Chapter 41 Temptation: I Want to Enjoy the Ultimate Pleasure with You

Zeng Zhengqing stepped into the courtyard and was about to go inside when, without thinking, he glanced at the window, then suddenly took a few steps back and stared at it without moving.

His carefree and lazy wife was actually painting at her desk by the window!

"Young Master is back!" Fang Qing greeted him, her voice not soft, but the diligent figure remained unmoved. She followed Zeng Zhengqing's gaze and whispered, "The young mistress has been sitting there without moving since she came back. She only ate a few pastries and didn't even have dinner. Young Master, why don't you go and persuade her?"

The sun will rise in the west tomorrow.

Ever since Lu Nong's incident, Zeng Zhengqing had been fearing something might happen to Qing Duo. Therefore, every time she went out, he would send guards to secretly follow her and protect her, and report back to him. When he heard that Qing Duo had gone to "Mingzhu Yazhai" today, Zeng Zhengqing looked up from the accounts.

The fish has taken the bait.

The guard hesitated for a moment, then said, "There's nothing else particularly strange about it, except that after the young mistress rushed out of 'Mingzhu Yazhai,' she stood at the door with her hands on her hips and laughed heartily."

Zeng Zhengqing chuckled. He had imagined his wife's joyful reaction, but he hadn't expected it to be like this. He smiled and said, "It was within my expectations, no, it was also beyond my expectations."

He recalled the last time his father-in-law was drinking, and said smugly, "Yuanbai, just you wait and see, I have a way to get this girl to ask me to teach her painting."

Although the lady loved painting, she was naturally restless, a fact both her father-in-law and he were well aware of. Now it seems their methods had finally calmed her down.

Qingduo put down her pen, rubbed her wrist, and looked up to see Zeng Zhengqing standing in the courtyard. Her face lit up with joy, and she waved and said repeatedly, "Qingqing, Qingqing! Come quickly! I have good news to tell you!"

Zeng Zhengqing nodded with a smile. As soon as he entered, Qingduo, with her hands behind her back as if hiding something, happily hopped to his left, tilting her head and humming, "Da da da da da~"

She jumped to his right, swaying and singing, "Da da da da da~"

Seeing this, Zeng Zhengqing chuckled and, feigning curiosity, asked, "Why is Madam so pleased?"

Qingduo took out the purse she had hidden behind her back, held it in her hand, and handed it directly to Zeng Zhengqing, saying happily, "Because of this!"

"Oh?" Zeng Zhengqing pinched his purse and laughed, "'Little Sparrow' has had quite a haul today!"

"Hey!" Qingduo proudly poured out all the money, spreading it evenly on the table so that every coin had a chance to shine. "My painting can now sell for 150 coins!"

"One hundred and fifty coins?" Zeng Zhengqing asked in surprise. He wasn't faking it. Although he had asked Manager Fang to quote a "high" price, wasn't it too high?

He observed Qingduo's expression and saw that she was radiant. He breathed a sigh of relief, thankfully the lady did not suspect anything.

Qingduo recounted her experience of selling paintings to Zeng Zhengqing with a mix of words and gestures, exclaiming happily, "Last month, my painting was only about the same as a sugar painting, but in the blink of an eye, it's already worth 150 coins!" She patted her chest and said confidently, "Just you wait, Qingqing, I'm capable! Before long, I'll be like my father, selling a painting for a thousand gold coins!"

Zeng Zhengqing reached out and stroked her head, echoing, "Madam's writing is naturally gifted; given time, she will surely become a renowned artist!"

Qingduo tiptoed and stroked his head in return, saying earnestly, "Qingqing, since we got married, you've been supporting me. Once I become a famous painter, I'll be able to earn money to support you!"

Zeng Zhengqing was surprised by her words. Upon hearing this, his eyebrows suddenly rose and he said, "Oh? You'll support me?" A smile spread across his lips as he teased, "To have your favor is truly a blessing I've earned."

"Yes!" Qingduo raised her face and said, "But I still need to learn from Father for a while. Please bear with me. Once I've finished learning, I will definitely cherish you!"

Strange, why is Qingqing's face red? Qingduo was puzzled. She stared at Zeng Zhengqing, trying to see something on his face. Zeng Zhengqing turned his face away, coughed lightly, and said, "Ahem, I heard from Fangqing that you haven't had dinner yet. Let's... let's eat first!"

*

During the meal, Zeng Zhengqing said, seemingly unintentionally, "I took Gongzhi's words to heart the other day. He said that when husband and wife live in separate courtyards, their feelings for each other can easily become distant."

