The sudden kiss caught her completely off guard.
She instinctively tried to push him away, but he was strong, pinning both her hands above her head.
His tall figure pressed down on her, his hot breath enveloping her.
“Pei Huaian, Pei Huaian…”
Her muffled voice was swallowed by the sultry sound of water, failing to rouse him and only driving him further.
It was soft, sweet…
This dream felt especially real.
Driven by desire, Pei Huaian grabbed her roughly, claiming what was his: this was his dream, hidden from others, where he could indulge freely.
Shen Yunshu felt her lips nearly torn apart, her tongue numbed by his sucking.
She didn’t understand why he was doing this and couldn’t break free, until at last, the burning heat released her lips and traveled down her chin with a trail of kisses…
“Pei Huaian, Pei Huaian…” she called loudly, “Wake up!”
His breath stalled at her voice.
He raised his face, eyes still clouded with lust but puzzled as he looked at her.
“Sis?”
Shen Yunshu moved slightly.
“Get up first…”
Pei Huaian loosened his grip and slowly got off her, sitting at the edge of the bed and pinching his face.
Did it hurt?
How could it hurt?
It was a dream, wasn’t it?
How could a dream cause pain?
He stared blankly as she sat up, her hair disheveled, lips flushed, eyes wide with lingering shock.
“Pei Huaian, what happened just now?” she curled up on the bed, guarded.
His heated blood seemed to freeze in an instant: this wasn’t a dream after all…
“I…”
How could he explain? He thought he had just been dreaming again.
“Sis, why…why are you on my bed?”
“I heard your breathing was labored and thought you might be unwell, so I came to check. Were you having a nightmare?”
Pei Huaian dared not meet her gaze.
“…No.”
Though she gave him an out, which man of virtue kissed people randomly during nightmares?
Even he wouldn’t believe that.
Her?
“Then why?”
Shen Yunshu guessed.
“Could it be some strange habit?”
He hadn’t expected, despite all his preparations tonight, that not only would he fail to stop the dream, but in his half-awake state, he’d offend her like this.
“Sis, actually…I do have a strange habit,” resigned, he confessed the tormenting dreams that plagued him these days.
“Sometimes I have those…dreams…”
“What kind of dreams?”
“Ju-just springtime dreams…”
He was too shy to say more.
Shen Yunshu immediately understood.
No wonder he often had those dreams and thought just now was part of one.
It seemed he didn’t intend to offend her.
However, even if unintentional, such a thing was enough to embarrass Shen Yunshu and make her want to escape quickly.
“You’re at an age full of vigor, so having such dreams is normal,” she tried to appear unconcerned as she prepared to get off the bed.
“Don’t worry about what just happened. You keep sleeping.”
“Sis…”
Just as she stepped down, he grabbed her wrist.
Shen Yunshu felt as if burned and instinctively shook off his hand.
He was stunned.
A hurt expression slowly appeared on his handsome face.
“I just wanted to apologize. Do you dislike me now?”
Regretting her harsh reaction, Shen Yunshu changed her mind.
To show she didn’t dislike him, she sat beside him.
“I don’t dislike you. I was just startled.”
“I don’t want to have these dreams either. I’ve been to Da Xiangguo Temple to listen to sutras, sought masters to interpret dreams, even…”
He lowered his voice, “…self-abused, tried many methods just to get rid of these dreams. But so far, nothing works.”
“Now I know why you kept going to the temple,” Shen Yunshu thought of Sister for a moment, and a bad thought flashed through her mind.
She turned to ask him, “When did you start having these dreams?”
Pei Huaijin wanted to say it began the day he met her in Fengle Restaurant’s backyard, but she was still his future sister-in-law then.
A young uncle lusting after his future sister-in-law was too shocking.
To save face, he chose to lie, “Since the day we married…”
Shen Yunshu inhaled sharply but still held onto a glimmer of hope, “Then who appears in your dreams?”
Pei Huaian lowered his head, hesitating, “I don’t know if I should tell you. I’m afraid you’ll think I’m shameless, immoral, and outrageous…”
The more he said this, the more anxious Shen Yunshu became.
Afraid to hear the answer, she tried a roundabout way: “Is it someone I know?”
