The Young Marquis Regrets Too Late - Chapter 48

Gu Huaisheng resumed walking towards the bridal chamber.

When the servants saw Gu Huaisheng coming, they all saluted him in unison.

He raised a hand to stop them and entered the room.

The chamber was filled with a faint fragrance—something entirely foreign to the cold, minimalist place that was Cangzhuo Courtyard, where he lived. His room was usually stark, cool, and pale in colour, but today, it had turned into a bridal chamber that radiated festivity. Red silk bedding adorned the bed, and the curtains draped in bright scarlet hues. Jiang Jingchun sat at the edge of the bed, wearing her vibrant red wedding dress. Amidst the sea of red, she stood out starkly—almost unnervingly so.

The red lotus shoes on her feet, her red clothes, and her delicate pale hands…

Her hands rested neatly in front of her. She sat upright without moving at all.

This was clearly beyond Gu Huaisheng’s expectations.

He accepted the ceremonial stick handed to him, stepped closer, and flicked his wrist to lift the bridal veil.

Beneath the veil was a stunningly radiant face. Jiang Jingchun’s jet-black hair had been swept up into an intricate style, and it was adorned with a pearl headdress and long dangling hairpins. The bright red bridal attire didn’t look cumbersome on her; rather, it accentuated her graceful charm. Her fair complexion was as luminous as the full moon outside, her eyebrows were finely painted, and her lips were touched with vermilion rouge, which added an alluring hint to her charm.

Perhaps it was because of the wine he’d drunk earlier, but Gu Huaisheng could feel his heart pounding unusually fast in his chest at this moment.

Before he could fully register the moment, Jiang Jingchun spoke up.

She pursed her lips in dissatisfaction and complained, “Why did you take so long? I’m exhausted.”

She was balancing a really heavy headdress on her head, and she felt like she’d just barely avoided snapping her neck. Yet he had been enjoying himself outside, drinking to his heart’s content, before leisurely strolling back.

Before Gu Huaisheng could respond, the matchmaker at the side quickly interjected, “It’s common for the groom to have many social obligations. The young marquis hasn’t taken that long. Alright, alright, Madame, don’t be upset. Let’s proceed with the nuptial wine.”

The matchmaker had nearly been rendered speechless by Jiang Jingchun’s bluntness. She could see from the groom’s gaze that he had practically become intoxicated just by looking at the bride. Yet this little ancestor was oblivious to the atmosphere and managed to shatter the romantic tension with just one remark. The matchmaker thought it best to quickly get through the rest of the ceremony and leave before Jiang Jingchun caused any more trouble.

She brought over two cups of wine and handed them to the pair. Gu Huaisheng sat down on the edge of the bed.

The moment he sat, the smell of alcohol on him wafted over to her, which caused Jiang Jingchun to wrinkle her eyebrows involuntarily.

Their faces were close—so close that Jiang Jingchun could clearly see the uncharacteristic emotion flickering in his usually cold black eyes. Tonight, his gaze carried an inexplicable tenderness, likely because of the alcohol.

He was too close.

Jiang Jingchun didn’t want to look at him. She shut her eyes and tilted her head back to drink the wine.

The red wedding candles flickered nearby. They cast the shadows of the wedded pair’s shared moment onto the wall.

Gu Huaisheng’s gaze lingered on her closed eyes. She refused to look at him, but he couldn’t take his eyes off her. Strangely, he hadn’t felt intoxicated after drinking cup after cup outside, yet just one sip of this wine left him dizzy and lightheaded.

The matchmaker, seeing the two peacefully complete the drinking ceremony, broke into a broad smile. She cheerfully collected the wine cups and then tied the cups together with a red cloth.

The act symbolized the union of two people deeply in love, bound together forever.

Now that most of the ceremony was completed, the matchmaker uttered a few more words of congratulations and then ushered everyone out of the room.

At last, the rites were done. Still, the matchmaker couldn’t help but worry about the restless bride. She wasn’t sure what would happen in the bridal chamber tonight, but, well, it wasn’t her concern anymore. For now, she would head off to claim her reward.

As the crowd bustled out of the room, leaving only the two of them behind, the earlier liveliness gave way to an unsettling silence.

Jiang Jingchun, who had kept her composure all day, finally slumped. She reached up to remove the pearl headdress from her head, but Gu Huaisheng said, “Let me.”

Jiang Jingchun didn’t refuse. Since he wanted to help, he could. She wasn’t inclined to put in the effort herself, anyhow.

She turned slightly and allowed Gu Huaisheng to begin removing the ornaments from her head.

His movements were gentle, and his fingers were deft and meticulous. Despite the complexity of the accessories, he didn’t tug on her hair even once.

As he lowered his head, the pale skin of her neck came into view, starkly distinct against the red of her wedding attire.

His fingers began to tremble uncontrollably.

He thought it must be because of the wine.

