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Chapter 52: The Nuptial Night
The evening meal was a somber affair, with only three people at the table.
Tan Jian was not home, and the dining hall felt particularly desolate. To make matters worse, two of the three diners had little appetite.
Xiang Yi could somewhat understand Yang Zhen’s lack of interest in food; after all, her heart was consumed with thoughts of Tan Jian, leaving no room for meals.
But why was this ‘Master’ also not particularly inclined to eat?
Xiang Yi, however, had no time to concern herself with him at the moment. She could only coax Yang Zhen to eat a little more, lest Tan Jian return home to find his new bride having starved herself thin.
While she focused on Yang Zhen, Tan Ting sat to the side, watching his wife.
When dealing with others, she was always meticulous, considerate, and attentive, like a woman with a heart of exquisite craftsmanship. Yet, when it came to him, she was somehow less than half as attentive.
Tan Ting’s thoughts drifted back to his early return home that day and her answer at the door.
He silently placed a morsel of food into her bowl. Seeing this, she in turn offered him two dishes.
Upon witnessing this, Tan Ting sighed inwardly, resigning himself.
She was not as forthright as his sister-in-law. Furthermore, he had not been good to her in the past. What more could he expect?
Still, he couldn’t help but steal another glance at her.
If they were to have a child, would she perhaps feel a little closer to him then?
Today marked the fifth day of the month.
Tan Ting returned to their chambers early that evening.
Seeing him back, Xiang Yi remembered the small seal that her maid had been rushing to make. She turned to him and said,
“Young Master, could you bring the small seal back? I wish to refine the edges a little more.”
Her words warmed Tan Ting’s heart. The seal was already well-made, yet she still wanted to strive for perfection for his sake.
“Will it tire your eyes?” he asked softly.
Xiang Yi replied that it would not. “I’ve recently learned some new techniques, which would be perfect for that small seal. I’d like to try them out.”
Tan Ting choked slightly.
So, it wasn’t for his sake, but to hone her skills.
He fell silent, washed up, and sat on the bed to read.
Xiang Yi watched the man who had settled on the bed so early. She checked the time again.
There was still a considerable while before their usual bedtime.
Xiang Yi paused, then suddenly remembered that today was the fifth day of the month.
Once, in Qing Han, at Qiuyuan, she had prepared incense according to Madam Zhao’s instructions. But he had seemed startled, pulling at her clothes and saying that they should not have a child before leaving Qing Han.
Afterward, they had set off on their journey. The ship’s cabin was not like the rooms in a residence; it was inconvenient, and the fifth days passed without the usual activity.
Now that they were in the capital, and it was the fifth day of the month once more.
Seeing him settled on the bed reading so early, Xiang Yi naturally understood. She put down her tasks, washed up, and joined him on the bed.
Tan Ting subtly observed his wife.
He couldn’t help but recall the matter of the incense last time.
If she was still as unwilling, not wanting to be intimate with him, yet having to do so, he would not force her.
But her expression today was as usual. Unsure if she felt his gaze, she quietly looked over at him.
In the quiet tent, the moment their eyes met, the candle flame outside crackled.
This sound seemed to break the slight stiffness between them.
Tan Ting’s gaze settled calmly upon his wife.
She was wearing only a plain, off-white inner garment. Her hair ornaments had come loose, and her lustrous black hair had partially fallen down, cascading over her slender back and shoulders.
Under his gaze, she gently lowered her head. Her fair, slender neck was completely exposed above the collar of her garment.
The small lamp outside the tent flared brightly for a moment.
Xiang Yi, a little shy, whispered softly,
“Master, could you dim the lamp outside the tent?”
Her voice lost some of its coolness, becoming even softer and warmer.
Tan Ting’s heart skipped a beat. He immediately did as she asked, lowering the overly bright lamp.
Inside the tent, a humid heat filled the space like hot spring water.
Xiang Yi felt as if her body had plunged into scalding boiling water, the heat of the man’s chest melting her.
In the past, their intimacy had been like this, yet there was still a distance between them, with no further entanglement of legs and arms.
But Xiang Yi was fully supported by his back. He held her close, his burning chest pressing down on her, squeezing out the last bit of air between them.
