Pei Jingzhou let out a muffled groan, his body curling slightly.
Jiang Zhaoyue immediately sensed something was wrong and quickly rolled off him, reaching for his trousers.
“What are you doing?” Pei Jingzhou panicked, blocking her hand.
Jiang Zhaoyue paused and looked at him. “I know a bit of medicine. Let me check your injury.”
Pei Jingzhou pushed her hand away. “I don’t need you to look.”
Jiang Zhaoyue was still concerned. “No, I have to see.”
“I’m not injured.” Pei Jingzhou’s handsome face, ears, and neck flushed red in succession.
Jiang Zhaoyue frowned slightly. “But you look like you’re in pain.”
Pei Jingzhou gritted his teeth through the discomfort. “It’s none of your concern.”
“Then I’ll call the mansion physician,” Jiang Zhaoyue said, standing up. “Let him examine you.”
“Don’t you dare.” Pei Jingzhou stopped her.
Jiang Zhaoyue crouched back down in front of him. “Then let me check. What if something’s broken—”
“I just need a moment to recover.” Pei Jingzhou’s pain subsided, but his anger remained.
“Really?” Jiang Zhaoyue asked.
Pei Jingzhou sat up awkwardly.
Jiang Zhaoyue watched as the redness slowly faded from his face, ears, and neck, then cautiously asked, “How are you feeling now?”
Pei Jingzhou, now past the worst of the pain, looked at her. “What exactly are you trying to do?”
Jiang Zhaoyue answered honestly. “The wedding night.”
Pei Jingzhou was left speechless.
Jiang Zhaoyue asked, puzzled, “What’s wrong?”
Pei Jingzhou suppressed his displeasure. “As the legitimate second daughter-in-law of the Guogong Mansion, you should be dignified—”
“Does being the legitimate second daughter-in-law of the Guogong Mansion mean we shouldn’t fulfill our marital duties?”
Pei Jingzhou snapped, “You… you… have no shame!”
Jiang Zhaoyue replied candidly, “What’s shameful about discussing matters between husband and wife?”
“You…” Pei Jingzhou was the second son of the Zhenguo Duke Mansion, well-versed in the Four Books, Five Classics, and Six Arts.
At fourteen, he became the youngest top scholar in the court.
With his steady, reserved, and cautious nature, he entered the Ministry of Personnel.
He dealt with a group of old foxes daily and never lost his footing.
No one had ever dared to be disrespectful in his presence.
But!
But Jiang Zhaoyue was an exception!
Her words were strange, her actions lacked order, and she had a whole set of twisted logic.
Not only did she lack the dignity and elegance expected of noble daughters and legitimate wives in the capital, but she was also… also… frivolous and unrestrained, saying whatever came to mind.
And just now…
Simply…
How could there be such a woman in this world?!
Flushed with embarrassment and anger, he stood up and strode to the clothes rack.
“What is Second Master doing?” Jiang Zhaoyue asked, confused.
Pei Jingzhou dressed coldly as he replied, “Going to the study.”
“Are you busy with official duties?” Jiang Zhaoyue asked.
Pei Jingzhou didn’t answer.
Seeing this, Jiang Zhaoyue asked, “Second Master, are you angry?”
Pei Jingzhou remained silent.
Jiang Zhaoyue pressed on, “Is it because I kissed you, fell on you, and tried to pull down your trousers?”
Pei Jingzhou took a deep breath, slowly closed his eyes, and suppressed the feeling of shame.
“But I had reasons for everything. I kissed you because you said we could consummate the marriage if I was willing. I fell on you because you tripped and pulled me down. And I tried to pull down your trousers because I was concerned about your injury.” Jiang Zhaoyue spoke with unwavering confidence.
Pei Jingzhou felt a shiver run down his spine. He opened his eyes and looked at Jiang Zhaoyue. “No woman in Great Jin is like you.”
“Like me, wha…” This was the Da Jin Dynasty. Pei Jingzhou had always been disciplined and adhered to propriety. Yesterday, when he frowned and kissed the original host, it was only to complete the wedding night ritual, not out of genuine affection.
Jiang Zhaoyue was bold and reckless, single-mindedly wanting to sleep with him, forgetting that he was resisting her, which made him feel uncomfortable.
