Chapter 22 Does the fragrance of secrets mean that intimate acts are permissible at night...?
Cui Yiluo tightened her slender fingers, looking at his slightly furrowed brows as she tried to control herself, and said aggrievedly, "Husband, don't you want to?"
The large hand that held her fingers pressed down harder to stop her movements, and Jiang Yunjin's voice became slightly hoarse: "These are the rules."
Such a rule certainly exists in noble families, but rules are rules, and how could outsiders know about matters of the bedchamber? Everyone keeps it hidden, so very few newlywed couples would actually abide by this rule; he's probably not the only one who would.
Jiang Yunjin moved her hand away and placed it back on her lower abdomen, emphasizing again, "Go to sleep, you still need to get up early to pay your respects tomorrow."
His attitude was so firm that Cui Yiluo would likely be unable to sway him even if she tried her best tonight. Just now on the bed, he was clearly deeply immersed in lust, and in the end, she felt as if her bones were about to be shattered by his thrusts. But after getting off the bed and dressing, he returned to propriety, becoming a self-disciplined, refined, and aloof gentleman once again.
Seeing his state, it seems he will have to observe proper etiquette and abstain from sex day and night from now on.
Cui Yiluo frowned slightly.
-
As the sun rose, its soft light bathed the room in a crimson glow. Just past dawn, Cui Yiluo was awakened by the movement of the person beside her getting up from the bed. She groggily sat up, her long black hair cascading down like a waterfall. Gazing at the red curtains, she slowly came to her senses. Yesterday, she had married Jiang Yunjin.
"My husband."
The man standing by the tatami responded softly, his voice hoarse from the early morning: "Did I wake you?"
Cui Yilu shook her head.
Not entirely. With someone suddenly sleeping next to her, she was already wary, and this made her even more restless. So, even though he had tried to be quiet, she still woke up.
Sunlight slanted across Jiang Yunjin's handsome profile, making the dark circles under his eyes even more noticeable, revealing that he hadn't slept well the night before.
Last night before going to sleep, she pretended to be fast asleep, but unconsciously touched the back of his hand and, as expected, felt his whole body tense.
Having lived for twenty-one years without ever being near a woman, how could he not feel uncomfortable suddenly sharing a bed and pillow with a woman, covered by the same brocade quilt?
So she turned to the side and leaned her whole body against his strong arm, and as she wished, she felt him stiffen even more and his chest vibrate.
But he couldn't push her away because of the strict social norms, as that would inevitably wake her.
His body, taut and stiff from trying to suppress his heat, amused Cui Yiluo, who secretly pulled him even tighter. But sleeping with a rock in her arms was truly uncomfortable, and before long, she couldn't bear it any longer and let go, then pretended to be fast asleep and turned over to sleep on her side.
The moment she let go, she clearly felt the man's body relax instantly.
As his thoughts returned, Jiang Yunjin before him was already mostly dressed, his clothes neat and tidy. He was extremely fastidious about cleanliness and disliked being touched by others. While other young men were dressed by maids or servants, he never allowed anyone to serve him.
But at this moment, he felt extremely awkward. Cui Yilu smiled silently. On the couch where he had slept for twenty years sat his wife, with whom he had shared intimate moments. The burnt-out dragon and phoenix candles on the table not only proved that they were married, but also brought him back to the dim red curtains of last night, to the flickering candlelight and the soft, warm touch of their skin against each other.
He picked up the jade belt, and suddenly a snow-white, soft hand rushed in and grabbed it tightly.
Cui Yilu smiled tenderly and said in a soft voice, "Husband, let me help you."
Although he hadn't slept well, Jiang Yunjin's dark eyes still shone with a sharp light, and he decisively refused: "No need."
Cui Yilu blinked: "But, according to the rules, shouldn't the newlywed wife help her husband change his clothes? Is the husband going to break the rules, or should Yilu break the rules?"
Her voice was gentle and calm, like a clear spring flowing, yet it left people speechless.
Jiang Yunjin fell silent.
Cui Yiluo's smile widened as she took the jade belt from his hand, which slid smoothly out of his grasp.
Then, her soft arms wrapped around his waist and abdomen. As if to make it easier to put on his clothes, she leaned closer, and her black hair gently brushed against his chin and Adam's apple, the fragrance of a woman lingering in his nostrils.
With a soft click, the jade belt tightened, binding and outlining the powerful lines of her waist and abdomen.
Cui Yiluo did not let go, but grabbed the side of his clothes, looked innocently and confusedly at the area below the jade belt, and looked up at Jiang Yunjin.
The man calmly looked away.
Cui Yilu spoke softly, her breath gently brushing against his neck, her words carrying a hint of suggestion, yet also sounding like she understood him: "Husband, it's still early."
