Aries's father was in a foul mood. He glared at her angrily and said through gritted teeth, "I'm just the father-in-law, and I can't even scold him? Why is my life so hard? I raised my daughter with so much effort, and now that she has a husband, she doesn't need her father anymore."
At the slightest disagreement, Mawen would throw a tantrum.
But Aries wasn't planning to let him continue with his bad temper.
"If you keep acting like this, you'll lose your allowance for a month. You're not getting anything next month."
Without waiting for Mawen to respond, she turned around and went into the kitchen.
She wanted a proper bath. Even though her husband had wiped her down the day before, Aries still didn't feel clean.
Sky, who had just been protected by his wife, felt like his heart was coated in honey. The things that had made him upset before were now forgotten. He didn't care whether Aries would marry a main husband or more side husbands in the future—as long as she treated him well, that was enough.
He was so deep in thought he didn't notice Aries walking in. When she spoke, he jumped.
"Boil more water. I need a bath."
Sky turned around in surprise, his words stumbling.
"Y-Yes, I got it."
Did she notice he was eavesdropping?
He hadn't done it on purpose—it was just that the walls weren't soundproof and Mawen's voice was loud.
"Mhm."
Aries didn't seem to care. She said her piece and walked back to her room.
Winter was coming. They were up north, so once it snowed, it would be hard to build anything.
Besides, she didn't want a small cottage like the ones in the village. She wanted to build a proper estate.
Looks like construction would have to wait. For now, fixing up this old house was more realistic. It just needed to get them through the winter.
The silver she had wasn't nearly enough to build the estate she wanted, so she'd have to save up more.
She'd also need to find an experienced builder and discuss the details carefully.
She had already thrown out the useless junk, but she forgot to buy any new furniture. Looking at the worn-out chairs and tables, she really couldn't stand it.
Sigh. She'd make do for now. Next year, she'd build the new house.
Sky finished boiling the water and called out, "Wife, you can bathe now."
As Aries walked past him holding clean undergarments, she heard the quiet voice of her shy husband.
"Let me… serve you while you bathe."
Right after speaking, he looked down in embarrassment. His ears and neck were red.
When Sky was a kid, he had seen his father help his mother bathe and wash her feet. He thought it was his duty to do the same.
He had already helped wipe Aries's body the day before.
But now, with her awake, he felt extremely nervous. It was completely different.
This little husband was becoming more and more forward.
Surprisingly, Aries didn't dislike it at all. In fact, it stirred something inside her.
Maybe it was because she had been reborn in a matriarchal world—even her body was changing in certain ways.
She glanced at the small, timid man and said calmly, "No need."
Her tone was even, but only she knew how much she was holding herself back.
Better if she washed herself. Otherwise, she wasn't sure he'd be able to walk out afterward.
He was so delicate, and she was built strong. She figured she'd need to be more gentle with him in the future.
When Sky heard her footsteps leaving, he felt both disappointed and relieved.
He told himself maybe Aries just wasn't used to him yet. Maybe she felt awkward being served.
But she treated him so kindly. She even stood up for him against Mawen. She definitely didn't dislike him.
Once they got closer, she'd surely let him serve her.
Yes, that must be it.
His heart raced just thinking about it. Honestly, he was glad she said no. Helping her while she was awake would've been too embarrassing.
Sky's mind kept replaying what he saw when he wiped her body the day before. It made him blush hard again.
Once he calmed down, and his face cooled off, he tidied the bed for when Aries came back to sleep.
Then he went to bring water to Mawen and help him wash up. Yesterday he had been excused because Aries was unconscious.
But now that she was awake, he couldn't slack off. Serving Mawen was part of his duty, too.
Mawen was sulking in his room. Of course, his anger was directed only at Sky, not at Aries.
When he saw Sky walk in with the water, he snorted coldly. That fox had stolen his daughter's heart. She even took ten taels of silver and gave it to him!
Though Mawen acted annoyed, he was actually satisfied with how respectful and obedient Sky was. He gave a few warnings but didn't go on too long—he didn't want Aries to hear and take away more of his allowance.
Sky kept his head down and listened quietly, nodding to everything Mawen said.
He looked like a perfect, well-behaved son-in-law, which made Mawen feel even more pleased.
Hmph! So what if Aries adored him? He still had to listen to him, still had to serve him properly!
If he didn't behave, Aries would be the one to punish him!
When Aries finished bathing, Sky was just coming out of Mawen's room with the water.
"Wife, are you done bathing?"
"Mhm. You go wash too and rest early."
Aries had heard the whole conversation between Mawen and Sky earlier, and she felt even more satisfied with her little husband.
He looked pleasing, had a good temperament, was respectful and filial, and didn't act timid like the other men in this matriarchal world.
Aries sat down to meditate and waited for her husband to return. Even though she couldn't ascend in this life, she had no plans to live passively.
After fighting through blood and death in the cultivation world, she knew that strength was the only way to live freely and protect those she cared about.
She wanted to live for herself this time. So she had to become strong.
When Sky entered the room, Aries opened her eyes and said, "Rest early."
"Okay…" Sky replied quickly, but his steps were slow.
His heart was beating like a drum. Aries was looking at him like that… was it possible? Could it be?
Aries raised an eyebrow and smiled.
He'd been teasing her all day, and now he was backing off?
She sat calmly on the bed, her gaze never leaving him, watching him inch closer step by step.
She couldn't hold back anymore. With one swift move, she pulled him onto the bed.
"Ah!" Sky yelped softly in surprise, grabbing onto her clothes instinctively.
Then Aries chuckled in a low voice above his head. "If you get any louder, the neighbors will hear."