Chapter 149

Kou’er answered and ran off with a quick pitter-patter of footsteps.

Zheng Sanniang pressed her lips together to stifle a smile, then walked into the courtyard to listen. Seeing that the main house was quiet and devoid of sound, she grinned, turned around wordlessly, and entered the woodshed. She caught an old hen, slaughtered it, and set it to stew on the stove.

A short while later, Yuwei returned. Seeing the doors to the main house tightly shut and Xuemei squatting on the ground picking vegetables, she was about to greet her. However, hearing the movement, Xuemei looked up and called out to her, “Sister Yuwei, Sanniang said Ninth Master and the Madam have been exhausted by the wedding preparations. It wasn’t easy for them to finally get some sleep, so she told us not to disturb them.”

Are Ninth Master and the Madam not awake yet?

The words almost escaped Yuwei’s lips when she saw Zheng Sanniang appear at the kitchen door, cleaver in hand. “Yuwei,” Sanniang asked, “is everything settled over at the Sun family’s place in Bensi Hutong?”

“It’s all settled!” Yuwei replied. Zheng Sanniang beckoned to her. “Come, I’ve made three-fresh dumplings today. Come and give me a hand.”

Yuwei glanced at the closed doors of the main house, then at Zheng Sanniang’s determined expression, and finally went into the kitchen.

Inside the inner chamber, Fu Tingjun couldn’t help but let out a long sigh of relief.

She had been raised since childhood with the family precept of “rising at dawn.” Sleeping until the sun was high in the sky like this made her feel as if she were being lazy. Although she had no elders to answer to here, it was, after all, her first day after the wedding, and she couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy.

Her entire body was aching and sore.

The corners of her mouth twitched involuntarily.

That Zhao Ling... he only knew how to be so rough!

The thought flashed through her mind, and her face instantly turned scalding hot.

It was her own fault, too. Hearing him call her "Nannan" in a hoarse whisper against her ear, feeling him lose himself in passion because of her, her heart had turned soft. She couldn’t bear to refuse him; even the various discomforts of her body became insignificant... she let him indulge himself wantonly. By the end, she had reached a point where just seeing his satisfied face made her body feel strange... as if as long as she stayed pressed tightly against him, she felt immense joy.

Thinking of this, she turned over bashfully.

Sixth Aunt had once said that men found this sort of thing pleasurable, but for women, it was mostly painful.

It had hurt a little at the beginning, but later, her mind had become somewhat hazy... her head was filled with nothing but Zhao Ling’s sated expression. How could she remember anything else?

Fu Tingjun felt her face grow even hotter.

A man’s pleasant scent drifted toward her, and a low, slightly hoarse voice sounded in her ear: “Are you awake?” A warm, wet tongue licked gently at her shoulder. “Does it still hurt?”

It was exactly where the bite mark was.

Fu Tingjun thought of the blush-inducing panting and entanglements of the previous night. Overcome with shyness, she stammered, “No, it... it doesn't hurt!”

Zhao Ling looked at her face, which was as red as the morning clouds, and didn't believe her.

A trace of guilt flashed in his eyes as he gently stroked the bite mark. “Nannan, I will never do this again.”

Fu Tingjun was stunned. She turned her head to look at the spot his finger was caressing and saw a ring of teeth marks.

Was he... was he talking about this mark?

She had thought...

Fu Tingjun’s face burned.

Then she wondered, when did he bite her?

She remembered that he had been a bit reckless the first time. Later, whenever she felt a hint of discomfort, he would kiss her until her head spun... Could he have bitten her then?

However, she didn't seem to recall much pain.

Fu Tingjun looked up and saw a flash of regret on Zhao Ling’s face.

“It’s nothing, really,” she hurried to comfort him. “It doesn’t hurt at all. Truly, my skin is just poor. Sometimes if I bump into something, it might not leave a mark, but if it does, it always takes a long time to fade...”

