Hearing this, he hesitated for a long moment before slowly raising a golden scale rod to lift the red wedding veil.
The vibrant veil fluttered to the ground, revealing the young woman who shyly raised her chin from beneath the golden hairpin and jade bracelet. Her apricot-blossom cheeks were rosy, her eyebrows like distant mountains, her complexion as smooth as congealed cream, and her clear eyes gazed directly at him.
The man froze, his expression turning astonished.
The girl’s eyelashes were long and curled, her peach-blossom eyes sparkling with life. Their shifting gaze seemed to hold the gentle flow of spring water.
Timidly, she bowed slightly. “Husband…”
Her voice was soft and sweet.
The man’s throat moved as he swallowed, realizing his impropriety, and he quickly averted his face.
A slight smile lifted the corners of the girl’s lips, revealing two shallow dimples on her cheeks.
The Ever-Victorious General, who had long conquered battlefields and remained undefeated, actually had a shy side!
She suddenly wondered if he would be just as shy in bed as he was now.
“Why won’t you look at me, husband?”
“You need not call me husband.”
“Why not? I have married into the Wei Manor and am now yours. If I don’t call you husband…”
Should I call you daddy instead?!?
Her tone was seductive as she breathed softly against his neck, sending tingles through his body.
“Husband, Wanwan has had a tragic life. I lost my parents young, was kidnapped by traffickers, and sold to the Pavilion of Intoxicating Sounds. I had no control over my fate. If you despise Wanwan, then…”
She bit her lip, her glistening eyes pitifully fixed on the man. “Then how could Wanwan face living? I might as well die…”
While feigning misery with her words, her cunning little hand once again found its way to his solid, broad chest.
Wei Chenheng’s body stiffened.
He rarely spent time alone with women and had almost no experience in such matters. He could kill on the battlefield without blinking, but faced with this delicate young woman’s tears and heart-wrenching sobs, his composure instantly shattered.
“Don’t cry. I won’t send you away,” Wei Chenheng said, somewhat troubled. “How about this: we sleep in separate rooms.”
The girl’s tears fell even more fiercely.
“If you sleep apart from me, how will the people in the manor view me? Those sycophants who flatter superiors and bully subordinates—if they learn of this, how will I ever hold my head up in the manor again…”
Her words struck Wei Chenheng as reasonable, yet he truly didn’t wish to take advantage of her vulnerability. Moreover, hearing her tragic story stirred more pity in his heart.
Wei Chenheng, after all, had been well-educated since childhood, humble and courteous. He understood that though she came from a brothel, she was a victim of fate.
He proposed, “I’ll sleep on the floor. You take the bed.”
Ning Wanwan was taken aback, nearly losing control of her expression.
Was this man really choosing to sleep on the floor rather than with her?
“Husband, you’re so good to me,” she praised insincerely, then asked, “Husband, this wedding gown is so heavy. Could you help me undo it?”
“I’ll have the maid come in—”
“This wife only wants her husband…”
The man’s mind went blank.
His gaze deepened as he swept a glance over her.
…
The red attire made her small face appear even more radiant and delicate, stunningly beautiful.
Not a single subtle change in his expression escaped her notice.
A smile curved the corners of Ning Wanwan’s eyes, and she beamed sweetly.
Everyone in Jin City said the general showed no interest in women, but that was only because he hadn’t met her.
The man maintained his stern expression, slightly closing his eyes, yet his mind was filled with her lovely smile.
“Husband, please look at Wanwan. Is Wanwan not beautiful enough?”
“Please maintain your dignity, miss.”
……………………
The thin layer of sweat on his forehead betrayed his nervousness.
The fact that he didn’t immediately push her away when she threw herself into his arms meant there was hope.
“Husband…”
She bit her lip, her face flushed crimson as she shyly said, “Although I come from the pleasure quarters and have learned many skills to serve men, I have never truly served any man before.”
【！】
Seeing her slightly furrowed brows, he said in a hoarse voice, “My apologies.”
…
The night passed.
It wasn’t until the rooster crowed at dawn, after Wei Chenheng changed clothes and left early for martial arts practice, that Tongzi finally woke her. “Host! Host!”
Ning Wanwan felt so exhausted she could barely move, languidly replying, “Stop shouting, I’m awake.”
“Host, you forgot to take the Fertility Pill last night!”
“？？？？?”
All that suffering for nothing.
Hearing movement inside the room, two maidservants knocked before entering with washbasins and clean clothes. At first glance, they noticed the bloodstains on the bedding and both showed surprised expressions.
Rumors said Consort Wan was bought from the pleasure quarters, yet there was proof of her virginity? Could she truly have been pure?
After exchanging a look, they silently cleaned the bedding and prepared to report to Old Madam Wei.
After being dressed by the maids and washing up, Ning Wanwan prepared to pay respects to Old Madam Wei—Wei Chenheng’s birth mother, her mother-in-law.
She sighed inwardly, fearing this would be yet another difficult battle.