Was her original appearance very different from how she looked now?
Her face was still meticulously adorned with cosmetics, half-hidden beneath the brocade quilt, revealing only those moist, glistening eyes that stared directly at him.
When he returned home today, after bathing and changing, she had been waiting for him. At the sound of his movements, she had looked over with that same intense, unwavering gaze.
It was as if she had set her sights on him.
In the past, Madam Pu rarely made eye contact with him, let alone looked at him with such an expression.
Yan Chiyun met her gaze and remained still for a moment.
"…"
Jing Chun waited anxiously outside. Not long after the candles in the inner chamber were extinguished, she soon heard ambiguous sounds coming from within.
One wave after another, because the window was opened wider than usual, the sounds carried more clearly than before.
The young lady's delicate, whimpering sobs mingled with the man's low, husky groans, intertwining in a way that made one blush uncontrollably.
The duration of their intimacy was still longer than usual, even longer than that day some time ago.
The maidservants waited outside. Jing Chun watched the reflection of the moonlight, wondering whether she should truthfully report to Madam Pu about Pu Jinyu's recent unusual behavior and her increasingly long sessions of consummation with Yan Chiyun.
Was Pu Jinyu frequently clinging to the lord in order to conceive offspring? Or did she have ulterior motives?
For a moment, Jing Chun couldn't quite tell.
Madam Pu did not allow Third Miss to seduce Yan Chiyun, because Madam Pu always believed he belonged to the true eldest miss, Pu Wange.
Thinking of this, Jing Chun suddenly clenched her hands.
The eldest miss…
Everyone believed the eldest miss was already dead, but in truth, she had never died.
Now, the eldest miss was still with her lover. But what if, in the future, the eldest miss changed her mind? What if she returned? Then… if Madam Pu knew the truth that the eldest miss was still alive, she would undoubtedly abandon Third Miss and quietly swap the two back.
After all, Third Miss was now living in place of the eldest miss. Everything she had should rightfully belong to the eldest miss. She truly should not harbor ambitions beyond her station.
Moreover, Jing Chun had served the eldest miss for many years, and the eldest miss had treated her quite well.
Jing Chun quickly made up her mind to report every detail of this to Madam Pu.
As for Pu Jinyu…
Although Third Miss was pitiable, as a servant, she could only have one master. Following Third Miss held little promise.
Mainly because Third Miss lacked the support of a powerful maternal clan. Although Concubine Ruan now had a place in the Pu Family and was greatly favored by Lord Pu… it was only because Madam Pu wanted to control Third Miss that she was allowed to remain in the mansion.
Once the eldest miss returned and Third Miss lost her usefulness, Concubine Ruan would undoubtedly be driven out of the Pu Family, perhaps even left to a fate worse than death.
Although beautiful women were rare in this world, youth was fleeting. How long could one rely on looks to serve others?
Today, Madam Pu was even more passionate than that day.
The first time was already intense.
And unlike before, when it felt like a mere duty, she responded to his touch. She even began kissing his chest, caressing his waist, abdomen, and arms, using her painted nails to scrape lightly over the veins on his arms.
Clumsily, she kissed his chest, his collarbone, and his throat, her touches alternating between heavy and light, utterly tormenting.
Yan Chiyun gently held her slender waist with both hands, feeling the closeness of her heart against his.
Before long, he found himself struggling to endure Pu Jinyu's provocations.
Just as they were about to begin, instead of letting him proceed directly to the main event as usual, she traced her fingers along his arm down to his wrist, took his hand, and guided it to wander.
In the pitch-black room, he allowed her to lead his hand, drawing him closer to the fragrant softness he had been intimate with before, yet not overly familiar with.
Although he had long known that Pu Jinyu was delicate, slender, and fragile—after all, on their wedding night, she had trembled like a sieve, holding back tears even as they fell—truly touching her still stirred an overwhelming sense of wonder in his heart. She was simply too tender.
