Wen Ning handed him the pastries, her voice soft and obedient. “This is freshly made osmanthus cake, Heir—eat it while it’s warm.”
Shen Zhou looked into her bright apricot eyes. He hadn’t expected her to notice he hadn’t eaten well, and even go out of her way to buy him pastries. His heart was overwhelmed with emotion.
He took a bite straight from her hand. The cake was indeed tender and fragrant, perfectly sweet.
Looking at Wen Ning, he said gently, “You should eat too.”
But Wen Ning had just eaten Gudong Pot, her stomach full. The sight of the osmanthus cake brought a wave of queasiness. She fought hard to suppress the urge to gag. Her dimples still curved with a smile. “I’m not hungry. I bought this for you—eat more.”
Though the cake was soft and sweet, too much of it became cloying. And Shen Zhou was never fond of sweets to begin with. Yet, because Wen Ning had bought it for him, he forced himself to finish every bite.
The weather wasn’t cold, and after eating Gudong Pot that evening, Wen Ning felt the lingering smell clinging to her. She had always loved cleanliness. Upon arriving at the Duke’s household, the first thing she did was have Xiao Tao prepare hot water for her bath.
Xiao Tao was a thoughtful maid—she not only prepared the hot water but also scattered flower petals in the tub. Such a considerate person!
But in her past life, Wen Ning had been blinded by foolishness. On the eve of her marriage, Xiao Tao had spoken ill of Song Yan, saying he was nothing but a poor scholar, unworthy of Wen Ning.
Song Yan overheard. He confronted Wen Ning, claiming the Song family was too poor to support a noble household’s maid. Helpless, Wen Ning had sent Xiao Tao home to marry. Xiao Tao had begged desperately not to be sent away. But Wen Ning, busy preparing for her wedding, hadn’t taken the time to learn about Xiao Tao’s family. Later, she discovered that Xiao Tao had been married off soon after returning home. Her marriage was arranged by her father and brother—to a man more than ten years older.
Xiao Tao’s family was poor. Her father was old and muddle-headed, her brother lazy and gluttonous. When the time came for marriage, no family in the village was willing to give their daughter to him. Finally, a matchmaker found a girl—but demanded twenty taels of bride price.
When Xiao Tao left the Wen household, Wen Ning had given her silver to serve as dowry. Unexpectedly, as soon as she returned home, her brother seized the money. Besides taking the silver she carried, her brother even sold her to a thug from the neighboring village. That man was a drunkard, idle and vicious by nature. His temper was so violent that his previous wife had been beaten to death by him while he was drunk. Later, his mother paid ten taels of silver to Xiao Tao’s father and brother to buy her.
After Xiao Tao married into that household, her life was no life at all. Her husband beat her daily—even when she was pregnant, he didn’t spare her. One time, drunk again, he struck her so hard that he killed her, three months pregnant. One body, two lives lost.
Thinking of this, Wen Ning trembled all over. She swore that in this life she would treat Xiao Tao well, never allowing anyone to bully her.
After bathing, Wen Ning returned to her bedroom.
Unexpectedly, Shen Zhou was there.
Since their marriage, to protect Wen Ning’s reputation, they had shared a room but not a bed. To avoid awkwardness, Shen Zhou usually stayed in the study until late at night, when Wen Ning was already asleep.
But now it was only early evening—why had he come? And looking at him—dressed in moon-white sleepwear, collar slightly open, hair freshly washed and left loose—he was clearly ready for bed.
Wen Ning muttered inwardly, her feet reluctant to step inside.
Shen Zhou glanced at the hesitant girl at the doorway, amused. “Madam, are you planning to sleep outside tonight?”
Wen Ning lifted her eyes. “N-no, of course not!”
Shen Zhou smiled, his cool gaze softened with laughter, shimmering with light. “Then why not come in?” He paused deliberately, teasing. “Or shall I carry you in myself?”
He glanced at Xiao Tao behind her, feigning difficulty. “That wouldn’t be proper, with Xiao Tao here.”
Xiao Tao immediately withdrew, giving Wen Ning a push inside before gently closing the door.
Wen Ning’s face burned red. She and Shen Zhou were husband and wife—by rights, they should have consummated their marriage long ago. If not for Qiao Yanxin’s disruption on their wedding night, they would already have shared a bed.
Thinking of this, Wen Ning’s blush deepened.
Shen Zhou, holding a book, looked up and froze at the sight.
In the warm candlelight, the young girl’s face glowed with shy radiance. Her fair cheeks were tinged with alluring crimson, her apricot eyes clear and bright, and her lips naturally rosy. She seemed unaware of her own beauty—biting her lower lip in embarrassment, she was breathtakingly captivating.
Shen Zhou coughed lightly, turning his head away, not daring to look at her again. His deep, magnetic voice was slightly hoarse: “Come here, I’ll dry your hair.”
Only then did Wen Ning remember—her hair was still wet.
Usually, after bathing, Xiao Tao would dry her hair. But now that Shen Zhou had sent her away, naturally, this task fell to him.
So it was said—but Wen Ning lifted her eyes to look at Shen Zhou opposite her. He was holding a book, reclining on the beauty couch as he read. The moon-white sleepwear outlined his tall, lean frame. His loose hair fell untidily behind him. The collar was slightly open, his pale Adam’s apple moving slowly. The soft fabric shifted at his waist with the breeze, creating a view hard to look away from.
Wen Ning couldn’t help staring.
His waist was slim and strong, no excess flesh, muscles taut and defined, lines smooth and strikingly beautiful. And yet he himself had no idea how alluring he looked at that moment. And he wanted her to come closer? Did he really think she was some saintly figure immune to temptation?
Her curled lashes trembled; she swallowed hard. This man—wasn’t he afraid she might lose control and push him down?
Seeing her hesitate, Shen Zhou asked, “Why aren’t you coming?”
Wen Ning pondered—how could she politely and properly explain? Her self-control, well, wasn’t exactly the best. She racked her brain and came up with a terrible idea.
Since Shen Zhou couldn’t eat spicy food, surely he couldn’t hold his liquor either. What if she just got him drunk? If he fell asleep, he wouldn’t keep flaunting himself before her like a peacock spreading its tail, showing off his beauty and tempting her into sin.
Wen Ning glanced at Shen Zhou, her heart full of conflicting emotions.
Heir, this is all for your own good…