Chapter 43

NSFW: This chapter contains contents se*ual nature. Readers' discretion advised.

Shocked, Wei Tan stared at me. His face tinged with a red flush, but his gaze brightened.

"You want to see, Furen?" His voice was husky with a half-smile.

I smiled provocatively, "Are you backing out, Fujun?"

He nipped my lips and moved to get up from the bed. Instead of letting him go, I rolled over and pressed him back.

"I want to see for myself," propping my hands on his chest, I peered into his astonished eyes and chuckled.

His gaze seared me, and he didn't resist as his Adam's apple rolled.

I sat on his midriff, drawing my eyes down his body.

In our earlier tussle, his robe had come undone. The open lapels showed a solid chest covered with a thin layer of sweat, shining a honey colored luster.

I swallowed as my throat dried. Like a child fiddling with a doll, careful and curious, I opened his clothes wider. His arms freed themselves from the sleeves, tight muscles stretching all the way from his wide shoulders. At the ends, the large, rough hands roved under my skirt.

"Keep still," I pulled his hands out, pressing them at the sides.

Then...... I continued to shift my gaze lower. Only a Hakama remained on his body, hanging slack around his waist. Further down, something tented the cr0tch area of his trousers up high.

My breath burned hot, and my neck steamed with sweat. As I stared, not daring to raise my eyes, a strange silence filled the room. Yet, an undercurrent surged, making my heartbeat unsteady.

When I reached out to untie the Hakama's belt, I sensed Wei Tan's chest ripple as he sucked in a breath.

My hands chilled as I loosened the straps and dragged the fabric away, exposing the underlying thing to the light.

Speaking of males' things, I had seen them in the past. In courtyard corners, in hidden alleys of markets, there were always parents who were too late to find the toilet, letting their young sons relieve themselves on the spot. Whenever I came across such scenes, my wet-nurse covered my eyes, scaring me that I would contract eye stye. Despite her efforts, I still saw them a few times. In my heart, I didn't take her words seriously. Just a tiny thing, smaller than my fist. After I grew older, I learned it hardened when I made out with Pei Qian. But although Pei Qian also liked to get handsy, he was a gentleman. When I asked, he reddened and glared at me, saying that unmarried women who look would contract eye stye...... Finally, I learned how it really looked. Well, to be honest, it looked weird. Thicker and longer than I expected, head held high, it grew in spirit under my gaze ......

"How is it?" Wei Tan's deep and hoarse voice strained for control. His hand reached out to my lapels and jerked the tied sash. The half-open lapels of my already disheveled clothes slid off with his movement. His thick and strong palms caused my body to tremble, and I sensed an indescribable wetness welling up in my depths.

I continued to stare at that thing, my throat burning dry: "Well...... it's like a worm."

"Worm?" He laughed low, the hand caressing my waist creeping up, "Is there such a big worm?"

I shut up, the back of my ears burning red. If I was a rogue, he was more roguish than me.

"A'Jin......," Wei Tan's voice was urgent, "Let it in."

My face was on fire, and I recalled the earlier pain.

Just as I hesitated, he grabbed my arm and pinned me under his body.

"A'Jin......," as he nibbled on my chest while lifting my legs, steam curled up my neck like devil's magic, "Don't be afraid......"

I gasped without answering, and my hands clutched his shoulders.

Wei Tan's muscles tensed, and he jerked straight.

I muffled a cry, and the bed canopy overhead rocked with his impact. Gradually, the sky's dense rosy glow enshrouded the candlelight......

The nightingale sang outside the window again.

Oh...... No, that wasn't right; it was an oriole.

That wasn't right either......

I shrank under the quilt, and when Wei Tan retracted his arm, I didn't move a muscle.

He eased it away as if he feared waking me, rising from the bed after a while. The rustling of clothes emerged from the back rack.

Someone knocked on the door lightly.

"Eldest Young Master......," a servant's voice echoed from outside for an instant before all fell silent.

I ensured he had left before I peeked out from under the covers.

Just then, I didn't pretend sleep because I feared embarrassment. Instead, I feared that Wei Tan, that lecherous devil, would return to teasing me; it wasn't fun to lose my temper.

I slipped into a more comfortable pose. Though it ached, it wasn't intense. Instead, there was an indescribable feeling. Was it...... satisfaction?

Holding my sore waist, I gazed up, my heart still "thumping" in my chest.

