Chapter 5: Planning to Consummate the Marriage
Xi Qingtong's hands folded on her abdomen tightened slightly, and slowly loosened after a while. She withdrew her gaze and thought to herself: It's just a pretense.
Don’t you know who your cousin really likes?
However, what surprised Xi Qingtong was that after Xi Jianan and his group left, Song Yunhe actually took Qingwu directly to say goodbye to Madam Zheng.
"Liang Di, mother-in-law, I have some trivial matters to attend to at home, so I will take Qingwu home first."
Madam Zheng and Qingwu didn't have a deep relationship to begin with, so she naturally agreed. As a concubine, Xi Qingtong didn't dare to say anything to persuade them to stay, so she could only smile and nod as she watched the two of them leave.
When the servant brought the carriage, Qingwu couldn't wait to walk towards it. Her father, whom she was closest to, had already left, and there was no one left in this place for her to stay.
But just as she lifted up the hem of her skirt, she saw a hand stretched out in front of her - it was Song Yunhe's hand.
Qingwu was stunned and hesitated for a moment, but still put his hand into Song Yunhe's palm.
Faced with Song Yunhe's occasional intimacy, Qingwu felt very complicated.
Just like now, Qingwu felt that Song Yunhe was just pretending to be a loving couple in front of outsiders. She was not very happy, but she didn't want to make a fool of herself in front of her mother and twin sisters.
She could only comfort herself that it was always good for a couple to love each other. Maybe if she pretended, it would really become true...?
Looking at the back of the carriage driving away, the smile on Xi Qingtong's lips gradually faded, and the hands clasped in his sleeves tightened.
Somehow, even though she knew that her cousin was only giving Xi Qingwu face and did not really love her more than her, Xi Qingtong still felt a little uneasy in her heart.
Even when Madam Zheng pulled her aside to talk, Xi Qingtong was absent-minded. After returning to her room, she couldn't help but waved to her personal maid, "Come here, help me..."
*
Qingwu thought that her husband would return to his previous distant attitude after the pretense was over, but he seemed to have changed his temper. He helped her get on the carriage and even had dinner with her.
The same thing happened the next day, which made Qingwu feel hopeful again. Could it be that his father's words really worked?
After dinner, Song Yunhe looked at Qingwu across the table. She was also looking at him. Her phoenix eyes were clear and her rosy face looked even more charming under the candlelight.
To be fair, although Qingwu was not as talented as Tong'er, nor could she write poetry, and her temperament was not as gentle as Qingtong, she was not completely useless. At least from the outside, she was considered a girl from a wealthy family and knew how to act.
The most important thing is that she has the same face as Qingtong, so he should let it go, right?
Wasn't it because of this face that he agreed to this marriage?
The day he learned that Qingtong was appointed as the prince's concubine, Song Yunhe knew that he and Xi Qingtong were not destined to be together. However, he could not let her go, so he had not consummated his marriage with Qingwu until today.
Last night's meeting with Qingtong and today's instructions from his father-in-law made Song Yunhe realize that he should no longer dwell on the past, so... he is still staying in Qingwu's house, and the moon is already high in the sky.
Since he stayed at her place for dinner and had not yet returned to his study, Qingwu had some expectations and began to feel nervous.
Seeing him staring at her for a long time without saying anything, Qingwu's face became hot again. Avoiding his gaze, she whispered, "Sir, do you want to wash up?" Her voice unconsciously became softer than usual.
The meaning of this statement is very clear. If Song Yunhe agrees, he will have to stay here overnight.
Even Baozhu and Yuzhu, who were standing by to serve, could not help but prick up their ears. After hearing the soft "hmm", Qingwu had not yet responded, so Baozhu excitedly said, "I will ask someone to fetch some water right away!"
Although Yuzhu didn't say anything, she walked briskly to make the bed for her master.
The maids' exaggerated behavior made Qingwu blush. However, she had been looking forward to this day for a long time. Seeing her husband's attitude change, Qingwu was willing to put aside the past and live a good life with him.
The maids asked the servant to carry water into the ear room, all of them with happy expressions on their faces. Qingwu stepped forward with a red face to help Song Yunhe take off his coat.
Qingwu followed his grandmother to practice medicine, mostly treating women's diseases. He was already well versed in matters between men and women, but he couldn't help feeling shy when it was his turn to do it himself.
When she was undressing, the hand that used to hold a needle so steadily could not stop trembling. By the time she finally took off the outer robe, her heart was beating like a drum.
However, remembering what her grandmother said about the utmost importance of harmonious relationships between husband and wife, she suppressed her embarrassment and reached out to her husband's waist.
As soon as the flexible fingertips touched the belt, Qingwu felt the waist and abdomen under his hands suddenly shrink. Even with his head lowered, he could hear the heavier breathing of the man above him.
Qingwu's face burned.
Song Yunhe is no less impressive.
The woman's sweet fragrance lingered in his nose as she undressed him with her soft hands. The touch was so close yet so distant that it slowly made him itch. His eyes could not help but stare at the white neck, following the spine to the depths of the collar.
He really overestimated himself. He thought that the marriage consummation would be a hasty one, but before it even started, he was already aroused.
