Chapter 29 Surprise! I changed into a new nightgown, do you want to see it? ...

The woman in the painting before me had a blush on her cheeks that seemed to be both a smile and a hint of sadness, her eyes filled with tender affection, but her lips were still unpainted. Her creator, Tang Jiaqingduo, had her head drooping uncontrollably, her brush trembling as she poked and dotted the silk.

"Smack!" The ruler slammed onto the table without mercy, and Qingduo shuddered, instantly waking up.

"Ah Zhao! In less than an hour, you've already fallen asleep three times! Look at what you've drawn!" Tang Li scolded.

Qingduo rubbed her eyes, took a closer look, and couldn't help but exclaim, "Oh dear!" The vermilion that should have been applied to her lips was now streaked across the woman's face, disfiguring her.

"What a gentle and quiet woman you are, but you painted her as if she'd been scratched by a cat!"

Qingduo retorted stubbornly, "Among flowers, 'scratching a beautiful face' is considered beautiful. How can you say that if a real beauty's face is scratched, she won't be considered beautiful anymore?"

Tang Li slammed his fist on the table, exasperated, and said, "It's clearly because you weren't focused on your painting! Not only do you not know how to repent, but you also have to argue back!"

Qingduo covered her ears and begged for mercy under the onslaught of noise: "I was wrong, I was wrong, it was because I wasn't focused and my studies weren't good enough!"

Tang Li stopped knocking, and Qing Duo let go of his hand, complaining, "It's all Qing Qing's fault. I didn't sleep well last night because of him, and I didn't fall asleep until four in the morning!"

She couldn't help but wonder if Qingqing's illness had been cured; how could she not be sleepy!

Tang Li's expression was strange. He couldn't help but scold, "You, you, you! How can a grown man speak without thinking? How can you say such things so casually?"

“Why not? It is! It’s Qingqing…” Qingduo explained indignantly.

"La la la la la, I'm not listening!" Tang Li forcefully interrupted her, glaring at her. "In your current state, painting ten more paintings would be pointless! Go away, stop wasting my time, go back and paint them yourself! And when will the male portraits you assigned last time be available? You have three days to deliver both of them! Don't make me beg you three times!"

Qingduo pouted nonchalantly, "It's just two paintings, no big deal!" Seeing Tang Li step out the door, she asked curiously, "Dad, where are you going?"

Tang Li mumbled, "I... I'm going to find a friend to play chess with." Before Qing Duo could ask any more questions, he dashed off.

Qingduo muttered to herself in bewilderment, "Even I don't want to play chess with my dad, who's such a terrible chess player. Who would want to play with him?"

She thought for a moment and said with certainty, "Yes! The other side must be a terrible player too."

After falling into the water, her father's trembling hands had not yet fully healed. Qingduo thought of the image of her father's hands holding the chess piece, bouncing up and down before finally landing on an empty space, and couldn't help but sigh. To be able to endure a bad game and trembling hands, he was truly a rare chess friend!

But it's good that Dad is gone, because there are some things I need to ask Aunt Zhu behind his back.

Zhu Niang sat under the grape trellis, her eyes lowered in concentration, her silver needles moving back and forth in her hand, and on her plain silk, a white camellia was slowly blooming.

Qingduo stood behind her and observed for a long time before finally praising, "Aunt Zhu, the needle and thread are so obedient in your hands!"

Suddenly someone spoke from behind, startling Zhu Niang. The needle veered off course and pricked her finger, drawing blood that stained the flower's stamen. She put down her embroidery frame and sighed, "Ah Zhao! I've been embroidering for days, almost finished, and now look what's happened! Why did you come out so quietly!"

Qingduo scratched the back of her head and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, but it looks good too. White with red patterns, and the moon with its colors, perfection is a kind of beauty, and occasional imperfections are also unique."

Zhu Niang glanced at her: "Just like that beauty you drew, whose face was scratched by a cat?"

Qingduo said awkwardly, "So you heard it..." She sat down to the side, picked up a palm-leaf fan and fanned Zhu Niang in a flattering manner, "With Aunt Zhu's needlework skills, if we didn't say anything, outsiders wouldn't be able to tell that this was a mistake. They would just think it was your ingenious craftsmanship, Madam Hao!"

Zhu Niang chuckled, "Alright, alright, you have such a sweet tongue, I can't say anything more to you."

Qingduo fanned herself faster and faster with her fan, and said with a grin, "Even if I'm not sweet-talking, Aunt Zhu won't blame me. Aunt Zhu is always reasonable, how could she hold a grudge against a naughty little girl like me!"

Zhu Niang was overjoyed by Qing Duo's coaxing. She snatched the fan and turned it around to fan Qing Duo, saying, "Oh dear, let me do it. Don't let our irritable little girl get too hot!"

As she fanned herself, she asked in a low voice, "How is your husband's health being treated?"

Qingduo perked up and quickly replied, "I was just about to tell you about that! I guess he's much better now!"

"What, you saw him like that?" Zhu Niang raised her index finger again.