I already forgot last night's events, I only remembered the deep impact. I was like a soft dough ball in a hot pot, steamrolled and re-kneaded into a dumpling.

Wei Tan nibbled on my ear, calling my name out again and again.

When I couldn't take it anymore, I begged, "Please spare me, Fujun." He told me, "Call me A'Tan." But when I called out, he got even more excited and worked harder.

I shuddered beneath him, moaning unreservedly. When a dizzying sensation overwhelmed me like a river tide, I almost lost consciousness. Ashamed, I believed if I had looked in the mirror at that instant, I'd have looked insane.

When Wei Tan returned from a trip out, he told me that we would set off to Yong Capital in two days.

Surprised, I wondered, 'Returning to Yong Capital? But last night he told my Jiumu we would stay longer.'

He stroked my hair, smiling next to my ear: "Don't worry, Furen. Even if we return to Yong Capital, this husband will still treat you sincerely."

I knew what he was referring to and blushed.

Since we were leaving, I had to start preparations today. I informed the Steward at once and asked him to assign servants to pack the luggage.

Initially, I had planned to visit my Jiumu and Third Yimu's homes. But now that I had no time, I dispatched a letter to their residences, explaining my reasons and apologizing. In fact, I was a little petty; I could have hosted a banquet at my home today or tomorrow and invited their families for a get-together to return their favor. But that meant allowing Qiao Ti to meet Wei Tan again, and the thought of her calculating gaze made me unwilling.

Yet, they both visited after they received my letter.

The first to arrive was my Third Yimu.

She gifted me Luoyang's specialty cakes for the return journey: "You must've seen many precious things in Yong Capital, A'Jin. After much thinking, I came up with these cakes you can't eat in Yong Capital. Don't dislike them, A'Jin."

As she was the sincerest of all my relatives, I accepted it and thanked her with a smile.

Third Yimu tugged my hand and stared at me. Her eyes reddened, as if she was recalling my Mother, but she said nothing and just sighed.

"A'Jin," before leaving, she told me something after much contemplation, "Your Jiumu is struggling. If she has something to ask you, and you don't think it's difficult, you can help. But if it's too much, you don't bother. I noticed how carefully the General treated you. How easy is it for women to find good husbands? You can't share certain things. Even if your relatives ask, you shouldn't give them away easily."

Her words were deep, but I understood her meaning.

I nodded and smiled, "Thank you, Yimu. A'Jin will remember."

Before long, my Jiumu arrived as well. To my surprise, she was alone and hadn't brought Qiao Ti with her.

She too gifted me candied fruits and other snacks for my journey.

After exchanging pleasantries, she stared at me and sighed: "Now that A'Jin has married into a noble family and everything is going well, your parents and your Jiufu should rest in peace." She bowed her head and used her handkerchief to pat her eyes.

To be honest, I always hated it when people said these words; it sounded like I had picked up a tremendous bargain.

Without showing my heart, I just said, "I only hope to not disgrace the family."

"What are you saying, A'Jin? Today, I'm afraid no one would dare to disagree with me when I say that the Wei Clan is the noblest family besides the Imperial household." She sighed, "A'Ti isn't as lucky as you. She turns 19 this year and still waits to be married."

Finally, here it came. I peered at my Jiumu and said concernedly, "I have been wanting to ask about this matter. Why haven't you chosen a husband for my Biaomei yet?"

"It's not that I haven't chosen a son-in-law. We had even set a betrothal earlier. Your Jiufu chose one of the best families in Luoyang. But later, that family got caught up in the chaos caused by that traitor Hé, and we lost the marriage."

I nodded and sighed, "I am sorry for your loss, Jiumu. With my Biaomei's upbringing, someone will always want to marry her."

"You are right. But the chaos has displaced the nobles. It was hard to settle down after your Jiufu passed away. Only us orphans and widows stay in Luoyang; the many proposing marriages are only of modest birth. I'm afraid of shaming the Qiao Clan's reputation, which has resounded in Luoyang for over a 100 years. In the future, I won't have any face to meet your Jiufu." She sighed again, "This has delayed your Biaomei's marriage."

I looked at her, "I see."

"A'Jin," my Jiumu held my hand, "We have seen the surrounding families in Luoyang, and none of them are compatible. Now that every landed aristocrat wants to go to Yong Capital, A'Jin must help A'Ti."

From her expression, I knew she had more words, "Do you have someone in mind, Jiumu?"

