Blissful Days After Widowhood - Chapter 496

However, the coat was the one he had taken off after wearing it for a while, and it didn’t carry the smell of sweat or any other strange scents.

Two buckets of water had been boiled in the kitchen, and the two were brought over before the bridal chamber.

Given the warm weather, those buckets of hot water had turned lukewarm.

Gu Yin noticed that his intense gaze was still on her body. Her ears grew hot, and she didn’t dare to look at him. Instead, she fiddled with the warm water and said, “Fortunately, I came here early. The water is still hot, so I can bathe with it.”

She made it very clear that she could bathe without needing anything else, signaling to Wu Qingyi that he could return to the room.

Unexpectedly, Wu Qingyi’s eyes dimmed. He walked to her side, his tall figure casting a thick black shadow.

“Madam, what does this mean?” His voice was hoarse, “Is it because I finished too soon?”

Gu Yin hurriedly placed her hands on his chest, lowered her eyes, and said, “It’s just a casual comment; it’s not what you think!”

Wu Qingyi didn’t listen, expressing self-blame, “When I asked for a kiss that day, you once said that you doubted whether I had a secret disease. Thinking about my performance today, I think I haven’t dispelled your doubts.”

“I really didn’t…” Gu Yin lowered her eyes in panic but inadvertently saw his blushing face, leaving her unsure where to look.

In the end, Gu Yin did not bathe alone. The water in the tub churned as if she were a dying fish, breathing heavily while clinging to the driftwood in front of her. She didn’t even know when she fell asleep.

When she opened her eyes again, Gu Yin was already in bed, and the sky was bright outside.

Song Shiliu had already led a maid to the door, and when she heard the sound, she immediately came in with a change of clothes and things to wash.

Gu Yin was without clothes, but the curtain still provided a veil of modesty, easing her concerns about being seen. She beckoned Song Shiliu to fetch the dress, extending her arm to retrieve it.

Having grown up alongside Gu Yin, Song Shiliu was accustomed to such scenes. However, upon grasping Gu Yin’s arm, she expressed distress, “Madam, why are there so many red spots on your arm? Mosquito bites? This is outrageous!”

Her grip rivaled Mrs. Wang’s strength, prompting Gu Yin to struggle briefly. Song Shiliu released her hold, and Gu Yin withdrew her arm.

Upon learning that Song Shiliu had repeatedly instructed the maid to use citronella to repel mosquitoes, Gu Yin hastily wore her clothes to conceal the conspicuous red spots on her body. Once dressed, she rose from the bed, proceeding to comb her hair.

Contrary to Gu Yin’s concerns, Wu Qingyi’s previous night’s activities had left no visible traces on her neck. 

Traditionally, the first dress of a new bride after marriage was red. Gu Yin styled her hair into a bun, adorned with a few small golden hairpins that she often wore. Song Shiliu, upon seeing the transformation, couldn’t help but mutter, “It’s strange. This dress doesn’t seem superior to the one you wore before, and the bun and jewelry are similar, yet you appear more beautiful than before.”

Amused, Gu Yin turned her head and softly glared at Song Shiliu. Perplexed, Song Shiliu pondered, perhaps red was more fitting for the lady.

Later, Wu Qingyi completed his exercises and returned home.

Gu Yin glanced at him again, but her anger was notably subdued compared to when she had glared at Song Shiliu. Having spent a sleepless night with eyes wide open, she felt drained and unfairly exhausted upon waking up.

Wu Qingyi’s smile deepened as he remarked, “Shiliu praised you when I entered. You indeed look better than usual today!”

Song Shiliu, being young, couldn’t discern the nuances of the situation.

Gu Yin’s ears reddened at these impertinent words. She feigned reaching for the powder box on the dresser, as if contemplating throwing it at him.

Quickly sensing her anger, Wu Qingyi waved his hand in apology, assuring her that he was no longer going to tease her. He then retrieved his clothes and headed to the washroom for a bath.

After changing, it was time for the two to serve tea to Mrs. Wang and Wu Zhong.

