Chapter 52: Wedding consummation, he didn’t turn off the lights

Pei Huaijin disliked how she brought up divorce at every turn.

Hearing her words, his expression stiffened, but seeing the tears welling at the corners of her eyes, the stiffness softened.

From the way her brows furrowed tightly, to the glistening tears on her eyes, passing over her reddened nose, and finally resting on her lips—

Though only a few steps from the door to her side, Pei Huaijin’s mind raced with countless thoughts.

Why was she angry?

Why was she hurt?

Why did she suddenly bring up divorce?

She liked to throw childish tantrums, but she wasn’t unreasonable.

Tonight’s unusual behavior—was someone speaking ill of her behind her back?

When he reached her side, he noticed the bed strewn with her clothes.

Was she packing to return to her natal home?

His gaze shifted from the mess of clothes to the soft fluff of her hair.

He raised his hand and gently stroked it.

“Who bullied you?”

The moment his palm touched her hair, she tilted her head away.

“Don’t touch me!”

She must be really upset; her grip on the clothes was tight, and her body trembled slightly.

This was more serious than he had imagined.

Pei Huaijin sat before her and gently took her small, averted face in his hands, turning it toward him.

He looked deeply into her tear-filled eyes and patiently asked, “What happened? Why bring up divorce again?”

“I’m not the one who wants a divorce—you are!”

“When did I say I wanted a divorce?”

“You never said it out loud, but in your heart, that’s what you think.”

“If I haven’t said it, then I’m not thinking that way,” he replied, his fingertip tracing the faint teeth marks on her red lips.

“Who taught you to misunderstand me like this? Mother?”

Her eyes brimmed with tears, full of grievance and shame.

As she nodded, a tear slipped down and fell on the back of his hand.

“Mother said you resent my impurity, that you harbor grudges because of me, so she doesn’t expect me to have children, and she wants to give you a concubine…”

As he expected, it was his mother stirring trouble between them behind their backs.

“Don’t listen to her,” Pei Huaijin said softly, wiping away each tear as it fell after the first one.

“Losing you and then getting you back again—how could I despise you?”

Her tears welled up endlessly; for every one she wiped away, another would fall.

“But why have you been coming home so late these past few days? Don’t say it’s because you have too many official matters to handle.”

Pei Huaijin was honest this time.

“I lied about that; I don’t really have much official business lately.”

So he was lying to her.

Shen Youran was about to push his hand away when he said, “Earlier, you asked me how Qingjian was. I didn’t dare tell you then, but he was badly injured, hovering between life and death. These past few days, after leaving the office, I’ve been visiting him at the clinic, which is why I came home late.”

Her throat tightened, eyes wide and shimmering.

“Qingjian…how is he now?”

“His condition is under control. He just needs to rest well—about half a year to fully recover.”

“Half a year?”

She felt foolish for trusting Pei Huaijin’s earlier reassurances, seeing Qingjian get stabbed repeatedly that day.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“Telling you wouldn’t help; it would only add to your worries.”

“He was so badly hurt protecting me. Even if I can’t do anything, I want to visit him with you.”

“Luckily, he’s pulled through. Tomorrow, I won’t go to the office. I’ll take you to see him.”

Seeing her stop crying, Pei Huaijin pulled her into his arms.

“Don’t take my mother’s words to heart. I never meant to neglect you. Qingjian has been with me many years. When his life was in danger, I was deeply troubled—that’s why I ignored you. It was my fault…”

Today, Qingjian’s recovery finally eased the stone weighing on Pei Huaijin’s heart, lifting his spirits considerably.

“If I had known earlier, I wouldn’t have lost my temper with you today…”

Shen Youran sobbed quietly in his embrace, ashamed of her earlier outburst.

Pei Huaijin glanced at the scattered clothes on the bed.

“If I hadn’t explained everything to you tonight, were you really planning to pack and go back to your natal home?”

“Yeah. If you insist on taking a concubine, I’m leaving—and I won’t come back.”

“I won’t take a concubine. But after I visit Qingjian tomorrow, I’ll send you back to your family to stay for a while.”

“Why?”

“There’s unrest in Songzhou, and supplies are short. They’ve sent me to check on the grain reserves there, so I’ll be away for some time. I can’t bear to leave you alone in the mansion. Also, I heard from Xiao Ci that the Dali Si might often summon you to inquire about certain matters.”

