Since she had shown concern, she had to see it through to the end—otherwise, it would seem like she was merely going through the motions.
Since the Marquis of Wu’an had mentioned that his old injury still pained him, whether it truly hurt or not, Lin Yueming went along with his words:
“It seems you haven’t fully recovered yet. Tomorrow, I’ll call for a physician to examine you properly and help you recuperate.”
Jiang Sheng glanced at her, a faint trace of amusement finally appearing in his eyes.
He lowered the bed curtains and slipped under the covers, lying close beside her, and asked softly:
“Calling a physician for me on the second day of our marriage? Won’t others think my wife is dissatisfied with me?”
Once the bed curtains were drawn, they formed a small, intimate space.
Sharing the same wedding quilt, one without an upper garment and the other without lower attire, they lay close together, separated only by the thin fabric that barely concealed anything, with no distance left between them.
The suggestive atmosphere spread and grew with the Marquis of Wu’an’s ambiguous words.
Lin Yueming felt extremely uncomfortable. She hugged her arms to her chest, curled up, and shifted slightly to create a tiny distance between them, replying:
“It was thoughtless of me…”
Lin Yueming couldn’t continue.
As she turned on her side, Jiang Sheng naturally followed, turning to face her and placing an arm over her. That tiny distance vanished once again.
Her slender back pressed against his broad chest, and his warm feet naturally nestled against her cold ones to warm them. The two of them embraced within the curtains.
Something pressed against her.
Tense and ready.
Poised for action.
As a woman who had been married before, she knew exactly what it was.
What he wanted was obvious.
Although he had said there was no need to force herself, Lin Yueming hadn’t taken it seriously, nor did she believe it was a promise he had made to her.
When those in power show kindness, it’s enough to listen—no need to take it to heart or expect them to truly follow through.
The duties of husband and wife are a great principle of heaven and earth.
When desire stirred within him, if he truly intended to act, he could change his mind at any moment, and he had every right to do so.
Whether she was willing or not, it was a right granted to him by the laws and customs of the time.
Tonight, no one would stop him, not even herself.
He held her from behind, his breath warming her ear, their closeness making her skin flush.
Jiang Sheng seemed indifferent to his own desire, merely holding her loosely without moving further. Instead, he gently sniffed the scent from her collar and chatted with her about trivial household matters:
“What fragrance are you wearing?”
Uncertain of his intentions, Lin Yueming dared not move, lying stiffly in his embrace as she answered:
“It’s Spring Message in Snow.”
Jiang Sheng leaned in closer to smell it, his cheek almost buried in her clothes.
Spring Message in Snow captures the scent of plum blossoms blooming suddenly amidst heavy snow while walking through the snow in search of them.
A good Spring Message in Snow should be light, elegant, subtle, cool, faintly perceptible, and almost intangible.
Only then does it live up to its name.
Jiang Sheng carefully discerned the fragrance and asked again:
“Did you blend it yourself? It’s somewhat different from what’s sold in shops.”
To create Spring Message in Snow, one must collect the snow accumulated on plum blossom stamens after a heavy snowfall.
Each plum blossom carries a unique scent, so everyone’s blend of Spring Message in Snow naturally differs.
Last winter, Lu Chen left the capital, and Lin Yueming was divorced.
She was sent back to the estate of the Lin Family’s ancestral home, where a plum tree stood just outside her window.
During her struggles on the estate, only this plum tree, which bore no flowers, kept her company.
In the twelfth lunar month, the Emperor arranged her marriage, and the Jiang Family came to propose.
On the day Lin Yueming left the estate, heavy snow was falling. The plum tree outside the window, which had long refused to bloom, suddenly blossomed amidst the snow.
The fragrance filled the air, so intense it hardly resembled the elegant scent of plum blossoms.
It was the snow that had settled on the stamens at that moment that Lin Yueming collected.
The Spring Message in Snow that Lin Yueming blended was elegant, cold enough, yet not light or faint. Instead, it was lingering and vibrant.
