Mon premier mari après ma transmigration

Chapitre 5

Although Danmei had seen his body the night before, the sight of such a bronze-colored man standing naked in front of her still made her feel a little breathless. She almost stared at his chest, haphazardly wiped herself a few times with the handkerchief in her hand, and threw it aside, saying "Okay."

Xu Jinrong grunted in response. This time, he reached out and grabbed the robe that she had hung on the screen, put it on, and went outside. When he turned around and saw that she was still standing there, he didn't say anything, but simply turned around the screen and went out.

Danmei followed him back to the house, telling Miaochun and Miaoxia, who were still waiting, to go and rest, before entering the inner room. She couldn't see him, so she assumed he was already in bed. She lifted the bed curtains and saw that he was indeed lying there.

Danmei climbed onto his inner side and lay down, wondering what he meant by "something came up" earlier. Suddenly, she saw him turn over to face her and say, "I heard you're not having any of them come to pay their respects and serve you, and you've reduced the daily menu?"

Danmei was stunned. She never imagined that the "matter" he spoke of would be this matter. Although his tone was indifferent, it sounded extremely harsh to her. Without thinking, she coldly replied, "Didn't you complain that I was too thin and tell me to eat more? With those people standing in front of me, I can't eat. And listen carefully, I don't know how those people from that courtyard complained to you. I only asked for a reduction in the dishes in my own room, I didn't mention the ones from that courtyard!" Only after saying this did she realize that she had simply copied his mother's words to her.

Xu Jinrong frowned and said, "It's fine if you see they don't like it, but rules are rules. You've just arrived, so you should at least follow the rules for a few days. Although you didn't tell the kitchen to reduce the dishes in that courtyard, if you reduced them here, the kitchen will naturally reduce them there as well. Have you ever seen a concubine with a more extravagant lifestyle than the mistress?"

Danmei was so angry that her heart was pounding with rage. She didn't even bother to look at him again. She turned over and said, "It was my fault. I didn't know your household was so particular about rules. When I return from the garden, things will be done as they should be. So you won't blame me for mistreating them." After saying that, she closed her eyes.

A moment of silence followed behind her, then Danmei suddenly heard him say again, "Speaking of the garden, you seemed quite happy at first. But my place is so unbearable that you're already eager to leave as soon as you've entered?" As he spoke, he didn't allow her to turn her back, and forcibly turned her to face him.

Danmei opened her eyes and said calmly, "My lord, you must be seeing things. I was merely fulfilling your mother's request. Since she has taken a liking to me and wants me to serve her, how could I, as her daughter-in-law, dare to refuse?"

After she finished speaking, without caring whether he believed her or not, she closed her eyes again. Before she could even catch her breath, Xu Jinrong pulled her closer. Unable to stop herself, she bumped into him and fell face-first onto his chest. Facing his face, now almost touching hers, and feeling his breath brush against her cheek, her earlier anger still lingered. She struggled a few times to get off him, but couldn't move. There was a weight on her back; he was pressing down firmly on her, and she could feel the heat of his hands through two layers of clothing.

"Were you in a lot of pain the night before last? I saw tears streaming down your face."

Danmei heard him suddenly ask her this question in a low, seemingly random voice, his lips almost touching her earlobe. A rush of blood to her body sent a jolt through her; her face instantly burned, and even the skin on her neck flushed a faint pink.

"Seeing how bold you were, I thought... I was the one who was being presumptuous."

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, Danmei felt that as he was speaking, his warm, wet lips and tongue gently licked one of her earlobes. A strange and unfamiliar sensation spread throughout half of her body, causing her to tremble slightly.

As if sensing her sensitive reaction, he stopped speaking, but simply lifted her body slightly upwards, and gently swept his tongue down to her collarbone.

"It's getting warmer, why are you wrapped up so thickly next to me? Take them all off."

He suddenly stopped, released his hand from her back, and helped her sit up.

Danmei looked up and saw that the man beneath her had a pair of somewhat dark eyes staring at her.

These days, it's perfectly acceptable for a husband to ask his wife to undress in front of him. Let him be. Just get through this night, and tomorrow you'll be temporarily free. It can't be worse than that horrific wedding night.

