Chapter 6 : On the day after tomorrow

Huo Tan didn’t ask if she wanted to, but if she dared. This meant that his answer might be quite frightening and could potentially scare Cui Yunzhao.

In just an instant, Cui Yunzhao understood his meaning. Some things don’t need to be explicitly stated, a single word can make their meaning crystal clear.

Cui Yunzhao suddenly smiled.

Huo Tan saw her eyes full of tenderness, her gaze flowing, her entire demeanor soft and seemingly harmless.

Her smiling look made him feel a flutter of desire.

Huo Tan instinctively tightened his grip. In his hand was the soft, delicate hand of his new bride. So soft and tender, it was almost impossible to let go.

Cui Yunzhao seemed to feel some pain from his grip, letting out a soft hum and instinctively trying to pull her hand away. But Huo Tan was unwilling to let go. With a slight increase in pressure, he pulled Cui Yunzhao closer to himself, then leaned in towards her delicate cheek, continuing to gaze at her beautiful phoenix eyes.

“My lady, if you won’t let me be close to you at night, then surely it’s alright to hold your hand during the day?”

Cui Yunzhao, who was generally shy, blushed deeply from the warmth emanating from him.

She wasn’t shy, she simply felt that the room was a bit too warm.

Her eyelashes fluttered slightly, looking like a confused little deer, yet she made an effort to gaze back at the tall man.

“Huo Tan, what if I say I dare to listen?”

Cui Yunzhao ignored Huo Tan’s second teasing. She turned her head slightly and her warm lips moved closely around his neck. The neck is a vulnerable spot, especially for a soldier. Touching it often triggers a reflexive avoidance.

But Huo Tan didn’t react. He sat up straight, his posture as upright as a green pine, making one feel delighted.

As he released her right hand, he immediately encircled her slender waist with his arms. His hands were large, and with just one, he could easily hold her tiny waist.

The distance between them instantly shrank to almost nothing.

The room was indeed very warm.

Especially as Huo Tan moved closer, causing Cui Yunzhao to sweat slightly on her forehead. Their breaths intertwined, one deep and one shallow, making the heat between them more intense.

Huo Tan didn’t respond to Cui Yunzhao’s question. He just held her firmly, savoring the comforting scent of osmanthus from her.

The two of them maintained this position. 

They remained silent for a long time.

Suddenly, a gurgling sound broke the intimacy between them.

Huo Tan’s hand, which was holding Cui Yunzhao’s waist, paused slightly. After a moment, he couldn’t help but laugh.

This interruption diverted their unusual conversation, and neither of them mentioned it again. Cui Yunzhao’s face turned red. She instinctively pushed Huo Tan away and sat back in her own place.

She picked up her chopsticks and began eating the somewhat salty Yangchun noodles slowly.

Seeing her eat quietly and delicately, Huo Tan also picked up his chopsticks and continued to devour his food. “Is it good?” he asked between bites.

The Cui family was a prestigious clan from Bo Ling, renowned for its scholarly heritage over a century, and had produced many capable statesmen who supported the country’s stability.

The Cui family had very strict rules.

In the Cui household, it was customary not to speak during meals and not to talk before bed. As soon as the family started eating, talking was forbidden until the meal was finished.

But the Huo family did not follow such customs.

Now, Cui Yunzhao, accustomed to the freedom of being alone in the palace and enjoying company while talking, accepted his sudden conversation at the dining table quite well.

After swallowing a mouthful of noodles, Cui Yunzhao said, “It’s actually okay, just a bit salty.” It was indeed only okay, but nothing more. The noodles were somewhat soft, overcooked, and the soy sauce was a bit too much, making them quite salty.

But now that Cui Yunzhao was hungry, she wasn’t too picky. She ate slowly, savoring the taste of the flour in the noodles.

Huo Tan smiled and said, “If you can’t get used to it, just have the maid make some for you. It’ll be the same.”

He then added,  “Grandma has no control over the East Cross Courtyard. If you have any questions, just reply to her in one sentence.”

Cui Yunzhao glanced at him.

When Huo Tan mentioned his grandmother, his tone was quite indifferent, not as affectionate as he was with his mother and siblings.

“Just tell her to wait for me to return and ask.”

“For other matters, you don’t need to respond to her.”

Cui Yunzhao paused, holding her chopsticks, and couldn’t help but laugh. “If others heard this, they’d say the esteemed Huo military envoy is unfilial.”

Huo Tan finished the last sip of the soy sauce soup, carefully wiped his mouth with a napkin, and then said casually, “How am I unfilial? I provide her with good food and drink and have even hired servants to attend to her. How could that not be filial?”

He couldn’t help but laugh again. “Besides, as long as I can fight and climb the ranks, no one dares to say you’re unfilial.”

His words were delivered with great spirit, which made Cui Yunzhao understand him a bit better.

Seeing that Cui Yunzhao seemed a bit distracted, Huo Tan leaned in and asked, “My lady, do you think I’m too unruly?”

Cui Yunzhao glanced at him, finished the last bite of noodles slowly, put down her chopsticks, and said, “Husband, the whole family relies on you. Please work hard to earn money and support us.”

Huo Tan laughed heartily and then went into the inner room.

The eastern courtyard had a main room and side rooms. The main room was divided into inner and outer sections, and there was also a very small partitioned space. The side rooms, originally used for Huo Tan’s clothing, were now occupied by Li Qing and Tao Fei.

Huo Tan entered the inner room, turned around, and came back out, sitting down by the Eight Immortals table.

