"Cousin—"
After calling out to her husband, Jiafu noticed him standing at the foot of the steps, gazing at her without response. A faint unease crept in, and she softly called again, "Cousin."
The midsummer night breeze swept past the railings, stirring the hem of her skirt. She lifted her wrist to gently tuck back a stray lock of hair that the wind had blown against her cheek. The silver gleam of a bracelet on her wrist flickered, catching his eye.
Pei You'an gave a slight nod, murmured an acknowledgment, then stepped up the stairs and entered.
Jiafu hurriedly followed him inside.
The day had felt unusually long, and now that he was finally back, joy filled her heart. Yet, recalling what he had done to her in the darkness of the previous night, a bashful warmth rose within her. Standing to the side, she stole glances at him as he removed his hat and outer robe, his expression solemn, his eyes deliberately avoiding hers. Biting her lip, she stepped forward to take his clothes.
Summer had arrived, and though his official robes were now made of lighter Pongee fabric, the three layers still clung tightly. After removing the meticulously worn outer garment, the inner layer clung slightly to his back with a thin sheen of sweat. The room was silent, both waiting quietly for the maids to bring in water. Pei You'an seemed somewhat ill at ease, turning his face slightly aside until his gaze fell upon the book she had set aside earlier. Breaking the silence, he asked, "You're still reading this?"
Jiafu nodded softly. "I was passing the time while waiting for you. But it's rather abstruse—I’ve been skimming through, unsure if I truly understand it."
Pei You'an said, "If there’s anything unclear, you may ask me."
Jiafu replied, "Alright."
Silence settled between them once more.
When the maids entered with water, Pei You'an seemed to exhale in relief. His gaze flickered over the delicate curve of her neck exposed above her collar, and he cleared his throat lightly. "It’s rather warm. I’ll go bathe first."
Jiafu said, "I’ve already laid out clean clothes for you inside. Call if you need anything."
He nodded and turned toward the bathing chamber, naturally not calling for her. When he emerged, he had changed into a light white Underwear and draped a casual Gauze robe over it. As he fastened it, he said, "I’ll be in the study. If you’re tired, you may retire first."
Jiafu murmured an acknowledgment, watching as he walked away. Just as he reached the cloud-patterned floor screen separating the inner and outer chambers, his steps hesitated. He paused, then turned back. "If you’re not yet tired, you may join me in the study to read."
Delight lit up Jiafu’s face, and she nodded eagerly. Snatching up the book, Discourses Weighed in the Balance , she hurried to his side. "I’ll read quietly—I promise not to disturb you, Cousin."
Pei You'an smiled faintly.
They entered the study. Seated, he immediately opened the Official documents he had brought back from the ministry, immersing himself in work—flipping pages, occasionally lifting his brush to write.
The desk was spacious. Jiafu fetched a stool and settled at the corner diagonally across from him, spreading her book open to read alongside him.
The Silver lamp cast a bright glow, and the study was hushed, save for the rhythmic dripping of the water clock.
At first, Jiafu focused on her book. But after turning a page, her attention began to wander, her gaze drifting irresistibly toward the man seated across from her.
He truly was a handsome man.In Jiafu's mind, there suddenly emerged the image of the water deity Baishi Lang, described in the ancient Yuefu poetry she had once read. He dwelled by the river, and when he traveled, Jiang Bo would lead the way before him, while schools of fish followed closely behind. He was incomparably handsome, with an elegant demeanor—"jade-like in his accumulation of virtues, emerald-like in his upright bearing. His beauty was peerless, unmatched in this world."
As a child, whenever she read these lines, she couldn't help but imagine the water deity gliding over the waves, his sleeves fluttering in the wind. What kind of youth could possibly live up to such a description? At this moment, she suddenly felt that the composed man before her was none other than that peerless river deity, Baishi Langjun.
Pei You'an was reviewing official documents. Whether the language was obscure or verbose, he had always been able to skim through ten lines at a glance, decisively marking corrections and drafting responses with ease. But now, his focus was gradually slipping. Tasks that should have been completed by this time of day were less than half done, and he had even carelessly written a wrong character earlier.
