In just six months, his daughter had gone from being naive to being sensible, which made Wei Sidao feel somewhat gratified.
"Let's leave this matter at that today. When you're with Fu Yu, you must pretend you don't know the details. I think he treats you well. If you can change your old ways and become as sensible as you are now, your path in the Fu family will become wider and wider in the future."
You Tong hummed in agreement, knowing he meant it, and obediently agreed.
After Wei Sidao gave her a few more instructions, she readily agreed.
As she bid farewell to her father and walked towards her lodgings in the evening breeze, her delicate brows furrowed slightly.
She wasn't sure if staying with the Fu family would open up more opportunities for her.
But deep down, she didn't want to stay in the Fu family for long, especially since the Fu family had ambitions to rule the world. If they were to actually win the battle and take control of the capital, the rules in the palace would be even stricter than those in the Fu family. If she stayed in the Fu family, even if she managed to get along with Fu Yu and the old lady after some effort, it would only be like going from a bronze cage to a golden cage.
She only needs enough wealth and luxury; what she desires more is a peaceful life and freedom to do as she pleases.
Fortunately, Wei Sidao did not expect to rely on her to advance his career. Judging from Fu Deqing's attitude and actions, he was quite open and fair. She had previously worried that the Wei family would end up with nothing after the divorce, but now it seems that she had worried too much.
...
This trip back to Beijing took half a month. Although there were many trivial matters, it was not a waste of time.
With Wei Youtong's reputation cleared, a weight was lifted from her shoulders. Wei Sidao's words brought her some comfort—since the Wei family had arranged the marriage to slightly redeem her reputation and find her a decent match, now that her name was cleared, she hadn't let her parents down. As for the future, Wei Sidao didn't expect her to win her husband's favor for wealth and status; why should she confine herself?
After returning to Qizhou, I can act with less restraint.
You Tong felt much more relaxed. Before leaving, she bought some things in the capital to take with her, so as not to leave empty-handed and attract gossip.
Then, Wei Sidao was asked to keep an eye out for the rumors. Once the discussion had subsided and things had calmed down, a rumor should be quietly released, saying that the overwhelming condemnation throughout the capital that day was actually the Xu family's guilty conscience, a covert fabrication of slander and defamation. This matter should not be rushed; it should be released slowly, allowing people to discuss it occasionally in private. When they hear even a hint of suspicion, they should try not to make a big fuss and attract the attention of the Xu family.
Wei Sidao, having long served in officialdom, knew of the Xu family's capabilities and thus agreed.
After the 20th day of the first lunar month, they sent the young couple back to Qizhou.
Compared to the leisurely pace when returning to Beijing, this time it felt rather rushed.
Fu Yu personally returned to the capital, turning the tide of the succession struggle. He also promised Emperor Xiping that he would dispatch troops to help quell the rebellion upon arriving in Qizhou. This matter should not be delayed any longer; it is best to return as soon as possible to discuss it with the Fu brothers and make arrangements.
The group traveled day and night, rushing on their journey. They missed the post station in the evening and stayed overnight in a small county town.
They were quite far from the capital, in the territory of Yongning's garrison. Wei Tianze, with less to worry about, no longer hid himself and simply followed Fu Yu openly, traveling together. In the inn, they each had their own room, with guards taking turns on duty.
The county town wasn't particularly bustling, and although the inn was the best in the vicinity, it was still quite cramped.
You Tong and Fu Yu checked into a superior guest room, which was a suite with an outer and an inner room. The outer room was furnished with a table, chairs, and a desk, while the inner room contained only a bed and a bathtub separated by a screen. She had been dragged out of bed by Chuncao very early this morning. After a long day of bumpy travel in the carriage, she had managed to sleep for a while with soft pillows, but she was still exhausted. After looking around the room, she leaned against the bed to rest.
Fu Yu was as busy as a spinning top. As soon as he entered the inn, he went to discuss matters with Du He and Wei Tianze.
At this moment, only Chuncao and Yanbo were keeping her company. Seeing her leaning against the couch with her face slightly pale, Chuncao looked worried and helped Youtong lie down, saying, "Today is the 20th, has the young mistress's period not come yet?"
You Tong shook her head.
The icy cold lake waters of that December took the original owner's life and left some ailments in this body.
Cold water is harmful to the body and damages qi and blood. After that illness, You Tong's menstrual cycle became completely irregular. At first, she didn't have her period for two months. Xue Shi panicked and asked a doctor to examine her pulse and prescribe medicine. After a period of recuperation, her period finally returned. That time, You Tong was extremely uncomfortable, with backaches and pains, and she lay in bed for several days.
Afterwards, she will be carefully recuperated, and when she is about to get married, she will come back for a visit around the fifteenth of the month.
However, my uterus is cold and not warmed up, so I feel very uncomfortable every time I have my period.
