Wei Shao paused briefly in his steps.

“I did not come here to listen to Madam’s reminiscence of the past, nor is it appropriate for Madam to confide in me.”

He slowly turned his head.

“Lady Su, you have lingered in Jinyang for some time on your journey. If it is truly due to ill health, then rest and recuperate. However…”

His gaze fell directly on Su E’huang’s gradually paling face, lingering for a moment.

“If you have other intentions, heed my words – it would be best to depart soon. I am no longer the Second Young Master of yesteryear. I now have a wife whom I cherish deeply. I do not wish to cause her any distress by stirring up unnecessary trouble.”

“I have said all I needed to say. Take care of your health.”

…

With that, he left, not looking back even once.

Su E’huang stood frozen, her eyes fixed straight ahead. Her entire body felt as if it had been submerged in ice water, a fine chill slowly seeping through her skin and into her marrow.

Had her teeth not been tightly clenched, they would likely have been chattering by now.

Panic gradually seized her heart – the kind of panic that arises when things veer completely off course from one’s expectations.

She had originally thought that as long as she could get a chance to speak with him alone, she would be able to steer him in the direction she desired.

Never did she imagine that from the moment Wei Shao opened his mouth, things would spiral entirely out of her control.

All men in the world are fond of beauty. Su E’huang knew this well. Thus, even though Wei Shao had married the Qiao girl just over a year ago, she thought he might still be captivated by her allure, given the novelty.

Su E’huang had prepared herself for this possibility.

What she did not expect was for Wei Shao’s first words to be about sending her away. Not only that, but he even said in front of her that his wife “has captured my heart completely.”

Could it be that all those words that came out of that lowly maid Chun Niang’s mouth that day were true?

Su E’huang couldn’t accept it. She simply couldn’t accept it.

Could it be that the Qiao girl had forced Wei Shao to drive her away? Otherwise, if he truly despised her, why would his attitude still be so cordial, even offering to send people to escort her to Luoyang?

Wei Shao must still have feelings for her!

Perhaps she had hurt that young man too deeply in the past, leaving him with unresolved emotional wounds that the Qiao girl had taken advantage of, seducing him with her charms. The deaths of Wei Shao’s father and brothers were inextricably linked to the Qiao family’s betrayal back then! The pain that twelve-year-old boy had experienced, which others could not possibly empathize with, she had witnessed firsthand, minute by minute, almost as if she had lived through it herself.

Not to mention, half a year later, when he was finally able to get out of bed, the first thing he did was kneel before the ancestral tablets in the family temple and make a vicious vow to avenge his father and brothers by destroying all their enemies!

The fierce look in his eyes at that moment was still vivid in her memory even now.

How could such a Wei Shao be so infatuated with the daughter of his enemy, to the point of losing himself completely?

She didn’t believe it. She couldn’t believe it.

Let her think carefully, think carefully… She must be able to find a way to resolve this…

“Aunt! Why did Duke Yan come just now? Why do you look so distressed?”

Su Xin, who had been hiding all along, hurried in and supported Su E’huang, looking somewhat anxious.

Su E’huang’s eyes remained fixed as if she hadn’t heard him, motionless.

Su Xin stole a glance at Su E’huang’s expression, feeling increasingly uneasy. He stammered, “He didn’t… come because he found out about the incident in Yuyang, did he?”

Su E’huang shuddered, suddenly raising her eyes to stare at Su Xin.

“What nonsense are you spouting? What Yuyang incident?”

She spoke each word slowly, in a low voice, her gaze suddenly turning ice-cold, filled with a chilling intensity.

Su Xin hurriedly said, “Yes, yes, yes, it was foolish of me! Aunt, how are you feeling? You look so pale. I’m very worried.”

Su E’huang felt a buzzing in her ears, and the muscles at her temples seemed to twitch. Her body swayed slightly. She closed her eyes briefly, reaching out to grab Su Xin’s arm haphazardly. After a pause, she murmured, “I have a headache. Help me back to lie down. I need to rest.”

Her hand was ice-cold and clammy, devoid of any warmth, yet her grip was unusually strong, her nails digging deep into Su Xin’s flesh.