He finally set down his brush, raised his eyes, and looked in the direction that had distracted him.
She was resting her delicate chin on one hand, her gaze fixed on him as if lost in thought. It was unclear what she was looking at or thinking about. Her sleeve had slipped down from her wrist, pooling near her elbow, and the intricately carved silver bracelet adorned with grapevine and cricket motifs could no longer cling to her smooth jade-like skin, sliding down to rest midway along her slender forearm. Startled by his sudden gaze, she quickly lowered her arm, straightened her posture, averted her eyes, and turned a page of her book.
Pei You'an steadied his mind and expelled the image of that delicate forearm adorned with the silver bracelet from his thoughts. He lowered his head again and resumed his work.
A short while later, he sensed her gaze upon him once more. Unable to resist, he paused his writing again, looked up, and lightly tapped the desk with his finger as a gentle reminder.
Jiafu's cheeks flushed, and she murmured softly, "I don’t quite understand this part..."
Pei You'an felt a twinge of regret for bringing her into the study. Suppressing a sigh, he set down his brush and smiled. "Which part don’t you understand? Let me explain it to you."
Jiafu immediately nodded, clutching the book as she moved closer to him. She pulled her chair beside his, sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with him, and flipped open the book. A slender, pale finger pointed at the page. "I don’t understand this part."
The moment she sat down beside him, Pei You'an caught the faint fragrance emanating from her hair and skin—a subtle, intoxicating scent that instantly reminded him of the previous night beneath the brocade canopy, when he had held her in unrestrained passion.
During their first time the night before, his intention had been the same as on their wedding night—solely to bring her pleasure. Yet he had lost control. Before she could find satisfaction, he had already succumbed, not once but twice. When she had comforted him with tender words and sweet murmurs, Pei You'an felt utterly humbled, his pride shattered in a way he could hardly describe. After the lamp was extinguished, she had clung to him, falling into a deep sleep. In the darkness, as he held her soft, fragrant form, he gradually felt ready for another round. Unwilling to accept defeat, he finally acted on the wicked impulse that had surfaced on their wedding night, casting aside all pretense of restraint. He took her fiercely, reducing her to complete submission beneath him. In that final moment, the sheer ecstasy and exhilaration surpassed even the thrill of conquering a city in battle, his blood boiling so intensely it nearly burst through his skin. Even now, a full day later, the memory sent shivers down his spine...Pei You'an felt a sudden warmth in his lower abdomen when he heard her voice beside his ear. Following her fingertip, he saw it was pointing to the thirteenth chapter of Lunheng , titled "On Human Nature." He immediately composed himself and said, "The idea that 'rites serve as a defense, and music as a restraint' can be traced back to the Baihu Tongde Treatise on Rites and Music . It suggests that human emotions and nature are the foundation of governance, and thus rites and music were established to serve as safeguards and restraints."
Jiafu let out a soft "Oh" and looked up at him. "Then what is this entire chapter about?"
Pei You'an replied, "The chapter discusses the inherent good and evil in human nature, hence its title. Whether it's Mencius' theory of innate goodness, Xunzi's theory of innate evil, Gaozi's theory of neutrality, or Yang Xiong's theory of mixed good and evil—all are partial views. Humans inherit the nature of heaven and earth, embodying the five virtues, so human nature is often a mix of good and evil. Confucius once said, 'Only the supremely wise and the utterly foolish do not change.' I deeply agree—those of extreme virtue or vice cannot be altered. But ordinary people's nature often shifts with habit, as the saying goes, 'Habit makes good, habit makes evil.'"
His voice was deep and pleasant, unhurried like a clear mountain stream murmuring over stones. Jiafu gradually rested her chin on her hand again, gazing at him with admiration. When he finished and glanced down at her, she snapped back to attention and quickly lowered her head, flipping the page. "What about this one? I read it a couple of days ago but barely understood it..."