In that moment of distraction, he accidentally pulled her hair and elicited a sharp yelp of pain.

He heard her say, “That hurts! Be gentler.”

Gu Huaisheng snapped back to his senses and immediately averted his gaze. Not long after that, he finished removing the headdress.

He placed the ornaments to the side. Meanwhile, her long black hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders.

The room lapsed into silence once more.

Yesterday night, an old female servant from Old Madame Jiang’s side had handed Jiang Jingchun an illustrated guide detailing the ‘bedroom joys’ of a wedding night. Jiang Jingchun had read it, and her face had flushed redder with each page she read. It was also yesterday that she finally realised what had pressed against her as she sat on Gu Huaisheng’s lap that day, at the examination compound.

The memory surfaced unbiddenly at this inappropriate time and caused the tips of her ears to burn.

However, she wasn’t particularly interested in consummating the marriage with Gu Huaisheng. This marriage wasn’t something she had truly wanted, and she couldn’t bring herself to embrace such intimacy with him. She felt certain that if it came to that, he would be the only one to enjoy it, while she would find no satisfaction.

She was lost in thought and pursed her red lips tightly. Suddenly, though, she heard Gu Huaisheng speak.

“Cousin…”

The ceremonial nuptial wine had left Gu Huaisheng a little dazed. Before he’d even realised, he’d blurted out ‘Cousin.’ Only after he spoke had he realised that no, they weren’t cousins anymore. Right now, they were husband and wife.

He quickly corrected himself by saying, “Wife.”

That simple word, uttered from his lips, carried a lingering tenderness he couldn’t quite explain.

Jiang Jingchun turned her head to look at him. She wanted to tell him to stop being so nauseating, but before she could speak, he asked, “Can we consummate the marriage now…?”

Gu Huaisheng was already 21. Although he was inexperienced in such matters, he wasn’t entirely clueless either. The Gu family was strict and tolerated no such indecency, but while working in the yamen, he had heard and seen plenty.

Power and desire had been intertwined since ancient times. Before his promotion, he’d had to attend his fair share of social engagements, many of which were filled with indulgence and debauchery. While he never partook in them, he’d witnessed enough.

To be honest, most of these engagements were rather filthy.

It wasn’t uncommon for those men to set their sights on someone and, moments later, head straight to the bedroom.

Since he’d seen so much of it, he wasn’t exactly unfamiliar with matters between men and women.

Yesterday, he had even read a book on the subject and vaguely learned the mechanics of it.

On the day of the wedding, consummation was expected.

However, this wasn’t just about him.

As he was dressed in his wedding robes, and his fair skin was tinged with a light blush, he looked much softer and more docile than usual. Yet, the question he asked felt oddly abrupt and awkward.

Jiang Jingchun met his gaze and saw the depth of emotion in his peach blossom-shaped eyes. His eyes, which were slightly red at the corners, carried a faintly seductive hue.

That expression was not unfamiliar to her. Back in the examination compound, after he kissed her, he had looked at her the exact same way.

He asked if they could consummate the marriage. Jiang Jingchun countered with her own question. She said, “What do you think?”

Did she look like she wanted to consummate the marriage with him?

Did he even need to ask?

Gu Huaisheng wasn’t surprised by her response. He had been smiling since he entered the room, and even now, the corners of his mouth remained slightly upturned.

However, Jiang Jingchun felt unnerved under his gaze. His fiery eyes made her uneasy, and before she realized it, her hand reached up to cover them.

She parted her lips and said, “Gu Huaisheng, can you stop being so lecherous?”

After covering his eyes, Jiang Jingchun felt like the pressure on her had eased significantly. She exhaled a quiet sigh of relief.

Her palm covered his eyes.

As her palm rested against his eyes, the warmth and the light scent of her skin drifted to his nose.

Did she just call him lecherous?

Gu Huaisheng froze for a moment, then chuckled softly. His voice, which was deep and magnetic, carried a hint of teasing as he said, “Wife, do you want to know what real lechery looks like?”

He had only been looking at her, and his gaze had unintentionally revealed traces of his longing for her. However, that wasn’t lust, but affection. Without this affection, he would not desire her.

Yet, she called him lecherous…

How could she brand him with such a label?

Jiang Jingchun detected the danger in his tone. She released her hand, then glared at him. “Don’t even think about it.”

Despite his assertive nature, Gu Huaisheng could exercise restraint in this matter. Seeing her unwillingness, he didn’t want to push too hard. Jiang Jingchun had already married him despite nursing a stomach full of anger and resentment. Even their kiss at the examination compound had upset her for days. If he forced her into consummating the marriage now, she’d likely sulk for longer—perhaps even a lifetime.

He wasn’t that rapacious.

He married Jiang Jingchun to have her as his wife, not to keep her as a captive. After weighing his options, Gu Huaisheng decided there was no need to act rashly and risk ruining everything, since they were already married, anyway…

Just then, Jiang Jingchun’s stomach let out a loud grumble.