Danmei bit her lip slightly, letting him slowly remove her outer garment, leaving her only in her undergarments. His eyes swept down her neck to her fair feet before caressing her shoulders and tearing off the last of her clothes.

Danmei sat down beside him completely naked and looked up to meet his eyes.

This so-called husband was practically a stranger to her; they could count on one hand the number of words they'd exchanged in the past few days. Being so openly exposed to his gaze was even more humiliating for Danmei than their wedding night; her throat felt dry and tight. She was simply trying to relax. Going to the garden with his mother was merely a temporary measure; future interactions with him alone in the tent like this were inevitable. She didn't want to always appear like a lamb to the slaughter in his presence. That would only embolden him to pounce and bite.

Of course, if he finds his physique unattractive and loses interest in sex, and after the honeymoon period, gradually stops letting her stay overnight, and they become a truly respectful and exemplary couple, then it would be a win-win situation for both of them.

The body before me was slender yet not bony, with fair and delicate skin that seemed to glow in the dim candlelight, captivating the eye. Her small breasts stood proudly erect, the two pink nipples perking up from the sudden exposure to the air, or perhaps from nervousness. From top to bottom, her beautiful collarbones, smooth abdomen, the hidden area concealed by her tightly closed legs, and her most curvaceous, plump buttocks were now intimately pressed against the soft brocade quilt.

Xu Jinrong suddenly felt his body getting slightly warm. The little woman in front of him gave him a teasing thought, so he suddenly put his hand on one of her feet and held it, rubbing it casually.

Danmei clearly felt the sensation of his somewhat rough thumb rubbing the soles of her feet. It was a little itchy, but more like an electric current suddenly running from the soles of her feet to her heart.

He was only rubbing her feet, but this simple action felt extremely ambiguous and lewd to her. After a moment, seeing that he had no intention of stopping, she couldn't help herself and quickly pulled her feet back, rubbing them lightly on the brocade quilt, as if that could wipe away the traces his hands had left on them.

Xu Jinrong, who had been leaning against the headboard, suddenly chuckled. Before Danmei could react, she felt her ankles sink as he grabbed one of her feet and pulled her almost backward onto him, then flipped her over and pinned her beneath him.

Xu Jinrong looked down at Danmei and saw that her eyes were wide open, staring at him. He twitched his lips slightly and said in a low voice, "I knew all along that your eyes were the only thing that was presentable about you. Why are you staring at them so wide?"

Danmei was annoyed and simply closed her eyes. He seemed to laugh again, his laughter low and deep, each sound hitting her ears. A chill ran through her chest, and when she opened her eyes, she saw that he had already lowered his head and was sucking on one of her pink nipples.

Danmei resisted the urge to push his head away, trying to ignore the strange sensation from where he was licking her, feeling somewhat surprised. She still vividly remembered the scene from their wedding night. She couldn't understand why someone who had been so rough and straightforward on their wedding night would now be acting this way.

Perhaps sensing her distraction, the man on top of her bit her as punishment. Danmei cried out in pain and pounded her fists on his back. After a few blows, she felt his weight lift off her as he got up and rolled her over, laying her face down on the mattress.

Danmei knew she had offended him again and was terrified, wondering what he would do to her. Just as she was about to turn around, she felt a warm hand cover her buttocks and knead it a few times.

Her position and his actions made her feel ashamed again, and she couldn't help but whisper and beg, "No..."

"You only have some flesh here, if I don't move here, where else would I move?"

Her voice, which sounded as if it carried a hint of laughter, rang in her ears. Her hand became even more unrestrained, and her originally snow-white buttocks turned red under his palm, like red plum blossoms blooming in the snow.

Danmei whimpered and buried her face in the pillow, remaining motionless until she felt him stop. Just as she was about to breathe a sigh of relief, her whole body suddenly tensed up.

His hand had already slipped between her tightly closed legs along her hip line and remained there.

Sensing her stiffness, he turned her over. Seeing her eyes tightly closed, her eyelashes trembling, and her face flushed, his earlier teasing intent vanished instantly. He parted her still-closed slits with his fingers and gently stroked them back and forth.

