Moonlit Reunion

Mei Zhuyu had a few days of marriage leave and didn’t need to go to the Ministry of Justice office. For the first two days, he stayed at Duke Yu’s residence. However, after those two days, he returned to his own house in Changle Ward. He, along with Duke Yu and others, assumed Wu Zhen would continue living at Duke Yu’s residence. After all, many noblewomen in Chang’an preferred staying at their parental homes rather than their husbands’ after marriage—such was the prevailing custom. Given Wu Zhen’s personality, it seemed unlikely she would follow Mei Zhuyu back to his humble abode.

Mei Zhuyu lived a rather frugal life, indifferent to luxuries and uninterested in music or dance. Wu Zhen, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. Though they were now married, if they were to live together long-term, Wu Zhen would likely find it stifling. Mei Zhuyu understood this perfectly and didn’t force the matter.

Yet, no sooner had Mei Zhuyu returned home than his quiet residence became lively—because Wu Zhen had sent people to move many of her belongings there. Her clothes, jewelry, and some of her favorite decorative items were all transported over.

Mei Zhuyu was surprised but also deeply pleased. Even though Wu Zhen mentioned she would only stay occasionally, he still had his already tidy home thoroughly cleaned and reorganized to accommodate her things. He even had new cabinets and furniture made specifically for her use.

With an additional master in the house and more belongings filling the space, the place no longer felt as empty and desolate as before. Wu Zhen wandered around the newly arranged room, recalling how she had once sneaked in here—only to be discovered by her young husband and dragged out from under the bed… At the thought, she glanced under Mei Zhuyu’s bed.

It was spotless, with nothing there. The red round-collar robe she had left behind must have been found. She wondered what expression he had worn upon discovering her clothes beneath his bed. Wu Zhen, shameless as ever, showed no trace of embarrassment. Instead, she curiously rummaged through the cabinets in the room, checking if she could find that set of clothes.

Before she could locate them, Mei Zhuyu entered. Noticing her searching, he asked, “What are you looking for?”

Wu Zhen turned to him. “A red round-collar robe.”

She owned more than one red round-collar robe, but if her husband had indeed found the set she had left under his bed that night, he would surely understand which one she meant.

Sure enough, Mei Zhuyu’s expression grew uneasy. The area below his ears flushed red as he silently walked to the bedside, opened a small cabinet, and retrieved the neatly folded set of clothes—along with an undershirt and a woman’s… Well, in any case, he handed the bundle to her.

Wu Zhen didn’t take it. Instead, she asked, “Did you ever wonder why there was a set of clothes under your bed?”

Mei Zhuyu: “I didn’t know, but I’ve seen you wear this before.” Just thinking about it unsettled him. The bed had felt almost unusable afterward, so he had locked the clothes away in the cabinet.

Wu Zhen studied his flushed face, his forced composure, and suddenly found herself at a loss for words. This husband of hers, younger than her by a few years, was usually shy and upright, easily flustered by even slightly intimate gestures. Yet at night in bed, he was unexpectedly fierce—his strength had taken her by surprise. The fingerprints on her waist hadn’t even faded yet.Of course, apart from that, she was quite satisfied—it was truly comfortable. Before experiencing it herself, when Huzhu had spoken to her about the pleasures between men and women, she had scoffed, thinking it held no appeal. But now, having tried it firsthand, she found it quite different. Her husband, silent yet reckless at night, was nothing like his daytime self.

Mei Zhuyu had no idea what his newlywed wife was thinking. Seeing that she wasn’t taking the clothes from his hands, he could only open the wardrobe and put them away for her. But just as he closed the wardrobe door, he felt a tug at his waist—Wu Zhen had grabbed his belt and was pulling him toward the bed.

When he was pressed down onto the bed, Mei Zhuyu was still a little dazed. "What’s wrong?"

With a soft clink, Wu Zhen undid his belt and let it drop to the floor. "Sleep," she said with a laugh, tugging at his collar.

