Qin Yuehan was startled by Jiang Lan’s direct and abrupt words, his entire being seeming as though his soul had been snatched away, his gaze looking at Jiang Lan in disarray.
Jiang Lan did not speak either, meeting Qin Yuehan’s gaze with candid eyes.
Qin Yuehan withdrew his hand, using his sleeve to conceal the palm he had unconsciously clenched.
For the first time, he looked at Jiang Lan with such intensity and asked, “Only me?”
His voice trembled slightly.
Jiang Lan met Qin Yuehan’s eyes, which at this moment appeared resolute, and her heart skipped a beat. Then, word by word, she said, “Only you. If I break this vow, may I die a wretched death.”
Qin Yuehan froze, a faint tremor deep in his eyes. He spoke, “Wife, Yuehan will remember this.”
[Congratulations, Host. Due to lowering the male lead Qin Yuehan’s guard, his Darkening Level has decreased by one. The male lead’s current Darkening Level is 19%. Please continue your efforts.] System 009’s voice sounded again, carrying a hint of cheerfulness.
Hearing this, Jiang Lan was taken aback. Looking at Qin Yuehan’s handsome and noble face, she suddenly felt both amused and exasperated.
This man’s heart was as unfathomable as a needle in the sea.
In the evening, when Qin Zhong attended to Qin Yuehan’s washing, he was surprised to find that his young master had taken out the Plain White Silk given to him by the Qin family’s master.
“Young master?” Qin Zhong called out with some confusion, his eyes carrying a trace of doubt.
“Spread this on the bed,” Qin Yuehan said, his voice tinged with a hint of restraint.
Upon hearing this, Qin Zhong, who was wringing out a towel, paused for a moment and said, “Young master, have you made a decision?”
Qin Yuehan nodded in response, his peach blossom eyes revealing an extremely complex expression. With a tone of utmost resolve, he said, “Yes.”
Qin Zhong said nothing more upon hearing this. He handed the towel to Qin Yuehan, then took a wooden box from the cabinet, inside of which lay a piece of pure white silk.
“Young master, the family head probably won’t need this, right?” Qin Zhong said while spreading the bedding, but as soon as he finished speaking, a look of regret appeared on his face.
Sitting behind him, Qin Yuehan remained silent upon hearing this, merely staring blankly at the flickering candlelight in the distance.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Jiang Lan was led by a servant to another part of the courtyard to bathe.
When she returned to the room, everyone had already left. The incense in the room wafted upward, carrying a faint, elegant fragrance.
Jiang Lan walked straight toward the inner chamber. Through the screen, she could only see Qin Yuehan’s indistinct silhouette. She took two steps forward and, upon seeing Qin Yuehan’s appearance at that moment, suddenly froze.
She suddenly recalled a phrase she had once read: “Viewing a beauty under lamplight, the longer you look, the more enchanting they become.”
Forgive her for suddenly thinking of such a cliché phrase, but she truly felt dazzled by Qin Yuehan adorned in the phoenix coronet and robes of rank.
Listening to the loud beating of her own heart in her chest, she momentarily felt as though she were in a hazy dream.
At this moment, Qin Yuehan sat on the exquisitely carved canopy bed, quietly looking at her.
She slowly walked up to Qin Yuehan and, to her surprise, saw that he had unusually adorned the center of his forehead with a red mark.
The crimson cinnabar, like a dazzling star at this moment, scattered into the depths of her heart.
【Host, in this world, men only have a red mark applied between their eyebrows when they first marry. Any man with a mark between his eyebrows is swearing an oath with his life to protect his chastity.】 System 009 suddenly came online, speaking with utmost seriousness.
Jiang Lan looked at Qin Yuehan, her voice slightly strained as she replied to System 009; “I know.”
Of course she knew—after all, the original host’s memories contained vivid recollections of Su Qinghe’s brow mark.
“Please be gentle with me, Wife.” Qin Yuehan kept his gaze lowered, fixed on the hem of Jiang Lan’s robe.
Hearing this, Jiang Lan remained silent. She reached out and very gently began removing the phoenix crown from Qin Yuehan’s head, then placed the object with great care on the wooden table nearby.
On the wooden table stood two cups of wine, specially prepared for them by Qin Zhong.
Jiang Lan picked up both cups and walked over to Qin Yuehan, whose dark hair now cascaded over his shoulders. Her voice still carried some difficulty as she said; “Qin Yuehan, after drinking this wine, you will be mine. Are you willing?”
Qin Yuehan looked at the wine cup before him, his peach blossom eyes shining brilliantly. He reached out to hold the cup, gazing at Jiang Lan as he said; “I will never betray you in this lifetime.”
Jiang Lan never expected that even in this matriarchal world, she would still have to endure such torment.
In the flickering candlelight, a momentary look of surprise crossed Qin Yuehan’s face, but Jiang Lan completely failed to notice it.
The next day, Qin Zhong waited outside the door but never heard Qin Yuehan call for him to enter.
Only when daylight grew brighter did Jiang Lan’s figure appear at the doorway. She said to Qin Zhong; “You may go in now.”
When Qin Zhong entered, Qin Yuehan was still lying in bed, his exposed neck bearing scattered kiss marks.
“Young Lord.” Qin Zhong spoke, his form of address already changed.
Hearing this, Qin Yuehan opened his eyes. His pair of peach blossom eyes now resembled a lake, rippling with watery light.
Meanwhile, after emerging from the kitchen, Jiang Lan spoke to System 009 with considerable self-reproach; “Am I some kind of beast? The women in this world have way too much stamina.”
【Hehe, not at all—only you.】 System 009 replied.