This was a reward.
The man leaning over her, intimately close, had been carefully observing her reactions and naturally heard her murmuring.
Soft, delicate, and clinging—just like the sensations she was giving him at this moment. But what caught him even more off guard was the content of her question.
Yan Chiyun’s movements paused slightly. He hadn’t expected her to ask this so suddenly.
Did he like her?
He was quite certain he felt a stirring of affection for her. Precisely because of this, even after catching her in the act of committing adultery, he didn’t want to divorce her. Instead, he hoped she would change her mind.
Pu Jinyu was still waiting for his answer. She continued to hold him close, feeling his repeated advances and immersion, preventing herself from being pushed to the point of falling.
Though the man’s force was fierce, it also carried a subtle, almost imperceptible tenderness.
Even though she could sense his closeness, she still wanted to hear him confirm it with his own words.
When the man didn’t answer, she asked again.
Yan Chiyun could no longer pretend to be deaf and mute. He countered, “What do you think?”
“I don’t know,” Pu Jinyu replied quickly, lightly kissing his handsome, flushed, damp, and feverish cheek.
“What about you?” he asked in return. “Do you like me?”
As soon as he asked this question, he already had the answer in his heart.
She didn’t.
Although he wasn’t deeply versed in matters of love, he wasn’t a fool either. He felt that Pu Wange didn’t care for him because he couldn’t sense any affection from her. What he felt from her was mostly indifference, politeness, and distance.
He couldn’t help but recall the last time she told his younger sister that she was utterly infatuated with him. He hadn’t believed it then, and the events that followed confirmed that her words were lies.
If she truly loved him, why would she insist so adamantly on a divorce?
Thinking of this, he felt a surge of anger and couldn’t help but press closer to her. Pu Jinyu whimpered softly twice, tears glistening at the corners of her eyes and on her forehead.
Her delicate, breathy cries were unbearably captivating.
“…I… I like you,” she stammered out the two words.
Yan Chiyun inexplicably smiled. Though he knew she was most likely lying, it was indeed the answer he wanted to hear.
“You are my wife.”
He paused slightly, catching his breath, and reached out to brush away the damp strands of hair clinging to her face. He gazed into her eyes, which were brimming with moisture.
“Naturally, I like you too.”
Her face was a mess, but he didn’t mind. He lowered his head and placed a kiss between her brows.
“How much do you like me?” she murmured again, her voice faint and breathless.
“…I don’t know,” Yan Chiyun replied gruffly.
Perhaps it was more than the stirring he had initially thought. After all, this time she had struck him so harshly, yet he still humbled himself to seek reconciliation with her.
In the latter half of the night, Pu Jinyu asked no more questions. She allowed herself to indulge in his closeness, responding to his kisses and sinking with him into the depths of the fiery night.
“…”
The next day, Madam Yan naturally heard about the commotion from the other courtyard. Upon learning that the couple had called for water again—and not just once—her expression darkened.
Seeing her cold demeanor, the elderly maidservant attending to her hurried forward to offer a few words of comfort, saying that General Yan had been right the day before: Yan Chiyun was not the type to lose himself in romantic entanglements.
He must have his own considerations for his actions. Now that he is the head of the family, it’s best not to pressure him too much, lest it create a rift between mother and son.
“Moreover, from this servant’s perspective, although the eldest young master is tolerating that Pu woman for now, it’s just a passing fancy. Mainly because you’ve been urging him to have children recently, and the marital affection between them is still warm. Once it cools down in the future, you can bring up the old matter again. Divorce is only a matter of time.”
“Is that so?” Madam Yan pinched the space between her eyebrows, her expression still unable to relax. “Fortunately, this matter hasn’t completely spread in Jingcheng. Otherwise, how would my Shu’er and Xi’er establish themselves in the capital?”
Even though it hasn’t spread openly, Yan Mingxi is already facing difficulties in choosing a husband. Those who saw Pu Wange’s adultery that day were all high-ranking officials and noblewomen.
“The fourth young lady is still young, and there’s no rush regarding marriage. In a year or two, when the eldest young master grows tired of the Pu woman and divorces her, the fourth young lady’s marriage will surely be properly arranged.”
Madam Yan sighed, “I hope so.”
“What about Cheng Wenque?”