Qingduo swallowed the eel meat in her mouth, and before she could even savor the freshness of the fish, she blurted out, "Really? I don't think this has affected our relationship!"

Zeng Zhengqing felt a lump in his throat, choked by her words. He watched coldly as Qingduo poured fish soup over rice, spoonful after spoonful, thinking that she probably didn't mean to keep him from returning, but was just being unintentional. He then said more explicitly, "We are newly married and haven't consummated our marriage yet, so we are still unfamiliar with each other. If we could stay together every night, it would be good for us to stay together and get to know each other. It just so happens that I have completed my self-cultivation, and I can move back to the old courtyard today."

When Qingduo heard the words "consummation of marriage," her head buzzed, and she couldn't hear anything else. She just watched his mouth open and close, making a "dudududu" sound like an old monk striking a wooden fish.

She said it herself: among all the friends she knew, besides Sister Lu Nong and Zhu Yi, Qingqing was the closest to her, and their relationship hadn't become distant at all because of the separate rooms!

So that's it! His real intention wasn't the wine! He wanted to consummate the marriage!

I can sleep in a big bed all by myself and roll around as much as I want, it's so comfortable. But if he comes back, I won't be able to stretch my limbs and be as free as I want.

Also, if he still tries to kiss me in the morning like before, I'll have to pretend to be asleep again. Sigh, I don't know if I can keep it up for a long time!

However, if he wanted to consummate the marriage, he didn't need to come back specifically. They could do it in the study! She thought of the camellia-colored gauze dress in the closet, and her face instantly flushed red.

Having made up her mind, Qingduo said shyly, "You...you don't need to say anymore, I understand, I will give you an answer..."

She didn't agree immediately?

This was completely unexpected for Zeng Zhengqing. He thought that given Qingduo's dependence on him, she would readily agree, but he hadn't expected to be turned away. Although the two didn't know each other very well before the marriage, he had clearly felt her affection for him during their time together, so why would she reject him on this matter?

Why then do you brew medicine for yourself every day?

Could this be her strategy of feigning indifference to lure him in? Zeng Zhengqing saw Qingduo stuff a large spoonful of fish soup rice into her mouth, accidentally choking and coughing. He gently patted her back, handed her a glass of water, and denied it, saying, "No, she doesn't have such a scheme."

Zeng Zhengqing was preoccupied with his own thoughts, and he ate dinner without any appetite. He returned to his study in a sullen mood. Of course, he could have moved back without a word, but seeing Qingduo's expression, he felt that going back would be pointless. Frustrated, he picked up a book at random, but as the words passed before his eyes, he couldn't recognize any of them.

Suddenly, a few raindrops fell on his arm. He looked up and saw that a cold wind had risen outside, blowing into the room. He got up and closed the window to keep the dampness out. The closed room felt stuffy and heavy. He sat there with a single candle flame, glancing at his magnified shadow on the wall, which seemed to reflect his unspeakable loneliness.

When he came to his senses, he heard a knocking sound that was masked by the wind and rain. He realized that at this time, it must be the lady who had sent a maid to deliver the medicine. He instructed, "Just leave it outside, I'll get it myself in a bit."

"Qingqing, it's me." A timid voice sounded from outside. Zeng Zhengqing was startled and hurriedly stood up to open the door, making a jarring sound as she pushed the chair.

The sudden roar of the wind and rain became clear; the torrential rain resembled drifting white smoke. Qingduo stood in front of the door, holding an umbrella, her eyes gleaming brightly in the misty rain. Zeng Zhengqing asked in surprise, "Why are you here in this heavy rain?"

"I... Achoo!"

He quickly pulled her into the house. Qingduo put down the food box she was holding and said, "I brought you medicine!"

Zeng Zhengqing couldn't help but sigh. He had stopped taking this medicine a long time ago, and every time the maid brought it, he would pour it out behind her back. He should have told her earlier, so she wouldn't have had to rush over in the pouring rain today.

"I usually have a maid bring it, but it's pouring rain, and you've come all by yourself. Luckily you're wearing a cloak, otherwise you would have caught a chill."

Qingduo forced a smile, took out a handkerchief to wipe her wet hair ends, and said, "No, it won't happen."

Seeing that she didn't seem to care, Zeng Zhengqing was about to say something more when a gust of cold air blew in. He then realized that the door hadn't been closed properly in his haste. He went over and closed the door, feeling somewhat relieved and a little sweet. His wife had always been shy about matters of the bedroom, so things needed to be taken slowly. Since she had come in the rain to deliver medicine, it was clear that she still cared about him.

