Gu Jianli stood there stiffly, her body feeling a bit cold. Ji Wujing had soaked in a medicinal bath for a long time, so his body was warm. The heat from his hands made Gu Jianli’s body feel strangely both hot and cold.
Gu Jianli bit her lip, her pearly teeth leaving a white mark on her tender lips.
She dared not move, feeling both nervous and resistant, with a slight fear of the unknown.
Did he think she was asleep?
Gu Jianli not only dared not move but also did not dare to make the slightest sound. Even her breathing became shallow. She hoped in her heart that Ji Wujing would withdraw his hand after thinking she was asleep for a while. She even hoped that Ji Wujing’s actions were just unconscious movements while he was half-asleep.
However, the sensation of the thin calluses on his palm sliding and rubbing reminded Gu Jianli that he was awake and aware.
Gu Jianli’s hand, which was resting by her face, slowly clenched the silk bedding.
In the pitch-black and silent night, her senses were exceptionally sharp. The unfamiliar feeling she had never experienced before enveloped her, pushing her towards an unknown world.
She vaguely understood what was about to happen, yet didn’t fully grasp it. She only vaguely remembered overhearing words like “first time” and “red spot” from the maids’ idle chatter when she was a child. She only knew it was painful and felt shameful and humiliating. When she got married, she thought she was marrying a dying man and didn’t have the mood to think about it. Madam Tao didn’t teach her anything. People, the less they understand something, the more they fear it.
The slight fear of unknown pain and the unspeakable sense of shame made Gu Jianli somewhat ignore the kneading hand. She even thought, if Ji Wujing’s health was poor and he couldn’t engage in intercourse, if it was just his hand… it might be…
Her mind was in turmoil, her thoughts in a mess.
“Gu Jianli.”
“Ah…” Gu Jianli instinctively let out a soft cry, realizing her reaction was too much, she immediately felt embarrassed.
The low laughter from behind her brushed against the back of her neck, making it itch.
Ji Wujing opened his eyes, his gaze falling on the part of Gu Jianli’s neck exposed outside her nightgown, gleaming white. His hand under her dudou suddenly squeezed forcefully, then he leaned close to Gu Jianli’s nape and bit down.
The dual pain made Gu Jianli frown deeply. She quickly shut her eyes tightly, suppressing the slight tremor in her eyes.
Ji Wujing let go, glancing at the bite mark he left on Gu Jianli’s neck. The bite mark was incomplete. He frowned, then leaned over to bite the same spot again, completing the bite mark, and finally smiled in satisfaction.
He slightly raised his upper body, pinched Gu Jianli’s chin, lifting her face to his eye level, studying her expression, and asked, “Are you scared?”
Gu Jianli slowly shook her head.
Ji Wujing tugged at the corner of his mouth, smiling nonchalantly, “Beg uncle, and uncle will let you go.”
His teasing tone made Gu Jianli a bit annoyed. After all, she was a noble lady raised with much affection. Even though she had learned to endure many things through hardship, her inherent pride could be suppressed momentarily but not forever.
She stared directly into Ji Wujing’s eyes, stubbornly and firmly spoke, “There is nothing to beg for. I will fulfill my responsibilities. I just advise Fifth Master to take care of his health.”
She was angry again.
Ji Wujing scrutinized Gu Jianli’s angry eyes, feeling a sense of surprise. Has this little girl been getting angry with him too often lately? From early morning when they left for the palace until this moment, she had gotten angry with him three times in one day.
She wasn’t like this before. The old Gu Jianli would only be scared when she saw him, wishing she could avoid him as much as possible.
“Who told you that this would harm your health? And what made you think I don’t even have the strength to have intercourse?” Ji Wujing asked slowly and calmly.
Besides, there are so many positions. Clearly, there are positions that wouldn’t tire him out.
Gu Jianli pursed her lips and looked at Ji Wujing without speaking.
Ji Wujing looked at her for a while, then sneered with a shadowy expression. He lay back down, pushed Gu Jianli’s face away—he didn’t want to look at her.
He pulled her soft body back into his embrace, fiddled with his hand that was inside her dudou for a moment, then reluctantly withdrew it. He adjusted her dudou properly and slowly straightened her nightgown so it lay flat against her body.
He didn’t seem to know where to put his hand. He placed it on Gu Jianli’s slender waist for a moment, then moved it over her body, searching in front of her, and grabbed her hand, holding her soft little hand in his palm.
Feeling both sleepy and tired, Ji Wujing yawned and buried his face in Gu Jianli’s back, rubbing against it. Her body in his arms was soft and delicate, just that small. Especially her waist, it was so thin it seemed it could break easily.
Never mind, this child is still too young. If she really got pregnant with his darling daughter, it would be too dangerous during childbirth.
He was quite interested in her right now; it wouldn’t do for her to die.
Ji Wujing soon fell asleep, but Gu Jianli didn’t. She looked at Ji Wujing’s big hand holding hers in front of her, feeling a bit dazed. She slowly realized that sometimes if she refused, Ji Wujing really wouldn’t force her. No, not just if she refused—if she even showed some unwillingness, he would disdainfully give up and not insist.
But it’s not that he would always comply if she refused. Many times, Ji Wujing was very stubborn and acted on his own. But sometimes he would consider her feelings. As for when he would act on his own and when he would consider her feelings, Gu Jianli couldn’t quite tell.
Through the long night, Gu Jianli eventually fell into a deep sleep.
Unknowingly, she had long since gotten used to having someone beside her.
The next day, when Gu Jianli woke up, she carefully pushed Ji Wujing’s hand off hers and gently moved his long leg that was draped over her leg, then quietly got out of bed.
Jixia had been waiting in the outer room for a while. Seeing Gu Jianli get up, she quickly came to assist her with washing and dressing. If it had been before, she would certainly have served her in the inner room, but now it was inconvenient.
