Chapter 49: Do you… really want to consummate our marriage that badly?

Night had fallen, and the glow of the setting sun was fading from the sky.

Yu Tingwan stepped out of the room. Outside, the lively banquet continued, cups clinking, laughter filling the air. Aunt Wu was still praising the dishes, saying they looked good and tasted even better.

Seeing her come out, no one was surprised. Who would seriously expect Wei Shen to consummate his marriage?

Hui Niang, who had been about to bring food to the room, smiled and waved to the young woman. “You’ve had a long day. Come and eat.”

Really..

Just now, she had thought they might consummate the marriage, but even that didn’t excite her as much as sitting down for a meal now.

A faint dimple appeared at the corner of her mouth as she walked over and sat down.

Hui Niang gestured to the two people beside her.

“This is your uncle, and this is your aunt.”

Yu Tingwan greeted them warmly. “Uncle, Aunt.”

Zhao Yong, a man of few words, simply nodded. Beside him, his wife, Madam Yu, took Yu Tingwan’s hand with an affectionate smile.

“A few days ago, your mother-in-law came back saying that her son was getting married. She spoke so highly of you, calling you the most beautiful girl for miles around. I didn’t quite believe it at first.”

“I thought she was just singing you praises because she liked her daughter-in-law. But seeing you today, I must admit—she wasn’t exaggerating.”

Yu Tingwan was slightly surprised.

This Madam Yu was quite diplomatically skilled.

With just a few words, she managed to highlight how much Hui Niang valued her while also making it clear that she herself approved.

Yu Tingwan knew better than anyone that Madam Yu meant no harm.

Back when Xiao Niang died, it was a huge scandal.

Wei Shouzhong and his wife were so devastated that they both fell ill. Zhao Yong tried to report the case, but no one would help. It was Madam Yu who stormed over to Xiao Niang’s husband’s family, cursing them out, arguing until her face was red and swollen, and in the end, carrying back her niece’s body to give her a proper burial.

At the time, many people whispered that Madam Yu was too aggressive.

But she hadn’t needed to get involved at all—after all, Xiao Niang was just her niece.

Yu Tingwan felt that Madam Wang wasn’t even worth one of Madam Yu’s fingers.

After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, they began to leave.

Wei Shouzhong escorted the family elder home.

Hui Niang saw Li Lian and the others out, then returned to find Zhao Yong clearing the table while Madam Yu prepared to wash the dishes.

Hui Niang hesitated. “Brother, Sister-in-law, it’s already dark, and it’s snowing outside. The roads aren’t safe. Why don’t you stay the night?”

Zhao Yong glanced at Madam Yu.

In their household, she made the decisions.

When Madam Yu married into the Zhao family, Hui Niang had still been a girl. Their mother-in-law had passed early, and their father-in-law was weak, so Madam Yu had taken charge of the household from the start.

Her young sister-in-law was diligent and thoughtful.

Madam Yu had always treated her like a real sister.

“No need,” Madam Yu said, continuing to clean up. “We’ll finish tidying and head back. I’d rather not leave the house unattended. Besides, it’s just the two of us—what could possibly happen?”

Hui Niang sighed, not pressing further, but she did stop Madam Yu from washing the dishes. “Then you should go now. Just the journey home will take an hour, and who knows if the snow will get heavier later.”

Madam Yu waved her off. “It won’t take long.”

Hui Niang was troubled.

Then, someone laughed softly.

Yu Tingwan spoke. “Aunt, just listen to my mother.”

“She’s worried about you and Uncle.”

“You care for her—at least let her care for you too.”

Yu Tingwan had a way with words, knowing what to say to whom.

These few sentences warmed Madam Yu’s heart, making her look at Yu Tingwan with even more approval.

After seeing them off, Hui Niang still wouldn’t let Yu Tingwan do any chores.

So, Yu Tingwan went to the kitchen to heat water. She couldn’t let Hui Niang wash dishes with cold water.

*

After Yu Tingwan left, Wei Zhao fell asleep.

His consciousness was hazy, as if voices surrounded him.

It was chaotic.

One moment, it was the voice of Xiao Huaiyan, the heir of the Marquis of Zhongyong.

«That young lady from the Ministry of Works has her eyes on you. You ignored her, which is fine, but when she stopped you on the road, batted her lashes, and sent you flirtatious glances, you told her she had an eye disease. Then you turned around and suspected her of being a spy, had her detained, and interrogated her?»

«Are you insane?»

«With behavior like yours, who would dare to marry you? If your future wife so much as touched you, you’d probably break her hand!»

Wei Zhao had been wiping his Cloud-Breaking Spear then, its surface glinting coldly. His dark eyes were sharp and unreadable.

«I was on duty, and she kept following me. How do I know she didn’t have ulterior motives? If she’s innocent, the Wei family’s troops would never mistreat her.»

Xiao Huaiyan hadn’t believed him at all.

After that, no woman dared approach Wei Zhao. Clearly, this had been his goal all along.

The voices changed again.

«Fu Meng hasn’t seen you in days. He’s been sulking and refusing to eat.»

Fu Meng was his pet tiger.

He didn’t even look up from his desk.

«Last time, he shredded a war manual written by an old scholar of the previous dynasty. His punishment isn’t over yet.»

Yes, he had made the tiger reflect on its actions in solitude.

Wei Zhao said flatly, «If he’s not eating, then he’s not hungry.»

The voices shifted once more. This time, they were trembling with urgency.

Someone rushed in from outside, gasping for breath.

«General—»

«News just arrived from the capital. The Grand Duke… He may not have much time left.»

For a moment, his expression went blank, as if something inside him had shattered.

Grief and fear surged through him like a flood, filling every inch of his being, suffocating him.

Then, somewhere in the distance, a door creaked open, shattering the illusion.

“Husband.”

Yu Tingwan stood beside the bed, watching his pale, sweat-drenched face. His body trembled slightly—something was wrong.

“Husband.”

She quickly put down the basin and reached out to touch his forehead with the back of her hand.

It wasn’t hot.

Maybe her hand was just too warm.

So she leaned in and pressed her forehead against his.

The moment they touched, Wei Zhao’s eyes snapped open.

His gaze was empty, yet filled with a sorrow so deep it could swallow everything.

Yu Tingwan was momentarily stunned, forgetting to move away.

Not wanting to startle him, she spoke softly.

“You haven’t eaten dinner. Are you hungry? I could make you some wontons—they’re easy to digest.”

Her voice was gentle as she continued.

“Was it a nightmare? You’re drenched in sweat. That must be uncomfortable—I’ll help you change.”

Wei Zhao saw her lips moving but didn’t catch her words.

Bit by bit, reality pulled him back. His eyes flickered, settling on the person so close to him.

“Yu Tingwan.”

For the first time, he addressed her by name.

“Hm?”

His voice was barely audible. “You’re leaning in so close… do you really want to consummate our marriage that badly?”

Yu Tingwan absolutely did not!

What a false accusation!

But she countered, “And if I do?”

Wei Zhao was cold. “No.”

Yu Tingwan sighed in mock disappointment.

Then a thought struck her. She studied him carefully.

She had been so forward before. How could he have no reaction at all?

The answer was obvious.

He must have injured that part of himself when he fell from the mountain.

She was truly heartless.

Every time she made a move, she was only making his pain worse.

She took his hand. “It’s alright. I don’t mind.”

Wei Zhao heard her solemn declaration.

“In the day, we’ll be husband and wife. At night, we can be sisters.”