Liang Qingluo’s understanding of the relationship between men and women was limited to what she had read in a few Shengxianshu, and the lessons on conjugal rites her mother had given her the night before.
There weren’t many detailed descriptions of such matters in Shengxianshu. Most of them only brushed over it in a few strokes. Moreover, she wasn’t fond of reading, so she barely skimmed through and forgot them soon after. She only remembered that the books called it “the greatest pleasure in the human world.”
Yet, after what had just happened, she hadn’t felt much pleasure at all. She guessed the authors must have exaggerated, and that it wasn’t really as delightful as described. It was probably just a way to trick innocent young girls who had never experienced it.
However, what she didn’t know was that, as her husband, Pei Huaian had started researching the relationship between men and women well before their consummation tonight.
He used to keep his mind clear and pure, focusing solely on reading Shengxianshu, and thought himself impervious to such distractions. But on Qixi night, when he and she stumbled upon that incident in the woods, he could only manage to cover her ears tightly, yet listened to every sound himself. With her in his arms, his body reacted uncontrollably.
After returning that night, he had a lustful dream filled with Liang Qingluo’s soft gasps, waking up to find his underclothes in disarray.
From that point on, he sought out some related books. After reading a bit, his body would feel hot and uncomfortable, craving release. Some things he ended up figuring out on his own.
Later, she had once sneaked into his carriage, from Fengle Lou to the Jiangjun Fu. Heaven knows, in his drunken state, how much willpower it took to endure the throbbing pain all the way, only kissing her, not daring to go further…
Today, at last, he had married her. Both of them were inexperienced, so it was inevitable that things felt awkward. He was afraid she would be in pain, so he was gentle and careful with her, only opening her up, nothing more.
She actually thought it was over, and even asked him with a mischievous smile if he had quenched his thirst this time.
“My dear, this is only just beginning…” He leaned over and kissed her lips.
The sleepwear she had just put on was soon tossed out of the bed again. Liang Qingluo thought this time would be just like before, so she didn’t refuse his advances.
After all, at the level from just now, even if it happened ten more times, she could handle it.
But things seemed different from what she had expected.
This time, his performance was entirely different from before—whether it was the strength, depth, or duration, he far surpassed himself.
He even turned her over in the middle.
Still dazed, Liang Qingluo felt his hands grip her waist and lift her up. His large hands grasped her wrists from behind, guiding her to hold onto the railing.
The railing was inlaid with exquisitely carved Yaban. Her slender fingers gripped the Yaban with sudden force, and she let out a whimper.
As if a floodgate had opened, after that cry, her voice could no longer be held back. She heard herself make sounds much like those she’d overheard in the woods on Qixi night—gentle, seductive, trembling, each note ending in breathless gasps, like wisps of smoke drifting from her lips.
Her knuckles turned white from gripping so tightly, her fingertips pressing into the carved patterns of the Yaban. Liang Qingluo had to change her mind; if it was going to be like this, she couldn’t endure it ten times, maybe only four or five.
But… she had spoken too soon.
It turned out that the things written in the Shengxianshu weren’t lies after all—this experience truly was blissful.
He was a scholar, so why was his stamina even better than her, a general’s daughter?
Liang Qingluo’s body trembled uncontrollably, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. Her voice broke as she asked him when it would be over.
He leaned in to kiss and comfort her, praising her and coaxing her to give him a little more time.
“Wuuu…”
She watched the flickering candlelight grow dimmer and dimmer, but he still showed no sign of stopping, and she finally burst into tears.
Wasn’t he supposed to hate it when people cried?
Surely now it would be over?
But every tear she shed was kissed away by him, his lips moving between kisses and coaxing words, never stopping: “Please forgive me, my dear, your husband has been thirsty for a long time…”
Liang Qingluo spent the entire night in her own tears.
As the dense night gradually peeled away and a hint of blue light appeared in the east, a maid entered again to bring water for the two to wash and reminded the newlyweds that it was now Mao hour and they would soon need to go to the main hall to pay respects to their elders.
Liang Qingluo still hadn’t recovered her strength. She barely managed to sit up, but let out an “Aiyo” and fell back again, her eyes—full of sorrow—glared at him: “It hurts…”
Fortunately, Pei Huaian had prepared medicine ahead of time. He brought out some ointment and helped her apply it, apologizing to her: “I was reckless last night. I will be more restrained in the future.”
Liang Qingluo snorted, “Well, you’d better keep your word…”
The ointment had a cooling, anti-swelling effect, and she felt better after a quarter of an hour. At least she was able to appear before others without any unusual signs.
After paying respects to the elders in the Huating, Shen Youran dragged her to the side hall to meet her sisters-in-law. Unexpectedly, they spotted a half-red mark on her neck and teased her for a while.
