Chapter 4: Consummating the Marriage

Chapter 4: To Fulfill the Marital Duty

Yan Huaixuan let out a heavy breath, closed his eyes to rest his mind, and cleared his thoughts.

Eunuch Gu truly kept his word—by evening, a young eunuch came by. But when Shen Lian opened the door, his expression soured.

The food wasn't fresh.

Yet Shen Lian's face betrayed nothing, just offering a smile. "Thank you."

He picked up the basket and started to leave, but heard a voice from the top of the wall: "A Lian!"

Hearing the voice, Shen Lian looked up and saw a guard perched on the wall.

The guard was good-looking enough, but compared to Yan Huaixuan, he was nowhere close.

Moreover, he had a flirtatious air about him. The moment he saw Shen Lian, he immediately flashed a sleazy grin. "A Lian, have you missed your Brother Ye?"

Shen Lian kept his face blank. "Look at what you did."

Yes—when he transmigrated here, the original body had already been sowing his wild oats in the cold palace. Fortunately, Yan Huaixuan hadn't caught on yet.

The original body, seeing no way to leave the cold palace, had just let himself go. Who could've guessed Yan Huaixuan would later drop that bombshell on him?

In the end, Yan Huaixuan's sword strike didn't kill Shen Lian—it only crippled him. Yet Shen Lian, choking on regret, coughed up blood and died.

But he wasn't the original owner of this body. Shen Lian tucked his hair back, studying his reflection in the well water.

In his past life, with a hand that hellish, he had still clawed his way to the top, dripping in all-American diamonds.

In this life, he could cultivate immortality the same way and enjoy endless life.

Yan Huaixuan let out a heavy breath. Before he even heard anything, he caught a rich, subtle fragrance.

Yan Huaixuan had long since stopped eating; his body naturally cleansed itself of impurities.

At the scent, he frowned, barely noticeable.

Sure enough, when he opened his eyes, there was the person pushing through the door.

The next moment, Yan Huaixuan froze.

It was the height of summer, the kind of heat that had people tossing and turning.

Yet Shen Lian came in wearing thick clothes, wrapped from head to toe in layers.

It looked like he had several layers of clothing on.

By now, Shen Lian's forehead was beaded with sweat from the heat, his black hair sticking damply to his cheeks.

Shen Lian met Yan Huaixuan's gaze.

Shen Lian huffed. "Weren't you just scolding me for being sloppy? Well, now I'm all bundled up!"

As he spoke, he spun around so Yan Huaixuan could see the thick layers on him.

Ling Yun couldn't help commenting in Yan Huaixuan's mind: "Pretty but dumb."

Yan Huaixuan said nothing.

Shen Lian was used to Yan Huaixuan's coldness. He set the food box on the table. "Dinner time!"

When the box opened, even Yan Huaixuan hesitated.

He could tell at a glance the ingredients weren't fresh, but they'd been turned into something that looked and smelled amazing—clearly a lot of effort went into it.

Shen Lian was confident in his cooking skills.

The way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

Previously, Yan Huaixuan had been eating scraps and leftovers. With cooking at this imperial banquet level, how could he not win Yan Huaixuan over?

But Yan Huaixuan looked away. Forget the fact that he'd already transcended the need for food—he had zero interest in anything Shen Lian made.

"You can eat it yourself."

Shen Lian blinked. "Is my husband disgusted with A Lian?"

Yan Huaixuan's tone stayed flat: "No."

The moment he spoke, he heard a soft sob. Yan Huaixuan turned and met Shen Lian's reddened eyes.

The young man bit his lip hard, but refused to let the tears fall.

It made Yan Huaixuan wonder—how could anyone cry this easily?

Didn't he just spin around in here a second ago?

"You just think what A Lian makes isn't good enough," Shen Lian said, lowering his head and holding out his fingers for Yan Huaixuan to see. There was a small, thin scar on one, as if from a knife cut.