“The eldest young master is still keeping him imprisoned.” He was severely injured and nearly didn’t survive. Someone was found to feed him medicine, but it’s only barely keeping him alive.
It’s said that Cheng Wenque is unruly, often shouting. Now he’s been gagged, tightly bound, and imprisoned, usually only fed spoiled rice soup.
“Why keep such a scourge in the Yan Family!” Madam Yan slammed the table. “If he can’t bear to part with the Pu woman and insists on keeping her by his side for novelty, fine—but must he tolerate her lover too?!”
There should be limits to this infatuated love that extends to everything associated with her!
“Send someone to tell him to deal with this scourge sooner rather than later. Don’t keep him in our Yan Family to tarnish our reputation and shame our ancestors!”
“Yes.”
When the old nanny brought the message over, Pu Jinyu was having breakfast with Yan Chiyun.
The old nanny noticed that Yan Chiyun was actually serving food to Pu Wange. Keeping her head down, she briefly conveyed Madam Yan’s meaning without saying anything else.
“Hmm, understood.” Yan Chiyun responded and had someone escort the old nanny out.
After she left, he observed Pu Jinyu’s reaction and found her very quiet, eating peacefully without saying a word. She seemed completely unconcerned and indifferent about Cheng Wenque’s punishment.
When the old nanny mentioned Cheng Wenque earlier, her expression hadn’t shown any emotional fluctuation.
Did she really like that Cheng Wenque? Or had she awakened to the truth after seeing those dossiers yesterday? If that were truly the case, he could really breathe a sigh of relief.
Whether it was or not, her indifferent reaction was exactly what he wanted.
But after some thought, Yan Chiyun still decided to tell her about Cheng Wenque’s punishment.
Originally, he was going to have him killed directly, but since this man had once saved Yan Huaixiao’s life, he would spare his life for now.
However, for seducing Pu Wange and later slandering and framing her, he ordered someone to remove his “manhood,” cut out his tongue, and banish him from the capital.
Hearing this, Pu Jinyu paused and looked over.
Yan Chiyun also stopped eating. “Do you think my punishment is too severe?”
It was indeed somewhat severe. Cutting out the tongue, removing manhood, and banishing from the capital would likely make life unbearable yet death unattainable.
But what she wondered was why Yan Chiyun’s punishment for Cheng Wenque was so torturous, while he had let her off lightly.
Was it because of that affection? Affection for her—no, for her elder sister?
If that were truly the case… a faint light flickered in her eyes.
“Why don’t you punish me?” she asked.
It had been nearly four years since their marriage. Yan Chiyun was usually busy with official duties, leaving early and returning late, rarely sharing meals with her. Today, he noticed that she was actually somewhat picky about food, though not overtly so.
Hearing her question, he countered, “How do you want me to punish you?”
“Div—”
Before the word “divorce” could leave her lips, the man, his face cold, picked up a small spare rib and stuffed it into her delicate mouth.
His voice was equally chilly. “Shut up.”
Yesterday, they had clearly agreed to drop the matter and never bring it up again, yet here she was, mentioning it once more.
Pu Jinyu pursed her lips around the small rib but said nothing further. She ate slowly, taking small, deliberate bites.
Seeing her fall silent again, likely determined to remain a little gourd of quietness, Yan Chiyun sighed inwardly. He picked up some vegetables and placed them in the bowl beside her, a tacit gesture of reconciliation.
Pu Jinyu glanced at the vegetables he had served her, paused for a moment, and then ate them.
Not only did she eat the vegetables he had given her, but she even returned the favor by picking up a piece of carrot and placing it in his bowl. Yan Chiyun, “…”
It seemed like a response to his goodwill, yet it felt as though it concealed a hidden agenda.
Was she doing this on purpose? This was his least favorite side dish.
Pu Jinyu looked up, her gaze fixed intently on him as if waiting for him to eat it.
Yan Chiyun detested carrots. She had been managing his daily life and household affairs for several years now and must have been well aware of his preferences. So, it was likely intentional.
Even though it was deliberate, under her unwavering gaze, he suppressed his distaste, picked up the carrot, and ate it.
Watching the man chew slowly with evident displeasure, the corners of Pu Jinyu’s lips curved slightly, and a flicker of mischief flashed in her eyes.
But he only saw the smile on her face, missing the mischief, and became even more convinced that she had done it on purpose.
