"Hiss—"
The fragrant embrace never came—instead, she dealt him a heavy blow.
His wife was holding up her skirts with both hands, her embroidered shoes with twin lotus blossoms stomping viciously onto the arch of his foot. "Where the hell did you run off to?!"
Pei Xu winced in pain, nearly dropping the lantern in his hand. He looked at his wife, her hair tousled and face flushed with fury, and stammered out a dry explanation: "I went to deliver medicine to the refugees at the Temple of the City God. You... how did you get here?"
Yun Lou was livid. "I thought you'd been captured by bandits!" She stood with her hands on her hips, putting on a fierce front. "Bian Yu said the thieves might still be on the loose in the city! You left the estate without telling me to bring guards—are you trying to make me a widow right after we got married?!"
A widow who hadn't even gotten to sleep with her husband yet! What a rotten deal!
Pei Xu, after being scolded up and down by his wife, didn't get angry at all—in fact, he started to smile. "It's my fault. I didn't think it would take this long. I meant to come back in time for dinner with you, but one of the refugees fell ill, and it took a while to take their pulse and write out a prescription."
Le'an finally caught up, panting heavily. "Mas—Master, next time you deliver medicine, please—huff—huff—let me go instead!"
He took the lantern and medicine box from Pei Xu. "The mistress was so worried about you, she led all of us out to search for you."
Pei Xu paused for a moment, then reached up to smooth the stray locks of hair from his wife's forehead, speaking with genuine remorse: "I'm sorry. I didn't think it through. If there's ever a next time, I'll let you know ahead of time so you won't worry."
He had forgotten—starting today, there was someone at home waiting for him.
Yun Lou let out a huff, but seeing him standing there whole and in one piece, her anger did begin to subside.
At least this was better than finding half of Pei Xu.
"Master, you don't know—the mistress ran so fast! She—"
A slender figure suddenly swayed.
Yun Lou: "Ah..."
Pei Xu rushed to steady her. "What's wrong?"
His wife leaned against his chest, her voice weak: "I didn't notice it earlier when I was anxious, but now my head is spinning, and my chest feels so tight."
Pei Xu felt even more guilty. "All my fault." He carefully crouched down, presenting his broad shoulders and slender waist. "Climb on. I'll carry you home."
Yun Lou weakly clambered onto his back, wrapping her arms around his neck, her chin resting comfortably on his shoulder.
Pei Xu stood up steadily with her on his back. Le'an led the way with the lantern, two guards following behind, and the group headed home.
Pei Xu could hear the delicate chiming of the hairpin ornaments at her temple swaying with each of his steps. Yun Lou nuzzled into the crook of his neck, her voice sounding pouty and aggrieved: "I'm so hungry."
Pei Xu quickened his pace. "From now on, don't wait for me. If you're hungry, eat on your own."
Yun Lou said, "But I've seen other couples—they all eat their three meals together."
Since others did it that way, she naturally had to as well. Pei Xu immediately replied, "Then I'll make sure to come back on time to have meals with you."
The two were whispering sweet nothings up ahead, while Zhao Shitou watched from behind with a look of envy, muttering to Zhong Shi, "The master and mistress are so in love. I wonder when I'll ever get to marry a wife. If I do, I want to carry my wife on my back just like that."
Zhong Shi ignored him, keeping a vigilant watch on their surroundings.
Zhao Shitou nudged his shoulder. "What are you doing?"
Zhong Shi gestured with his hands: The mistress said the thieves might still be hiding in the city. We need to be careful.
Zhao Shitou glanced around. "That's probably unlikely..."
Up ahead, Yun Lou's ear gave a barely perceptible twitch.
A few breaths later, a series of footsteps suddenly echoed from the deep, dark alley.
Zhao Shitou and Zhong Shi immediately tensed, stepping forward to shield Pei Xu and Yun Lou behind them. Le'an, trembling, raised the lantern to cast light ahead...
Constable Bian Yu emerged with four constables from the night patrol.