Zhao Ling thought back to their time as refugees; she hadn't uttered a single word of complaint despite the hardship.

She was surely saying this just to comfort him.

His heart filled with even more guilt. He pulled her into a tight embrace, burying his head in her shoulder. “Nannan...” He didn't know how to express his apology.

Fu Tingjun sensed his unease and felt he was making a mountain out of a molehill. She wasn't made of glass; she wasn't that fragile. Moreover, she could feel that although he had appeared steady last night, he had actually been quite clumsy, as if he had never experienced such a thing before... How could she blame him for hurting her?

She gently held him and whispered, “We should get up. It’s almost time for lunch.” She teased, “You might not be hungry, but I am.”

There was no point in dwelling on it. He would just have to treat her well from now on.

Zhao Ling couldn't help but smile slightly.

He silently thanked the Buddha in his heart for letting him meet her... they were so perfectly in tune with one another!

Zhao Ling gave an “En” of agreement and sat up, picking up the undergarments tossed to the side. “I’ll help you dress!”

“No, there’s no need.” Fu Tingjun’s face turned so red it looked as if it might drip blood. She snatched the undergarments, grabbed the corner of the quilt, and hid beneath it, dressing herself with a series of rustling sounds.

Zhao Ling’s eyes were filled with appreciation for her bashful charm, but then he noticed her expression stiffen slightly.

“What’s wrong?” He immediately lunged toward her. “Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

“No, I’m not!” Fu Tingjun avoided his gaze, so embarrassed she could hardly lift her head.

Between her legs, a sticky fluid was flowing out... The first two times, he had helped her clean up. Towards dawn, when she was dazed with exhaustion, he had insisted on more, so she had simply let him have his way... afterward, she had fallen asleep, and naturally, she hadn't been able to attend to anything else.

“Go and call Zhenzhu in for me,” she whispered. “Let her serve me while I wash.”

Zhao Ling’s eyes lit up as he heard this, and he offered eagerly, “I’ll help you!”

Fu Tingjun thought of the burning, intense gaze he had fixed on her while helping her clean up before. Her eyes flashed with shyness as she whispered a "No" and wrapped herself tightly in the quilt.

It was only because she hadn't been able to refuse his playful persistence that he had succeeded before. He had said he was helping her wash, but before the water droplets on her body were even dry, he had carried her back to the bed...

It was daylight now; she could not agree to it this time, no matter what.

Thinking of that porcelain-white body that had left him so entranced, Zhao Ling couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed. Yet he also knew that if he really helped her wash, it was a toss-up whether he could restrain himself. Despite this, he hesitated for a moment before making up his mind. He threw on his robe and stepped off the bed. “I’ll go call Zhenzhu for you.”

Only then did Fu Tingjun breathe a sigh of relief.

After finishing her toilet, Fu Tingjun specifically styled her hair into a peony bun, adorned with South Sea pearl hair-flowers, a pure gold hairpin inlaid with mutton-fat jade in a "may all things go as you wish" design, and a pair of small gold lilac earrings.

Zhenzhu, who was helping her dress, couldn't help but remark, “Madam, you are truly beautiful.”

Today was the first day of her marriage; she ought to dress festively.

Fu Tingjun smiled and put on a bright red silk jacket embroidered with gold thread before heading to the parlor.

However, Zhao Ling was nowhere to be seen.

While she was wondering where he was, Kou’er walked in with a beaming smile.

“Madam,” she bowed to Fu Tingjun, “Master Mo has awakened, so Ninth Master went to see him. He said he will be having lunch with Master Mo in the south parlor and asked you not to wait for him.”

Fu Tingjun nodded.

Kou’er went into the inner chamber to tidy up the room with Zhenzhu.

With nothing to do, Fu Tingjun went to the kitchen.

Zheng Sanniang, Yuwei, and Xuemei were all there.

