"Wanwan is throwing a tantrum at me." Pei Qing had a pair of extremely deep phoenix eyes. When he focused on staring at someone, it gave them a feeling of deep affection.
Seeing him play the villain and lodge the first complaint, Li Wan widened her eyes, her emotions somewhat agitated, "That's not because last night…"
Before she could finish, Li Wan stopped talking, because she still remembered that the last time she complained about the man not knowing restraint in the pleasures of the bedchamber, he pressed her down onto the bed, and whispered against her earlobe with a smile: "Does Wanwan know that the Duchess of Yingguo made a fuss demanding a divorce from the Duke of Yingguo precisely because he was impotent? Wanwan should feel honored that her husband is young and vigorous."
That night, he demonstrated his youth and vigor to Li Wan with his own body, and asked Li Wan if she was happy.
Thinking of this, Li Wan shivered, her legs feeling somewhat weak.
"What about last night?" Pei Qing's tone rose slightly, following her words, "Did I not make Wanwan comfortable last night?"
Li Wan's brows furrowed into a knot, feeling that her mouth was so clumsy, unable to out-argue him every time. Seeing this, Pei Qing chuckled softly, placing his large palm on her waist and gently rubbing it, "Let's go for a walk, to help digest the food."
Li Wan, unable to out-argue the man, followed him out of the room with reluctance. The raindrops outside had lessened considerably, falling in a fine drizzle. Li Wan instinctively reached out to catch them, but before her hand could even extend past the courtyard, the man caught it back. He gently stroked the back of her hand, his voice somewhat deep, "Your constitution is weak, don't be greedy for the cold."
Li Wan softly hummed in acknowledgment.
Seeing her attitude soften, Pei Qing sighed inwardly. If only she could always be this obedient, it would be wonderful. Unfortunately, his wife was too mischievous and had a fierce temper.
It was currently springtime, and most of the magnolias and crabapple blossoms in the garden had bloomed. The petals were delicate and dazzling, their colors vibrant, like a splendid painting.
Looking at this, the anger in Li Wan's chest dissipated considerably. Actually, aside from not knowing restraint, the man did everything else very well. She was still quite satisfied with him.
A maidservant passing by under the corridor saw Pei Qing and Li Wan and hastily bowed, "Greetings to the Marquis, greetings to the Madam."
Pei Qing's demeanor was refined and elegant. He slightly raised his hand, and the maidservant quickly curtsied and withdrew.
The two walked a full circle along the corridor, then returned to the room. Pei Qing said he would first go handle some official matters before coming back to accompany her. Li Wan nodded gently.
Pei Qing touched her face, then left with his attendant to the study. As soon as he entered, his expression instantly turned somber. "Go fetch the eldest young master."
A moment later, Pei Yan arrived at the study holding an umbrella. He didn't push the door open directly, but knocked three times on the study door. Only after the person inside said "Enter" did Pei Yan place his umbrella at the door and go in.
The father and son bore a strong resemblance to each other. Pei Yan's features were handsome and refined. He made a bow to Pei Qing, "Father."
Pei Yan was already nineteen this year, at the age where he could stand tall and be a man of substance. But in front of his father, he still easily felt intimidated. The reason was that his father was somewhat unpredictable in his moods. In front of his mother, he was extraordinarily gentle with him and Zhaozhao, but in private, he was extraordinarily strict with them. Sometimes, Pei Yan even felt that his father somewhat disliked him and Zhaozhao. So, for no particular reason, he and Zhaozhao would never come to see their father alone.
"Sit." Pei Qing's voice was calm and unruffled.
Pei Yan found a chair and sat down properly, guessing what his father's intention was in summoning him to the study.
Pei Qing lowered his head and took a sip of tea, then said indifferently: "Pei Yan, do you know what it means to be a gentleman?"
Pei Yan: "To be a gentleman, one should cultivate oneself, regulate the family, govern the state, and bring peace to the world."
Pei Qing smiled faintly, "Then do you know what you should do next?"
Pei Yan nodded, "Your son will quickly select a wife from a well-matched family, so as not to cause Mother any worry."
"Good child." Pei Qing cast an approving glance at him, then said slowly and deliberately: "Our Yongkang Marquis Manor is not a household that fawns upon the powerful and looks down upon the lowly. As long as the girl doesn't stir up trouble, that will suffice."
Pei Yan's voice was clear and mellow, "Yes, Father."
As night fell, two oil lamps were left burning in the spacious room, their yellow glow adding a touch of warmth to the interior.
Within the goose-pear curtain canopy that spilled down like moonlight, Li Wan looked as if she had just been pulled from water. Her face was flushed, her clear and bright apricot eyes shimmering with a layer of moisture, her forehead and neck covered in fine beads of sweat. She pressed against Pei Qing's thick and sturdy arm, stopping his further advances, "Husband, I don't want to tonight."
Pei Qing's phoenix eyes held a hint of pity for her. His right hand hooked a strand of her black hair, yet he showed no intention of letting her go, "Then what should I do if I'm still feeling uncomfortable?"
Li Wan bit her lip, then tentatively suggested: "Why not summon a physician to prescribe a few doses of medicine for you, to regulate your condition?"
Pei Qing let out a muffled laugh and bit her pink earlobe, "Then your husband will become the laughingstock of the court tomorrow."