The atmosphere within the tent grew increasingly humid and warm. Even without incense, the room seemed to swirl with a heavy, intoxicating fragrance.
Xiang Yi had no strength left to resist. Her breaths came in gasps, her eyes filled with a misty moisture.
After a long while, the beads of sweat on his forehead dripped down, and the intensity gradually subsided.
Xiang Yi no longer had the strength to speak. She was thinking about how to support herself to get up and wash, when his large hand once again fell upon her waist.
But this time, instead of lifting her to the bathing room as before, he leaned in again.
This?!
Xiang Yi’s eyes widened in astonishment.
Her look of utter shock caused the man to pause slightly.
“What is it, Yizhen?”
Xiang Yi found it difficult to speak directly. She could only ask him,
“Master, aren’t you going to rest?”
Regarding this question, the man pondered for a moment before asking her another.
“Perhaps tomorrow?”
Tomorrow?!
Xiang Yi blurted out involuntarily.
“Tomorrow is not a fifth day.”
That was right. Apart from the time Madam Zhao sent the incense, their intimacy had only occurred on the fifth days of the month.
Tan Ting cleared his throat and, with a muffled voice, glanced at his wife.
“Yizhen, let’s have a child.”
This sudden declaration made Xiang Yi’s thoughts reel.
However, before her thoughts could settle, he gently pressed her hand to his ear and leaned in to press down again.
As things progressed, Xiang Yi had long since lost track of time.
The small lamp he had extinguished outside the tent seemed to flicker back to life. Xiang Yi, in a daze, bit her lip and then released it. The fine sweat on her forehead mingled with his, and together with the sweat falling from his chin, it slid down into the brocade quilt.
Tan Ting gazed softly at his wife in his arms.
Her face was flushed, and her eyes held a shimmering moisture.
A tiny bead of sweat formed on the tip of her nose.
Her lips, never so vibrant and moist, were now bitten and immediately filled with a rosy hue, like cherries dipped in syrup.
Tan Ting’s gaze was momentarily captivated. He couldn’t help but lower his head, his lips brushing against her rosy lips.
The humid air within the tent enveloped them both.
Yet, despite their closeness, they had never kissed with tongue, not even a light touch.
As the man’s lips drew near hers, Xiang Yi instinctively turned her head.
Both froze.
The cool air, squeezed to the edges by the humid heat, suddenly flipped, passing through the gap between their lips.
Was she too tired?
Tan Ting stared blankly at his wife for a few moments. He did not press closer to her lips, but instead, his movements became gentler and slightly quicker.
After some time, silence finally fell within the tent.
Tan Ting directly carried his wife to the bathing room.
Tan Ting had long since instructed someone to prepare a large tub of water. He carried his wife directly to the bathing tub.
However, the wooden tub was not particularly large. When Tan Ting turned and stepped in, it became somewhat crowded.
Xiang Yi, unaccustomed to being like this with him in a place other than the bed, quickly washed herself and, bracing her weakened body, prepared to leave.
Tan Ting was momentarily surprised to see her about to leave.
But in the next instant, Xiang Yi’s foot slipped. She failed to leave and instead fell into his arms.
When she looked up again, she saw the smile in his eyes.
Water splashed, rising and falling, clinging to Xiang Yi’s face.
Tan Ting, rarely seeing his wife so flustered yet somewhat panicked, couldn’t help but stare for a few more moments. He gently raised his hand and wiped away the water droplets from her brow and the tip of her nose.
A single drop also hung on her lips.
His fingertip moved downwards, and as he wiped away the droplet, he gradually lowered his head, approaching her lips once more.
He thought, a kiss between husband and wife should be a common thing.
She was probably just tired earlier.
However, as he drew near again, he saw his wife avoid his lips once more.
The air in the bathing room seemed to freeze.
Tan Ting was stunned. She hastily pulled herself from his embrace and quickly left.
Only the empty space in his arms remained.
The next day, an incense to calm the nerves was lit in the study.
But the incense’s effect was clearly not significant. Tan Ting sat at his desk, unable to stop thinking about her two evasions last night, and recalling his sister-in-law’s question about missing someone, and her answer, “Never.”
