The gentle tone of Wei Shao’s voice and his handsome smile lingered in Xiao Qiao’s mind like a spring breeze after rain, even though he had left a while ago. She felt like crying again.
Why didn’t he go on a long journey?
To be sentimental, she even missed the days when he treated her like air. As for the future, she didn’t know, but tonight, if she had to go through another experience like last night…
Wei Shao only cared about his pleasure, but what about her body?
The area below was swollen and sore. When Chun Niang came in to help her get up, Xiao Qiao couldn’t help but mumble about it, which broke Chun Niang’s heart.
Seeing how the master had returned yesterday, she knew the mistress would have a hard time. Worried, she had gotten up twice in the middle of the night to check and saw that the candles in the room were still lit. It wasn’t until around 3-5 AM that they were finally extinguished.
The mistress had a delicate constitution and had just come of age. With a considerate husband, it wouldn’t have been an issue. But judging from the master’s physique, one could imagine how intense their intimate moments were. The candles had been lit for most of the night, so Chun Niang had been worried since early morning. As soon as the master left, she came in. She hadn’t expected Xiao Qiao to be in such discomfort. Entering the room, she found her lying there listlessly with faint dark circles under her eyes, which pained Chun Niang to see. Hearing her complain of pain, she quickly wanted to examine her, but Xiao Qiao refused. Chun Niang had no choice but to fetch some ointment.
When Xiao Qiao got married, Chun Niang had been thoughtful enough to prepare this anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving ointment. It hadn’t been opened until now. Xiao Qiao took it and applied some while turning away, finally feeling some cool relief. She let out a sigh.
As Chun Niang helped her dress, she softly admonished, “Yesterday, I thought that since the master had just returned home, he would naturally be eager, and the mistress should accommodate him if possible. But no matter what, you shouldn’t let yourself suffer like this! There are other ways, and I’ve taught you before. Child, you’re too naive!”
Xiao Qiao understood Chun Niang’s hint. But she felt truly wronged.
How could she tell Chun Niang that Wei Shao had completely ignored her refusals last night, showing no interest in other forms of intimacy, and was singlemindedly focused on having her? When he wanted her, he took her. She couldn’t overpower him, and crying and begging were useless. The more she cried and begged, the more excited he seemed to become.
Faced with such a beast, what could she do?
…
Although Wei Shao had said she didn’t need to show her face to his grandmother and Madam Zhu this morning, Xiao Qiao didn’t have the thick skin to do so. Everyone knew what happened in the bedroom when a man returned home after a long absence, but if she followed Wei Shao’s suggestion, she wouldn’t be able to face anyone in the future. Once the soreness in her body had subsided a bit and she had finished washing up, she went to the north room as usual.
Wei Shao had already visited earlier and mentioned that she would be getting up late today. Seeing that she arrived at about the same time as usual, Madam Xu’s attitude remained normal and she didn’t ask any embarrassing questions. After chatting idly with Xiao Qiao for a while, she finally mentioned Xiao Qiao’s younger brother. She said that she had personally instructed the servants to prepare a room for him, and was just waiting for her brother to arrive soon.
Madam Xu’s statement put Xiao Qiao’s mind completely at ease.
After all, there had been a blood feud between the Wei and Qiao families before. Although her grandmother-in-law had always been kind to her since she married into the Wei family, and her relationship with Wei Shao had recently begun to thaw, showing signs of improvement, she was still a daughter of the Qiao family who had married out. According to current views, she was entirely a member of the Wei family. The Wei family accepting her as a daughter-in-law was completely different from accepting her natal family members.
Calculating the time since the envoy’s departure, they should be arriving in Youzhou soon. Xiao Qiao had been wondering these past couple of days if she should try to subtly inquire about the possibility of her brother staying with them if the Wei family didn’t bring it up on their own.
It would be fine for the envoys accompanying her brother to stay at the official guesthouse. But if her brother, coming from afar, were also arranged to stay at the guesthouse, it might have been acceptable when she first arrived, but now it would be rather unseemly. She wouldn’t be able to get over it psychologically.
Now that Madam Xu had brought up the topic on her own, it turned out she had already taken care of everything. Xiao Qiao was extremely grateful and hurriedly thanked her.
