Chapter - 43
By Tea Time Translations
(Shout out to Fanatic for this extra chapter! Thank you for supporting us.)
Pei You'an was awake throughout the latter part of the night.
He had always been a light sleeper, but his extraordinary self-discipline, which exceeded what most people could achieve, had become a habit. Even when he had many concerns, once his body signaled it was time to rest, he could quickly dismiss distracting thoughts and fall asleep. He understood that sleep nourished the body and mind. However, staying awake the entire latter part of the night, without a moment of sleep, was quite unusual.
The previous night, he had married her, and they had shared an intimate moment as husband and wife.
There was now a new presence by his side, a woman, and this was a feeling he had never experienced before. It was completely different from the time when, in Meng's residence, she had climbed into his bed while he was drunk, and he had inadvertently slept with her for a night.
Last night, during his duty as a newlywed husband on their wedding night, he had been attentive to her reactions.
She had remained motionless beneath him, her delicate brows tightly furrowed, her eyes closed throughout. He was certain she hadn't even opened her eyes to look at him. It seemed as though she was enduring something she wasn't particularly willing to experience, yet felt compelled to go through with.
Therefore, he had been even more cautious with her, making every effort not to touch parts of her body she may not have wanted him to.
This reaffirmed a long-held belief for Pei You'an. From the beginning, his little cousin had stayed by his side, trying various ways to please him, even going to great lengths to carry out bizarre actions. She had then insisted on him marrying her, all due to the fear of facing trouble. On this wedding night, her proactive approach to please him was probably just a way to secure their newly-formed husband-wife relationship.
Tonight, he could have easily ignored her. But the thought of the potential embarrassment she might face in the morning and her present feelings of rejection and disappointment compelled him to reconsider.
She was willing to save a stranger on the brink of death out of pity, proving she could be taught and guided. Since he had married her, he should make her feel secure.
The notion of her seeking refuge with him for self-preservation was not new; he had known this all along. However, it was only on this particular night, when he had her pinned beneath him and the same thought resurfaced, that he experienced an unprecedented sense of discomfort.
He was no saint. With the human condition and desires that came with it, he knew that no one was truly a saint. He had agreed to marry her and had indeed married her. For the unexpected event of that night, he had done his duty in the spirit of benevolence. Tonight, he hadn't felt inclined to engage in such matters with her.
Due to his frail health during childhood, Pei You'an had encountered various healers and doctors. Some were renowned for their medical skills, while others were considered eccentric or unconventional. At the age of ten, a Daoist renowned for his breath control and body strengthening practices, who was rumored to be over two hundred years old but still appeared as middle-aged, caught the attention of the Duke of Wei, who invited the Daoist to teach Pei You'an breathing exercises and methods to improve his health. After some time, the Daoist presented a scripture known as the "Heart Sutra" and instructed him that by following the sutra's guidance, practicing abstinence with a virgin maiden, he would refine his vital energy, which would cure all illnesses in the future. He asked to find someone who met the conditions. The girl is used for testing. The Duke of Wei soon realized that the Daoist was not as old as claimed and promptly sent him away. The concept of cultivating energy through the "Heart Sutra" remained more theoretical than practical.
The breathing exercises and breath control methods the Daoist taught were indeed effective, and Pei You'an had adhered to them over the years, benefiting from their practice. As for the "Heart Sutra," it was the first and only time he had received a discreet initiation into male-female matters.
Many years had passed, and he had long forgotten about this experience. However, at this moment, strange as it may be, certain memories resurfaced unexpectedly in his mind. With his extraordinary intellect, he remembered the content of the "Heart Sutra" despite having only glanced at it briefly when the Daoist presented it. These memories were vivid and clear in his mind.
Pei You'an watched her as she lay under him, her eyes closed in apparent discomfort. A wicked thought briefly crossed his mind: What if he were to use the methods from the Daoist's "Heart Sutra" on her? How would she react now?
However, before he could contemplate it further, she appeared to be uncomfortable and squirmed beneath him. He lost control, and after a brief and unsatisfying moment of intimacy, he couldn't help but feel a rush of guilt and self-reproach as he looked at her pitiful form, with her eyes closed and her clothes in disarray. His heart was overwhelmed by intense remorse and shame. He quickly arranged her clothes and then tidied himself up before settling down for the night.
