Normally, if he brought it up, You Tong would never try to hide it. However, the Fu family is currently facing internal troubles. Fu Deqing is bedridden and unable to move, and Fu Yu is carrying a heavy burden. If she were to speak up, the couple would have to worry about this matter again. She is under the protection of the Fu family; how could she add to the chaos at this critical juncture?
His gaze fell on the key next to the pen holder, and he quickly grabbed it to change the subject, "The key to the Two Books Pavilion, returned to its rightful owner."
"Keep it." Fu Yu didn't take it.
You Tong was taken aback. She looked up and met his gaze, which was as deep and dark as the night sky, full of complex meaning.
His gaze made her heart skip a beat, and the turmoil she had felt earlier resurfaced. She saw his chest so close, his Adam's apple bobbing, his warm breath brushing against her cheek. You Tong's face flushed slightly from the smell of alcohol, and her voice stammered, "There are documents in the two-two-book pavilion containing my husband's military affairs documents, which must all be confidential. This key is too important; I can't keep it."
As he spoke, he tried to escape.
Fu Yu suddenly stretched out his arm to block the way, his hand bracing against the bookshelf beside him, his body as imposing as a mountain.
Poor You Tong was immediately trapped in the gap between the desk and the bookshelf.
Fu Yu remained silent, only looking at her intently, and even leaned closer.
The rain had stopped outside, and the room was dimly lit, illuminated only by candlelight. His face drew closer; his features were handsome, his profile strong, and his cold, imposing aura carried a sense of pressure—the powerful presence of a man. His left hand reached out and grasped her wrist, his gaze deep and focused. And beneath his slightly open collar, her collarbone was clearly defined, inexplicably reminding You Tong of the glimpse of his chest and abdomen she had seen before, making her blush and her heart race.
She took a half step back, and under his gaze, she gradually blushed and became nervous.
A gentle light, tinged with a hint of apology, gradually appeared in Fu Yu's half-drunk eyes.
“You are my wife, we share the same bed, and I entrust my life to you. How could this key not hold up?” He moved closer, his eyes capturing hers, his warm breath falling on her nose. “What you mentioned before, I thought about seriously when I went south this time. I was inconsiderate before, and I neglected you. I—” He paused, a little embarrassed and awkward, but still said clearly, “I am very ashamed.”
The voice was neither too loud nor too soft, and slightly hoarse from the effects of the alcohol.
He grabbed You Tong's wrist, lifted it up, and pressed it against his chest. "If you're angry, just hit me. I won't fight back."
You Tong stared blankly at him, her wrist feeling as if it were being gripped by a scorching hot iron, the heat spreading rapidly and making her face flush red.
"You—" she began, lightly punching his chest, "Are you really not going to fight back?"
"Hmm." Fu Yu continued to stare at her, his gaze focused. "I will make up for the mistakes I made in the past and the grievances I caused you."
Isn't it incredibly unfair? She was slandered and gossiped about in the capital, finally endured the hardship of marriage, and traveled a long way to marry him, only to be met with his dismissive and cold attitude. Fu Yu, with his cold and arrogant nature, wielding life and death power, and dignified bearing, made her afraid to even complain, forced to cautiously remain in a secluded corner. If she weren't so easygoing, she would have died of anger long ago. And he acted as if nothing had happened; if he hadn't been hiding his face with wine, he wouldn't have uttered a single kind word.
When You Tong heard what he said, she felt aggrieved and glared at him fiercely.
That look in his eyes caused Fu Yu a pang of heartache.
He gripped her wrist, moved it to his chest again, and leaned closer, his nose almost touching hers.
"You Tong, can you stay here?"
His voice wasn't loud, but his heartbeat emanated from his palm, making her heart pound along with his.
His hand, which had been supporting her behind the bookshelf, had somehow moved to her lower back, trapping You Tong in his embrace, unable to move forward or backward. Her gaze seemed to be captured by him, and her surroundings were filled with his scent, mingled with the smell of alcohol, making it difficult for her to even think. You Tong bit her lip, wanting to say no, but Fu Yu's gaze suddenly darkened and deepened in that instant. He slightly turned his head and sealed her voice with his lips.
