My Gentle and Pure Sect Leader Husband - Chapter 6

The tea on the table was warm, clearly prepared thoughtfully in advance.

Yan Hongyin poured a cup, paused, then turned over another teacup and poured one for her newly wedded husband.

Yu Luocha walked over, sat at the table, and took a light sip from his teacup.

As his Adam’s apple bobbed, the warmth of the tea flowed through his limbs, and his fingertips resting on the cup’s surface fidgeted uncomfortably.

Yan Hongyin also poured herself tea, drinking very slowly, as if deep in thought, or perhaps carefully choosing her words.

The dragon and phoenix candles carved with intricate patterns flickered, casting an ambiguous light throughout the room.

“Cough.”

After finishing a cup of tea, Yan Hongyin finally found her voice.

“Ah Yu, your injuries haven’t healed, and we’ve known each other for such a short time. Perhaps we need more time to get familiar with each other. Tonight, why don’t we…”

Before she could finish, light footsteps sounded outside the door, followed by the sound of something being placed by the door. The little maid Lianqiao knocked and said, “Miss, Guye, Grandmother had the kitchen prepare some hot food. Perhaps you should eat something first.”

(TL: “姑爷” (gū yé) is a traditional term in Chinese, referring to a son-in-law, specifically the husband of one’s daughter.)

After speaking, the little maid’s departing footsteps were quick and decisive, showing no hint of curiosity.

Yu Luocha’s gaze, which had been fixed on the dragon and phoenix candles, fell on Yan Hongyin’s lips as he said meaningfully, “Tonight, why don’t we what?”

Yan Hongyin was silent for a moment before slowly saying, “Tonight, why don’t we focus on getting to know each other better.”

In the candlelight, the handsome man sitting opposite seemed to smile, but before Yan Hongyin could see clearly, he had stood up and walked to the door to bring in the food box left outside.

The kitchen hadn’t prepared much food, as eating too much at night wasn’t good for digestion.

Before, during, and after seeking to marry Ah Yu, Yan Hongyin had never considered that after marriage, the two of them would not only live under the same roof, but unlike other relatives, husband and wife not only shared a roof but also shared the same bed.

What was that phrase… male and female intimacy?

Yan Hongyin’s chopsticks trembled as she picked up a piece of fish.

She felt this matter didn’t need to be… so rushed.

It wasn’t that she was unwilling—though she did feel somewhat uncomfortable—but the key issue was that while she currently only appreciated Ah Yu’s appearance, when it came to trust, intimacy, and love, she had none of these.

Let alone anything happening between them, Yan Hongyin was afraid that if she actually fell asleep, she might accidentally strangle the person lying beside her in the middle of the night.

The more Yan Hongyin thought about it, the more she felt the probability of this happening was too high. The phoenix crown on her head not only weighed heavily on her neck but also made her head ache faintly.

She secretly glanced at the beauty sitting opposite.

Looking at beauty by candlelight, that already stunning face appeared even more alluring and gorgeous.

Yu Luocha gently bit off the tip of a bamboo shoot, while his peripheral vision clearly caught Yan Hongyin absently pushing rice grains around in her bowl.

He suddenly felt a somewhat malicious sense of satisfaction at evening the score.

He really couldn’t be blamed for this.

This woman had previously always displayed a strangely composed and matter-of-fact demeanor. Yu Luocha was almost watching with an attitude of enjoying the show as he admired Yan Hongyin’s animated expressions, now frowning, now hesitating to speak.

He had to admit that his initial impression of Yan Hongyin as “cold and otherworldly” was indeed due to her appearance and temperament. Even now, Yan Hongyin remained beautiful, but through his secret observations along the way, Yu Luocha had discovered some of Yan Hongyin’s small habits and details.

She must have come from a noble background, raised since childhood under strict teaching, accustomed to eating in silence, going to bed without speaking, and keeping her emotions hidden.

