The hour of Zi had passed, and the Marquis of Yongkang's residence was deathly quiet.
Amid the thunder and rain outside, the man clung to Li Wan like a demon, refusing to let go.
Another bolt of lightning split the sky outside the window, and Li Wan's face turned pale. Her delicate white hand tried to reach for the colorful glazed lamp at the head of the bed, hoping to escape the man's grasp behind her through this means.
A thin strand of hair hung loose at Pei Qing's temple. His features were handsome, his expression cold and stern. His breathing was ragged, and the breath he exhaled slowly turned his wife's slender jade-like neck red. His picturesque brows grew increasingly heavy.
He did not stop his wife from reaching for the colorful glazed lamp. Instead, just as her fingers touched the lamp, he seized her ankle with one hand and kissed her eyes as she started in alarm.
Because his strength was greater than Li Wan's, she had no time to react. The moment she was pulled into the man's embrace, two tears of passion slipped uncontrollably from the corners of her eyes—though her tears were not born of sorrow or distress.
Seeing her cry, Pei Qing's eyes grew even more bloodshot. He lowered his head and kissed his wife's reddened eyes.
The woman's body carried a faint fragrance of jasmine, and her tears were salty.
Even though the two had been married for many years, Li Wan was still somewhat shy in matters of marital intimacy. This had much to do with her nature—she was gentle and easily embarrassed, unlike the man who was utterly unrestrained. She simply could not handle the reckless words her husband spoke in the bedchamber. Hearing such words now, a touch of pink crept up to her brows, and her cheeks flushed as brilliantly as peach blossoms in April.
Moreover, because of her nervousness, her entire body was stiff, which left Pei Qing in a difficult position.
The weather in the capital in April was changeable, especially at night. At this moment, another flash of lightning illuminated the window.
In the light of the thunderbolt, the man's originally deep phoenix eyes looked like a dark pool, fathomless and bottomless.
Men all have their base instincts, and Pei Qing was no exception. He did not release his wife because of her shyness. Instead, he gripped her waist and pressed forward step by step.
When he saw his wife in his arms clinging dependently to his shoulders, Pei Qing felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction in his heart.
Pei Qing lowered his head to lick away the tears that had unconsciously fallen from the corners of her eyes, then kissed her lower lip. Because she had not yet recovered, his wife was especially obedient, letting him kiss her as he pleased. When he asked her to part her red lips, she obediently opened her mouth.
Looking at his wife so obedient in his arms, the frustration Pei Qing had suppressed all night eased somewhat. His brows softened with tenderness as he stroked her back, telling her not to be so tense.
Under his gentleness, Li Wan's unfocused pupils gradually cleared. Her eyes were very beautiful, as clear and transparent as spring water.
She sniffled, her voice still a little hoarse. "Has my husband encountered something troubling at court?"
Otherwise, she could not understand why the man would come to the main chamber on a rainy night and lose himself so completely.
Such situations had occurred before, but mostly because she had inadvertently glanced at another man during a banquet. Yesterday, however, she had not seen any outside men, so the problem could not lie with her.
After thinking it over, only matters of the court could have troubled him so deeply.
Seeing her clear, water-like apricot eyes gazing at him without blinking, Pei Qing's heart had long since softened. But her words were not so pleasant to hear—in this world, the only thing that could truly trouble him was matters concerning her.
He wanted to ask his wife why she had arranged a concubine for him, and whether she could bear the consequences of such an act. But the atmosphere was thick with intimacy at the moment, and much of the fire in his chest had dissipated, so he could not bear to treat his wife so harshly.
"I did encounter some troubling matters, so I need Wanwan's comfort." Pei Qing caught his wife's small hand and placed it on his hard chest, letting out a careless laugh.
"I don't understand much about court affairs. If my husband is truly troubled, you could discuss it with my elder brother." Hearing this, Li Wan gently furrowed her brows, her eyes filled with concern for Pei Qing.
Pei Qing almost wanted to laugh. He lowered his head to silence his wife's lips. "We'll talk about it later."
On ordinary nights when they slept, Pei Qing enjoyed holding his wife from behind, kissing her lightly in small measures.
Moreover, the man's stature was taller and more imposing than the woman's, which allowed Pei Qing to see his wife's expression completely. He would judge what she was thinking based on her expression.
What Pei Qing wanted could only be given by his wife.
And this wife of his belonged only to him.