Once the introductions were done, the Old Madam gave instructions for her to rest in the courtyard and get some sleep, as she herself had something to attend to.
“On the first day of your wedding, you already have something to do?”
“Yes, but it’s not an official duty. I’ll be back soon.”
She asked, then went back to her room to catch up on sleep.
Sleeping soundly, she was woken by someone returning and wrapping their arms around her, muttering things she didn’t quite hear. She gave a vague reply and drifted back to sleep.
After sleeping the whole day and regaining her energy, Liang Qingluo prepared herself to regain her lost dignity from last night, determined not to be defeated so easily. But he only kissed and caressed her, not going further.
It turned out he was being considerate of her soreness from last night, and the swelling hadn’t completely gone down yet, so he was being extra restrained.
Although a little disappointed, as a maiden she maintained her modesty and didn’t take the initiative. She fell asleep next to him.
But for the next two nights, it was the same—he would stir her interest, but would not go any further. For someone who had already tasted such things, it was nothing short of torture.
She wasn’t one to suppress herself. Since she felt desire, she needed to be satisfied. So tonight, casting aside her shyness, she boldly reached under his clothes.
He stopped her: “My dear, not tonight.”
“Not tonight… what do you mean?”
“The doctor said we need to wait three days to recover…”
The doctor?
Three days?
Could it be… he had a health problem?
On the wedding night, he hadn’t rested at all. She thought he could go at it every night, but after just once, he needed to rest for three days?
“I never knew you had such a hidden illness?” Liang Qingluo sighed and drew her hand back, hugging him, “But it doesn’t matter, I won’t look down on you…”
Pei Huaian was startled: “Hidden illness? I don’t have a hidden illness…”
“Well, since it still works, and works quite well, I guess it can’t be called a hidden illness.” She snuggled into his arms. “Forget it, let’s not talk about it, let’s sleep.”
Pei Huaian stayed silent for a long while, then roused her when she was just getting sleepy: “My dear, did you actually hear what I told you at noon?”
“Eh?” Liang Qingluo truly couldn’t remember, “What did you tell me?”
“I told you about the matter of the embedded needle.”
Liang Qingluo searched her memory for a while, then looked at him with confused eyes: “Embedded needle? What needle?”
As expected, everything he’d said to her at noon had gone in one ear and out the other.
“It’s a method of contraception that my eldest brother told me about. The doctor said that after embedding the needle, you have to wait three days before we can consummate again. Today is exactly the third day…”
Contraception?
“There’s such a method?” Liang Qingluo was immediately curious, “Where did they embed the needle? Let me see…”
The location was rather private, but since she had already touched it, Pei Huaian didn’t mind letting her take a look.
He tugged his underclothes down a bit: “It’s embedded here.”
Suddenly, something sprang out, and Liang Qingluo hurriedly covered her eyes. “Ah!”
Pei Huaian looked at his little wife’s shy and startled expression with great interest. He pulled down one of her hands, guiding her to touch where the needle was: “Why are you shy? It’s not like you haven’t used it…”
Her small hand explored the spot where the needle was embedded, and a fire seemed to gather there.
Liang Qingluo, flustered, buried herself in his arms, but her shyness only stoked the fire brighter.
But the doctor said to wait three days.
His elder brother also reminded him, not to disregard the doctor’s words, otherwise halfway through, he might lose his strength.
But being the resourceful man he was, he soon found a solution.
He had seen Liang Qingluo riding horses before. On horseback, with her robes fluttering, she was full of freedom and heroic spirit.
“My dear,” he whispered close to her ear, “do you want to tonight?”
She hummed, “What’s the use, you can’t…”
A man could never bear to hear “can’t.” He explained, “It’s just my waist that feels a little weak, it’s not that I can’t…”
He helped her up, seating her atop himself.
“Doesn’t my dear like riding horses?” He supported her, “Tonight, I’ll be your horse…”
Liang Qingluo liked riding. When she was a child and couldn’t walk yet, her father bought her a wooden rocking horse, which she loved and rode every day.
When she grew up, she got a real horse—a top-quality, jet-black Qingcong horse with strong limbs and a gentle temperament.
Because of this, she had developed excellent riding skills.
Gripping the reins and straightening her back, every rise and fall in tandem with her horse was a show of perfect coordination.
When the clouds gathered and the rain came, the ground would puddle, and as her horse galloped through, it would kick up sparkling droplets that drenched them both.
When the clouds cleared and the rain stopped, Liang Qingluo lay curled beside Pei Huaian, breathing softly.
He stroked her back, intimately soothing her trembling body. “My dear, are you finished already?”
“Mm.”
“But your husband hasn’t finished yet…”