“Shall we have breakfast now?” Jixia asked.
Gu Jianli glanced back at the direction of the inner room and said, “Let’s wait a little longer. He might wake up soon. Go tell Nanny Lin to let the two children eat first; they don’t need to come over.”
Jixia agreed.
Before, when Ji Wujing was bedridden for a long time, Ji Xinglou and Ji Xinglan always stayed in the back courtyard, with Nanny Lin taking care of their meals. But ever since Ji Wujing woke up, the two children had been trying to come over to eat with Ji Wujing and Gu Jianli as much as possible.
Gu Jianli waited for a long time, but Ji Wujing still hadn’t woken up. She quietly went to the inner room and stood by the bedside, seeing that Ji Wujing was in a deep sleep. She bent down to tuck the blanket around him and then retreated. In the end, she couldn’t wait for him and had her meal alone.
As she ate, Gu Jianli thought of Ji Xinglan and Ji Xinglou, the two children. The Marquis of Guangping’s estate originally had a private school, but the children of Ji Xinglan and Ji Xinglou’s generation were already quite grown, and the next generation was still too young to even speak clearly. After some consideration, Gu Jianli decided to hire private tutors for the two children.
Ji Wujing not only missed breakfast but was still sleeping past noon.
Gu Jianli started to worry.
Could it be that he was exhausted from yesterday? Regardless, it wasn’t good for him to sleep through the day without eating. After a moment’s hesitation, Gu Jianli decided to go wake him up.
“Fifth Master?” she called softly.
There was no response from Ji Wujing.
Gu Jianli suddenly felt a bit panicked, worried that he might have fallen into a coma again. She quickly sat by the bedside, grabbed Ji Wujing’s wrist, and gently shook it. “Fifth Master, please wake up. Eat something before going back to sleep, alright? Fifth Master, Fifth Master?”
Ji Wujing lazily opened his eyes, saw Gu Jianli in front of him, and pulled her closer, saying, “Come up here and let me hold you while I sleep.”
Gu Jianli let out a sigh of relief and said, “Fifth Master, eat something before sleeping. If you really don’t want to get up, I’ll bring it in here for you. There’s fish congee.”
The last sentence was clearly meant as a temptation.
Sure enough, Ji Wujing hesitated for a moment before reluctantly propping himself up with Gu Jianli’s help and sitting up. Gu Jianli quickly supported him as he got out of bed and moved to the outer room to eat. He ate slowly for a long time, then washed up, changed into clean nightclothes, and, still feeling drowsy, returned to bed, pulling Gu Jianli in with him.
Ji Wujing found that holding a soft person in his arms made for a more comfortable sleep.
Gu Jianli lay quietly in Ji Wujing’s arms. The thought of returning home today faded, so she decided to go back tomorrow instead.
It was still early, and Gu Jianli couldn’t sleep. She maintained the position of being held from behind by Ji Wujing for a long time and felt tired. Carefully, she turned over.
Ji Wujing frowned but didn’t stop her, instead adjusting his hold to embrace Gu Jianli from the front.
Time passed slowly, and Gu Jianli looked up at Ji Wujing’s sleeping face. With his eyes closed, the shadows in his fox-like eyes were hidden, leaving only a serene and unusual beauty.
Gu Jianli averted her gaze, not wanting to be deceived by his peaceful sleeping appearance and forget how terrifying he could be.
The next morning, Gu Jianli didn’t wait for Ji Wujing to wake up and left for home by carriage.
On the way home, she passed by Gu Jianli’s sister’s restaurant, so she decided to stop there first. The restaurant was bustling with customers and business was booming. Before she even got close, Gu Jianli heard the sound of a zither. She recognized it as her sister playing.
“Sister!” Gu Chuan leaned out of a second-floor window, looking delighted.
Gu Jianli smiled warmly at him, her eyes curved with affection.
In no time, Gu Chuan ran down the stairs, taking Gu Jianli’s hand in his.
When Gu Jianli’s sister, Gu Zaili, learned that Gu Jianli was planning to come home for a visit, she quickly instructed the manager to close the restaurant early for the day. Naturally, she accompanied Gu Jianli back home.
As the weather had gradually warmed up recently, the three siblings decided to walk home. Gu Zaili held her sister’s hand and asked with concern, “Has everything been alright at the manor recently? What made you decide to come home today?”
“Don’t worry, Sister. Everything is fine. I just wanted to come home for a visit,” Gu Jianli replied with a smile.
Whenever she faced her family, her eyes always curved into a gentle smile, and her expression softened.
As soon as the three siblings arrived home, someone from the Marquis of Guangping’s estate showed up.
Gu Jingyuan looked displeased and asked, “Jianli, did you really just come home for a visit?”
Gu Chuan ran in excitedly, “It’s strange! The steward from the Marquis of Guangping’s estate brought a lot of things! Box after box, all wrapped in red cloth!”
Gu Jingyuan walked out in surprise.
Steward Song, with a smile on his face, explained the purpose of their visit.
“Supplementary betrothal gifts?” Gu Jingyuan frowned.
Gu Zaili and Madam Tao looked at Gu Jianli in astonishment, and Gu Jianli was just as shocked.
After a moment of silence, Gu Jingyuan looked at Gu Jianli and said, “Since these are meant for you, you can decide whether to keep them or not.”
Gu Jianli hesitated for a moment and then nodded, “We’ll keep them. They can be used for Sister’s business.”
Steward Song and the servants had barely left when Ji Wujing arrived in person.
Gu Jianli was happily chatting with her family when she heard that Ji Wujing had come. She quickly lifted her skirt and ran out to meet him in the courtyard.
Ji Wujing’s face was cold as he asked, “Who allowed you to leave?”