To try to push him toward someone else—she was dreaming.
Outside, the wind howled and the rain poured, thunder and lightning raging.
Inside, candlelight flickered, and a lingering, intoxicating fragrance spread through the room, accompanied by the soft whimpering of a woman and the hoarse, soothing murmurs of a man.
By the time the moon sank in the west, Pei Qing finally released his wife from his embrace. She curled up in his arms like a little snow-white kitten.
His heart softened. He lifted her small face—her cloud-like hair was already damp in places, her vermilion lips glistening, and her eyes rimmed with red. (Note: this refers only to her eyes and lips, nothing below the neck.)
Pei Qing wanted to kiss her, but she turned her head away, clearly sulking.
A man who had been well fed and satisfied became far more patient, and he was willing to indulge his wife's little tantrums. His large hand slipped beneath her knees, and without a word, he carried her to the bath.
The hot spring in the bath was scattered with rose petals. The warm water soothed the ache in her body, and she lowered her head to stir her hair, her brows drooping gently.
Pei Qing bathed quickly, threw on a light robe, and came to help wash his wife. But every time he drew near, she shrank away.
A smile tugged at the corner of Pei Qing's lips. "What's wrong with Wanwan?"
He had the nerve to ask.
Li Wan glared at him in annoyance, scooped up a handful of water, and splashed it at him. Pei Qing naturally wouldn't argue with a sulking wife; instead, he asked her seriously, "Feel better now? If you're satisfied, let me hold you."
Li Wan's eyes went wide, completely unable to follow his logic. Did he have no shame at all?
Pei Qing smiled at her. "If Wanwan still has energy, I'll go wait for her in the room."
He was doing this on purpose…
Li Wan bit her lip lightly, refusing to bow her head before him. "Then go ahead."
A sigh came from above her head. Pei Qing's hand gripped her waist, pulling her to lie against him.
Her body was already somewhat sore, and being lifted like this made it even more uncomfortable. She tried to dodge, but Pei Qing shifted her position, settling her entirely against his chest, which made it easier for him to bathe her.
He washed her body with an unwavering gaze, from head to toe, his expression utterly proper. Only Li Wan knew that this man was a beast in human clothing. She closed her eyes softly, her eyes still stinging and aching.
After he had dried her body, Pei Qing realized his wife had fallen asleep. He smiled faintly, carried her back to the bed, then went to the outer room to pour her a cup of warm tea, feeding it to her himself.
This time, the room's lights were completely extinguished. Pei Qing held his soft wife in his arms and pressed a soothing kiss to her eyelids.
In the darkness, the man's gaze was deep, fixed on his wife like an insatiable wolf, low and intense.
He hoped his Wanwan would stop here. If she brought that person before him, the consequences would be more than she could bear.
Pei Qing closed his eyes, one hand resting on his wife's waist, rubbing it in a slow, rhythmic motion.
===
The next day, Li Wan woke to find the sun already high in the sky. Her thoughts were still muddled, but the scenes from last night slowly surfaced in her mind, making her rub her head.
She threw off the covers—her body was still bare, and there wasn't a single spot on her that was unmarked. She let out a soft sigh. Men were far too fierce in certain matters, and she truly couldn't withstand it.
At the same time, Li Wan's mind drifted to what her brother had told her that day: "If Wanwan wants to leave, your brother can take you back to our hometown in Qingzhou."
"What is Wanwan thinking about? You're awake but didn't call anyone in." Pei Qing lifted the curtain and stepped inside, seeing her like this. He strode quickly toward his wife, dressed in brocade robes and a jade belt, appearing gentle, refined, and composed.
Li Wan was about to answer when her gaze suddenly caught sight of a jade-green birdcage by the window, with what seemed to be a bird inside. A flicker of confusion passed through her eyes. "Husband, why have you suddenly taken to keeping birds?"
In truth, Pei Qing had just been admiring the bird. He let out a soft laugh. "I merely wish to use this bird to constantly remind myself that when deceived by others, I must never be soft-hearted. Does Wanwan think I'm right?"
For some reason, Li Wan felt these words were deliberately aimed at her. A sudden panic rose in her chest, and her smile turned somewhat forced. "What husband says makes perfect sense."
In the bright inner chamber, Pei Qing's features were handsome and clear. He smiled slightly. "Then does Wanwan have nothing she wishes to tell her husband?"