Inside the room, Gu Yin had felt only weakness, but upon stepping out, she realized her legs were unsteady, swaying and shaking.

“Be careful,” Wu Qingyi reached out to support her.

In embarrassment, Gu Yin pinched his palm, frowning slightly, but he maintained his composed demeanor.

Yet, the faintly lifted corners of his lips betrayed a happiness within him, more pronounced than usual in recent days.

Together, they slowly made their way to the main hall, where both Mrs. Wang and Wu Zhong had already finished their morning meal. Naturally, they were late.

However, Mrs. Wang and Wu Zhong naturally didn’t pay attention to these things. Seeing that Gu Yin was seated awkwardly beside Wu Qingyi when she entered, Mrs. Wang felt distressed, “My child, it’s so hot today, would you like some tea?” Gu Yin didn’t let Wu Qingyi help her when she entered the room and said softly, “I’m supposed to serve tea to you and my father. I came late.”

In that kind of environment before, the day after the simple wedding, Wu Zhong and Wu Qingyi went to the battlefield, leaving only the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law at home. How could they still have the heart to perform those rituals?

So when Mrs. Wang heard the words, she laughed even more happily and said with a smiling frown, “You child, you are so tired, but still know to be filial to me and your father.”

Hearing that, Gu Yin’s face turned red, so Mrs. Wang immediately added, “I meant that there was a wedding yesterday. You must be exhausted wearing such a heavy beaded crown!”

There were no other outsiders in the room, so Gu Yin responded in a low voice.

After speaking, the maid came into the house and brought tea and a futon (mattress).

When Gu Yin knelt down, her knees got numb again, but fortunately, Wu Qingyi kept an eye on her and stretched out his hand to support her lower back, so she knelt down steadily.

When the new daughter-in-law served tea, parents-in-law would always give some advice so that the newly married couple could get along well.

Of course, that step was omitted in Duke Ying’s Mansion, and Mrs. Wang was not worried that they would not get along well—not to mention how her eldest son who looked at her eldest daughter-in-law, and what showed in his eyes, gave her goosebumps.

After drinking the daughter-in-law’s tea, Mrs. Wang took out the gift she had prepared a long time ago and gave it. After that, Mrs. Wang didn’t leave Gu Yin in the room to eat and asked her to take a rest.

Gu Yin whispered softly, “Actually, it’s not too tiring.”

Mrs. Wang lowered her voice and said worriedly, “He has taken several days leave.”

Gu Yin had heard of that the previous day. Well, she didn’t think about it back then, but after listening to it again, she understood.

But what was the use? No one could force the newlyweds who had taken a leave not to go out of the house, right?

Gu Yin left the main courtyard with a wry smile and then returned to the courtyard where they lived. The two casually had breakfast. Wu Qingyi let everyone leave, touched his nose, and said, “Don’t look at me like that, I just wanted to accompany you at ordinary times. You don’t have much time, and I am not that kind of hungry ghost, and it’s not because of that…”

He walked to Gu Yin’s side, lifted her leg on the kang, squatted on the ground, and gently massaged her legs.

Gu Yin wasn’t really angry with him either. Seeing him squatting beside her feet and beating her legs, she felt like he was a big dog.

But after listening to him pause for a moment and then wrapped in a smile, he continued, “It’s not all for that, as long as I still want to accompany you.”

Gu Yin, who was on the kang, couldn’t help but slap his hand lightly.

After beating her legs lightly, he started pinching her legs slightly, and he said, “This petticoat is in the way; I will help the lady relieve the tension in the muscles, and you will feel a lot better in a while.”

His expression was too serious, almost the same as the doctor in the medical center who cared about the world.

Before Gu Yin could react, his big palm had already stretched into the petticoat. Starting from the heel, he pinched her sore meridian and kneaded and pressed it carefully, going up…

In the chaos, Gu Yin looked at the bright sky outside and could only hold the murmur to her lips.

With such a person, she thought he was pure-hearted before, but she was really blinded.