[🔥🔥 Support link: patreon.com/MrGhost69
You can find 110+ chapters ahead here
Also another exciting fanfic available 🔥🔥]
Yet now, she knew something far more pressing was at hand—something that meant she could not afford to offend Wei Tingyu. "There is one more
Yet now, she knew something far more pressing was at hand—something that meant she could not afford to offend Wei Tingyu.
"There is one more matter I must ask of the Marquis," said Concubine Yang Jieyu, taking a steady breath. She looked directly at Wei Tingyu and asked, "May I ask… does my brother Yang Xian's illness have anything to do with you, Marquis?"
Yang Xian's "illness" referred to the impotence issue the maid had previously mentioned to Concubine Yang Jieyu! Of course, as a woman, she couldn't speak so bluntly in front of Wei Tingyu, but she believed he would surely understand.
However, how could Wei Tingyu so easily concede to her wishes? He merely feigned a bewildered expression and asked, "What illness? Oh—are you talking about that cold he caught after those beggar brats stripped him bare on the bridge?"
"I always say! One shouldn't do too many immoral things, otherwise, heaven will always mete out punishment!"
"Those beggars had nothing to do with me! Concubine Yang Jieyu, don't pin this on me!"
Seeing Wei Tingyu feign ignorance, she gritted her teeth in frustration. Beneath the water, her delicate fists clenched in frustration.
"Concubine… why is your face flushing?" Wei Tingyu blinked, then asked.
Flushing? It's all your fault, you shameless rogue! she thought resentfully. The glint in his eye made it clear he understood exactly what she meant, yet still chose to play dumb. After all, how could a woman speak about a man's intimate problem? Not even her own flesh and blood brother could make her speak of it! But her brother's future… the survival of the Yang family…
Thinking of these two points, she had no choice but to yield to reality!
"Marquis Wei, do not jest!" Concubine Yang Jieyu took two deep breaths, then stared at Wei Tingyu and said, "You probably know my brother's current situation better than I do!"
At this point, needing a favor, she no longer referred to herself as "this concubine," directly using "I" in front of Wei Tingyu. This could be considered quite humble!
"I don't understand!" However, Wei Tingyu remained firm in his feigned ignorance. He looked at Concubine Yang Jieyu and said, "However, it is said that when one is ill, one must sincerely seek a doctor! Whether one can find a renowned physician for treatment depends on Concubine's sincerity..."
Sincerity? She was startled, then instantly understood that Wei Tingyu was hinting at something! He meant that she needed to pay some price to show her sincerity, didn't he?!
"What does Marquis desire?" Thinking this, she directly closed her eyes. She even dared not guess how Wei Tingyu would answer next! Because from Wei Tingyu's eyes, she could more or less discern the desire in his heart. It was just that he was controlling it well, but now that he had leverage, who knew what excessive demands he might make! Thinking this, her heart involuntarily began to pound faster!
"That depends on what Concubine has to offer?" Wei Tingyu smiled, raised an eyebrow at Concubine Yang Jieyu, and asked.
"..." She fell silent for two seconds after hearing this, then suddenly opened her eyes and glared intently at Wei Tingyu, saying, "Marquis Wei, do not go too far! This concubine is His Majesty's Jieyu!"
"Did I say anything?" Wei Tingyu found her flushed and pale face, caused by anger, even more adorable. He feigned an innocent shrug and asked.
You didn't say anything! But isn't the meaning in your words and the implication in your eyes clear enough? I'm not blind; how could I not see it?
"Anyway… other than that… Marquis can name any other condition!" Concubine Yang Jieyu frowned, knowing there was no need to speak too plainly with Wei Tingyu. Since he was being obscure, she would simply convey her meaning.
"Then there are no conditions!" Wei Tingyu smiled slightly, then with a light leap, he left the wooden tub and landed gracefully nearby! He then circulated his internal energy, and a white mist rose from his body. In just a few seconds, his previously soaked clothes were dry! This scene left her, still in the tub, utterly bewildered and shocked! After all, the moment Wei Tingyu used his internal energy to evaporate the water from his clothes truly looked like someone ascending to heaven in broad daylight!
Having done all this, Wei Tingyu felt a surge of comfort throughout his body. Indeed, clothes are only comfortable when dry! He turned his head to look at her again and found that she was staring at him with wide eyes, her small mouth agape, large enough to fit an egg!
