In a corner of the study, the copper water clock dripped incessantly from its multi-treasure rack, like a fine spring night rain falling from the eaves, tick-tock, each sound urging one on.

Pei You’an was accustomed to staying up late, and his study had always been his place of tranquility in the deep night. But at this moment, his thoughts were becoming increasingly unsettled as he recalled that woman’s parting glance and reminder. He looked up and checked the water clock again.

The floating vessel in the copper pot had risen to the hai hour.

This time would naturally be considered late for others, but it was still early compared to his usual bedtime.

He finally rose, extinguished the lamp, left the study, and headed toward the bedroom.

A dim, yellowish light shone through the doors and windows of the bedroom. He quietly instructed the night-duty maids and elderly servants who were still waiting to go rest, gently pushed open the door, entered the inner chamber, and looked toward the half-concealed curtain.

Behind the fragrant cloud screen lay the beauty, motionless, apparently already asleep.

Like the previous two nights, he quietly entered, undid his belt, removed his clothes, went to the bathing room, came out, and approached the bed, trying not to disturb her.

She was lying on her side facing outward, one arm bent and pillowing her face. Her arm was like jade bamboo shoots, her wrist white with reddish skin, her sleeping posture graceful. From her breathing came a warm, subtle fragrance that directly affected his heart.

His breathing inadvertently quickened, so he held his breath and turned his head, about to extinguish the lamp when Jia Fu on the bed moved slightly and slowly opened her eyes.

Pei You’an paused: “Did I wake you?”

Jia Fu shook her head: “I couldn’t fall asleep on my own.”

Pei You’an got into bed, lying on his back beside her, and said: “Are you still thinking about today’s events? I wasn’t deliberately scolding you, it’s just that at that time, not knowing your whereabouts, I was anxious and my words were a bit harsh.”

Jia Fu softly responded with a sound: “I don’t blame you, Elder Cousin.”

Pei You’an turned his face, glanced at her, thought for a moment, and then said: “On the first night you came, I remember telling you to talk to me if something was bothering you. If you don’t tell me, how am I to know what you’re thinking?”

“Elder Cousin, can I ask you anything?” She seemed somewhat lacking in confidence.

Pei You’an said: “Of course.” His tone was definitive.

“Elder Cousin, do you look down on me?”

A soft voice reached his ears.

“I always make you angry, and I did those things before…”

Her voice gradually grew quieter.

Pei You’an said: “If there are faults, they should be corrected. I don’t look down on you.”

After speaking, as if to comfort her, he reached over and thoughtfully pulled up the corner of the blanket, covering the exposed portion of her fragrant shoulder and jade-like neck.

“Alright, don’t overthink things. It’s late, go to sleep.”

He coaxed her again in a gentle voice.

The embroidered curtained bed fell silent, with only the sound of their breathing.

“Elder Cousin, may I ask you one more thing?”

After a moment, her voice reached his ears again.

Pei You’an didn’t open his eyes, merely uttering a sound of acknowledgment.

“Elder Cousin, if you don’t look down on me, do you dislike me?”

Pei You’an opened his eyes again and turned to look at her.

Jia Fu’s cloud-like hair was spread across the pillow, her chin tucked under the covers, with only half her face visible. Her eyes were fixed on him, unblinking.

“How could I? I said, don’t overthink things.”

“Then why, these past two nights when you came back… did you ignore me?”

The subtle warm fragrance within the embroidered curtains seemed to grow increasingly dense.

Pei You’an’s voice was dry: “I thought you were asleep…”

Her eyelashes trembled slightly, then slowly lowered, motionless, like a pair of butterfly wings perched on a flower.

Pei You’an stopped mid-sentence.

Newly married, sharing the same bed, yet for two consecutive nights, he hadn’t touched her.

He had originally thought she didn’t want him to touch her, but now realized it might have been a misunderstanding. She was just a young girl after all, who knew nothing, only knowing to smile at him when happy, cry before him when sad, and cling tightly to him when afraid. Being so unworldly, how much grievance could she endure? No wonder she had overthought things, leading to today’s incident.

Having married this girl, protecting her completely was inevitable, and if within his power, he should try his best to make her happy.

After hesitating, Pei You’an finally reached out to her, gently pulling her body into his embrace, just as he had done on their wedding night.

This body was as soft as if boneless, as smooth as congealed cream. Once in his arms, she pressed against him. Without her doing anything, moments later, he was ready. However, recalling the difficulty of first entry on their wedding night, and knowing she might still be uncomfortable, he held her against himself for a while longer. His palm against her skin, like plucking strings, like playing a zither, unhurried, gradually causing her to tremble, her cheeks flushed. When he too was swollen to the point of pain, he gently undressed her and pressed himself upon her.

Soon, a feeling similar to that urgent need for release on their wedding night surged within him. Pei You’an knew this wasn’t good and hurriedly withdrew slightly, closing his eyes as phrases like “focus the mind on the dantian,” “channel the breath to the heels,” and “gradually collect and concentrate…” flashed through his mind.

But before he could decide exactly how to proceed, he felt her jade-like arms tightly encircle his neck, her fragrant lips against his ear, and heard a voice like a sob: “Elder Cousin…” entering his ear. It seemed to hook his very soul, causing his skin to tighten and his hair to stand on end. He could no longer resist and finished before her again.

