The main chamber had been renovated, with all the old furnishings refurbished. Additionally, a lady's dressing case and many clothing chests and cabinets had been added. New gold and jade trays were mounted on the walls, each holding a large, luminous pearl.
The pearls shone brilliantly, their light bright yet soft, illuminating the room as bright as day when combined.
However, at this moment, many small shades covered with black gauze had been lowered from the walls. These shades, placed over the pearls, blocked most of their light in the room.
Pei Ying couldn't help but hold her breath slightly. This man was "fully prepared," only lacking the "east wind," and furthermore, he wanted her to personally deliver this "east wind."
The large palm resting against the small of her back felt her stiffen, and the man chuckled lowly. "It was Madam who wanted to use the fish bladder, was it not?"
Pei Ying paused, only managing to whisper a "Yes" after a long moment.
"In that case, how could Madam not contribute some effort?" Huo Tingshan said, as if it were the most natural thing.
Pei Ying met his gaze for a moment, then finally shifted her eyes to the porcelain bowl on the small cabinet. She tried to get up, but his arm was still wrapped around her waist.
"Huo Tingshan, do you still not wish to use the fish bladder?" Pei Ying asked, her delicate brows furrowing as she saw he wouldn't let her go.
"Madam misunderstands me greatly. It's just that fetching the fish bladder is a trivial matter. Why trouble Madam?" Huo Tingshan reached out with a long arm and brought the bowl from the cabinet over.
With the small bowl now before her, Pei Ying slowly fished out the fish bladder from inside.
Initially, she had asked Xin Jin to soak it in hot water, both to soften the dried bladder and to sterilize it with the high temperature. The wait had been somewhat long, and now the water wasn't very hot anymore, though the temperature was just right.
Seeing her slow, deliberate movements, Huo Tingshan didn't hurry her, letting her dawdle there.
After taking the fish bladder, Pei Ying tried to shift back a little. This time she succeeded; the large hand behind her didn't stop her.
Having made some space, Pei Ying lowered her eyes to look down. One glance, and her gaze quickly shifted away, only to return after a few breaths.
She finally raised her hand.
Pulling down his loose trousers somewhat, Pei Ying saw there was another layer inside.
A small piece of grey fabric—that was something she had personally selected and sewn.
Huo Tingshan also looked down.
When he first started wearing them, he was quite unaccustomed, feeling uncomfortable, but after wearing them for a long time, he had developed a strange sense of security.
The man suddenly chuckled softly. "The shorts Madam sewed for me with her own hands are very good. And I've discovered something..."
"What?" Pei Ying asked, puzzled.
"Madam has excellent eyesight. If you were a man on the battlefield, you would surely be a sharpshooter capable of hitting a target from a hundred paces." Huo Tingshan said.
Pei Ying didn't initially understand his remark about "excellent eyesight," until she followed his gaze downward, landing on the front of the shorts, and then understood what he meant.
Men's undergarments are distinctly different from women's in the front.
The blush on Pei Ying's face spread from the tips of her ears to her cheeks, as if dusted with a layer of rouge.
What was there to praise? She had simply made them loose-fitting; she hadn't expected them to fit so perfectly.
Huo Tingshan shifted their positions, settling himself against the post at the side of the bed. "I must trouble Madam to continue."
Pei Ying pulled the shorts down a little further, trying to keep her gaze fixed on the fish bladder as she began her task with trembling hands.
The breathing by her ear grew much heavier, each breath increasingly resembling the panting of some large beast.
Pei Ying's heart pounded with fear. In truth, she hadn't had many direct views of it. That time in the hot spring pool at Yuanshan County, when this man had undressed without warning, counted as one instance.
As for their previous couplings, aside from them happening in the dim candlelight of night, she herself had rarely looked, let alone been as close to measuring it as she was now.
So fierce it was, both fierce and ferocious-looking, no wonder its wanton behavior was so terrifying.
The fish bladder sheath was made of three layers stacked. To prevent slipping, Pei Ying had asked Xin Jin to sew a few stitches at the opening as an anchor point.