“Madam, please sit down.” Zheng Sanniang spoke to Fu Tingjun while her hands never stopped slicing pickled radish into fine shreds. “I’ve stewed an old hen soup with ginseng and goji berries. Madam, have a bowl first.” She gestured for Xuemei to serve the soup.

Yuwei, who was helping with the fire at the stove, dropped the wood upon hearing this, wiped her hands, and cleared the small square table in the kitchen.

Fu Tingjun began to talk to her about the matters at Bensi Hutong. Learning that Master Lyu had gone over early in the morning to help handle everything, she nodded and said, “Later, prepare a four-color gift set and go there again. Say it was my instruction to thank the Sun mother and daughter for their great help. Tell them that after a month has passed, I will personally visit to thank them.”

Yuwei acknowledged the task.

Xuemei had already brought over the ginseng and goji berry chicken soup.

Fu Tingjun took a sip and found it exceptionally delicious. She instructed her, “Ninth Master and Master Mo are in the south parlor; send some over to them as well!”

Hearing this, Zheng Sanniang interjected, “Ninth Master will be hosting Master Mo in the south parlor later; it won't be too late to bring it over then.”

So this was a special meal prepared just for me!

Fu Tingjun didn't mind. She finished the soup and went with Yuwei to the storehouse to take stock of her things.

Xuemei asked Zheng Sanniang, “Why not give it to Ninth Master and Master Mo to drink?”

Zheng Sanniang gave her a sharp look. “Madam has endured hardships during the escape; she needs to nourish her body well now so she can give birth to a healthy young master.” She added, “In the future, keep your eyes open. If you see a fat, large old hen, buy it!”

Xuemei nodded, only half-understanding.

In the storehouse, Fu Tingjun looked at the neatly arranged dowry and nodded with satisfaction. She smiled at Yuwei, “It’s clear that Madam Li is also a very virtuous and capable woman.”

Yuwei laughed. “That’s for certain. Otherwise, Teacher Yao wouldn't have invited Madam Li to be the Lady of Full Blessing for our side.”

Fu Tingjun thought for a moment and said, “Prepare two more four-color gift sets later. Besides the eldest young madam of the Chen family, you must also make a trip to Madam Li’s residence.”

Yuwei smilingly agreed.

After lunch, Fu Tingjun sent Zhenzhu to tell Zheng San to prepare the carriage for Yuwei, but Zhenzhu returned and told her, “Zheng San has already left to escort Master Mo back to his residence.”

Could it be that I have to hire a sedan chair or a carriage just for Yuwei to deliver gifts?

That would make the Zhao family’s foundation seem a bit too thin.

While Fu Tingjun was pondering this, Zhao Ling walked in.

“Mo Yi lives in the Second Hutong near our house. Zheng San will be back in half an hour at most.”

Fu Tingjun felt relieved.

Zhao Ling then consulted her, “How about we go to Sixi Hutong tomorrow?”

The three-day return visit.

Even though she was no longer a daughter of the Fu family, Zhao Ling still showed respect to the Fu family members.

Although Fu Tingjun very much wanted her mother to know she had married well, the thought of the slap her father had landed on Zhao Ling’s face made her shake her head. “Just let Yuwei go.”

Zhao Ling said seriously, “A-Jun, if you aren't afraid of me clashing with your father and brother, we should go back. I think your mother must be very worried about you.”

He called her father and brother "your father" and "your brother," but called her mother "mother-in-law."

Fu Tingjun thought of the cowering appearance of her father and brother at that time, and her heart suddenly felt lighter.

Yes, what was there to be afraid of?

If not for her sake, would her father have been able to land that slap on Zhao Ling’s face?

As long as her own stance remained firm, what did Zhao Ling have to worry about?

“Fine, we’ll go back to see Mother.” She raised her eyebrows and gave a charming smile. “But you aren't allowed to act like a spineless weakling.”

“Don't you worry!” Zhao Ling laughed. “As long as you don't blame me!”