Baoshan rolled her eyes and placed her hands on her hips. “First Young Master is not someone inexperienced—how could you not understand what ‘important matters’ means? The fire outside won’t burn its way here, and even if it does, Baoshan will block it for the master and mistress. First Young Master needn’t worry.”
Gu Chaodong’s eyes turned bloodshot, the veins on the back of his hands bulging as he stared fixedly at that room. He no longer cared what Baoshan was saying and reached out to push her aside.
“First Young Master.” Zhuiyun also stepped forward to block him, standing in front of Baoshan. With Gu Chaodong’s scholarly weakness, how could he budge them even an inch?
“Move aside!”
“Following my master’s orders to guard here—please forgive me, First Young Master.” Zhuiyun said with a serious expression. “The fire at the courtyard gate has already been extinguished. It was only some oil paper dropped by a passing servant that caught fire. You may return now.”
Behind him, Fengxiao came over with lowered head, calling out “Young Master.” Gu Chaodong turned back, looked at him blankly for a moment, then looked at Baoshan. “The fire is out, so I can’t go in to see my own younger brother and sister-in-law? In broad daylight, with the sun high in the sky, what important matters must be done right now? Baoshan, your young mistress has treated you well—are you now pushing your mistress into a pit of fire for wealth and glory?”
Baoshan listened in some confusion and glanced at Zhuiyun, meaning: Do you understand this?
Zhuiyun shook his head. Had First Young Master gone mad? What did he mean by pushing Fourth Young Madam into a pit of fire? Those two inside had performed the wedding ceremony and were married—whatever they did was normal. Where was this pit of fire? Could it be that First Young Master still thought Fourth Young Madam’s heart belonged to him, and that she wouldn’t be happy with Young Master?
Really overthinking things.
Zhuiyun didn’t yield a step. Gu Chaodong paced anxiously in circles. He had rushed over upon receiving the news. He’d been able to interrupt the previous few times—he could definitely succeed this time too! Yan’er must be very flustered and frightened—he had to go save her!
Inside the room, Gu Chaobei was completely unaffected by the sounds outside. He held the person in his arms, rising and falling in a warm ocean, indulging in passionate entanglement.
“Husband…” Shen Guiyan’s face was red as dripping blood. Hearing the argument outside, her body tensed up, making the person on her body grunt.
The door wasn’t even locked—what if someone burst in… would she have any face left!
Gu Chaobei’s breathing grew heavier as he bit down on her collarbone. “Fool, relax. What do those people outside have to do with you and me? If he comes in, he’s the one who should feel ashamed. I’ll protect you completely—won’t let him see even the slightest bit.”
That wasn’t the reason! Shen Guiyan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She gripped the person on her tightly, too nervous to relax. Being handled like this by her body, Gu Chaobei couldn’t help letting out a low growl.
This suggestive sound, tinged with suppression, made even those outside blush with racing hearts. Baoshan was both happy and embarrassed, casting a provocative look at Gu Chaodong.
Gu Chaodong furrowed his brow tightly, took a deep breath, and shouted loudly, “Fourth Brother, how can forcing someone against their will be the conduct of a gentleman?!”
Forcing someone? Gu Chaobei raised an eyebrow and lowered his head to whisper in Shen Guiyan’s ear. “Wife, am I making things difficult for you?”
Shen Guiyan closed her eyes in pain. “Not difficult, but it hurts a bit.”
It hurts? Gu Chaobei’s face reddened. Only then did he realize he’d been too hasty and not gentle enough. In the past, watching people at Zuihuayin conduct themselves rather roughly, he’d followed suit, forgetting that this was Yan’er’s first time—naturally different from the sisters at Zuihuayin.
Recalling the blood that had fallen on her shoulder in her boudoir that first time, Gu Chaobei chuckled softly. He slowed his movements, gently easing her pain, restraining himself to first let her body relax, softly licking and kissing her neck and cheeks.
When he felt things were more lubricated below, he slowly continued his movements.
Gu Chaodong was simply ignored outside, trembling with rage, saying all manner of things.
“You forcibly took Yan’er, trampling on the love of my life. Gu Chaobei, I won’t let you get away with this!”
“Even if you’ve possessed Yan’er’s body, Yan’er’s heart is mine!”
When servants from the north courtyard went to inform Shen Guiya, she arrived to see Gu Chaodong like an agitated lion, pacing at the door of the north courtyard’s main room.
“Husband?” Shen Guiya frowned. “What are you doing here?”
Gu Chaodong didn’t even look at her, still staring fixedly at that door. Saying all these things sentence by sentence—he didn’t believe Gu Chaobei inside could have a good time.
Shen Guiya was so angry she rubbed her temples. She had been planning step by step how to strategize for his imperial examination matters, yet here he was saying these absurd words—did he give her even half a thought?
She was so exceptional, so clever—was Gu Chaodong blind? Or was he simply obstinate? How could he not see her, still thinking constantly about that Shen Guiyan?
Originally she’d been thinking of maintaining her virtue for him, but now it seemed she was the foolish one. What virtue should she maintain? Gu Chaodong didn’t care about her at all.
With a flick of her sleeve, she turned and left. Shen Guiya went straight out of the residence, took a sedan chair, and went to the Youyuan Inn.
Gu Chaodong remained in place, staring fixedly at that door.
