Chapter 4 – Bewitchment

Wave after wave, the heat rolled over her. Lan Yunjin sank deeper into it, her nails digging into Wei Xiao’s arm.

His flesh and her skin were worlds apart.

Her nails were sharp and slender, yet the pads of her fingers were soft; against his solid arm, they might as well have been scratching an itch.

It cost her effort, yet only brought him comfort.

His arm was as broad as two of hers together, heavy and unyielding, braced against her waist.

Her eyes were half-lidded, unwilling to meet his gaze. And yet, at this very moment, it was he who was giving her pleasure. His earlier rush had been like a sudden downpour, wild and without warning.

She could not deny that he had jarred her long-slumbering soul awake, rousing this body’s desire and vitality.

It was as though she had lived one life in vain, a dried-up nun keeping a widow’s bed for years.

This tingling, intoxicating flood was something she had never felt so fully before. Only now did life seem vivid.

Her hands clutched at the soft pillow, a breathless murmur slipping from her lips.

Wei Xiao, tasting the clouds and rain for the first time, was like a man with a newfound fruit, unwilling to stop at a single bite.

The candle was out, but the moonlight still glowed faintly through the paper window.

The sweat on her back cooled into dampness, soaking the bedding.

She lifted her gaze; moonlight lay pale and clean across his body.

Quickly she looked away, her eyes clear again.

At least half an hour must have passed. Whether it was his arm looped about her waist or her body guided by faint, half-remembered motions, meeting him head-on, those few simple shifts had blurred the passing of time until the night was far spent.

Even with the wine’s haze, she thought back to her earlier resistance to consummation… and now, to the way she had matched him moment for moment—

Lan Yunjin felt a sting of defeat.

So she, too, could be swayed by a man’s charms.

Determined to reclaim the upper hand, she pressed a hand to his wrist and said, “Husband, tomorrow we have to present tea to Mother.”

The meaning was clear—it was time to stop.

He hesitated, then seemed to realize his own haste, his ignorance of what her soft cries truly meant.

He slowed, then lay beside her.

“I…” Wei Xiao faltered. “Did you read my record?”

He had been prideful since childhood.

While his brothers took to martial training at five, he had once carried a four-catty curved blade into his grandfather’s quarters just to win his favor, startling his grandmother but making the old man laugh with delight.

His question came out of nowhere. She could not guess his intent.

Pressing her lips together, she said, “I did.”

And not another word.

She had assumed that a military man’s mind was simple, unconcerned with trifles.

Yet he kept bringing up that document.

Both his engagement letter and Pei Ye’s—she and her elder sister had only skimmed enough to note the other’s age and little more.

Suddenly she was worried for her sister. If Pei Ye were to ask her such questions, how would she answer?

Wei Xiao, talkative among his soldiers, was far less at ease with women.

His elder brother and sister-in-law often teased him, saying he ought to show his face more in Chang’an, lest the girls believe the rumors that General Wei’s younger son was a fierce, ugly brute.

“I’ve spent years in the martial field,” he said, mulling over his words. “My strength… isn’t well-measured. If I hurt you, I apologize.”

He truly didn’t understand the difference between men and women.

If she hadn’t been in pain, why else would she have cried?

She was surprised, then relieved. “Thank you for your consideration, Husband.”

It seemed she had not only overthought but also underestimated his character.

They fell silent.

Her arms crossed over her chest, the heat drained from her body, leaving a clean, cool emptiness. A shiver ran through her.

Wei Xiao lifted the silk quilt and covered her.

She tilted her head toward him. “Please ask for some water.”

And added, “For washing.”

Her underclothes were soaked; the same could be said for him.

At his word, the xiniang briskly brought in a basin of water.

When she left again, her eyes curved in a knowing smile. Judging from the hour, it must be nearing the hour of yin.

If the young master’s “illness” was cured, wouldn’t it be great?

—-

Morning sunlight spilled into the General’s Mansion, the main hall already filled with people.