His lips were slightly dry, and although he was kissing, he couldn't quite get the hang of it, pressing his lips tightly against hers.
It felt like a flame had been thrown into my throat; my breathing faltered, and my heart was pounding uncontrollably.
You Tong subconsciously closed her eyes.
Chapter 60 Coquettish
The rain outside the window brought a refreshing coolness, but the room felt stuffy and hot.
You Tong was nestled in Fu Yu's arms, able to feel the warmth of his chest through her thin summer dress. With her eyes closed, she couldn't see his expression, but Fu Yu's lips moved gently, sucking on hers, even instinctively licking them; every touch was distinct. She tilted her head back, a vague unease creeping into her heart. She wanted to escape, but there was nowhere to turn.
It's like stepping on soft, fluffy spring mud—light, airy, and a little joyful, yet also afraid that underneath lies a mud pit.
She tried to push Fu Yu away, but it was like an ant trying to shake a tree; he remained unmoved and even kissed her more forcefully.
The strong smell of alcohol emanating from him seemed to surge forth, making You Tong feel a little dizzy.
Rain dripped from the eaves outside, and when the wind blew, the raindrops cascaded down the leaves. Inside, only intermittent soft moans and intertwined breaths could be heard. The initial tentative advances subsided, gradually becoming more rapid and predatory. Since returning to the capital, Fu Yu had longed to reclaim her lips and figure. Now, sucking on her lips wasn't enough; his hands slowly moved upwards, from her slender back to her neck and the back of her head, encircling her and attempting to pry open her lips and teeth.
You Tong was angry at his past behavior and refused to let go. Her arm somehow ended up around his lean waist, and she gave it a pinch.
This pain was like a tickle to Fu Yu, and his offensive became even fiercer.
With their eyes closed, neither of them saw Zhou Gu's figure flash by the side door and then quickly retreat.
However, the deliberately hushed voices in the courtyard could be faintly heard through the cracks in the window.
You Tong's dizzy mind cleared when she heard the voice. She suddenly remembered that there were maids and servants all over the courtyard outside, and she was slightly startled. After a little listening, she realized that it was the voice of a servant from Xieyangzhai. Only then did she realize that she could no longer indulge in male beauty, and she struggled to stand up.
This struggle was completely different from the retreat just now; it was genuine.
Fu Yu chased after her for a while, but seeing how hard she struggled, he restrained himself and stopped, moving away a little.
You Tong half-opened her eyes and saw a suspicious look on his usually cold and stern face, while his deep, clear eyes were already slightly red. His breathing was slightly rapid, his arms tightly wrapped around her waist, and as his breath hit her, the smell of alcohol became stronger, as if her blood was being steamed and boiling, causing the alcohol to surge.
When their lips parted, he licked them, seemingly still wanting more.
You Tong dared not linger in the fight. Her cheeks flushed, and she glanced outside before saying, "Medicinal cuisine from Xieyangzhai."
As he spoke, his chest rose and fell slightly, clearly indicating that his breathing was erratic.
Fu Yu's eyes flashed with a dark undercurrent. He paused for a moment before realizing what was happening and said, "Aunt Zhou can handle it." As he spoke, he leaned closer and touched her flushed, slightly hot cheek, which was soft and fragrant. Her voice was softer than usual. "No, I always arrange things myself." Taking advantage of Fu Yu's distraction, she quickly escaped from his embrace, retreated to the window, and pushed open half of the window.
The window faces the courtyard, and although it is shaded by trees, it cannot block the view.
As expected, Fu Yu didn't make any more moves.
You Tong's heart was pounding. She hadn't expected that they would end up kissing while talking to each other. And it... didn't feel so bad. She glanced at Fu Yu, of course not daring to reveal her thoughts. She took two deep breaths of the cool, post-rain breeze blowing in through the window cracks, and only after her heartbeat calmed down did she clear her throat.
"Aunt Zhou—" She turned to the side and asked, "What happened?"
