When Pei Jingchuan returned to the bridal chamber, Xu Qingyan was already fast asleep on the bed, snoring softly.
Pei Jingchuan walked to the bedside and looked down at the sleeping figure. Her delicate face was as exquisite as a porcelain doll, with long, slender lashes casting a shadow over her cheeks. Her rosy lips resembled petals in full bloom on a branch, and the room was so quiet that he could hear her soft, shallow breathing.
“You said we’d consummate the marriage tonight, and yet here you are, sleeping like the dead.” Pei Jingchuan couldn’t help but smile faintly and shake his head.
Gently, he removed the heavy phoenix crown from her head, shifted her body further into the bed, and pulled the covers over her. He then removed his outer robe and lay down on the outer side of the bed.
Xu Qingyan was not a still sleeper. She tossed and turned constantly, treating Pei Jingchuan like a large doll. She wrapped her arms around his waist, rubbing against him restlessly, her soft red lips pressing against his neck.
Pei Jingchuan’s drowsiness vanished instantly. He lowered his gaze to the soft, delicate woman nestled in his arms, his breathing already growing heavier.
“Mmm~” Xu Qingyan seemed to be dreaming—dreaming that she was eating some delicious food—and let out a soft, adorable smacking sound.
That sound struck Pei Jingchuan’s nerves like a bolt of lightning. His expression darkened, something turbulent churning in his eyes.
“Mmh!” In her daze, Xu Qingyan let out a muffled groan. She felt as though she had suddenly become a dish on a plate, being picked up and devoured.
The red bed curtains were warm as clouds and rain tumbled within. The red candles on the table silently illuminated the shadows of the mandarin ducks entwined. It wasn’t until the third watch of the night that Xu Qingyan finally opened her blurry eyes, exhausted.
[Wh-what… what… what’s going on?] Xu Qingyan’s heart cried out in shock. Staring at the enlarged handsome face before her, she felt her body aching and exhausted. She tried to get up, but every time she struggled, his movements grew more fierce, and his overwhelming kisses left her breathless.
At this moment, Pei Jingchuan had long lost control of himself. He paid no heed to her inner thoughts, but when he saw her on the verge of tears from the pain, he gradually softened.
—The Next Morning—
[Young Lord, was that his first time last night? He seemed to have no experience at all. I was nearly in agony! Will I get pregnant from this one time? I really don’t want to go through that pain again tonight!] After dressing herself neatly, Xu Qingyan couldn’t help but complain inwardly.
Pei Jingchuan heard her thoughts and paused mid-sip of his tea, his expression stiffening slightly. He thought to himself: Is she dissatisfied with me? Well, it was true that he had no prior experience. It seemed he would need to pay more attention to her comfort in the future.
So he walked over to her and said gently, “I’m sorry about last night. I’ll have someone send you some things shortly. Tonight I’ll sleep in the study. You should rest well for the next few days.”
[Wow! What a divine husband! He’s so considerate! I was just worrying that he might want to continue tonight, and he’s already given me a break. This is wonderful! And the female lead actually doesn’t want a husband like this? What a huge loss!] Xu Qingyan inwardly sang his praises lavishly.
Hearing her compliments, Pei Jingchuan couldn’t help but feel a quiet sense of pleasure.
After they finished breakfast together, they went to the main hall to serve tea to the Duke of Guo and the Duchess.
Pei Jingyuan had arrived at the main hall before them. The atmosphere in the hall was solemn, and everyone’s gaze turned toward Pei Jingchuan and his party.
“Father, Mother.” Pei Jingchuan bowed respectfully to the Duke and Duchess of Guo. Xu Qingyan followed suit behind him, imitating his movements.
The Duke and Duchess’s gazes swept past Pei Jingchuan and settled directly on Xu Qingyan beside him, sizing her up.
“Elder Brother, I’m sorry.” At that moment, Pei Jingyuan, who had been standing to the side, suddenly bowed to Pei Jingchuan with an apologetic expression.
“It was my fault for not recognizing the bride yesterday and mistaking her for my own. I consummated the marriage with her by mistake. Now that the deed is done, I feel nothing but guilt toward you, Elder Brother. Whatever punishment you wish to give me, I will accept willingly.” His attitude appeared utterly sincere, as if he might drop to his knees at any moment.