He said, "In that case, you may stay here, but I only have one blanket, you—"

Zeng Zhengqing turned around as he spoke, but the scene before him made him freeze in place, his throat bobbing, unable to utter a single word.

The verdant cloak fell to the ground like damp, moss-covered soil, upon which a camellia tree grew magnificently, fiery and bright, its beauty radiant.

*

Zeng Zhengqing stared blankly for a long time with his mouth slightly open, then his mind suddenly cleared. He looked away and asked with difficulty, "What, what, what are you doing?"

Qingduo looked down at her transparent gauze dress, full of doubt. Wait, didn't Aunt Zhu say that as long as she wore this dress and showed it to Qingqing, he would understand? It seems that he doesn't understand at all!

Then we had no choice but to be frank. Aunt Zhu had promised to guarantee her "the ultimate pleasure in love," which was rather embarrassing to say. Qingduo dared not look at him, and with her eyes tightly closed, she cried out, "I want to have the ultimate pleasure in love with you!"

A deathly silence.

Zeng Zhengqing said helplessly, "Does Madam want the whole world to know?"

Ah! Qingduo belatedly covered her mouth, realizing there were still servants outside! Her voice was so loud, they could hear her clearly!

Just then, Zeng Zhengqing chuckled. Qingduo was both embarrassed and annoyed. She crossed her arms over her chest to cover herself and said, "What are you laughing at!"

Zeng Zhengqing did not answer. He walked towards her, and Qingduo unconsciously took two steps back. He smiled slightly and said, "Why are you hiding, Madam? Don't you want 'marital bliss'? How can we enjoy it if you hide from me?"

Qingduo took a small step forward and stubbornly said, "I didn't dodge, I—ah!"

Before she could finish speaking, Zeng Zhengqing picked her up and gently placed her on the bed. His gaze lingered on her, and he said softly, "A beautiful night is too short to waste."

Qingduo couldn't help but tremble all over; it was as if her wedding night was being relived.

She forced a smile that looked more like a grimace: "Husband, you haven't taken your medicine yet."

Zeng Zhengqing loosened his belt, took off his outer robe, and replied, "It's alright."

"No, no!" Qingduo ignored covering her chest and sat up, propping herself up on her arms. This was the last dose; what if she didn't drink it and all her efforts were in vain? "I'll wait for you. Drink your medicine first and then come over."

"It's just a tonic, I feel incredibly energetic right now." Zeng Zhengqing rolled onto the bed and leaned over.

Under his coercion, Qingduo had no choice but to slowly lie down. Just as he was about to get close to her, Qingduo put her hands on his chest and said with forced composure, "You, you, you, you're still wearing your pants."

Since I can't persuade him to take the medicine, I have to make sure he's really cured, or at least see it with my own eyes.

Zeng Zhengqing looked at her with amusement: "Is Madam in such a hurry?"

"No!" Qingduo slightly raised her body to look down at him, and said perfunctorily, "I am, I am, I'm afraid you'll get hot."

She heard laughter coming from above, which sounded quite mocking. Just as she was wondering what was going on, Zeng Zhengqing pulled her hand down and asked, "Is Madam satisfied now?"

Qingduo subconsciously curled her fingers and clenched them, exclaiming happily, "You're really all better!"

The direction it pointed out matched Aunt Zhu's gesture, which was clearly more than a finger—

ah!

Ahhh!

A flash of white light appeared before her eyes, and Qingduo felt dizzy and lightheaded.

What she just touched... what was that thing?

It felt like a flame burning her hand, and she jerked back, but Zeng Zhengqing held her hand tightly, so she could only try to open her palm as wide as possible to reduce contact with that thing.

She trembled even more violently: "Husband, husband, husband..."

Zeng Zhengqing lowered his eyes and gazed at her, saying calmly, "Thanks to Madam's daily decoction to regulate my body, my 'impotence' has been cured."

"That's good." She breathed a sigh of relief, then realized what had happened and was shocked. "You...you knew everything?"

He finally let go, but Qingduo blocked his way with both hands to prevent him from getting closer. Zeng Zhengqing smiled and said, "It seems that the dosage of the medicine is a bit too strong for Madam. Alas, if I do anything inappropriate to Madam tonight, please don't take it to heart."

"Tangtangtu? W-what..." Qingduo was so scared she was about to cry. She regretted her actions. She shouldn't have increased the dosage of bitter medicine for him in order to "get revenge." In the end, she was the one who suffered!

Her hands, which she tried to block, seemed to be merely decorative. Zeng Zhengqing easily pressed them down and whispered in her ear, "To be honest, Madam, this medicine is extremely potent. I'm afraid we might—"

"Never-ending."