Meeting the undisguised desire in his eyes, a jolt ran through Jiang Yao.
This was bad. It looked like she had gone too far.
The moment Pei Zheng leaned down over her, she quickly pressed a hand against his shoulder. “If you haven’t cleaned yourself, don’t come near—”
The last word never left her mouth.
He caught her wrist and lifted it above her head, calmly explaining, “I bathed and changed before coming here.”
Her hands were pinned above her, and as he moved closer, she caught the scent of cedar on him, mixed with faint soap—cold, clean, and sharp.
Her loose clothing had already been pulled out of place, hanging messily around her waist. Through the thin undergarment, his palm firmly held her slender waist, fitting perfectly against her.
The silk underlayer was smooth and soft, allowing her to feel his warmth and strength without the abrasion of his calluses.
Their breath tangled. Heat rose quickly. Her fair skin flushed pink, black hair spilling across the pillow like a waterfall. Her eyes were wet and reddened at the corners, stunningly alluring.
In contrast, Pei Zheng remained fully dressed and meticulous, still composed and dignified—like a proper, restrained gentleman.
Jiang Yao disliked that most about him.
She lifted a leg and lightly kicked him where it was covered by clothing. As expected, his breathing deepened.
His rough fingers caught her restless calf. Pei Zheng raised his head, his usually calm eyes now burning faintly with heat.
“On purpose?” he asked.
She didn’t answer.
Instead, she freed her hands, looped them around his neck, and bit down hard on his jaw.
A sharp sting made him let out a low groan.
She released him quickly. Seeing the teeth mark, she curved her lips in a challenging smile.
He looked at her silently for two breaths.
Then his hand moved to his belt.
Rustling sounds followed as he began, in the most husbandly way, to answer his wife’s provocation.
After one round, Jiang Yao lay half-sprawled on his chest, breathing lightly.
Pei Zheng did not move.
She lazily covered her mouth to yawn and asked, almost absentmindedly, “I have a sleeping disorder? Since when did I know about that?”
Pei Zheng gave her a cool glance. “If I had not said that, how would I explain why you sleep until the third quarter of the hour of Si every day?”
Since he had agreed to her request in advance and could not take it back, he had to find a reasonable excuse so she would not be criticized.
That answer displeased her immediately.
“That’s not laziness,” she retorted. “Do you wake up early even on your days off?”
Her agitation made things difficult for him as well. He frowned slightly.
He exhaled slowly, forcing himself to shift focus. “Of course. One should rise early. Time is precious.”
Jiang Yao let out a cold laugh. “So in winter, do you just pretend spring never existed? And when you die, you’ll be asleep forever anyway—so why not just never sleep at all?”
“Enjoying life while you can, refusing hardship for no reason.”
Her words were sharp and unapologetic.
Pei Zheng was momentarily speechless.
“Ridiculous reasoning,” he said shortly, then changed the subject. “Did you deliberately pretend to stumble during tea today as well?”
“Yes,” she admitted without hesitation.
Seeing his cold expression, she added casually, “But don’t worry. Even if I hadn’t fallen, the tea wouldn’t have been spilled on your mother.”
Pei Zheng replied evenly, “Don’t do that again.”
She was delicate; even a cup of hot tea could leave her skin red.
As for his mother—he instinctively believed she would not have done it.
“I understand,” she said, yawning again. Then, lazily, she added, “It’s just that one chance for tea anyway. Unless we divorce and I remarry, I might end up serving tea to another mother-in-law.”
Pei Zheng froze. “Divorce? You want to divorce me?”
Already?
They had only been married a few days.
Jiang Yao snapped fully awake and stared at him in disbelief. “What? Do you want to divorce me instead?”
He said nothing.
To her, that silence felt like confirmation. Her brows immediately sharpened with anger as she pushed herself up, hands pressing against his chest.
“Pei Mingshu, listen carefully. You may be a marquis with power and influence, but I, Jiang Yao, will never accept being cast aside! If you dare, then let’s both suffer—no one will come out of this clean!”
In front of him, she had no intention of hiding her true nature.
Since their status gap was already like an unbridgeable chasm, it was better to show everything from the start than let him be disappointed later.
The same applied to Madam Luo and the others.
Seeing that she had misunderstood and even escalated, Pei Zheng immediately said, “Marriage is not child’s play. Since we are husband and wife, we are meant to stay together long-term. I have never considered divorce, let alone repudiating you.”
Jiang Yao paused. “Really?”
“Of course.” His expression remained solemn. “I can swear it.”
Then his eyes narrowed slightly. “Or do you regret it?”
Realizing they had misunderstood each other, her expression eased slightly. Still, she shot him a look.
“I was just making an example. Besides, who can predict the future? Didn’t your mother already want her niece to marry you? And your sister even gave me attitude today!”
“If I had known your family looked down on me, I wouldn’t have—”
He cut her off. “That was Mother’s idea alone. I never agreed. It will not happen. Not now, not ever.”
Some matters he had to think more deeply about than others.
His mother was from the Luo family, and the third daughter-in-law also bore the Luo surname. If another “Madam Luo” were to become marquis’ wife, would the Pei family eventually have to change its surname to Luo?
And such thoughts did not arise without cause.
Someone was likely stirring things behind the scenes.
A faint chill passed through his eyes.
“Stop mentioning divorce again,” he said firmly. “There is an imperial decree. Even if you regret it, it is useless. I will not defy the Emperor.”
He looked at her, voice firm and unyielding.
Jiang Yao only lifted her chin and said nothing.
Seeing her frown, he added after a pause, “As for Mingrong, that girl is unruly. As the eldest sister-in-law, it is reasonable for you to discipline her.”
If she had something to do, she would not keep thinking about divorce.
It was not that he feared divorce—he simply disliked trouble.
Jiang Yao glanced at him from the corner of her eye. “You said that yourself?”
“Mm.” The sound came low from his throat.
His body was already tense, like a bowstring drawn tight, ready to snap.
Sensing his restraint, she scoffed. “Repressed.”
His brows furrowed. “I am not repressed.”
She burst out laughing.
Bright, unrestrained laughter spilled from her as she deliberately provoked him further.
“Stop laughing,” he warned hoarsely, patting her waist and hips.
But she, by nature rebellious, laughed even harder.
And as a result—
She did not sleep well that night.