Through his clothes, Su Xin felt a sudden, intense pain when she gripped him, but he dared not make a sound. He quickly called for the maidservants.

The maidservants hurried over to help. Su Xin took the opportunity to free his arm and escorted Su E’huang back to her room, settling her down to rest.

Su E’huang lay with her eyes closed, motionless, seemingly having fallen asleep. Su Xin turned to leave, tiptoeing towards the door. Just as he reached the doorway, he suddenly heard a voice from behind: “Nothing happened earlier. Zhong Lin had just returned to Jinyang and, knowing I was here, came immediately to reminisce about old times and advise me to take care of my health. He left in a hurry due to other urgent matters. You need not worry, everything is under my control.”

Su Xin turned back. Su E’huang’s eyes were still closed, her expression becoming calm. He murmured a couple of acknowledgments and stepped outside. He lifted his sleeve to reveal five deep fingernail marks on his arm where she had gripped him. He hissed quietly and rubbed the marks a few times.

…

Xiao Qiao was fond of cleanliness, and especially now in the scorching heat of midsummer, when even the slightest movement caused perspiration, she naturally bathed daily.

On this day, after dinner and allowing time for digestion, just as night was falling, she entered the bath as usual.

Chun Niang had always been her attendant, and ever since the frightening incident at the beginning of the year, even though half a year had passed, she remained by her side constantly.

Xiao Qiao’s body was immersed in the water, only her fragrant shoulders exposed. Her freshly washed, jet-black long hair was gathered in front of her, clinging to her small but gradually swelling bosom. She twirled a wet lock of hair around her finger, playing with it for a moment, when she heard Chun Niang say from behind her, “If my lord returns this time, my lady must keep him here for a few more days! You’ve been married for quite some time now, and although the Venerable Madam hasn’t inquired, she’s probably thinking about it every day.”

Chun Niang had always stubbornly believed that when the Venerable Madam deliberately went to Wuzhong City with Madam Zhu at the beginning of the year, it was to encourage my lord to bring my lady along, hoping that my lady would soon bear children for the Wei family. But the couple was often apart, and even now, there was still no news from my lady’s side. How could she not be anxious?

Xiao Qiao murmured in agreement.

“That Lady Su, I had someone secretly check on her today. She’s still there, leisurely nursing her supposed illness! How can there be such a shameless person!”

Chun Niang thought of Lady Su, and it felt like a lump of rotten mud was stuck in her heart. As she massaged Xiao Qiao’s beautiful back, she continued, “My lady must not underestimate her! She has a history with my lord, and that alone gives her an advantage over others. Not to mention, someone like her must be exceptionally skilled in matters of the bedchamber. Most men in this world favor women like her. You were too young then to know, but your uncle once had a concubine who also had this skill of manipulating men. Before that woman came, he would spend ten or so nights a month in your aunt’s chambers. But after he got that woman, it was as if he had found a treasure. He rarely went to your aunt’s chambers, let alone those of other concubines. When that woman fell ill and died, he even mourned for several days. That woman was merely a songstress, yet how did she gain such favor? It was all due to her skills in serving men! Although Lady Su is of noble birth, I can tell at a glance that she must have had many experiences. What wouldn’t she be willing to do?”

Xiao Qiao remained silent.

“I shouldn’t be saying these things in front of you, my lady. It’s improper. But I worry that you’re young and inexperienced, unaware of these intricacies, and might be taken advantage of if you’re not careful. This Lady Su is waiting here for my lord to return. If she’s shameless enough to make a move, and my lord considers their past relationship if she seizes the opportunity, who knows if my lord might…”

Chun Niang glanced at Xiao Qiao. Seeing her lowered head, using a delicate white finger to twirl a lock of hair, winding it up, and then releasing it repeatedly, Chun Niang wondered if her words might have frightened her. She quickly changed her tone to comfort her: “My lady, don’t let my words scare you. I was just giving a reminder. My lady’s beauty is unmatched. I can see that my lord cherishes you deeply. When my lord returns, if you take good care of him and don’t give others any opportunity, even ten Lady Sus wouldn’t stand a chance!”

