Joke (edited)
A night breeze wafted into the hall through the gaps in the warm curtains. Dou Yanxun lowered his head, his fingertips touching the slender neck of a white jade wine cup, sipping slowly. A very light blend of incense burned in the double-eared Boshan incense burner, its fragrance swirling and dissipating behind the layers of curtains.
This was the first time Lin Xu had dined with Dou Yanxun. She had always had a very small appetite, but she craved sweets. In the evening, she had drunk a small bowl of the Seven Treasures Vegetarian Porridge cooked by Granny Qin, and now she was just quietly eating the few plates of seasonal vegetables on the table.
However, the person opposite him also seemed to have little appetite. He ate very slowly, always picking up a small piece of fish from the plate before slowly dividing it into several pieces. He sat there for a long time without touching the food on the table, but his wine glass was quickly emptied.
Lin Xu picked up a handkerchief and lightly wiped her lips, then looked up at him:
"But the food doesn't suit your taste?"
Dou Yanxun had already brought the wine cup to his lips when he saw her suddenly speak. He squinted one eye and looked at her through the gap between his fingers.
Her face was clear and cold, with a very sharp chin. Her makeup looked like it had been freshly done. Usually, she exuded a cold and aloof aura, but now, unusually, a hint of concern and ingratiation appeared in the delicately drawn corners of her eyes and the ends of her eyebrows.
He was used to seeing women with such expressions, but now he felt inexplicably uncomfortable, finding the look somewhat incongruous with the woman's peach-blossom makeup. She always exuded an aloof and detached air, simply by standing there. And for some reason, a smile never faded from her delicate, peach-blossom-like lips.
But then she thought about it again, and realized that she rarely smiled in front of him.
Dou Yanxun lowered his eyes. A table laden with seafood and fish dishes lay before him; the cook must have specifically inquired about his usual preferences and then happily prepared such a feast. He returned home extremely late every day after their marriage, yet she didn't mind at all; her voice and expression only showed her deep concern and longing for him.
Is this what it feels like to have a home? Is this what it means to feel a sense of belonging after marriage, as others say?
Dou Yanxun pursed his lips, unsure where to look for a moment, before finally taking a sip of his drink and saying, "You've prepared very well."
Lin Xu's lips curved into a slight smile.
Dou Yanxun paused for a moment and said, "But I've already eaten out, so I don't have much of an appetite right now."
The hall quieted down a bit, with the only sound being the hissing of the fire in the brazier on the floor. Wood shavings were lit, occasionally sparking a few embers, which, mixed with charcoal, emitted a particularly comforting aroma.
The heater had been running for a long time, and now the hall was warm and cozy. Lin Xu, dressed in a light purple gauze dress, had fine beads of sweat on her nose from the warmth. A faint blush rose to her fair face, and after a moment's thought, she spoke:
"That's true, but be careful not to drink too much alcohol, it can hurt your stomach. If none of these dishes suit your taste, would you like some soup to warm your stomach, my husband?"
She straightened up and continued, "Granny Qin cooked some porridge for me this afternoon, and it tasted very delicious. If you want some, I'll go and cook some now."
After saying that, he put down his chopsticks and stood up, heading towards the door without hesitation. But before he could take a step, his wrist was suddenly grabbed.
Dou Yanxun's palm was slightly cold but very thick. With just one reach, he pulled her to a stop, and she almost stumbled a few steps.
"No need."
Lin Xu turned to look at him, only to find that his face had a slightly cold expression for some reason. His few words were quite indifferent, as if he was extremely unwilling to talk to her. Lin Xu's heart skipped a beat.
Although Dou Yanxun was somewhat of a playboy and dissolute in the past, he always had a mischievous and unrestrained air about him in his eyes, and rarely appeared so aloof in front of outsiders. He could even captivate a group of young girls with his unrestrained languor simply by lazily curving his lips.
Now, for some reason, he always gives her a cold shoulder. She thought that after going through a life-or-death experience, the two of them should be a little closer. She couldn't figure out the reason for a moment, only that the atmosphere between them had been strange since their marriage, and now it seemed that they were stuck here because of something, unable to move forward. She just wanted to sort out these messy trivialities one by one. At this moment, the stubbornness in her bones could no longer be hidden, so she stood still and looked down at him.
The hall gradually fell silent. She hesitated for a moment, but finally spoke.
Why is my husband so cold to me, yet he still blames me in his heart for forcing me to marry you under the Empress's decree?
Upon hearing this, Dou Yanxun's brows slowly furrowed.
He also stood up, holding Lin Xu's wrist tightly without letting go. Dou Yanxun took a few steps closer to the person in front of him, his eyes, which had always held a hint of spring water, now seemed to be filled with layers of thick fog, so that even though he was very close to her, she could not see the expression in his eyes.
There was no way to fathom his innermost thoughts.
"Tell me how I've been cold to you."
The person in front of her drew closer and closer, until he stopped just half an inch away. He was tall, and she could barely reach his chest, now completely blocking out the thin breeze and candlelight from the doorway. If she moved any closer, she would bump into his broad chest.