The veins in his neck bulged instantly.
Jiang Yunjin turned his head to the side, and the next moment, Cui Yiluo was forcefully pulled away by him.
Unlike the intensity elsewhere, his expression was cold, and his dark eyes were also icy as he said in a deep voice, "Intimate behavior is not allowed during the day."
Cui Yilu blinked lightly: "Then can we do it tonight?"
Jiang Yunjin paused for a moment.
The bedroom fell silent instantly. Cui Yiluo gazed at him intently with her watery eyes, patiently awaiting his answer.
Jiang Yunjin pursed his lips: "I'll go and order someone to serve the meal."
Having touched on the point, Cui Yiluo didn't ask any further questions and summoned a maid to help her with her toilette.
Of course she knew he wouldn't agree, and she certainly didn't intend to do "that" with him right after waking up. After all, his strength when he lost control was so great that her back almost broke. She also had other things to do today.
After the meal, seeing that it was almost time, the two headed to the main hall. On the first day of their marriage, Cui Yiluo was required to serve tea according to custom, and all the other family members were also required to attend. The main hall was immediately filled with people.
Cui Yiluo and Jiang Yunjin walked into the main hall side by side, instantly attracting everyone's attention.
Apart from Lan Hui's second branch, the other members of the two branches all had different expressions, their eyes filled with curiosity.
Cui Yiluo came from a humble background. She only managed to get close to Jiang Yunjin and become the eldest daughter-in-law of the Jiang family by taking advantage of his drunkenness and adherence to etiquette. The wives of the third and fourth wives even began to regret not having sent their nieces to "visit" earlier, letting the second wife take advantage of the situation.
However, it's hard to tell what Jiang Yunjin's true attitude was in all of this.
As for romantic love, he was used to being alone, so it was impossible for him to suddenly develop feelings for a woman. But if there were no other feelings involved, why did he insist on marrying her as his principal wife? He knew better than anyone that his wife would not only manage the affairs of the main house, but would also oversee the entire Jiang family in the future. This was a matter of the Jiang family's prosperity and decline, and Jiang Yunjin was the person who cared most about the Jiang family's well-being.
"I have met my grandmother."
Cui Yiluo pretended not to notice the probing gazes of the third and fourth families, and with a gentle smile on her face, she gracefully bowed to Jiang Yunjin.
Jiang Yunjin's bowing posture was still impeccable. His moon-white brocade robe with pine and bamboo patterns accentuated his slender and graceful figure. The man, who was usually aloof and dignified and unapproachable, now stood next to the woman who was even more beautiful and charming after marriage. Surprisingly, they looked like a perfect match, as if they were born to be a couple.
Everyone's gaze swept over Cui Yiluo's eyebrows again, and they were all stunned.
Cui Yiluo's eyebrows are usually as delicate as willow leaves, and although she still looks graceful today, it cannot hide the awkwardness of the person who drew her eyebrows.
Everyone's gazes subconsciously shifted to Jiang Yunjin, who stood beside her with a cold expression, and they secretly clicked their tongues in amazement.
Cui Yiluo subtly curled her lips into a smile.
Under the guise of observing wedding customs, Jiang Yunjin naturally wouldn't refuse her request to draw her eyebrows. She had prepared herself to go out with ugly eyebrows today, but she didn't expect that he seemed to be extremely skilled in painting. Although his technique was clumsy, the result wasn't bad.
The crowd exchanged glances, their expressions varied, and a subtle undercurrent of tension simmered beneath the surface. Suddenly, Old Madam Jiang coughed softly, and everyone immediately composed themselves and sat up straight.
Madam Jiang glanced around the hall, her eyes flashing a warning. Her maid, who had served her for many years, immediately understood and said, "Madam, now that everyone from each household has arrived, let the eldest young mistress begin serving tea to the elders."
Old Madam Jiang nodded calmly, showing little joy whatsoever. The expressions of the other family members subtly shifted once more.
Cui Yiluo's expression remained unchanged as she gracefully and tactfully served tea to everyone. When she reached Lan Hui, Lan Hui's eyes showed a mixture of joy and worry, and Cui Yiluo smiled and gave her a reassuring look.
The old lady took only a small sip of tea before putting it down. Although she put on a kind smile, there was no hint of a smile in her eyes.
"Yi Luo, now that you've entered the Jiang family, you must remember that your every word and action outside must reflect the Jiang family's reputation. The weight of this goes without saying. If you inadvertently damage the Jiang family's reputation in the future, I will not show you any leniency out of respect for Shen Zhi. You will be punished according to the family rules and laws. Yi Luo, do you understand?"
Cui Yiluo sat beside Jiang Yunjin and gently replied, "Yes."
