Jiang Yin was pushed out of the room by the girl and stood at the door, patting the door frame.
"Ying! Ying, open the door and let me in! You are still not fully recovered, don't be angry!"
Gu Ying closed the door with tears in her eyes, her back facing the man outside the door. She slid down to the floor, "I don't want to see you now, go away!"
Jiang Yin helplessly raised the corners of his mouth and said gently, "Alright, I'll leave. Don't get so angry that you hurt your health."
After all, there were plenty of days ahead and he had plenty of time.
...
Gu Ying did not sleep all night. When she woke up the next day, she was still sitting on the floor.
The charcoal fire in the room had died down by more than half, and the bone-chilling cold crept in from the cracks in the door.
She shuddered and got up from the floor with chattering teeth.
It was at this moment that Hai Tang came in carrying a bowl of pitch-black medicine.
"Oh my! Miss, you sat here all night!" She hurriedly handed her the bowl of medicine, frowning deeply, "Quick, warm your hands first. I'll go prepare new charcoal right away."
Gu Ying stopped Hai Tang and asked with chattering teeth from the cold, "Hai Tang...where is Jiang Yin?"
Hai Tang sighed, "Master Jiang is in the study. He didn't sleep all night either. If I may say, Miss, haven't you always liked Master Jiang? Now that you two have consummated your relationship, wouldn't it be proper if you agree to marry Master Jiang? As long as I don't tell and Master Jiang doesn't tell, you can marry him fair and square without anyone knowing otherwise, right?"
"I..."
"Don't worry, Miss. I'll be here with you."
Gu Ying couldn't explain why, but she liked Jiang Yin and yet didn't like him at the same time. It was a very strange feeling, but after thinking it over last night, she felt that she liked him a little more.
He was treating her so well now, wasn't that what she had been dreaming of day and night?
Just as Hai Tang said, marrying him like this would be proper, and no one could say anything about her.
"I want to see him."
The corners of Hai Tang's mouth rose, "Miss, drink this medicine first, and then I'll fetch Master Jiang for you."
Gu Ying nodded. After drinking the medicine, her hands warmed up and she felt a little warmer.
The room was warm enough with ample charcoal burning, and soon it felt as cozy as a spring day.
When Jiang Yin came in, her cheeks were slightly flushed. She asked him shyly, "Are you really willing to marry me?"
Jiang Yin smiled faintly. Seeing her shy demeanor that he hadn't seen for so long made his heart strangely sour. He said, "If I have lied, may lightning strike me dead."
Gu Ying shyly covered his lips, "Don't make such a serious oath. I...I believe you."
Jiang Yin took her hand. His heart softened as he said, "Ying, I'm sorry."
Gu Ying didn't understand why he was apologizing to her. But seeing the tears shimmering in the corners of his eyes made her heart ache with worry.
"Did I say something wrong?"
"No."
"Then why are you crying?"
Jiang Yin laughed softly with sorrow rising in his eyes, "I'm just...too happy."
"What's there to be so happy about?" Gu Ying smiled helplessly, her beautiful eyes curving, while her heart softened.
Jiang Yin felt his heart being squeezed tightly and painfully. He said with emotion, "How could I not be happy that you are finally willing to love me."
It was only then that Gu Ying realized the man she loved also loved her back.
He had wanted to marry her all along too, but felt unworthy because he had no title or glory to match her status. But now he had given up pursuing fame and official positions, no longer clinging to the imperial civil exams. He just wanted to spend his whole life freely with her.
She thought there was nothing wrong with spending their lives freely together. Even if they had to farm and weave cloth to make a living, she was willing as long as they were together.
She settled down happily in the Fragrant Hideaway manor. Other than being unable to be intimate with him physically, their interactions were no different from those of any couple living under the same roof.
Even when she rejected sharing the same bed with him time and time again, he did not get angry. He would patiently bring her freshly picked flowers every day and put them in the vase in her room with his own hands. He gave her all kinds of jewelry and accompanied her in reading, chess games, walking in the snow and flower appreciation, while gently telling her, "I will wait for you, wait until the day you are truly willing to accept me."
Jiang Yin treated her extremely well, frequently taking her out sightseeing and travelling.
Even when Jiang's mother and Jiang Ling'er came and abused or belittled her, he would stand up for her.
He had also spent quite a bit of money to buy her medicines to treat her illness.
Deeply grateful for his care, she picked an auspicious day to play the zither and make tea for him.
In a pavilion by the riverside, the brazier was burning bright with hot charcoals.
The skies were a white expanse, with fluttering snowflakes. The plum trees were covered in clouds and mist, the laden branches a lush sight.
Gu Ying lit incense in the pavilion and set up the tea set. The refreshing scent of the tea soon lingered in the air.