But this only fixed the opening; the inside wasn't secured, so putting it on now was still somewhat difficult.
Pei Ying was making adjustments. And the more she adjusted, the more ragged the breathing by her ear became, flushing her face completely crimson, almost dripping with blood.
"Has Madam put it on properly?" His long arm encircled her waist, like a giant serpent capturing its prey, tightening bit by bit.
"Just a moment longer," Pei Ying whispered.
Huo Tingshan's breathing was disordered. "It suddenly occurs to me that this might be Madam's cunning scheme."
"Not at all," Pei Ying denied.
Huo Tingshan's dark eyes were thick as ink: "If this were a battlefield, Madam would have already slain thousands of enemies this time."
Pei Ying paused slightly, a glint of light flashing in her eyes, then continued to lower her gaze and fiddle. "It's my first time handling this, I'm not very skilled. Please be patient."
Again and again, as if holding the reins connected to the beast's muzzle, making the giant creature pant helplessly.
Huo Tingshan hadn't initially discerned her intent, until he saw her fussing over and over with that last little wrinkle, yet somehow "unskillfully" failing to smooth it out. In that moment, what was there he didn't understand?
Fine, she was playing tricks with him again.
"I wonder if Madam has heard the phrase 'to court disaster'." A leaping dark flame flickered in Huo Tingshan's eyes.
Pei Ying froze, but before she could say anything to ease the tension, a dizzying spin assailed her. Her back, which had only been supported by a long arm moments before, now met the soft bedding as he leaned over her.
Thus, the terrifying flames from his eyes spread to her body, truly fulfilling his words about "courting disaster."
The plump earlobes, the slender neck, the small red mole over her heart, and the jade-like softness.
Pei Ying trembled incessantly, as if being cooked, large patches of gorgeous rouge-red blooming across her skin.
No matter how many times, she felt this man would never learn to be gentle and deliberate. He was always seizing, restraining, also using his leg to pin her, leaving her no place to flee, no room to retreat.
On either side of the bed, the gauze curtains originally hung on jade hooks trembled with the slight shaking of the bed, half-falling down.
Pale moonlight slipped obliquely through the window lattice into the room, almost reaching the carved screen before the bed.
The screen blocked the light, casting that corner into complete darkness, like the lair of some gigantic sea creature. And within the lair, there was a beautiful mermaid the creature had captured not long ago.
At a certain moment, the mermaid began to shed tears.
Her short, rapid breaths seemed to accumulate to a precarious tipping point, finally turning into fragmented sobs.
"Huo Tingshan, your beard has grown out again..."
"Madam, I just shaved this morning." The following male voice was muffled, as if speaking with meat in his mouth.
Pei Ying was trapped in the corner of the bed, with a wall behind her and a shocking wall of heat before her, seemingly not much different from the one behind.
The beautiful woman's jade-like face was entirely flushed with the rosy pink of spring peaches, making her skin appear even more milky white. Her eyelashes were damp, a teardrop hanging at the crimson corner of her eye, about to fall but not falling, like dew on a peony, more lush and gorgeous than a pond full of delicate blossoms.
"It really has grown out." Her voice was muffled, yet also like a juicy lychee, each sound soaked with tearful sobs.
Pei Ying raised her hand and indeed felt a prickly touch at his jawline.
She remembered that this morning when her veil was lifted, she had seen his chin was still smooth. Just a moment ago, it had seemed quite clean too. Who would have thought that in less than a day, his stubble had already emerged.
"Madam, don't look for excuses. I confirmed it myself when I bathed earlier." Huo Tingshan was utterly enamored with that little red mole.
Pei Ying instinctively flinched, her first reaction being that he was lying, and she argued with him for a few moments.
Huo Tingshan chuckled mockingly, "Such a trivial matter is not worth me deceiving you, Madam."
Hearing his tone, it didn't seem like he was lying. Her muddled mind slowly turned, and after a moment, she understood.