At a quarter past the hour of the dragon, the new bride was to present tea to her father- and mother-in-law.

Madam Zhang was both expectant and anxious.

She hoped the traveling physician’s prescription had worked, eager to know how Changyang and his new wife had fared the night before.

Second, Madam Wang, quick of tongue, glanced at the yet-absent bride and laughed. “Sister-in-law, a girl from such a fine family, shouldn’t she be the very model of propriety?”

Already in a poor mood, Madam Zhang shot back, “Don’t you know whether the Lan family of Luoyang abides by the rules or not?”

Most of the masters in this household were illiterate, and few of them married a wife from a truly distinguished clan. If not for Wei Xiao’s first-class military merit, the old general might never have secured this match for his grandson.

Madam Wang pursed her lips. “Whether the Lan family follows proper rules, I truly wouldn’t know. Our Huiniang may not compare to a Lan’s daughter, but she still served me tea and a full stick of incense early.”

(full stick of incense = 30 minutes)

Wei Yi had never liked this younger sister-in-law of his and now gave two deliberate, heavy coughs.

Madam Wang’s tongue was never still. With nothing better to do, she fanned the flames in the household, as though only when the General’s Mansion was in chaos could she be pleased.

Second Master Wei patted her shoulder in mild reproach. “Enough now. Madam Lan is the Lan family’s treasured daughter who is sent far from home to marry in Chang’an. It took her half a month on the road, eating poorly and sleeping worse; look how she’s grown thin. She can’t be compared to Huiniang. Even if she arrives a bit late, we ought to show her some pity.”

Madam Wang muttered, reluctant, “In any case, Madam Lan’s not my daughter-in-law. If you want to speak sweet words, say them to your elder sister-in-law.”

Second Master Wei couldn’t be bothered to quarrel, turning instead to Wei Yi with a smile. “Eldest Brother, will Changyang be staying in the capital for some time this visit?”

Wei Yi nodded. “His Majesty will be holding the Spring Banquet in the Imperial City in the middle of next month, so His Majesty has permitted Changyang to bring Ying-niang along.”

“Really? It’s rare for him to have a share in such merriment.” Second Master Wei sighed. “That boy is always on the battlefield, killing and clashing with barbarians—he’s never had a proper banquet to enjoy.”

As they spoke, the xiniang entered the hall, stepped to Madam Zhang’s side, and bent low to whisper.

Madam Zhang lifted a hand to hide her smile, though her delight could not be contained. She repeated “Good, good” more than once.

“Go at once and tell Ying-niang that her mother-in-law is not displeased. She should listen to Changyang’s words; her health comes first. Let her serve tea at noon.”

Rising from her seat, Madam Zhang addressed the gathering with bright spirits:

“Ying-niang asked me to offer her apologies to you all. She was already unwell on the road. Yesterday, after the wedding, she let her guard down and was exhausted. She woke late today and was determined to present tea no matter what. But Changyang did not wish her to overtax herself, so he sent the xiniang to ask my counsel.

“It’s a daughter-in-law’s first day in her new home, so how could I, as her mother-in-law, bear to make things difficult for her?”

The xiniang relayed, without omission, what she had overheard last night through the wall.

This morning, the young madam had woken with her eyes swollen, and after getting out of bed, her steps had been unsteady. Seeing this, the young master had simply carried her back again.

The young madam had insisted on presenting tea but could not persuade her husband; the two had compromised, sending an explanation instead.

In the hall, the assembled elders exchanged glances.

Second Master Wei said, “Elder Sister-in-law is right—we are not so old-fashioned and rigid. The serving of tea is a small matter; if one’s health is in question, there must be no forcing it.”

Wei Yi’s thoughts were elsewhere. His wife’s joy or displeasure had never been something she tried to hide.

If their daughter-in-law were truly unwell, her expression would not be so… triumphantly pleased.

Footnotes:

1.      Xiniang: the woman who guides the bride through the rituals and symbolizes good marital fortune.