“If that happens too often, it might raise suspicions. Since my mother mentioned taking a concubine, why not use this as an excuse for you to leave for a while? Staying at the Shen Family will be more comfortable for you…”

“Then how long before you come back?”

“At the earliest, half a month. At the latest, before the New Year. I’ll come to your father’s home to fetch you.”

“So long?”

“This time, it’s really because of official business. I’m not lying.”

Just as Shen Youran’s heart settled, uncertainty crept back in.

“You’re really not avoiding me?”

“No.”

She thought of how he hadn’t kissed her much these days.

To test him, she tilted her face up.

“Then kiss me.”

The teeth marks on her lips were less obvious now.

Her lips were full and rosy, like ripe cherries.

Pei Huaijin’s throat tightened as he lowered his head and kissed the softness. Just as he was about to deepen the kiss, she pulled away.

She raised one hand and offered it to his lips.

“Kiss my hand.”

Pei Huaijin hesitated but still took the small hand and kissed it.

She then offered the other.

“This one too.”

He complied.

Then she kicked off her foot coverings, hugged her legs, and lifted a snow-white foot, her pale toes twitching.

“Kiss my foot too!”

Pei Huaijin said, “I already washed it.”

She urged, “Hurry, or my leg will cramp.”

Only then did he realize that all these kisses were her desperate way to confirm that he truly did not doubt her purity.

Silly girl.

They had been married so long and still didn’t understand his nature?

He wasn’t the kind to resist temptation easily.

His large hand gripped her ankle.

He began kissing from the top of her foot, slowly moving down.

His warm, wet lips left a winding trail along her ankle, tracing the line beneath her undergarment’s hem.

By the time Shen Youran realized things were going beyond her expectations, she was already flipped onto the bed, his hands moving from her ankle up toward the back of her knee.

His grip was firm.

She tried to struggle but couldn’t break free.

“Wait,” Shen Youran said urgently, pressing his shoulder and gripping the stubble-covered chin to force him to look up.

“Kiss here only. No further.”

The frost on his brows had melted.

Usually deep and calm like a still well, his eyes now shone with a certain desire.

The breath he blew over her skin was hotter than before.

From Pei Huaijin’s gaze, she looked like a freshly blooming lotus—eyes wet, shy, and touched—on the mound of piled clothes beneath her.

He loosened his hold for the moment but hovered over her, his breath warm as he whispered near her ear, “Tell Danruo and Qinghe to come in and tidy up these clothes. I’m going to bathe…”

Shen Youran’s mind jolted, suddenly understanding the real meaning behind his words.

“It’s late…maybe just wash up quickly? Don’t take a full bath…”

Pei Huaijin pressed down above her, eyes gleaming with a dark light, tracing her uneasy expression.

“I’ll be gone for so long. Before I leave, I want to give you peace of mind so you won’t keep worrying…”

Shen Youran shrank her neck, cheeks burning bright.

“You want…to consummate the marriage?”

His knuckle lightly brushed her flushed cheek as he smiled lowly, “Are you willing?”

Her lashes fluttered.

Those shimmering eyes held a timid hope, just like on their wedding night, before they knew each other’s identity—shy and lively.

She was no longer the girl who turned pale at the word consummation.

Blushing, she pushed his shoulder gently and whispered, “Then…you should go bathe.”

Pei Huaijin bent down and kissed the lips that finally spoke the words she was willing.

“Wait for me. I’ll be back soon.”

He rose and strode out.

Shen Youran cupped her burning face, slipped on her shoes, and called for Danruo and Qinghe to come in and help tidy the messy clothes on the bed.

Tomorrow, she would return to her natal home.

Danruo and Qinghe exchanged glances.

“Young Madam, why suddenly go back to your family?”

Shen Youran said, “Mother-in-law wants to give my husband a concubine. I’m angry, so naturally, I’m going home.”

A concubine?

No wonder Young Madam’s face looked so unhappy since returning to Haitang Courtyard today.

But now…

“Yet you don’t seem very angry,” Danruo looked puzzled at their mistress.

Qinghe said, “How could she not be angry? Look, her face is flushed red with anger.”

Shen Youran covered her cheeks, deliberately scowling to tease them.