In the past six months, You Tong has not been idle. She knows that herbal medicine can only treat the symptoms and not the root cause. Although she usually loves to eat, she has not forgotten to use food therapy to replenish her qi and blood. She also exercises her body when she has free time. Her menstrual period has gradually returned to normal. Although there is a delay of two or three days, it is generally accurate.
At this moment, Chuncao brought it up, and Youtong seemed to be enlightened by the witty words, and suddenly felt a slight pain in her lower abdomen.
She turned over and lay on her side on the couch, instructing Chuncao, "It's probably coming soon, go and get some piping hot ginger soup."
Chuncao obeyed the order and took the item. Yanbo then helped her change into her nightgown, choosing one with a lining and a secure fit to prevent her from feeling cold and uncomfortable.
Before long, Chuncao brought ginger soup, and the waiter also brought food, saying that Fu Yu had instructed her to eat first and not wait for him.
You Tong was happy to have some free time. After drinking two bowls of ginger soup, her stomach felt warm, and after a short rest, she felt a little more refreshed, so she ate her meal first. Afterward, she washed and bathed, soaking in a bath with some medicinal herbs until her whole body felt warm. Afraid of being seen by Fu Yu when he returned, she dried herself off early, wrapped in the warmth of her body, and sat on the couch, covered herself with a brocade quilt, and read a book idly.
...
When Fu Yu returned, it was already quite late at night.
He pushed open the door and went inside. It was quiet, with candles flickering gently. Spring grass and misty waves waited at the door, and they all bowed to him when they saw him.
Fu Yu waved for them to leave, and after a few steps into the inner room, he saw You Tong sitting on the couch, wrapped in a quilt. She must have heard the noise, because she looked up at him. Her hair was loosely tied up, with a few strands falling over her shoulders. Then she got off the couch, slipped on her soft shoes, and came over to pour him some hot water, saying, "General, you've returned late. Would you like some midnight snacks?"
Fu Yu gave her a strange look, drank the water, and then said, "No need."
"Then get some rest. There's some hot water that the waiter just brought in."
Fu Yu said "Oh," casually took off his outer robe and handed it to her, then went behind the screen to wash up.
He was used to being in the military camp and didn't like being served by maids. When he was in the South Tower, he would wait for the maids to prepare the water and leave so he could bathe slowly. When traveling, he didn't need anyone to serve him. You Tong was used to this and had prepared his sleeping clothes early and neatly folded them next to the bath tub. Now that there was no need for her to worry about it, she returned to her bed.
Behind the screen, the sound of rushing water immediately arose.
The sound was rather embarrassing—when we were in the South Building, we took baths in the inner room, where we couldn't hear anything outside and didn't need to pay attention to it.
Now things have gotten really complicated. Although the screen separates the view, it's only four or five steps away from the bed, so every movement over there can be heard clearly. When Fu Yu scooped up water to wash his body, the sound of the water flowing was clearly audible, and even the sound of the water rippled was quite distinct.
The image of Fu Yu deliberately tearing open his nightgown that night and waving his hot chest in front of her suddenly came to mind.
You Tong could only sit upright with her eyes lowered, seemingly lost in thought.
After a moment of silence, Fu Yu suddenly spoke up: "Do you still have the ointment from that day?"
You Tong was taken aback for a moment before saying, "What?"
"The wound medicine you used on me last time." A faint sound of water came from the other end, as if Fu Yu had raised his arm. "This scar is a bit deep."
You Tong then said, "I brought it with me on the way. I'll go find it with the grass."
The wound was inflicted a few days ago and should have healed long ago, so there was no need to use medicine to stop the bleeding. Since Fu Yu mentioned that the scar was quite deep, he probably didn't want to leave a hideous scar on his arm. To be on the safe side, he asked Chuncao to find the wound medicine and the ointment to prevent scarring. She took them and brought them to the inner room.
Then, You Tong stopped in her tracks.
She hesitated for a moment before saying, "I've brought the ointment. Put it on the table for now, and I'll apply it for you when my husband comes out."
"Bring it here," Fu Yu said in a low voice.
After a moment of silence, seeing that she didn't move, he asked again, "You don't dare?"
There was a hint of provocation in his tone.
You Tong raised her eyes and glanced at the screen. What was there to be afraid of? Although Fu Yu was as fierce as a tiger on the battlefield, he was also quite arrogant and self-possessed. Could he possibly devour her? Besides, right now she was fully clothed while he was soaking naked in the tub. If she went over to take a look at his male beauty, it would be her taking advantage.
—Although she planned to return to the South Building and make it clear that she would no longer sleep in the same bed with Wei Tianze after avoiding the gaze of outsiders, what harm would there be in taking a look?
You Tong gritted her teeth and carried the plaster over.
Steam rose from behind the screen, and Fu Yu sat in the bathtub, his head, shoulders, and half of his chest exposed.
