Chapter 3 : When the time comes, it will depend on whether you can satisfy me or not.

Huo Tan had drunk quite a bit, and he felt somewhat dazed. In addition, Cui Yunzhao’s glowing jade-like face made him unable to hear what she said clearly.

It wasn’t until her soft hand gently pressed against his chest and she leaned against him softly that Huo Tan came back to his senses.

He exhaled a breath of hot air with the aroma of wine and, with his large, calloused hand, firmly encircled Cui Yunzhao waist.

Just as he had imagined, Cui Yunzhao waist was indeed slim and soft.

He could easily control it with just one hand.

This time, Cui Yunzhao did not pull away.

Yet, they remained gazing into each other’s eyes, with Cui Yunzhao still wearing a tender smile.

Her smile was delicate and beautiful, carrying the nobility of a highborn lady, yet it was so captivating.

Then, Huo Tan heard her voice, soft and melodious, saying, “My lord, I’m still a bit scared.”

Cui Yunzhao eyes were very bright. She looked directly at Huo Tan, her gaze unwavering, straightforward, and sincere. Her slender fingers also wandered repeatedly over his clothing, creating gentle ripples.

Huo Tan suddenly sighed.

He tightened his grip and pulled her towards him, catching her off guard and drawing her into his embrace.

Though it was the depths of winter, Cui Yunzhao did not feel cold at all.

A flush suddenly appeared on Cui Yunzhao face, and her eyelashes fluttered as her gaze quickly averted. She seemed genuinely shy.

“My lord, we have just married, and today is our first meeting. I don’t know much about you, and I am indeed a bit frightened.”

Cui Yunzhao voice was soft and tender, seeping into Huo Tan’s ears like a gentle caress.

Although she spoke of fear, her tone did not tremble.

A hint of amusement flickered in Huo Tan’s eyes.

“Is that what my lady means?”

His deep voice echoed in the wedding chamber.

As he spoke, the vibrations from his chest resonated in Cui Yunzhao palms, allowing her to feel his strength and power.

Cui Yun Zhao let out a soft hum and slowly shifted her gaze to Huo Tan’s handsome face. “My lord, what I mean is, perhaps we should get to know each other gradually. In the future…”

Her fingers moved slowly upward, lightly touching Huo Tan’s firm jaw.

Her fingers were so soft, while his jawline was so sharp.

Cui Yunzhao leaned slightly forward and, through her own restless hand, gently placed a light kiss on his jaw.

Despite the barrier of her hand and the gentle nature of the kiss, Huo Tan still felt as though it had touched the very core of his heart.

He couldn’t help but wonder what the kiss would be like if it were actually on his lips.

Huo Tan suddenly felt a sense of anticipation.

He lay back without moving, allowing Cui Yunzhao to act on him, and then asked slowly, “What will you do once we’re familiar with each other?”

This time, Cui Yunzhao did not respond. She suddenly felt the unparalleled heat from his body and sensed his restless desire.

Cui Yunzhao face turned slightly red as she pushed him away.

She sat up, distancing herself from him, and sat with her back facing him on the edge of the bed.

It seemed she was embarrassed.

“When the time comes, it will depend on whether you can satisfy me or not.”

Huo Tan suddenly laughed.

His laughter was deep and warm, rolling a wave of heat that enveloped Cui Yun Zhao.

“Very well.”

The man decisively moved back and occupied most of the bed.

“Then listen to my wife.”

Fueled by the alcohol, he playfully complained, “Then, my lady, can we go to bed now? I’m really tired.”

Soon, only the faint sound of his snoring remained behind.

Cui Yunzhao sat quietly for a while, waiting until she was sure he was deeply asleep. Only then did she relax her shoulders and release her tightly clenched hands.

Returning to the wedding night after death, she wasn’t completely at ease.

But everything tonight was familiar,the familiar relatives and friends, the familiar wedding wine, the familiar scene, and this wedding chamber where she and Huo Tan had spent half a year.

Everything felt like a dream.

Cui Yun Zhao slowly closed her eyes, rubbed her forehead to calm herself.

“Since I’m here, I’ll accept it.”

She needed to find out who had killed her and also discover what path she and Huo Tan might take in the future.

If it was indeed him who killed her and their path together was impossible, then she wouldn’t need to wait four years.

Cui Yun Zhao was not someone who couldn’t live without others. She could live well on her own.

Determined, Cui Yunzhao glanced back at the deeply sleeping Huo Tan.

Contrary to her memories, he seemed to be sleeping soundly.

She got up and went to the table, glanced at the burning wedding candles, placed the teapot on the stove to keep warm, and then took a blanket.

Cui Yunzhao returned to the bedside and lay down beside Huo Tan.

She lay next to him, feeling enveloped by the warmth of his body, as if everything had returned to the past.

Cui Yun Zhao closed her eyes, trying hard to fall asleep.

But she had overestimated Huo Tan.

Just as she was about to drift off, the man beside her suddenly turned over and, in the darkness, pressed himself directly on top of her.

“Huo Tan!” Cui Yunzhao called him softly.

In the cold winter, the man simply lifted the quilt and wrapped her in it like a thick quilt.

His large hand pressed heavily on her waist and abdomen, like an unbreakable cage.

His head even nestled onto her pillow and rubbed against her slender neck.

The man’s breath smelled of alcohol, making her neck feel tingly.

Cui Yunzhao: “…

Honestly, he’s not afraid of the cold at all.

Cui Yunzhao pushed him once, but he didn’t move. She pushed again, and he still stayed in place.

In the end, Cui Yunzhao had no choice but to let him hold her warmly without further struggle.

Anyway, he has thick skin and is full of heat, so he won’t freeze to death without a blanket.