Qingduo shook her head, a blush slowly creeping up her neck, her voice soft and delicate: "He...he always kisses me..."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Niang ignored her fan and just chuckled. Qing Duo snatched the fan away and covered her face, saying with a mixture of embarrassment and anger, "Stop, stop laughing!"

Seeing that the hand holding the fan was also tinged with crimson, Zhu Niang cleared her throat, barely suppressing her smile, and said, "I also prepared something for you, I didn't expect it to come in handy so soon."

Only when she heard the object fall onto the table did Qingduo move her fan away, revealing her shy and timid, wet eyes. She glanced at the cloth bag on the table and looked at Zhuniang with a puzzled expression.

Zhu Niang mysteriously unwrapped the package and said, "This is a big surprise..."

Oh? Qingduo's curiosity was piqued, and her eyes were fixed on the "surprise." But what kind of surprise was this? It was just a thin gauze dress embroidered with red camellias! If you had to call it a "surprise," it was that the camellia petals were layered upon each other, with the petals gradually changing from light to dark, and the edges of the petals were embroidered with something that shimmered silver in the sunlight, as if the petals were fluttering in the wind.

Qingduo blinked blankly and said, "Aunt Zhu, you should keep this dress. Qingqing gave it to me, and I still have several boxes of dresses that I haven't worn yet!"

"Fool—" Seeing her innocent face, Zhu Niang was both amused and annoyed. She said, "This is not the same as your dresses!" She picked up the dress, shook it, and held it up in front of her. "Wear it, and I guarantee you will enjoy the ultimate pleasure in love."

When the skirt was fully spread out, Qingduo realized that camellias were scattered on her chest and waist, barely covering her private parts. The rest of the gauze was like cicada wings, and she could even see the details of Aunt Zhu's dress through the gauze skirt.

Whether she'd be happy wearing this outfit is unknown, but she'd certainly die of shame.

She took back what she said! Very surprising!! She's determined to make a splash!

She sat there dumbfounded, speechless. The ground beneath her feet seemed to churn, turning into a pot of boiling water, bubbling and gurgling, and she was a blue crab on a steamer, from its legs to its claws, all a deep, vibrant red.

"How was it?" Zhu Niang asked, eager to show her approval.

"They're all showing!" Qingduo's mouth trembled as she spoke, "They're all showing!"

"That's exactly the effect I want! Have him take the medicine for a few more days, and when he feels it's about right, put it on. I guarantee you'll succeed."

Mission accomplished? So miraculous? Does that mean Qingqing is saved? She was somewhat tempted, but the thought of wearing this dress would be no different from being naked immediately brought to mind her wedding night, when she was completely naked. Overwhelmed by fear, she shook her head frantically.

What about Ke Qingqing's impotence? He's been taking medicine for so many days, and he's just one last step away from achieving his goal. If she backs down, wouldn't all his suffering have been for nothing? Besides, he once said he wanted to personally teach the child, which meant he wanted a child. If they don't have sex, how can he conceive?

Qingduo closed her eyes and made a firm decision to herself: Qingqing spent three thousand taels to buy back the "Green Mountains and Ten Thousand Flowers" painting for you, wishing you to do what you want to do. He thinks of you in everything, can't you do something for him?

A person should be loyal and righteous!

It's just wearing an outfit! It's not like you're going to the guillotine! So what if you're embarrassed?

But what do you do after you put it on?

"I...I...what should I say then?" she stammered.

"Need I say more?" Zhu Niang covered her mouth and laughed. "Silly child, do you think your husband is like you? He'll understand everything at a glance!"

She winked and smiled, "When you figure out how wonderful it is, don't forget to thank me!"

*

Zeng Zhengqing deliberately finished his work at the shop early to pick up Qingduo and take her home. Tang Li had also returned and invited them to stay for dinner.

During the meal, he sensed something was wrong. Every time he made eye contact with Qingduo, his audacious wife would avoid his gaze. Had she gotten into trouble again?

He couldn't help but wonder what he possessed that made her "visit" him.

After the two went out, Qingduo got into the carriage first, but her father-in-law Tang Li pulled her aside and said earnestly, "My dear son-in-law, Azhao has been dozing off a lot today. She is still young and has to learn to paint and practice every day, which is very tiring. You have to let her rest early."

Zeng Zhengqing hurriedly said, "Thank you for reminding me, Father-in-law. We did rest late last night..."

Tang Li narrowed his eyes, feeling strange. It was one thing for his eccentric daughter to speak carelessly, but this steady and reliable son-in-law also lacked tact and said everything? No, that couldn't be; he must have made himself unclear.

He cleared his throat and said in a low voice, "Yuanbai, I've been there. I've been young and impetuous, I've experienced it all. But as the Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic says, 'The way of heaven and earth values ​​balance.' Everything in excess is as bad as deficiency! I hope you will cultivate your character, rectify your mind, and restrain yourself from wrongdoing."

At first, Zeng Zhengqing was completely confused by what he heard about "youthful vigor" and "having experienced it all." But as he listened, he suddenly realized that this was a message telling him to practice moderation and take care of his health.