"Since there's nothing left to discuss, I shall take my leave!" Wei Tingyu, in a very dashing manner, cupped his hands towards her, who was still bewildered in the tub, then spoke. With a graceful turn, he made to leave.
"Wait!" However, she immediately called out to him. After all, her brother's illness hadn't been cured yet! If she didn't put in more effort, how could she explain it to her family? Moreover, once Wei Tingyu left, she didn't know when they would meet again! As a woman confined deep within the palace, she couldn't possibly run out to find him, could she? Even if she wanted to, she couldn't find an excuse or reason! So, in a moment of urgency, she suddenly stood up from the bathtub.
Wei Tingyu naturally heard the sound from behind him, including the rustling as she stood up. He immediately turned his head and saw a beautiful scene he could never forget! "What was 'ice skin and jade bones'? What was 'a lotus rising from water'? Before him stood the living embodiment." At this moment, she reacted, and without another word, she splashed back into the wooden tub. This time, she plunged even deeper, her entire body submerged in the water, even her chin touching the surface. She submerged herself so deeply that even her once-bare neck and shoulders disappeared beneath the water's surface. But it was no wonder; this was also a first for her in her life! No man had ever seen her flawless form before! Thinking this, her face flushed like a blooming rose. At the same time, her eyes subtly darted to the side, completely daring not to meet Wei Tingyu's gaze!
Is she shy? Wei Tingyu, seeing her adorable appearance, quickly calmed his mind. After firmly imprinting the scene he had just witnessed in his memory, he gave a low chuckle and stepped two paces forward to the side of the bathtub. Although her eyes were fixed on the water's surface, her peripheral vision naturally sensed Wei Tingyu's approach. Even through the water's reflection, she clearly saw him walk to the front of the tub.
He was actually approaching?! What should I do?! Is he going to force himself on me…? Panic swelled in her chest as countless thoughts flooded her mind. Of course, she dared even less to look up at Wei Tingyu now! Because she clearly knew that her face must be a vast expanse of fiery red, like a sunset cloud, at this moment! If their gazes were to meet again now, who knew what explosive incident might occur!
However, just as her heart pounded ceaselessly, faster and faster, her peripheral vision suddenly saw Wei Tingyu's hand reaching towards her cheek. Then, his index finger gently lifted her chin, and a force controlled her face, causing it to tilt upwards!
No! I cannot let him be so unrestrained! This action is clearly toying with me! After all, I am Concubine Jieyu of the palace; no matter what, I must maintain that demeanor! Yes! Glare fiercely at him! Scare him away! Her mind was in a mess, then she thought of what she believed was a good idea! Of course, other than this method, she had no other recourse at the moment! Thinking this, she suddenly lifted her head, intending to glare fiercely at Wei Tingyu with a menacing gaze, letting him know that her identity and status were beyond his touch! Moreover, such a provocative and ambiguous gesture as gently hooking her chin with a finger was even less something a subject should do!
However, what she didn't expect was that the moment her face lifted, her pupils suddenly contracted sharply! Because in her line of sight, Wei Tingyu's face suddenly drew closer! Then, without deviation, he kissed her two lips, which no one had ever enjoyed before!
A breathless gasp escaped her lips, her mind going blank as the heat of the kiss overtook her senses. The warmth of his lips, the scent of his body—it broke through her carefully built walls in an instant.
However, two seconds later, her mind suddenly cleared again! "No! I am Concubine Jieyu of the Imperial Palace—how can I kiss a mere Marquis?! This is unfair to the imperial family! And also to the Yang family!* In an instant, with this thought flashing through her mind, she, without another word, reached out her small hands, gripping Wei Tingyu's shoulders, then exerted a slight forward force, trying to push his body away.
At this moment, Wei Tingyu's upper body was leaned forward into the bathtub, maintaining a kissing position with her in a rather difficult posture. And just as he was wholeheartedly enjoying this sweet little mouth, he suddenly felt her resistance. Wei Tingyu was also surprised! Because according to his past experience, women, after kissing him, would briefly struggle at first, but would soon become intoxicated and immersed! And then they would completely abandon resistance and let him have his way… She had clearly entered the second stage just now, and Wei Tingyu had even prepared to strip off his clothes and jump into the bathtub to play in the water like mandarin ducks with her. But he never expected her mind to suddenly regain clarity, and even resist more fiercely?!