So slender that guiding his hand seemed difficult for her, he couldn’t help but wonder: how had she ever fully accommodated him?
As Yan Chiyun’s thoughts drifted uncontrollably, Pu Jinyu’s movements did not cease.
She guided his large hand to explore, yet she did not remain entirely passive.
Her other hand was not idle either, finding its way to his most private place on its own.
The two explored and claimed each other’s secrets.
Yan Chiyun had no idea where she had learned so many tricks. He could sense her inexperience in her movements, yet he marveled at the boldness hidden beneath her usual proper and reserved demeanor.
The woman in his arms buried her face against his chest, her breath hot and entirely directed at him.
Beyond that, the restraint he had always maintained began to waver tonight.
On one hand, he felt the softness and delicacy of Pu Jinyu’s hand, so tender and smooth, enveloping him yet unable to fully contain him.
She would loosen her grip at times, then tighten it again.
On the other hand, his hand, guided by hers, reached an unfamiliar—no, not entirely unfamiliar—territory, for he had been here before, though his visits over the past three years had not been frequent.
Still, it was not entirely unknown to him.
Even so, he found himself feeling as though he had never truly known its entirety.
Ambiguous breaths rose and fell, intertwining with one another.
Both his and hers mingled together.
Even their breaths silently entangled within the bed curtains. For the first time in so many years, Yan Chiyun experienced such a thrilling yet unbearable sensation, all brought to him by Pu Jinyu.
Yet she continued to play with his large hand, seemingly without any intention of taking things further for the moment. Yan Chiyun followed her lead, restraining himself.
He listened to her soft, lingering breaths as she kept her face buried in his chest, unwilling to move away. Her long hair cascaded down, covering her cheeks. Wasn’t she stifled?
Knowing full well that Consummation was to take place today and aware that her makeup would be smudged by tears and sweat, she still insisted on applying powder and rouge before bed.
Yan Chiyun had to distract himself to suppress the stirrings within him.
Pu Jinyu began to feel somewhat tired.
Yan Chiyun, who wielded a sword year-round, had hands that appeared elegant and fair from a distance, with distinct knuckles and slender fingers. Yet, upon closer contact, she realized his fingertips were calloused, making her somewhat uncomfortable.
She bit her lip, enduring the sensation.
But in her effort to endure, she unconsciously tightened her grip, completely forgetting what her other hand was doing.
The sudden force made the man gasp sharply in pain. Startled, Pu Jinyu froze, releasing her grip and even lifting her head to look at him.
Yan Chiyun paused for a moment, lowering his gaze to her exposed forehead and watery eyes. Her jet-black hair was draped messily over her high, straight nose bridge, covering half her face.
Yan Chiyun looked at her, "…"
Although the exquisitely painted face of the woman in his arms was indeed, as he had imagined, smudged with sweat and tears, sticking to him, he did not find it dirty or ugly. Instead, he wanted to wipe her clean, to see her natural appearance without any makeup.
But fearing her resistance, he kept his thoughts to himself and did not act.
Pu Jinyu hesitated for a while, unwilling to let her efforts go to waste. She tilted her head up and gently kissed the man's jaw as a soothing gesture.
Yan Chiyun indeed felt her clumsy attempt at comfort.
Her kisses were gentle and intermittent, more like pecks than proper kisses. Because she did not want to let go, and there was a noticeable height difference between them, she struggled to cling to him, inadvertently triggering ambiguous rubbing and touching.
This caused the fire already burning in his chest to grow larger and larger, fueled by these sparks. He struggled to control himself.
Pu was his lawfully wedded wife, married for over three years now. There was no need to restrain themselves when it came to consummation.
So, he lifted her slender waist, took the initiative, turned her over, grasped the back of her neck, and kissed her lips.
The first thing he tasted was the lip rouge she had applied. The rouge flavor melted, and he savored it.
After their last encounter a few days ago, when he went to bathe and lit the candles, he noticed that wherever she had kissed him, lip marks were left behind.
