Shen Youran wasn’t interested in hunting, and couldn’t even pull a bowstring, so she called for Qingjian to come along, handing over the hunting to him and Liang Qingluo, while she took Yuanyuan along to watch.
The little girl was at an age of great compassion and wouldn’t let them harm any little creatures. So they spent over an hour wandering the forest, catching only two ordinary rabbits, a white fox, and plucked a few pheasant feathers.
When Shen Youran saw the little girl was tired, she suggested taking her back to rest.
“Alright.” Liang Qingluo agreed readily. With the little girl gone, she could finally hunt freely.
After Shen Youran left with her daughter, Liang Qingluo and Qingjian went their separate ways, agreeing to meet at the exit when time was up to see who caught the most.
That also avoided the awkwardness of being alone together.
Qingjian nodded and turned, heading in the opposite direction.
More than half an hour later, Liang Qingluo returned, holding a pheasant and two wild rabbits, but not because her archery skills were lacking—rather, the bows and arrows provided at the hunting ground were all a bit off, no doubt intentionally tampered with.
Qingjian likely fared no better.
Though Qingjian was far superior in martial arts, when it came to archery, she had been taught by her sixth brother, the famed archer, and she was confident she was better.
Yet, at the exit, she saw Qingjian carrying a deer.
He had actually hunted a deer!
“Qingjian, you’re amazing!” Even his archery surpassed hers.
He remained as indifferent as ever: “Seventh Young Madam flatters me.”
“Let’s go, we’ll feast tonight!”
As soon as they stepped out of the hunting ground, they saw a man standing on the bluestone path, dressed in brocade and fox fur, handsome and elegant. His deep, clear eyes looked over at her, and the cold wind seemed to carry a chill from his gaze.
She paused, then ran over joyfully: “Husband, what brings you here?”
“Mm, I managed to get half a day off and came to fetch you.” He smiled, and the chill in his expression melted away, replaced by the gentle warmth of an April sun.
He took off the fox fur and draped it over her shoulders, his long fingers carefully tying the sash, then reached to take the game from her hands.
Liang Qingluo grinned, “No need, lest you dirty your hands.”
“It’s fine, give it to me.” He gently but firmly took them from her, exchanged a glance and a nod with Qingjian behind her—a simple greeting.
Back home, they had the kitchen make a steaming hot pot of rabbit for everyone, roasted the venison, and the whole household enjoyed a lively feast.
Pei Huai’an didn’t eat much rabbit but had plenty of venison. The cook also simmered a pot of deer blood and black-bone chicken with angelica root for him, of which he drank two bowls.
Liang Qingluo thought he liked venison. On the way back to Gengyun Courtyard, she told him, saying next time she’d hunt another deer for him.
He smiled: “Alright. Venison strengthens the spleen and boosts energy, deer blood warms the kidneys and invigorates the body. As your husband, I ought to eat more…”
Liang Qingluo paused mid-step, a sense of foreboding creeping over her.
Sure enough, that night, as the watchman’s clappers echoed, she listened from the first night watch until the fifth, with him pressing her down and refusing to stop.
Her long hair was in disarray, sticking to her sweat-dampened neck. Through the hazy mist, she saw the man above her, his eyes darkened by desire.
Was it because he ate venison and drank deer blood?
She thought she must never let him eat such things again. It was truly more than one could bear.
“Husband,” her hand, weak and soft, pushed against him, powerless, “gentler, please.”
He bent down, brushing away the stray hair on her cheek, his gaze fixed intently on her flushed face. “Wife, between me and Qingjian, who’s more capable?”
The sudden, out-of-place question startled her.
What did he mean—between him and Qingjian, who’s more capable?
At such a time, in the midst of this, he asked her such a thing. Was he suspecting her and Qingjian of an improper relationship?
Liang Qingluo forced her eyes open wide, glaring at him: “Husband, what kind of question is that?”
“Today at the hunting ground’s exit, you praised him for being impressive…”
Ah, so it was that “impressive.”
“He hunted…a deer. His archery…is better than mine. I praised him…what’s wrong with that?” The man above her didn’t let up, making her words come out broken and scattered.
His eyes grew darker. “Do you still like him?”
Liang Qingluo almost laughed out of exasperation: “I’m already…married to you, why would you…still ask that?”
“You just like me a little more. But you still have a place for him in your heart, don’t you?”
“Nonsense…”
“You told me yourself.”
“When did I ever…say that?”
“That night you got drunk, in the carriage, you told me with your own lips, you liked me more…”
“And what’s wrong with that?”
“It’s not right. You can’t just like me more,” he said, with increasing intensity, “I want you to like only me.”
“I…” Liang Qingluo only managed to get out one word before her remaining words dissolved into incoherent sounds, lost in her throat.
In the end, she blacked out completely.
She didn’t know how long had passed before she was woken—whether by his kiss or his bite.
He had cleaned her up and changed her nightclothes. Holding her in his arms, he kissed her and apologized, “Sorry, my love, for tiring you out.”
Thinking of what he said before she fainted, she turned away in anger, not letting him kiss her.
He hugged her from behind, his chin nuzzling into her neck. “My dear, I’ll restrain myself next time.”
She didn’t believe him at all and grumbled, “You always say that! When have you ever kept your word?”
“My dear,” he tightened his arms, pulling her closer, “Will you only like me from now on?”
“Hmph!” She pouted, refusing to answer.
His voice softened even more. “Please, my dear, just like me and only me from now on? Don’t think about Qingjian anymore…”
Though Liang Qingluo couldn’t entirely forget Qingjian, ever since marrying, she had resolved to live wholeheartedly with Pei Huai’an. Now, with him so suspicious, she was indeed angry.
But anger aside, since he’d brought it up, it was better to clear the air now rather than let things fester.
“Of course I can like only you,” Liang Qingluo turned back, looking at his now-clear and bright eyes, then made her own demands, “But you must only like me, too. No concubines, no chambermaids, no servant girls, and you’re not allowed to fool around outside. If you break any of these, I’ll go and find someone, too—if not Qingjian, then Lüjian, Hongjian…”
She said this in a fit of pique, but saw his eyes shine even brighter than before.
“Alright. It’s a deal…”
He was about to move in and kiss her, but Liang Qingluo pushed him away. “And one more thing…”
“What is it?”
“Well, it’s just…” Liang Qingluo bit her lip, shyly telling him about the contraception method Shen Youran had taught her at the hot spring, “Sister-in-law says, even with acupuncture, it’s not foolproof. We have to be more careful.”
“How should we be more careful?”
“In the future, you, you…” Her voice grew softer, “You should finish outside, don’t…inside…”
“Alright, I promise you…”
Not long after the New Year, as spring deepened and summer gave way to early autumn, Liang Qingluo was diagnosed with a happy pulse.
She and Pei Huai’an stared at each other in shock. Then, she threw a pillow at him. “Just look at you…”