Chapter 22
Being reserved can sometimes be uncontrollable.
Her body, spent and vulnerable, was a stark contrast to the man's, who moved with the confidence of a predator. He'd toweled off, his skin slick with sweat, and returned to the bed. She lay there, a limp doll, half-heartedly covered by a quilt. Her pale limbs were exposed, a tempting sight.
He sat beside her, a smug grin playing on his lips. "How do you want this?" he asked, holding out a tea bowl.
She was too weak to even glare. "Feed me," she mumbled, her voice barely a whisper.
He leaned in, his hand cupping her head as he brought the bowl to her lips. She drank greedily, the cool liquid soothing her parched throat. As he pulled away, she clutched the quilt, pulling herself to the edge of the bed.
Hours of wild passion had left them both breathless. The room, still heavy with desire, was cooled by a gentle breeze.
He returned with a basin of water, placing it by the bed and opening the curtains. The sunlight streamed in, illuminating her disheveled form. She was a beautiful mess, a sight that excited him.
"Wipe my face first," she demanded, her tone sharp.
He chuckled, his eyes scanning her body. "Sit up. It'll be easier."
She hesitated, then wrapped a quilt around her waist and sat up, shielding herself with another.
"It's not like I haven't seen you naked before," he teased, his voice low and dangerous.
The daylight revealed her true beauty. Her pale skin, her tangled hair, and her flushed cheeks were a stark contrast to the red accents of the room.
She was silent, her eyes filled with a mixture of desire and resentment.
He began to clean her face, his fingers tracing the contours of her body. As he reached the back of her neck, she lunged forward, biting down on his arm.
He froze, his eyes narrowing. What had possessed her?
She released him, a small, triumphant smile playing on her lips. A dark mark marred his skin, a testament to her wild, untamed nature.
He'd been to hell and back, faced death countless times, and worn his scars like badges of honor. But that didn't mean he was immune to pain, or that he couldn't laugh in the face of bloody wounds.
Now, as the man's expression darkened, the little vixen launched herself at him, one hand striking out while the other sought a fresh target.
Cao Xun lifted her face, her cheeks flushed and her breath ragged.
Such beauty should not be marred by such a sour mood. "Why the hell did you bite me?" he asked, his voice laced with amusement.
"Who do you think you are, humiliating me like that?!" she retorted, her voice a sharp hiss.
He was about to retort when he noticed the deeper blush creeping across her cheeks, a stark reminder of the broken whispers he'd forced from her earlier. He'd enjoyed every second of it, but he knew it had been a shock to her system.
A newlywed wife, forced to abandon her dignity.
"You're too sensitive," he murmured, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips.
She was anything but silent.
"You blame me? You're the one who was too..." she trailed off, her eyes flashing with anger.
He waited patiently, a predator toying with its prey.
She retaliated with a flurry of blows several times.
With a swift motion, he tossed the silk scarf onto the bed.
*
Yunzhu, the newlywed bride, returned to her marital home on the third day of her marriage, a holiday morning when the Duke Dingguo's family gathered for breakfast.
Though she had spent three nights at the mansion, this was only Cao Shao's second encounter with her. Startled by her married woman's allure, he glanced at his elder brother, silently acknowledging the unspoken expectation of respect towards his new wife.
Yet, even a gentleman yearns for the consummation of marriage, especially with a beauty like Yunzhu. Cao Shao forcibly suppressed his desires, fearing a loss of appetite.
Pan Shi, aware of Yunzhu's unforgiving nature, feigned interest in the return ceremony and departed after the meal.
As Cao Xun accompanied Yunzhu into the carriage, she smiled, "I heard you addressed my father as 'brother.' Will he call you 'son-in-law' in the future?"
Cao Xun replied, "I already did during the tea ceremony."
Yunzhu retorted, "That doesn't count. Today, with only family present, you must proclaim it loudly." Cao Xun glanced at her and said, "Now that it's real, it's justified."
Yunzhu's glare and subsequent silence. As she peered out the window, she caught sight of a teenage boy, surrounded by servants.
A memory stirred within her. "At sixteen, how could you be so audacious? Weren't you afraid of losing Jiaozhu forever and fighting a lifelong battle? You're still unmarried, with no heirs."
Cao Xun smiled, "That was youthful spirit."
To him, reclaiming Jiaozhu was paramount, even over marriage and children.
Yunzhu scoffed, "Your life is charmed. At thirty, you've achieved so much and married a beauty like me."
Cao Xun, accustomed to arrogance, found Yunzhu's particularly convincing.
She truly believed in her own infallibility.
*
They arrived at the imposing Duke Ningguo's mansion, where Li Yao and Li Xian, eager to greet them, awaited at the threshold. Upon seeing Cao Xun, Li Xian, his brother-in-law, extended a respectful bow.
Cao Xun, with a paternal air, patted Li Xian on the shoulder and turned to Li Yao, "My apologies for the wait." Li Yao, caught off guard by Cao Xun's mature demeanor, couldn't help but ponder, 'Does he and his father share the same age?'
Unable to maintain his composure, Li Yao curtly nodded, brushed past Cao Xun, and personally assisted his sister from the carriage. Concerned for her well-being, he inquired, "How have you been? Have you faced any mistreatment?"
Yunzhu, with a gentle smile, replied, "I've fared well, but you should mind your words, brother. Your dismissive tone, if directed towards others, could easily breed resentment. Fortunately, I am forgiving."
Li Yao, unfazed, retorted, "Let them. I fear no one."
Yunzhu, recognizing the futility of reasoning with her brother, ceased the conversation.
As they entered the hall, Yunzhu observed Cao Xun's respectful address to his in-laws, calling them "father-in-law" and "mother-in-law" with ease. Li Yong and his son engaged in cordial conversation with their in-laws, while Yunzhu accompanied her mother to the backyard.
