Xu Lingyi’s hand slid in from beneath Shiyiniang’s hem, coming to rest naturally at her waist, as though he had done this a thousand times before.

Shiyiniang froze where she was.

She could tell that this gesture carried no desire behind it — it was purely a posture, nothing more.

Even so, she shifted with a trace of unease.

Xu Lingyi immediately sensed his wife’s anxiety.

He found it utterly amusing.

When he had been taking liberties with her, a little maidservant had come barging in, and though she had been furious beyond measure, she had gone straight to the Old Marchioness on her own without a word. Then, when he had handed her the silver ingots and banknotes he had prepared for her early that morning, she had immediately flashed with unease and asked at once whether he would be bored staying home alone — and had even arranged for Qiao Yiniang to come keep him company. He had neither agreed nor refused. When she returned from Gongxian Hutong, she had promptly and attentively asked what he had done at home all day… He had originally intended to say he had spent the entire day alone at home, to use that as a way to make her anxious. But then he had noticed that she felt far more guilty about the Imperial Household Department having charged the Xu Family a mere three hundred taels of silver yet producing such an extraordinarily lavish treasure chest for her — as though because she had taken that small advantage from the Imperial Household Department, he would therefore be seized on that account and plunged into disloyalty and infamy.

Frankly speaking, her perception of the matter was somewhat laughable. If Prince Shun were not shrewd, he could not possibly have managed the Imperial Household Department with a prince’s seniority. Matters like having a self-chiming clock fashioned into a grand floor clock — he did such things regularly and with great ease; there was no shortage of people throughout the court, high and low alike, who had benefitted from his favors. Unless the Emperor decided one day to settle accounts with the two of them at once, those sharp-eyed cabinet ministers would never raise these matters as grounds for censure. To impeach him would inevitably drag in Prince Shun; to impeach Prince Shun would inevitably drag in him.

And yet, for some reason he could not explain, when he had seen her sneaking instructions to the maidservant to quickly move that treasure chest out of his sight — that evasive, furtive manner of hers — a warmth had spread through his chest.

Never mind that having the Imperial Household Department make such a conspicuous piece was troublesome; she had, after all, kept him in mind…

At that moment, a thought had turned in his mind, and the desire to tease her had grown even stronger.

So he had feigned an air of smoothing things over and mentioned going to thank Prince Shun for the matter of the treasure chest. Sure enough, she had followed his line of thinking right along and had begun to grow rather unsettled… When he had then placed his hand seemingly without intention at her waist, he had been able to feel that she was somewhat stiff, yet not as rigid as she had been before.

The thought flickered past, and he could not help but let the corner of his mouth curve upward. His voice carried a trace of helplessness: “Prince Shun has done us too great a favor. As you know, the New Year is approaching — the Imperial Household Department is so busy they can barely catch their breath — and yet before the Little New Year they still rushed to make a treasure chest for you. If I do not pay him a visit, it simply will not do.” Before he had finished speaking, he felt her body contract slightly.

Xu Lingyi was quietly delighted, and he let out a sigh — light as a feather.

In the stillness of the night, it was nevertheless perfectly audible.

Shiyiniang immediately felt the hand resting at her waist burn like a branding iron, and she said anxiously: “But your leg…”

Xu Lingyi suppressed his amusement, his voice grave and solemn: “I can go in a heated sedan chair — this foot numbness ailment comes and goes as it pleases. If anyone asks, just say I was feeling a little better and went out for a walk.”

If he were going out for a stroll, not calling on his ailing mother-in-law, yet instead going to Prince Shun’s residence — would that not, if it became known, give people yet another handle to use against him at any moment? To speak plainly, this was also because Xu Lingyi had only surface respect for the First Madam and, in doing things, never truly kept her in mind, and had not thought any of this through.

Shiyiniang gently reminded him: “But then would you not also have to make a trip to Gongxian Hutong? That would be far too much trouble!”

He had entirely forgotten about that!

Xu Lingyi had no real intention of going to Prince Shun’s residence, and so he had not thought things through with much care. On hearing her words, he said: “You are right. I did not even accompany you to your family’s home today, and rushing off to Prince Shun’s tomorrow would indeed be somewhat improper. However, Prince Shun holds great power and influence — aside from me, it would not be quite right for anyone else to go…”

His pace of speech slowed, as if he were genuinely deliberating on the matter, as if he were in a quandary. The more Shiyiniang listened, the more uneasy she felt inwardly. But there was nothing to be done about it — there was no one besides Xu Lingyi who could help her in this… She could only choose to ignore his apparent difficulty, yet she became aware that the hand that had been resting so properly at her waist was now gently stroking her skin.

The first time they had been intimate, Xu Lingyi had discovered that his new bride possessed a snow-white complexion that made one linger. But the circumstances then had been unusual, and afterward things had proceeded hastily. Now, pressed against her porcelain-smooth skin, his fingertips moved of their own accord, tracing over it with a soft, caressing touch.

Fine as porcelain, yet warm and gentle as jade… his heart gave a sudden tremor, and his pace of speech slowed involuntarily.

Some people, when sinking into thought, will act without being aware of it.

Was Xu Lingyi’s action deliberate, or was it without intent?

Shiyiniang had no time to reflect on this. The tingling sensation at her waist made her young and inexperienced body respond at once — she could not help but let out a soft laugh and twist her body away from his hand.

“That tickles!”

Her slender, light body, soft as though boneless, twisted in his arms, and those images still lingering in memory — those graceful, alluring moments — instantly became blazing flames, rushing from his mind straight down into his abdomen, making his entire body tense… Yet the silvery laughter ringing in his ears was like the toll of an evening bell and morning drum — thunderous and deafening.

He immediately brought his emotions under control, his mind working rapidly.