Pei You'an knew that she, beside him, hadn't been sleeping soundly at first. She had woken up a few times during the night but eventually fell into a deeper slumber due to exhaustion.
However, he was unable to sleep for the entire night. His former weakness and the subsequent health issues he had endured had resurfaced, causing him great discomfort. The initial feelings of self-blame and guilt gave way to concern and a growing sense of melancholy.
This night, Pei You'an remained completely sleepless. Not long after she had fallen asleep, she rolled over and nestled her head on his shoulder, her small, fuzzy body close to his.
He felt her warm, fragrant breath as she nestled closer to him in her sleep, completely still and peaceful. Her soft, even breathing was the only sound in his ears, and the warmth seemed to envelop him as well, permeating his senses.
Closing his eyes, he focused on his own breath, trying to find tranquility, but no matter how much he tried to regulate his breathing, he couldn't find the same serenity that she had achieved in her sleep. He remained restless until he heard a soft knocking on the door from outside.
Slowly, he opened his eyes, and they were bloodshot, a testament to his restless night. Outside, it was still dimly lit, and the Long feng xi candles had burned all night. Bathed in the soft candlelight that seeped through the curtains, Pei You'an gazed at her sleeping face, so close to his own and still showing signs of weariness.
With the utmost care, he gently moved away from her, mindful not to wake her, and rose from the bed.
....
Jiafu, who had slept intermittently last night, woke from a troubled dream only to be abruptly awakened by someone. She struggled to open her groggy eyes and found herself face to face with Liu Mama, whose enlarged face was right in front of her. Liu Mama whispered, "Young Madam, it's time to wake up! It's already past the fifth watch, and Master has been up, waiting for you!"
Initially bewildered, Jiafu suddenly realized that she was being called "Young Madam." She quickly came to her senses, turned her head, and saw that the pillow next to her was empty. Her husband, Pei You'an, had already risen, and she hadn't noticed.
He didn't even wake her up, causing her to oversleep!
Jiafu hastily got up. Alongside her, a Mama named Wang who served Madam Xin and a young maid entered the room. Liu Mama understood her purpose and walked over to personally take the plate with pastries on it. Wang Mama glanced at it, took it, and offered a polite smile to Jiafu before leaving.
Liu Mama and Sandalwood assisted Jiafu in dressing quickly. After getting dressed, they brought in some washing items, and once Jiafu was ready, she didn't even have a chance to take a single bite of breakfast before hurrying out.
"Young Madam, Master just said the time hasn't arrived yet. There's a lot to do this morning. Take a few bites before you go..." Liu Mama, who was concerned about Jiafu being hungry, caught up to her and advised.
"I can't eat," Jiafu said, and she swiftly walked into the living area outside their bedroom. She noticed Pei You'an sitting at the chess table, reading a scroll, seemingly waiting for her. He was dressed neatly, appearing refreshed. Upon hearing her voice, he looked up.
Jiafu abruptly stopped in her tracks and locked eyes with him, feeling somewhat uneasy. She softly explained, "I'm sorry for oversleeping this morning and making you wait. I'm ready now and can go."
Pei You'an replied, "It's not too late. Have something to eat before you go; it won't be a problem."
With that, he placed the scroll on the chess table, got up, and left the room.
Liu Mama quickly brought the food box from the kitchen, opened it, and placed it on a small low table. There were plates of tender bamboo shoots, wood fern sprouts, turnip greens, stir-fried shrimp, and marinated chicken breast. A bowl of glutinous rice congee filled the room with its delicious aroma. Jiafu felt her stomach grumbling and didn't care about Pei You'an anymore. She sat down and ate most of the congee, feeling satisfied. Then she got up and left the room.
Outside, the sky was gradually brightening. The courtyard was adorned with autumn begonias and zinnias. The cheerful chirping of morning birds remained hidden among the leaves. Pei You'an stood in the corridor, facing away from the door, deep in thought.
Jiafu walked up to him and softly said, "Husband, I'm ready."
He turned to her, his gaze traveling from her head to toe. Then he smiled with the familiar warmth and nodded. Slowly, he said, "Follow me."