A first consummation could never be too perfect. Gu Chaobei looked with distress at the marks on Yan’er’s body, his voice hoarse as he ordered outside, “Baoshan, bring some hot water.”
It was already over? Gu Chaodong clenched his fists, watching Baoshan carry hot water through the door. He instinctively wanted to follow.
But Zhuiyun still blocked his way, looking at him seriously. “First Young Master, propriety forbids improper viewing.”
Gu Chaodong’s mind was in complete chaos, his eyes nearly bulging out, but knowing he was in the wrong, he could only wait outside.
Since… it was finished, surely they should come out to see him soon? Gu Chaodong thought. Gu Chaobei would probably show off, say things to provoke him. He would endure it all, because Yan’er definitely wasn’t willing.
He deliberately did this to Yan’er in broad daylight to provoke him—he must hate him terribly.
Thinking this way, he actually felt somewhat comforted. Taking a deep breath, he clasped his hands behind his back and waited outside.
But Baoshan went in and came back out, still closing the door behind her.
“The two masters probably won’t need their evening meal today.” Baoshan said to a young maid beside her with a red face. “Go prepare some late-night snacks and keep them warm—they’ll be hungry eventually.”
“Yes.” The young maid smiled knowingly and went to the kitchen.
Gu Chaodong was stunned.
He was just being left out here like this?
Inside, after resting a while, intermittent suppressed sounds came out again. Shen Guiyan was habitually reserved, and with people outside, she was trying desperately to control herself from crying out. Unfortunately, this shameless Gu Chaobei deliberately focused on one spot, wearing her down. Her hands had been tied to the bedpost and were already somewhat sore. When Gu Chaobei reached out to untie them, she immediately grabbed onto his back without courtesy.
Her neither-too-long-nor-too-short nails scratched long marks on his back. Gu Chaobei chuckled quietly. “Finally found somewhere to exert your strength.”
Shen Guiyan bit her lip. The pain had lessened considerably, and Gu Chaobei’s movements had become much more skilled. She felt curious—why did she have this mistaken feeling that he was learning on her body? Didn’t he have so many women?
Clever people could understand many things without a teacher, and learn many things with just one lesson. After several rounds of passion, she could no longer tell whether Gu Chaobei had been nervous or inexperienced before. He had taken all her thoughts away—she couldn’t think of anything anymore.
Not knowing when she’d awakened, Shen Guiyan stared blankly at the bed curtains. Her body seemed to have already been cleaned by someone. Gu Chaobei was beside her, arms around her, eyes closed as if already fast asleep.
Looking at the window outside, the sky had completely darkened.
Her body ached unbearably. She moved slightly, and Gu Chaobei suddenly opened his eyes.
“Hungry?” The first thing he said was actually this.
Shen Guiyan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She’d imagined many times what her wedding night would be like. When she woke the next day, surely they should be nestled together tenderly. She would recite, “Gracefully reclining on my lord’s knee,” and he would respond, “Where would you not be cherished?”
How poetic and picturesque, how beautiful.
But now this question from Gu Chaobei somehow made her heart feel warm.
“Hungry.” She answered with a smile.
Who said simple and plain couldn’t compare to poetry and romance? She had fallen for him, surrendered to this rogue. She’d given her body, so her heart was packaged along with it. Liking someone wasn’t complicated—when you felt you could rely on them, you entrusted yourself to them.
Shen Guiyan felt that Gu Chaobei must really like her too—otherwise, how could he be so endearing?
He got up, put on his clothes, adjusted the lamp wick on the table, then wrapped her in a cloak and carried her to sit at the table. “They just brought this in—it hasn’t cooled yet. Eat some.”
Shen Guiyan nodded and, sitting in his lap just like that, wolfed down two bowls of rice plus one bowl of soup.
After eating her fill, she grew drowsy again. The person behind her just chuckled softly, then carried her back to bed, tucked in the quilt, and let her sleep.
Outside the room still stood one person, but no one remembered him. Even Zhuiyun was too lazy to block him anymore, just sitting at the main room’s entrance eating the meal Baoshan had brought.
The next day when Guiyan woke, she looked extremely well. After dressing and grooming, she prepared to see Gu Chaobei off to court.
But when she opened the door, she saw a statue standing outside.
Shen Guiyan jumped in fright, then moved closer to look. “Big Brother?”
She remembered now—last night Gu Chaodong seemed to have come. She’d been nervous at first, but later Gu Chaobei had completely distracted her and she’d forgotten all about it.
Had this person stood here all night? Where was Shen Guiya? Hadn’t she dragged him back?
“Yan’er…” Seeing her, Gu Chaodong’s facial skin twitched slightly, then crumpled. “Yan’er… I had no way to protect you…”
Huh?
Shen Guiyan felt this person was probably having another episode. She quickly took a step back, but Gu Chaobei coming out behind her simply pulled her hand and walked past him toward the outside. “There isn’t enough time. Wife, just see me to the gate.”
“Mm.” Shen Guiyan turned back and smiled gently at Gu Chaobei.
The two walked hand in hand like this. Shen Guiyan showed no resistance—on the contrary, that face which had always smiled now for the first time was tinged with genuine tender affection.
Gu Chaodong froze in shock.
“Don’t pay attention to him.” Walking out of the north courtyard, Gu Chaobei turned back to look at Shen Guiyan. “Don’t even go near him. Understand?”