Pei You’an remained awake throughout the latter half of the night.

Though he typically required little sleep, years of self-discipline beyond what ordinary people could achieve had cultivated in him a habit: no matter how heavily weighed his thoughts, when his body felt it was time to rest, he could lie down and quickly clear his mind to fall asleep. He knew that sleep nourished the body and replenished vitality. Nights like the previous one, where he remained awake for the entire latter half without a moment’s rest, were rare.

Last night he had married her and experienced the intimacy of a man and woman.

Having someone suddenly beside him on his pillow, a woman no less, was truly an unprecedented experience for him. This was completely different from that time at Meng Mu’s residence when she had crawled into his bed while he was drunk, and he had confusedly held her through the night.

Last night, as he fulfilled his duty as a newlywed husband on their wedding night, he had actually been quite attentive to her reactions.

She lay motionless beneath him, her beautiful brows tightly knit, her eyes closed. From beginning to end, he was certain she hadn’t once opened her eyes to look at him, as if enduring something she wasn’t particularly willing to experience but had no choice but to undergo.

So he became increasingly cautious with her, trying his best not to touch places she might not want him to touch.

This again confirmed a long-held thought for Pei You’an. From the beginning, this little cousin who remained by his side, trying in every way to please him, even going so far as to scheme and do something so bizarre, and then insisting he marry her—it was all to avoid calamity. On this wedding night, her initiative to draw close to him was likely also a means to secure their newly formed marital relationship.

Tonight he could have completely ignored her, but thinking of the embarrassment she might face the next morning and the disappointment and hurt she would feel at his rejection, he ultimately couldn’t bring himself to do so.

She had been willing to save a dying stranger out of compassion, which showed she could be taught well. Having married her, he should let her feel completely at ease. That’s what he told himself when he reached out his arm to her.

She relied on him to avoid disaster—this thought wasn’t new to him tonight. He had known it for some time. But before, he hadn’t felt particularly opposed to it. Only now, at this special moment, with her beneath him, when the same thought emerged again, did he experience an unprecedented displeasure different from anything he’d felt before.

After all, he wasn’t a saint. Who with flesh and blood nourished by the five grains could be a saint? He had promised to marry her and had truly married her. Regarding the accident that night, he had already done his utmost. Tonight, he originally didn’t feel inclined to engage in such activities with her.

In his childhood, due to his weak constitution, he encountered various physicians brought to treat his body. Among them were master healers, and naturally, there were also so-called extraordinary practitioners. When he was ten, there was a Taoist priest renowned for fasting to cultivate vital energy. Reportedly two hundred years old yet still with black hair and smooth skin like a middle-aged man, the Duke of Wei, impressed by his reputation, invited the priest to teach him breathing techniques to strengthen his body. After some time, one day, the priest produced a spiritual manual and taught him that according to the manual, using the yin energy of a virgin to refine his vital energy would eliminate all illnesses in the future. He requested that suitable young girls be found for this practice. The Duke of Wei then realized that this priest was just over sixty years old, simply better preserved than ordinary people, not two hundred years old at all, and so drove him away. The so-called spiritual cultivation naturally remained theoretical.

The breathing techniques taught by that Taoist priest were indeed effective. For many years, Pei You’an had persisted in practicing them and had benefited. But that spiritual manual represented the first and last time Pei You’an had received any form of veiled education regarding relations between men and women.

So many years had passed that he normally wouldn’t have remembered this, but now, as if possessed, some inappropriate impressions surfaced in his mind.

Being exceptionally gifted, he had a photographic memory since childhood. Although he had only skimmed through the contents of that spiritual manual when the priest produced it, now that he recalled it, the images immediately flooded his mind, vivid and lifelike.

Looking at her lying beneath him with her eyes closed, enduring, Pei You’an suddenly had a wicked thought.

What if he used the methods from the priest’s manual on her? How would she react?

But that thought merely flashed by, before he could consider it further, she seemed uncomfortable and shifted slightly beneath him. At that moment, he lost control, hastily finished the act, and after their brief union, with sweat still on his back, he saw her curled up beside him with eyes closed, her few remaining clothes in disarray, pitifully covering herself with her hands and feet. His heart was immediately seized by intense self-reproach and guilt. He composed himself, settled her, tidied himself up, and finally lay down to rest.

