Chapter 48: If You Don’t Want It, Forget It—Just Don’t Come Begging Later

The bridal chamber’s bed had seen its years. As Yu Tingwan lay down, the wooden frame gave a slight creak, shaking faintly.

The bedboard was hard—nothing compared to the luxurious rosewood beds in the Duke of Shun’s residence.

But Wei Zhao, accustomed to military campaigns and the hardships of field life, was no pampered noble who couldn’t endure discomfort. To him, this was perfectly acceptable.

Now the bed he once slept on was occupied by a young woman claiming the title of his wife.

She wore wedding attire, her brows delicately drawn, lips soft and red, and cheeks lightly powdered.

Her beauty was simply…

Dazzling.

Had it not been for the Hu family’s scholarly reputation deterring outsiders, and Yu Tingwan’s rare public appearances, such beauty would have been difficult for an ordinary family to protect.

Wei Zhao seemed lost in thought, momentarily distracted.

Yu Tingwan waited for quite some time but saw no movement from him. Her lashes, fluttering like butterfly wings, trembled as she quietly cracked open one eye.

??

He was frozen—halfway through untying his belt.

“Need some help?” Yu Tingwan asked.

Wei Zhao snapped back to reality, his voice calm. “No need.”

“Then hurry up,” Yu Tingwan said.

They were already married; she saw no reason to hide her thoughts.

“People are still feasting and drinking outside. They won’t be leaving anytime soon. If we make too much noise, it won’t be good.”

Wei Zhao remained silent, his gaze resting on Yu Tingwan, waiting to see what else she had to say.

..She didn’t disappoint him.

“When Hu Dalang married Xiao Xu, their bed was newly built just two years ago—should have been quite sturdy. Yet at night, it still creaked endlessly.”

Xiao Xu wasn’t quiet either. Her voice—whether from pain or pleasure—carried a seductive quality, quite unlike her usual sharp tone.

At first, Hu Dalang was concerned about Yu Tingwan next door and would cover Xiao Xu’s mouth. But later, Xiao Xu would whisper things in his ear that would make him lose all restraint.

Yu Tingwan couldn’t sleep. She had to wake up early to prepare breakfast, yet she couldn’t exactly knock on their door and ask them to quiet down.

Having gotten this far, she continued, “After harvest season, to supplement the family income, my uncle would travel with merchants through the streets, even going into the city. He wasn’t home much. And Hu Yaozhu spent most of his time at the academy, rarely returning.”

Yu Tingwan spoke with certainty, “Aunt Wang wasn’t deaf—she definitely heard it too! But she was desperate for a grandson.”

“Still, she feared Hu Dalang would weaken himself through overindulgence. Every time, she’d glare at Xiao Xu as if finding fault with everything about her.”

“She must’ve wanted to call her a vixen.”

Wei Zhao had no idea why he was listening to all this.

But since the girl had talked so much, he figured he should respond.

“Why didn’t she scold her?”

Yu Tingwan gave him an odd look.

Then, self-assuredly, she declared, “Because the real vixen in that house was me.”

Wei Zhao: …

You seem quite proud of that.

Yu Tingwan continued, “Later, Hu Dazhu came home early one night and walked right in on them.”

A young girl shouldn’t hear such things! Even Hu Dazhu was embarrassed.

Since he couldn’t scold his daughter-in-law, he darkened his face and knocked on the door, dragging Hu Dalang out.

“After that night, Hu Dalang had a clear handprint on his face for days.”

For a whole month after, he couldn’t even look Yu Tingwan in the eye. And from then on, things next door quieted down significantly.

Finishing her story, Yu Tingwan returned to her earlier concern.

“Our bed won’t collapse, will it?”

She frowned in concern. “If it does, we’ll have to sleep on the floor.”

She glanced at Wei Zhao, whose expression had grown rather serious.

“Well,” she muttered, “not that asking you would get me any real answer.”

He was a novice too.

Despite her usual boldness, even Yu Tingwan felt a little embarrassed.

Still, she reminded him matter-of-factly, “You’re injured, so be gentle later.”

She spoke as though completing an unavoidable task.

The admiring, flirtatious glances that noble ladies in the capital gave Wei Zhao had never appeared in Yu Tingwan’s eyes.

She only wanted to get things over with quickly—no shyness, no hesitation.

Finding a comfortable position, she reached over to unfasten his buttons. Unlike his slow movements, hers were quick and efficient.

Wei Zhao’s eyelid twitched as her collar slipped open, revealing skin white as snow.

Was it just all women, or was she especially pale?

How could someone be this fair?

Wei Zhao, who had been about to move back, found his gaze deepening. After staring for a moment, he sat on the bed and was about to lean forward to touch her.

But the young woman, impatient with his hesitation, grabbed onto him, mindful of his injuries, and pulled him down.

Wei Zhao lost his balance and fell.

Beneath him was a girl with striking features, a soft and warm body, and a chest that rose and fell with each breath.

She seemed willing to let him do as he pleased, showing no signs of resistance.

Wei Zhao had never been this close to a woman before.

When he came of age, the Duchess had arranged for a concubine, but Wei Zhao hadn’t even looked at her before sending her away.

He wasn’t one to indulge in women’s company.

Even at night, he rarely needed to seek release.

Yet now, Yu Tingwan murmured softly beside his ear—

“You’re heavy.”

She said it offhandedly, but he couldn’t help but take notice.

If he didn’t know what kind of person Yu Tingwan was, he would have thought she was deliberately teasing him.

Wei Zhao was still a man.

Though fortunately, right now he just wanted to die.

Despite all her knowledge, Yu Tingwan had no real experience. Meanwhile, Wei Zhao—who should have taken the lead—remained as rigid as a block of wood.

The two of them stared at each other in an awkward standoff for a long time.

Outside, the sounds of laughter, drinking games, and rowdy conversations continued.

Inside… dead silence.

After waiting for what seemed like forever, Yu Tingwan hesitantly asked, “You… don’t know how?”

Wei Zhao finally moved. He reached out, brushing aside her open collar, his hand exploring inward.

Whether from his poor health or the evening breeze, his fingertips were especially cold.

Yu Tingwan shivered slightly, her body tensing as she instinctively held her breath, feeling his hand slide toward the back of her neck.

In the next moment, something was pulled away.

It was the peace talisman she had been wearing these past few days.

Wei Zhao held it in his palm, as if his scattered, empty heart had been temporarily pieced together.

His mood seemed to improve. Looking at her stunned face, he mimicked her tone, “Then… why don’t you teach me?”

Yu Tingwan: ???

Are you serious?

Having taken the initiative too many times, she finally snapped in embarrassment.

“If you don’t want it, forget it—just don’t come begging later!”

Wei Zhao highly doubted that day would ever come.

She glared. “Get off!”

Wei Zhao didn’t budge. “You should have thought of that when you pulled me down.”

Thought of what? That you weren’t actually interested?

Wei Zhao drawled, “I can’t get up.”

What else could Yu Tingwan do?

Even angry, she had to help push him to the side.

Being the considerate person she was, she even tucked the blanket around him before storming out.

Wei Zhao was about to close his eyes when he heard hurried footsteps returning.

Yu Tingwan marched straight back, stopped at the bedside, and in frustration, gave him another punch.

Wei Zhao: …

Well, it’s not like this was the first time she’d hit him.