"Young Madam, the young master and young master have arrived."
Author's Note: You Tong: What did you say?! (??????)!!
Chapter 6 Sleeping Together
The room was filled with a warm, languid steam. You Tong, soaked in the fragrant bath, felt as if her limbs had melted away, even her mind seemed to work slower than usual. Chuncao's words reached her ears, and without thinking, she responded with an "Oh," continuing to enjoy the moment with her eyes closed. Only after a moment did she realize something was wrong—
"Who?" She opened her eyes, looking a little annoyed. "Who's here?"
"Son-in-law!"
Fu Yu? It's the middle of the night, and she was just about to rest. What is he doing here?
You Tong was taken aback, and subconsciously sat up straight, stirring the fragrant soup slightly. "He's already here?"
"They're already in the courtyard!" Chuncao said, both anxious and amused. "They came back suddenly, and I don't know what they're up to. As soon as they came in, they asked where the young mistress was, so I rushed in to report." As she spoke, she brought over a towel and the prepared nightgown, and helped Youtong dry her hair haphazardly. When Youtong came out of the bathtub to dry herself and put on her undergarments, she handed her the soft, light red cross-collar nightgown.
Because the summer heat had not yet subsided, this nightgown was made thin and soft, revealing the figure when worn.
You Tong and Fu Yu are still quite unfamiliar with each other, how could she wear this to see him?
She then pushed aside the garment behind the screen and whispered, "I won't wear this. Get me another outer garment."
Chuncao was stunned for a moment before she understood, and hurriedly brought over the white silk half-sleeved top and the long skirt made of brocade with hidden peacock patterns that she had prepared for tomorrow. Youtong hurriedly put them on, tied the jade-colored belt embroidered with hibiscus around her waist, and, afraid that Fu Yu would be impatient and unhappy, rushed out.
Upon reaching the doorway of the inner room, I peeked out and saw a figure flash by outside. I unconsciously took a deep breath.
Then he straightened his clothes and walked over.
...
The room was already lit. As ordered, Aunt Zhou led Su Ruolan and the other maids out. Fu Yu stood in the side room, casually flipping through the books on the table.
You Tong's brow twitched slightly, a little embarrassed.
She had once vowed to taste all the delicacies in the world, and even after arriving here, she remained true to her original aspiration. Because she was confined to the capital and couldn't go out much, she managed to get a cookbook from outside. She would either follow the recipes or create new variations. Because she had read it so many times, the edges were worn out. Even after marrying far away to Qizhou, she couldn't bear to throw it away. Today, after finding it again, she put it on the table, intending to find a place to put it, but Fu Yu caught her red-handed.
The Wei family is a scholarly family, and it's quite incongruous that she brought this book instead of taking any of the books on the shelves.
When she glanced at Fu Yu's expression, his eyes did look rather strange, as if he thought she was ignorant and incompetent.
Fortunately, he didn't investigate further, and when he saw her come out, he casually tossed her aside.
You Tong had no choice but to bite the bullet and casually put the book on the shelf. Seeing that there was already hot tea on the table, she didn't stand on ceremony and said, "I thought my husband would be busy tonight and would come back late, so I took advantage of..."
"I'll be leaving soon," Fu Yu interrupted her.
You Tong responded with an "Oh," readily agreeing, "Is there something you need?"
"I have a few words to say." Fu Yu stood by the table, his expression indifferent in the candlelight. "Your father has surely already explained why we married. Military affairs are demanding, and I have no time for trivial matters. I may not be able to find the time to come here in the future. Now that you've entered this South Tower, as long as you live here, you are the young mistress of the Fu family. The Fu family will not treat you too badly. You must also behave yourself. As for those private matters in the capital—"
He paused, his eyes revealing a haughty air, then turned his back, his tone growing increasingly cold.
"I won't interfere in your private affairs. But from now on, you must be mindful of your actions. Understand?"
His deep, detached gaze looked over, carrying a hint of wariness.
"Okay." You Tong nodded, her voice fading.
Before her marriage, when she was in the capital, Wei Sidao often avoided her, so she tried to find out why the Wei family had agreed to the marriage twice but failed. However, she understood what Fu Yu meant. This man must have believed that she still harbored feelings for Xu Chaozong and was as arrogant and naive as before, which was why he spoke up to remind her not to tarnish the Fu family's reputation.
That's good too. A proud and arrogant man like Fu Yu would never touch a woman who already has someone she loves.
She couldn't have asked for a peaceful and harmonious relationship between husband and wife, where neither would infringe upon the other's privacy.
Looking at Fu Yu, she said firmly, "That's all in the past. Now that I'm here, I'll act cautiously, don't worry." Her tone was light, but she was actually a little upset inside—who in this world wants to be looked down upon for no reason or treated with prejudice? Even though she had made the worst preparations, she couldn't remain calm in the face of Fu Yu's dismissive and indifferent attitude.
The room fell silent for a moment, with only the sound of each other breathing.