Chun Niang had talked until her mouth was dry, but Xiao Qiao hadn’t made a sound. Chun Niang became a bit anxious: “My dear, I’ve said so much, have you taken any of it in?”

Xiao Qiao’s thoughts drifted to the box she had encountered when she first arrived at the Wei household.

In recent days, with Lady Su’s reappearance, the unpleasant memories associated with that box had gradually become clear again.

Chun Niang was getting worried. Xiao Qiao then turned her head and said, “I’ve taken it in, I understand—”

Chun Niang finally smiled. She moved to Xiao Qiao’s front, untangled the few strands of hair wrapped around her finger, took a dry towel, and wiped away the moisture from her hair, then coiled it atop her head.

Her gaze swept over the now more alluring expanse of white bosom half-exposed above the water, and she sighed, “We’ve been talking about my lord all this time. The war on my lord’s side must be coming to an end soon, right? I think it hasn’t been easy for him either. It’s been half a year in the blink of an eye since you arrived here at the beginning of the year. During these six months, my lord has barely spent a few days in the city living a peaceful life, always out on military campaigns. Even thinking about it makes my heart ache. My lord is working hard, and you’re here with no one to keep you company. Always being apart like this, who knows when it will end…”

Suddenly, there was a knock on the bathroom door from outside.

Chun Niang thought it was a maid and turned to ask, “What is it? My lady hasn’t finished bathing yet.”

“It’s me,” a steady male voice came through.

Chun Niang recognized Wei Shao’s voice and was overjoyed. She exchanged a glance with Xiao Qiao, gave her shoulder an encouraging squeeze, and then hurried to open the door.

Wei Shao was leaning casually against the doorframe.

Chun Niang suppressed her joy and bowed, greeting him, “My lord has returned? When did you arrive? Was the journey tiring?”

“Just now,” Wei Shao replied briefly, his gaze already fixed on Xiao Qiao, who was still in the bathtub. He stepped inside.

Chun Niang hurriedly exited, closing the door behind her. Now only the two of them remained in the bathroom.

Wei Shao walked to Xiao Qiao’s bathtub and stopped, looking down at her in the water.

Xiao Qiao tilted her face up slightly, meeting his gaze for a moment, then gently leaned back against the tub wall, sliding down until the water covered her fragrant shoulders.

“My lord has returned, why didn’t you send a word in advance? So I could have been prepared,” she said softly.

Wei Shao slowly crouched down, bringing his eyes level with hers across the tub wall.

“Come here,” he said.

Xiao Qiao asked, “What for?”

Wei Shao gazed at her face, moist and misty from the bath water: “Come closer to me.”

Xiao Qiao bit her lip, her jade-like arms emerging wet from the water. She grasped the edge of the tub and slowly moved towards him, parting the water. Finally, she drew close to him, her body turned sideways, arms resting on the tub’s edge. She looked back at him coquettishly and said, “I’ve come closer!”

Wei Shao’s gaze traveled from her face down her neck to her fragrant shoulders, settling on the expanse of snow-white back she had exposed to him. After staring for a moment, his Adam’s apple bobbed. Suddenly, he reached out and embraced her, lowering his head to bite and nibble at her shoulder blades, which were shaped like butterfly wings.

Xiao Qiao felt her bones turning to jelly from his nibbling. She could only scrunch up her neck, trying to avoid his mouth, all the while unable to suppress her giggles.

Wei Shao closed his eyes, showing no tenderness or pity. He roughly rubbed his face, with its coarse stubble, against her, feeling the softness and warmth of her skin, leaving red marks on her delicate shoulders and back. In his ears, he heard her whimpering sounds of both pleasure and pain from the sensation. The longing he had felt for her over these past few months seemed to finally find release.

He pulled her out of the water, wet as a fish, and the two of them embraced, rolling around on the wet floor.

Afterward, Wei Shao carried Xiao Qiao, who had turned into a soft puddle on the floor, back into the water. He had her sit astride his waist, while he leaned back against the tub wall, his face serious as he asked her, “In my last letter to you, I told you to reply quickly. Why didn’t you?”