Cui Yunzhao had finished her meal and was about to tidy up her dowry when she saw him return.

“Is there something else?”

Cui Yunzhao asked as she stood up.

Huo Tan scratched his head and said, “I find it a bit boring and don’t know what to do.”

He had spent all his days at the barracks, either training soldiers or discussing affairs with colleagues. With frequent military conflicts, he was always busy.

Now, due to the recent marriage, Liu Tongzhi from the cavalry camp had given him three days of honeymoon leave, allowing him to accompany his My lady back home before returning to duty. This was originally a good thing.

But Huo Tan was used to the life in the barracks and didn’t know what to do with himself now that he had some free time.

Cui Yunzhao looked at him quietly, thought for a moment, and said, “Then help me move the furniture.”

Although she had been hastily married to Huo Tan, her uncle still valued face, and the Cui family’s reputation needed to be maintained. Therefore, her dowry had been prepared in full for the wedding.

However, the furniture was not new, and it was wrapped in red silk, so no one could see it clearly.

The wedding had been rushed. In her previous life, Cui Yunzhao hadn’t wanted to delay things, fearing unforeseen issues. Therefore, from the engagement to the wedding, only a month had passed.

As a result, no one had come to the Huo family to set up the bride’s bedroom. Aside from the wedding bed that was set up, the rest of the furniture was still piled in the side rooms.

Huo Tan’s eyes lit up. With a big wave of his hand, he said, “My lady, let’s go.”

Cui Yunzhao smiled and followed him out of the main room.

In early winter, before the snow had fallen, it wasn’t extremely cold outside.

Cui Yunzhao was still wearing a cotton-padded jacket and only tucked her hands into her sleeves. It wasn’t very cold.

Li Qing was about to bring in water when she saw her leading the groom out and quickly greeted them, “Miss, Ninth Master.”

Huo Tan was the ninth in his generation, and his family called him Ninth Young Master or Ninth Brother.

He was just a military envoy and not considered a high-ranking official. His official position was not very high, so outsiders would not refer to Cui Yunzhao as “Madam,” but rather as “Ninth Lady” or “Lady Cui .”

In this day and age, there were fewer gender restrictions, and women could establish their own households. If a marriage didn’t work out, divorce was common, and remarrying was frequent. Thus, women were often addressed by their maiden names.

Li Qing used the old-fashioned title from the Cui family.

Cui Yunzhao said, “I’ll go see what Uncle prepared for us and move it into the bedroom.”

Li Qing quickly replied, “Yes.

Although the furniture isn’t new, there are many pieces a wardrobe, four trunks, some jujube wood hangers, and a pear blossom table.

Including the eye-catching wedding bed, it’s not shabby.”

Tao Fei, seeing Cui Yunzhao’s calm demeanor, couldn’t help but feel a bit indignant. “The First Madam had so much dowry, I don’t know where the Second Madam has hidden it. They’re treating the Miss so poorly, as if she didn’t…”

Before she could finish, Li Qing tugged at her sleeve.

Cui Yunzhao chose not to respond to this, smiling at Tao Fei before turning to Huo Tan. “My lord, I see there’s a small partitioned space next to the main room, with just four doors. How about we turn it into a study?”

Huo Tan, who generally wasn’t concerned with household matters, replied, “My lady, you can take full charge of the household affairs.”

He said this pleasantly.

Cui Yunzhao nodded and began directing him to move the furniture.

Although the furniture wasn’t very large, it was indeed heavy. Cui Yunzhao had initially planned to ask the household’s handyman and the stronger maid for help, but she watched as Huo Tan easily lifted the large desk with a single bend of his back.

He stood firm, and seeing Cui Yunzhao’s surprised expression, couldn’t help but laugh again.

“My lady, this is nothing. Let’s go set up our home.”

The term “home” sounded truly warm.

Cui Yunzhao lowered her eyes, said nothing, and simply advised, “Be careful.”

Soon, the main room was arranged.

The small partitioned space held two trunks and a desk, along with a small bookshelf, all neatly arranged.

In the bedroom, aside from the wedding bed, there was a tea table by the window, a wardrobe and trunks along the wall, and a screen with green mountains and rivers placed in front of the door. The room immediately took on an elegant atmosphere.

With everything set up, Cui Yunzhao nodded in satisfaction. “Very nice.”

Huo Tan had already removed his ceremonial outer robe and was wearing only a plain long shirt underneath, sitting in a chair and wiping his sweat.

He was extremely handsome.

Huo Tan looked striking in whatever he wore. The bright red ceremonial robe gave him an indescribable elegant and distinguished air, while the plain long shirt made him appear refreshingly refined and graceful.

It was hard to believe that he was a young military envoy who had repeatedly achieved military successes and charged bravely on the battlefield.

Noticing Cui Yunzhao’s gaze, Huo Tan raised his eyes and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Cui Yunzhao thought for a moment and then spoke again, “On the day after tomorrow, when we return to the Cui family, can you come with me?”

In her previous life, Huo Tan had also accompanied her back to her family.

However, that day had been unpleasant. The Cui family members had been unfriendly, as if Huo Tan’s visit had sullied their reputation.

Cui Yunzhao had been in a bad mood that day and hadn’t thought about dealing with important matters.

She was still too young then.

This time, she would not let them off so easily.

Huo Tan naturally replied, “Of course I’ll come.”

Cui Yunzhao smiled gently at him, “Since we’re married and haven’t yet invited your subordinates, why don’t we go directly to the Cui family and invite them?”

“I think, how about setting it on the day of the return visit?