Thinking this, Cui Yunzhao was exhausted and, despite her efforts, she couldn’t free herself from Huo Tan’s embrace. By the middle of the night, she had worn herself out from the struggle.

At that point, she finally fell into a shallow sleep, but dreams of countless past events made her rest uneasy.

Suddenly, a thunderous voice woke her up.

“It’s already late! Time to get up!

The voice was loud, startling Cui Yunzhao awake from her dreams. She instinctively opened her sore eyes and sat up abruptly.

Next to her, a muffled laugh suddenly sounded.

Cui Yunzhao mind was still in a daze, she hadn’t fully awakened yet. She then heard the loud voice continue.

“The new bride must attend to her in-laws, honor the elders, and be polite… You need to get up early to serve tea!

Cui Yunzhao: “…

She had been so preoccupied yesterday that she forgot the Huo family wasn’t just Huo Tan alone.

The entire Huo family lived in the small courtyard of Ouhua Alley.

Cui Yunzhao pinched the back of her hand, trying to wake herself up.

Seeing that she was finally awake, Huo Tan leisurely said, “It’s okay, it’s not time yet. No need to rush, no need to rush.”

What kind of person was Mother Lin? In her past life, Cui Yunzhao…

Cui Yunzhao gradually understood.

In the past, she was young and inexperienced, often misjudging people. She had a natural aversion to her mother-in-law, who was a coarse and rough farmer, and thus had no idea about her true nature.

Especially since she married Huo Tan of a lower status, she felt aggrieved and she couldn’t get along with the people in the Huo family. She felt even more sad and thought that no one in the Huo family liked her.

So, she became even more unfamiliar with her loud-mouthed mother-in-law, leading to a separation of households and minimal interaction between them.

However, now, Cui Yunzhao knew what a new bride should do.

She glanced at Huo Tan and said, “Why didn’t you wake me? It would have upset my mother-in-law and grandmother.”

Huo Tan raised an eyebrow. Seeing her nervous expression, he also smiled and said in a relaxed tone, “It’s not too late. My grandmother goes to wash and stroll by the Clear Water Creek every day and she will came back at noon. She will have breakfast first, so she will only be available to see us after noon.”

Huo Tan’s casual remark made it clear to Cui Yunzhao about the preferences of the family elders.

“If my mother came to call us now, she’d be timing it so that grandmother is about to finish breakfast.”

Cui Yun Zhao looked at Huo Tan in surprise.

In her previous life, she had been nervous when she first married and was exhausted by Huo Tan’s various antics on their wedding night. She also slept in the morning.

And she remember that she had hurriedly left without much chance to talk to Huo Tan. Huo Tan also seemed to have had no opportunity to explain the family elders to her.

Seeing that Huo Tan was considerate, Cui Yunzhao looked at him and gave him a rare gentle smile.

Huo Tan, caught off guard by her smile, felt uneasy.

He cleared his throat, suddenly covering his waist and abdomen with the blanket, and his gaze became a bit evasive. “You go ahead and freshen up. I’ll be quick and won’t waste time.”

Cui Yunzhao gave him a puzzled look before getting up and calling for her maid.

Two people attended to her.

Li Qing, who had grown up with her, and Tao Fei.

Li Qing was tall and slender, quick in her movements but a bit too reserved, often overly proper in her actions.

Tao Fei had a round face and a livelier personality, lacking the cunning of Li Qing and not as composed.

The two had accompanied her for many years, but later, she lost touch with Li Qing, leaving only Tao Fei by her side.

Now, both of them had returned to her service.

Li Qing and Tao Fei were clearly well-trained by Mother Xia. When they brought in the water, their expressions were serious, and their eyes didn’t wander elsewhere.

Cui Yunzhao looked at Li Qing again, and her feelings had changed from last night. There was a sense of joy in rediscovering something lost.

She couldn’t help but pinch Li Qing’s face and said with a smile, “Help me style my hair, please. I’d like the best-looking Flowing Clouds hairstyle.”

While Cui Yunzhao was freshening up, Huo Tan got up and changed clothes. He opened a crack in the window to let the cool early winter breeze in.

As a military man, Huo Tan was accustomed to all kinds of conditions in the barracks and didn’t need anyone to serve him.

By the time Cui Yunzhao was done and sat at the dressing table to comb her hair and apply makeup, Huo Tan had already changed into the prepared crimson wedding attire and had his hair styled.

He was still a few months away from turning twenty, so he couldn’t wear a crown except on the wedding day.

Perhaps because Cui Yun Zhao’s demeanor was more lively and she didn’t hold herself with the same aloofness as other noble ladies, Huo Tan treated her much more casually compared to his previous life.

Seeing Cui Yunzhao scan him up and down, he raised an eyebrow and smiled, “What is it, my lady? Are you satisfied with how I look?”

Cui Yunzhao responded with a standard smile, “Not bad. My lord, you look outstanding. I’m very pleased.”

After exchanging a few words, Li Qing efficiently finished Cui Yunzhao styling.

Cui Yunzhao stood up, elegantly poised in front of Huo Tan.

Her naturally charming phoenix eyes, smooth and radiant face, paired with a petite nose and red lips, made her beauty seem effortless.

Especially now, in her splendid attire, wearing the silver-red ceremonial robe she seldom wore, she appeared even more striking and celestial.

Cui Yunzhao stood gracefully and suddenly extended her hand towards Huo Tan. “My lord, let’s go.”

Huo Tan’s eyes darkened, and his starry gaze seemed to hold a sea of stars.

He also reached out, but instead of taking her hand, his strong and steady hand remained firmly on her waist.

“My lady, let’s go.”

“I’ll take you to meet your future family.”