But right now, he doesn't have the opportunity to "indulge".

Zeng Zhengqing glanced silently at the carriage, recalling his wife's evasive behavior at the banquet, and everything became clear. He figured that she must have made some shocking statement that caused his father-in-law to misunderstand. He didn't say much, but simply bowed and said, "Yuanbai, I understand your teachings."

Once the carriage had traveled some distance, he tentatively asked, "What did you and your father discuss today, Madam?"

Qingduo's mind was filled with Zhuniang's words, so when Zeng Zhengqing suddenly asked her, she couldn't remember for a moment and said blankly, "Father scolded me for wasting his time..."

That's not what he wanted to hear. Just as he was about to ask another question, he noticed Qingduo clutching a package tightly and asked, "What's that?"

Qingduo instinctively hugged the carriage tighter. She was already sitting on the far right, but she still tried her best to move to the right, as if she wanted to become the second wall of the carriage. She said warily, "It's nothing, just a piece of clothing."

She never made eye contact with him.

If they had just gotten together, he might not have taken it to heart, but after witnessing the power of his wife's troubles on several occasions, an ominous premonition began to churn in his chest.

Intuition told him that this matter was closely related to the item in her arms. Zeng Zhengqing remained calm, watching as his wife got off the carriage with the package and ran towards the courtyard. When he entered the house, she looked relaxed, clapped her hands, and said, "Qingqing, I'll go brew your medicine."

Zeng Zhengqing smirked, "Thank you for your trouble."

Qingduo's actions further convinced him that it was something extraordinary. After Qingduo disappeared, he stood in the center of the room, looking around and guessing where she would put it.

She said it was a dress... Zeng Zhengqing hesitated for a moment, then opened the cabinet where her dress was kept. It was so easy to find the package inside.

He couldn't help but feel ashamed. It seemed that the lady had no defenses against him, which was why she found him so easily.

Of course, it's also possible that the lady is simple-minded, and this is already her biggest "defense."

"I had no choice but to do this. If I have misunderstood Madam, I will certainly apologize to her afterwards," he thought to himself.

But as the long skirt fell to the ground, his heart pounded uncontrollably, and his blood rushed to his head. For a moment, he felt dizzy and the world spun around him.

His wife, indeed, was very bold.

Zeng Zhengqing swallowed hard, trying his best not to think about what Qingduo would look like in it. He forced himself to think: Madam had peeked at him many times before, showing interest in his body. With this dress, could it be that she wants to consummate their marriage tonight?

His breathing quickened suddenly, and he thought of his father-in-law's words. Could it be that his father-in-law knew they had not yet consummated their marriage, and that was why he made this arrangement? So those warnings were meant for the future?

No, no, no, it's really too strange for the father-in-law to arrange the couple's secret affairs.

But then he thought that whatever strange things happened to him and his daughter was nothing unusual.

Zeng Zhengqing's heart fluttered. He packed the thin gauze dress back into his bundle and put it back in its original place. He took out a book and flipped through it as usual, but his heart remained restless for a long time. After drinking a strong tonic that night, he went to his tent early to wait for Qingduo to come up after her bath. The words in front of him, with their hooked strokes and dragging strokes, transformed into alluring bodies, charming and captivating.

Zeng Zhengqing was lost in thought while looking at the black and white words on the paper when he heard Qingduo's voice and was suddenly awakened.

"Hey, why aren't you asleep yet?"

He suddenly raised his head and stared blankly at Qingduo—she was wearing nothing more than ordinary nightgowns, not the ones he had seen her in today.

Seeing the expectant gaze turn to disappointment, Qingduo looked down at herself, but nothing seemed amiss. She asked curiously, "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing," Zeng Zhengqing said, trying to remain calm. "Let's rest."

He couldn't calm down.

Lying on the pillow, my body felt the same as last night, like a branding iron burning. Darkness is a magnifying glass for desire, where simmering desires are revealed, clarified, and swelled.

The only response it received was from its right side, with steady breathing.

He suppressed the restlessness emanating from all parts of his body and struggled to fall asleep. He didn't know how long he slept, but in a half-awake state, he suddenly heard someone calling him.

"My love, my love!"

He opened his eyes to find the curtains drawn, and Qingduo kneeling on the bed, facing him, her chin almost tucked into her collar.

Zeng Zhengqing propped himself up and sat up, asking with concern, "What's wrong?"

Qingduo timidly looked up. Moonlight filled the bed curtains, illuminating her clear eyes and slightly flushed cheeks. She murmured:

"I... I changed into new pajamas... Would you like to see them?"

An irrepressible heat surged from his heart, his disordered breathing mingling with his heartbeat, and Zeng Zhengqing's voice was hoarse: "Mmm."

Qingduo said in frustration, "But I can't untie the outer rope..."

"...Could you...help me take it off?"

-----------------------

Author's Note: Zeng Zhengqing: Please, Madam, make sure this garment is welded onto your body. [Peeking while covering face]

Qingduo exclaimed in surprise: "Huh? You're being so indecent, Qingqing!" [frightened]