming exceedingly firm, and, tightening his hand, said, "The Lu family of Wu Commandery is a prestigious clan, and its younger brother Lu Ming is a rare pioneer talent......"

"He must be firmly tied to the husband, letting him serve the husband!"

"And the best method now is to form a marital alliance with the Lu family!"

Chen Yan, upon hearing this, narrowed his eyes slightly, a deep light swirling in his gaze, and in a deep voice agreed, "Lu Ming, that youngster, is young yet possesses courage that ten thousand men cannot match, agile, fierce and unafraid of death; if we nurture him carefully for a few years and hone his martial skills, he will become a Blade that breaks enemy formations on the battlefield!"

Pei Suiwan lightly nodded, "As long as the husband marries his only sister, Lu Ming will be linked to the husband by Gutou, and will later devote himself wholeheartedly to charging into battle for the husband!"

As a legitimate daughter of the Pei Clan, how could she not know the perils of the battlefield?

Having the loyal and fierce general Lu Ming at her side gives her husband an extra life‑saving talisman!

Chen Yan's peripheral glance fell outside the window; the night was as black as ink, the palace lanterns in the corridor swayed slightly in the wind, after a moment of silence he said slowly, "But Miss Lu probably won't agree that easily....."

Lu Ning is a woman with strong opinions; she's not some easily duped, naive sweet.....

And if she were to join, she could only be a concubine; given the Lu family's status, they might not be willing to concede.

Pei Suiwan, upon hearing this, lightly pressed her red lips together and said softly, "Husband, you only worry about state affairs; as for Miss Lu, I will handle it!"