She’d been carried off into her bridal palanquin early in the morning and had sat through a long day of ceremonies, so she was starving now.

Gu Huaisheng dropped the topic of consummating the marriage. He stood up and walked to the table, then returned with a plate of delicate tea snacks. “Have some of these first. I’ll have the servants bring you some warm food.”

Jiang Jingchun didn’t stand on ceremony. She took the snacks from his hands but stopped him from calling the servants. “No need. Once I’ve finished this, I’m going to bed. I’m exhausted.”

She’d been up early and had been busy since then, so she was utterly drained now. Moreover, the ceremonial nuptial wine earlier had also left her head spinning.

Since she said she was tired, Gu Huaisheng wasn’t about to argue. 

He said, “Alright, eat up. I’ll go freshen up. If you’re sleepy, go ahead and rest. I’ll put out the lights when I’m done.”

She frowned when he approached her. Clearly, she was put off by the lingering smell of alcohol on him.

Gu Huaisheng understood. He didn’t want to carry that scent either—it made him feel unclean, and she didn’t like it.

With that, he turned and headed towards the washroom. He left Jiang Jingchun alone on the bed.

The smell of alcohol on him really did need to go. Jiang Jingchun figured his offer to let her sleep first meant he wouldn’t bring up consummation again.

Still, she wasn’t entirely convinced. After nibbling on the snacks, she removed her heavy wedding dress with Huayun’s help and climbed into bed.

However, she still didn’t dare to fall asleep just yet. What if Gu Huaisheng lost control after drinking alcohol earlier?

If it had been an ordinary night, she might’ve trusted him. But tonight, he’d had quite a bit to drink. Who knew what he might do?

The ceremonial nuptial wine had already dulled her senses, as her tolerance proved embarrassingly low. It only took one cup to make her so out of it.

In the end, she stayed awake long enough to hear Gu Huaisheng return from the washroom.

She shut her eyes and felt him approach the bed. His presence carried a faint trace of moisture and the clean scent of soap. The alcohol smell was gone.

She lay motionless under the quilt. Although her eyes were shut, she could still sense the light around her. However, after Gu Huaisheng got on the bed, she felt the light dim. His figure must be looming over her.

What was he planning to do?

She braced herself as she thought that Gu Huaisheng was going to act out of line. However, just as she wanted to open her eyes and see what exactly he wanted to do, she felt something soft and damp touch her face. It was a cloth. 

He gently wiped her face with the damp cloth, starting from her forehead, down to her eyes, nose, and finally, her lips.

So he was merely cleaning her face.

Jiang Jingchun’s heart finally settled down. Gu Huaisheng’s movements were gentle, and once she let her guard down, sleep overtook her.

After wiping her face, Gu Huaisheng extinguished the candlelight and lay down on the bed.

In the stillness of the night, every sound was amplified—he could particularly hear the steady rhythm of her breathing by his side.

Gu Huaisheng turned his head slightly. He caught her profile under the faint moonlight streaming through the window. 

The sensation of sharing a bed with someone felt oddly comforting. It also didn’t feel strange. In fact, he felt a rare sense of peace in his heart.

Carefully, he moved his hand closer to hers and gently covered it with his own before closing his eyes to sleep.

As he lay there, his mind wandered back to the days when he taught her to write. During those lessons, she often came to the Gu household, and there was one time when his hand accidentally brushed against hers. Back then, he noticed her quietly smiling to herself—she was clearly delighted by the small physical contact.

He hadn’t understood it at the time—what was there for her to be so happy about?

Looking back now, he realised he’d never taken the time to see things from her perspective. He’d dismissed her feelings as fleeting and childish. He’d condescendingly brushed off her emotions and insisted on treating her like a kid.

But now, in the deep silence of the night, as he lay listening to her gentle breathing, he found himself in her shoes. At this moment, he suddenly realised…

So this was what it was like to like someone, to care about someone. When you liked someone, even a fleeting touch could bring joy.

He felt as if he had just brushed against something incomparably precious, and that fleeting touch filled him with uncontainable happiness. He couldn’t help it.

Was this what it meant to like someone? Perhaps, Gu Huaisheng thought.

All he knew was that when he saw her dressed in her wedding robes when he saw her bowing to him during the ceremony, and when he saw her waiting for him in their bridal chamber, his heart had pounded fiercely.

On the bed they now shared, Gu Huaisheng soon drifted off to sleep as well.

Before their marriage, Gu Huaisheng’s courtyard housed only a few maids tasked with basic cleaning duties. But after their union, Madame Gu was concerned that there wouldn’t be enough help, so she assigned additional staff to the household.

The maids were keeping vigil outside. When they noticed the lights inside had been extinguished yet no other sounds emerged, they couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

“Why isn’t the young master consummating the marriage with the young madame? Why is it so quiet in there…?”