From Huo Tingshan's perspective, he might not have been lying. The man had stroked his chin with his hand and, feeling nothing unusual, let it be. Yet he didn't consider that his hands were covered in thick calluses; those insignificant little stubbles could hardly feel prickly to him.
Huo Tingshan himself didn't find it prickly, but it was hard on Pei Ying. Every time he drew near, it stirred a strange sensation in her, both itchy and sore.
Pei Ying initially tried to press her hand against his jaw, hoping to block the newly sprouted stubble.
But just then, the man began moving with vigorous, heavy strokes, each one forceful, causing her raised hand to lose strength repeatedly, her fingertips trembling violently.
"Huo Tingshan, don't be so impatient..." Pei Ying tried to reason with him.
Yet at this moment, she spoke her piece while he busied himself with his. Pei Ying only managed a few words before her speech fragmented into broken phrases.
She was almost worn to a faint by that terrifying, overwhelming sensation. One moment she was lifted high, feet suspended as if walking a tightrope; the next, mountains crumbled, burying her heavily beneath.
It was also like a pot set on a hot stove, boiling fiercely before suddenly tilting sideways, sending a dense, swift torrent of liquid rushing towards her, engulfing her, even swallowing the trembling gasps when she lost her breath.
The temperature in the room seemed to climb steadily, the increasingly hot air steaming the beautiful woman's delicate skin until fine beads of fragrant sweat appeared. She was voluptuous and graceful, her fair body glowing with a healthy pink hue and marked with unusual red traces.
The silk towel Pei Ying lay upon showed a small patch of darkening dampness. Not just the towel, the bedding too was soiled in disarray, with dark spots spreading like stars, occasionally expanding somewhere to form a small connected "lake."
Outside the window, dark clouds were blown by the wind, the moon's shadow slanted west, and the night had reached its deepest hour. A fierce wolf left its den, and a vicious tiger raced through the forest.
A dark shadow fell. A plump white rabbit was caught off guard, pinned by a massive beast's paw. Soon after, sounds reminiscent of a beast feeding—smacking, sucking noises—came from the woods.
Under the moon, a small stream babbled. Then rain began to fall from the sky, gradually intensifying. The forest stream swelled with the tide, softening the adjacent earth.
Pei Ying lay on the couch, feeling him leave. Her eyelashes fluttered, thinking she would rest a while longer before going to bathe.
Who knew she would suddenly hear a "snap" sound, like... a thread being snapped.
Pei Ying froze, turned over with effort, and saw the man had snapped the thread on the fish bladder, taken out the innermost one and discarded it, then put on a new one.
Perhaps sensing her shocked gaze, Huo Tingshan turned his head. His face showed no sign of satiation. "Madam, changing these fish bladders is quite convenient."
"Not..." Pei Ying had only uttered two words when a dark shadow fell upon her.
...
The golden crow climbed over the horizon, lighting a corner of the sky. As time passed, this light spread across the entire canopy, ushering in the day.
The Governor's grand wedding was over. The four city gates of Xuantu Commandery no longer distributed red chicken eggs.
Some hopeful citizens still went to the gates today, but seeing they truly weren't being given out anymore, could only regretfully turn back.
Life gradually returned to normal.
Today, the Huo brothers and Meng Ling'er all rose early, meeting in the main hall.
"Eldest Brother, Second Brother." After the wedding, Meng Ling'er had changed her form of address.
Huo Mingji asked with a smile, "Sister, having just entered the residence, did you rest well yesterday?"
Meng Ling'er nodded, "Quite well."
After Huo Mingji and Meng Ling'er finished speaking, Huo Zhizhang also came over to chat with her. They had attended classes together back in Bingzhou, so actually, Meng Ling'er was more familiar with Huo Zhizhang.
Their conversation now was also related to their studies.
Today, they had to pay respects to their parents, and there was a family banquet in the evening, so the resumption of studies would start tomorrow.
In other words, today was the last day of the holiday.
Huo Zhizhang asked Meng Ling'er how her homework was coming along.
