Chapter 42 (1/2): Oolong, have you taken birth control pills?

The moon dimmed and the stars scattered; dawn broke in the east.

Pei Huaian awoke amidst a warm cloud of pear blossoms and dreams.

Before opening his eyes, he inhaled deeply, catching the familiar, delicate scent of jasmine.

A sudden jolt stirred in Pei Huaian’s heart as he opened his eyes.

Before him lay a serene and peaceful sleeping face—spring mountains faintly shaded, skin fairer than snow, still exquisitely beautiful even in the dim light.

Pei Huaian’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Was he still dreaming?

Dreaming again that Sister Yunshu was sharing the same bed with him…

His body moved involuntarily.

The white wrist resting on his back tightened its embrace, then lightly patted him.

“Don’t be afraid, I…”

The sensation felt so real.

The fragrance was real; the embrace was real; even her gentle pats felt real.

How could it feel so genuine?

Unable to resist, Pei Huaian pressed himself closer into her warmth; the heat of her body was unmistakably real.

He raised his face slightly and softly pressed his lips against her jaw.

The softness was real.

A greedy thought rose in his heart as he glanced at those luscious, inviting lips…

Slowly, carefully tilting his head, fearful of waking her.

Bit by bit, inching closer, his lips separated from hers by only a thin layer of air.

Their shallow breaths mingled.

The moment their lips touched, a flash sparked in Pei Huaian’s mind: perhaps this wasn’t a dream after all.

His body shuddered, and he quickly sat up from the bed.

Drowsy, Shen Yunshu was startled awake by him and sat up alongside him.

“Another nightmare?”

Sure enough, it wasn’t a dream.

“Sister Yunshu, why are you…on my bed?”

She glanced toward the window where the sky was lightening, then got off the bed.

“You were having a nightmare last night, crying pitifully, so I came over to keep you company…”

“A nightmare? Crying too?”

Pei Huaian thought for a moment but couldn’t recall the details of any nightmare.

Yet an inexplicable sense of fear still lingered deep within his heart.

“Sister Yunshu, did you stay with me like this all night?”

Did you hold me like that the whole time?

“Yes. But don’t overthink it.”

Shen Yunshu casually ruffled his tousled hair and teased him, “I didn’t have any improper thoughts about you…”

Pei Huaian hung his head in self-deprecation, muttering, “Is my figure really that bad that you didn’t feel a single bit of desire?”

Shen Yunshu didn’t quite catch what he said.

She headed toward the screen and asked, “It’s still early. Do you want to go back to sleep?”

“No more sleeping,” he said, throwing off the covers and getting down from the bed.

“The day’s plan begins in the morning—I’m going to the courtyard for some morning exercise to strengthen my body!”

Today was Pei Huaijin’s second day off.

He had originally planned to take Shen Youran to the Xiao Fu after breakfast, but upon waking and noticing the speckled marks on her—especially around her neck and collarbone, visible even through her clothes—he gave up the idea of taking her out.

When breakfast was served, Danruo was about to call for her mistress to get up but was stopped by Pei Huaijin.

“Let her sleep a bit longer.”

“Yes,” Danruo replied, blushing.

Last night, neither Danruo nor Qinghe had night duty.

The maid on night watch mentioned that the Young Master and the Da Shaofuren called twice for water.

They also said the Da Shaofuren cried terribly last night.

Danruo and Qinghe exchanged stunned looks.

While happy that the Young Master and Furen had finally consummated their marriage, they also felt pity for their mistress—and for the Young Master, too.

The Da Shaofuren was so delicate; why couldn’t he cherish her more?

After breakfast, Pei Huaijin left the residence.

Only then did Danruo call Qinghe, and the two tiptoed into the bedchamber.

The moment they entered, they saw a piece of nightwear stained and scattered on the floor.

The stains were dried, leaving only wrinkled marks and one darkened bloodstain.

Lifting the curtain, they found their mistress still sound asleep.

