The booklet that had fallen to the ground flipped open to another page. In the picture, a woman knelt like an animal on the ground while a man spanked her and penetrated from behind. To Gu Jianli, this humiliating posture was something she couldn’t accept.
She suddenly turned to look at Ji Wujing on the bed. As expected, Ji Wujing was awakened by the sound of the booklet hitting the floor.
Ji Wujing still lay on the bed, eyes closed, lazily raising a hand to rub his brow.
Gu Jianli glanced back at the booklet on the floor, hesitating. She should pick it up and put it back before Ji Wujing noticed, pretending it was another book that had fallen.
But she didn’t.
Gu Jianli slowly turned around, staring at Ji Wujing lying on the bed. She pressed her lips tightly together and remained silent, waiting for Ji Wujing to fully wake up.
Before long, Ji Wujing sensed something was wrong. He turned his head, half-opened his eyes to look at Gu Jianli, and spoke in a low, lazy voice, still tinged with sleepiness: “Little Lili, so captivated by your uncle’s beauty so early in the morning. Come closer, see it more clearly by my side.”
Gu Jianli stood still, her hands clenched into fists and then relaxed. Finally, she asked, “Fifth Master, we haven’t consummated our marriage and become husband and wife yet, right?”
Her voice was soft and gentle, with a hint of hope hidden within.
Ji Wujing gradually woke up and didn’t answer immediately. His gaze swept over the booklet on the floor, lingering for a moment. He understood.
He yawned lazily, propped himself up on the bed with his forearm, and sat up. He lifted the blanket, placed his long legs on the floor, and casually said, “Yes.”
Gu Jianli’s eyes dimmed, her face turning pale. The indecent images from the booklet flashed before her eyes again. She remembered her soiled palms and hair—did none of that count?
She bit her lip lightly, feeling dejected, lost, and helpless.
Ji Wujing stood up, paused for a moment to alleviate his dizziness, and then walked towards Gu Jianli. He bent down to pick up the booklet, glancing at the opened page, his eyes filled with disgust and anger.
He should have burned this book last time, to prevent Gu Jianli from finding it.
All the foreplay, the main act, and the positions and techniques should be taught by him, not through an ugly booklet. Ji Wujing felt annoyed. His narrow, fox-like eyes squinted, hiding coldness and irritation.
Gu Jianli kept watching Ji Wujing’s expression, unsure why he suddenly became unhappy. She reached out her hand towards Ji Wujing, saying, “Give it to me.”
She tried to keep her face calm, but her fingertips trembled slightly as she raised her hand.
Ji Wujing looked at her in surprise, his gaze shifting from her trembling fingers to her eyes. Unhappily, he asked, “Do you really enjoy looking at this?”
Gu Jianli seriously replied, “If this is what other wives do, I will take it and learn properly.”
Ji Wujing was quite surprised, deeply gazing into Gu Jianli’s eyes, then sneered and asked, “Is it a wife’s duty?”
Gu Jianli looked at Ji Wujing without speaking, but her silence was an acknowledgment.
Ji Wujing picked up a fire starter from the table, blew on it, and used the spark to ignite the booklet in his hand.
“Why are you burning it?” Gu Jianli hurried to grab it. She had mustered the courage to ask her sister for this booklet. If it was burned, where would she get another one?
Ji Wujing raised his hand slightly, making it impossible for Gu Jianli to snatch the booklet. He shook the booklet, spreading the pages to make it burn faster. The flames began from one corner, quickly engulfing the entire booklet. As it burned to the end, Ji Wujing tossed it into a copper basin.
He slightly lifted his chin and said, “Let me see your hand.”
Gu Jianli extended her fingertips to him, showing her dyed red nails. Ji Wujing examined them, then naturally took her hand and led her back to the bed. He yawned lazily, holding Gu Jianli in his arms, and said softly, “Let uncle hold you while we sleep a bit more.”
The room had the distinctive smell of burning paper. Gu Jianli lay in Ji Wujing’s arms, staring blankly, still thinking about the booklet that had turned to ashes.
Ji Wujing’s voice, hoarse and low, came from above her head: “Uncle will teach you slowly, don’t learn from outsiders.”
Gu Jianli frowned, disliking his words as if he were accusing her of infidelity. She retorted quietly, “It’s a book, not an outsider.”
“External books are not allowed either.” Ji Wujing ruffled Gu Jianli’s hair into a mess and laughed, saying, “It’s not like what’s in the book, it’s actually a lot of fun. Don’t be afraid.”
Gu Jianli didn’t believe him, but she didn’t argue anymore. Because… she indeed hadn’t tried it yet.
After a long time, long enough for Ji Wujing to almost fall asleep, Gu Jianli carefully tugged at his clothes and called him softly, “Fifth Master?”
“Hmm—” Ji Wujing responded groggily.
Gu Jianli was silent for a while before speaking softly, “Let’s consummate our marriage.”
This time, Ji Wujing remained silent for a while before asking, “Is it still for the sake of a wife’s duty?”
Gu Jianli nodded honestly.
Ji Wujing clicked his tongue, drawing out the sound, “Gu Jianli—why do I feel like your actions are like the saying, ‘the sooner you die, the sooner you reincarnate.'”
Gu Jianli frowned, not quite understanding Ji Wujing’s meaning. Or rather, she didn’t understand why Ji Wujing was unhappy.
Ji Wujing sighed and said helplessly, “Gu Jianli, if you had a different reason, uncle would be very willing to strip you right now and teach you seriously. I would impart all my lifelong skills without reservation.”
