Xie Chiyu had always known when to yield and when to stand firm, adept at assessing situations.
Amidst the puzzled gazes of the onlookers, he knelt on one knee, wrapped his arms around Pei Muyin’s waist, his peach-blossom eyes clear as spring water.
“Sister, I understand.”
Since childhood, he had let words go in one ear and out the other.
He needed to find an opportunity to divorce her.
Yingguo Duke’s Mansion, Yunheju.
Pei Shuyi sat upright at the desk.
Her left hand obediently rested atop her right.
She turned her head slightly, her almond-shaped eyes curving into a smile. “Husband, why did you ask me to sit here?”
Xie Linheng leisurely pulled out a stack of rice paper.
His cool, gentle eyes lifted slightly.
“Let’s discuss this marriage born of a twist of fate.”
Pei Shuyi instantly pressed her legs together, pursed her lips, and also wanted to reconcile with him and live a peaceful life.
He handed her the rice paper.
She lowered her head, and when she saw the content on the paper, she froze completely.
Xie Linheng picked up a wolf-hair brush, his fingertips tracing its texture.
“This is the first draft of our three-point pact. If you have any objections, you can raise them now, and I’ll refine it into the final version.”
Pei Shuyi’s fingertips, holding the paper, trembled slightly.
It read—
The man and woman are husband and wife and must jointly bear the responsibility of continuing the family line.
…
The woman is not allowed to love the man. (Written three times)
After reading it, Pei Shuyi’s back trembled lightly.
She must have been insane to think she could live a stable life with him.
“Anything to add or revise?” The man’s voice brushed past her ear.
Pei Shuyi sneered, “Don’t worry. Even if all the men in the world died out, I would never fall in love with someone like you.”
Seeing her stubbornness, Xie Linheng couldn’t help but feel helpless.
“You don’t need to hide it from me. I know your feelings.”
“I can give you the title of the Xie Family’s young mistress and a lifetime of wealth and honor.”
“I only hope that you will not love me.”
Pei Shuyi was stunned.
If he couldn’t stand her, why had he stopped her father from taking her away today?
Xie Linheng sensed Pei Shuyi’s emotions and saw mist gathering in her almond-shaped eyes—she was already crying.
Her joys and sorrows were born because of him.
It was his duty to comfort her.
Xie Linheng took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears, but she only cried harder. He had no choice but to hold her in his arms, stroking her hairpin.
“A young girl’s budding feelings shouldn’t be suppressed. It’s just a pity that I could never love a woman like you.”
Hearing his resolute tone, Pei Shuyi frowned.
“What if one day you fall in love with a woman like me?”
Xie Linheng stated firmly, “You can rest assured, that day will never come.”
“Never?” She looked up at him.
A strange feeling flickered in the man’s heart, but he nodded solemnly.
Pei Shuyi nestled against his shoulder.
Tears fell onto the cloud-patterned silk.
Drop by drop, they spread into damp circles.
Xie Linheng frowned, wanting to push her away, but upon hearing her sobs, he ultimately refrained.
Pei Shuyi snapped back to her senses and pushed him away herself.
Xie Linheng felt somewhat displeased, but seeing her sniffle, her eyes red from the corners to the tips of her ears, he said nothing more.
She asked in confusion, “Why didn’t you make it clear in front of everyone today? Why didn’t you say you never wanted to be my husband? Why didn’t you let me go home?”
His voice remained steady. “Don’t be unreasonable.”
“I am busy with official duties. Romantic love between men and women is a shackle and a burden to me. I will protect you for a lifetime—I only hope you can be more sensible.”
“Bury your love for me deep in your heart.”
Pei Shuyi calmed her emotions, wiped away the remaining tear stains at the corners of her eyes, and muttered:
“Don’t worry, my love for you has already turned to ashes.”
She had no love for him at all.
Upon careful thought.
Having a handsome and dashing husband, endless wealth and luxury, and inexhaustible gold and silver.
Seemed quite nice too.
Xie Linheng saw her nod and softly utter an “Mm,” feeling relieved yet inexplicably displeased.
Pei Shuyi glanced at the rice paper, her voice trembling slightly.
“My goodness, we actually have to do it five times a month?!”
Xie Linheng frowned—was she complaining it was too little?
He was busy with political affairs; marital intimacy shouldn’t be excessive and should be kept in moderation.
“Can we change it to once?” Pei Shuyi blinked.
In the romance novels she had read, the male protagonists could call for water several times in one night—always more, never less.
On their wedding night, she fainted and only then realized that too much could be fatal!
A flicker of shock passed through Xie Linheng’s eyes.