"The medicinal meal for the Third Young Master is ready. Young Madam, shall I go and deliver it?"
"I'm coming right now," You Tong replied, letting the cool breeze dispel the heat from her face.
Fu Yu stood quietly by the table, watching her cheeks flush red, as beautiful as blooming peach blossoms. Her lips, teased by him, were even redder than usual, but her gaze darted away, as if she were sulking and refusing to meet his eyes. Only when the blush on her cheeks faded did she take two steps forward and say confidently, "I should go to Xieyangzhai now, General... please make way."
Having come this far, Fu Yu couldn't afford to leave the entire courtyard empty-handed and try to make a comeback. He simply glanced at her and said in a low voice, "Change the way you address me back."
"No way." You Tong snorted.
Fu Yu's eyes darkened slightly, and he made a move to lower his head, which startled You Tong, who quickly took a half step back. "Alright, alright, husband."
"You are not allowed to change it back from now on," he instructed again.
Under the eaves, You Tongren was outnumbered and outmatched, so he could only lower his head and say, "I understand."
With that, he walked past him and left the side room.
Upon entering the courtyard, she saw that Du Shuangxi had already packed the food into a food box. Aunt Sun, who was taking care of Fu Deqing in Xieyangzhai, was talking to Aunt Zhou. When she saw her, she greeted her with a smile.
You Tong was quite polite to the older and more composed servants in the mansion. She smiled and explained, "I had some things to discuss with the general earlier, which took a while. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. Aunt Zhou, the steamer of pastries should be ready soon. Pack a few kinds and I'll take them with me. They'll be nice to have as a late-night snack."
"Thank you for your trouble, young mistress." Aunt Sun smiled and bowed.
Aunt Zhou then ordered Mu Xiang to fetch it. In the brief moment she turned her head, she saw Fu Yu standing by the window through the gaps in the tree shadows. She then subtly shifted her gaze, pretending not to remember the scene she had just witnessed.
A short while later, Muxiang packed two boxes of pastries and handed them to Aunt Sun. Since Youtong never brought anyone with her when she went to Xieyangzhai, everyone went about their own business, setting out meals and preparing water.
...
You Tong was so engrossed in writing that she forgot the time to deliver the meal, and then Fu Yu kept her up for half a day, which made her feel quite embarrassed.
Upon arriving at Xieyangzhai, he blatantly lied, claiming that he had some business to discuss with Fu Yu, which was why he was late.
Fu Deqing had already enjoyed the delicious food for a long time, so he didn't care about this and only praised her for her thoughtfulness. Because You Tong had instructed Du Shuangxi to make two extra dishes when preparing the medicinal meal, she received another round of thanks from her brother-in-law when she gave them to Fu Zhao. After all this fuss, she had walked the road from the South Tower to the Sunset Pavilion twice. In the dim twilight, with raindrops dripping from the roadside and fresh green leaves, it was quite calming and soothing.
When I returned to the South Building, the restlessness I had felt earlier had subsided.
When You Tong entered the room, the meal was indeed laid out. Fu Yu had changed his clothes and was sitting at the table, but had not yet picked up his chopsticks.
The meal was naturally plentiful, and You Tong finished eating with great satisfaction. Since the weather was cool after the rain, she planned to take a walk on the north slope.
Fu Yu had enjoyed two sumptuous feasts today, and was in a very good mood. His usual ruthless and cold demeanor had softened, and a hint of a smile appeared in his usually stern eyes. Seeing her leave, he strolled over and followed beside her, his dark black robe embroidered with gold swaying slightly in the wind. He was finally free from the mountain of military affairs and had time to enjoy the night view.
The ginkgo trees on the north slope are lush and verdant. Occasionally, when the wind is strong, the water droplets on the leaves fall like rain.
You Tong wore a light gold-flecked half-sleeved top, revealing a sheer white undergarment underneath, its sleeves fluttering in the breeze and exposing her snow-white wrists. A string of red beads on her wrists accentuated her delicate and fragile figure. When she touched the water droplets, she raised her hands and sleeves to shield herself, but to no avail. She could only shrink her neck to prevent the water from sliding down her back from her collar.