Li Wan's face was flushed with feigned anger, and Pei Qing stared at her seriously. His wife was beautiful in every way—an oval face, willow-leaf eyebrows, and skin so fair it was flawless. Pei Qing especially adored her charming, bashful demeanor.
He helped her back into her soft undergarments, inner robe, and trousers, then pulled her into his arms, his voice tinged with restraint. "Rest now."
The night watchman outside quietly slipped in to extinguish the lamp, plunging the room into darkness. Li Wan closed her eyes.
Li Wan fell asleep quickly, but tonight she had a dream. In it, a great wolf was chasing her, calling out "Wanwan" as it ran. Terrified, Li Wan bolted, and the wolf gave chase.
No matter how fast she ran, she could never outpace the wolf. Even with all her strength, the wolf easily caught her and was about to devour her.
Just as the wolf opened its massive jaws, Li Wan jolted awake in fright. Her body was sticky with sweat, and the space beside her was cool—the man must have gone to morning court.
Li Wan rubbed her eyes and struggled to sit up. Her inner robe slipped off her shoulder, and when she looked down, she saw several marks on her chest that were clearly not insect bites.
So the wolf in her dream was actually…
Li Wan was both amused and exasperated. Was he part dog?
Just as she was silently grumbling, the crystal bead curtain in the room was pushed aside, and a man dressed in a white casual robe with cloud patterns entered. His gaze landed precisely on his wife on the bed, and the corners of his lips curved upward. "Wanwan is scolding me."
Why was he still in the house? Shouldn't he be at morning court at this hour?
Li Wan blinked, still dazed.
Worried she might be hallucinating from sleepiness, Li Wan pinched her thigh hard. It hurt.
This wasn't an illusion.
"Husband."
"I'm here." Hearing that "husband," Pei Qing's lips curled upward. He walked over to his wife and gently rubbed her calf. "Why so silly?"
Li Wan glanced at the window and could see the scenery outside—dawn had broken. "Husband, shouldn't you be at morning court right now?"
The current emperor was only seventeen and needed the support of his senior ministers. He trusted Pei Qing immensely, and since the emperor's ascension, Pei Qing had never once requested leave from morning court.
Pei Qing rubbed her soft eyelids and chuckled. "Wanwan is still groggy. I told you last night that I requested leave from His Majesty today."
Li Wan buried her head in his chest. Last night, he had left her so dazed and confused that she couldn't remember anything he'd said.
Pei Qing didn't mind. He picked up the pink dress beside them and moved to help her put it on. Li Wan looked up and reached out to take the dress from him. "Husband, I can do it myself."
A flicker of something dark passed through Pei Qing's eyes. His pupils were deep and black, his tone calm. "It was like this yesterday, and it's like this today. Is Wanwan starting to tire of her husband?"
He was still in the prime of his youth, and she was already growing tired of him. If that was the case, then when he grew old, wouldn't she refuse to let him serve her at all? Or perhaps when he aged, she would abandon him as her husband altogether.
Li Wan sensed his anger keenly and opened her mouth. "I just…"
She just felt he didn't need to be so meticulous.
The man remained silent, simply staring at her.
Silence spread through the room, so quiet that only the chirping of birds outside the window could be heard.
Li Wan feared nothing more than a loved one suddenly going quiet. She said in a subdued voice, "Then I'll trouble my husband."
"Good Wanwan." Pei Qing pecked her lips and began helping her dress with deliberate care. Once she was dressed, he tied the sash at her waist and finally smiled in satisfaction. "Wanwan looks beautiful."
Who doesn't like being complimented? Li Wan's eyes curved into crescents, her fair face tinged with a soft blush.
Pei Qing bent down to help her put on her embroidered shoes. Before her feet could touch the ground, he scooped her up in his arms.
At that moment, the door was pushed open, and four maidservants entered, each holding a tray, ready to attend to the lady's morning toilette.
Seeing the lady held in the marquis's arms, the maidservants didn't even blink, for they had long grown accustomed to such intimacy between their master and mistress.
But they also envied the lady. A good man like their marquis was hard to find even with a lantern, yet their lady had managed to meet him.
Still, their lady was fortunate—she had borne the marquis a pair of clever, adorable children and had an adopted brother deeply trusted by the emperor. It seemed she would never have to endure hardship again.
A maidservant styled Li Wan's hair into a spiraling bun and was about to insert hairpins on both sides when Pei Qing, who had been watching nearby, stepped forward. "Let me."
The maidservant quickly stepped aside. The man clearly knew how to apply makeup. After carefully tracing her brows, her features became even more lively and expressive. Pei Qing was very pleased.
After the couple finished their morning meal in the dining hall, Pei Qing suggested in a gentle voice, "The weather is lovely today. How about I accompany Wanwan to fly kites?"
His wife appeared demure on the outside, but inwardly she was still quite lively, and he was willing to indulge her preferences.
Li Wan gave a gentle smile, her voice soft, "I almost forgot to mention to you, my lord—Zhaozhao would like to add two new garments. I plan to take her to the Embroidery Workshop today for a look."
The moment she finished speaking, the patter of a young girl's footsteps sounded from outside. The next moment, the girl lifted the curtain and entered, "Mother."
But when she caught sight of the imposing figure beside her mother, the smile on the girl's face vanished instantly. She bowed properly and said, "Father."