A closer look revealed her eyelashes slightly wet and her eyes tinged with redness—she must have cried hard last night.

Though both maids were unmarried, having read countless romance stories with their mistress, they understood such matters a little.

Since the Young Master had called twice for water, their mistress must have been exhausted…

They refrained from waking her and quietly tidied the soiled nightwear, soaking a handkerchief in a basin, then gathered everything before heading out.

Suddenly, a voice came from behind the curtain.

“Danruo, Qinghe, what time is it?”

“Fifteen minutes to Chen hour,” Danruo answered, turning around.

“Young Madam, why are you awake? The Young Master said you should sleep more.”

“I’ve rested enough,” Shen Youran said as she pushed aside the curtain and rubbed her eyes while heading to the dressing table.

“Hurry and help me get ready. Today, I’m going to the Xiao Fu with Pei Huaijin…”

“But Young Master already left.”

“Left?”

Shen Youran sat before the dressing table and, picking up a fine comb, began brushing the strands near her ear.

“He said he’d take me with him. Maybe it’s because I got up late after being drunk last night that he didn’t take me.”

“If you can’t go to Xiao Fu, then I’ll go find Sister Yunshu later.”

Her sister started managing household affairs at Chen hour and was used to helping out around this time.

Danruo and Qinghe put down what they were doing and stood behind her, eyeing her neck.

“Young Madam, you really shouldn’t go out today.”

Shen Youran glanced at them through the mirror, puzzled.

“Why?”

“Young Madam,” both maids blushed deeper and deeper, “your neck…”

“My neck?”

Shen Youran lifted her chin and exposed her neck to the mirror.

She gasped, dropping the comb.

“Ah! What’s going on?”

Her originally fair and smooth neck was covered with dense red marks.

Looking further down, the marks spread beneath the nightwear.

She tugged open her collar, bent to look beneath, and as expected, the red marks followed the curves of her body.

“Ahhhh!”

She stood up, lifting the nightdress’s hem to reveal her waist and abdomen.

“Ahhhh! There are marks here too!”

To her horror, she noticed the way the pants’ ties were knotted was not how Danruo usually tied them—but instead…

“Damn Pei Huaijin! He took advantage of me…”

“Young Madam, please keep your voice down…”

Danruo and Qinghe quickly cautioned, how could she call the Young Master a dog?

“I was wondering why I dreamed of a dog licking me all night, and I kept telling it to stop, but it wouldn’t listen and left me covered in…”

The two maids, both unmarried, blushed even harder upon hearing this.

“But we still have to congratulate Young Madam—you’ve finally consummated your marriage with the Young Master.”

“Consummated?”

Shen Youran was stunned.

“We…really consummated?”

“Yes.”

Danruo tried to suppress her embarrassment, teasing her mistress.

“You called for water twice last night. Don’t you remember?”

“Tw—twice?”

She indeed felt covered in saliva, but consummation…she had no clear memory.

Maybe she’d been too drunk last night.

Shen Youran asked the maids in disbelief, “Did we really consummate?”

Danruo fetched the soiled nightdress and showed her the bloodstained spot.

“Young Madam, look, this should be yours…”

Shen Youran went mad, pacing the room several times before calming down.

“Mother said getting pregnant now would harm my health. Where’s the Bizi Prescription? Quickly, find it and get me the medicine…”

“Yes.”

Danruo knew where the prescription was and quickly searched it out, then went off to the apothecary.

Elsewhere, Zhu Shi, supported by Zhang Mama, was heading to the front courtyard.

She hadn’t slept well all night, worried about Meng Wanxin’s situation, and felt increasingly weak.

Still, she insisted on personally visiting the Marquis of Changxing Manor.

Just past the Yingbi wall, a maid came rushing from the other side.

Seeing Zhu Shi, she panicked and quickly bowed.

Zhu Shi glanced at her suspiciously and casually asked, “Which courtyard are you from?”