Mei Zhuyu froze, then caught her hand. "It’s still daytime, barely past noon..."

Wu Zhen straddled him, one arm around his neck, and lightly nipped his reddened earlobe. "But I want to sleep," she murmured. She wanted to see if her little husband would be as fierce in the daytime as he was at night.

Yet Mei Zhuyu caught her hand again. "Let’s wait until tonight. Right now..." Wu Zhen didn’t reply, deftly slipping free of his grasp and reaching lower.

"This is your own room, isn’t it? Why not? No one will see," she said, continuing her movements. Suddenly, with an "Ah!", she was flipped onto the bed. Her trembling husband loomed over her, his voice hoarse. "I was too rough last night—your waist is bruised. It’ll hurt now."

Wu Zhen burst into laughter, tilting her head to peck his cheek. "I thought you were just shy."

Mei Zhuyu was indeed embarrassed, but in his heart, his own reservations were nothing compared to Wu Zhen’s desires. "You’ll be in pain," he said, the words trembling like a river on the verge of breaking its banks.

Wu Zhen had already pulled open his robes. "Fine, then be gentle."

In the end, gentleness proved impossible. Wu Zhen realized then that her husband wasn’t just fierce at night—he was fierce whenever they tangled in the sheets. Though this time he seemed to remember not to use too much force, repeatedly lightening his touch, in the heat of passion, his strength still surged instinctively. By the end, he wasn’t even holding her anymore, bracing his hands beside her instead, gripping the embroidered quilt to avoid touching her waist or shoulders.

Ears burning red, Mei Zhuyu sat up, slightly ashamed, and dressed before fetching water to clean Wu Zhen.

Wu Zhen hugged the quilt and watched him, propping her head up in silence for a moment before saying, "I’m sorry."

"Hm?"

"You didn’t like it, and I still pushed you."

"I wasn’t forced. As long as you’re happy." Mei Zhuyu hesitated, then leaned down to kiss her forehead. "I want you to be happy, to be free." Just like the dazzling, radiant woman he’d first met.

Wu Zhen scratched his chin playfully. "So my husband really does love me, huh?"Mei Zhuyu nodded and then went out. Wu Zhen chuckled as she watched the door close behind him. She got up, dressed herself, and then leaned against the window in Mei Zhuyu’s study. The window overlooked water, offering a view of most of the courtyard. To her surprise, Wu Zhen discovered that her husband’s lush, verdant courtyard wasn’t just green. By the pond outside the window bloomed a large cluster of blue-purple Calamus Flowers. Water lilies floated in the pond, still unopened, but hints of pink could be seen beneath the leaves, where a few red fish lazily flicked their tails. Among the grass by the pond, delicate yellow flowers dotted the greenery.

Though it lacked the opulent floral abundance of her own courtyard, it was elegant and refined, offering a particularly soothing and relaxing atmosphere in the gradually warming summer. Wu Zhen dozed off in the gentle breeze and the scent of summer grass. When Mei Zhuyu returned to his room and found her asleep, he fetched a light, soft quilt and draped it over her.

She was beautiful, with thick, long lashes. When her eyes were open, they sparkled brightly, giving the impression that such a person ought to live freely and unrestrained.

Mei Zhuyu stared at her for a long moment, then reached out to brush his fingers lightly over her cheek—it truly felt like a dream. She had really married him. He gently clasped her limp hand for a moment before slowly letting go.

Though they were husband and wife, he understood clearly that Wu Zhen treated him with care and attentiveness, but not with the same affection he held for her. Her straightforward nature made it obvious, and he saw it plainly. Yet, while marriage could be forced, feelings could not. He only hoped that days like these could last a little longer. In the future, even if Wu Zhen no longer wished to stay with him, he would still take good care of her.