The maid beside her shrugged. She’d only recently been reassigned here as well. She said, “Don’t ask, don’t ask. Let’s just focus on our duties.”

Before they arrived, a senior servant had already warned them—Gu Huaisheng loathed nosy people. They were explicitly told not to gossip idly.

The two maids dropped the subject and continued keeping vigil in silence.

The night passed quickly, and soon it was morning. The faint light of dawn crept into the room and scattered over the windowsill like shards of silver. By now, it was nearing the end of the ninth month, and the morning carried a sharp chill.

Jiang Jingchun didn’t sleep soundly through the night. By the time she woke up, she was freezing and instinctively wrapped herself in the quilt. She pulled every bit of it over herself. She didn’t seem to remember at all that someone else was lying beside her.

Gu Huaisheng was awakened by the cold. After drinking so much the previous night, his head throbbed slightly as he opened his eyes. He turned to his side and saw a cocoon-like figure wrapped snugly in the quilt. He couldn’t help but laugh—and he did so aloud.

Light streamed into the room. As Gu Huaisheng looked at the person bundled up next to him, he felt as if he were still in a dream. He leaned closer and tugged down a corner of the bright red quilt to reveal a little of her face.

A face that had appeared countless times in his dreams now appeared to him in reality.

The crisp autumn morning was chilly. He took advantage of Jiang Jingchun still being asleep to quietly pull a bit of the quilt from her side and create a small opening to slip back in.

The warmth of her body, mingled with the faint fragrance she carried, surrounded him. The discomfort of his throbbing head eased.

As he lay beside her, it didn’t take long for him to drift back into sleep.

He had never once slept in like this before. Whenever he woke, he would immediately get up.

But today… she hadn’t gotten up, and he found himself reluctant to rise as well.

By midmorning, the maids outside began to grow concerned at the lack of activity within. It was one thing for the young lady to sleep late, but why would the young master also be sleeping in? They worried this might delay their visit to greet the marquis and his wife and decided to step in to wake them.

By the hour of the Snake, the maids outside began to grow concerned at the lack of activity within. It was one thing for the young madame to sleep late, but why would the young master also be sleeping in? They worried this might delay their visit to greet the marquis and his wife and decided to step in to wake them.

The sound of the maids moving about roused Jiang Jingchun. As she slowly came to, she felt uncomfortable and cramped. She turned her head and saw Gu Huaisheng lying right next to her. He was already awake.

He was so close that she was practically pressed against the wall.

Considering how large he was, she understood now why she’d felt smothered.

Jiang Jingchun couldn’t help giving him a shove. “What’s wrong with you? There’s so much space on that side—why are you huddling up to me?”

She truly couldn’t comprehend what he was thinking. Why was he insisting on being so close to her?

No wonder she had thought in her sleep that she felt like being pinned down by a ghost. It turned out not to be a ghost, but Gu Huaisheng.

Even though he’d been pushed, Gu Huaisheng didn’t say much. He just explained, “You hogged the quilt when it got cold. If I didn’t scoot closer, I’d have frozen to death.”

His words carried a surprising hint of grievance.

Jiang Jingchun, however, couldn’t care less about whether he was cold or not. She snapped, “That doesn’t mean you can squeeze onto my side! Next time, bring an extra quilt. I sleep like this—always have. If that’s a problem, then let’s just sleep in separate rooms.”

Arguing on the very first day of marriage, and already suggesting separate rooms…

The two servants who had come to assist them with getting up kept their heads down, to the point they were nearly burying their faces in their chests. They couldn’t keep listening.

How could the young madame be so dramatic? The young master hadn’t even said anything harsh, so why had she blown up like this?

One of them snuck a glance at Gu Huaisheng’s expression but saw no sign of anger on his face.

Gu Huaisheng understood what she was upset about. Ever since she’d been forced to get up at the examination compound for their marriage arrangements, Jiang Jingchun had been holding in her resentment, and that anger wasn’t likely to dissipate anytime soon. After all, she’d been coerced into marrying him. As long as they remained husband and wife, she would always remember the circumstances that brought them together.

Her current attitude—the way she constantly gave him the cold shoulder, was likely her attempt to drive him away and make him regret marrying her.

When she suggested separate rooms, Gu Huaisheng immediately responded, “We’re husband and wife. Husbands and wives shouldn’t sleep in separate rooms.”

Jiang Jingchun almost rolled her eyes. “Gu Huaisheng, are you still treating me like I’m a child?” 

Why couldn’t a pair of husband and wife sleep in separate rooms? Did being husband and wife mean they had to stick to the same bed, inseparable even in sleep?

Such reasoning clearly didn’t fool her.

She wasn’t so in love with him!

Gu Huaisheng was stumped by her words. He coughed lightly, then changed the subject by saying, “Let’s get up. We need to go pay respects to my parents.”