Now, tonight, wherever she kissed him, it was likely the same—no exception.
In truth, he did not particularly like the scent of rouge and powder. Tasting the lip rouge on her lips, he instinctively wanted to pull away but felt it might not be appropriate.
After all, it had just begun. So Yan Chiyun did not linger too long on her lips. To avoid tasting too much of the rouge, he parted her lips and deepened the kiss.
The moment their tongues touched, not only did Yan Chiyun pause, but Pu Jinyu also froze in surprise.
Though they had been married for years and consummated their marriage every month, they had rarely kissed, let alone so intimately. This was unexpected for both of them.
But Pu Jinyu quickly regained her composure. Her intention was to seduce, disrupt, and play with this lofty head of the Yan Family, who, according to her legal mother, did not belong to her.
So, from a shallow response, she gradually exerted force, clumsily taking the initiative.
Her tongue playfully slipped into the man's thin lips, swept around timidly, and then withdrew, causing Yan Chiyun's eyes to darken.
He cupped the back of her head with his large hand and kissed her.
Although Pu's lips carried the scent of rouge, everything inside her lips was exceptionally soft and fragrant. He not only did not reject it but even felt an inexplicable fondness.
So, following his instincts, he continued kissing her, intimately.
"…"
The night was indeed tumultuous, lasting until late before finally coming to a halt. Though the number of consummations was fewer than on previous nights, each session was prolonged.
Yan Chiyun took a long time to steady his breathing. The lingering numbness after the pleasure and satisfaction lingered, and he found himself wanting more.
This time was different from the last. The previous occasion had been to satisfy the Pu Family's continuation, but this time, it had truly changed.
If he had said he wanted to continue, she likely wouldn't have refused. But hearing her rapid, delicate breaths, he knew she was utterly exhausted.
She collapsed onto him, just like last time, holding him tightly, burying her face against the side of his neck, lying there to calm herself.
A long time passed, and her breathing gradually began to steady, yet she remained motionless, as if forgetting the need to bathe and freshen up.
He knew she was tired, but was she this exhausted?
Yan Chiyun listened to her breathing, which had shifted from steady to soft and gentle. If it grew even longer and deeper, she would fall directly asleep.
He lowered his gaze and spoke softly, "You should bathe before sleeping."
Both of them were sticky all over, and the bed was soiled. Sleeping like this would be uncomfortable.
Pu Jinyu felt exceptionally tired, with no strength left in her entire body. Today, she had already expended a great deal of energy managing the affairs inside and outside the Yan Family.
But she hadn't expected Yan Chiyun to be so easily provoked. His usual restraint had loosened, and she couldn't handle it.
Now, hearing him speak, she didn't want to move either.
If he wanted to bathe, he could go first. Once he got up to light the lamp and left, Jing Chun would surely come in to help her.
But she hadn't expected Yan Chiyun to pick her up and carry her. Pu Jinyu's eyelashes fluttered slightly.
Feeling her head shift, Yan Chiyun glanced down, thinking she was about to open her mouth to protest. Yet, to his surprise, she only moved without speaking. Since she didn't resist, he decided to carry her to the bathing room.
After lighting the lamp and sending for hot water, the personal maid of the woman in his arms hurriedly approached. "Sir, please allow this servant to assist the young lady with her bath."
Heaven only knew what Jing Chun felt when she saw Yan Chiyun carrying Pu Jinyu and striding toward the bathing room. Her soul nearly leaped out of her body. Without another thought, she rushed forward to intervene.
Pu Jinyu must have heard her words, yet she remained motionless, allowing Yan Chiyun to hold her. She clung to him, her face buried, neither speaking nor attempting to get down.
"Young lady… young lady… may this servant attend to your bath?" Jing Chun was frantic inside, but she forced herself to maintain a calm expression.
She was on the verge of reaching out to shake Pu Jinyu, to force some reaction from her, but with Yan Chiyun present, Jing Chun didn't dare.