“Your younger brother is Second Young Master’s brother-in-law. We’re all family, so there’s no need for thanks,” Madam Xu said with a smile.
…
As Xiao Qiao left the north room, her mood was quite cheerful, and even the discomfort in her body seemed to have lessened by half. She turned towards the east room.
Usually, when she came to the east room, Madam Zhu would have a sour expression on her face.
Today it was even worse.
She could smell the overwhelming odor of disgust before she even entered.
However, now that she knew Madam Xu was also protecting her, Madam Zhu didn’t do anything besides giving her dirty looks. Xiao Qiao had grown accustomed to it.
The only surprise today was seeing Nanny Jiang again.
Nanny Jiang hadn’t been seen for a long time since she broke her leg. This was the first time she had appeared.
For some reason, every time Xiao Qiao saw Nanny Jiang, she was reminded of Nanny Rong. With Madam Zhu and Nanny Rong together, one can imagine how much Xiao Qiao disliked coming to the east room.
Ironically, Madam Zhu seemed to have a masochistic streak. Despite clearly hating to see Xiao Qiao, she refused to follow her mother-in-law Madam Xu’s example of excusing her daughter-in-law from the morning greetings. Instead, she insisted on having Xiao Qiao come before her every day to annoy her.
After paying respects to her mother-in-law, Xiao Qiao quickly pushed away the memory of Nanny Rong’s two piercing gazes as she left earlier. She returned to her room, and the rest of the afternoon was hers to spend as she wished.
During Madam Xu’s recent birthday celebration, Xiao Qiao gifted her a scroll of scripture. She had noticed that Madam Xu often read and chanted from it. However, since the scripture was copied when Xiao Qiao was still at her maiden home, the font was a bit small for Madam Xu’s eyesight. Some time ago, she had decided to start copying another version with larger characters to give to her. She had already begun the task. Now, returning to her room with no desire to rest further, she rolled up her sleeves and sat down, filled with gratitude towards Madam Xu. She ground some ink and continued copying.
Wei Shao didn’t return for lunch. After Xiao Qiao finished her meal alone, she took a short nap before getting up to continue copying. After finishing a section, she needed to switch to a larger brush to write the citations but felt that the current brush was a bit worn and not easy to use.
Wei Shao’s study was not far from the bedroom, just across a corridor.
He would surely have suitable brushes in his study.
In the past, when he was still pointing his sword at her nose, Xiao Qiao naturally wouldn’t have entered his study.
But things were slightly different now. Once a man and woman have experienced true physical intimacy, especially with the kind of frenzy from last night, whether intentional or not, there would be a sense of closeness psychologically.
Besides, she was just going to get a brush.
Xiao Qiao got up, crossed the corridor, passed by two servant women who were sweeping the courtyard, and arrived at the door of Wei Shao’s study. She pushed open the door, took a suitable brush, and then came out.
…
At the end of the 7-9 PM period, Wei Shao returned to the room.
When he first entered, he seemed to still be wearing his “Marquis” facade from the outside, looking quite serious.
If it weren’t for the fact that Xiao Qiao’s lower region still felt uncomfortable when she walked, just looking at his serious face, she might have thought that she was the one who had abused him last night.
However, he quickly shed that Marquis skin.
Soon after entering the bathroom, Xiao Qiao heard him call for her to come in as well. Reluctantly entering, he asked her to scrub his back.
Scrubbing his back was fine. But as she scrubbed, it turned into him massaging her entire body. After a few rubs, he showed signs of excitement again, and finally carried her to bed, wanting to engage in last night’s strenuous activity once more.
With the painful lesson from last night still fresh in her mind, and the pain down there not yet gone, as soon as his hand reached out, Xiao Qiao immediately hugged her pillow tightly, her face crumpling as she begged for mercy. She said it still hurt, that it had hurt even when touched by water while bathing, and that she had just applied medicine.
Wei Shao’s enthusiasm was dampened by her interruption. Somewhat disappointed, he shamelessly said he needed to see for himself to believe it. Xiao Qiao’s face turned red, and at first, she refused. After repeated threats from him, half-forced and half-compliant, she finally let him look.
The skin there was a light pink color, and the delicate lips had indeed been chafed. After just one day, it certainly hadn’t healed yet. Covered with a thin layer of ointment, it looked like a moist flower in the candlelight, extremely beautiful.