Perhaps it's because of Concubine Yang Jieyu's identity? So her inner boundaries are stronger than those of the other women he had pursued before? And her resistance is thus more intense? Perhaps that's the reason! Wei Tingyu thought to himself, but he refused to let this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slip away. So, without another word, he directly extended his hand and firmly grasped her pale neck. She was just about to push Wei Tingyu away, but she never expected his large hand to firmly grip the back of her fateful neck! And with the added force of this powerful grip, she naturally had no way to escape Wei Tingyu's control…
At this point, she lost her last chance to escape, and her previously clear mind gradually fell back into a state of bewilderment. After all, Wei Tingyu's kissing technique was well-tested; how could a woman like her, who had not even had her first kiss, possibly resist? Soon, the will to resist was completely eroded, replaced only by instinct! She leaned up, heedless of modesty, and draped her slender arms around Wei Tingyu's neck, surrendering fully to his kiss…
"Marquis..." After the storm of passion had passed, Concubine Yang Jieyu lay beside Wei Tingyu, resting her head on his broad chest, quietly listening to his strong, steady heartbeat. With a serene expression, she said, "This consort can no longer be without you!"
As she spoke, a faint worry lingered in her heart. She feared that once he stepped beyond the palace walls tonight, their next meeting might remain forever uncertain. Although Wei Tingyu had personally promised to take her out of the palace to play one day, when would that day truly arrive? She had no certainty in her heart and did not intend to press him for an answer. After all, such matters were easy to speak of but difficult to truly achieve. Even with Wei Tingyu's exceptional skills, it was one thing for him to enter and exit these high walls alone. But if he were to bring her along, a complete burden with no martial arts, it might not be so easy!
"Cannot be without me?" Wei Tingyu was startled, then smiled as he gently stroked her soft back, comforting her. "From now on, I will come to see you often!"
"Wouldn't Marquis's wives and concubines in his estate resent that then?" She heard this, and a faint smile touched her lips, but she still teased him. At this moment, she found it somewhat strange. Why did she feel so close to those wives and concubines whom she had never met from the Marquis's estate? Was it, as the saying goes, love for the house extending to its crows? She couldn't quite understand it herself!
"My lady, are you jealous?" Wei Tingyu heard this, then opened his eyes, which had been closed in contemplation, and looked down at the jade-like beauty in his arms, asking with a smile. He no longer called her Concubine Jieyu, but directly addressed her as "my lady." After all, given their current relationship, maintaining such formality would only feel awkward.
Concubine Yang Jieyu naturally noticed the difference in his words, especially the change in his address for her, which delighted her. In a sense, this also meant that Wei Tingyu had acknowledged her as one of his own within the Marquis's estate!
"This consort, being an outsider..." She thought this and smiled again, then said, "Such words were hardly befitting a lady of her rank—far too humble for a Concubine Jieyu!"
However, Wei Tingyu understood her well. He smiled and gently patted her smooth, jade-like back again, then said, "There's no harm in being jealous!"
"My wives and concubines at home sometimes like to be a little jealous too!"
"But they must forget it afterward and not let bitterness fester in their hearts!"
"Otherwise, this Marquis would get a headache!"
Hearing Wei Tingyu's words, she couldn't help but burst into laughter. Goodness! This Marquis even tells me about his wives and concubines occasionally being jealous? However, this dissipated the slight sourness in her heart, and she felt that Wei Tingyu's household seemed quite interesting! Most importantly, Wei Tingyu did not demand that his women completely lose their humanity! To him, a little jealousy was certainly not a sin! As long as they could adjust their mindset and not cause trouble, it was fine! Such a way of thinking was truly rare among men in this world!
At the same time, she recalled some previous rumors. After all, she was often bored in the deep palace, and eunuchs and maids would sometimes share anecdotes from outside.
"I heard that when Marquis was married, he personally helped his new wife alight from the carriage when they returned to her maternal home?"
"And that Marquis even held his wife's hand as they walked into her family's main gate, regardless of the gossip and whispers around them?"
"And at the family banquet, he even argued with her family elders for her sake?"
Concubine Yang Jieyu directly recounted some of the rumors she had heard about Marquis Jining, Wei Tingyu, then gazing up at him, eyes bright, asked, "Are these truly real?"
Wei Tingyu saw her inquisitive expression, truly like a paparazzi sniffing out a celebrity scandal, and was speechless!