Pu Jinyu still didn't respond. The maid standing before her had been brought from the Pu Family, so she couldn't simply dismiss her. Yet the maid seemed determined to help Pu Jinyu bathe.
Yan Chiyun looked at the head nestled against his chest. "Do you want me or your maid to help you?" he asked softly.
Hearing the faint trace of tenderness in the man's questioning tone, Jing Chun sensed the change in him and felt a jolt of alarm. "…"
Pu Jinyu shifted her head slightly but said nothing.
However, she nuzzled against the side of his neck, as if choosing to have him help her. So Yan Chiyun wasted no more time.
"You may leave," he said, carrying Pu Jinyu into the bathing room.
But the maid still refused to go. As he placed the woman in his arms into the bathtub, the young maid rushed forward again, blocking the lady inside.
"S-sir, this servant has attended to the young lady since childhood and truly cannot rest easy… Besides, you are noble and esteemed—how could you possibly bathe the young lady?"
He was Madam Pu's husband, and they had already shared more intimate moments. Helping her bathe was merely about assisting with washing—what could be so significant about it?
Having spent years in Zhaoyu Prison, he sensed the maid's unusual insistence, which felt out of place. For a moment, he remained silent and did not leave.
Jing Chun was nearly overwhelmed by the man's cold and imposing presence. She absolutely could not let him grow suspicious!
Stammering, she explained that the reason she insisted on bathing Pu Jinyu herself was because Pu Jinyu was particular about her appearance. She only allowed those closest to her to assist with bathing, as afterward, she needed to redo her hair and apply cosmetics—otherwise, she would feel uncomfortable.
This was indeed true, but… he still felt that something else lingered beneath the surface, something he couldn't quite pinpoint.
"It's already late tonight, sir. You should go bathe as well, or the hot water will cool down soon."
Madam Pu had already been placed in the bathtub, and if they continued arguing, the water would indeed grow cold.
Yan Chiyun glanced back briefly, though he couldn't see much, as the little maid stood blocking his view.
He withdrew his gaze and walked out.
"…"
After the man left, Jing Chun feared he might return. She kept her eyes fixed on the bathroom door for a while, only relaxing when she heard the sound of water from the other bathroom. Then, she quickly washed Pu Jinyu's hair and applied her makeup.
When she parted Pu Jinyu's long hair and caught sight of the marks on her body, her unusually swollen lips, and… the more severe areas compared to usual, Jing Chun's heart instantly tightened.
She would have to inform Madam Pu about this tomorrow without fail. Otherwise, the situation would eventually spiral out of control. After Nanny Wu's incident, she alone could no longer keep Pu Jinyu in check.
If the master had indeed bathed Third Miss today and seen her true appearance beneath the heavy cosmetics, then even if the eldest miss were to return, it would be impossible to conceal the truth!
Third Miss's natural appearance differed from the eldest miss's—how could they possibly deceive Yan Chiyun, who oversaw Zhaoyu Prison in the Northern Pacification Office?
Jing Chun worked swiftly. By the time Yan Chiyun emerged, she had already tidied up Pu Jinyu and tucked her into the bedding, arranging her in a proper sleeping posture.
Only a dim candle remained lit in the room. When Yan Chiyun came out, he did not extinguish it immediately but instead lifted the bed curtain to take a look inside.
He saw the young lady, her makeup meticulously applied, restored to her usual composure, lying peacefully asleep.
After watching for a while, Yan Chiyun finally blew out the candle and lay down flat.
That night, the breathing of the person beside him had long since softened into a gentle, steady rhythm, but he closed his eyes, unable to fall asleep for a long time.
While bathing earlier, he had recalled the maid from the Pu Family's obstruction, which struck him as highly suspicious.
What was she trying to hide? It was as if she feared he might see Madam Pu's true appearance. Reflecting on this, Yan Chiyun turned slightly, his gaze lingering on the face of the person beside him.
Could it be that, without the cosmetics, Madam Pu's natural appearance was vastly different from how she looked now?