“I’m very angry. Help me pack a few more clothes. I plan to stay at my family’s for at least half a month.”

The two maids exchanged a look, believing her.

“Young Madam, if First Madam is giving the Langjun a concubine, what does he say about it?”

“He…”

Shen Youran thought a moment, then deliberately spoke vaguely.

“He said he’ll personally send me back to my family tomorrow.”

Danruo and Qinghe both inhaled sharply: Could Langjun really be wanting to take a concubine?

Watching the two maids dumbfounded, Shen Youran felt her remaining gloom vanish.

After they packed the clothes, she sent them away and then stealthily pulled out a keepsake from the bottom of her camphorwood chest.

Though no one was in the room, she still felt like she was sneaking around doing something mischievous.

The last time she looked at this item was before the wedding, when her mother had taught her and her sister together.

So much time had passed, she nearly forgot about it.

Holding the book in her hands, she returned to bed and flipped it open reverently.

Halfway through, she could no longer contain herself and rolled around on the bed with it.

About half an hour later, the door suddenly swung open.

Shen Youran sat up and looked at him.

He still looked composed, but then a loud “bang” rang out as he slammed the door too forcefully.

Her body jolted with the noise.

Before she could react, he was already in front of her.

Without waiting for her to speak, he pressed her down and kissed her fiercely.

His hair was still damp, some strands slipping into her shoulder hollow, wet and cool—yet the body pressed against her was hot.

Like a ferocious beast that had finally captured its prey, he devoured her from head to toe, bit by bit.

Last time, she was drunk and couldn’t remember how he had kissed her all over, leaving red marks everywhere.

Today, fully conscious, she experienced it clearly.

The sensation made her tremble all over.

Shen Youran couldn’t take it and screamed, struggling and crying, pushing him away and tangling his hair into a mess…

She felt like she was floating in water, waves of heat surging, nearly drowning—when he caught her.

His wet kisses swallowed her sobs of discomfort.

In the haze, Pei Huaijin stood, his deep, dark eyes lowering to meet hers.

Shen Youran let out a plaintive cry.

She felt ashamed of the sound and tried to hold it back, but her teeth wouldn’t clench.

She covered her mouth with her hands, trying to hide her face—so intently watched by him.

But the next moment, he grabbed her wrists and pinned her hands beside the pillow.

He didn’t turn off the lights.

She had nowhere to hide.

She couldn’t stop crying.

Outside the bedchamber, Danruo and Qinghe were on the verge of tears themselves.

They clearly saw the Langjun leave the bath with a stern face and hurry inside, slamming the door hard—obviously angry.

They cried.

Langjun was taking a concubine, Young Madam wanted to go home, and they were surely having a terrible quarrel inside.

Sure enough, shortly after Langjun went in, they heard Young Madam’s cries.

It sounded like crying, but not quite.

Still, it had to be crying.

It couldn’t be consummation, right?

They only knew a little about such matters.

The last “consummation” mishap was still fresh in their memory.

That time, the maids said Young Madam cried terribly and everyone thought she and Langjun had consummated, but in truth, she was simply overwhelmed.

This time was probably the same.

If Young Madam was crying this much, it definitely wasn’t consummation.

The two maids fretted, wanting to go comfort their mistress but afraid to intrude uninvited.

The crying didn’t stop.

Danruo bit her lip so hard it almost bled.

“Why is Young Madam crying so much? Did Langjun scold her?”

Qinghe was just as anxious.

“We didn’t hear Langjun’s voice. He probably didn’t scold her.”

As they worried, other sounds came from inside—sharp, continuous…slapping sounds.

Did Langjun…hit Young Madam?

Danruo could wait no longer.

She hurried out, stepping on the snow, and ran all the way to Ci You Courtyard to find Tinglan.

She begged her to go in and notify Seventh Young Madam immediately.

The sooner, the better.

Fortunately, at this hour, Shen Yunshu was still awake.

She quickly wrapped herself in a hechang and stepped out of her chamber.

“What’s the matter?” she asked.

Danruo anxiously explained, “Seventh Young Madam, bad news. After Langjun came back tonight, he had a terrible quarrel with First Madam. We maids heard that Langjun even…even hit First Madam. He’s still hitting her now. Please go help her…”