As everyone gradually came to their senses, according to custom, the elders should indeed give the new bride some advice on the first day after the wedding. However, this advice was just a formality. Marriages in the high-ranking families of Shengjing were all between equals, and the interests behind them were intertwined. Naturally, they would not put on airs as elders to their newlywed brides.
The old lady's behavior clearly indicated her dissatisfaction with her new daughter-in-law.
Lan Hui frowned, about to speak, when her husband pulled her back and gently shook his head.
Although Cui Yiluo obediently agreed, it did not soften Old Madam Jiang's expression in the slightest. The admonition could not be limited to just a few words. Old Madam Jiang cleared her throat and was about to continue speaking.
A tall figure suddenly stood up in the hall, interrupting Old Madam Jiang from speaking.
Jiang Yun bowed respectfully and said, "Grandmother, now that the tea has been served, I still have official business to attend to, so I will take Yiluo back first."
Madam Jiang was clearly taken aback by this turn of events, and her expression froze.
Cui Yiluo, who was sitting next to her, was also taken aback.
Jiang Yunjin gave her a look, and Cui Yiluo understood, quickly rising to greet him.
The slight upturn of Madam Jiang's lips, which she had been holding up in the hall, immediately turned into a deep frown. Seeing that the two were really about to leave the main hall, everyone's gazes were filled with astonishment.
Jiang Yunjin has always respected his grandmother and has never talked back to her. Today, it is clear that the old lady Jiang had not finished admonishing his wife before he took her away.
But seeing his serious expression, it seemed that he really had official business to attend to, and the tea ceremony had indeed been completed. He had always been distant from the other rooms, and they hardly spoke a few words to each other all year round. It seemed that this official business was really important, so he got up to take his leave.
Jiang Yunjin seemed oblivious to everyone's reactions and led Cui Yiluo away from the main hall.
The road back to Jixuezhai was not far. After stepping into Jixuezhai, Jiang Yunjin's expression was indifferent, as if he was truly unaware of the undercurrents that had just occurred in the main hall.
"I'll go to the study first. I need to go out of the manor to handle some official business in a while. If I don't make it back for dinner, you can eat first."
Officials of Daqi are entitled to three days of marriage leave. While other young men would rather forget about their official duties during their marriage leave, Jiang Yunjin was still concerned about his official duties during his marriage leave. On the second day of his marriage, he had to miss his meal with his wife because of his official duties.
Cui Yiluo didn't mind at all. She still had a sweet smile on her face, showing neither disappointment nor annoyance. She replied softly, "Husband, you should focus on your affairs."
Jiang Yunjin's eyes darkened. After glancing at Cui Yiluo for a few moments, he nodded slightly and turned to leave.
Cui Yiluo suddenly called out to him in a clear voice, "Husband."
Jiang Yunjin gestured for her to speak with his eyes.
Cui Yilu smiled and said, "Thank you for your help earlier, my husband."
Jiang Yunjin paused for a moment.
She was naturally referring to the matter in the hall.
After a moment of hesitation, he gave a soft "hmm".
Cui Yiluo took a step closer, looked up at him earnestly, and asked with hope in her eyes, "When will my husband return to his room tonight?"
"Don't wait for me. If you're tired, go to sleep first."
Cui Yiluo obediently agreed again, "Then husband, don't work too late."
It was an extremely polite expression of concern, as if she didn't care when he would return, and asking this question was merely a formality. After all, they weren't husband and wife bound by love, and apart from their bedchamber, they naturally treated each other with the utmost respect in their daily lives.
Jiang Yunjin lowered his eyes, nodded, and then turned to leave.
-
Night had fallen, and it was already late at night when the sound of horses' hooves echoed lightly at the side gate of the Jiang residence.
Upon hearing the news, Jiang Yunjin led his horse away and hurried back from the outskirts, striding towards Jixuezhai under the moonlight.
Passing by the sandalwood screen wall inscribed with words of gentlemanly propriety, what comes into view is the dim yellow candlelight shining through the window paper, swaying gently and slowly in the darkness.
The man paused for a moment in front of the door, then reached out and pushed it open.
With a creak, the door opened slightly.
Suddenly, a soft, yielding body entered his arms, tightly embracing his lean waist and abdomen. A delicate fragrance wafted up, climbing and binding the two of them together.
Author's Note: A-Luo: We can't be intimate during the day, so is it okay at night? [Pleading]
I can't resist the urge to drive! [doge emoji]
[Heart] Thank you to all the lovely readers who watered my blog with nutrient solution: "Okra that doesn't eat strawberries isn't a good pineapple" x6, Xiaoying x1, Invincible Meow Meow Fist x2, Brother and Sister-in-law are just arm wrestling with our tongues! x15, Caijin x1
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