Moments later, on the streets of the town by the river.
Ye Jingtang was wearing a young master's robe with cloud patterns. He walked past the street like a hidden scoundrel. The night wind blew against his face, and he felt a bit more comfortable.
However, thinking that he would soon be taken care of by Lady Luo, a female martial artist, his mind became even more muddled, and he had a strong desire to return home quickly.
The big bird Niao Niao, which had eaten to its fill, was walking in a splayed gait at his feet to digest the food. Along the way, it was chirping, "Chirp chirp chirp..." and talking about how it had just seen the demoness sister chasing someone.
Ye Jingtang could roughly understand the meaning. He glanced a few times at the mountains across the river. Seeing no movement, he directly returned to the small inn in the corner of the town.
The inn's main gate was already closed. Ye Jingtang leaped over the wall and went up the stairs to the second floor. After letting Niao Niao play on its own, he opened the door of the room with the light on:
"Ning'er, I'm back... Eh? Third Lady."
The door opened, and the scene in the room came into view.
The canopy bed had been replaced with clean bed sheets and covers, and it was neatly arranged. There was no clean and fresh Ning'er baby on it.
Next to the tea table by the window, Third Lady, who had changed back into a light yellow ruqun (a traditional Chinese dress), was sitting gracefully to the side with a teacup in her hand. Her hair was also coiled up, and the flower-and-bird hairpin he had given her was inserted obliquely. Her lips were painted with a striking red rouge that was very attractive to men.
When she noticed the door open, Third Lady's eyes flashed with a different look, but she quickly regained the elegance and composure that a female sect leader should have and put down the teacup:
"You're back? How is your body?"
Ye Jingtang looked at the charming and delicate Third Lady and was obviously a bit surprised. He quickly composed his lustful expression, closed the door, and walked towards the tea table:
"My body is okay... Where has Luo Ning gone?"
When Pei Xiangjun mentioned this, she felt a bit annoyed in her heart. She had just taken a bath and wanted to discuss with the fox-like beauty how to solve the current problem. However, after the fox-like beauty taught her some things, she hid away, not even giving her time to think and leaving her here to deal with the situation.
Now that Jingtang asked, Pei Xiangjun thought for a while and could only say:
"Ning'er wasn't feeling well and went to rest first. You..."
Pei Xiangjun was trying to find the right words when she saw that the seemingly gentle and refined Jingtang walked straight up to her, put his hands on the armrests of the chair, surrounded her, and leaned down a bit.
?!
Pei Xiangjun leaned against the back of the chair, her eyes a bit flustered:
"Jingtang! What do you want to do?"
Ye Jingtang carefully looked at the mature and beautiful face in the candlelight and tried his best to speak calmly:
"Nothing. I'm just looking. This rouge is really beautiful..."
Pei Xiangjun had already kissed him. After a moment of hesitation, she still raised her cheeks generously:
"If you want to kiss, just do it. Don't think I don't know. You used to often secretly look at the rouge I painted. I specially painted it for you to see just now..."
?
Ye Jingtang was quite surprised to see that Third Lady was so bold, which was rare for her. He bent down, passed his hand through the bend of Third Lady's leg, picked her up, and placed her on his lap. He tapped on the striking red rouge:
"Why are you so brave today, Third Lady?"
Pei Xiangjun was a bit flustered when she was held by Ye Jingtang, but she tried her best to maintain a calm expression and said softly:
"Ning'er is not good at dealing with this. She was probably afraid that you would be too rough, so she hid. I... I have already been betrothed to you by your aunt. I'm considered your fiancée. You're in such discomfort. How about I help you first..."
"Hmm?" Ye Jingtang blinked his eyes, very surprised.
Pei Xiangjun's face turned red, and she explained seriously:
"It was Ning'er's bad idea. She was so scared that she was almost crying and begged me to help. That's why I... It's not that I want to do that with you..."
Ye Jingtang leaned back in the chair, pinched Third Lady's slender fingers, and smiled:
"I'm actually okay even if I hold it in. You two are so worried, and it makes me feel like I'm making an excuse to take advantage..."
Pei Xiangjun touched Ye Jingtang's forehead and said softly:
"Do you think Luo Ning and I don't know whether you're okay or not? Don't hold it in if you're not feeling well. I... My original intention was to wait until the new house by Tianshui Bridge was ready. After you moved in, with proper matchmaker arrangements and all the formalities, I would then marry you properly..."
"Let's talk about it when we return to the capital. I'm really not in a hurry."
"Sigh..."
Pei Xiangjun wanted to back out, but thinking of the worried look of the fox-like beauty just now, she mustered up the courage and said:
"I know you care about my feelings. I'm timid, so you should let me get used to it slowly... It's okay on ordinary days, but now Ning'er is as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. If I let you endure it while I feel at ease, I'll be acting thoughtlessly, won't I?"
