Yu Xi wasn’t heavy at all, even with her whole weight pressed against Lu Zhi, it was like a feather. At the moment her hands rested lightly on his sash, her upper body soft as cotton, leaning against him with no distance left between them.
With each breath, the small curve of her chest rose and fell softly, and her body’s warmth seemed to carry through the fabric to him.
Lu Zhi watched her nose gently sniffing at him, then her cheek pressing to his chest. His throat moved once, and his hand came up to rest on her shoulder.
The fabric at her shoulder was thin too; the skin beneath her nightclothes carried a scent like the gardenias of this season, rich and fragrant too.
In the past, Lu Zhi would only ever hurry past gardenias, the scent too strong, the blooms too lush, he’d never cared for them.
But now, a gardenia had fallen into his arms.
Lu Zhi’s voice came out hoarse. “Why is all your clothing this thin?”
“It’s not thin,” Yu Xi said, leaning against his chest and looking up at him, a smile on her lips. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed closer against his waist. “It’s perfect for sleeping at night.”
Husband’s shoulders were so broad. She loved it!
Lu Zhi’s abdomen tightened slightly. He asked Yu Xi hoarsely, “Didn’t you say just a hug?”
“Right,” Yu Xi lowered her arms, clearly still not realizing what she’d done. “Then I just won’t hold onto you like that.”
As she spoke, she climbed off his lap, then reached out to undo his sash. “Husband, let me help you take your clothes off.”
Once the clothes were off, there’d be no escaping!
Lu Zhi caught her hand, a faint darkness in his gaze.
He lowered his eyes slightly. “I’ll do it myself.”
Since she was extending such an earnest invitation, he might as well grant her wish.
Lu Zhi took off his robe and lay down on the bed. Yu Xi burrowed into his arms, sniffing here and there, not forgetting to lay down her terms. “We agreed on a hug, and it has to be all night, husband, no going back on it!”
“Fine.”
Lu Zhi turned slightly onto his side. Yu Xi rested her head on his arm, her face full of happy smiles, with a hint of secret delight.
Was it really something to be this happy about? Lu Zhi couldn’t help but wonder.
His fingertip brushed against Yu Xi’s cheek. Yu Xi nuzzled into his palm like a cat, quietly closing the distance between their bodies until they were pressed fully together.
She tilted her head up, sniffing at his chin, then buried her face against his chest, one hand resting on his side, the other pressed against his chest.
Lu Zhi lowered his head slightly too, his chin brushing the top of Yu Xi’s hair.
He pressed his slightly dry lips together, then reached out and pinched her small earlobe.
His fingertip was too warm; Yu Xi couldn’t help letting out a soft sound, curiosity in her eyes, but she didn’t ask, afraid that if she did, Lu Zhi might stop holding her.
She’d looked forward to this day for so long, husband smelled so good, his arms felt so comfortable, and his face was so handsome.
Seeing Yu Xi looking at him, her red lips slightly parted, Lu Zhi cupped her cheeks and kissed her.
For a moment, Yu Xi’s eyes went wide.
Husband kissed her? Such a, such a strange feeling.
Lu Zhi only touched her lightly for a moment before pulling back. Seeing Yu Xi looking somewhat dazed, he touched the soft skin of her cheek. “What? Not ready?”
Their noses were nearly touching. Yu Xi didn’t clarify what was wrong, she felt the place he’d kissed her was burning hot.
“Again, kiss me again.”
Having said this, Yu Xi closed her eyes.
Lu Zhi had only meant to kiss her once, but seeing Yu Xi’s cheeks flushed pink, looking utterly ready to be taken, he leaned down again.
His lips pressed against Yu Xi’s, tasting the sweetness of hers.
“Mm~”
Yu Xi couldn’t help letting out a hum. It felt so strange, as if it was pleasant, and yet not quite comfortable, hard to bear.
Lu Zhi gradually deepened the kiss, his hand stroking her arm through the thin fabric of her nightclothes.
“Mm…” Yu Xi couldn’t take it anymore, and pushed at Lu Zhi. “So hot.”
Lu Zhi let go of her, breathing slightly heavier.
Yu Xi felt as though she’d been poisoned by something like in the romance novels, she had no strength left, her whole body gone soft.
“No,” her voice was low, sweet and lilting, as if pleading. “No more kissing.”
Lu Zhi didn’t answer, instead lowering his head to kiss Yu Xi’s neck. Yu Xi caught his hand, her face full of confusion, surprise, and even more, a natural, unstudied charm.