This person had probably been carrying a wooden bucket and had poured water over their head; their hair was soaking wet, and water droplets clung to their face. Beneath their sword-like eyebrows, their eyes were deep and dark, devoid of the indifference they had shown at their first meeting, now seemingly capable of captivating her gaze. Their sharply defined features, with a slightly bobbing Adam's apple, were somewhat alluring due to the water. Compared to their usual imposing and dignified demeanor, this appearance, though somewhat disheveled, was still…
You Tong glanced at it once, and the little bit of selfishness she had just felt due to her spite vanished completely. She quickly lowered her eyes.
This is too good a deal; she probably can't afford it.
Fu Yu saw everything about their aggressive and fearless approach, yet their subsequent retreat and lowered-eye avoidance.
He suppressed a smile, pointed to his left shoulder, and said, "Put it on for me."
You Tong was concerned about his injury. She glanced at his arm and saw that the injury had already healed. Although the scar was quite noticeable, it was not serious and would eventually disappear in time. On his shoulder, the small scar from his early battlefield injuries had almost disappeared. What was this?
This is really... a waste of time and energy!
You Tong casually placed the ointment and cotton cloth on the low stool next to her and turned to leave.
Fu Yu suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist.
He was in the hot spring, his palms burning hot and wet.
You Tong felt as if she had touched a hot coal; her arm trembled, and she turned around, just in time to meet his gaze.
His gaze was deep and intense, carrying a slight warmth, which made her chest skip a beat. However, reason prevailed in the end, and she knew that the situation was too ambiguous, so she avoided his gaze, slowly pried his fingers apart, and then quickly fled back to the bed, fidgeting restlessly.
Inside the bathtub, Fu Yu still had his arm outstretched, his fingertips still retaining a soft touch.
Her hands were so soft, so supple it felt like her finger bones had melted into a limp, yielding sensation. After he held her hand that day, he couldn't forget her.
The touch just now deepened his gaze. The warm bathwater swayed against her chest. As she turned to flee, her cheeks flushed slightly, her eyes held a hint of shyness, her soft body wrapped in a tight nightgown, her black hair falling over her shoulders, her hairpin swaying precariously, truly arousing the imagination.
His blood and energy seemed to be stirred, gradually making him feel hot.
Fu Yu simply stood up, water droplets rolling down his body, grabbed his nightgown and put it on, then strode out.
After passion arises, desire follows.
Moreover, when husband and wife share a bed, the longer they restrain themselves, the stronger their desires become, like strong liquor stored in a cellar.
When You Tong mentioned divorce before, he thought she was still thinking about that scoundrel Xu Chaozong and harbored resentment. Even if she had had romantic dreams, fantasies, or desires, she could overcome her emotions with her pride and reason, and disdain to think about it too deeply. But this time when she returned to the capital, he saw clearly that her heart was no longer with that pretty face. She would rush to him in times of crisis, pay attention to his injuries, and take gentle care of him.
And she was his wife, a lawfully wedded and alluring woman.
Fu Yu walked to the bedside and saw that You Tong was already asleep, with her back to him, pressed tightly against the inside of the bed.
He was standing there, and could see her profile perfectly; she was clearly pretending to be asleep.
The evening breeze blew in from who-knows-where, causing the candlelight to flicker gently.
You Tong's brows were tightly closed, her eyelashes casting fine shadows, trembling like butterfly wings, and even a bead of sweat appeared on the tip of her nose. Though she was fully covered, he remembered the alluring glimpse of spring within her collar. He knelt on the couch, leaning closer, inches from her. The faint fragrance of her hair lingered in his nostrils, and her full, red lips, flawless skin, delicate features, and fair, exquisite earlobes captivated his gaze.
Fu Yu's eyes darkened, and unconsciously, he moved closer.
It must be said that the woman in front of me is indeed naturally beautiful, and has a unique charm that sets her apart from others.
With the same beautiful features, her eyes were clear and lively, like a spring just beginning to flow.
The same peach-petal-shaped cheeks, with delicate and graceful contours, as if sketched by a masterful brush.
With the same slender figure, her demeanor was composed yet resilient, and charmingly naive.
Fu Yu's chest rose and fell slightly. Seeing that her eyes were closed and her eyelashes trembled, he suddenly reached out and extinguished the candles. Then he lifted the brocade quilt and crawled inside.
The quilt was warm, and in the dim darkness, they could hear each other's breathing.
Fu Yu's hand slowly reached out, first touching her back, then resting on her waist, his chest pounding wildly. For the first time in his life, he abandoned his usual stern and aloof demeanor, taking unprecedented initiative to embrace her from behind. His hands restrained themselves, avoiding touching her soft breasts, instead supporting himself as he drew closer to her.
“General.” In the darkness, You Tong suddenly spoke, her body and voice somewhat stiff.
The address was slightly jarring, and Fu Yu's eyes darkened as he paused for a moment.
Chapter 47 Polite Refusal