This Mo Yi, nothing good ever happened when encountering him!

Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but pout, saying, “I’m not worried about him at all,” and then asked Zhao Ling, “What about Lord Tao and the others? Do you still need to entertain them?”

“Tao Mu and Lin Chi have court duty early tomorrow morning, so they’ve already left.” Zhao Ling looked exhausted. “As for Mo Yi, A-Sen is helping to take care of him.” He murmured, “When guests leave, the host can rest. We can finally have a good rest.” He added, “Fortunately, we don’t need to meet relatives tomorrow, so we can sleep in.”

Seeing this, Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but feel distressed for him and quickly said: “Then go wash up quickly and rest early!” She called loudly for Pearl to attend to Zhao Ling’s washing up.

Zhao Ling made a sound of acknowledgment and went to the washroom.

Only Fu Tingyun remained in the room.

The big red dragon and phoenix candles on the table crackled with sparks, casting a red glow throughout the room.

Fu Tingyun looked at the pair of mandarin duck pillows at the head of the bed, her face burning hot.

She somewhat uncertainly rearranged the bedding when she heard the door creak open, and Zhao Ling walked in wearing a brand-new casual robe.

“You haven’t rested yet!” He yawned, his demeanor natural and at ease, which helped relax Fu Tingyun’s tense mood considerably.

“I, I was just making the bed.”

“Let’s rest early!” Zhao Ling said, sitting on the edge of the bed. “Although we don’t need to meet relatives tomorrow, the decorators will come to settle accounts, the theater troupe will come to dismantle the stage, and the courtyard needs to be cleaned… We still have a pile of things waiting for us!”

These were all trivial matters to Fu Tingyun. Her mood relaxed even more, and she smiled: “You just sleep in tomorrow. I’ll lead Yu Wei to settle accounts with them. It won’t take much time. Besides, we have Old Master Lü to help!”

Zhao Ling nodded, lifted the thin red outer quilt embroidered with mandarin ducks playing in water, and lay down.

Fu Tingyun remembered that Sixth Aunt had taught her that after marriage, the husband sleeps on the inside, and the wife on the outside, so that if the husband wants tea in the middle of the night, the wife can easily get up to serve him.

She gently pushed him: “You should sleep on the inside!”

Zhao Ling seemed very tired, and with his eyes closed, he groaned a couple of times, turned over, and fell back into deep sleep.

Fu Tingyun was exasperated, but for some reason, she also felt a sense of ease.

Seeing him sleeping so soundly, she didn’t have the heart to disturb him further. She lowered the bed curtains, carefully climbed onto the bed, avoiding Zhao Ling, lifted the inner thin quilt, and lay down.

Zhao Ling muttered something indistinctly in his mouth, and his arm suddenly draped over her waist.

Fu Tingyun was startled, her heart pounding wildly, her body rigid, not daring to move for a long while.

Zhao Ling made no other movement.

Fu Tingyun turned her face to see his uniquely peaceful countenance in sleep.

Perhaps it was an unconscious act while sleeping!

She breathed a long sigh of relief, slowly calming down.

Fu Tingyun had been busy preparing for the wedding these past days. Although somewhat tired, her fatigue was quickly masked by excitement and anticipation for her new life. Now, as she relaxed, weariness gradually crept over her, and she sank deeply into dreamland.

Someone called “Nan’nan” in her ear with a low and somewhat hoarse voice.

Was she dreaming?

Just like on many lonely nights before when she missed Zhao Ling, his voice, full of laughter and affection, would inexplicably echo in her ears.

Though Fu Tingyun kept her eyes closed, her lips involuntarily curved upward into a smile, and she sweetly responded with a soft “Mm.”

A fiery body pressed against her, and her earlobe was gently nibbled by something warm, soft, and moist, instantly sending a tingling sensation throughout her body.

She couldn’t help but shudder, and with it came full wakefulness.

It was somewhat dark inside the bed curtains, which made one’s senses more heightened.

Fu Tingyun felt a pair of calloused, rough hands holding and gently kneading the fullness of her chest.

With a “boom,” her face burned hot. Not only was her body uncomfortably hot, but even the air she breathed seemed to roll with waves of heat.

“Zhao, Zhao Ling?” she stammered, as if disbelieving, needing confirmation of something, yet also telling herself, trying to convince herself of something.

“Mm!” Zhao Ling responded in a low voice by her ear, his voice smiling but seemingly somewhat distracted, while the pressure of his hands increased, and his warm lips once again enveloped her earlobe.

This unripe fruit could hardly withstand such bold treatment.

For a moment, Fu Tingyun’s mind went blank. When she came to her senses, she was overwhelmed with shyness.

“Zhao Ling…” She didn’t know what to do, her voice tight. “You, didn’t you say you were very tired?”

Zhao Ling chuckled by her ear, his hot breath falling on her neck, diffusing an ambiguous scent that made her heart race: “No matter how tired I am, I still need to consummate our marriage! Haven’t you heard the old saying? If one hasn’t entered the bridal chamber by midnight, one must choose another place to rest. But if one enters the bridal chamber before midnight but doesn’t…” As he spoke, he gently bit her earlobe again, immediately causing an indescribable feeling to surge from Fu Tingyun’s chest, making her body go soft, unable to resist letting out an “Ah.”

That sound, so tender and soft, prompted another burst of laughter from Zhao Ling, who continued teasingly: “…that would be inauspicious!”