The two maidservants, who overheard this, sighed in relief. They were afraid that their young madame and young master would start quarrelling again, so they quickly chimed in,  “Yes, that’s right. You’ll also need to greet Marquis and Madame at Jinghua Hall.”

Hearing this, Jiang Jingchun finally dropped the earlier subject. She got up, stepped over Gu Huaisheng, and left the bed to have Huayun help her with her hair and attire.

The two maidservants exchanged uneasy glances. Once Jiang Jingchun had left, the faint smile on Gu Huaisheng’s face faded. The two didn’t know what to do until he waved them off with a casual motion and signalled for them to leave. Then, he got up himself.

Gu Huaisheng’s patience with Jiang Jingchun was remarkable. Well, he believed she had every right to be angry. After all, she’d endured his past cold treatment for two years as well.

What hardship could he not bear now?

As long as she didn’t pine for her old childhood friend anymore, he didn’t mind anything else.

They were married now. They had bowed to the heavens and earth, and now even the gods recognized them as a couple.

This morning’s quarrel was nothing more than a minor episode. After all, they argued constantly. That they’d start the day with a squabble wasn’t out of the ordinary. Once they were washed, dressed, and ready, they set out together for Jinghua Hall.

Jiang Jingchun had her hair styled in a married woman’s updo and adorned it with a simple hairpin, which added a touch of maturity to her features. She wore a richly red dress that made her fair complexion appear even more radiant. Her dark eyes gleamed with a lively sparkle.

Gu Huaisheng walked shoulder to shoulder with her. He entered the courtyard and, as they stepped onto the corridor, he said, “I won’t huddle with you next time. Don’t get a separate room or an extra quilt.”

The autumn breeze swept through the corridor and swirled the hem of their clothes together. The morning sunlight angled through the eaves and cast its glow on them.

Jiang Jingchun paused slightly. She hadn’t expected him to bring up the earlier matter again at this moment.

She pursed her lips and kept quiet, as she was unsure how to respond to his conciliatory tone. She glanced at him in suspicion but only saw him with a lowered head and eyes that seemed surprisingly earnest.

She asked, “So, are you going to fight me for the quilt again?”

Gu Huaisheng shook his head. In a low and muffled voice, he said, “No, I won’t.”

He hadn’t intended to in the first place, anyway.

Jiang Jingchun, too, had merely used the quilt as an excuse to make a scene. She hadn’t genuinely planned to suggest separate rooms on the first day of their marriage. If word got back to Madame Gu, it wouldn’t matter much. However, if it reached their grandmother’s ears, that would be a different story.

Since he said he wouldn’t fight for the quilt or huddle with her, she had no grounds to escalate the matter further.

Fine, let him be. If he didn’t want an extra quilt, then that was fine. After the nights grew colder, he’d only have himself to blame if he froze.

Jiang Jingchun let the matter drop without another word. They soon arrived at the direction of Jinghua Hall.

Inside the main hall of Jinghua Hall, Madame Gu was sitting in the main seats along with her husband, the marquis. Meanwhile, Gu Huailang obediently sat below them. As Jiang Jingchun and Gu Huaisheng had gotten up late, they arrived later than expected. Gu Huailang had grown restless from waiting and was fiddling with his fingers in boredom.

The moment Jiang Jingchun and Gu Huaisheng entered, the three people in the hall straightened up immediately.

Madame Gu was the first to smile at them. She said, “You’re here.”

Marquis Gu followed suit. He said,  “Jingchun, how was it? You must have been tired from yesterday. Fuyan didn’t do anything wrong to you, did he?”

The couple had watched Jiang Jingchun grow up since she was a child. Regardless of everything else, they’d always treated her as a child of a relative. And for the sake of past events, they would never treat her too harshly. Besides… even though Jiang Jingchun appeared to be willing on the surface, who could truly know what she felt deep down about this marriage?

If she were unwilling, she’d surely find these days stifling.

Still, the fact that Gu Huaisheng was finally married put one of Madame Gu’s worries to rest.

Now, she wished for nothing else—just that the two of them could live their lives peacefully together. Life, after all, was something you muddled through, and things could always get better with time.

Madame Gu had heard about the truth behind an incident from Gu Huaisheng’s childhood from Marquis Gu, and she’d finally come to understand that Gu Huaisheng was someone with a sharp tongue but a soft heart. Even if he felt a lot of affection for someone, it wouldn’t show much on his face.

Jiang Jingchun had already distanced herself from him and thoroughly pushed him away. At this point, the last thing Madame Gu wanted was for him to fall out with Jiang Jingchun again. She could see it clearly—Gu Huaisheng did care for Jiang Jingchun. However, given his clumsy and stubborn personality, how their days would go forward was anyone’s guess.

And as for Jiang Jingchun… There was likely a suppressed anger within her as well. She worried that, as they lived together, they might eventually come to blows.

