The sound of breathing grew heavier.
Bai Zheng struggled to plead, "Don't do this..."
But the voice that came out startled even herself.
Such a coquettish voice was bound to arouse people's imagination!
Sure enough, there was an obvious glint of desire in Feng Linyuan's eyes. "Do what?"
The slightly tipsy warmth of his breath fanned across Bai Zheng's smooth neck. His elegant and clean scent made her feel a sudden wave of heat and weakness.
Actually, she had already mentally prepared herself for their first night as a married couple.
After all, this was an inevitable step for a husband and wife.
But after so many things had happened today, and Feng Linyuan had shut himself in the study until midnight, she had thought this newly - wedded husband would have lost interest in her.
Who would have thought...
Bai Zheng's body grew softer and softer. Even with Feng Linyuan supporting her waist, she could hardly sit still on the stool.
Feng Linyuan sensed the change in Bai Zheng's body. He picked her up and laid her on the wedding bed beside them.
"Zheng'er..." Soft kisses lingered on Bai Zheng's lips, glided across her smooth cheeks, and gently touched her soft earlobes and fair neck. "Zheng'er..."
Feng Linyuan's soft whispers made the atmosphere in the room even more ambiguous and enticing. The tender and gentle kisses made Bai Zheng feel as if she were floating and sinking.
"Zheng'er, may I?"
His hand paused on Bai Zheng's clothes. There was undisguised love in Feng Linyuan's eyes.
Bai Zheng turned her blushing face slightly and nodded.
As if all the passion was ignited at that moment, the red silk sheets billowed under the light canopy.
Soft moans and gasps escaped from behind the heavy curtains. The bright full moon outside the window hid behind the thin clouds, looking like a shy voyeur, smiling as it watched everything.
At dawn, the sun slowly rose. The doors of every room and courtyard in the mansion opened one after another. Servants scurried back and forth, cleaning the Marquis's mansion and busying themselves.
However, in front of the bridal chamber, a group of servants holding basins of water and morning meals were all blocked outside.
Zhu Ling, Qing Shao, and Qing Zhi blushed. They looked at each other and nudged one another, but none of them dared to be the first to call the people inside to get up.
Inside the room, the lingering charm had not yet faded.
The brocade quilt embroidered with twin lotus flowers moved slightly, and a fair, lotus - root - like arm stretched out, as if to stretch.
However, before the stretch was completed, the person beside her pulled her back and tucked the quilt around her.
Bai Zheng opened her eyes and let out a lazy groan. "It's hot..."
Feng Linyuan looked down at her. In the early morning light, the beams of dawn shone through the bed curtain. It was obvious that there was a trace of exhaustion on the other's fair little face, but those half - opened eyes carried a charm she had never had before, full of both happiness and annoyance.
The more Feng Linyuan looked at her, the happier he felt. He took her little hand and blew on it gently. His deep and handsome eyes sparkled.
"Hot?" He laughed softly.
"Yeah..." Bai Zheng was sweating all over from the heat.
Although there was no greenhouse effect in ancient times, and the lush vegetation made summers not as hot as in modern times.
But it was already May, and the temperature was probably around thirty degrees Celsius. Who could stand being wrapped tightly in a quilt?
The curve of Feng Linyuan's lips deepened, and his voice was filled with a hint of playfulness. "You said it was hot."
As he spoke, he suddenly pulled the quilt off Bai Zheng.
Bai Zheng suddenly felt a chill on her body.
She opened her eyes wide in shock and looked at herself. Only then did she realize that she had been too exhausted from last night's passion with Feng Linyuan and had fallen asleep in a daze, so she wasn't wearing any clothes at all!
She let out a soft cry. Her face burned red, and instinctively, she tried to burrow into Feng Linyuan's arms.
"Cover me up! Cover me up!"
"You were the one who didn't want to be covered." Feng Linyuan hugged Bai Zheng tightly in his arms, laughing uncontrollably.
"Marquis, and Mistress, the hot water is ready."
As if hearing Feng Linyuan's laughter, Qing Zhi summoned up the courage to call out.
Bai Zheng was annoyed by Feng Linyuan's laughter. She grabbed the quilt angrily and planned to get dressed and go by herself.
"Come in." She called out.
As soon as the words left her mouth, the guy who was laughing heartily reached out and pulled her back. He wrapped the quilt around her, then got up and picked her up with the quilt still on her.
The door opened, and several maids entered with blushing faces and lowered heads.
Bai Zheng glared at Feng Linyuan. "What are you doing?"
Feng Linyuan didn't answer. He carried her to the next room where the hot water was already prepared. He reached out to test the temperature of the water in the bathtub and gently placed her in it. Then he walked behind the screen to wash himself.
Bai Zheng was actually not used to being served while taking a bath, but today was different.
She ached all over and didn't want to move at all. After taking a bath and having Qing Zhi massage her waist and legs, she finally felt a bit better.
There were no longer any elders in the Dingyuan Marquis's mansion, so there was no need for the new bride to get up early to serve tea and pay respects.
When Bai Zheng, with her newly - wed hair bun and wearing a gorgeous red peony - embroidered brocade dress, stepped into the dining hall, Feng Linyuan had already been waiting for a long time.
"You must be hungry. Next time, you don't have to wait for me."
Looking at the untouched food on the table, Bai Zheng felt guilty.
If she had known that Feng Linyuan had been waiting for her without eating breakfast, she should have taken a quicker bath just now.
There was only tenderness in Feng Linyuan's eyes. He smiled and said, "It doesn't matter. Eat."
After being tossed about for most of the night, Bai Zheng was already starving. Hearing this, she wasn't polite and picked up her chopsticks to start eating.
The breakfast in the Dingyuan Marquis's mansion was very light, which suited Bai Zheng's taste.
After breakfast, the steward of the mansion came in to report. "Marquis, the managers are waiting outside."
Feng Linyuan nodded and turned to Bai Zheng. "This is Lan Wu, the general steward of the mansion. You can call him Uncle Wu. You can give him orders directly if you have any matters in the future."
Lan Wu quickly stepped forward to pay his respects. "This old servant pays respects to the Mistress."
Bai Zheng gave a gentle smile and said kindly, "Uncle Wu, there's no need for such formalities."
After some polite exchanges, Feng Linyuan led Bai Zheng out of the dining hall.
There were already quite a few people standing in the yard.
Only then did Bai Zheng truly realize what it meant that "a starved camel is still bigger than a horse."
Although the Dingyuan Marquis's mansion had declined, there were still so many managers.
It showed just how extensive its industries and deep its foundation were.
It took an hour to get to know everyone. Feng Linyuan patiently accompanied Bai Zheng throughout.
Feng Linyuan's attitude also made the people below clearly recognize the status of this new mistress. They answered questions seriously and respectfully, not daring to act rashly at all.
After dealing with these trivial matters, Feng Linyuan led Bai Zheng to the ancestral hall to offer incense to the ancestors of the Feng family and added Bai Zheng's name to the Dingyuan Marquis's family genealogy.
It wasn't until afternoon that Feng Linyuan had some matters to attend to and went to the study. Bai Zheng walked alone on the way back to her courtyard. She looked up at the sky outside the wall.
All the dowry she had brought yesterday had been arranged according to the instructions she had given Zhu Ling.
The shops that had opened today should be very bustling by now, she thought.
A faint smile appeared on Bai Zheng's lips.