Fu Tingyun felt that his laughter conveyed a smug satisfaction, making her both embarrassed and annoyed. She struggled to avoid him but was firmly held in his embrace.

Sensing her displeasure, Zhao Ling quickly lowered his voice to coax her: “Nan’nan, be good…” He kissed her cheek. “These days I’ve been dreaming of you every night, have you been thinking of me?”

His voice was deep and hoarse, with a trace of trembling, a trace of pleading, as if her answer could determine everything for him, making Fu Tingyun’s heart melt immediately.

She was somewhat shy, but she didn’t conceal her feelings, and in a faint voice said, “I thought of you too.”

Before her words had fully faded, Fu Tingyun found herself pinned beneath Zhao Ling.

She gasped in surprise, her hands involuntarily climbing to rest on his shoulders.

His shoulders were broad and firm, inexplicably giving her a sense of security.

“Nan’nan…” Zhao Ling murmured her name, his tongue making a direct assault, prying open her teeth. Like gnawing, like devouring, he wildly plundered her every breath, feeling every inch of her sweetness.

The air seemed to ignite, leaving only boundless heat within the bed curtains.

Fu Tingyun’s entire body heated up, unable to breathe. Soon, she began to whimper uncomfortably, yet she was firmly pinned down, unable to move… Just when she thought she might suffocate, Zhao Ling suddenly released her.

He panted heavily, his pupils glowing in the darkness.

“Nan’nan, my little Nan’nan…” Zhao Ling murmured, placing a kiss as gentle as falling petals on her forehead… yet his hand inside her garment passionately and domineeringly traced along her curves down…

Fu Tingyun trembled, her gasps escaping her throat, transforming into a soft moan.

Zhao Ling seemed encouraged, his actions becoming increasingly unrestrained.

Clothes were pulled away beneath, bed curtains swayed overhead.

Between her legs was something foreign, hard, and burning.

Fu Tingyun’s heart pounded like a drum.

She closed her eyes, tightly embraced his shoulders, and buried her face in the crook of his neck.

Pain suddenly struck as her body was forcibly penetrated.

She couldn’t help but cry out “Ah!” and bit down on his shoulder…

…

The sun was high in the sky, its orange-yellow light streaming through the window lattice adorned with double happiness cutouts, making the golden curtain hooks gleam brilliantly.

From within the red bed curtains came a rustling sound, and a steady pair of large hands emerged to pull the curtains toward the side of the bed, hooking them in place.

Light penetrated the bed.

Zhao Ling sat bare-chested against the headboard, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, his handsome face animated by his good mood.

He looked down, gazing at Fu Tingyun sleeping beside him.

Her features were relaxed, her expression peaceful, her red lips slightly pouting. If not for the faint shadows under her eyes, it would seem as if sleeping there was not a young woman, but a carefree child.

Last night he should have shown more restraint…

Zhao Ling felt somewhat regretful and couldn’t help but reach out with affection to gently caress her face.

The soft, smooth feeling immediately unlocked his memories.

Her body was just as tender and smooth, soft as if boneless… His body instantly became excited again.

Indeed, once one tastes the marrow, the flavor is known. Before, he had lived alone for many years, seen plenty of beautiful women, and had some who threw themselves at him, yet he was never moved, let alone being like now, where just lightly touching her cheek made his body uncontrollably…

Zhao Ling smiled wryly, forcibly suppressing the stirrings in his heart.

He couldn’t disturb Nan’nan again; he should at least wait for her to rest for a few days… or, rest for a day or two…

As he pondered, Fu Tingyun in her sleep perhaps felt something unusual on her face. She murmured, turned over uneasily.

The thin quilt slipped from her shoulders, revealing her back with curves as beautiful as mountains and skin as white as fresh snow.

Zhao Ling couldn’t help but widen his eyes.

Fu Tingyun’s body was not only covered in various bruises from blue to purple to red, but her shoulder also bore a circle of teeth marks.

He trembled as he gently stroked those teeth marks.

How could this be?

He had treasured her like a precious jewel. Although the first time was a bit rushed, the second time he had carefully kissed her entire body, and Nan’nan had even moaned and embraced him… He still remembered her face, which had become charming with desire… He had felt very satisfied, very happy, very pleased because of this… how could…

Zhao Ling drew in a sharp breath, covered her with the thin quilt, and bent down to anxiously call “Nan’nan” by her ear.

Fu Tingyun barely opened her beautiful eyes, glanced at Zhao Ling, and closed them again.

“Zhao Ling, I can’t, I need to sleep…” she murmured, burying her face in the pillow.

“Nan’nan!” A flash of embarrassment crossed Zhao Ling’s eyes as he brushed her disheveled black hair behind her ear. “Nan’nan, I have something to tell you…”

Fu Tingyun treated it as if a mosquito was buzzing and covered her ears.

…

In the courtyard, Kou’er asked Zheng San Niang, who was kneading dough: “Are we not going to call the Ninth Master and Madam? Is it almost time for lunch?” Her tone conveyed deep concern.

“Everyone has been so tired these days!” Zheng San Niang said calmly. “The Ninth Master and Madam have had to manage everything, so they’re even more exhausted. Now that things are finally settling down, of course, they need to sleep more. Don’t cause trouble here.” She then pointed her lips toward the outside. “If you have time, why not go to the outer courtyard and see if Lord Mo has woken up? Prevent him from coming in and disturbing the Ninth Master and Madam.”