Le'an's legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed to the ground on the spot. "Constable Bian!" he said with a mournful face. "You scared the life out of me!"
Bian Yu frowned as he examined the group. "What are you all doing out this late?"
His gaze fell on Pei Xu and Yun Lou, his brows knitted tightly in confusion.
It was the middle of the night. Why weren't these newlyweds home in bed, instead of out here cuddling and carrying on in the middle of the street? Were they simply bored out of their minds or just plain crazy?
The tension from earlier in the day had completely vanished. Pei Xu nodded at Bian Yu. "Constable Bian."
He explained that he had gone outside the city to deliver medicine and been delayed, and that his wife, worried for his safety, had brought people out to find him.
Bian Yu knew that Xuanjitang regularly held free clinics and delivered medicine to the refugees outside the city. When he was a child, one scorching summer, a plague had broken out in Fengping City, and the source had been the Temple of the City God, where refugees and beggars had gathered.
The magistrate at the time hadn't been Cui Zeshi, but some other useless drunkard who did nothing. He'd ordered the temple to be surrounded, planning to burn everyone inside—living or dead.
In the end, it was Doctor Liu of Xuanjitang—Pei Xu's mother, Liu Changhuan—who had taken the risk alone, carrying her medicine box into the temple and curing the refugees stricken with plague, stopping the tragedy before it could happen.
From that day on, Xuanjitang held free clinics every year, to prevent another outbreak.
That was also why Xuanjitang was so revered by the people of Fengping City. The goodwill and respect shown to Pei Xu came partly from his extraordinary academic achievements—having passed three consecutive imperial examinations with top honors—and partly from his mother's virtuous deeds.
Bian Yu said in a low voice, "Yesterday's case remains unsolved. The city is unsafe these days. Don't come out after dark."
Zhao Er caught sight of his own cousin and instructed him, "Shitou, be on your guard! That scum might have run off, or they might still be hiding out. The city's not safe. Stand watch over the Pei estate."
Zhao Shitou's voice boomed with vigor: "Got it! Brother!"
Yun Lou, leaning on Pei Xu's shoulder, noticed that Bian Yu was indeed carrying a long tasseled spear.
During the day, he wore a blade on his belt, but at night when patrolling the streets and facing possible thieves, a spear was more practical.
With the spear in hand, his presence was even more imposing than when he'd interrogated her during the day, his cold, sharp brow carrying an air of intimidation. From his gait and breathing, Yun Lou could tell his martial arts were by no means mediocre—he was a genuine expert.
Bian Yu assigned two of his constables to escort them back, and after expressing their thanks, Pei Xu and his group departed.
When they reached the Pei estate, Yinyin and Wensi were anxiously craning their necks by the gate. Seeing them return safely, they finally exhaled in relief. Aunt Zhou reheated the food before setting it back on the table.
After the two of them had finished dinner, the night had grown late. Yun Lou was so sleepy her eyes were welling up with tears. The maids brought hot water to help her freshen up, and when she finally lay down on the bed, she spotted Pei Xu removing his outer robe and walking over—suddenly, she wasn't sleepy at all.
Pei Xu came to the bedside to see his wife lounging on the red quilt, arms pillowing her chin, her legs crossed and kicked up behind her, tilting her head to look at him.
Her silk robes hung loose, tracing a gentle curve at her waist. She pouted and complained, "Pei Xu, my legs are so sore."
Pei Xu suppressed the strange thoughts that kept bubbling up and sat down on the edge of the bed, gently taking her calf in his hand. "It must be from all that running around. I'll massage them for you."
Yun Lou casually draped both legs over his thighs. "Alright, go easy, though."
Pei Xu acknowledged with a soft sound, found the acupoint on her lower leg, and pressed his fingers into the muscle.
She'd put on some flesh recently; her calves were no longer as thin as before, and under his hands, they had a smooth, compact firmness. Her satiny skin slipped through his fingers, softening gradually beneath his kneading.
When he pressed on a particularly sore acupoint, Yun Lou let out an unexpected yelp. Pei Xu acted as if he hadn't heard, continuing to work on that same spot.