When Pei Xiangjun said this, she found that although Ye Jingtang had a serious expression, his hand was slowly sliding down from her lower back to the plump part behind her waist, kneading it subtly. She snorted softly again:
"Also, you only talk nicely, but your hands are not honest at all..."
"Hmm?"
Ye Jingtang quickly let go of his hand: "I couldn't help it. My hands don't listen to my brain..."
Pei Xiangjun knew that Ye Jingtang was trying to hold it in. After thinking for a while, she unbuttoned the outer garment of her ruqun, revealing the chest wrap embroidered with apricot flowers:
"Okay, I know you're not feeling well and it wasn't on purpose. I'll help you regulate your condition first..."
"Er..."
Pei Xiangjun noticed that the breathing beside her ear became a bit heavier, and her face blushed a bit. But she still straightened up slightly:
"Why are you looking around so restlessly? If you want to look, just look openly. I won't scold you like Ning'er does..."
"..."
Ye Jingtang had good self-control, but there was a limit. Seeing that Third Lady was so gentle and considerate, his not-so-strong self-restraint gradually couldn't hold up. He didn't know how much willpower he used to maintain his expression and look into Third Lady's eyes.
Pei Xiangjun felt that Ye Jingtang's eyes were almost on fire. After a moment of hesitation, she turned her head to look at the lamp and straightened up slightly:
"Forget it. Don't hold it in anymore. I know you're not in your right mind. You can look if you want, and you can also touch... Oof~! You!... Forget it, I won't scold you..."
"Sigh, do I look like a lecher now?"
Pei Xiangjun glanced at Ye Jingtang: "Not too bad. You're just being a bit pushy. Sit still and don't move around. I'll help you regulate your condition."
Ye Jingtang felt that he was almost turning into a werewolf, and his heart was pounding like a drum. He sat on the chair and asked in confusion:
"How are you going to regulate it?"
Pei Xiangjun pursed her lips, recalled the steps taught by the fox-like beauty, stood up, knelt down in front of Ye Jingtang, and looked up at Ye Jingtang who was towering above her.
Ye Jingtang could tell from her posture what method Third Lady was going to use. He said doubtfully:
"Third Lady, are you sure you know how to do this?"
Pei Xiangjun tried to put on an unperturbed look:
"Ning'er taught me. It shouldn't be difficult..."
Ye Jingtang knew it wasn't difficult, but it seemed a bit unfair to Third Lady to be served like a master from the start. After thinking for a while, he pulled her up, held her horizontally in his arms, and walked towards the bed:
"I'll do it today. You can do it yourself next time, Third Lady."
Pei Xiangjun leaned in his arms. When she saw that Ye Jingtang was about to put her into the curtained bed, she got a bit flustered:
"Eh?"
Ye Jingtang stopped in his tracks and looked down:
"What's wrong?"
Pei Xiangjun had originally just meant to help with a certain thing as taught by the fox-like beauty, and then let the fox-like beauty take over. Why was Jingtang planning to do it for real...
Pei Xiangjun wanted to explain, but seeing Ye Jingtang's blushing face and his effort to look gentle and refined, it seemed too cruel to refuse. The words that came to her mouth were swallowed back, and she changed her words:
"Are you up to it now?"
"?"
Ye Jingtang shook his head and smiled. After placing Third Lady on the pillow, he leaned over as well. He looked down at the mature, beautiful, and nervous face and raised his hand to pull out the hairpin he had given her before.
Pei Xiangjun curled her hands in front of her chest, feeling very flustered. But after gritting her teeth secretly for a moment, she sat up and held Ye Jingtang down:
"You're not feeling well. You'd better lie down. I'll help you regulate your condition."
Ye Jingtang leaned back on the pillow and looked at Third Lady towering above him, spreading his hands slightly:
"Do you know how to regulate it, Third Lady?"
"I've been with you for so long. Even if I haven't seen it with my own eyes, I should have learned it by listening."
Pei Xiangjun's long hair cascaded down like ripples of water. She raised her hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, then imitated the starting gesture of the fox-like beauty, arranged Ye Jingtang properly, and then put her hands on both sides, looking down at Ye Jingtang.
!
Ye Jingtang's breath caught. He originally wanted to look at Third Lady affectionately, but Third Lady had a very generous figure. In the push-up position towering above him, his eyes were almost completely blocked by something.
Pei Xiangjun noticed the change in Ye Jingtang's eyes, looked down, and whispered:
"Is it big?"
"Cough cough... Well..."
"Okay, I won't tease you. Don't get out of breath."