As she lowered her head to dodge, the plum blossom beads dangled from her ears, swaying gracefully.
Fu Yu suppressed a smile and raised his sleeve to cover her.
The couple tacitly avoided mentioning what had happened in the side room. After waking up in the night breeze, they headed towards the south building.
As she approached the gate, You Tong's pace slowed down, and she finally stopped by the fence.
Inside the walls, the servants were busy cleaning the kitchen and preparing water for incense burning, while outside, lamps were lit along the passageway, but not a single person could be seen.
She hesitated for a moment before looking up at Fu Yu's expression and tentatively asked, "Husband, is it alright to return to the Two Books Pavilion tonight?"
Fu Yu turned to look at her, his eyebrows slightly raised. After what happened at the inn that night, he knew that You Tong was intentionally avoiding him and refusing to share a bed. Therefore, after returning to the capital, he didn't stay overnight at the South Tower either, and it wasn't until after the rebellion was quelled that they slept together. This morning, when the couple woke up, he was holding his beauty, full of energy. She had obviously noticed this, which was why she chased him away when they were near the door.
She used to hide this attitude very carefully, but now she dares to say it out loud.
Fu Yu turned slightly to the side, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Why?"
“It’s just…” You Tong looked up and met his gaze, catching a hint of malicious teasing in it. Knowing that he had guessed the reason, she refused to say more and just pushed him, “Anyway, I haven’t thought it through yet. Husband, let’s go back to the Two Books Pavilion first.” Seeing that Fu Yu was not displeased or angry, she became bolder and pushed him towards the Two Books Pavilion, half coquettish and half pestering.
Fu Yu, whose body was usually as steady as Mount Tai, did not resist at this moment, and the corners of his lips curled up slightly.
He had never pursued a woman before, but he knew the principle that haste makes waste, especially with You Tong's temperament. He had previously been blinded by lust but only received a cold shower in return. If he forced her to stay now, she might make things worse, as her resentment hadn't subsided. Moreover, this spoiled and clingy behavior was something she had never shown since their marriage. Compared to her previous calm, composed, and aloof demeanor, this unreasonable and stubborn behavior was a result of their close relationship.
Fu Yu thoroughly enjoyed it, letting those soft, fleshy hands press against his chest as she pushed him along, his smile growing ever deeper.
You Tong only stopped when she reached the corner.
Fu Yu didn't force her to do anything, and waited until she walked back to the brightly lit area before returning to the Two Books Pavilion.
When they arrived there, the lights were dim and the houses were quiet. Apart from the servants sweeping the courtyard, there was no one else around.
Having been away from Qizhou for a long time, he had accumulated a great deal of military affairs. Since he was having trouble sleeping alone, he simply went into his study and dealt with some of the backlogged matters. The candlelight shone quietly, and the moonlight shifted gently. When he looked up from the pile of documents, it was almost midnight. Outside, the guards stood as straight as pine trees. Inside the room, only the tall bookshelves, broken swords, and bronze tripods evoked the cold and ruthless atmosphere of the battlefield.
Upon arriving at my quarters, I found myself alone with only a pillow and a single quilt. After a hasty wash, I lay down, the room beside me cold and still.
Yet, deep down, a spark seemed to ignite within me. Even though we were separated, the thought of that slender figure in the south building, her soft lips, her delicate waist, gradually ignited into a flame, making my blood boil. It was like a sweet pain; I knew I wouldn't be able to touch her tonight, but I couldn't help but savor it, sketching it in my mind.
His breathing gradually became rapid, and Fu Yu suddenly sat up and went into the inner room.
...
You Tong didn't sleep well all night, tossing and turning, sometimes asleep and sometimes awake, her mind filled with images of Fu Yu.
As time went by, his true nature, hidden beneath his indifference and ruthlessness, gradually emerged, and the initial estrangement slowly dissipated. You Tong was not a narrow-minded person. Of course, she remembered the wickedness of Old Madam Fu and Fu Yu's initial disdainful attitude, but she also saw all the good things about Fu Yu.