He nodded.
“Someone you shouldn’t be longing for?”
Nod again.
“Someone from this household?”
By the last question, Shen Yunshu’s heart tightened, her voice trembling.
Seeing him nod once more, a cold chill washed over her: it was Sister he dreamed about.
“No! You can’t! Absolutely not!”
Shen Yunshu stood, repeating “No” three times with a serious expression.
“You can’t keep going on like this.”
For the first time, the gentle-tempered girl lost her temper in front of him.
Pei Huaian was genuinely frightened, stunned for a moment, then whined, “I know it’s wrong. I don’t want this either, but once asleep, I can’t control it…”
The young man lowered his head, shoulders curled like a dog caught doing something wrong.
But what wrong had the dog done?
He just loved Sister too much and couldn’t have her, so he repressed himself, causing those dreams at night.
Shen Yunshu felt pity and reached out to comfort him, but as soon as she touched him, he dodged away.
“My tone was harsh just now. It’s not all your fault,” she softened.
“How about this? I’ll help you think of ways to chase away those wicked thoughts in your heart, okay?”
“Do you have any ideas?”
“Let me think about it.”
This was the first time Shen Yunshu faced such a problem and wasn’t sure what to do.
“There are still two hours before dawn. You go back to sleep.”
She stood to return to her bed.
“…Hm?”
“How about I sleep in the side chamber tonight instead?”
He truly had no face left to stay here.
“No need. Now that I know, I won’t bother you at night anymore.”
“Do you really not mind?”
“Since it’s not your own doing, I naturally won’t mind.”
Only then did Pei Huaian lift his head.
His clear, phoenix-like eyes were bright and clean again.
“Sis, you’re really kind…”
Even knowing the woman in his dreams was her, even though he’d clumsily offended her just now, she still didn’t dislike him and didn’t mind his staying here.
The handsome youth looked up at her sincerely, a few messy strands sticking up like a puppy.
Shen Yunshu couldn’t help but want to stroke his head again.
This time, he didn’t dodge and let her massage him thoroughly.
“Alright, now get some sleep.”
Feeling forgiven, the boy watched her return behind the screen.
The heavy weight lifted from his heart, he lay back down and closed his eyes.
The moon set, stars faded, frost bloomed, and the sky lightened.
The maids of Junzhi Courtyard were already bustling about.
Qinghe and Danruo had been ordered by their mistress the night before to ensure she was woken early at the hour of the Rabbit to pay respects at Haitang Courtyard to Grand Madam.
This was the first time since the young lady’s marriage to the Pei family that she was visiting the madam’s courtyard.
The two maids were even more nervous than their mistress.
At the stroke of the hour, they prepared hot water and washing supplies, then knocked on the bedroom door.
The door opened to reveal the Pei Family Young Master, dressed neatly.
“I can’t wake her. You try…”
Danruo and Qinghe nodded and entered the bedroom.
Their mistress was still sound asleep, long lashes peaceful, sleeping with an adorable expression.
Danruo dampened a cloth and gently wiped her face, while Qinghe selected her clothes for the day.
Just as the damp cloth woke her, Danruo helped her up and gave her half a cup of warm tea.
She gradually woke.
After washing, Shen Youran was mostly awake and instructed Danruo, “Xiao Gugu taught me not to wear heavy makeup but keep it elegant and appropriate. The makeup should be light, clothes simple, and no flashy ornaments in the hair. Today I’ll wear the Tongxin Ji with a plain jade hairpin.”
Danruo styled her hair accordingly, while Qinghe brought over several garments.
Shen Youran chose a greenish jacket and an apricot yellow layered skirt from the soft pastel pile.
With such simple makeup, it took less than twenty minutes before Shen Youran stepped out of her room.
At that moment, Pei Huaijin and Qingjian were practicing morning exercises in the courtyard.
They simultaneously stopped and glanced toward the graceful figure emerging from the main chamber.
Delicate brows framed by spring hills, rosy cheeks kissed by dawn dew, flawless skin glowing like a flower—her subtle makeup enhanced her ethereal beauty.
Today’s look was less playful than usual, instead dignified and elegant, quietly exuding a maturity reminiscent of her eldest sister.