"It's okay. I can take it... I just like you like this, Third Lady."
Ye Jingtang reached out to support her to prevent Third Lady from getting too tired from the weight.
Pei Xiangjun's face turned red, and her arms trembled. Finding that she couldn't hold on, she simply lay on Ye Jingtang. Their eyes met:
"Jingtang, I have to ask you a question first."
Ye Jingtang was pressed down firmly, and his breathing was a bit messy. He replied:
"Niao Niao is the youngest in the family, and I'm the second youngest..."
?!
Pei Xiangjun was a bit annoyed when she saw that Ye Jingtang was so eager but still had such a strong sense of self-preservation:
"You're a man and will be the head of the family in the future. Whether it's me or Ning'er, we will be your wives and concubines. How can we order you around? If Ning'er doesn't recognize her status and scolds you in the future, you don't have to say anything. I'll discipline her for you..."
Ye Jingtang patted her back to soothe her: "If she scolds me, it must be because I did something wrong. You can just scold me, Third Lady."
Pei Xiangjun saw that Ye Jingtang was so submissive that he couldn't even bear to discipline a woman, and she was helpless. Then she said:
"I chose a new house. There are four courtyards named Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum. Each courtyard can accommodate three people. You will definitely live in the Plum Courtyard. Where will I live then?"
Ye Jingtang had seen the house before and smiled:
"There aren't many people in the family. We can just live in one courtyard. Let Yun Li live in the embroidery building of the young lady."
Pei Xiangjun knew that no matter how far away Yun Li lived, Luo Ning wouldn't dare to live in the same courtyard as Jingtang. Thinking about it, she didn't say more and started to help regulate his condition according to the skills she had overheard...
Ye Jingtang leaned back on the pillow. When he saw that Third Lady was going to take care of him, he was really flattered. After thinking for a while, he held Third Lady down:
"I'll do it. How can I be a master on the first time and let my wife do all the work..."
Pei Xiangjun's face turned red all the way to her neck, but her expression still showed a bit of reluctance:
"Who's your wife? I'm not married yet. Now... Now I'm helping you in advance..."
Ye Jingtang raised his hand to lower the bed curtain and leaned closer:
"I know. My blood is surging to my head, and I'm not in my right mind. I might be a bit rough later. If you're uncomfortable, don't hold it in. Just tell me..."
"I'm much stronger than Ning'er. You... Oof~"
Pei Xiangjun had just said a few words when her mouth was covered. She blinked her eyes and slowly wrapped her arms around his neck.
Rustle...
The lamp in the room gave off a faint light. The two breaths rose and fell alternately, and gradually they both became a bit messy.
Pei Xiangjun had been very nervous at first, but after she really let go, her nervousness gradually subsided. Just as she was closing her eyes and going with the flow, she suddenly heard a voice in her ear:
"Third Lady."
"Hmm~?" Pei Xiangjun opened her eyes, saw Ye Jingtang looking at her, and quickly closed her eyes again:
"What's wrong?"
"On the first day I arrived in Yun'an, I actually thought Third Lady was very beautiful. At that time, I was hesitating whether to stay in the Pei family and live off you. If it weren't for Third Lady, I would definitely have gone to roam the rivers and lakes instead of becoming the young master of the Pei family."
?
Pei Xiangjun's eyelashes fluttered. After a moment of silence, she said softly:
"When you first arrived at the escort agency, Xi He and I secretly watched you from upstairs. We also thought you were very handsome... When we learned that you were my second brother's adopted son, I was quite disappointed..."
"So we can be considered to have fallen in love at first sight?"
"It was more like being attracted by your appearance..."
"?"
"By the way, I'm your martial aunt. Is it immoral for us to be like this..."
"Don't say that. Your aunt betrothed you to me. With the order of our parents and the arrangement of the matchmaker, it's perfectly legitimate..."
"Then how should we address your aunt in the future? Each addressing her according to our own relationship? You call her aunt, and I call her sister-in-law?"
"Hmm... It seems that's the only way. I can't ask you to change your address to aunt. If I change my address to sister-in-law, I'll be in the same generation as my adoptive father..."
"Then what about Pei Luo? You call him brother, and he calls you uncle-in-law?"
"Er..."
"Forget it. You're not in your right mind. Don't talk about these irrelevant things. Let's focus on regulating your condition first... Jingtang! Why do you keep kissing downwards?"
"Is it okay?"
"As long as you like it... It feels a bit embarrassing... Oof..."
...
The murmured words rose and fell in the room, and the two silhouettes embraced each other behind the bed curtain.
The rustling sound was like the spring breeze that silently nourishes everything. Without being noticed, it sneaked into the bed curtain, dyeing every corner with a touch of spring...