Jiang Yin sat facing Gu Ying, losing himself as he gazed at her bright, delicate face in the mist and steam, watching her skilled motions as she lifted the tea bowl and brought it close to him.
It was as if he had truly returned to their past life.
"What's the matter, Yin?"
The woman's delicate fingertips lightly fluttered before his eyes. Jiang Yin finally came back to his senses. He lightly sipped the tea she had personally brewed.
That touch of bitterness filled his mouth, sliding down his throat, evoking boundless longing and reminiscence.
It reminded him that when she had first married into the manor in their previous life, she knew nothing and did not try to please him.
Later she had found some teachers to learn flower arrangement, brewing tea, reading, writing, musical instruments, chess, painting and calligraphy.
She was a clever girl and picked them up quickly, often brewing tea for him after that to please him.
Occasionally he would drink a cup or two as well, then gaze at her in amazement.
The tea she made was actually better than the renowned Tea Sage's.
But he rarely expressed this admiration openly.
In his eyes, no matter how outstanding, beautiful or virtuous she was, she had once slept with Zhao the Crown Prince, which made her too filthy to be his proper wife.
Yet his hardened heart would gradually soften for her as well.
She didn't know that on those sleepless nights when she cried muffledly behind her window, he would also pace fretfully below, listening, longing to step into her room to give her some comfort or hold her once.
But his masculine pride ultimately prevented him from lowering himself to approach her. As he grew colder towards her, she also became more disappointed in him. Later on, she seldom brewed tea for him anymore. Only resentment and enmity remained between them.
Putting down the teacup, Jiang Yin gazed at Gu Ying. His expression was full of feeling as he said gently, "It still tastes the same as before."
Gu Ying looked at him curiously with bright eyes, "Before? Did I also brew tea for you before?"
The corners of Jiang Yin's lips curved up slightly. "Perhaps in our past life."
Gu Ying laughed. "No one can say for sure about past lives."
Jiang Yin's gaze was deep and meaningful. "Maybe we were husband and wife in our past life too."
Gu Ying smiled and lowered her head to fiddle with the tea set again, adding some fresh tea leaves into the pot. "If we were indeed husband and wife in our previous life, then we must have loved each other dearly and grown old together peacefully. Otherwise Heaven wouldn't have allowed us to meet again in this life."
Jiang Yin was pushed out of the room by the girl and stood at the door, patting the door frame.
"Ying! Ying, open the door and let me in! You are still not fully recovered, don't be angry!"
Gu Ying closed the door with tears in her eyes, her back facing the man outside the door. She slid down to the floor, "I don't want to see you now, go away!"
Jiang Yin helplessly raised the corners of his mouth and said gently, "Alright, I'll leave. Don't get so angry that you hurt your health."
After all, there were plenty of days ahead and he had plenty of time.
...
Gu Ying did not sleep all night. When she woke up the next day, she was still sitting on the floor.
The charcoal fire in the room had died down by more than half, and the bone-chilling cold crept in from the cracks in the door.
She shuddered and got up from the floor with chattering teeth.
It was at this moment that Hai Tang came in carrying a bowl of pitch-black medicine.
"Oh my! Miss, you sat here all night!" She hurriedly handed her the bowl of medicine, frowning deeply, "Quick, warm your hands first. I'll go prepare new charcoal right away."
Gu Ying stopped Hai Tang and asked with chattering teeth from the cold, "Hai Tang...where is Jiang Yin?"
Hai Tang sighed, "Master Jiang is in the study. He didn't sleep all night either. If I may say, Miss, haven't you always liked Master Jiang? Now that you two have consummated your relationship, wouldn't it be proper if you agree to marry Master Jiang? As long as I don't tell and Master Jiang doesn't tell, you can marry him fair and square without anyone knowing otherwise, right?"
"I..."
"Don't worry, Miss. I'll be here with you."
Gu Ying couldn't explain why, but she liked Jiang Yin and yet didn't like him at the same time. It was a very strange feeling, but after thinking it over last night, she felt that she liked him a little more.
He was treating her so well now, wasn't that what she had been dreaming of day and night?
Just as Hai Tang said, marrying him like this would be proper, and no one could say anything about her.
"I want to see him."
The corners of Hai Tang's mouth rose, "Miss, drink this medicine first, and then I'll fetch Master Jiang for you."
Gu Ying nodded. After drinking the medicine, her hands warmed up and she felt a little warmer.
The room was warm enough with ample charcoal burning, and soon it felt as cozy as a spring day.
When Jiang Yin came in, her cheeks were slightly flushed. She asked him shyly, "Are you really willing to marry me?"