But that solemnity vanished quickly as she cast a sidelong glance at them, stiffened her neck, and strode down the steps, passing by without stopping.
Pei Huaijin knew she was still sulking over his refusal to accompany her to pay respects yesterday.
He called after her, “Let me change clothes, then I’ll go with you.”
“I don’t care!”
Shen Youran shrugged him off and left the courtyard with Danruo.
Pei Huaijin chuckled silently, unable to leave her alone.
After finishing his exercises, he went inside to change.
At Haitang Courtyard, Zhang Mama noticed Shen Youran had come with only one maid and asked, “Missus, where is Langjun? Why didn’t he accompany you?”
Shen Youran was unaware of the underlying implication and replied, “I’m just here to pay respects; he doesn’t need to come.”
Although she would feel safer with him, it wasn’t a big deal if he didn’t come.
Paying respects meant simply serving tea or breakfast to Grand Madam, nothing difficult.
Moreover, when Grand Madam handed over the household affairs to the eldest sister yesterday, she made it clear that Shen Youran was to learn from her.
Even if Grand Madam wanted her to stay and observe proper etiquette, she could find a way to slip away.
She thought it was simple, but Zhang Mama’s expression shifted slightly.
“Missus, please come with me…”
“Hm?”
Zhang Mama didn’t lead her into the courtyard but instead headed away from Haitang Courtyard.
“Where are we going?”
“To the kitchen,” Zhang Mama said.
She had already discussed with Grand Madam that if Langjun accompanied the young lady, they would both enter to pay respects.
But if only the young lady came alone, she would be led to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for Grand Madam.
Traditionally, on the third or fourth day after marriage, the young wife must personally cook breakfast for her in-laws as a sign of filial piety.
Shen Youran knew this but usually, the young wife would be accompanied by the entire household or her family, and she only needed to go through the motions.
Now, long after the wedding, only Danruo was with her, and Danruo was a personal maid who took care of her daily life, not skilled in cooking.
Still, with Grand Madam’s command, she couldn’t refuse.
Shen Youran followed Zhang Mama toward the kitchen.
No sooner had she stepped into the smoke-filled kitchen than Danruo was stopped.
“Today is Missus showing filial respect to Grand Madam. You mustn’t interfere…”
“But my lady…”
“It’s fine, Danruo, I can manage.”
Shen Youran realized Grand Madam was deliberately making things difficult again.
She had to be resourceful.
Cooking was nothing; Pei Huaian once made a sloppy noodle soup.
How hard could this be?
Just then, a kitchen maid came over, helping to tuck in her sleeves and led her to a stove.
The kitchen staff had prepared to cook Guiyu Porridge for Grand Madam’s breakfast.
Guiyu porridge?
“How is it made?”
Shen Youran asked the maid.
The maid explained, “After removing the head, tail, and skin of the Guiyu fish, tie it with four fine threads, season with salt, wine, ginger, and pepper, and simmer it together with Jingmi and water…”
It didn’t sound too difficult.
“The servants have prepared all the ingredients…”
The maid pointed to a table beside the stove, where Jingmi, spices, and a rather large Guiyu fish swimming in a basin waited.
The maid was considerate—
Shen Youran only needed to throw everything into the pot.
Just as she was about to ask the maid to process the fish, something was thrust into her hand—a wooden mallet.
“Missus, you’ll be in charge now…”
Shen Youran looked at the mallet, then at the fish.
“You want me to kill the fish?”
“It’s not hard. I’ll help with the cooking…”
Pei Huaijin arrived at Haitang Courtyard but didn’t see Shen Youran.
Asking the servants, he learned Zhang Mama had taken her to the kitchen.
He frowned and left silently with Qingjian.
When he reached the kitchen, Danruo was pacing nervously outside.
“Langjun, Missus…”
Before she could finish, a scream rang out from inside.
It was Shen Youran’s voice.
Pei Huaijin hurried inside, weaving through the smoke, and found her figure.
He stood behind her.
“What happened?”
The next moment, she dropped what was in her hands and leapt into his arms, clutching his neck tightly.
“Wuwu, I’m scared to kill the fish…”