Thus, when Marquis Gu and Madame Gu spoke to Jiang Jingchun, there was a hint of caution in their words, and Jiang Jingchun could sense it, too.

In all fairness, her uncle and aunt had treated her quite well. Setting aside the matter of this marriage, when she was young, her uncle had been kinder to her than Jiang Nan ever was. Even the red envelope he gave her during the holidays was always the largest.

Jiang Jingchun performed her greetings to the two of them, then replied, “Thank you for your concern, Uncle, Aunt…”

She’d unconsciously called them using her old terms of address. As soon as the words left her mouth, even she was momentarily taken aback. The atmosphere in the room grew awkward for a moment. Marquis Gu and Madame Gu exchanged a glance, as they were unsure if they should correct her. They looked to Gu Huaisheng, only to find him equally silent.

It was Gu Huailang who suddenly spoke up, “Sister-in-law… did you address my mother and father wrongly?”

Gu Huailang didn’t quite understand all the nuances. He just knew that now that his elder brother had married their cousin, her titles should have changed accordingly. Gu Huailang had also figured that he shouldn’t call her ‘Cousin’ anymore and should instead call her ‘Sister-in-law.’ Similarly, she ought to address his parents as ‘Father’ and ‘Mother.’

Marquis Gu scolded him. He said, “Children shouldn’t meddle in such matters. Your cousin can call us however she pleases—you needn’t interfere.”

The boy had adapted the quickest and called Jiang Jingchun ‘Sister-in-law’ with such remarkable ease.

Jiang Jingchun, however, didn’t seem bothered. She saw no need to argue with Marquis Gu and Madame Gu, nor did she wish to make a fuss over a mere title. She adjusted her address and said, “Father, Mother.”

Marquis Gu and Madame Gu froze for a moment but quickly recovered. They smiled and warmly accepted her greeting.

Jiang Jingchun then began serving them tea.

After completing the tea ceremony, Marquis Gu and Madame Gu gave Jiang Jingchun a large red envelope. Since she had received many of these growing up, she didn’t refuse and accepted it without hesitation.

They didn’t speak much more after that. Once the formalities were done, the conversation came to a halt, but Madame Gu did ask Jiang Jingchun to stay behind. She clearly wanted to speak to her privately.

Gu Huaisheng, who was unsure of what his mother might say, didn’t particularly feel like leaving, but Marquis Gu pulled him aside and said, “Women have their own things to discuss. What do you think you’re going to do, eavesdrop? Let’s go outside.”

Since his father said so, Gu Huaisheng didn’t object and followed him out of the room.

That left Jiang Jingchun and Madame Gu alone in the hall.

Madame Gu spoke first. Cautiously, she broached the topic of the previous night. She asked, “Have you… consummated your marriage last night?”

While she could have asked the servants about this, Jiang Jingchun was already sitting in front of her, so it seemed unnecessary to ask someone else now. Besides, Madame Gu also wanted to know how Jiang Jingchun felt about the situation.

Jiang Jingchun truthfully answered, “Not yet.”

The wedding night had passed, and they hadn’t consummated the marriage—it was certainly strange. Jiang Jingchun wasn’t sure what Madame Gu would think of it.

After a moment of thought, Madame Gu probed further. “Is it because Fuyan… isn’t quite up to it?”

She wasn’t saying this out of ill intent. It was just that Gu Huaisheng had never had a maidservant serve him in bed, much less a concubine. He usually always appeared quite aloof and indifferent as well. Plus, he had been the one insistent on marrying his cousin. Surely he wouldn’t just sleep through the wedding night without doing anything if he could help it? It didn’t make sense.

She hadn’t considered the possibility that it might be Jiang Jingchun’s reluctance. After all, given Gu Huaisheng’s usual ways, even if Jiang Jingchun wasn’t enthusiastic, he could have coaxed, persuaded, or even forced things along, so that the marriage would have been consummated by now.

Surely he couldn’t have remained indifferent to such a lovely and beautiful wife as well…

The more she thought about it, the more it seemed possible—perhaps Gu Huaisheng’s lack of interest in taking a concubine was because he had some kind of hidden ailment.

A normal man, after all, would have normal physical desires.

Madame Gu felt dizzy, and her face paled. If Gu Huaisheng really had some condition, and the old madame found out about it—well, that would be the end.

Jiang Jingchun herself would practically live the life of a widow despite having a living husband. That would be a disastrous fate for her.

She couldn’t believe she hadn’t considered this sooner. If she had thought of it earlier, she could have had him treated already.

Jiang Jingchun was somewhat puzzled by why Madame Gu would jump to such conclusions. She thought back to her own experiences with Gu Huaisheng. It didn’t seem like he was impotent, but whether he could perform—well, she wasn’t sure.