In the past, he had truly known too little about her, assuming she was virtuous, dignified, considerate of others, and meticulous in her actions. The real her was nothing like that—she was quite wicked.
Yet, the more he discovered her mischievous side, the more curious he became about her true nature, feeling not the slightest bit of aversion toward it.
After breakfast, Yan Chiyun went out for a while, presumably to deal with Cheng Wenque. He had asked if she wanted to come along, but Pu Jinyu shook her head.
“Then I’ll be back soon. You can go to the study and read in the meantime.”
She didn’t respond, only nodded.
Seeing this, he acknowledged with a soft “Mm.”
Pu Jinyu watched the man’s retreating figure before turning and returning to her room.
The woodshed was stained with blood all over the floor. By the time Yan Chiyun arrived, Cheng Wenque had already succumbed to the torture and fainted from the pain.
His visit was merely a formality. Looking at the wretched figure on the ground, he sneered and ordered him to be thrown out of Jingcheng, with two men assigned to secretly monitor his movements to avoid further complications.
Beyond that, he was also afraid that Pu Wange might seek him out, wanting to prevent any lingering ties or secret interactions between them behind his back.
When he returned, she was indeed obediently reading in the study, sitting by the window. Unlike her usual dignified posture, she was slouched slightly, one hand propping up her head while the other flipped through the pages of a book, looking lazy and at ease.
He glanced at the book—it was a territorial map.
Recalling that his subordinates had mentioned she had been studying these lately, he asked, “Is there somewhere you’d like to go?”
Perhaps after finishing the underground gambling den matter, he could request a few days’ leave from His Majesty and take her out of the city for a change of scenery.
Pu Jinyu looked up. “You want to take me out?”
It seemed she was somewhat interested. Yan Chiyun gave a faint hum.
“When?” she asked again.
“Once the underground gambling dens in Jingcheng are thoroughly cleaned up, I will request leave from His Majesty and take you out.”
“Where to?” she asked again.
“Up to you,” he replied, asking if she had any places she wished to go.
She was clearly wary of him, as he could see traces of testing and suspicion in her eyes.
Yan Chiyun raised an eyebrow. “Are you suspecting that I intend to take you out and sell you off?”
“Would you?” she retorted.
“No,” Yan Chiyun gave a definitive answer.
Thinking that the thorn of adultery might still linger in her heart, Yan Chiyun walked over to her and sat down opposite her.
“What I said yesterday was no jest, nor was it meant to frighten you. Let that matter be put to rest. From now on, I will act as if nothing happened, but you must never repeat such an offense!”
As he spoke the last sentence, his expression and tone grew stern and severe.
She listened to him, watching his eyes, and remained silent.
He waited for her response, but she stayed quiet.
“You don’t trust me?” he asked again.
Yan Chiyun sat upright, meeting her gaze. His fingers tapped leisurely on the edge of the table, urging her to voice any concerns she might have.
Pu Jinyu paused, thinking about what had happened the day before—his indulgence and the affection he had expressed to her.
Reflecting on his final words, she wondered what he would do if she were to offend again. Kill her? Divorce her? She was rather curious.
“No,” she finally replied, though it was just two short words.
Yan Chiyun found her rather difficult to handle. She was truly reticent and somewhat capricious in her actions, showing no fear of him at all.
Not only was she unafraid of him, but she also seemed unafraid of death.
Mentioning life and death reminded him of something else—a matter concerning Madam Pu’s maternal family. He brought it up to her as well.
Then, he subtly noticed her interest piqued. It didn’t seem like worry but more like she was watching a spectacle, even asking for confirmation, “Did you deal with my mother?”
He wanted to say no, but dealing with Madam Pu’s maternal family was essentially the same as dealing with Madam Pu herself. There was little difference.
“Yes,” Yan Chiyun admitted, observing her expression.
Pu Jinyu was indeed intrigued. She even straightened her posture slightly, sitting up and setting aside the territorial map in her hands.
“Why?” she asked.
If it was because he favored her elder sister, shouldn’t he love the crow for the sake of its nest? Ever since she had taken her elder sister’s place and married into the Yan Family, the Pu Family had gained many benefits through this marriage alliance.