Jiang Yin smiled faintly. Seeing her shy demeanor that he hadn't seen for so long made his heart strangely sour. He said, "If I have lied, may lightning strike me dead."
Gu Ying shyly covered his lips, "Don't make such a serious oath. I...I believe you."
Jiang Yin took her hand. His heart softened as he said, "Ying, I'm sorry."
Gu Ying didn't understand why he was apologizing to her. But seeing the tears shimmering in the corners of his eyes made her heart ache with worry.
"Did I say something wrong?"
"No."
"Then why are you crying?"
Jiang Yin laughed softly with sorrow rising in his eyes, "I'm just...too happy."
"What's there to be so happy about?" Gu Ying smiled helplessly, her beautiful eyes curving, while her heart softened.
Jiang Yin felt his heart being squeezed tightly and painfully. He said with emotion, "How could I not be happy that you are finally willing to love me."
It was only then that Gu Ying realized the man she loved also loved her back.
He had wanted to marry her all along too, but felt unworthy because he had no title or glory to match her status. But now he had given up pursuing fame and official positions, no longer clinging to the imperial civil exams. He just wanted to spend his whole life freely with her.
She thought there was nothing wrong with spending their lives freely together. Even if they had to farm and weave cloth to make a living, she was willing as long as they were together.
She settled down happily in the Fragrant Hideaway manor. Other than being unable to be intimate with him physically, their interactions were no different from those of any couple living under the same roof.
Even when she rejected sharing the same bed with him time and time again, he did not get angry. He would patiently bring her freshly picked flowers every day and put them in the vase in her room with his own hands. He gave her all kinds of jewelry and accompanied her in reading, chess games, walking in the snow and flower appreciation, while gently telling her, "I will wait for you, wait until the day you are truly willing to accept me."
Jiang Yin treated her extremely well, frequently taking her out sightseeing and travelling.
Even when Jiang's mother and Jiang Ling'er came and abused or belittled her, he would stand up for her.
He had also spent quite a bit of money to buy her medicines to treat her illness.
Deeply grateful for his care, she picked an auspicious day to play the zither and make tea for him.
In a pavilion by the riverside, the brazier was burning bright with hot charcoals.
The skies were a white expanse, with fluttering snowflakes. The plum trees were covered in clouds and mist, the laden branches a lush sight.
Gu Ying lit incense in the pavilion and set up the tea set. The refreshing scent of the tea soon lingered in the air.
Jiang Yin sat facing Gu Ying, losing himself as he gazed at her bright, delicate face in the mist and steam, watching her skilled motions as she lifted the tea bowl and brought it close to him.
It was as if he had truly returned to their past life.
"What's the matter, Yin?"
The woman's delicate fingertips lightly fluttered before his eyes. Jiang Yin finally came back to his senses. He lightly sipped the tea she had personally brewed.
That touch of bitterness filled his mouth, sliding down his throat, evoking boundless longing and reminiscence.
It reminded him that when she had first married into the manor in their previous life, she knew nothing and did not try to please him.
Later she had found some teachers to learn flower arrangement, brewing tea, reading, writing, musical instruments, chess, painting and calligraphy.
She was a clever girl and picked them up quickly, often brewing tea for him after that to please him.
Occasionally he would drink a cup or two as well, then gaze at her in amazement.
The tea she made was actually better than the renowned Tea Sage's.
But he rarely expressed this admiration openly.
In his eyes, no matter how outstanding, beautiful or virtuous she was, she had once slept with Zhao the Crown Prince, which made her too filthy to be his proper wife.
Yet his hardened heart would gradually soften for her as well.
She didn't know that on those sleepless nights when she cried muffledly behind her window, he would also pace fretfully below, listening, longing to step into her room to give her some comfort or hold her once.
But his masculine pride ultimately prevented him from lowering himself to approach her. As he grew colder towards her, she also became more disappointed in him. Later on, she seldom brewed tea for him anymore. Only resentment and enmity remained between them.
Putting down the teacup, Jiang Yin gazed at Gu Ying. His expression was full of feeling as he said gently, "It still tastes the same as before."
Gu Ying looked at him curiously with bright eyes, "Before? Did I also brew tea for you before?"
The corners of Jiang Yin's lips curved up slightly. "Perhaps in our past life."
Gu Ying laughed. "No one can say for sure about past lives."
Jiang Yin's gaze was deep and meaningful. "Maybe we were husband and wife in our past life too."
Gu Ying smiled and lowered her head to fiddle with the tea set again, adding some fresh tea leaves into the pot. "If we were indeed husband and wife in our previous life, then we must have loved each other dearly and grown old together peacefully. Otherwise Heaven wouldn't have allowed us to meet again in this life."