Seeing Madame Gu’s increasingly troubled expression, Jiang Jingchun realised she had reached some unpleasant conclusion, but she wasn’t about to defend Gu Huaisheng. In fact, she found it quite amusing and was happy to let her mother-in-law stew in her own worries, as it’d certainly result in embarrassment on Gu Huaisheng’s side.

With a soft sigh, she feigned concern and said, “It seems that my cousin isn’t quite… capable. He went to bed early last night without doing anything, though I didn’t think much of it.”

She could change how she addressed Marquis Gu and Madame Gu—calling them ‘Father’ and ‘Mother’ wasn’t too difficult. But calling Gu Huaisheng as ‘Husband’? That was something she simply couldn’t bring herself to do.

Upon hearing this, Madame Gu slapped her own thigh in distress. In panic, she blurted out, “Did he put ‘it’ in you yesterday?”

Wait, no—if Jiang Jingchun hadn’t had a red mark on her body, that must mean nothing happened.

In her anxious state, she had completely forgotten.

What she should have asked was, just how incapable was Gu Huaisheng?

Jiang Jingchun wouldn’t have quite understood the exact meaning of Madame Gu’s words before her marriage. But now, after receiving tutoring and studying a bunch of picture books, she knew exactly what Madame Gu was referring to.

Her face flushed bright red, and a rosy glow spread across her cheeks.

Madame Gu realised then that Jiang Jingchun might still be unfamiliar with these matters. She shouldn’t have been so blunt in front of her.

She decided not to press the matter further but silently resolved to find a way to treat Gu Huaisheng’s ‘ailment.’

There was still time, it wasn’t too late—or so she kept saying in her mind to reassure herself.

Jiang Jingchun coughed lightly and brought Madame Gu back from her thoughts. Madame Gu heard her say, “Mother, please don’t tell anyone that it’s me who told you this. After all, my cousin values how other people perceive him, and I’m now his wife. If he knows that it’s me who told you, he’ll definitely feel embarrassed and think I have some grievance against him. He might even overthink it.”

She couldn’t allow Gu Huaisheng to know that it was her who had slandered him.

Madame Gu thought that what Jiang Jingchun said made sense. A man who couldn’t perform on his wedding night would naturally feel embarrassed about it. She could only blame herself for not paying enough attention to him in the past, to the point that she didn’t even realise that such a serious issue existed.

Still, after hearing Jiang Jingchun’s words, she relaxed a little. Jiang Jingchun didn’t seem to disdain her cousin for being useless, nor did she seem to dislike him as she used to some time ago. Madame Gu had been worried that their married life would be difficult, but now, it seemed things weren’t as bad as she had feared.

She looked at Jiang Jingchun, then gave her a happy nod. “Well, it’s rare to find a wife who thinks of her husband like you think of Fuyan. Don’t worry, mother will make sure you live a happy life.”

Jiang Jingchun didn’t quite understand. What did a happy life have to do with all of this?

Somehow, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d just caused trouble for herself…

That strange feeling didn’t fade even after she left the hall.

Since he’d just married, Gu Huaisheng had received three days off, and he didn’t have to work today. As such, he remained in the corridor and waited there for Jiang Jingchun to come out. When he saw her come out, he immediately walked over to her.

The two of them headed back to Cangzhuo Courtyard, where Gu Huaisheng lived.

Seeing Jiang Jingchun’s face looking somewhat odd, Gu Huaisheng couldn’t help but ask, “What did Mother say to you just now?”

Could his mother have said something unpleasant?

Jiang Jingchun was still pondering what Madame Gu’s words earlier meant. What did a ‘happy life’ have to do with whether or not she and Gu Huaisheng were getting along?

She didn’t understand.

Gu Huaisheng had asked her a question, but Jiang Jingchun didn’t have much intention of giving him a proper answer. She only lightly replied, “Nothing much. She just gave me a few reminders.”

Gu Huaisheng didn’t think too much about it again after hearing her response. The two of them walked all the way back to Cangzhuo Courtyard in silence.

They woke up later than usual, so they decided to have breakfast and lunch together in one go.

Gu Huaisheng was very busy. Even though he was married and at home resting, he still had something to do—although Jiang Jingchun wasn’t sure what it was. After finishing the meal, seeing that Jiang Jingchun wasn’t paying attention to him, he didn’t bother her any further and went to his study. As for Jiang Jingchun, she got acquainted with the new maids in the courtyard and passed the time on her own.

It wasn’t until dinner that Gu Huaisheng returned from the study.

They had just gotten married, so they went to the shared dining hall in Jinghua Hall to have a meal with Madame Gu and the others.

After entering the dining hall and exchanging pleasantries, the two of them took their seats.

Once Gu Huaisheng sat down, Madame Gu immediately urged him to start eating. She said, “You’ve been busy lately in the Censorate. You also had your wedding yesterday. You must be exhausted. Hurry, eat something to replenish your energy.”