Danmei gradually relaxed, but the way he was moving his hand still made her feel extremely uncomfortable. Feeling that his fingertips were about to go in a little further, she quickly opened her eyes and reached out to grab his wrist.

The two locked eyes, and Xu Jinrong suddenly laughed, extending his hand, which had been blocked earlier, towards her. His fingertips were already covered in some transparent, sticky fluid.

Danmei's face was already flushed red. She reached out and pushed his chest hard, then turned around and curled up with her back to him. She heard him chuckle behind her, as if he couldn't hold back his laughter.

"I'll let you off the hook for now. You have to get up early tomorrow, so you should get some rest."

After the words were spoken, she felt the man beside her turn over and get out of the tent. Then she heard the sound of water, probably washing his hands. Then she heard a splash and the room went dark.

Even after being held in his arms to sleep, Danmei still couldn't fall asleep for a long time, even after hearing the even breathing of the man beside her.

The last night before leaving was truly unusual, and the unpredictable and erratic man beside her left her completely baffled.

Perhaps it was because his physique was completely unattractive to him that he ended up stopping so abruptly?

Danmei felt she had figured things out and finally fell asleep. The next morning, however, she was awakened by a touch on her body and opened her eyes to meet his gaze.

Through the curtains, it was still somewhat dark outside the window, which was covered with cotton paper, so it must be early. Danmei yawned slightly, ignoring his hands moving up and down, and closed her eyes again, wanting to sleep a little longer.

"Since you are so filial to my mother, I will not let you be looked down upon. The weather is getting hotter, and it is indeed a bit stuffy living in this house. I will move in with you to cool off. Are you satisfied?"

After a long pause, Xu Jinrong spoke slowly and casually.

Danmei's eyes snapped open as if bitten by an insect, all sleepiness gone. She sat up abruptly on the couch, staring at him in disbelief. She saw him already leaning against the couch wall with his hands behind his head, watching her leisurely.

"Are you... are you serious?"

Danmei asked cautiously.

"Of course. That's exactly what I wanted to tell you last night. But you kept pestering me and I forgot about it until now. We've only been married for three days. How could I ask you to go and serve my mother alone? If my in-laws find out, they'll not only blame me for treating you poorly, but they'll also blame me for disgracing the Prime Minister's family."

Danmei's mind was a complete mess again. All her carefully laid plans had been utterly disrupted by his casual remark. If she had known he would think this way, why had she volunteered to take on the responsibility when he and his mother were arguing? Now she was caught in a dilemma. Changing her mind and saying she wouldn't go was absolutely out of the question, but she couldn't bring herself to say it either, since his explanation was reasonable. After a long, stunned silence, she finally blurted out, "It's a long way there, and you have to go to court every morning..."

"The imperial city is just north of the city, and I have a fast horse, so I can leave early. My wife is so filial to my mother and considerate to me, so it is only right for me to work hard."

Three days after she entered the household, this was the second time she'd heard him call her "wife." The first time was last night when he teased her about the begonia-like marks on her face. Now, seeing him finish speaking and his eyes fixed on her neck, a fine layer of goosebumps rose on her skin. Knowing that saying anything more wouldn't change the outcome, she suppressed her disappointment and was about to lie down again when she suddenly remembered what happened with Sister Hui last night. She sighed inwardly and mentioned it briefly. After speaking, she carefully observed his expression.

"Since I told you to raise her, if you think it's good, then take her with you yourself. Why are you asking me? I have a court assembly today, so I'm getting up. You go back to sleep and wait for me to come back and take you there."

Xu Jinrong casually said something, then reached out and pressed Danmei down before getting up and leaving the bed.

Chapter Thirteen

Although he had told her to go back to sleep, Danmei was so startled awake by this bombshell that she had no desire to stay in bed any longer. She sat up, retrieved her crumpled undergarments from the foot of the bed, put them back on, and then put on her inner and outer garments. Looking up, she saw that he was almost fully dressed as well.