"Indeed, it is true!" Of course, Wei Tingyu wasn't afraid of being mocked for being too good to his wife, so he immediately nodded and confirmed.
"Marquis is truly the best man in the world!" And upon receiving Wei Tingyu's affirmative reply, she actually leaned in and gave him another heavy kiss on the cheek! To be so good to one's wedded wife, completely disregarding the opinions and whispers of others, truly required great courage for a man! After all, he might easily be labeled as a "henpecked" man by those pedantic scholars.
Of course, in the eyes of these aristocratic young ladies and women, this was an entirely different matter! Concubine Yang Jieyu clearly remembered the envy in the maids' voices when they discussed these matters. After all, men fear choosing the wrong profession, and women fear marrying the wrong man! The kind of husband one marries absolutely impacts a woman's entire life!
"This consort truly envies your wife!" Thinking this, Concubine Yang Jieyu rested her head back on Wei Tingyu's chest, then closed her eyes and spoke.
"No need to envy!" Wei Tingyu smiled, then stroked her hair and replied, "I treat all of you the same!"
"And I promise you! One day, I will openly welcome you into my own estate's inner courtyard!"
"Of course, only if you are willing to forsake all the glory and riches of this palace..."
"Willing! Of course, I am willing!" She immediately nodded, then eagerly said, "All the riches and honors of this world pale in comparison to resting in your arms."
These words were not spoken by her to deliberately deceive Wei Tingyu; rather, they were her true thoughts. Tonight, she finally understood what it meant to be a woman, feeling as though her previous twenty-something years had been utterly wasted! However, she was fortunate to now have hope. She knew a vast chasm still lay between them—life as husband and wife every day was an impossible dream. But from now on, just having this thought, knowing that Marquis could occasionally come into the palace to accompany her, would be enough to satisfy her heart!
Now that she belonged to him—mind, body, and heart—Wei Tingyu suddenly remembered something. He smiled, reached out, and gently lifted her chin, looking at her as he spoke, "The fact that Yang Xian had been rendered powerless must have been Wei Tingyu's doing!" Then, he added, "Then you don't need to worry about your brother; I'll cure him later!"
Indeed! The fact that Yang Xian had been rendered powerless must have been Wei Tingyu's doing! Although she didn't know what methods he had used, her face instantly flushed again at the thought. However, she was still a little worried at this moment, fearing that Wei Tingyu might misunderstand that she was willing to entrust herself to him only to cure her brother. So, she quickly shook her head.
"What do you mean?" Wei Tingyu was startled by her small expression, then blinked and asked. They say a daughter marries out, forgetting her family. But her current behavior seemed a bit too exaggerated, didn't it?
"Marquis, please hear me out!" However, seeing Wei Tingyu's bewildered expression, she couldn't help but laugh.
"That brother of mine is a good-for-nothing! He spends all his days with scoundrels in the market, stirring up trouble!"
"Before, I repeatedly tried to dissuade him, but my parents at home simply pampered and spoiled him!"
"Now, he's even managed to offend Marquis himself, daring to even flirt with Marquis's esteemed concubine on the street!"
"Then perhaps some suffering is what he truly needs."
She thought as she spoke, "So, I ask Marquis to not worry about him for now. Let him suffer a bit more; it will be good for his future!"
Wei Tingyu looked at Concubine Yang Jieyu in his arms. Seeing her determined eyes and serious expression, he simply nodded. She truly possessed the demeanor of a noble lady! If she hadn't entered the palace, she would certainly have been excellent material for a main wife in any ducal or marquis household! And if she held authority, she would surely manage the family affairs meticulously! The Yang family's upbringing of their eldest daughter was truly exceptional! It was just a pity about Yang Xian; how could he be the complete opposite of his sister?
Of course, Concubine Yang Jieyu was also very clever. Now that she had committed herself to Wei Tingyu and gained his acknowledgment, Yang Xian, in a sense, became Wei Tingyu's brother-in-law. In the future, as his brother-in-law, Wei Tingyu would certainly not be able to ignore Yang Xian. Even for her sake, he would likely cure his illness!
Two kekong later, Wei Tingyu, with Concubine Yang Jieyu's assistance, put on all the clothes that had been hanging on the screen. Of course, he remained his usual unreserved self, standing there and allowing her to dress him piece by piece.