Gu Huaisheng found Madame Gu’s unusual attentiveness today a bit odd, but he didn’t dwell on it. He simply followed her suggestion and began eating. Jiang Jingchun, who was already familiar with the Gu household, sat comfortably and ate alongside Madame Gu and Marquis Gu without feeling awkward. She didn’t pay attention to Madame Gu and Gu Huaisheng’s conversation and just focused on her own meal.

The meal was rather nice.

Later that night, Gu Huaisheng and Jiang Jingchun went to bed together. After Jiang Jingchun warned Gu Huaisheng not to huddle up to her, she fell asleep. However, as Gu Huaisheng lay in bed, he felt unusually hot—unlike the previous night. What was going on tonight?

He couldn’t take it anymore. The discomfort was too much to bear, especially with Jiang Jingchun lying beside him. He got up and had someone bring in cool water to the washroom. After a quick wash, he felt somewhat better.

Finally, Gu Huaisheng recalled Madame Gu’s unusual behaviour earlier.

It seemed there was something wrong with the food tonight…

—

Inside Jinghua Hall, Marquis Gu and Madame Gu had just slept together. They now lay naked on their bed and chatted with each other.

Marquis Gu wore a slightly pained expression on his face. “That’ll do it. The dishes you prepared were too much. I don’t know if it’s going to work with Fuyan, but anyhow, I really can’t take it.”

Madame Gu gave him a look. “Don’t blame me for it. You were the one who ate so much. I told you to eat less, but you wouldn’t listen, and you ate like you were the reincarnation of a starving ghost.”

Marquis Gu quickly said, “Can you really blame me for this? Look at those dishes—tell me, is there a single one here that isn’t meant for… you know, boosting virility? I just wanted to pick a plate to eat, but every single one is chock-full of leeks for that purpose…”

Madame Gu didn’t take Marquis Gu’s complaints to heart. His discomfort wasn’t her problem. Right now, Gu Huaisheng’s major life issues were what truly mattered.

Still, she found something quite puzzling. “After all this, how is it that Cangzhuo Courtyard is still so… quiet?”

She had been doing all this to ‘nourish’ Gu Huaisheng, so why was his courtyard still so quiet?

Madame Gu’s face darkened. “This is bad. If even this doesn’t work, then we’ll have to call in a physician to take a look…”

She feared that Gu Huaisheng was already ‘beyond cure’ and was still racking her brain to figure out how to make him better, while completely unaware of how much ‘suffering’ her actions were causing him.

—

The next morning, the first light of dawn appeared, and the sky began to brighten.

Gu Huaisheng didn’t sleep well that night. To his surprise, he immediately felt a ‘reaction’ upon waking up.

Though this had happened before, it had never come with such overwhelming intensity.

He looked down at himself, then glanced over at Jiang Jingchun, who was still asleep beside him. He feared she might be startled when she woke up, so he quickly decided to head to the washroom to take care of it.

His temple ached deeply. He couldn’t figure out what his mother was thinking—why she had gone to such lengths to make such ‘nourishing’ dishes… Was she trying to improve her relationship with his father?

Not long after Gu Huaisheng went to the washroom, Jiang Jingchun also woke up.

Today was the third day since their marriage, the day when she should return to her maiden house.

Jiang Jingchun usually didn’t wake up very early, but visiting the Jiang family residence meant being able to see her grandmother. As such, she decided to wake up early this morning.

She turned her head to glance out the window. It still seemed early. She noticed the empty space beside her, but didn’t think much of it. Of course, Gu Huaisheng would have gotten up earlier than her.

Perhaps he had already risen and gone outside in preparation for today’s visit to the Jiang family residence.

Jiang Jingchun was still feeling a bit disoriented after waking up. She squinted her eyes and rested a little longer in bed, but when she saw that the sky had already brightened, she remembered that she still needed to get ready for the visit. She feared that she’d be late and delayed their departure, so she finally got up and headed to the washroom to freshen up.

She walked towards the washroom.

The room was quiet, with only the occasional sound of kingfisher birds coming from outside the window. The morning breeze slipped through the window lattice. Jiang Jingchun, who was wearing only her inner garments, felt a little cold.

She rubbed her shoulders as she continued walking further inside.

But the closer she got, the stranger she felt.

Why did it seem like she could hear some odd sounds?

It sounded like a man’s low… breathing…?

Jiang Jingchun felt something was off. She suspected she had woken up too early and was still a bit disoriented. However, after she shook her head to clear her head, the sound only grew clearer. Besides the breathing, there seemed to be other noises…

How strange.

Was the sound coming from the washroom, or from somewhere else? Had Gu Huaisheng not left?

Her mind raced with wild thoughts, but her feet brought her forward towards the source of the sound, almost unconsciously.

The further she walked, the louder the sound became.

Jiang Jingchun felt increasingly uneasy in her heart. It wasn’t until she entered the washroom and saw the scene before her that she froze completely in place.