Since the two of them had come together, this was the first time she had laughed in his arms so completely without her guard up.

A clever person often creates opportunities for themselves, all the more so when such an opportunity is already at hand.

Xu Lingyi made up his mind at once.

He feigned ignorance and asked her with complete seriousness: “Where does it tickle?” — yet his hand gave her a light, gentle scratch at the waist.

Shiyiniang was taken aback.

Xu Lingyi — was actually playing a joke on her!

Sensing his wife’s momentary bewilderment, Xu Lingyi tried again: “Is it here that tickles?” He gave another scratch.

Shiyiniang not only felt the tickle but also sensed the playfulness behind it.

Thinking of how he had kept a careful distance from her during this period, she relaxed and could not help laughing as she reached out to catch his hand: “Stop it, it really tickles!” Her body twisted involuntarily.

Like a little cat nestling against him in his arms… Xu Lingyi felt his emotions surge, and a dull ache began somewhere on his person.

He drew a deep breath, bearing through the bodily discomfort, and began to tickle her underarm.

“No, no, no…” Shiyiniang begged for mercy, twisting like pulled taffy.

His hand then inadvertently brushed against something round, smooth, and soft…

Xu Lingyi felt desire flare uncontrollably in every direction, and his breathing began to grow somewhat heavy.

Shiyiniang, as though scalded, felt her face flush instantly. She quickly turned herself over, putting a distance between herself and Xu Lingyi in a panicked retreat.

This was different from her former tenacious, steeled endurance… Xu Lingyi perceived this immediately, and his mouth went suddenly dry. He drew Shiyiniang close and murmured against her ear with an intimate tone: “Would need a few more years of growing before one could just barely cup it in a hand…” As he spoke, his thumb, carrying a note of gentle teasing, touched the tender peak.

Xu Lingyi — was actually flirting with her?

Shiyiniang was momentarily stunned.

His hand then followed the graceful curve of her body and came to rest at her willow-slender waist: “The scenery here is truly the finest!”

His slightly deepened breath fanned against her ear, and Shiyiniang had no more doubts.

She was both flushed with shame and startled.

“My Lord…” Her voice carried a faint note of tender reproach.

The corner of Xu Lingyi’s mouth curved high.

His hand then slid downward along her slender waist…

Shiyiniang drew a sharp breath.

When had her monthly cycle last come… it seemed like it should be around mid-month… and now it was the latter part of the month…

Thinking of this, her body could not help trembling slightly.

“My Lord!” Her voice was somewhat broken and faltering — she did not know what she was even trying to express.

Xu Lingyi was quite taken aback.

Just a moment ago everything had been fine — why had she… He then recalled that time when he had stopped halfway through… He gently bit her ear: “Are you frightened?”

Shiyiniang was very frightened.

She was afraid of becoming pregnant.

Yet she knew clearly in her heart that these words were absolutely impossible to speak aloud.

Her body only trembled more intensely.

Xu Lingyi held her, curled into herself, in his arms — and in this position he could feel her delicate smallness even more acutely than usual… which made his heart go so soft it could almost melt… Almost without thinking, he took her hand and slowly guided it downward from his own waist…

“Shiyiniang,” his rich voice had grown somewhat husky, “come…” His burning face pressed against her cheek; she could clearly feel the roiling tide of his emotion.

Shiyiniang felt as though her entire body had caught fire.

“I… I don’t know how…”

Xu Lingyi gave a soft laugh: “Did your nannies not tell you…”

Shiyiniang had not listened.

She felt she understood.

In truth, understanding and knowing how are two different things.

Shiyiniang’s silence pleased Xu Lingyi.

Xu Lingyi laughed, leaned over and half-pressed himself over Shiyiniang, taking her earlobe between his lips…

……

Shiyiniang felt as though her mind was all a jumble of paste.

She did not know what she had done, nor how much time had passed. Only when she felt him pour forth did she suddenly come to herself and realize how rigid she had become.

Xu Lingyi’s mind was a blank; his body, however, felt the satisfaction of having been fully indulged. After a long while he came back to his senses.

Finding himself still half-pressed upon Shiyiniang, he said: “Are you all right?” His voice held a trace of tension.

Shiyiniang had been completely tense throughout, without feeling anything at all.

Hearing him ask, she hurriedly replied: “I am fine!” — though her tone carried, without her realizing it, a note of reassurance.

Xu Lingyi still worried that he had been pressing down on her.

He shifted his body and lay to one side, thinking of her docility a moment ago, feeling warmth in his heart, then with a tender protectiveness drew her into his arms, his hand idly stroking her hair.

Sensing that he had been satisfied, Shiyiniang’s emotions finally relaxed.

It was finally over!

She leaned against him with some weariness and sank into a deep sleep.

The night passed without dreams, and when she woke the following morning, Xu Lingyi was no longer beside her.

Hupo quickly said: “My Lord has gone to the Half-Moon Pavilion.”

It was barely past the first quarter of the Mao hour, and he had already gone to the Half-Moon Pavilion.

Shiyiniang was startled: “When did my Lord leave? Did anyone come looking for him?”

Hupo shook her head: “No one came looking for my Lord. My Lord left at the start of the Yin hour. He only instructed this servant not to wake Madam.”

Shiyiniang rose from bed with a heart full of puzzlement. She had just finished washing and dressing when Xu Lingyi came striding in.

He wore a bright sapphire-blue brocade Taoist robe, his complexion ruddy, his spirits fresh and clear. Seeing that Shiyiniang was already presentable, he settled himself onto the broad platform bed by the window and simultaneously instructed the maidservants to bring the morning meal.

“Where did my Lord go? Out so early in the morning without a word — you gave this concubine quite a fright.”

—