She smiled, somewhat embarrassed. She looked around to make sure no one was around, leaned closer, and covered her mouth with her silk fan: "A'Jin, I heard that the Second Young Master of Wei Residence only has one concubine, who always stays in Luoyang. Is that true?"

I froze for a moment.

So it turned out that my Jiumu set her eyes on Wei Zhao.

"You are right."

"A'Jin, what happens in the Residence, is important for a married woman. The Wei Clan is huge, and you, as the eldest daughter-in-law, must worry over everything around the house. If you 2 cousins become sisters-in-law, your Biaomei can support you with all her heart. Isn't that better than outsiders?"

I nodded, but showed an awkward expression, and shyly whispered, "Jiumu's words are reasonable. It's just that it's been less than a year since I married into my husband's family. I fear if I mention it hastily, my in-laws will become suspicious and it will be unpleasant. Jiumu......"

"A'Jin, don't trouble yourself too much." She smiled, "I only proposed an idea. No one can guarantee success or failure. Your Jiumu, this old woman, thought you cousins shared a deep friendship since you were young. Won't it be perfect if you both marry into one house and become closer?"

I spoke obligingly, "I understand Jiumu's kindness. If a chance arises, I will surely help you."

She clenched my hand and beamed.

After more pleasantries and sending my Jiumu away, I stood under the porch, looked at the sky beyond the wall, and inhaled a deep breath.

Words of surely helping if a chance arises and so on were all nonsense. Jiumu really thought too highly of me. Even if I was the eldest daughter-in-law, my in-laws still sat above me. Besides convincing Wei Jue, Madam Guo wasn't Wei Tan's biological mother, while Wei Zhao was her own son. Who was I, a stepson's wife, to meddle in her son's marriage?

I recalled Concubine Xu, who lived in this mansion. It was ugly to think that my Jiumu came to plot with me to steal her husband.

I had assumed that Qiao Ti didn't get married because of Jiufu or the clan's money trouble. Yet, my Jiumu's talk of family status stunned me.

Was the Wei Clan so noble? If chaos hadn't struck the country, Wei Jue would still be an insignificant Cavalry Commandant in Chang'An. I feared my Jiumu wouldn't have spared him a glance even if he had gone to their door to ask for marriage himself.

After packing my things, I felt tired, so I rested on the bed.

When I woke up, the sky was already dark. A'Yuan told me that Wei Tan had returned an hour ago and had gone to Wei An's place when he saw me sleeping.

I responded, rising to go out.

The servants were busy around the courtyards, preparing for our departure tomorrow. Wei Tan wasn't present when I reached Wei An's courtyard. Wei An was frowning at a pile of wooden pieces he had made these days, agonizing over what to pack.

"How difficult is this," I laughed, "Pack whatever was hard to make. Plus, that wheelchair, which Fourth Shu has long been making."

He nodded and continued to squat in front of the woodpile, segregating them.

I left his courtyard, wanting to meet Concubine Xu. When I walked past a courtyard, I suddenly heard women weeping.

"Furen," the Steward walked over to salute me.

I asked, "What's with the crying?"

He replied, "It's the women sent by Governor Zhou. The Eldest Young Master ordered us to divide them among the generals under his command, but they are unwilling."

Stunned, I recalled I was still struggling with how to handle these people yesterday. I didn't expect Wei Tan to solve the problem first. Did he understand my dilemma? I felt a little moved.

"Furen," the Steward gazed at me, "do you want to enter?"

I shook my head, "No need." I turned around and walked away.

Usually around this time, Concubine Xu tended the flowers and trees in the back garden, so I headed straight there. When I reached the corner of the corridor, I suddenly heard sobbing coming from the front again. A single voice instead of many.

Concubine Xu? Puzzled, I halted my steps and peeped around the shelter of the wall. There were two people in front of the peony bushes, one standing, one kneeling. The one kneeling was Concubine Xu, while the one standing was Wei Tan.

"...... I beg the Eldest Young Master for his mercy." Concubine Xu sobbed low, "...... I served with all my heart, but Madam Guo isn't fond of me, and my husband has abandoned me. Now the only person who can help me is the Eldest Young Master......"

Footnotes:

I guess it's a Chinese superstition—If you look at something shameful or unclean, you will get eye stye.

Jiumu - 舅母 - wife of mother's brother

Jiufu - 舅父 - mother's brother

Yimu - 姨母 - mother's sister

Biaomei - 表妹 - younger female cousin via female line

TN: Worm?? I choked lol