Because her Legal Mother could not tolerate any flaws, her biological father had no additional concubines, and her own mother had only given birth to her. Aside from her elder sister, who was hiding away, she was the only one left in the main household.
There were no sons, and few daughters.
The Pu Family had gradually declined, but to maintain their status, Madam Pu had relied heavily on the Yan Family’s influence to support her maternal family over the years. Now, Yan Chiyun was beginning to suppress them. Madam Pu’s expression these past few days must have been quite a sight.
“Is your relationship with your mother-in-law… not very good?”
Ah, Pu Jinyu understood—it was indeed for her sake.
She looked at the man and slowly curved her lips. “Indeed.”
“My relationship with my mother is like fire and water, not as harmonious as it appears on the surface.”
“Why?”
He had been curious about this for some time and had puzzled over it for days.
Pu Wange was Madam Pu’s only child, yet she showed no mercy in beating her, even repeatedly suggesting to kill her.
“You know why, don’t you?” she replied indifferently.
“Because of what happened before?” But surely it wasn’t just that? In the past, Madam Pu had always seemed strict with her.
Through this incident, he had begun to doubt whether she was truly Madam Pu’s biological daughter, yet there was no way to verify it—how could they possibly test with blood?
Judging by appearance, she and Madam Pu did… resemble each other.
“It’s more than that.” Though she still wore a faint smile, she lowered her eyes once more.
“Mother doesn’t like me.”
“Why wouldn’t she like you? You’re her only daughter.”
Yes, she too wanted to know why her mother didn’t like her—she was her only daughter.
The young woman opposite furrowed her brows slightly, seeming lost in confusion, before a hint of grievance gradually spread across her face.
This grievance appeared light on the surface, yet it was deeply rooted, for she was trapped within it, and in an instant, the bitterness of her struggle became evident.
“Perhaps because I’m not a son?” After a long pause, she looked up at him and smiled.
Though she called it a smile, the pain in her eyes was unmistakable—it seemed more like a forced expression.
And in that very moment, Yan Chiyun suddenly felt as if his heart had been clenched. He wanted to say something to comfort her, but he didn’t know what.
She looked at him. “If I were a son, I could enter the officialdom to secure a future for Mother. Perhaps then she would have some genuine affection for me.”
In truth, she had already gone, and her studies were excellent, but her mother never valued it. What she wanted was only the male identity she pretended to be.
“Daughters…” Her tone was filled with light mockery. “Aren’t they all just worthless burdens?”
Her mother often cursed her like this—”short-lived ghost,” “worthless burden”—these were the insults she heard most after her death.
Seeing her mood sink into gloom, Yan Chiyun wanted to move closer to her. With that thought, he stood up and approached her.
Pu Jinyu sensed the man’s figure drawing near. His tall, imposing frame gradually enveloped her, and the crisp, cool scent of sandalwood followed.
She didn’t like being this close to him. The moment she frowned slightly, before she could even move away, he had already grasped her wrist and effortlessly lifted her up.
Then he sat down in her place, wrapped his arms around her, and settled her onto his lap.
Pu Jinyu frowned, looking at him as she tried to get down.
But he raised his hand to her waist, trapping her between him and the round table. “Daughters are not worthless burdens.”
Pu Jinyu scoffed lightly. “The daughters of the Yan Family are naturally not worthless burdens.” Madam Yan treated her two daughters very well—sometimes she watched with envy, for she had never received such love.
Only a daughter born to a concubine like her was a worthless burden. She understood that.
“You are not a worthless burden,” he said, stroking her face.
The young woman in his arms had a small face, and the slight frown of resistance in her expression struck him as oddly endearing.
“You are my wife. To me, you are as precious as pearls and jade.”
The man’s voice was gentle and magnetic, inexplicably stirring something within her, for her true name contained the character for “jade.”
She lifted her face slightly to study his expression, pondering the intent behind his words.
Perhaps others would feel pleased hearing such words, but she only felt confused, even guarded.
What did he truly want from her?
Yan Chiyun easily forgave her transgression. After their quarrel, he coaxed her to sleep peacefully, even pardoning her act of slapping him, declaring that he wanted to live well with her and even intended to request leave from the emperor to take her out for enjoyment.
Why was he treating her so well? What did he want from her?
He had already taken her body. Did he want to win her heart only to cruelly abandon her later, using it to humiliate her?