Wei Shao stared without blinking, his Adam’s apple bobbing.
Xiao Qiao had originally covered her face with the pillow. After a while, feeling no movement from him, she slightly moved the pillow to peek out. Seeing him still staring, seemingly in a daze, she hurriedly lowered her legs, pulled back her skirt to cover herself, and sat up.
“I wasn’t lying to you, was I?” Her cheeks were still red.
Wei Shao let out a breath. “I’ll let you off for now.”
Before Xiao Qiao could fully relax, she was surprised to see Wei Shao grab one of her feet, lifting it to rest against his abdomen. He massaged it a few times before grabbing her other foot as well.
Xiao Qiao was a bit ticklish, especially on the soles of her feet. After just a few pinches from him, she couldn’t help but laugh, giggling while trying to pull her feet back.
He held them tightly, and she couldn’t pull them away.
Wei Shao held one jade foot in each hand, repeatedly kneading them for quite a while.
Lady Qiao’s feet were indeed as Chen Rui had said, exquisite. White and delicate like jade shoots, soft and fleshy to the touch. As he rubbed them, he found himself becoming aroused again.
He naturally didn’t believe Chen Rui’s vulgar words from that day, claiming to have enjoyed her to the point of intoxication.
On the night before he left for battle, he had just taken her virginity. How could such a thing have happened before in Shiyi?
However, since Chen Rui had spoken so vividly and specifically mentioned her feet, it could be deduced that at least he had laid eyes on her feet.
Wei Shao suddenly felt a surge of displeasure, as if his private property had been coveted by someone else. He abruptly lifted one of her legs, lowered his head, opened his mouth, and bit down hard.
Xiao Qiao, who had been in a daze from his footplay, suddenly felt him bite her. She cried out in pain, “What are you doing!”
Wei Shao released her foot and looked at Xiao Qiao slowly, saying, “Did that bastard Chen Rui bite you like this when he was in Shiyi?”
Xiao Qiao was very confused, not understanding why he suddenly brought up Chen Rui, whom she had almost forgotten, and asked such a nonsensical question. She shook her head and said, “No. Why are you mentioning him?”
Wei Shao suddenly felt better. He stared at her feet for a moment, then suddenly had an idea. He pressed down, moving her soles along his abdomen and lower…
Xiao Qiao was stunned by his actions, her eyes growing wider and wider…
…
Xiao Qiao didn’t have to exert much effort. After her hands, she sacrificed the chastity of her feet to escape tonight’s ordeal.
They washed up, and he carried her to bed, letting her rest her head on his arm while he held her with one arm.
It was an intimate sleeping position. This was the first time they slept together in such a pose.
The light was still on.
Xiao Qiao closed her eyes and slept for a while, then quietly opened them to glance at him beside her.
His eyes were closed, his expression calm, as if he had fallen asleep.
But Xiao Qiao knew he probably wasn’t asleep.
She hesitated for a moment, then said softly, “In a few days, the envoy sent by my uncle will arrive in Yuyang, and my younger brother will come with them. You know about this, right?”
Wei Shao gave a faint “Mm” in response.
“This morning, Grandmother said to let my brother stay in our home. I’m very grateful for Grandmother’s arrangement.”
Xiao Qiao finished speaking, watching his expression.
Wei Shao still had his eyes closed, with no particular expression.
After a long while, he finally said, “If Grandmother has arranged it, then do as she says.”
His eyes remained closed, and his expression remained unreadable.
Xiao Qiao was silent for a moment, then said, “During the day, I went into your study and took a brush. I wanted to let you know.”
This time, Wei Shao quickly replied, “It’s fine. If you need anything, feel free to go in.”
Xiao Qiao said softly, “Thank you, husband.”
Wei Shao slowly opened his eyes, turned his face, and looked at her.
Xiao Qiao gave him a slight smile.
Author’s Note: I want to mention that in the previous text, I’ve been using the male protagonist’s given name when Madam Xu and others address him. I realized today that this is inappropriate, as family members usually use nicknames and wouldn’t use formal name that expresses respect. I’ve changed it directly to “Second Young Master” here, and I’ll gradually modify the previous parts when I have time.
Also, that bastard Chen Rui isn’t dead yet, and will appear again in the future.