The Duke and Duchess of Guo looked helplessly at Pei Jingchuan. They had already scolded Pei Jingyuan earlier, and his attitude toward admitting his mistake had been excellent, leaving them with no choice but to accept the situation after their reprimands.
“It’s not your fault. I understand that Second Brother was too eager to consummate the marriage on his wedding day. You didn’t even have time to spare a word for me before the ceremony, so it’s understandable that you mistook the bride.” Pei Jingchuan spoke calmly.
“Was Jingyuan really that impatient yesterday?” The Duke of Guo, seated on the tall rosewood chair, frowned slightly upon hearing Pei Jingchuan’s words.
He hadn’t realized that Pei Jingchuan had already noticed something amiss before the ceremony. And if Pei Jingyuan had been so eager to avoid him, what was that if not a guilty conscience?
At these words, Pei Jingyuan’s heart tightened, and he gave an awkward smile. “This is my first time getting married. Yesterday I was too excited and nervous, afraid of missing the auspicious hour. That’s why I didn’t speak with Eldest Brother.”
[Pfft… you old geezer, nervous? More like you were in a hurry because you were afraid of being found out, right? After all, Xu Qingyue is only one month pregnant now, and she has morning sickness every day. If you didn’t hurry up with the ceremony, what if she couldn’t hold it in and vomited in front of everyone? That would be trouble!] Xu Qingyan couldn’t help but mock inwardly upon hearing Pei Jingyuan’s words.
At that very moment, both the Duke of Guo and the Duchess of Guo froze.
Who… who was speaking? They glanced around the hall in surprise, only to see the maids standing to the side with their mouths shut and eyes lowered. No one appeared to be speaking. Could they have misheard?
“Jingchuan, whatever punishment you wish to mete out to Jingyuan, just say the word. This is what he owes you.” The Duke of Guo looked at Pei Jingchuan and spoke.
“What’s done is done. There’s no point in punishment now. Second Brother and I are brothers, so let it be.” Pei Jingchuan said. At present, he had no evidence to prove that this matter was orchestrated by his second brother. There was no meaning in clinging to it, and besides, he didn’t want to wear a green hat and raise another man’s bastard child.
[The Young Lord is quite generous—letting it go with just an apology. You may let it go, but they have no intention of stopping here. They know the Young Lord is kind-hearted and won’t make a fuss. So in a moment, they’ll say that since there was a mix-up, shouldn’t my dowry and Xu Qingyue’s be swapped back? Oh heavens, my heart aches just thinking about it! After all, my dowry is ten times more lavish than Xu Qingyue’s! But in a moment, they’re going to take it all away! Wuwu…] As soon as Pei Jingchuan finished speaking, Xu Qingyan’s unwilling inner voice began complaining again.
This time, the Duke of Guo and the Duchess of Guo finally knew where the voice was coming from. They suppressed the shock in their hearts; their life experience was enough to keep their expressions perfectly composed. Still, they were curious whether what Xu Qingyan said was true or false.
But before they could figure it out, Pei Jingyuan spoke again: “Thank you for your magnanimity, Eldest Brother. From now on, I will live well with Qingyue. However, Qingyue said that as the di-daughter of the Xu family, her dowry should differ from that of a shu-daughter. Since the two of them were mixed up, she now wishes to exchange the dowries back. I hope Father, Mother, and Eldest Brother can understand.”
The Duke of Guo: !!
The Duchess of Guo: !!
They exchanged a glance—was their eldest daughter-in-law a tapeworm in Pei Jingyuan’s belly?
“This…” The Duke of Guo and the Duchess of Guo sighed in difficulty, then turned their gazes to Pei Jingchuan and Xu Qingyan.
“Second Brother, since you could let the mistake of the bride stand as it is, then naturally there is no argument for exchanging the dowries back either. As I am the heir of the Duke’s Estate, my wife, as the heir’s consort, naturally cannot have a shabby dowry.” Before Xu Qingyan could even agree, Pei Jingchuan had already found a reason to refuse.
[Wow! The Young Lord is truly wonderful! He even knows to protect me—he really is a good husband! No, such an excellent husband—I don’t want him to die in two years. I must find the Mystic Divine Physician from the book and have him cure the Young Lord’s poison!]
What Mystic Divine Physician? And wasn’t Jingchuan sick—how could he be poisoned? Can this Mystic Divine Physician truly save Jingchuan?
At this moment, the Duke of Guo and the Duchess of Guo were startled by what they heard.