Just like Madam Pu and her biological father—according to her aunt, her father was once an outstanding and distinguished gentleman in Jingcheng, harmoniously in love with Madam Pu, a match considered a beautiful tale.
Madam Pu naturally adored her father, and he too loved Madam Pu, but later, he stopped caring.
A few years after their marriage, he secretly kept a mistress, indulging in passion with her and fathering children. Now, he and Madam Pu despise each other, their conversations laced with barbs, often neither yielding, like two vicious dogs barking upon sight.
Did Yan Chiyun want to turn her into the aggressive, venomous woman that her legal mother, Madam Pu, had become?
In the first three years of their marriage, he hadn’t loved her at all, remaining cold and distant. How could he love her now?
It was because she had seduced him into indulgence. But even if he felt some interest, it was likely just to deceive her into bed.
Hah, what a cunning, despicable man.
Once Pu Jinyu understood this, the genuine emotions on her face gradually receded, replaced by the facade he hoped to see. She asked him, “Is it true?”
Not only did she ask, but she also extended her slender, delicate index finger, sometimes caressing, sometimes poking his chest, tracing the contours of his muscles through the thin brocade robe.
“Am I so precious in your eyes?”
A smile played on her lips, her eyes curved, and her fingers poking and stroking made him slightly ticklish.
Faced with her sudden flirtation, the tips of his ears flushed a faint pink, yet his expression remained serious and solemn. “Yes.”
He grasped her hand. “You are precious.” So don’t call yourself worthless anymore.
As soon as he took hold of her hand, she struggled free.
Pu Jinyu continued poking his chest. She lowered her gaze, avoiding his eyes, a hint of calculation flickering in her eyes. Her tone was soft and faint. “Then will you do something for me?”
“What is it?” He had some inkling.
“In the future, don’t allow the Pu Family to borrow the Yan Family’s influence to bully others.”
She had originally wanted Yan Chiyun to suppress the Pu Family, but she was still disguised as the eldest Pu daughter in appearance. Acting too aggressively might arouse his suspicion.
If she couldn’t achieve it all at once, she would take it step by step. She had plenty of patience.
“You wouldn’t be angry if I dealt with your mother?” He inquired about this again, more specifically than before.
“Why should I be angry?” she retorted, even revealing her feelings. “I’d be delighted.”
“Because my mother has treated me poorly since childhood. You dealing with her would suit me just fine.” She also brought up another matter.
Last time he went to the Pu Family to look for her, she hadn’t shown herself because she had been beaten again and forced to kneel all night.
Yan Chiyun frowned instantly upon hearing this. “Last time, wasn’t it from a fall?”
“No,” she said earnestly. “It was my mother who hit me. She often beats me.”
Hearing this, Yan Chiyun’s expression grew even darker. As the only legitimate daughter of the Pu Family, how could she live such a repressed and pitiful life in her own home?
No wonder Madam Pu acted so swiftly that day; it seems she often laid hands on her, making it a habit.
She frequently wears makeup—could that also be because she is often beaten by Madam Pu, needing to cover up the bruises on her face?
He studied her face, confirming in his heart that she indeed did not seem to be lying. Recalling her previous grievances, a dull ache spread through his chest.
“…Alright.”
Since she wished to do so, he would grant her desire.
Pu Jinyu hadn’t expected things to go so smoothly.
Since he had helped her, she would appropriately give him some benefits in return.
Thus, her hands slid down the man’s chest, brushed past his collarbone, and came to rest on his shoulders.
She leaned closer to him, gently pressing a kiss upon his lips.
The warm, sweet fragrance of the lady’s rouge drifted over, soft and tender against his thin lips.
She whispered softly, “This is your reward.”
A reward.
Last time, she had given him a reward as well.
Yan Chiyun lifted his gaze, looking deeply at her lips, at her smiling face. Though he wanted to kiss her back, in the end, he did not do so.
He curved his lips slightly and hummed in acknowledgment, indicating that he liked this reward.
“…”
Not long after dinner, she went to bathe.
Yan Chiyun headed toward the study. As his subordinate placed the dossier on the table, he handed over a letter.
“Sir, this was secretly delivered to the young madam by the Pu Family.”
[Author’s Note]
This chapter randomly drops a Luck-piecing red envelope [rainbow fart].