The words were straightforward, astonishingly direct without any circumlocution.
Even the maid Yufei, who had come to deliver an umbrella, overheard and stood holding her breath by the corridor, awaiting the Heir’s response.
A flicker of surprise and complexity passed through Pei Ruyan’s eyes. His hand hidden in his sleeve clenched into a fist, yet his expression remained calm after the turmoil. “Don’t you remember what I said to you last night?”
Last night?
Shen Sangning looked utterly bewildered. “You… what did you say?”
Could it be something he said before she was reborn?
“Hah,” Pei Ruyan couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh. “Nothing.”
With that, he stopped looking at Shen Sangning and strode alone into the curtain of rain.
“You haven’t answered my question yet!” Shen Sangning called out loudly.
She truly couldn’t understand why Pei Ruyan had so much temper in a single day.
If she didn’t remember, couldn’t he just say it again?
In her previous life, she only knew him as aloof and wholly dedicated to official matters, never realizing he had such a volatile temper.
Perhaps he angered himself to death!
Just as Shen Sangning was inwardly complaining, the man in the rain stopped.
Pei Ruyan turned his head, his voice icy. “I’ve already answered.”
After speaking, he strode decisively toward the inner courtyard.
Yufei, holding the umbrella, couldn’t catch up and had to return to escort Shen Sangning. “Young Madam, breakfast is ready.”
At that moment, Shen Sangning couldn’t tell whether she felt more disappointment or resignation.
Counting both lifetimes, she had married twice, yet still hadn’t encountered a good man?
But then, it was to be expected.
Although she and Pei Ruyan had been engaged for three years, during that time they had only exchanged fleeting glances at a few banquets.
His marrying her was mostly out of obedience to the Old Duke’s wishes, not voluntary, so of course there was no joy in it.
This was just as well. She would simply regard him as a partner in marriage and the future father of her children.
Qingyun Courtyard, main room.
An exquisite breakfast spread covered the table. Before Shen Sangning could sit down, she heard the rustling sounds of changing clothes behind the screen.
Turning her head, she vaguely saw Pei Ruyan removing his upper garment.
“Perhaps I was too muddled from sleep last night, that’s why I don’t remember,” Shen Sangning explained softly. “How about you say it again?”
As her voice faded, the rustling behind the screen also ceased.
Shen Sangning could sense his displeasure and unwillingness to revisit last night’s topic, which didn’t bother her.
However, it absolutely must not affect the mood for sharing a room tonight!
Shen Sangning had never forgotten her primary mission: to quickly bear Pei Ruyan’s child, striving for at least one out of two guarantees, and secondly, to try to prolong Pei Ruyan’s life.
She quietly approached, not with any intention of peeping, but leaning against the other side of the screen, asking knowingly, “Have I upset you?”
“No.”
Pei Ruyan replied indifferently while dressing properly and emerging from behind the screen.
A moon-white Shujin robe made him look like an immortal, pristine and untainted.
He took the lead in seating himself at the round table, and Shen Sangning sat beside him.
Watching as Pei Ruyan picked up his chopsticks to place a crystal soup dumpling on his plate, she cautiously asked,
“If you’re not angry, will you return to the room to sleep tonight?”
Pei Ruyan’s hand holding the chopsticks paused. He lifted his eyes emotionlessly. “Where does my wife wish me to sleep?”
There wasn’t a trace of desire in his gaze, as if he were genuinely asking for her opinion.
Without hesitation, Shen Sangning blurted out, “I want you to come back to the room to sleep.”
After she finished speaking, she noticed Pei Ruyan’s gaze remained unchanged, though the dumpling skin at the tip of his chopsticks had torn, spilling the broth.
Yet Pei Ruyan seemed completely unaware. Shen Sangning couldn’t help reminding him, “That broth is quite delicious.”
She particularly favored this delicacy.
“I don’t like it,” he lowered his eyes, waiting until the broth had fully drained before placing it in the porcelain bowl.
“It’s fine if you don’t like it,” Shen Sangning pursed her lips and urged, “Just come back to sleep tonight.”
Her voice carried a tinge of melancholy, as if resigned to compromise.
Hearing this, Pei Ruyan felt a strange sensation stir within him. The broth-less dumpling he put in his mouth tasted bland and unappetizing.
What he had meant by “don’t like it” was truly just the dumpling!
Shen Sangning, having not heard him agree to return to their room, couldn’t resist seeking confirmation again.
Though she knew persistently inviting him to share the bed seemed frivolous, she truly couldn’t wait indefinitely!
If what they hadn’t even accomplished on their wedding night kept being postponed, who knew if it would become even more difficult?
Just like Shen Miaoyi in her previous life…
At this thought, Shen Sangning shed her last shred of hesitation. “You promise me, right?”
Pei Ruyan had lost his appetite for the meal before him and set down his chopsticks. “Madam, enjoy your meal.”
He stood up, preparing to leave.
Seeing his consistently cold demeanor and his unwillingness to fulfill even this small request, Shen Sangning couldn’t help but feel anxious.
The task of securing her position was already burdensome, and his lack of cooperation made it worse.
When would she ever manage to have a child at this rate?
As Pei Ruyan began to leave under his attendant’s umbrella, Shen Sangning rushed after him. “Wait!”
Pei Ruyan didn’t turn around, only hearing his wife’s confident inquiry from behind—
“Do you dislike me? Then why did you marry me? Just because your grandfather told you to?”
Shen Sangning couldn’t understand. “Since you’ve taken a wife, you should fulfill the corresponding responsibilities.”
Pei Ruyan halted, listening to what sounded like an accusation, his lips pressed into a tight line.
Struggling to control his emotions, he turned and strode back.
In Shen Sangning’s view, Pei Ruyan was merely a scholar, yet his broad shoulders, proud stature, and imposing height made his cold demeanor genuinely intimidating.
Shen Sangning found her confidence completely overshadowed. Cursing herself for being cowardly, she was gradually forced back into the room by his advance.
Her voice softened considerably. “What… why are you back? Didn’t eat enough?”
Pei Ruyan’s expression darkened gradually, his tone disbelieving as he retorted—
“I’m not fulfilling my responsibilities?”
Shen Sangning’s eyes clearly conveyed a silent accusation.
If even sharing a bed was this troublesome, how dare he ask!
Now it seemed he was angry again. If sharing a room was truly too difficult, perhaps she should resort to unconventional methods.
In that instant, Shen Sangning had even figured out where to procure potent aphrodisiacs.
At this moment, Pei Ruyan saw that she had completely lost her earlier boldness, appearing docile and innocent, her eyes glistening as she blinked, looking utterly pitiful.
He let out a cold laugh, his heart seemingly weighed down by accumulated grievances—
“Since you have nothing to say, I’ll speak.”
“Go ahead,” Shen Sangning nodded, curious to hear what was on his mind.
Pei Ruyan frowned slightly, gazing at the young woman whose bright eyes sparkled like stars, radiant even in daylight…
The anger that had been simmering in his chest became harder to vent, and his tone turned stiff. “Last night, you called me a scoundrel.”
“I hardly resemble your newlywed husband—more like I’m forcing virtue into…” He swallowed the last word.