Chapter - 43
By Tea Time Translations
(Shout out to Fanatic for this extra chapter! Thank you for supporting us.)
Pei You'an was awake throughout the latter part of the night.
He had always been a light sleeper, but his extraordinary self-discipline, which exceeded what most people could achieve, had become a habit. Even when he had many concerns, once his body signaled it was time to rest, he could quickly dismiss distracting thoughts and fall asleep. He understood that sleep nourished the body and mind. However, staying awake the entire latter part of the night, without a moment of sleep, was quite unusual.
The previous night, he had married her, and they had shared an intimate moment as husband and wife.
There was now a new presence by his side, a woman, and this was a feeling he had never experienced before. It was completely different from the time when, in Meng's residence, she had climbed into his bed while he was drunk, and he had inadvertently slept with her for a night.
Last night, during his duty as a newlywed husband on their wedding night, he had been attentive to her reactions.
She had remained motionless beneath him, her delicate brows tightly furrowed, her eyes closed throughout. He was certain she hadn't even opened her eyes to look at him. It seemed as though she was enduring something she wasn't particularly willing to experience, yet felt compelled to go through with.
Therefore, he had been even more cautious with her, making every effort not to touch parts of her body she may not have wanted him to.
This reaffirmed a long-held belief for Pei You'an. From the beginning, his little cousin had stayed by his side, trying various ways to please him, even going to great lengths to carry out bizarre actions. She had then insisted on him marrying her, all due to the fear of facing trouble. On this wedding night, her proactive approach to please him was probably just a way to secure their newly-formed husband-wife relationship.
Tonight, he could have easily ignored her. But the thought of the potential embarrassment she might face in the morning and her present feelings of rejection and disappointment compelled him to reconsider.
She was willing to save a stranger on the brink of death out of pity, proving she could be taught and guided. Since he had married her, he should make her feel secure.
The notion of her seeking refuge with him for self-preservation was not new; he had known this all along. However, it was only on this particular night, when he had her pinned beneath him and the same thought resurfaced, that he experienced an unprecedented sense of discomfort.
He was no saint. With the human condition and desires that came with it, he knew that no one was truly a saint. He had agreed to marry her and had indeed married her. For the unexpected event of that night, he had done his duty in the spirit of benevolence. Tonight, he hadn't felt inclined to engage in such matters with her.
Due to his frail health during childhood, Pei You'an had encountered various healers and doctors. Some were renowned for their medical skills, while others were considered eccentric or unconventional. At the age of ten, a Daoist renowned for his breath control and body strengthening practices, who was rumored to be over two hundred years old but still appeared as middle-aged, caught the attention of the Duke of Wei, who invited the Daoist to teach Pei You'an breathing exercises and methods to improve his health. After some time, the Daoist presented a scripture known as the "Heart Sutra" and instructed him that by following the sutra's guidance, practicing abstinence with a virgin maiden, he would refine his vital energy, which would cure all illnesses in the future. He asked to find someone who met the conditions. The girl is used for testing. The Duke of Wei soon realized that the Daoist was not as old as claimed and promptly sent him away. The concept of cultivating energy through the "Heart Sutra" remained more theoretical than practical.
The breathing exercises and breath control methods the Daoist taught were indeed effective, and Pei You'an had adhered to them over the years, benefiting from their practice. As for the "Heart Sutra," it was the first and only time he had received a discreet initiation into male-female matters.
Many years had passed, and he had long forgotten about this experience. However, at this moment, strange as it may be, certain memories resurfaced unexpectedly in his mind. With his extraordinary intellect, he remembered the content of the "Heart Sutra" despite having only glanced at it briefly when the Daoist presented it. These memories were vivid and clear in his mind.
Pei You'an watched her as she lay under him, her eyes closed in apparent discomfort. A wicked thought briefly crossed his mind: What if he were to use the methods from the Daoist's "Heart Sutra" on her? How would she react now?
However, before he could contemplate it further, she appeared to be uncomfortable and squirmed beneath him. He lost control, and after a brief and unsatisfying moment of intimacy, he couldn't help but feel a rush of guilt and self-reproach as he looked at her pitiful form, with her eyes closed and her clothes in disarray. His heart was overwhelmed by intense remorse and shame. He quickly arranged her clothes and then tidied himself up before settling down for the night.