It was the unrestrained fragrance of plum blossoms after enduring the harshest weather.
When Jiang Sheng said it was different, Lin Yueming grew somewhat worried that he might not like it.
If he didn’t like it, she could simply change it when he came to see her.
Lin Yueming tentatively asked:
“Does my husband not like it? If not, I can go change my clothes now.”
Jiang Sheng neither said he liked it nor disliked it, casually chatting instead:
“Have you always used this fragrance before?”
Lin Yueming realized that Jiang Sheng was concerned she might still harbor lingering feelings, reminiscing about the past and bringing her fragrance habits from the Lu Family with her.
Such a misunderstanding could not be allowed.
She was not reminiscing about anyone. She and that person had long severed all ties, with not a shred of affection remaining.
When Lin Yueming was in the Lu Family, the fragrance she often blended was Ersu Jiuju, a woody scent with hints of jasmine—elegant yet sweet and warm, a fragrance Lu Chen favored.
In the past, she and Lu Chen used the same fragrance, but after leaving the Lu Family, she never used Ersu Jiuju again.
Though Jiang Sheng asked casually, Lin Yueming belatedly realized that he had brought up the Lu Family far too many times tonight, both overtly and subtly.
So, the Marquis of Wu'an was indeed quite bothered.
Bothered by whether his newlywed wife had truly offered him her loyalty in her heart.
If given a choice, Lin Yueming would prefer not to mention the Lu Family to anyone again.
It was a sore spot in her heart, burying her youthful love and naivety that had long since passed—untouchable, for even a touch would ache to the bone.
She especially did not want to answer life-or-death questions like “How do I compare to the Sima family’s son?” But if Jiang Sheng truly asked, she had no choice but to answer.
She replied cautiously, distancing herself cleanly:
“I never used it before. I’ve only recently learned to blend Spring Message in Snow. Did I blend it poorly? If my husband doesn’t like it, I’ll blend something else tomorrow and see if any suit your taste. Whatever fragrance my husband likes, I’ll use. Is that alright?”
Sure enough, with this answer, Jiang Sheng’s tone carried a hint of lightness:
“No need to change. This Spring Message in Snow is quite good.”
Lin Yueming hummed in agreement:
“If my husband likes it, why not try it as well?”
Jiang Sheng’s clothes didn’t seem to carry any fragrance, but in the capital, everyone used fragrances. For families of officials and nobles, using fragrance was a matter of etiquette.
Even the New Emperor, who came from the Northern Frontier, adapted to local customs upon entering the capital and began using fragrance.
The imperial family used precious ambergris, which was forbidden to others. Anyone else using it would violate the prohibition and face execution.
Such elaborate rituals divided people into ranks, all to protect the authority of the Son of Heaven.
As the Emperor's close minister, Jiang Sheng would do well to follow the Emperor’s lead. After all, conquering the world relied on battles, but governing it depended on the Three Bonds and Five Constants.
Of course, the principles of ruler and subject were matters for advisors to discuss, not something for Lin Yueming to lecture the Marquis of Wu'an about.
Thus, after asking whether he liked it and seeing if he was willing to try it, Lin Yueming refrained from overstepping further.
The night was deep, and Lin Yueming was truly tired, but she dared not let Jiang Sheng notice her weariness.
A newlywed wife, nestled in her husband's embrace, should naturally feel her heart flutter like a startled deer, her springtime emotions stirring, tossing and turning for him, unable to sleep at night. How could she possibly be both drowsy and weary?
It would seem far too inattentive toward her husband.
Lin Yueming covered her mouth with her hand, letting out a nearly silent, shallow yawn, then forced herself to stay alert, preparing for his next round of scrutiny.
Fortunately, Jiang Sheng didn’t seem intent on dredging up old grievances any further. He caught her yawning hand and pressed it down beside the pillow, saying:
“Then we’ll try tomorrow. For today, let’s just sleep.”