Pei You’an’s heart was pounding like a drum in his chest, his whole body covered in sweat. As he gradually returned from the state of extreme pleasure, he saw her nestled beneath him, eyes tightly closed, looking extremely docile. He couldn’t help feeling guilty and, holding the girl in his arms, said in a low voice: “I’ve disappointed you, haven’t I?” His voice was slightly hoarse.

Jia Fu’s face was flushed, her starry eyes half-open, half-closed. She shook her head, comforting him: “Elder Cousin, don’t be upset. Afu is already very happy…”

She had sensed his emotions. Knowing that for a man, this wasn’t something to boast about, she naturally tried to comfort him.

Besides, what she said wasn’t a lie.

She didn’t care about this at all. He had been weak as a child and had a deficiency; it was normal. Her feelings at this moment, apart from sympathy for him, were truly exceptionally happy.

Pei You’an fell silent and didn’t speak again. He merely stroked her head and rolled off her.

The light in the room was extinguished.

Jia Fu’s entire body relaxed, and she finally dared to boldly extend her arms around his waist, pressing her chest and abdomen against his, nestling in his embrace. She quickly fell asleep. In her drowsy state, she didn’t know what hour it was when she suddenly felt a weight on her body. She was somewhat awakened, but her consciousness was still in a dream state. Her eyelids were heavy, stuck together, and she couldn’t open them no matter how hard she tried. As she continued to struggle, she felt her legs being directly opened, followed by something hot and hard entering her.

“Elder Cousin…”

Jia Fu murmured drowsily, but before she could finish calling out, her mouth was covered in the darkness.

Jia Fu quickly awoke from her drowsy dream.

She was awakened by Pei You’an.

She had just fallen asleep, and in the time before she had fully awakened, he seemed like a completely different person. Not only had he lost his previous composed demeanor, but he also applied much more force, sometimes even causing pain to her delicate skin. His waist moved with a ferocious strength as if trying to shatter her into pieces.

Jia Fu endured at first, but later, as she was pushed from the pillow to the corner of the bed, her soul seemed to scatter, and she wept inconsolably.

This session continued until the rooster crowed. Her entire body felt disjointed. When he finally released her, she collapsed in the chaotic bedding, unable to move.

From beginning to end, Pei You’an had only gritted his teeth and taken her without making a sound. Only when his breathing gradually steadied, holding the woman who had gone limp as mud in his arms, did he close his eyes and exhale a long breath.

Jia Fu slept so deeply that she lost all sense of time and place. When she awoke, she was shocked to find that it was already bright daylight, and the man beside her was long gone.

Today marked the end of Pei You’an’s wedding leave, and he had likely returned to court for his duties. Jia Fu sat up, holding the blanket, called for someone to enter, and asked Tanxiang, who confirmed that the master had left early, specifically instructing that the mistress should sleep enough, and he had gone to pay respects to the old lady on her behalf.

Jia Fu recalled the ferocious manner in which he had taken her later that night, and her ears and heart burned. She also remembered the cut on his forehead that she had caused. During court, it could likely be concealed by the brim of his official hat, but this morning at home, facing the old lady and Madam Xin, it would have been impossible to hide. She wondered how he had explained it and felt somewhat anxious. Supporting her still-aching legs, she got out of bed, washed, dressed, and hurried to the old lady’s quarters. As she approached the courtyard, she unexpectedly saw Pei Xiuzhi walking out, apparently having just visited the old lady. He caught sight of her, stopped in his tracks, his eyes fixed, his gaze falling on her and unable to move away.

Pei Xiuzhi had been hiding in shame, claiming illness and not going out. It was Jia Fu’s fourth day here, and this was the first time they had encountered each other. Seeing his waxy yellow complexion and lusterless eyes, he had lost his former spirited young master’s demeanor. Despite his jade belt and fine clothes, he couldn’t hide his withered appearance.

Jia Fu merely paused briefly before continuing forward. As she approached, seeing that he didn’t bow to her, she acted as if she hadn’t seen him and walked straight past with Tanxiang and Muxiang behind her.

“Sister Fu…”

A trembling, faint voice reached her ears.

Jia Fu pretended not to hear and continued walking.

“Sister Fu…”

Pei Xiuzhi called out again.

Tanxiang and Muxiang glanced at each other, then hurriedly followed Jia Fu, staying close behind her.

Jia Fu stopped and turned her head. She saw Pei Xiuzhi staring at her with a look of deep, betrayed disappointment.

If not for her previous life’s experience, looking at his current state, he might have indeed appeared somewhat pitiful.

But Jia Fu knew that this first man she had encountered in her previous life was like a pitiful worm—both hateful and laughable.

“Second Brother, although I used to call you cousin, when a woman marries, her husband’s family takes precedence. Now I am your elder sister-in-law. When you see me, if you don’t address me as an elder sister-in-law, that’s fine, but my name—is that something you can call?”

Pei Xiuzhi’s lips trembled slightly.

“From now on, we’re all family, bound to see each other often. If you respect me an inch, I’ll respect you ten feet. I hope you’ll remember what I just said. I’ll consider this a momentary slip of the tongue.”

After speaking, Jia Fu didn’t look at him again and turned to enter the courtyard.