Nowadays, let alone high-ranking officials and the wealthy, even men in slightly more refined families would have someone serve them when dressing and bathing. However, after marrying Xu Jinrong, aside from letting Miaochun in to help him dress on the morning of the second day of their marriage, she had seen him do it himself for the past two days. Without this vice common among men, Danmei felt that this was the only thing she could tolerate about him. She was unaware that Xu Jinrong came from humble beginnings, unlike ordinary scholars who had studied classical texts and entered officialdom through the imperial examinations; naturally, he lacked the refined manners of such men.

At this time, the official robes followed the Tang Dynasty system, with officials of the third rank and above wearing purple, and those of the fifth rank and above wearing vermilion. Such long, flowing, scarlet robes would usually appear effeminate on ordinary men, but on him, they looked exceptionally dignified and imposing. Even Danmei had to admit that this man was indeed a clothes hanger; he looked good in anything. Seeing Danmei's eyes fixed on him, Xu Jinrong raised an eyebrow slightly and said, "Since you've gotten up, you should come and help me change. Has no one ever taught you this manner before?" Having said that, he withdrew his hand, which had already reached for the waist sash.

Danmei secretly grumbled to herself, but dared not show it on her face. She simply went up to him and took the genuine purple dragon-patterned sash and tied it up. After straightening the sash, she looked up and saw him looking down at her. The two were so close that she could almost smell the faint scent of rue from the perfume on his court robes, which made Danmei feel somewhat uncomfortable. Seeing that he was dressed, she turned to open the door and call for someone to bring water for washing, but he grabbed her and pulled her into his arms.

Danmei didn't know what he was going to do, and leaned stiffly against his chest.

"You don't need to mention what just happened in front of my mother. I'll talk to her myself. If she makes things difficult for you, just bear with it."

He looked down at Danmei, raised his hand to lift her face, said this, and gently stroked her cheek with his thumb before letting go.

Danmei, who had just managed to catch her breath, finally relaxed. She hurriedly nodded in agreement, turned around, and opened the door. Before he could see, she raised her hand and wiped her face where he had just scratched her, only then feeling the strange sensation on her skin disappear.

After seeing Xu Jinrong off, Miaochun and the others, knowing he was also going to stay there, had already started packing. Danmei thought of Huijie, so she sent someone to the east wing to have everything prepared so they could go to the north suburban garden together. Only then did she go to the north room as usual. She thought that today would be like the previous days, where she would not be allowed to enter and would be sent away, but to her surprise, she was allowed in.

Xu Jinrong's mother was eating a bowl of wild duck porridge, seemingly with a good appetite, quickly finishing it with a side of pickled cucumber. Danmei guessed that she probably didn't know her son's plans yet, so her attitude towards her was barely acceptable. However, when her plans fell through, she would most likely assume it was Danmei's doing. Xu Jinrong probably anticipated this, which was why he specifically reminded her this morning. But even without his reminder, she knew it herself. If the old lady really wanted to blame her, then so be it. After all, this matter had completely exceeded her expectations. After thinking for a moment, she simply mentioned that Sister Hui would also be going.

The old lady seemed to dislike both her biological granddaughter and her illegitimate grandson. She muttered a few words under her breath, but when she heard that her son knew and hadn't objected, she fell silent. Seeing that everything was alright, Danmei excused herself, saying she needed to tidy up some things. The old lady waved her away.

Danmei returned to her courtyard and went straight to the east wing. Hui-jie, already neatly dressed, was packing her trunks among the maids and Zhou Mama. Seeing Danmei enter, she happily went to her side. Danmei expected her to rush over, but Hui-jie paused, stopping in front of her and giving a respectful bow before whispering, "Thank you, Mother. Zhou Mama and the others have packed my usual books, so going there won't interfere with my studies. Please rest assured, Mother."

Danmei glanced at the few books neatly stacked on the table, not yet put away. The thin one on top was none other than "Admonitions for Women." She shook her head inwardly but said nothing more, only smiling and patting her head, offering a few words of encouragement. When she returned to her room, she found everything packed and moved to the carriage outside the gate. Besides her original few boxes, there was another one in the middle, presumably his.

When Danmei was in the Prime Minister's residence, she knew that if her father didn't stay in the Imperial Palace to work after court, he would usually return around 9:00 AM. Sure enough, when the sun was halfway up the sky, her eldest son came to report that the master had returned from court and gone to the north room, and told Danmei and the others to go out and get into the carriage.