The matter of his official appointment had not yet been settled. Tan Ting’s first official position upon formally entering officialdom was of great importance. In the past two days, officials from his clan had written to him to discuss this matter.
It was a rather crucial affair, yet Tan Ting inexplicably lacked the mood to discuss it in detail.
He felt he shouldn’t be like this, but his thoughts kept drifting.
Perhaps it was because he had not treated her well before, having neglected her for too long.
Tan Jian had been at Boyun Academy for several days.
He recalled how he had wanted to send Xiang Yu to Boyun Academy to study, but the siblings had not agreed.
He wondered what their reasoning was.
She shouldn’t refuse his help to the point of letting Xiang Yu take the exam at Boyun Academy on his own, should she?
Although their relationship was not as close as others, it was not so distant.
Tan Ting thought that when Tan Jian returned, he would ask about the academy’s situation and send Xiang Yu there as well.
It was he who had not done well in the past, but now he should grow closer to the siblings.
Thinking of his wife, Tan Ting’s thoughts wandered for a long time before he slowly returned to his senses and focused on the matters on his desk.
The capital, Boyun Academy.
Tan Jian had stayed there for two consecutive days. By the third day, he could no longer suppress his desire to return home.
But as he bid farewell to the Headmaster of the academy and prepared to leave, he discovered that the area outside the academy was inexplicably blocked, making passage impossible.
Unable to descend the mountain, Tan Jian inquired and learned that today was the day the results of Boyun Academy’s spring examinations were to be posted.
Boyun Academy specifically reserved spots for ordinary scholars from humble origins, requiring these talented individuals to pass an examination to gain admission.
Even a privileged scion of a noble family like Tan Jian couldn’t help but admire the scholars who came to take the exam.
He couldn’t help but glance at the large red (list of successful candidates). These were the names of the scholars from humble origins who had passed.
The list was not long. After a few glances, he reached the end. Most of the candidates had failed, but a small portion had their names listed.
As Tan Jian looked down the list, he suddenly saw a familiar name.
He rubbed his eyes and looked again, disbelieving. He asked the young servant beside him to confirm it as well, and swallowed hard.
“Xiang Yu?! Yu-ge’er also came to Boyun Academy? How did he get in on his own?!”
He recalled that his elder brother had mentioned wanting Xiang Yu to study at Boyun Academy with him. He didn’t know what happened later that Xiang Yu didn’t come along.
He had been puzzled, but he hadn’t expected Xiang Yu to take the exam himself. Although his ranking was towards the end, he had actually passed!
Perhaps it was because Tan Jian’s voice was too loud, but someone nearby turned to look at him.
The person glanced at him, raised an eyebrow, and turned to leave.
Tan Jian quickly stepped forward and stopped him.
“Yu-ge’er?! It really is you!”
Xiang Yu, having passed the spring examination at Boyun Academy, was about to head home to tell Xiang Ning and then write to his elder sister. He saw Tan Jian.
He had no desire to interact with anyone from the Tan family. Upon seeing Tan Jian, he merely cupped his hands politely and was about to leave.
But Tan Jian blocked his path, preventing him from leaving.
“Why did you come to take the exam yourself? Does sister-in-law know?”
He then called out to Xiang Yu, “I’m heading home anyway. Why don’t you come back with me? Sister-in-law will surely be happy to know you passed.”
Hearing this, Xiang Yu paused.
“Second Master Tan, are you saying my elder sister has also come to the capital?”
Tan Jian quickly confirmed it and recounted how his elder brother had specifically brought his wife along on their journey north by boat.
Xiang Yu was truly stunned upon hearing this.
He hadn’t expected the eldest master of the Tan family to actually bring his sister with him.
What was the meaning of this?
Didn’t he hate coming home, wishing for ten years to pass before returning? Didn’t he look down on people from humble origins?
What had changed?
Xiang Yu did not wish to speak further with Tan Jian. He simply said he understood and would go to the capital to find his elder sister later.
But Tan Jian was still surprised. “You, you’re not coming to stay in the capital with me for a few days?”