The aching sensation rose in waves, and Yun Lou couldn't bear it anymore, curling up and trying to pull her leg away. "Stop, it hurts!"
But Pei Xu held her ankle firmly. His expression unchanging, he said calmly, "This is the Chengshan acupoint. It needs more pressing to relieve the soreness and swelling."
As he spoke, his palm gripped her calf, four fingers wrapped around, thumb pressing into the acupoint, kneading in circular motions.
Yun Lou cried out and went limp on the bed, kicking twice but failing to shake his hand off. Instead, he used his other hand to pin down both her legs.
She pounded the bed in frustration. "Pei Xu, you're doing this on purpose!"
Turning her head, she saw the scholar looking at her with an innocent expression. "Doing what on purpose?"
Even as he spoke, he released the acupoint and switched to using the flat of his palm to rub downward. The soreness faded, replaced by a relaxed release.
Yun Lou snorted and lay back down on her stomach, muttering, "You're definitely doing this on purpose..."
Pei Xu smiled silently.
By the time he finished massaging both her legs, Yun Lou was panting, utterly drained. She kicked her husband twice in annoyance, then burrowed into the quilt, wrapped herself up, and turned her back to him, ignoring him.
The bed shifted slightly as she heard Pei Xu get up. She assumed he was going to put out the lamp, but instead she heard him pull out a chair and sit at the table, drinking water.
Yun Lou turned her head and watched him drink cup after cup, unhurriedly. Curious, she asked, "Are you very thirsty?"
Pei Xu replied, "Mm. The dishes were a bit salty tonight."
By the time he finished drinking and lay down on the bed, Yun Lou was already asleep. Her sleeping posture was still terrible. Pei Xu gathered her haphazardly scattered hands and feet, tucked them back into place, and curled her up in his arms.
The next morning when she got up, she saw the persistent dark circles under Pei Xu's eyes and asked curiously, "Did you not sleep well again last night?"
Pei Xu rallied himself. "Well enough."
Yun Lou reflected for a moment. "Is it because my sleeping posture affected you?"
Pei Xu said, "No." He ladled her a bowl of porridge and sprinkled a spoonful of dried shrimp from the small celadon dish on top. "Where do you plan to go today?"
As expected, Yun Lou's attention was immediately diverted. She said enthusiastically, "I want to browse the jewelry shop, then try the crispy chestnuts from that place in the east of town. Yinyin said there's a line there every day."
Pei Xu smiled. "Alright. The clinic will be busy in the morning, but I'll come back at noon to have lunch with you."
After seeing her husband off to earn money, Yun Lou quickly got herself ready, grabbed some silver, and went out to shop.
Seeing the mistress leave with her maid, Zhao Shitou nudged Zhong Shi with his elbow. "The mistress has gone out. Go on. Protect her."
Zhong Shi gestured: I'll guard the house. You go.
Zhao Shitou said, "I'm not suitable. You go."
Zhong Shi took a deep breath: Why? I don't like crowded places.
Zhao Shitou said with perfect confidence, "The mistress is that good-looking, and the maid is good-looking too. I'm so ugly — standing beside her would embarrass her! You're handsome, so you're the right one for the job! Get moving, don't waste time!"
He lifted his foot to kick, but Zhong Shi dodged nimbly and glared at him fiercely. Zhao Shitou crossed his arms, sat down against the wall, and settled into a meditative pose, making clear he wasn't budging today.
Seeing Yun Lou already out the door, Zhong Shi gave Zhao Shitou a hard kick and quickly ran after her.
Yun Lou heard the steady footsteps approaching behind her and turned to see Zhong Shi hurrying over. She was a little surprised. "You're going out?"
Zhong Shi raised his hand to sign, but then recalled that the mistress couldn't understand sign language, so he simply walked silently to her side.
Yun Lou understood his intention. "You want to protect me up close?"
Zhong Shi nodded.
Yun Lou smiled. "Then come along."
Zhong Shi lowered his eyes discreetly.