As Danmei led Huijie out of her courtyard toward the front gate, they saw Zhou Shi Chunniang and Zhao Zonglian from the west courtyard standing in a row outside the moon gate, blocking their way. Huijie, who used to live with Zhou Shi, greeted her as "Auntie," and Zhou Shi hurriedly bowed in response, her eyes then falling on Danmei.

Chunniang smiled and said, "The three of us sisters learned yesterday that Madam is going to live in the garden outside the north of the city with the Old Madam, and we were very envious. We only regret that we are too stupid to be noticed by the Old Madam. Otherwise, if we could go with her to serve the Old Madam and Madam, that would truly be a blessing. Knowing that Madam is leaving today, we came here to see her off. We hope that Madam will return soon so that we sisters will not worry about her." After saying this, she, Zhou Shi, and Zhao Zonglian bowed together.

Although Danmei spoke respectfully, the gloating look in her eyes was barely concealed. Zhou Shi remained the same as before, somewhat dull, while Zhao Zonglian lowered her head, her expression unreadable.

What Zhou Shi and Zhao Zonglian were thinking was unknown, but Chunniang clearly came with the intention of seeing her make a fool of herself. She just wondered what Chunniang's expression would be when she finally found out that Xu Jinrong was also going to live with them. Women who were concubines were already pitiful; if they encountered a powerful mistress, she could easily find some excuse to beat, scold, or even drag them out and sell them. Although she was newly married and above the three of them, she had no intention of causing trouble; she just wanted everyone to live in peace. Now it seemed that regardless of her intentions, she had indeed disrupted the otherwise balanced and peaceful lives of these women. Women living under the same roof because of the same man sometimes found themselves scheming against each other without even realizing it.

Danmei, too lazy to say much, was about to give a perfunctory reply and send them away when she saw the others suddenly turn around and call out "Third Master" in unison. Looking in the direction of the sound, she saw Xu Jinrong emerging from behind a clump of bamboo by the path. She couldn't help but smile bitterly to herself; neither she nor Xu Jinrong, who were facing away, had noticed him approaching. It was as if the others, with their backs turned, had eyes in the back of their heads.

Xu Jinrong nodded and waved for everyone to leave. After they had all left, he looked at Danmei and said, "Mother is already at the door. You should go over there too. I'll change into my civilian clothes and then I'll be leaving."

Danmei hummed in agreement, lowered her head slightly, and took Huijie's hand, starting to walk. As they passed each other, for some reason, the image of his behavior towards her on the bed last night suddenly popped into her mind. He seemed so proper during the day, but once he undressed in the bedchamber, he was so unseemly. If she hadn't been the one he had "unseemly" acted upon, she would never have believed that he could have such a side to him in private.

Danmei was slightly dazed when she suddenly remembered his three concubines who had come to see her off. Since he treated her this way, he must treat those women similarly in private. The thought made her feel nauseous, as if she had swallowed a fly.

Seeing that she had slowed down, Sister Hui hurriedly pulled her forward a few times. Danmei then realized what was happening, suppressed the jumbled thoughts in her mind, and quickly followed.

The old lady was in the lead in a horse-drawn carriage, with Xiqing accompanying her. Danmei and Sister Hui were in the middle, followed by Miaochun, Miaoxia, and Zhou Mama. Xu Jinrong himself brought a few attendants on horseback to protect them. After leaving Gaoxing Street, they crossed the Zhou Bridge and turned onto the straight East Street, heading straight north of the city.

Hui-jie had probably rarely been taken out like this before. Sitting in the carriage, she kept lifting the curtain and looking out the window, her face full of excitement. She kept pulling Dan-mei along, pointing and looking around. At first, they were a little secretive, but as they approached the north of the city and left the city gate, the houses and shops became less crowded, and there were fewer pedestrians on the roadside, only some farmers leading oxen and carrying hoes, and women going to the nearby temple to burn incense and pray. So they simply lifted the curtain.