Just like those noble ladies he had seen in the capital, except those women were laughably fake, while Yan Hongyin was like a porcelain doll unaccustomed to showing expressions. When her expressions occasionally became animated, it was as if she had come alive for that instant, only to force herself back to an expressionless face the next moment, as if she had suddenly become aware of it.

Very interesting.

Yu Luocha was neither good-tempered nor a good person. On the contrary, he was patient and extremely vindictive. He enjoyed tormenting those he despised from a position of superiority, and he especially enjoyed dragging beautiful porcelain vessels that were as pure as the moon down into the mortal world, shattering them to pieces.

The mortal world was filthy—why should some people be born untainted by dust?

How interesting it was to watch beautiful things become tainted with filth, gradually falling into the mud?

Yan Hongyin suddenly stopped her movements, frowning as she warily surveyed her surroundings.

Why did she feel a cold air mixed with malice in the atmosphere?

Was it her imagination?

No, her instincts couldn’t be wrong—

She looked at Ah Yu, who was looking back at her with questioning eyes, and sighed almost imperceptibly as she reached out her hand.

Yu Luocha’s hand tightened on his chopsticks. It would take less than a breath’s time—if Yan Hongyin had truly sensed something, even with his depleted internal energy, these chopsticks could pierce straight through Yan Hongyin’s throat—

Yan Hongyin reached out and moved the water chestnuts further away from him.

“Water chestnuts are heavy and greasy; with your weak digestion, they’re not easy to digest,” Yan Hongyin said, then thought for a moment and moved the steamed duck in front of him. “Duck meat is mildly warm in nature, you can eat a bit more of it. Don’t be nervous, I won’t do anything to you tonight.”

Yu Luocha’s hand trembled slightly.

This woman… again?

Yan Hongyin looked at Ah Yu, who immediately lowered his head to hide his emotions after being cared for, and couldn’t help but feel a trace of pity in her eyes.

Yes, she had been so caught up in her own concerns that she had completely forgotten about Ah Yu’s feelings.

He had just escaped from that place, and had suffered quite a bit of abuse and beating, so he must be very averse to such things. Because of her, Ah Yu had come so rashly to this completely unfamiliar place and had married her so hastily—he must be feeling very anxious and uneasy right now.

Yu Luocha extended his chopsticks and, feeling utterly humiliated, picked up a piece of duck meat as Yan Hongyin had suggested.

For no other reason than that he absolutely could not accept this woman using her used chopsticks to serve him food!

And even more unacceptable would be letting this woman feed him!

After finishing the meal, each lost in their own thoughts, Yan Hongyin saw Yu Luocha go to clean up the bowls and dishes. Thinking that having something to do with his hands would indeed help him relax, she let him be and sat down at the dressing table to remove the gold and jade ornaments from her head.

It had been too long since she had dressed up formally. Yan Hongyin massaged her faintly aching scalp roots, looking at the phoenix crowns and hairpins laid out on the table that most women in the world would love, with a trace of disgust in her eyes.

By the time she had let down her long hair, removed her makeup, washed her hands, and shed the heavy outer wedding robe, when she turned around, her husband, who had also removed his outer robe and now wore only the red inner robe over his undergarments, was waiting by the bed with downcast eyes. When he saw her look over, he smiled slightly.

Very gentle and considerate, warm and attentive.

Yan Hongyin walked over, looked at the red bed, and spoke first. “I’ll sleep on the outer side. If Ah Yu feels unwell, it will be more convenient for me to fetch water or things in the middle of the night.”

Yu Luocha pressed his lips together, showing a troubled expression. “I drank quite a bit of water earlier… perhaps I should sleep on the outer side.”

“It’s fine, if Ah Yu needs to relieve himself, just wake me up!”

Yu Luocha once again spoke softly and sincerely, “I’ve heard that usually those who marry in sleep on the outer side to serve the main family. How can the main family sleep on the outer side?”

