An Uncharacteristic Intimacy.
Noticing her movement, Yan Chiyun silently swallowed back his words.
Yet her closeness was hardly closeness at all—she had merely turned over to face him before falling still once more.
A moment later, his peripheral gaze swept over her faintly, catching sight of the lady who always slept primly on her back now unusually curled on her side.
Pu Jinyu was the legitimate daughter raised by an aristocratic family, impeccable in both temperament and appearance.
In the past, she had practically engraved propriety into her bones. Not only did she apply makeup meticulously before sleep, but her sleeping posture was also rigidly proper.
Today, however, she had turned to her side and curled up. It had led him to mistakenly think she intended to continue the intimate act they had agreed upon earlier.
Since she did not speak, he had not originally intended to say anything either, but it would not do to remain silent indefinitely. Thus, Yan Chiyun spoke up, "You must be tired from handling Mingshu’s wedding banquet these past few days. Rest well tonight."
After speaking, Yan Chiyun waited briefly. Hearing no reply from her, though surprised, he did not press further. He turned onto his side, facing away from her, and settled into sleep.
The two had always slept lying flat on their backs. Pu Jinyu’s sudden turn toward him left him somewhat unaccustomed to such proximity.
After the man turned away, Pu Jinyu slowly opened her eyes.
She had heard the man’s words beside her but had little desire to respond, choosing instead to remain silent.
In the past, to play the role of the legitimate elder sister convincingly, she had carefully and painstakingly navigated every interaction with Yan Chiyun, weighing nearly every word she spoke.
Speaking of her nominal husband, who was in truth her brother-in-law—he was truly an outstanding figure among the aristocratic youths of Jingcheng.
With exceptional looks, he had passed the imperial examinations at a young age, first entering the Hanlin Academy. Later, due to his dual prowess in both civil and martial arts, he was exceptionally promoted to the Zhenfusi. Within a few years, he took charge of the imperial prison for major criminal cases, reaching the pinnacle of officialdom—a future of limitless promise.
The marriage between the Pu and Yan Families had been arranged years earlier. If not for the legitimate elder sister’s "critical illness," and the Pu Family’s reluctance to abandon this marital alliance, the concubine would not have seized the opportunity to use her as a substitute for the legitimate elder sister, maneuvering her way into this position.
Speaking of which, when the legitimate elder sister had "suddenly fallen gravely ill" as the wedding date approached, ultimately succumbing to her illness and "passing away," the Legal Mother had initially been unaware of the truth.
The man the legitimate elder sister loved was not from an aristocratic family in Jingcheng. But even if he had been, the Legal Mother would never have allowed her to break off the engagement and marry another. The Pu Family had been declining in recent years and needed the Yan Family’s influence for support. Thus, no matter what, the legitimate elder sister had to marry into the Yan Family.
This was precisely why the legitimate elder sister had resorted to extreme measures, feigning illness and later faking her death to escape.
In her previous life, like the Legal Mother, she had also been unaware of the truth behind the legitimate elder sister’s "passing" from critical illness, believing instead that her sister had truly met with misfortune.
The Legal Mother had been in poor health years earlier, having lost a second pregnancy not long after conceiving. When the legitimate elder sister also "died young" a few years later, the Legal Mother had blamed her death on Pu Jinyu, believing she had brought misfortune upon both her sister and the second child.
Overtly and covertly, the Legal Mother had subjected her to endless hardships, only putting on a barely pleasant facade in public to maintain the appearance of maternal affection and filial piety.
In her previous life, her heart failure and pitifully early death were greatly tied to the Legal Mother’s deliberate torment.
At this thought, the hidden resentment in Pu Jinyu’s eyes surged forth instantly.
Her scant drowsiness, seized by resentment, gradually dissipated entirely. Her gaze fixed intently on the man’s broad, superior back and shoulders.
Yan Chiyun, esteemed as the head of the Yan Family, was a man whose excellence was evident to all. Her legal mother wished for her to bear children in the name of her legitimate elder sister, continuing the offspring that belonged to the Pu Family's legitimate daughter, yet forbade her from taking any further steps with Yan Chiyun.
Verbally, it was said that if the two grew too close, it would inevitably arouse Yan Chiyun's suspicion. After all, he served in the Zhenfusi, overseeing major criminal cases in Jingcheng. Such a deceitful trick might very well fail to escape his notice.
In reality, it was merely a pleasant-sounding excuse.