The official road was flanked by green fields, interspersed with farmhouses. A few blossoming peach and apricot branches peeked out from behind the courtyard walls, a scene of early summer countryside beauty. Danmei's mood gradually brightened, and a smile unconsciously appeared on her face. Suddenly, a tall black horse galloped up beside the carriage, and a man sitting upright looked in her direction—it was Xu Jinrong. Seeing his stern face, her good mood vanished instantly, and she quickly leaned back against the soft stool against the carriage wall. Seeing her father's dark face, Huijie quickly shrank back as well.

Before noon, after crossing a bluestone bridge and a brick-lined willow-shaded path, they arrived at the garden. Danmei alighted from the carriage and saw fields and farmhouses nearby, with the faint sound of dogs barking, making it seem like a village. Although Xu Jinrong's mother lived alone, the garden had more than ten people, including guards and servants. Having received news that everyone was returning today, they were all waiting at the gate early. When the carriage stopped, they all greeted the heads of the household and then filed in to carry the trunks inside.

Danmei entered, and within a glance, she found it both laughable and absurd. She didn't know what this place had looked like before, but since it was called a garden, it must have been a place with flowers and plants. Looking at the small pavilions and ponds on both sides of the path, though not large, she imagined the scenery must have been quite nice. However, now the gardens were completely devoid of flowers and plants, filled only with scallions, garlic, eggplants, and gourds; a strong smell of fertilizer permeated the air as she walked by.

Chapter Fourteen

Since someone from the main house had come to inform us yesterday that the newlywed lady of the mansion would be coming here with the old lady today, Danmei's room had already been prepared. She just needed to put away the small items in the trunks and baskets, and it was all taken care of.

The place wasn't large, and the houses were only two courtyards in size. Although it wasn't as exquisite as the main house, the gray walls and white tiles gave it a very clean and refreshing feel. Danmei took a short walk around and found it quite nice.

After settling his mother and Danmei in and having lunch, Xu Jinrong and his entourage rode away in a hurry. Danmei had been in his household for three days, and her only impression was that he was always very busy. As for what he was busy with, he didn't mention it, and naturally, she wouldn't ask.

The old lady had barely arrived, barely settled in, when she changed into a blue cotton overcoat and went to stroll around the vegetable garden, with Danmei following her. Pointing to the radishes growing in the garden, she recited: "When the willow branches sprout in spring, and the elm seeds form flower buds, a few are struck by lightning, and then the radishes, scallions, chives, bamboo shoots, and celery are ready to be planted. When the frogs and insects start chirping in the fields, it's time to plant cucumbers, gourds, and bottle gourds. After the harvest, when the frost comes, and the cicadas fall silent, the radishes, scallions, and chives are ready to be planted again. Even though you come from a noble family, it's not bad to know these principles. As long as you're diligent, you won't starve. Back in the day, your father-in-law passed away early, and I, an old woman, raised my son on just a few acres of land. Now, although he's capable, the worst thing a person can do is forget their roots..."

When Danmei first met the old lady the day before yesterday, she sensed that she wasn't someone who had come from a wealthy family and lived a life of luxury. She simply didn't know anything about the Xu family. Now, listening to her rambling on, she suddenly understood. It turned out that this old lady had also endured hardship in the past. It's easy to go from simplicity to luxury, but difficult to go from luxury to simplicity. Her son now runs such a prestigious household, yet the old lady still personally tends to her vegetables—it's truly remarkable. A sense of respect arose in her heart. She then respectfully responded with a greeting.

Just as the old lady was about to seize the opportunity to give him a few more lectures, several farmers from the nearby area came over in twos and threes. It turned out that when Xu Jinrong bought the garden, he had purchased it along with a large tract of nearby farmland from the previous owner, who was now in dire straits. These were all tenants renting the Xu family's land. The old lady usually got along well with them, but seeing a procession of carriages approaching, she knew the landlady had returned and came to pay her respects. Upon seeing the brightly dressed Danmei, and learning she was the family's daughter-in-law, they all avoided eye contact and hastily knelt down to kowtow to her and her husband. After everyone had left, the old lady turned back to look at Danmei's attire, frowned, and muttered, "Why dress so elegantly even in the countryside? It's dazzling."