Song Yunhe's eyes were gloomy, and he slowly raised his hand and placed it on Qingwu's wrist.
At this moment, the voice of Song Yunhe's personal attendant Zhe Gui suddenly came from outside the inner door.
"Master, Consort Liang has sent someone to deliver something."
The two of them paused for a moment.
Qing Wu bit her lip and took a step back. She coughed lightly, looked outside as if nothing had happened, and asked, "What did Liang Di send?"
When she was shy and confused, she didn't notice the behavior of the person next to her.
When he heard the word "Liang Di", Song Yunhe suddenly came to his senses. A feeling of being caught cheating came over him. He was panicked and guilty. He almost hurriedly tore off the robe he had just taken off and walked out.
"I'll go see what Liangdi gave me..."
Seeing her husband leaving her like this again, Qingwu suddenly felt an inexplicable anger in her heart, and she grabbed his arm.
"Wait, just ask someone to bring it in and take a look. Why go out?"
Her clothes were still tidy and there was nothing wrong with her, but Song Yunhe refused outright, "No!" Qingwu frowned.
Perhaps realizing that his refusal was too blunt, Song Yunhe softened his tone and said, "It's cold outside, I'd better go and take a look myself. The most important thing is..."
Song Yunhe turned around, his expression back to normal, even showing a hint of concern: "My lady, have you forgotten? There is a banquet at Shanglin Garden tomorrow... I'm afraid it will be inconvenient for you tomorrow."
He didn't dare to look into Qingwu's eyes again, and only looked at Qingwu vaguely. He thought he could consummate his marriage with Qingwu tonight, but when he heard that Qingtong had sent something, the courage he had finally mustered dissipated in an instant.
How could Qingwu know what a man was thinking? The ambiguity implied in that sentence made Qingwu lower his head in shame and loosen his grip on Song Yunhe's hand.
It is indeed not convenient to consummate the marriage tonight. A woman will feel a little uncomfortable after having sex for the first time. I have to go to Shanglin Garden to attend a banquet tomorrow, so it is really not good to cause trouble.
"But……"
Qingwu was about to speak, but Song Yunhe had already taken advantage of this opportunity to pull his arm away and walked out holding up his outer robe.
Looking at his back without a trace of nostalgia, Qingwu's words of persuasion got stuck in her throat, but she still couldn't help but follow him to the outer room and watched Song Yunhe leave.
The bright moon was obscured by clouds, and in the dark night, she watched the servant Zhegui following behind him holding the box.
A sense of strangeness suddenly emerged in Qingwu's heart. She was wondering where this strange feeling came from when Yuzhu, who came out of the house, woke her up.
Yuzhu asked, "Did Liangdi send something? Is it for my wife?"
In an instant, Qing Wu understood where the strangeness came from. Why did Song Yunhe seem so sure that the gift he sent was for him? Why did he take it away without even looking at it?
But after this doubt arose, more doubts came to my mind. Even if it was not convenient to consummate the marriage today, it would be fine to sleep in the same bed for one night. Why did he have to sleep in the study?
For a moment, Qing Wu felt as if a layer of white gauze had covered her eyes. In the darkness, she vaguely saw something but dared not think deeply. The hazy feeling made her feel uneasy...
In the end, Qingwu suppressed his doubts.
After all, her husband's attitude has changed, hasn't it?
As for what the twin sisters brought, just ask them tomorrow.
*
In the East Palace, green smoke curled up from the auspicious beast incense burner. Even if the best calming incense was lit, Xiao Ji did not feel a bit calm in his heart.
After sitting at the desk for half a day, Xiao Ji finally couldn't help but clench his fists. Seeing that he was about to get angry, Zhao Tong immediately advised:
"Your Highness, the palace examination results are about to be announced. Tomorrow's banquet will be attended by all the future new Jinshi. The princes are planning to make friends with the scholars in advance. Your Highness, please do not act willfully."
Making friends with scholars is a common thing, but making friends before and after the palace examination results are announced is different.
"I know, but yesterday, my teacher was accused of forming a clique for personal gain and is now detained in the Ministry of Justice. How can I enjoy myself at the banquet?"
Since the beginning of spring, the prince's party has killed several officials in succession. It would be fine if it killed others, but Taifu Yao was his teacher since he was a child!
Zhao Tong saw that the pair of originally cold peach blossom eyes had a little blush on them, and he knew that His Highness was anxious and sad, but he could only say:
"Then Your Highness must attend the banquet. This banquet is originally held for the tribute scholars. The Grand Tutor is the leader of the students in the world. As his student, how can you be absent?
Moreover, Imperial Tutor Yao is a three-term cabinet minister, a man who entered the court when the Empress was still alive. Your Majesty would not dare to arbitrarily sentence him without investigating this matter for more than a month."
Even though Zhao Tong was one of them and knew Master Yao well, Xiao Ji couldn't help but defend his teacher again and again.
"The teacher is incorruptible and wholeheartedly serves the country. How could he form a clique for personal gain or accept bribes?"
However, thinking of his teacher's teachings, Xiao Ji suppressed his inner resentment and said coldly, "I will go and have a proper meeting with them tomorrow."
Isn't it just a polo match? It's a good way for him to let off some steam.
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