Deep down, her legal mother regarded her as nothing more than a lowly Outer Chamber Daughter, undeservingly occupying her legitimate elder sister's identity and reaping the benefits. Such an outstanding, Heaven's favored son was simply beyond her reach. Thus, under the guise of offering guidance, she often allowed that old hag Nanny Wu to suppress and discipline her.
Recalling her previous life, she had always adhered to her legal mother's rules, maintaining a cold and distant relationship with Yan Chiyun. Even Madam Yan had noticed the excessive chill between them and urged her to show more care toward Yan Chiyun. Yet, her legal mother would shift all blame onto her in front of Madam Yan, harshly scolding her in her presence.
Outwardly, she was told to heed Madam Yan's words and care for Yan Chiyun more.
Privately, however, she was condescendingly and coldly warned not to draw near, nor to employ the seductive tricks of a concubine—like those her birth mother had used to bewitch her biological father, Lord Pu—to ensnare Yan Chiyun.
She allowed Nanny Wu to belittle and mock her, saying she was born of a lowly woman, an inherently base creature unworthy of coveting what did not belong to her.
Thus, she was tormented repeatedly, inside and out, causing her pain and suffering, gradually molding her into a pitiful echo.
Though Pu Jinyu remained quiet, her gaze was too conspicuous, too close at hand, and inexplicably intense. Yan Chiyun, having served in Zhaoyu Prison for years, possessed vigilance far beyond ordinary people and naturally noticed.
Before he could turn around, a rustling sound came from behind, and a soft figure pressed directly against his back.
In that unexpected moment, he stiffened abruptly, lowering his gaze to see a delicate, pale wrist wrapping around his waist.
"…"
Tonight, the Inner Chamber was quieter than usual. Clearly, all the candles had been extinguished, yet the expected sounds failed to emerge.
Nanny Wu, Jing Chun, and the maids on night duty couldn't help but wonder: had the two forgotten that tonight was meant for consummation?
But Yan Chiyun had already returned. Surely Pu Jinyu wouldn't have forgotten?
The two had been married for three years without children. With the Yan Family subtly hinting at arranging a second wife for Yan Chiyun to expand the lineage, Madam Pu urged Nanny Wu to monitor their consummation and even sought physicians to prescribe Pu Jinyu medicine to regulate her health.
Today was the end of the month. Yan Chiyun hadn't returned for dinner, and Pu Jinyu hadn't sent anyone to fetch him. Nanny Wu had no choice but to take matters into her own hands, dispatching a servant to relay a message and summon Yan Chiyun back.
But now that he had returned, what was going on with the two of them? There was not a single stir. Nanny Wu asked Jing Chun if perhaps Pu Jinyu was indisposed.
Just as Jing Chun was about to reply that she wasn't, before the words could leave her lips, faint sounds of intimacy drifted from within.
Instantly, their gazes involuntarily turned toward the window lattice, but the Inner Chamber was too dim, and they saw nothing.
After a moment of silence, the murmurs of intimacy inside grew increasingly distinct. Nanny Wu and Jing Chun finally breathed a sigh of relief, but before long, that breath caught in their throats once more.
Because an hour had passed, and the commotion inside still hadn't ceased—it seemed to be growing even more intense.
Not only were there the choked sobs of a young woman, but even the jade hooks holding up the bed curtains were clattering and colliding.
The courtyard was spacious, and the doors and windows were not particularly wide open, so logically, the sounds shouldn’t have been clearly audible. Yet, the noises from inside could be heard—so violent, unlike anything before.
The passion tonight was burning far too fiercely.
The night watch attendants were bewildered. Especially since the prepared hot water was gradually cooling, yet the masters still hadn’t stopped or called for it. No one dared to overstep their authority, so they could only wait quietly.
Yan Chiyun was equally surprised. Tonight, Lady Pu’s passion was beyond extraordinary, as if she were a different person.
Yet, even without seeing her face, he could tell from her scent and the contours of her body that she hadn’t changed—she was still Lady Pu.
Tonight, she remained silent. Even when he tried to speak to her, she ignored him. Just as he was about to close his eyes and rest, she stared at him intently and suddenly drew closer.
Her silent initiative was something he naturally understood. Without a word, he regained his composure, caressed her fair wrist, and turned to consummate with her.
Just as before, they briefly went through the necessary foreplay before proceeding directly to the main act.
There was no excessive intensity, just as he had initially thought—like fulfilling a monthly duty to maintain their respectful and harmonious relationship, continuing this marriage arranged by their elders.
Both remained silent, so after the first round, he didn’t linger and prepared to leave.
But just as he was about to withdraw, she unexpectedly lifted her leg and wrapped it around his waist.