In other households, it was the wife who slept on the outer side, but Yu Luocha had married in, so sleeping on the outer side would be proper, however…

Yan Hongyin waved her hand. “Our family doesn’t have so many outdated rules. It’s decided then, you sleep on the inner side!”

Yan Hongyin was determined to sleep on the outer side. Her Yan Hong Hall wasn’t absolutely safe either—she had just felt a cold killing intent earlier. In such circumstances, if someone really was targeting her, wouldn’t having Ah Yu sleep on the outer side make him a shield for her?

No, absolutely not.

Yu Luocha saw the unyielding expression on Yan Hongyin’s face in the candlelight. His hand hanging at his side twitched, then he obediently got into bed, dutifully lying down on the inner side near the wall.

In the dim, flickering light, Yan Hongyin looked at the beautiful person lying on the bed with closed eyes, his long curly hair spread out. She took a deep breath to calm herself, looked at the dragon and phoenix candles that were meant to burn all night, then lifted her robes and lay down on the outer side, pulling up the blanket that covered Ah Yu to cover herself as well.

Yu Luocha lay with his eyes closed, the broken porcelain spoon handle he had snapped earlier held between his fingers.

Yan Hongyin lay with her eyes closed, her hand on the outer side covering a sharp sleeve dagger.

Neither had any intention of sleeping.

……

The two dragon and phoenix candles burned all night, symbolizing a perfect marriage and family prosperity.

The first ray of morning light shone through the window into the room.

Yan Hongyin, who hadn’t slept all night, opened her eyes, with very obvious dark circles under them, slowly let out a long breath, and moved her fingers to relieve the stiffness from maintaining the same position all night.

After admiring the beautiful husband beside her with his peaceful, steady breathing for a while, Yan Hongyin no longer indulged in this tender moment. She got up, put on her outer robe, and quietly left the room.

A good while after Yan Hongyin left, Yu Luocha on the bed slowly opened his eyes, those glassy eyes full of the fatigue of staying up all night.

In the past, going several days without sleep would have made no difference, but who made him have such a body now?

Yu Luocha pulled at the corner of his mouth, closed his eyes again, and began to try once more to circulate his internal energy cultivation method.

And after Yan Hongyin’s medicinal treatment and those unnamed acupressure points, Yu Luocha’s dantian finally surged with familiar internal energy after many days.

Not just the small amount when Yan Hongyin pressed the acupoints, but continuously and endlessly, silently growing stronger within his dantian.

……

In another courtyard.

The old woman was peeling dried fruits while Lianqiao was peering outside from beside the door.

Zisu lifted her skirts and ran over, and from her steady, measured breathing, it was clear she had some martial arts training.

Lianqiao’s expression brightened.

“Quick, quick, I’ve been anxiously waiting for you!” Lianqiao pulled the young ladies into the room and eagerly asked as she leaned in, “How was it?”

“Miss went to meditate on the other side, and it seems Guye hasn’t gotten up yet.”

“Did they sleep in the same room last night?” The old woman cracked open a dried walnut.

“Yes! I kept watch outside all night!” Zisu nodded affirmatively.

“Guye looks so refined and gentle, and his body is weak too. He must be exhausted~ I’ll go tell the kitchen to make some nourishing soup!” Lianqiao ran out overjoyed.

Zisu scratched at the little braid hanging in front of her and sat down beside the old woman, also grabbing a handful of dried fruits.

The old woman suddenly laughed. “Did you hear any sounds last night?”

“No, it was completely quiet.” Zisu shook her head.

“Then they probably didn’t sleep all night.” The old woman stuffed the walnut meat into Zisu’s hand, chuckling happily. “Go tell Lianqiao to make a bowl of tonic soup for our miss too.”

“Make it mildly nourishing, don’t use those tonics that cause Qi and blood to surge. Otherwise, the two young people lying there stiff as boards would have a hard time.”