While explaining earlier, Pei You'an had already noticed her slight tilt of the head, her chin propped on her hand as she stared at him intently, her eyes unblinking, her expression earnest and utterly innocent. Yet, her gaze had stirred something in him—his words spoke of rites and music, but his mind was clouded with desire. Despite wearing light summer robes, he felt waves of heat, a faint sweat breaking on his back. A pang of guilt struck him, and he sighed in relief when she finally turned the page, then looked back at the text.
"This is 'On the Forces of Things,'" he said, exhaling and forcing his voice to remain steady.
"The opening states, 'Confucian scholars claim that heaven and earth intentionally created humans. This is absurd.' It means that since the Han Dynasty, Confucians believed heaven and earth consciously fashioned mankind—a notion the text refutes. It argues that humans arose by chance when the qi of heaven and earth combined, just as a child is born when the qi of man and woman unite..."
He paused, cleared his throat, and kept his eyes fixed on the page as he struggled to continue. "Using humans as an example, it says the union of male and female qi isn’t for the purpose of procreation but driven by desire, resulting from intercourse. Since even men and women don’t consciously intend to bear children, it follows that heaven and earth wouldn’t consciously create humans. Extending this logic, all things born between heaven and earth are like children conceived through intercourse—all the same phenomenon..."
Abruptly, he snapped the book shut and tossed it aside. " Lunheng is too obscure for you. I’ll find you another book when I have time."
Jiafu couldn’t help but steal a glance at his lower abdomen. Though partly obscured by the desk, she could faintly discern that he was already in an... indescribable state.
Remembering last night, her heart raced like a startled deer. She gave a soft hum of agreement. "I’ll listen to you, Cousin. You carry on—I’ll go check if the snacks in the kitchen are ready..."She stood up, unaware that a corner of her skirt had been caught under the chair leg when she moved it earlier. As she rose, the chair was pulled with a clatter, and she lost her balance, tilting to the side. Pei You'an reacted swiftly, reaching out to steady her. Jiafu's chest brushed against his face, and she ended up sitting on his lap, immediately stiffening as she felt something hard beneath her, not daring to move.
Pei You'an felt the soft, fragrant warmth press firmly against his face, his breath hitching. He closed his eyes briefly before slowly opening them again, now enveloped in her scent. Though the source of his turmoil was pinned beneath her, it only grew more insistent, his primal urges becoming unmistakably clear.
A long silence followed, broken only by the drip of a water droplet falling from the clepsydra into the copper basin.
Jiafu squirmed uneasily and tried to rise hastily, but as soon as her hips left his lap, she felt strong hands grip her waist and push her back down, forcing her to sit on his thighs again.
Her face flushed like peach blossoms, she looked up at him, lips slightly parted, panting softly. "Cousin…"
His eyes, usually calm as still water, now churned like dark currents beneath the surface, his gaze heavy with intensity.
"Let's return to your chamber. It's time to rest."
His voice was low, as deep and boundless as the night outside the window.
...
In the palace, Xiao Lie was half-drunk, staggering as he was helped back to his chambers by the eunuchs.
Zhou Shi had been waiting for him and hurried over upon seeing his state. After a few words, he lay back on the Dragon Bed, eyes closed as if asleep, motionless.
Zhou Shi had taken special care with her appearance tonight, applying light makeup even in bed. Though no longer young, under the glow of the palace lanterns, her features still held a seductive charm.
She nestled close to Xiao Lie, slipping a hand beneath the covers to slowly reach for him, her fingers teasing and caressing.
Xiao Lie didn’t open his eyes, merely turning away to face the wall. "Another time," he murmured. "I'm tired today."
Since arriving in the capital, Xiao Lie hadn’t touched her. Zhou Shi had watched discreetly but found no signs of him favoring any young palace maids—either he was buried in state affairs all night or collapsed into bed upon returning.
Her expression stiffened as she stared at his unmoving back, withdrawing her hand slowly.
Late into the night, Xiao Lie was fast asleep. Zhou Shi tossed and turned before quietly rising and summoning a trusted servant. "Find out where His Majesty went on the night of the Crown Prince’s wedding," she ordered. "He was gone the entire night."
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