Meng Ling'er: "It's all finished."
Huo Zhizhang exclaimed in surprise, "All of it?"
They had many tutors, each with their own assignments. With over ten days of "holiday," the assigned tasks were naturally not few.
"Naturally." Meng Ling'er replied without hesitation.
Huo Zhizhang's expression turned complicated. "I didn't expect you to be so fond of studying."
A light chuckle sounded then, carrying a hint of mockery upon closer listen.
Huo Zhizhang stiffened, a sense of foreboding washing over him.
The next moment, his premonition came true.
"You think everyone is as lazy as you? 'Tomorrow and tomorrow again, how many tomorrows are there?'" Huo Mingji taunted.
Huo Zhizhang regretted, "Elder Brother."
How could he say such things in front of their sister? Where would he put his face from now on?
Huo Mingji retorted, "Am I wrong?"
Huo Zhizhang argued softly, "It's not that I won't do it, I'm just later. Besides, Mother said in front of Father before, 'teach students in accordance with their aptitude.' I think I'm naturally cut out to be a military officer, not a civil official."
When there were too many characters on the page, it gave him a headache. In his view, knowing how to read and write was enough; what was the point of the rest?
"You think that's useful? Do you think Father and all the tutors agree?" Huo Mingji said coolly.
Huo Zhizhang's face changed slightly, but he had no rebuttal.
Meng Ling'er watched the brothers go back and forth. Her face was very obedient, but inwardly she found it somewhat amusing.
Huo Zhizhang, unable to win the argument with Huo Mingji, simply turned away and continued chatting with Meng Ling'er, about Xuantu Commandery, and also about the northern lands beyond Youzhou.
"Central Plains folks often call us Youzhou men barbarians, but they don't know the true barbarians are those Xiongnu in the northern lands," Huo Zhizhang said disdainfully.
Meng Ling'er stiffened for an instant, though Huo Zhizhang opposite her didn't notice.
Meng Ling'er asked, "What are the Xiongnu like?"
"Those Xiongnu are savage and brutal, often coming south to raid, stealing grain, and also seizing women and men. Some of the worst ones burn villages after looting," Huo Zhizhang said with disgust.
Burning villages often happened before major battles, destroying the village granaries so the villagers had no food and were forced to scatter in search of sustenance, some even becoming refugees.
Basically, anything that could cause trouble for them, the Xiongnu were quite happy to do.
Meng Ling'er was shocked, "They seize men too?"
"Sometimes they do, taking them to be used as 'two-legged sheep'," Huo Zhizhang said.
Meng Ling'er asked, "What is a 'two-legged sheep'?"
Huo Zhizhang explained to her, "Humans have two feet. They treat people as livestock like sheep that can be slaughtered for food, hence the term 'two-legged sheep'."
Meng Ling'er's face changed color several times.
"Zhizhang, don't frighten our younger sister," Huo Mingji frowned.
Huo Zhizhang gave a light humph. "She's already studying books. Surely she's not as easily scared as ordinary young ladies."
"It's alright, Eldest Brother. My tutor has also told me that in times of famine, people would exchange children to eat. I just..." Meng Ling'er's voice trailed off.
She just hadn't realized that some people would resort to cannibalism even when they weren't lacking food.
Huo Zhizhang told Meng Ling'er much more about the northern kingdoms.
Meng Ling'er listened very attentively and also discovered that her second brother's interest in warfare and strategy far surpassed his interest in scholarly pursuits.
Time passed quickly in conversation. They had gathered in the main hall at the hour of the Dragon (7-9 AM), but even when the shadow on the sundial outside had moved to the latter half of the hour of the Snake (9-11 AM), they still had not seen the people they were waiting for.
"Brother, why haven't Father and Mother come out yet?" Huo Zhizhang was growing restless.
Huo Mingji's expression remained calm. "Can't you wait any longer?"
Huo Zhizhang replied, "...That's not it."
Another quarter of an hour passed, and the three of them heard footsteps.