“What reason?” Gu Jianli asked.
“For example, if you were attracted by uncle’s beauty.”
Gu Jianli was stunned and pushed Ji Wujing away, turning her back to him. She ignored him.
Ji Wujing grinned behind her, flicked her on the back of her head with his slightly bent finger, and asked with a smile, “What, doesn’t uncle look good?”
Gu Jianli covered her ears, not wanting to pay any attention to him.
Ji Wujing’s gaze lingered on Gu Jianli’s messy hair, which he had ruffled. His long fingers combed through her hair slowly, smoothing it out. He bit her fair neck lightly, then pulled her clothes down, rubbed his face against her shoulder and back, and fell asleep.
Gu Jianli pouted and stayed still, letting him be. She stared at her hand resting on the pillow, watching intently until she heard Ji Wujing fall asleep. She slowly closed her eyes and fell asleep as well. It was still early.
Today was the day Ji Jingyi and Luo Muge were supposed to come to check Ji Wujing’s pulse. Only Luo Muge came; Ji Jingyi did not.
Ji Wujing leaned lazily against the back of his chair, his hand resting on the armrest. Luo Muge sat to the side, taking his pulse. As she listened with her fingertips, a flash of surprise crossed her eyes, and she looked up at Ji Wujing in astonishment.
Ji Wujing’s eyes were closed, as if he were asleep. He was unafraid of the cold or heat, wearing similar clothing year-round—just one or two layers. A wide-sleeved, snow-colored long robe draped loosely over him, with no belt to secure it, the collar falling open naturally. Underneath, he wore red, a shade as vivid as blood. The crossed collars revealed skin that was even paler than that of most women.
Luo Muge’s gaze traveled upward, from his collarbone to his Adam’s apple, finally resting on the tear mole beneath his eye.
With his eyes closed, his coldness was slightly diminished, yet he could not conceal his innate aloofness and indifference. Illness could ruin a person’s appearance, and Ji Wujing had been confined for four years. Though the sickness might have faded his luster, there was no other man in the world with Ji Wujing’s unique beauty. Even if the poison that had plagued him for four years hadn’t diminished his charm, his current appearance was far less than it once was.
Recalling Ji Wujing from four years ago, Luo Muge’s eyes trembled slightly. In the world, only he was worthy of being called an unparalleled beauty.
Gu Jianli carefully washed away the balsam juice from her nails and walked out.
Luo Muge withdrew her gaze and stood up to pack her medicine box.
“Miss Luo, Doctor Ji didn’t come today?” Gu Jianli approached.
Luo Muge’s expression was calm. “It rained heavily today, so my master didn’t come. My medical skills are not refined, but I can still handle a routine pulse check.”
“Miss Luo’s medical skills are far beyond ‘not refined’,” Gu Jianli smiled. “Thank you for coming despite the rain.”
Luo Muge gave a slight smile, nodded, and said no more.
Ji Wujing opened his eyes lethargically.
Gu Jianli bent over in front of him, fastening his outer robe and frowning, “Why did you fall asleep again? Even if you’re sleepy, you should wear more clothes.”
“Tired.” Ji Wujing said, holding her hand and pulling her onto his lap, burying his face in her neck.
Luo Muge paused in her movements.
Gu Jianli was startled and quickly got up, glaring at Ji Wujing in reproach.
Luo Muge finished packing her things, slung the medicine box over her shoulder, and said expressionlessly, “In just two days, Senior Brother’s condition has improved significantly compared to the other day. I don’t understand it, so I’ll have my master come and do a more detailed pulse check the day after tomorrow. Continue using the previous medicine for now. I’ll be leaving.”
Ji Wujing nodded.
“I’ll see Miss Luo off.” Gu Jianli said, following her and personally handing her an umbrella.
Luo Muge thanked her and walked into the rain with the umbrella.
Gu Jianli stood at the door, watching Luo Muge in the rain. The umbrella with red plum blossoms couldn’t shield her from the slanting rain, gradually soaking her simple white dress. The splashing rain mud dirtied the hem of her skirt. Despite walking in the rain, she moved at a leisurely pace, not in a hurry at all.
Before Luo Muge’s figure disappeared from view, Changsheng, wearing a straw raincoat, ran into the courtyard. He greeted Luo Muge cheerfully and ran over, handing an invitation hidden in his coat to Gu Jianli.
“Sent from the palace!”
Gu Jianli suddenly remembered what Ji Xuanke had said to her that day.
She opened the invitation and, as expected, it was for the Hundred Flowers Banquet hosted by the Empress on June 12.
The Hundred Flowers Banquet was usually held by the Empress on May 22, but there was no Empress in the palace this year on that date. Just a few days ago, the ceremony to install the Empress took place. Sun Yinzhu delayed the banquet until June 12.
Thinking of Sun Yinzhu’s innocent and cheerful face and recalling how she became Empress by such a twist of fate, Gu Jianli felt a tinge of regret. Sun Yinzhu, who was half a year younger than her, had already become the Empress, the mother of the nation.
Ji Wujing stood at the inner doorway, frowning at Gu Jianli, and said, “I haven’t slept enough. Come and sleep with me some more.”
Changsheng pretended not to hear anything and turned to run back into the rain.
Gu Jianli thought for a moment, then lifted her skirt and ran to Ji Wujing’s side, taking his arm and smiling at him with twinkling eyes. “Will you accompany me to the Hundred Flowers Banquet?”
Ji Wujing half-opened his eyes and looked at her childlike face.