Lu Zhi felt her body trembling faintly and asked patiently, “What’s wrong?”
“I, I…” Yu Xi couldn’t quite say what was wrong. She felt the hand on her back was burning hot, and she felt so hot herself. “No more, it’s too hot.”
“Don’t move around.”
A faint sheen of sweat had gathered at the tip of her nose. Lu Zhi lifted the blanket away; she lay there, eyes hazy, her nightdress bunched up at her thighs, her two pale legs pressed slightly together.
Lu Zhi’s gaze darkened slightly, and he undid the fastening at her waist.
A chill touched her skin, and Yu Xi flinched slightly. Lu Zhi leaned down to kiss her shoulder.
Yu Xi let out a soft sound, catching his hand, her voice edged with a sob. “Husband, no more, I don’t want to anymore.”
Having been pushed away several times now, Lu Zhi lost interest too, pulling his hand back and decisively withdrawing. “I’ll go sleep in the front courtyard.”
Yu Xi said quietly, “Okay.”
Lu Zhi got up, but his sleeve was caught again. He turned to look, Yu Xi’s face was buried in the blanket, and she said timidly, “Husband, come back and sleep here.”
“Mm.”
Having said this, Lu Zhi went out first.
Left alone in the room, Yu Xi lay on the bed for a while, hugging the blanket, when the image of Lu Zhi’s kiss suddenly flashed before her eyes.
It was as if some tingling, faint shiver had spread through her whole body, a feeling she’d never had before. Why was that?
When Lu Zhi returned, carrying a chill from outside, he found Yu Xi hugging the blanket, staring blankly into space, a lingering flush still on her face.
He lowered his eyes and walked over, pulling the blanket up. “Go to sleep.”
Seeing Yu Xi about to burrow into his arms again, Lu Zhi turned his back. “No more hugging.”
Yu Xi said, wronged, “Oh…”
She’d still wanted to ask what had just happened.
At the same time, Lu Zhi wasn’t feeling entirely comfortable either, but since Yu Xi didn’t want to continue, he let it go.
The room quickly fell silent, but Yu Xi found it hard to sleep. She decided that next time, she wouldn’t stop Lu Zhi from kissing her again.
That feeling, it hadn’t really been that unbearable after all.
Next time, she’d definitely try it again.
Morning came.
Lu Zhi woke first as usual, having kept to his side the whole night. Now Yu Xi had her arms wrapped around him from behind, her face buried against his back.
Lu Zhi removed her hand, sat up, and glanced twice at her flushed little face, remembering how she’d looked the night before.
Never mind…
Lu Zhi was about to head out when he spotted a book on the inner side of the bed.
He picked it up and found no characters on the cover. Opening it, he found page after page of explicit illustrations in bold poses, accompanied by detailed step-by-step text.
Lu Zhi closed the book and glanced at Yu Xi.
So she was always secretly reading these marriage manuals?
Lu Zhi stood by the bed for a moment, then left, taking the book with him.
·
As usual, Yu Xi had no idea when Lu Zhi had left. After getting up, she heard that Madam Lu wanted to see her, and headed to Serenity Court.
Madam Lu, having heard that Lu Zhi had stayed in the back courtyard last night and had even called for bathwater, assumed the two of them had finally consummated the marriage, and now took Yu Xi’s hand with a smile. “Have you had lunch?”
“Not yet,” Yu Xi said, letting Madam Lu lead her obediently. “Have you eaten, Mother?”
The more Madam Lu looked at Yu Xi, the more she liked her. When she was young, she had wanted a daughter, but ended up with three sons instead. Now that the family had this sweet, lovely young woman, it would be a lie to say she didn’t love it.
Madam Lu smiled. “Then let’s eat together.”
Over the meal, Madam Lu sighed. “I’m getting on in years now, others my age already have grandchildren to hold. I don’t know when I’ll get to hold one myself.”
Yu Xi, struck by sudden inspiration, quickly answered sweetly, “Just wait, Mother, I promise I’ll get you a grandchild to hold soon!”
Madam Lu was thoroughly delighted by this, and slipped another bracelet off her own wrist to give her. “Good, good, I knew you were a sensible one.”
Yu Xi nodded, of course, she was the most sensible!
Madam Lu had originally intended to tell Yu Xi that her own niece from her maiden family was coming to visit, but thought about it and decided to wait a few more days, with Yu Xi being so sensible, telling her too early might just make her worry needlessly beforehand.