Before he could react, she actively pressed closer, embracing him and abruptly closing the distance between them.
Could it be that she wanted to continue?
Yan Chiyun didn’t speak, lowering his gaze. He couldn’t see the face of the person in his arms, only catching a glimpse of the crown of her head.
He still didn’t move, but Lady Pu, defying expectations again, kissed… no, it wasn’t a kiss. Instead, she licked his chest and collarbone like a kitten.
Her kisses lingered at his throat, lightly brushing against it repeatedly.
The two rarely kissed during consummation—not just kisses, but even touches were particularly scarce.
Her movements were undeniably awkward and clumsy.
Yet she persisted, using this clumsy way to urge him to continue. By chance, she stumbled upon his sensitive spot. In matters of intimacy, he had always been aloof and restrained, not particularly driven by desire.
But physiological reactions were inevitable, and since they were already in the midst of consummation, the lingering intensity within him hadn’t completely subsided.
Since she suddenly seemed eager and had expressed her desire to continue in this way, he obliged.
Who would have thought that after he granted her request and continued once, she still wasn’t satisfied?
When he finished the second time, she clung to him again, even more passionately than before.
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she softly panted in his ear, even pressing the soft, snowy fullness of her chest against him.
This was nothing short of seduction.
Though he didn’t understand her intentions, he continued nonetheless.
Who could have expected that tonight would last a total of four rounds? The bed was already visibly soiled.
She held him, nuzzling and burying her head against the side of his neck. Though clearly too exhausted to continue, she still refused to let go, clinging to him just as tightly.
After their encounters, the two rarely lingered together like this.
Each time he left, she would quickly tidy herself up before they retreated to their respective sleeping areas, keeping a clear distance as if never having crossed paths.
Tonight, however, felt unusually indulgent.
She remained silent, too tired to do anything but cling to him as she gasped for breath.
Her long, dark, and soft hair veiled her face, and from his lowered gaze, he couldn’t see her clearly.
He had initially intended to brush aside the strands of hair sticking to her face and nose, but the thought of her cosmetics-smeared face—even in sleep—and the way she had buried herself against him made Yan Chiyun ultimately refrain.
He was naturally a man of few words, and with the person in his arms staying silent, he too remained quiet.
The two of them simply held each other, calming their breaths. Though not a single word was spoken, their exhaled breaths intertwined—simultaneously distant and intimate.
After a while, her breathing steadied, but she still didn’t move, continuing to hold him.
Feeling the discomfort of her hair sticking to her face, she reached up and brushed some of it aside.
Now, as he looked down, he saw her face streaked with tears and sweat, her cosmetics smudged and even transferred onto him.
“Shall we continue?” Though she hadn’t moved, he was the first to speak.
The person in his arms answered with silence. Her breathing gradually steadied, yet she still didn’t rise from his embrace.
A moment later, she stirred.
Without a word, she tilted her head and kissed the side of his neck—soft, feather-light pecks that tingled and made his brow twitch.
Just as he thought she had recovered and was about to continue, she stopped, pushing herself up with her hands.
As she moved, the soft ends of her hair brushed against his abdomen, sending a stronger wave of tingling sensations through him.
He glanced at her, catching only the faint, slender outline of her back, half-hidden beneath her cascading hair.
She reached for an outer robe nearby and draped it over herself, finally speaking her first words—calling for her personal maid, the young attendant who served her closely.
“Jing Chun.”
Before long, the maids on night duty filed in one after another.
Candles were relit in the Inner Chamber, casting a bright glow.
By the time he rose, Lady Pu had already entered the bathing room. Soon, the sound of water could be heard.
He glanced at the disarray on the Bed but said nothing, heading instead to the bathing room on the other side.
“…”
By the time Pu Jinyu emerged, Yan Chiyun was still bathing.
She cast a fleeting glance toward the screen shielding the bathing area before quickly looking away.
Jing Chun was about to reapply her Cosmetics, but Pu Jinyu ignored her, heading straight for the Bed and burying herself entirely under the neatly arranged bedding, sleeping in a most improper manner.
Frowning, Jing Chun approached and whispered a reminder.
But Pu Jinyu paid her no mind, treating her words as nothing more than wind. Jing Chun couldn’t harshly drag her up like Nanny Wu would.
Besides, Yan Chiyun was present.
All she could do was coax Pu Jinyu softly, urging her to get up and endure a little longer, promising to finish applying her makeup quickly.