A few days after their wedding, the Dragon Boat Festival arrived. The day before, mugwort and calamus were hung at the entrance of the house, and a few sprigs of Calamus Flowers were placed indoors. The kitchen stove and every nook and cranny where filth might accumulate were fumigated with bundles of mugwort. That night, Wu Zhen slept in Mei Zhuyu’s residence. When she woke in the morning, the space beside her was empty. She sat up and pushed open the bedroom window, immediately spotting Mei Zhuyu practicing swordplay in the backyard.

This was something Wu Zhen had only discovered a couple of days prior. The man she had assumed was scholarly and frail actually knew how to wield a sword—and quite skillfully at that. Even with an ordinary wooden sword in hand, there was a faint metallic resonance to his movements. When she asked curiously, Mei Zhuyu explained that he had been taught by a master in the past. Wu Zhen assumed his family had hired a martial arts instructor, so she didn’t press further. Many noble families, upon the birth of a son, would meticulously train them from a young age, so hiring a martial instructor for physical conditioning was quite normal.

This revelation finally explained why her seemingly unassuming husband possessed such strength.

Of course, this was merely what she believed to be the truth.

Wu Zhen leaned against the window and watched for a while. When Mei Zhuyu sheathed his sword, she beckoned to him.

Mei Zhuyu approached the window, and Wu Zhen extended her hand to him. He wiped the sweat from his palm before taking her hand.

"How did you spend the Dragon Boat Festival last year?"

"Just at home."

"How dull. Today, you’re coming with me—I’ll take you out for some fun. Quick, change into that purple Round-collar Robe."

Mei Zhuyu obeyed and changed. When he turned back, he was startled to find Wu Zhen wearing the red Round-collar robe he had hidden in a small cabinet. Before he could react, she was already pulling him out onto the streets.The two hadn't eaten breakfast yet. Having risen early today, several breakfast stalls near the entrance of Changle Ward were still open—some frying noodles, others boiling dough slices, one with a large steamer for cakes and pastries, and another simmering bean porridge, each offering different specialties. Wu Zhen followed her nose into one shop. This particular stall specialized in Sesame Cakes, where the skilled vendor poured batter onto a griddle, wrapped it around meat, brushed it with oil, and fried both sides to a crisp golden brown that looked delicious.

Those in a hurry could take their food to go, but since Wu Zhen and Mei Zhuyu weren't pressed for time, they ate inside. Because it was the Dragon Boat Festival, the shopkeeper specially gave them two zongzi and two bowls of plain porridge.

After breakfast, the ward gates opened, and Wu Zhen led Mei Zhuyu toward Qujiang Pond.

Though they rode horses, they traveled at a leisurely pace, arriving at Qujiang Pond by full daylight. By then, the pondside was already crowded—some were setting up a stage for an Acrobatic Show, while servants in noble households' livery pitched tents under the trees by the water, securing spots for their mistresses. Soon, there would be dragon boat races, and without arriving early to claim a good spot, the area would become so packed that one wouldn't even be able to squeeze in for a closer look.

Nearby residents had also arrived early, most cheerfully leading their children by the hand. With most of their year spent in toil, these special occasions were rare opportunities to bring their families out for leisure. The children, especially numerous under their parents' watch, laughed and chattered, clutching zongzi and boiled chicken or duck eggs.

Wu Zhen noticed many people wearing colorful ribbons around their wrists and suddenly remembered the tradition. After glancing around, she finally spotted an elderly woman carrying a basket. Hanging from it were dozens of colorful silk cords and small sachets embroidered with the Five Venoms. Wu Zhen bought two silk cords and two sachets, tying one around Mei Zhuyu's wrist and fastening the sachet—filled with atractylodes, angelica, calamus, and mugwort—to his belt. "Almost forgot this."

Mei Zhuyu suddenly smiled, taking the remaining sachet from her and bending to fasten it for her as well. "May you be free from illness and calamity," he murmured, "and all evils kept at bay."