She had told Pei Muyin that she was very satisfied with his performance in bed.
He pondered for a moment, realizing she was playing hard to get.
Seeing him remain silent, Pei Shuyi grew even bolder.
“Change it to once every two months?”
“No.”
Xie Linheng hadn’t expected her to bargain, his voice slightly deepening: “I need to continue the family line. Five times a month means once every six days—healthy and reasonable.”
Pei Shuyi’s feelings were indescribably complex.
She calculated in her mind, her eyes flickering slightly, and said:
“Then… then each time can’t exceed the time it takes for one incense stick to burn.”
Xie Linheng chuckled as he looked at her, dipped the brush tip in ink, and wrote on the rice paper.
“In bed, each time cannot exceed the time it takes for one incense stick to burn.”
Pei Shuyi hadn’t expected him to be so accommodating.
Worried there might be a trick, she added, “If I say stop, you have to stop.”
Xie Linheng gave her a deep look, rolled up his sleeve, and continued writing with the brush.
“If the woman says ‘stop and rest,’ then stop.”
“Anything else to add?”
“Nothing,” she said.
Pei Shuyi looked into his dark eyes, feeling somewhat uneasy.
She wanted to take the agreement, but saw him tuck it into his sleeve, so she could only grab his sleeve and reach inside.
Stumbling, she fell into his embrace.
Through the fabric of their clothes, his chest pressed against her slender back.
He leaned slightly forward, and a faint scent of cold pine enveloped her completely.
Xie Linheng’s expression softened considerably, and his voice grew gentler.
“Do you want it today?”
“Want what?” Pei Shuyi tilted her head—were they talking about the same thing?
Xie Linheng lowered his gaze to look at her, his eyelashes trembling slightly, then picked her up and placed her on the bed.
His fingertips brushed against the hollow of her neck.
A seductive, ambiguous atmosphere rose within the bed curtains.
Xie Linheng’s hands were slender and bony, with veins slightly raised, looking very powerful.
Yet they were icy cold, like a summer ice chest.
Pei Shuyi felt a chill on her neck and grew a bit nervous. She grasped his fingers, a smile curling at the corner of her lips.
“Husband, didn’t you say once every six days? Why do you want to satisfy me today?”
Xie Linheng frowned tightly.
He shouldn’t indulge her.
If she discovered the pleasure in it, wouldn’t she pester him endlessly every night from then on?
Pei Shuyi saw clarity in his eyes, like snow atop a mountain peak, and a strange light flickered in her almond-shaped eyes.
She lifted her face and let out a few soft, melodious moans.
“Husband, I don’t want it anymore…”
Just as Xie Linheng was about to scold her, he saw her point toward the window—someone was there.
His peripheral vision caught a glimpse—perhaps the elders had sent someone to eavesdrop.
Pei Shuyi parted her lips slightly, leaning close to his ear to exhale softly.
As she drew nearer.
Xie Linheng could smell a sweet, fresh fragrance. From the corner of his eye, he saw the faint redness at the corners of her eyes and the graceful curve of her tongue.
His Adam’s apple bobbed rapidly several times.
Pei Shuyi noticed that this man strictly adhered to their once-every-six-days agreement, which only emboldened her further.
She straddled him, extended her tongue, and licked the tip of his ear.
His entire body grew unbearably hot and restless, his tone slightly low. “Are you trying to seduce me?”
Pei Shuyi neither confirmed nor denied it.
“We are husband and wife. How can this be called seduction?”
Xie Linheng’s gaze was cold as he mocked her for overestimating herself.
“Even if you stripped naked in front of me, I would feel nothing for you.”
“Really?” Pei Shuyi smiled sweetly.
Her fingertips loosened her outer robe, revealing shoulders as fair and smooth as jade. The embroidered mandarin ducks frolicking in water on her undergarment were visible.
It did little to conceal her graceful figure.
Xie Linheng turned his head away, his gaze fixed elsewhere.
“Then why did you last night…” Pei Shuyi pressed on curiously, “and why are you afraid to look at me now without my clothes?”
She was genuinely curious.
And she had forgotten that curiosity could kill a cat.
Upon hearing this, Xie Linheng clasped her head with both hands.
Pei Shuyi had gone too far. Her heart skipped a beat as she was pinned beneath him, her legs trapped by brute force.
The man’s voice carried a tone of gritted teeth.
“Last night was an accident. It was those two glasses of wine that made me lose control. It was so dark, I couldn’t even see what you looked like clearly!”
Pei Shuyi nodded obediently.
But then she felt his large hand slide up along the curve of her waist.