When he asked, Xiang Yu merely shook his head, politely declined his offer, and disappeared into the crowd.
As he left, Tan Jian touched his nose. He dared not pester this little ancestor who even dared to retort to his elder brother. He hurried back to the capital.
Elder brother is truly something. How could he let Xiang Yu take the exam alone?
The capital.
When Tan Ting returned to the main courtyard from the study, he saw his wife watering flowers in the courtyard.
Upon seeing him, she uttered the same phrase, “Master has returned.”
If not for her two evasions last night, Tan Ting would have felt his heart warm upon hearing this. But now, it only made him feel a sense of muffled discontent.
Her actions were no different from usual, and even their time in bed had been unremarkable. Yet, during moments of intimacy, she had suddenly pulled away.
Tan Ting didn’t know how to ask her, or what to say.
Just then, a commotion arose outside, followed by footsteps approaching the quiet courtyard entrance.
Yang Zhen called out from outside.
“Elder Brother, Elder Sister-in-law, Second Master has returned!”
Seeing her husband return, Yang Zhen’s eyes lit up. Even though he was a useless fellow, she looked at him as if he were a rare delicacy.
Tan Jian was also overjoyed. He held Yang Zhen’s hand tightly.
They came forward to pay their respects to Tan Ting and Xiang Yi.
Tan Ting briefly inquired about his visit to the academy, and Tan Jian replied to each question. Tan Ting nodded.
Unexpectedly, he suddenly turned to Xiang Yi and said,
“Sister-in-law, I saw Yu-ge’er. Yu-ge’er is truly impressive, he passed the spring examination at Boyun Academy and made the list!”
Xiang Yi suddenly heard news of her brother.
She froze for a moment, then the corners of her mouth couldn’t help but curve upwards.
“Truly?”
“Truly! I saw it with my own eyes, and I even saw Yu-ge’er,” Tan Jian rubbed his nose, “It’s just that he refused to come to the capital with me.”
Xiang Yi told Tan Jian not to mind it. Thinking of her younger brother passing the examination at Boyun Academy at such a young age, she couldn’t help but be happy from the bottom of her heart.
But in the next instant, she noticed a shocked and questioning gaze from the side.
Tan Ting looked at his wife, falling into silence.
She had truly refused his help and let Xiang Yu take the exam at Boyun Academy on his own?
Tan Ting’s heart suddenly ached with a bitter sharpness.
Xiang Yi also sensed that something was amiss and looked at him uneasily.
She felt that she might need to explain, for instance, that Yu-ge’er had resolved to take the exam himself, and that his teachers from Qingzhou Academy had brought him. But inexplicably, she felt as though she wouldn’t be able to explain it clearly at all.
She remained silent for a moment, but Tan Ting did not press the matter further. He merely withdrew his gaze in silence and turned to go to the study with a muffled sound.
Xiang Yi unconsciously followed him a few steps, but as he truly began to leave, she stopped.
As soon as Tan Jian returned home, the entire Tan family mansion became lively.
However, it was also Yang Zhen’s day for returning to her maiden home. Having welcomed Tan Jian, she happily took him back to the Marquis of Zhongqing’s residence.
They were to visit the bride’s maiden home first, then pay their respects to the Lin family mistress.
Tan Ting and Xiang Yi, however, were different. The next day, Tan Ting took Xiang Yi to the Lin Mansion.
The couple had spoken less than half their usual amount in the past two days.
However, before arriving at the Lin Mansion, Tan Ting gazed at his wife for a while and still gave her some instructions regarding the Lin family.
Then, he softly added, “If there is anything that makes you uncomfortable, have someone send word to Zheng Ji. I will always be here.”
First Madam Lin was known for her authority and decisiveness. She had a considerable reputation among the noble families, and Xiang Yi had heard of her.
She had already imagined that the First Madam Lin would likely not treat her with any warmth.
Hearing Tan Ting speak thus, her heart couldn’t help but soften. “Thank you, Master.”
However, after entering the Lin Mansion and parting ways with Tan Ting, she arrived at First Madam Lin’s courtyard. After sitting for half an hour, she did not see even a single person from the First Madam’s retinue.
***
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