A moment later, Fu Yu glanced back at You Tong.
The room was brightly lit by candlelight. Although she had dressed neatly, she hadn't had time to dry her hair, which was now soaking wet and draped over her shoulders, with a strand resting on her delicate neck and collarbone. Her skin was fair and her hair was jet black, like an ink painting on silk. Oblivious to her surroundings, she stood sideways by the table, her eyes lowered, her lips pursed, and the shadows of her eyelashes concealing her emotions.
But you could tell she was a little sad.
As if sensing his gaze, she raised her head, her sadness completely hidden, her posture upright, with a touch of stubbornness that was neither humble nor arrogant.
"There's no need to dwell on the affairs of the capital, but I am not a fickle or promiscuous person. My husband is right; as long as I live in this South Tower, I am the young mistress. Even if I cannot bring honor to the Fu family, I will not do anything foolish that would bring shame to your family. Please forgive me for what happened in the past." After saying this, she slightly clasped her hands together and performed a respectful bow.
This attitude, on the contrary, made Fu Yu feel guilty.
He certainly didn't treat her as his wife, but he also had no intention of hurting her.
Ultimately, although this marriage was an arranged one, it was a mutual consent process. Even with Wei Youtong's terrible reputation, she owed him nothing, and it was not his place to criticize her. His words just now were blunt, and perhaps they truly struck a nerve.
Fu Yu is proud and arrogant, and has a cold and ruthless personality, but he is not the kind of person who would bully women for no reason.
But the words were already spoken and could not be taken back. After thinking for a moment, he stepped inside, his clothes causing the flames to flicker slightly. His expression remained indifferent, but he casually said, "It's just a precautionary reminder, don't overthink it. Prepare some water."
"Huh?" You Tong looked at the full teacup on the table, not understanding.
Fu Yu seemed to choke for a moment. Seeing that she really looked confused, he reluctantly pointed to the inner room and said, "Take a bath."
A casual remark caught You Tong completely off guard.
If she remembered correctly, just moments before, this man had said he would be leaving soon! But this was obviously something she couldn't mention. She had just promised to behave herself and act cautiously; how could she possibly neglect her husband?
He then summoned Zhou Gu and Chuncao and instructed them to prepare hot water and soft towels to serve the general during his bath.
Fu Yu stood there, watching her busily making arrangements, his expression a little stiff.
Just moments before, he had indeed intended to leave immediately after speaking and not come here unless necessary. However, since he had unintentionally hurt her, and You Tong was quite sensible, he decided to stay here tonight to show his attitude and have the maids and servants treat her with more respect, which would be considered making amends.
...
Before You Tong got married, Zhen had taught her how to serve her husband during his bath. However, she had never taken care of anyone before and was quite inexperienced. Fortunately, Fu Yu was not a pampered prince. After the hot water was ready, he went in to bathe alone and told her to go and rest.
You Tong was happy to have some free time. Taking advantage of the fact that there was no one else in the inner room, she changed into her nightgown and sat at the table slowly drying her hair.
After a long while, Fu Yu finally came out, his nightgown neatly arranged.
Yanbo had already made the bed and retreated to the outer room to await orders. The long, dimly lit bed curtains hung low, leaving the couple alone.
It wasn't yet the usual hour of Hai (9-11 PM), and You Tong had planned to go to bed early, but seeing Fu Yu's energetic appearance, it was clear he wouldn't be lying in bed at this hour. They couldn't just stare at each other in silence for the long hour ahead.
You Tong had never dealt with this situation before, and Fu Yu was clearly unfamiliar with it as well. They exchanged a glance, a knowing awkwardness settling in between.
Fu Yu was more decisive. Before You Tong could rack her brains for a suitable topic, he solved the problem with a single sentence: "I'm going to find a book. You go to sleep first."
Having said that, he slightly moved his sleeves and went straight to the side room.
Although the South Building is not a study, in a mansion like this, every place where people live should have a few books, even if they are just for decoration.
You Tong watched him walk out, still casually combing her hair. After waiting for a while and not hearing Fu Yu's footsteps return, she guessed that he would stay up until late at night before coming back to sleep, and couldn't help but chuckle to herself—this man, who looks aloof and indifferent, is actually quite awkward inside.
He then strolled to the side room and saw that the man was indeed sitting upright in a chair reading a book.
You Tong took two steps inside and said, "I'm a little tired from traveling the past two days and would like to rest early. If my husband has any instructions, I'll leave Chuncao outside to serve you, okay?"
Upon hearing this, Fu Yu looked up and saw her standing gracefully by the lamp, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders, a smile playing on her lips.
Beneath her long, slender eyebrows, her eyes gazed at him with a smile, clear as morning dew. Even in her solitary and desolate state, she showed no trace of melancholy, but rather an air of contentment and calm composure. If Wei Sidao hadn't admitted it himself, he simply couldn't believe that she could commit suicide for love.