At first, it was gentle coaxing, but soon it turned into pleading. Jing Chun had no choice but to mimic Nanny Wu’s threats, warning that if her identity were exposed, neither of them would escape the consequences.
But Pu Jinyu remained stubbornly unmoving, as if she had fallen into a deep sleep.
Just then, the sound of water from the adjacent bathing room ceased. Jing Chun had no choice but to leave, glancing back repeatedly at the figure on the Bed.
Pu Jinyu was exhausted. After over an hour of intense activity, she could finally rest.
So she touched the bed, closed her eyes, treating Jing Chun's words as mere background noise, and fell straight asleep.
By the time Yan Chiyun approached the bed again, her breathing had already softened into a gentle, steady rhythm.
She must have been tired, for she hadn't returned to her usual sleeping posture of lying flat on her back. Instead, the Pu girl had curled up into a small ball, even burying her face in the bedding.
He watched her for a while before getting into bed.
Perhaps because of the prolonged entanglement earlier that night, he didn't fall asleep as quickly as he usually did after lying down.
Instead, he closed his eyes and feigned sleep for a long time before finally drifting off.
The next day, before dawn had fully broken.
Jing Chun, keeping track of the time, steeled herself and went in to wake them. Pu Jinyu hadn't applied any makeup all night, and if Yan Chiyun noticed anything amiss, it would be a disaster beyond remedy.
"Young mistress, young mistress… it's time to get up."
Yan Chiyun heard it first and opened his eyes before Pu Jinyu did.
He had already awakened when the maid approached.
"What time is it?" It seemed dawn had just begun to break.
Startled by the deep voice suddenly coming from behind the bed curtains, Jing Chun stammered, "R-replying to you, sir, it's already mao hour."
Just mao hour, and this maid was already here to wake them?
He turned to glance at the person beside him, who seemed not to have moved much all night, still curled up in the same position as before falling asleep.
"Does the young mistress have something to attend to today?"
Jing Chun felt a surge of panic, weighing how to respond. Saying there was nothing would certainly be inappropriate, so she simply brought up Yan Mingshu's upcoming return to her family home.
She explained that Pu Jinyu needed to oversee the preparations for the return banquet to ensure nothing went wrong. She added specifically, "The stewardesses are all waiting in the courtyard for instructions."
But to her surprise, the man said, "Then let them wait."
Jing Chun frowned, momentarily speechless. "But… they're already here."
"Mingshu's return banquet isn't until later, there's no rush. Let her rest a little longer." She had been tired from the previous days and last night.
As he said this, he glanced to the side, catching sight of only her long hair. Seeing the ends of her locks, he couldn't help but recall the tingling sensation from last night when she got up and her hair brushed against his waist and abdomen. "…"
Letting Pu Jinyu rest longer naturally wasn't a problem, but… the issue was her face wasn't powdered or rouged. What if he saw? What should they do?
Jing Chun didn't dare act out of turn in front of Yan Chiyun. Just as she was at a loss, wondering whether to seek help from Nanny Wu, the bed curtains were drawn aside by a slender, jade-like hand.
The man had gotten up.
Jing Chun quickly lowered her eyes and retreated outside, as Yan Chiyun had always refused to let maids attend to him personally.
After the calls for waking quieted down, rustling sounds of dressing followed. Pu Jinyu felt extremely sleepy and annoyed by the noise. She shifted her body, curling up even tighter, and covered her ears with her hands. The long hair that had spilled outside the bedding also retreated back under the covers as she burrowed deeper.
Yan Chiyun paused slightly upon seeing her movements.
After washing up, Yan Chiyun didn't linger and left soon after. The moment he was gone, Jing Chun hurried over to shake Pu Jinyu awake. "Young mistress, you can't keep resting!"
Pu Jinyu was irritated. She sat up, glaring at Jing Chun with heavy resentment, not saying a word.
Her stare made Jing Chun's heart tighten, and she instinctively explained, "…You haven't done your makeup yet. You'll be seen."
Pu Jinyu remained silent, her hair disheveled as she stared at Jing Chun with an eerie calm.
Seeing her indifferent expression and silence, Jing Chun tried to negotiate, "How about I apply your makeup first, and then you can go back to sleep?"
"Miss, although the master has left, there are many people in this courtyard who belong to the Yan Family. If they catch a glimpse of your face and notice a flaw, we servants will truly be unable to bear the consequences."
She pleaded for Pu Jinyu to show a little consideration.
Unexpectedly, Pu Jinyu suddenly tilted her head to look behind her, feigning confusion as she smiled and asked,
"Husband, why have you returned after leaving?"