Hmm… she was a bit too hasty.
That wasn’t good.
She said sincerely, “I’m sorry.”
Pei Jingzhou was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.
Jiang Zhaoyue added, “Since you’re unwilling, I won’t force you.”
These were the words Pei Jingzhou had said to Jiang Zhaoyue yesterday. Today, she said them to him. He turned to look at her: “You…”
“What?”
Pei Jingzhou hesitated for a moment before finally speaking: “Have some self-respect.”
“Alright, I’ll have self-respect,” Jiang Zhaoyue agreed easily.
Pei Jingzhou also didn’t want to go to the study at this time. If word got out, his father and mother would nag him, causing a lot of unnecessary trouble.
He endured it, took off his clothes, hung them on the clothes rack, walked to the bed, smoothed out the quilt, and said coldly, “Let’s sleep.”
Jiang Zhaoyue got into bed and slept on the inner side of the quilt.
Pei Jingzhou still slept on the outer side.
After lying down, Jiang Zhaoyue called out, “Second Master.”
Pei Jingzhou responded, “Hmm.”
Jiang Zhaoyue asked, “Are you really unwilling to consummate the marriage tonight?”
Pei Jingzhou immediately frowned.
“Then we won’t,” Jiang Zhaoyue said with some regret.
Pei Jingzhou closed his eyes.
Jiang Zhaoyue moved closer to him again.
Pei Jingzhou immediately opened his eyes and looked at Jiang Zhaoyue with displeasure.
Most people would be frightened by his gaze, but Jiang Zhaoyue had always been bold, and she hadn’t done anything wrong, so she said, “Between husband and wife, a little physical contact shouldn’t be a problem, right?”
Pei Jingzhou withdrew his gaze, looked up at the bright red canopy above, and closed his eyes again.
Jiang Zhaoyue lay on her side, staring at Pei Jingzhou’s handsome face, a smile unconsciously appearing on her face.
Pei Jingzhou felt her burning gaze and grew increasingly irritable. He opened his eyes again, turned his head to tell her to have some self-respect, but found that she was already asleep.
Her fair and bright little face was pressed against the quilt, her almond-shaped eyes slightly closed, looking extremely well-behaved.
But he knew that as soon as she opened her eyes, she could do all sorts of unconventional things.
He frowned again, moved toward the edge of the bed, putting some distance between them.
Unexpectedly, the sleeping Jiang Zhaoyue squeezed closer again, her quilt pressing against his.
“Jiang Zhaoyue,” Pei Jingzhou called out.
Jiang Zhaoyue didn’t respond at all, her breathing steady as usual.
Pei Jingzhou moved closer to the edge of the bed again.
Jiang Zhaoyue squeezed closer once more.
This person…
Why is she so clingy even when sleeping?
If Pei Jingzhou moved any further, he would fall off the bed again.
He reached out and pushed Jiang Zhaoyue toward the inner side of the bed.
Jiang Zhaoyue slept peacefully for a moment before pressing against him again.
Pei Jingzhou had no choice but to use his palm to push against her shoulder, preventing her from getting closer.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Zhaoyue, like a little snake, wrapped her arms around his forearm and pressed her face against his shoulder.
Pei Jingzhou’s hand touched the soft part of her chest, and he was instantly both embarrassed and angry: “Jiang Zhaoyue.”
Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoyue opened her eyes, looked at him with a dazed expression, gave him a faint smile, and then closed her eyes to sleep again.
This person!
This woman!
In his twenty years of life, Pei Jingzhou had seen all kinds of people and could handle any situation with ease.
But he had never met anyone like Jiang Zhaoyue!
His pride in his emotional control was crumbling again and again.
In frustration, he pulled back his arm, pushed Jiang Zhaoyue back into her own quilt, and tucked in every corner of the bedding.
Jiang Zhaoyue had played rattan ball with Pei Heng today and was utterly exhausted, completely unaware of what Pei Jingzhou had done. She slept soundly until dawn, feeling warm and cozy all over.
Upon opening her eyes, she was startled to see Pei Jingzhou’s handsome face magnified before her.
“Can you let go of me?” Pei Jingzhou’s face was ashen.