Pei You'an knew that she, beside him, hadn't been sleeping soundly at first. She had woken up a few times during the night but eventually fell into a deeper slumber due to exhaustion.
However, he was unable to sleep for the entire night. His former weakness and the subsequent health issues he had endured had resurfaced, causing him great discomfort. The initial feelings of self-blame and guilt gave way to concern and a growing sense of melancholy.
This night, Pei You'an remained completely sleepless. Not long after she had fallen asleep, she rolled over and nestled her head on his shoulder, her small, fuzzy body close to his.
He felt her warm, fragrant breath as she nestled closer to him in her sleep, completely still and peaceful. Her soft, even breathing was the only sound in his ears, and the warmth seemed to envelop him as well, permeating his senses.
Closing his eyes, he focused on his own breath, trying to find tranquility, but no matter how much he tried to regulate his breathing, he couldn't find the same serenity that she had achieved in her sleep. He remained restless until he heard a soft knocking on the door from outside.
Slowly, he opened his eyes, and they were bloodshot, a testament to his restless night. Outside, it was still dimly lit, and the Long feng xi candles had burned all night. Bathed in the soft candlelight that seeped through the curtains, Pei You'an gazed at her sleeping face, so close to his own and still showing signs of weariness.
With the utmost care, he gently moved away from her, mindful not to wake her, and rose from the bed.
....
Jiafu, who had slept intermittently last night, woke from a troubled dream only to be abruptly awakened by someone. She struggled to open her groggy eyes and found herself face to face with Liu Mama, whose enlarged face was right in front of her. Liu Mama whispered, "Young Madam, it's time to wake up! It's already past the fifth watch, and Master has been up, waiting for you!"
Initially bewildered, Jiafu suddenly realized that she was being called "Young Madam." She quickly came to her senses, turned her head, and saw that the pillow next to her was empty. Her husband, Pei You'an, had already risen, and she hadn't noticed.
He didn't even wake her up, causing her to oversleep!
Jiafu hastily got up. Alongside her, a Mama named Wang who served Madam Xin and a young maid entered the room. Liu Mama understood her purpose and walked over to personally take the plate with pastries on it. Wang Mama glanced at it, took it, and offered a polite smile to Jiafu before leaving.
Liu Mama and Sandalwood assisted Jiafu in dressing quickly. After getting dressed, they brought in some washing items, and once Jiafu was ready, she didn't even have a chance to take a single bite of breakfast before hurrying out.
"Young Madam, Master just said the time hasn't arrived yet. There's a lot to do this morning. Take a few bites before you go..." Liu Mama, who was concerned about Jiafu being hungry, caught up to her and advised.
"I can't eat," Jiafu said, and she swiftly walked into the living area outside their bedroom. She noticed Pei You'an sitting at the chess table, reading a scroll, seemingly waiting for her. He was dressed neatly, appearing refreshed. Upon hearing her voice, he looked up.
Jiafu abruptly stopped in her tracks and locked eyes with him, feeling somewhat uneasy. She softly explained, "I'm sorry for oversleeping this morning and making you wait. I'm ready now and can go."
Pei You'an replied, "It's not too late. Have something to eat before you go; it won't be a problem."
With that, he placed the scroll on the chess table, got up, and left the room.
Liu Mama quickly brought the food box from the kitchen, opened it, and placed it on a small low table. There were plates of tender bamboo shoots, wood fern sprouts, turnip greens, stir-fried shrimp, and marinated chicken breast. A bowl of glutinous rice congee filled the room with its delicious aroma. Jiafu felt her stomach grumbling and didn't care about Pei You'an anymore. She sat down and ate most of the congee, feeling satisfied. Then she got up and left the room.
Outside, the sky was gradually brightening. The courtyard was adorned with autumn begonias and zinnias. The cheerful chirping of morning birds remained hidden among the leaves. Pei You'an stood in the corridor, facing away from the door, deep in thought.
Jiafu walked up to him and softly said, "Husband, I'm ready."
He turned to her, his gaze traveling from her head to toe. Then he smiled with the familiar warmth and nodded. Slowly, he said, "Follow me."