Pei You’an knew that she beside him had not been sleeping deeply at first, having awakened several times in between. Only as the night deepened did she finally fall into a deep sleep from exhaustion.

But for the entire night, he could not fall asleep again.

The weakness of vital energy from his childhood, though not prominent in his adult daily life, had clearly affected him negatively last night.

First came self-reproach and guilt, then concern, and inevitably, the subtle despondency that accompanied it.

Thus, Pei You’an completely lost sleep that night.

Not long after she fell asleep, she turned over, rolling to his side, her small, soft head resting against his shoulder, leaning close to him.

In her dream state, she seemed to enjoy nestling against him. After drawing close, she didn’t move again, falling into a deep sleep.

All Pei You’an could hear was the sound of her gentle breathing. A warm, orchid-scented breath gradually spread with her respiration.

He closed his eyes, calmed his mind, and regulated his breathing, but no matter how he practiced his breathing techniques, he couldn’t fall into a peaceful sleep like her, until now, when he heard a knock at the door.

He slowly opened his eyes, with a faint tinge of bloodshot.

Outside the window, it was still dark, with the dragon and phoenix wedding candles having burned all night. By the dim candlelight filtering through the bed curtains, Pei You’an gazed for a moment at her small face, still bearing traces of fatigue, pressed against him. Then he carefully got up.

…

Though Jia Fu had been restless at first, sleeping fitfully with unsettled dreams, she was now in a deep, sound sleep. She was abruptly awakened, and as she struggled to open her drowsy eyes, she saw Liu Ma’s enlarged face close to hers, whispering, “Young Mistress, you must get up! It’s already past the fifth watch. The Young Master has been up for some time and is waiting for you!”

Jia Fu was confused at first, then suddenly realized that “Young Mistress” referred to her. She immediately became alert, quickly turning her head to see that the pillow beside her was indeed empty. Pei You’an had risen at some unknown time and was long gone.

He hadn’t even called her when he woke up, causing her to oversleep!

Jia Fu hurriedly got up.

A woman surnamed Wang, who served Madam Xin, entered with a maid. Liu Ma, knowing her purpose, walked over and personally took the tray containing the wedding night cloth. Madam Wang glanced at it, took it, smiled at Jia Fu, bowed to wish her good morning, and left.

Liu Ma and Tan Xiang helped Jia Fu change her clothes, and she was quickly dressed. Mu Xiang brought in washing materials with several Pei family maids. After preparations were complete, Jia Fu didn’t even have time to eat anything before hurrying out.

“Young Mistress, the Young Master just said that it’s not yet time. There’s much to do this morning. Please eat something before going…”

Liu Ma, knowing that Jia Fu hadn’t eaten much the night before and concerned she would be hungry, followed after her.

“I can’t eat anything…”

Jia Fu turned past the floor-length screen and hurriedly entered the outer living room. She immediately saw Pei You’an sitting upright at the chess table, holding a scroll, seemingly reading while waiting for her. His clothes were neat, and he appeared refreshed. Hearing her voice, he looked up.

Jia Fu suddenly stopped, meeting his gaze. Feeling somewhat awkward, she explained softly, “I’m sorry about this morning. I overslept and kept you waiting. I’m ready now, we can leave.”

Pei You’an said, “It’s not too late. You should eat something first, there’s no hurry.” He casually placed the scroll on the chess table and walked out of the room.

Liu Ma hurriedly brought in a food box just delivered from the kitchen, opening it and placing it on a small table. There was a dish of tender bamboo shoots, a dish of magnolia fern sprouts, a dish of turnips, stir-fried fresh shrimp, pickled chicken breast, and a bowl of rice porridge. The aroma was enticing, and it all looked fresh and appetizing. Only then did Jia Fu feel her hunger pangs. Without concerning herself with Pei You’an anymore, she quickly sat down and ate most of a bowl before feeling full. Then she rose and left the room.

Outside, the sky was gradually brightening. The courtyard was planted with autumn begonias and Spiraea. Morning birds hidden in the foliage somewhere chirped merrily. Pei You’an stood with his back to the door under the corridor, motionless, lost in thought.

Jia Fu came up behind him and said softly, “Husband, I’m ready.”

He turned his head, his gaze sweeping over her from head to toe. His face then showed the smile that Jia Fu was familiar with. He nodded to her and said unhurriedly, “Come with me then.”