Chapter 231 Consummation of the Marriage
Upon hearing this, Granny Pei immediately said indignantly, "How can such a wicked child participate in the autumn examination? Heaven is truly blind."
I remember in my previous life, during this year's autumn imperial examination, Qiao Yuantao, through the introduction of the Qiao family, got to know a supervisor from the Imperial Academy who was the chief examiner, and surprisingly, he made it onto the list of successful candidates in this year's autumn imperial examination.
Although he barely made it to the bottom of the list, he did indeed pass the imperial examination and become a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial-level imperial examinations).
In this life, however, she has no intention of giving him any chance to get back up!
Yu Qingci said expressionlessly, "Have our people secretly investigate Qiao Yuantao. He's not very well-educated, but he's cunning, greedy, and lecherous. If we investigate carefully, we'll definitely find a lot of dirt on him, and then..."
She slowly told Granny Pei about her plan, and the two of them lowered their heads and discussed it.
As the two were discussing, they heard the steady, powerful footsteps of a man outside, and they knew immediately that Lu Yunqi had returned.
Yu Qingci stepped forward and said, "The general is back."
Her voice was soft as she naturally reached out and untied his belt.
After spending some time together, the two had developed some tacit understanding and communication. For example, after Lu Yunqi returned, he never let his maidservant come forward to serve him. Yu Qingci had to do some things herself at his insistence, such as helping him undress and change clothes.
Lu Yunqi enjoyed his wife helping him take off his outer robe and change into his everyday undergarments before sitting down.
Seeing the delicate pastries and teacups laid out on the table, his eyebrows twitched slightly:
"You're so kind, Madam."
Yu Qingci walked slowly to the table, picked up the teapot, and poured him a cup of tea.
"The general is busy in his study, which must be taking a lot of time and energy. Try the snacks that have just been sent from the kitchen and see if they suit your taste."
Lu Yunqi picked up a piece of chestnut cake and took a bite, but his gaze fell on Yu Qingci.
In the candlelight, her lowered eyelashes cast a small shadow under her eyes, her profile serene.
Lu Yunqi spoke calmly, "When I came in just now, I heard that Madam and the nanny seemed to be discussing something. If there is anything I can do to help, please feel free to ask."
He wasn't deliberately trying to eavesdrop; it's just that martial arts practitioners have excellent hearing, and he vaguely heard a few words, which he then took to heart.
Yu Qingci looked over innocently.
"It's nothing serious, just a disobedient brewer in the distillery. I've already told Granny Pei to send him away tomorrow."
Lu Yunqi had no suspicions. The two sat down and talked in hushed tones about the trivial matters of the mansion. Seeing that it was getting late, Yu Qingci instructed the maid to bring in hot water to wash up.
After washing up, Yu Qingci bowed to Lu Yunqi and prepared to go into the inner room to rest.
She had barely moved a few steps when Lu Yunqi grabbed her sleeve, and Yu Qingci looked at him suspiciously.
A suspicious blush appeared on Lu Yunqi's handsome face: "Qingci, it's been so long, are you still planning to sleep in separate beds from me?"
As if infected, Yu Qingci's cheeks quickly flushed red, her heartbeat suddenly accelerated, and her sleeve was gripped by his warm fingertips. The force was not strong, but it carried an undeniable meaning, leaving her with no way to advance or retreat.
She dared not look up at him, feeling as if his deep eyes were locking her in place.
"I……"
She opened her mouth, but her previous composure and tranquility vanished. Her voice was barely audible, and the word she uttered was stuck in her throat.
Although the two had lived under the same roof for a while and even shared a bathroom, they still slept separately at night, keeping to themselves. She had almost forgotten about it.
Now that he had so bluntly pointed it out, the distance she had been deliberately maintaining was instantly torn open, revealing the bewilderment and trembling beneath the surface that even she herself had never truly understood.
The flickering candlelight cast intermittent shadows on his sharply defined profile, adding to his imposing presence.
Lu Yunqi did not urge her, but quietly watched as the increasingly intense blush on her cheeks spread all the way to her ears, and her small earlobes were also tinged with a light red, like a ripe cherry, making one want to take a bite.
"Celadon,"
His voice was deep, with a barely perceptible hoarseness, making it exceptionally clear in the quiet interior:
"We are now husband and wife. From now on, please call me husband, okay?"
Yu Qingci steeled herself and raised her eyelids, only to meet his eyes, which were like a deep pool. There was no mockery, no coercion in them, only a heavy, unmistakable expectation and profound meaning.
Lu Yunqi took a step forward, getting even closer to her, his gaze fixed on her, not allowing her to look away, and his warm voice rang out again.
"Qingci, is tonight alright?"
Yu Qingci's heart pounded wildly. She gritted her teeth, trying to figure out how to refuse, when she heard his deep voice sound in her ear again:
"The tatami mat in the west room is too hard, and the quilt is too thin."
Yu Qingci was taken aback and almost burst out laughing. She never expected that Lu Yunqi, who was always calm and composed in front of others, could say such childish and pitiful things. She turned her head away and coughed twice to cover her embarrassment, and finally nodded shyly.
Lu Yunqi smiled slightly and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Heaven knows how nervous he was just now, afraid that his little wife would reject him again. Fortunately, this time she nodded.
He decisively lifted the beaded curtain of the inner room, took her hand, and led her step by step towards the large, carved canopy bed.
The red candles flickered, the curtains hung low, and Yu Qingci lay in the soft brocade quilt, shyly closing her eyes, not daring to look at the figure so close to her, her heart pounding like a drum in her ears.
She could feel Lu Yunqi's tense body pressed tightly against her, his warm breath brushing against her cheek, carrying a hint of crisp pine scent. Yu Qingci's body involuntarily tensed up.
"Don't be afraid."
His voice was deep and husky, rippling through the quiet curtains, and a blush spread from his ears to his neck.
The next day, Yu Qingci opened her eyes and found that the person next to her had left.
"Is Madam awake?"
Hearing the commotion inside, Granny Pei came in carrying a copper basin filled with water. Her face was all smiles, and her eyes and brows were beaming with joy.
She gently placed the basin on the shelf, walked over, lifted the bed curtains and hung them up. Her gaze fell on Yu Qingci's tired yet undeniably beautiful face, and then quickly swept over the bed, her eyes almost overflowing with satisfaction.
Yu Qingci felt a little embarrassed by the overly eager gaze. She subconsciously pulled her inner garment tighter. Fragments of last night's memories flooded her mind, and her cheeks suddenly flushed red, even her ears burning.
"Where is the general?"
She cleared her throat, trying to make her voice sound calm.
"The general has already gone to the military camp, and specifically instructed this old servant not to disturb the lady's peaceful sleep, hehehe."
Yu Qingci became even more embarrassed by her laughter: "Granny, there's no need to bother. Let Tong'er come and help you with your washing and grooming."
Granny Pei disagreed, saying, "I've sent Tong'er and Lianqiao out to keep busy. Madam, there's no need to be shy. Young ladies are bound to feel uncomfortable at first. It would be more appropriate for this old servant to take care of you."
"Is Madam still feeling unwell? Is it in pain? I'll go ask the physician for some ointment later; applying it will make her feel much better."
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