Having thoroughly pleased Madam Lu, that evening, Yu Xi had someone watch the gate, and the moment Lu Zhi returned, ran to the front courtyard to claim credit with him.
As it happened, Lu Zhi had something to say to her too.
Servants brought out three dishes and a soup. Yu Xi sat beside Lu Zhi.
“Husband, Mother said she wants to hold a grandchild, I promised her, I’ll make sure she gets to!”
Lu Zhi glanced at her, nodded, and said nothing.
Once they’d mostly finished eating, he finally spoke. “I found a book on your bed this morning.”
Yu Xi startled. “Husband, you know about it?”
Lu Zhi’s expression turned serious. “Yes. Do you read it often?”
Yu Xi felt a bit afraid, she hadn’t even finished the one on her bed yet. She stammered, “I just look at it occasionally, husband, it’s really good, could you not take it away?”
Lu Zhi didn’t understand her, what was good about a book like that, it was practically an insult to decency.
But looking at Yu Xi like this, he didn’t know for a moment how to phrase it, too harsh, and it would hurt her; too gentle, and she’d keep reading it regardless, with no discipline at all.
What kind of household wife kept a marriage manual displayed by her bedside to read?
Seeing him say nothing, Yu Xi tugged at his hem, pitifully. “Husband, I really only read it occasionally, otherwise I’d be too bored every day. Besides, I’m not the only one who reads it, everyone does.”
Lu Zhi closed his eyes. “So this is what you read when you’re bored every day?”
What was she even thinking? And besides, how could it be that everyone read marriage manuals when bored, absolutely absurd!
“Yes,” Yu Xi tried to convince him how good the romance novels were. “I was afraid you’d scold me so I didn’t tell you. I know you don’t like this stuff, I always read it in secret!”
Lu Zhi steadied himself slightly. “Then how long do you spend reading each day?”
“Every day, every day,” Yu Xi lied, “I only read for two hours a day!”
Lu Zhi fell silent, two hours a day reading marriage manuals? He really needed to find time to have a proper talk with Yu Xi.
Lu Zhi put down his chopsticks, looked at her nervous little face, and said seriously, “I’ve already taken the book away. You’re not to read this kind of thing again from now on.”
Yu Xi refused. “No, everyone reads it.”
“I’ve never seen anyone read it,” Lu Zhi said, catching her as she tried to run. “This is a bad habit, and you must correct it, otherwise, you’ll go spend two months settling your mind at Suxin Nunnery outside the city before you come back.”
How could reading romance novels possibly be a bad habit… Yu Xi felt wronged. She should’ve listened to Xique and hidden her novels better. Lu Zhi really was an old fuddy-duddy, such a handsome face wasted on him.
Annoying! Hmph.
“Fine…” Yu Xi agreed verbally. “I definitely won’t read them again, I don’t want to go to that nunnery.”
She’d gone there once before with her mother, the whole place was full of nuns, every meal was steamed buns and thin porridge. She never wanted to go a second time.
Lu Zhi said, “If you behave, I won’t send you there.”
Hearing this, Yu Xi began playing pitiful, her red lips trembling slightly. “It’s all because you never keep me company, I get so bored all by myself. If you’d spend more time with me, I wouldn’t read them.”
What she said wasn’t entirely unreasonable, Lu Zhi truly had been neglecting her in that regard.
But this needed to be kept in moderation, even if they consummated the marriage, it should be at most once every half month, otherwise it would harm one’s vital essence, all cost and no benefit.
Lu Zhi thought for a moment, and seeing Yu Xi’s eyes reddening, finally said, “I’ll try to spend more time with you from now on.”
With that, he added, “In any case, you’re not to read that kind of thing anymore.”
Yu Xi nodded immediately, already starting to calculate quickly in her head where she’d hide her novels later.
Seeing her eyes darting about, Lu Zhi felt certain she hadn’t taken in what he’d said, or at least hadn’t taken it to heart.
Suddenly, thinking of something, Yu Xi’s gaze swept across his chest, settling on his lips.
Yu Xi blushed slightly, remembering last night, wrapped in his arms, enveloped by his scent, the way her whole body had gone faintly weak when his kiss landed.
She still wanted to try that feeling from yesterday again.
Lu Zhi, seeing her distracted expression, was about to scold her, when she glanced at him, her eyes both sweet and timid.
Then, Yu Xi spoke.
She shook Lu Zhi’s sleeve, her rosy lips opening and closing. “Husband, will you kiss me again tonight?”