"I might not have been favored before, but I was still a young master. When had I ever so much as touched flour and oil?"

"I thought since the weather's turned cold and you're not feeling well, I'd make something good to nourish you. Who knew you'd be so unappreciative?"

Shen Lian wasn't about to be the type to sacrifice silently and keep it to himself.

Whatever he did, he wanted Yan Huaixuan to know about it.

Icebergs like this were most afraid of persistent clingers. As his thoughts churned, Shen Lian had already cooked up a new strategy for Yan Huaixuan.

Yan Huaixuan's brow furrowed, barely noticeable. Shen Lian was driving him crazy—he'd planned to break through to Foundation Establishment tonight, but now he couldn't stop being pestered.

Looking at the finger again, Ling Yun's mouth twitched. "If that wound had shown up any later, it would've already healed."

Yet Shen Lian insisted on shoving it right in Yan Huaixuan's face. "Husband, look—it hurts so bad."

Yan Huaixuan was forced to look. The snow-white fingertip was indeed a little swollen and red.

Yan Huaixuan said flatly: "High-maintenance."

Hearing this, Shen Lian immediately pushed further. "So what if I'm high-maintenance? Can't I be spoiled in front of my husband? Your Highness is being so unreasonable."

He leaned in again, and that fragrance drifted over Yan Huaixuan once more.

If he refused, Shen Lian might do something even more outrageous.

Yan Huaixuan had no choice but to dodge Shen Lian's hand and say coldly: "Chopsticks."

At that, Shen Lian's eyes lit up instantly. Tears still clinging to his lashes, he broke into a smile and immediately put the chopsticks into Yan Huaixuan's hand.

"Hubby, come try it."

Yan Huaixuan took the chopsticks, his gaze brushing over Shen Lian's glittering eyes, which seemed to hold a myriad of stars.

For some reason, he paused for a moment, but quickly averted his gaze.

Yan Huaixuan thought to himself.

He was eager for quick gains, his ambition laid bare with no attempt to hide it.

But Yan Huaixuan hadn't expected that the moment he picked up the chopsticks, Shen Lian would lean in, his upper body going boneless as he pressed close.

Yan Huaixuan realized Shen Lian had zero posture and acted way too casually and boldly.

For the first half month, he'd been on his best behavior to win favor, but who knew a single word from Yan Huaixuan would make him drop the act and show his true colors.

And right now was a perfect example.

The moment Yan Huaixuan dropped his gaze, he caught sight of Shen Lian's damp neck. Even bundled up so tightly, Shen Lian couldn't shake his reckless ways.

He deliberately pulled his collar askew, revealing pale, tender skin, damp with sweat, like ripe, plump peach flesh that would burst with juice at the slightest squeeze.

His gorgeous face wore an expression of blatant flattery and boldness.

Ling Yun sent Yan Huaixuan a telepathic message, "Call Shen Lian stupid, and he knows to butter up his master for a promotion; call him smart, and his ambition is out there for all to see."

Yan Huaixuan ignored Ling Yun and instead snapped at Shen Lian in a cold, low voice, "Sit up straight."

This time, Shen Lian got it. He lifted his head and whispered, "During the day, you said no hanky-panky in daylight, but it's nighttime now."

That was too much to hear. Yan Huaixuan cut him off. "Eat."

Shen Lian hummed, picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks, and placed it in Yan Huaixuan's bowl, "Come try it."

Yan Huaixuan eyed the cold meat from the chopsticks Shen Lian had already bitten, quietly got rid of it with a spell, then took a few casual bites before setting down his bowl and chopsticks.

"You may leave now."

"Mm-hmm," Shen Lian said verbally, but his body didn't move.

This made Yan Huaixuan, who was about to close his eyes and focus on cultivation, furrow his brow almost imperceptibly, "Why haven't you left yet?"

Shen Lian: "To do what married couples do with you."