A cryptic smile suddenly appeared on Dou Yanxun's lips, his eyes gleaming with a playful and mischievous glint that masked a deep, unfathomable coldness. He leaned forward, drawing closer, and whispered with a chuckle, "I had almost forgotten that my wife is so clever and intelligent. So, let me make things clear to you today, shall I?"
His tone was flippant, the last syllable was deliberately drawn out, and his voice was deep and mischievous.
It seemed that the person facing her for a moment was the same carefree and flirtatious Dou Yanxun.
Her heart tightened involuntarily, and she was about to back away when she suddenly felt a warm hand on her waist. Before she could react, Dou Yanxun pulled her into his arms. In the next instant, she was in his embrace, her feet dangling in the air.
Dou Yanxun held her in his arms and strode towards the side hall. In a dizzying moment, before she could even scream, she was pushed heavily onto the brocade-covered bed. In his eyes, there was a leisurely smile and a faint pity, like that of a beast before its prey.
She slumped onto the soft bed, letting out a low scream of terror as she looked at him with unease. Struggling to get up, Dou Yanxun suddenly pressed close, firmly gripping her thin shoulders, rendering her immobile.
He leaned closer to her, his charming, roguish face drawing ever closer, his warm breath brushing against her ear. She could almost feel the softness of Dou Yanxun's chin. The next instant, an incredibly suggestive voice rang in her ear:
"Since you find me cold, my wife, if I were to reveal my true colors to you, would you be able to bear it?"
Her already flushed cheeks became even hotter.
He felt his fingertips gently brush against her face as he spoke, the movement tender and flirtatious. His deep, unfathomable peach blossom eyes were now filled with playful teasing and unrestrained doting affection.
Dou Yanxun had never looked at her like that before.
Just meeting his eyes now sent a shiver down her spine. Lin Xu unconsciously pursed her lips, trying to avoid his gaze, yet for some reason she couldn't look away, feeling as if she had fallen into his trap.
An inappropriate thought flashed through my mind.
No wonder so many women flocked to him in the past, disregarding Dou Yanxun's reputation. After all, being gazed at so intently by those beautiful eyes for so long... who wouldn't be captivated?
While she was still stunned, Dou Yanxun's breath drew ever closer. Lin Xu felt the deep breaths rushing towards her, her heart pounding even more erratically. Even the air seemed to thin, and she felt helpless, wanting to push him away. But behind her was the soft, smooth satin bed, and she had nowhere to retreat. Right now, she truly felt like a trapped beast.
"Is Madam ready?"
Lin Xu's breath hitched. Her slender, fair fingers gently caressed his chest. She tried to push him away, but the difference in their strength was too great, and her face was still flushed. After struggling several times without success, she felt a strange sense of wanting to welcome him.
Dou Yanxun's fingertips didn't linger; instead, they moved down her neck, leaving a shiver. Her clothes were thin, and her snow-white skin was faintly visible beneath the almost transparent gauze. She tried her best to suppress her unease, and her fingers unconsciously gripped his clothes tightly, wrinkling the fine silk.
Dou Yanxun chuckled softly, then extended his right hand, which had been supporting his body, and firmly grasped her hands, which were pressed against his chest. Her hands were so slender; compared to his large hands, both of them were held tightly, making it even more difficult for her to move.
"Why is my wife looking at me like that? Is there something you want to say to your husband?" His voice was deep, with a hint of teasing, yet also carried an air of authority that left no room for refusal.
Lin Xu felt her ears burning slightly, a thousand words welling up in her throat, yet she didn't know how to respond. She turned her head away, her red lips parted slightly, and whispered with a barely audible tremor, "Husband, please don't joke..."
However, these words seemed to instantly enrage her. Before she could finish speaking, she felt a tightening around her waist. Dou Yanxun pulled her into his arms, holding her even tighter.
"joke?"
He lowered his head and gently approached her ear, his breath caressing her. "We are now husband and wife. My actions are all in accordance with propriety and social norms. What is there to joke about?"
Lin Xu was completely thrown off balance by those words. She hurriedly looked up and saw that the playfulness in his eyes was gone, replaced by a seriousness and persistence. It was as if the things between the two of them were not tests or teasing, but rather the natural progression of their deep affection as husband and wife.
Could he be... serious about this?
The moment she realized what was happening, her heart stopped, and she blurted out in increasing panic, "You..."
However, his actions abruptly silenced the sound.
Dou Yanxun leaned down, his eyes getting closer and closer until they were completely hidden by his clothes. At the same time, she felt a soft touch on her forehead.
He placed a gentle kiss between her brows.
Her entire body froze instantly. That gentle warmth slowly spread from her brow throughout her body, and she lost all strength to resist—
All that could be heard was the pounding of my heart in my chest.
Just then, a soft knock came from outside the hall, and a gentle woman's voice rang out quietly—it was Granny Chang's voice. "Second Master, your daily medicine has been prepared. Would you like some now?"
Dou Yanxun's smile abruptly stopped as he spoke. He straightened up and called out to the door, "Come back later. Don't disturb me now."
The surroundings fell silent once more.
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