There, Yunzhu recounted the tea ceremony in vivid detail. Meng Shi, outraged, exclaimed, "That Pan woman, true to her nature, seeks to maintain her status and dignity, even at the cost of others. She dares to provoke you for her own actions!"
Meng Shi, though posing a question, already knew the answer. Some individuals, blinded by their desires, resort to malice and bullying, refusing to accept any opposition. She urged her daughter to retaliate against such a person, who even resented the victim for defending themselves.
"And Cao Shao? Has he let go of the past?" Meng Shi's concern extended beyond Pan Shi to Cao Shao. "I fear that if he still harbors feelings for you, it could disrupt your marriage and upset Cao Xun."
It's a well-known fact that women are often accused of jealousy, but men are equally susceptible to such emotions, particularly when it comes to protecting their honor. No one can bear the thought of their spouse being involved with another, not even their own brother.
Yunzhu responded with a dismissive air, "Whether he continues or abandons his pursuit is of no consequence to me. Even if he harbors the delusional hope of driving a wedge between my husband and me, his efforts are doomed to fail. I shall not grant him the satisfaction of my attention."
Meng offered sage advice, "In any case, maintaining a distance from him is prudent. Even if you happen to encounter him within the household, limit your interactions to brief exchanges to prevent those with malicious intent from stirring trouble in front of Cao Xun."
Yunzhu acknowledged her mother's wisdom.
After imparting these words, Meng Shi turned her gaze to her daughter and whispered, "Cao Xun is significantly older than you. Does he truly understand how to empathize with your feelings?"
As a newlywed, Yunzhu immediately grasped her mother's subtle implication. She yearned to confide in her mother about her concerns regarding Cao Xun, but these matters were too intimate to share.
And she couldn't place the entire blame on Cao Xun. Even if he possessed the desire to empathize with her, her physical limitations posed a significant obstacle. To be fair, Cao Xun was considerate and made an effort to pause and wait for her during crucial moments.
"Such is the nature of our circumstances," Yunzhu replied, her voice steady and unwavering.
Before they could delve deeper into their conversation, a young maid from the front yard arrived to announce that the Heir had invited Cao Xun to the martial arts training ground to practice marksmanship.
Meng Shi's jaw clenched in disapproval as she rebuked, "Such behavior is utterly inappropriate. How can a newlywed engage in such pursuits while visiting his in-laws' home?"
Yunzhu, however, expressed her excitement, stating, "Indeed, I am eager to witness firsthand which of the two is more skilled."
With renewed interest, the mother and daughter hastened towards the martial arts training ground.
Cao Xun and Li Yao were already locked in combat, while Li Yong and Li Xian observed the duel from the sidelines.
Upon spotting her husband, Meng Shi chided him, "Husband, your conduct is unbecoming. Why did you fail to inform me of your intentions?"
Li Yong responded with a charming smile, "We are all family, there is no need for such formalities."
Yunzhu stood beneath the shade of a leafy tree, her demeanor calm and composed, while Lian Qiao stood nearby, gently fanning her.
Li Yao noticed Cao Xun's gaze lingering on his sister and taunted, "You are destined to lose, so do not blame me for showing no mercy in front of her."
Cao Xun responded with a defiant tone, "We are evenly matched."
Provoked by Li Yao's words, he whirled around like a ferocious tiger, his spear poised for attack.
The prized blades, forged from the Li family's arsenal, glinted menacingly under the relentless sun. Crafted from the resilient dragon tendon wood, their poles were light yet unyielding. The spearheads, honed to icy sharpness, gleamed ominously.
One combatant, a seasoned general tempered by a decade of warfare, faced off against the other, a courageous heir, a rare gem even within a family renowned for martial prowess.
For a quarter of an hour, their skills were evenly matched, their intensity growing with each passing moment.
"Enough!"
Just as Yunzhu was about to summon refreshments, Li Yao abruptly retreated, his voice cutting through the air.
Cao Xun, his sword sheathed, turned to find Li Yao discarding his outer garments, revealing a physique honed to perfection, glistening with sweat.
With a casual gesture, Li Yao urged Cao Xun to follow suit, "We'll be soaked soon enough. Why not shed these unnecessary layers now?"
Meng Shi, lost in thought, pondered the audacity of her thirty-year-old son-in-law. Would her mother-in-law avert her gaze at the sight of his bare torso?
Unfazed by societal expectations, Cao Xun, aware of his own physical state - the bite marks on his arm, the crimson imprints on his back, remnants of their passionate encounters - firmly declared, "I'll borrow a spare garment from my brother."
Li Yao, ever the provocateur, scoffed at Cao Xun's imposing figure, "Is that all you've got? You wear it like a sack!"
Only the formidable Li Yao dared to mock Cao Xun's imposing stature within the capital.
Meng Shi, ever the gracious host, instructed her maid to fetch a pristine garment for Cao Xun.
Undeterred by their attire, the two warriors resumed their intense duel.
As the sun climbed higher, Yunzhu grew restless, the shade of the trees offering little respite.
She and her mother departed, leaving the two men to their contest. Hours later, the tantalizing aroma of cooking wafted through the air, heralding the return of the young maid.
Meng Shi, her curiosity piqued, inquired, "Who emerged victorious?"
The maid, wiping her brow, shook her head, "They fought until their blades shattered. The young heir's relentless assault shattered the scabbard of Duke Dingguo's sword. Despite the heir's plea to continue, Duke Dingguo honored his word and called a halt to the duel."
Meng Shi, her heart filled with pride, silently acknowledged her son-in-law's extraordinary endurance.
Yunzhu, too, was pleased. While she wished her brother to triumph, she also understood the implications of Cao Xun's defeat - a reflection on her husband's strength.