He glanced at it twice before looking away, his voice as indifferent as ever, "No need to serve me. Go to sleep first."
You Tong agreed and didn't bother him any further, returning to her bed to rest.
After days of hard work and not getting enough sleep this morning, I felt sleepy as soon as my head hit the pillow.
The bed curtains were dim, the candlelight flickered, and her consciousness gradually became hazy. You Tong didn't know when Fu Yu had returned. When she woke up, it was so quiet that there wasn't even a sound of wind. There was someone beside her, breathing long and even. Under the brocade quilt, the two slept side by side, only a foot apart. You Tong felt that something was wrong. Her head was still foggy for a moment before she realized that she had somehow grasped his arm.
—She gripped his warm, strong forearm tightly, as if she were grasping at a straw when she was drowning in the lake.
Fortunately, Fu Yu didn't notice. He was sleeping on his back, his eyebrows and eyes were handsome, and his expression was resolute even in his sleep.
Feeling a little guilty, she quickly and secretly withdrew her hand that had been groping him, but her gaze remained fixed on his face.
As summer drew to a close and autumn arrived, a cool breeze began to blow outside the window, while Fu Yu warmed the bed with his brocade quilt, making it quite cozy.
You Tong scrutinized his features in the dim light, pondering for a long time, but still couldn't guess what benefits the Wei family had that would make this man exchange marriage for them.
As weariness gradually crept in, I chuckled to myself, turned over, and drifted back into a sweet dream.
When I woke up the next morning, the man next to me was gone.
She went to pay her respects to the Dowager as usual, and after returning home, she prepared some soft and fragrant pastries with herbal medicine to prepare for any surprise attack by Fu Yu, lest she be left with nothing to offer and feel too shabby. In the evening, seeing no movement outside, and fearing that Fu Yu might suddenly appear again like last night, she asked Aunt Zhou, only to learn that he had led his men out of the city to patrol the border earlier that morning. This trip was a long detour, and he had many matters to attend to, so he wouldn't be back for two months.
You Tong secretly breathed a sigh of relief, turned her head, and went to enjoy the pastries with relish.
Author's Note: Guess what the Fu family and Wei family are doing, hehe~ There's a little foreshadowing in the beginning =w=
Chapter 7 Idle Talk
Fu Yu's overnight stay actually proved somewhat useful.
When You Tong was packing her things yesterday, some of the maids and servants were slacking off. They must have heard the rumors in the capital and, seeing that Fu Yu didn't take the new young mistress seriously, they treated her with disdain. After Fu Yu had rested for a night, his attitude changed slightly. When he heard that You Tong wanted to make some dishes, he obediently went to the main kitchen to find the ingredients.
Aunt Zhou is a very kind person. She was very considerate on her wedding night, and she has been doing the same thing these past few days.
Because the small kitchen in the south building had been vacant for a long time, it was incomplete with all kinds of pots, pans and utensils. Since You Tong was new to the place, she didn't want to bother with the kitchen. So, Aunt Zhou couldn't make the decision to get them from elsewhere, so she asked someone outside to buy some for her, which solved You Tong's biggest headache.
During casual conversations in the house, she would reveal a little when asked about trivial matters.
After asking many questions, You Tong realized that Fu Yu was even more capable than she had imagined.
As soon as he could walk, he was handed over to a martial arts instructor in the manor. He learned to run and jump faster than others, and he was also diligent in practicing martial arts and studying. At the age of ten, he joined the army, and at twelve, he went to the battlefield. With his youthful agility and quick wit, he made considerable contributions. After that, he followed his father and brothers to various places to lead troops on inspections. From the supply of food and fodder and the terrain to the deployment of troops and reconnaissance, he personally experienced everything related to military campaigns, big and small, without complaint.
By the time he was fifteen, he was already capable of handling things on his own.
He is only twenty years old this year, yet he is already outstanding in both literary and military arts.
Ten years of experience had forged him into a tough, ruthless, and decisive man. His elite cavalry was renowned throughout the border regions, and many of Yongning's hundreds of thousands of soldiers and hundreds of fierce generals were sincerely devoted to him. His prestige in the army was second only to Fu Deqing. Looking across the land, even considering royal talents like Xu Chaozong and the retainers and descendants of various military governors, few could rival him in terms of bravery, strategy, talent, and methods.
In his daily life, this man was exceptionally self-disciplined. Although there were countless beauties in Qizhou and he had many admirers, he never got close to any women.
Such people are either so preoccupied with their career ambitions that they have no time for anything else, or they are extremely picky and nitpicky, finding fault with everyone.
No wonder he showed such a disdainful attitude when he first met You Tong—even a celestial being with both literary and martial talents might not catch his eye, let alone someone like her, who was known as a "proud and arrogant good-for-nothing" in the eyes of outsiders. If it weren't for the marriage, Fu Yu probably wouldn't even bother to look at her.
This kind of proud, arrogant, and even demanding old man is obviously very difficult to get along with.