"I know you value rules, so I'll lift your veil first. I didn't have them scatter those dates and lotus seeds on the bed. Lie down and rest if you're tired."
Gu Yitong chattered on, as if taking care of a child. "Now that you have a little one in your belly, you'll get hungry even more easily. There are pastries on the table, and some warmed tea. Eat if you're hungry."
"Mhm, I know. Hurry and go out, they must be waiting impatiently," Afu nodded, his voice so low it was barely audible, yet he urged Gu Yitong to leave quickly.
"Alright, then don't be reserved. I'll be back to keep you company soon." Gu Yitong also knew she had stayed in the bridal chamber long enough. Any longer and people would gossip, and Afu shouldn't be bothered by such talk.
Watching Gu Yitong's retreating back, Afu couldn't help but smile. She was still so good, so thoughtful, always considering him.
After eating some pastries, Afu sat on the bed, unconsciously stroking his belly, and looked around idly. Everything in the bridal chamber was new, even this room itself.
Everything in sight was red. The windows were covered with large red "囍" (xi, meaning double happiness) characters, and the bed was draped with red silk.
Sitting on the bed, he could faintly smell the sandalwood from the zitan wood bed. In front of the bed was a zitan wood carved screen with begonia embroidery, and on the other side was a zitan wood cabinet with the "Eight Immortals" motif. It was a complete set, antique and elegant.
The cabinet and screen were also adorned with "囍" characters and red silk. Every corner of the room was filled with festivity.
The tables and chairs were made of solid wood, round tables and round stools, symbolizing completeness. This was Gu Yitong's idea, wanting to bring all the good fortune home for Afu.
A quick note: The first half of Chapter 63 and the middle part of Chapter 81 can be found on QQ group: 545559727.
Any content that cannot be published later will be placed here.
Apologies for disrupting your reading. If I don't do this, I might get blocked, and this chapter won't be published.
By the time Gu Yitong returned, it was already dark. This was thanks to Lu Yu, Wu Shao, and Zheng Yu's efforts in helping her fend off the drinks.
The bright red wedding attire accentuated Gu Yitong's graceful figure. Afu couldn't take his eyes off her, and only then did he realize, hastily lowering his head, not daring to look any further.
"If your husband wants to look, he can look openly. Why be sneaky? You are my rightful husband now, who can say anything?"
Afu was too nervous to react, and only after a long while did he register Gu Yitong calling him "husband." His face instantly flushed, the blush spreading to his earlobes, and finally to the tips of his ears.
Sensing Gu Yitong approaching, Afu's heart pounded, his breathing becoming tense and unsteady. His hands unconsciously fiddled with the hem of his wedding robe.
"Don't be nervous, I don't bite," Gu Yitong chuckled softly, sitting beside Afu. She took his hand and massaged it soothingly.
"And besides—" Gu Yitong leaned closer, her voice a whisper near Afu's ear, "—even if I did bite, I wouldn't bite my husband."
Her whisper seemed to travel faster, making his heart flutter uncontrollably. The warmth in his ears sent a tingling sensation through half his body.
Afu instinctively bit his lower lip, trying to resist the tickling sensation in his ears.
Hearing her call him husband again, Afu was no longer as flustered as the first time, but he was still incredibly shy.
He had never realized she was so good at speaking sweet nothings, making his heart yearn.
Seeing Afu unconsciously shift his posture and lean back, Gu Yitong knew Afu hadn't rested on the bed.
Pregnancy made one easily tired, and coupled with not eating much all day and having to get up early for makeup, he had no time to rest. He must be exhausted now.
Thinking this, Gu Yitong hugged Afu's shoulders and pulled him down to lie down with her.
Afu's mind was still occupied with what he had learned yesterday. Suddenly touched and pushed down by Gu Yitong, Afu was startled, his body instantly tensing. He stammered, "We, we haven't drunk the wedding wine yet."
"No rush."
"But, but..." Afu stammered, unsure how to express himself, resorting to this indirect way to remind her, "But I'm not even three months pregnant yet."
Unfortunately, Gu Yitong didn't grasp Afu's deeper meaning. She replied, "I know, just ten more days and it will be three months."
After three full months, they could do "hehehe." Gu Yitong remembered this date very clearly.
Afu heard Gu Yitong's cheerful reply, but her actions didn't stop. After laying him down on the bed, she was now undoing the belt of his outer robe, instantly recalling the teachings of Wang Tian yesterday.
"Don't, don't!" Afu's face turned crimson with urgency, and he pressed his hand against Gu Yitong's hand at his waist, his words jumbled.
Was she that eager?
Recalling what he had learned yesterday, Afu gritted his teeth. But they hadn't drunk the wedding wine yet, and it was too early to proceed. Besides, it wasn't proper. However, if she was really eager, it wasn't impossible.
Ignoring Gu Yitong's obstruction, Afu sat up, his expression solemn. His hands trembled slightly as he raised them and placed them on Gu Yitong's waist.
His throat felt tight with nervousness, and his voice trembled, yet he forced himself to speak, "I, I will, serve you."
This sentence was something he had learned from storybooks.
Gu Yitong, however, thought he was helping her undress. She quickly stood up, grabbed Afu's shoulders, and forced him to lie down again. "You don't need to go through so much trouble, I can do it myself."
"No! It's not okay!" Afu was on the verge of tears, his brows furrowed tightly as he tried to stop Gu Yitong's actions. "I'm still, not three months pregnant."
"Yes, and precisely because it's not yet three months, I can't let you overexert yourself. The first three months are very important." Gu Yitong smiled and clasped Afu's busy hands together, placing them on his stomach.
Afu's nerves were taut, making his whole body exceptionally sensitive, especially his stomach, which had never been touched by outsiders.
With Gu Yitong's touch on his stomach, Afu jolted, trembling on the bed. He instinctively shifted to the side, biting his lower lip tightly, his hands clenched awkwardly, his fingers rubbing back and forth.
"What's wrong?" Gu Yitong was first confused, then quickly realized, and chuckled softly, her tone filled with indulgence, "So sensitive?" wΑp.kanshu伍.net
Caught out by Gu Yitong, Afu felt extremely embarrassed. He pouted and turned his body away, remaining silent.
Gu Yitong regretted saying that. She shouldn't have said that to him, it sounded like she was mocking him. But it had slipped out, and she hadn't meant anything else.
Fearing he was uncomfortable, Gu Yitong reached for a pillow, gently lifted Afu's head, and placed the pillow underneath. She coaxed him softly, "I didn't mean anything by it."
"Mhm."
Afu nodded. He hadn't taken the matter too seriously. What was most important to him now was this matter. What should he do? How could he subtly remind her that he wasn't capable right now? Didn't she know?
Feeling Gu Yitong lie down facing him, Afu tensed up again, contemplating how to speak.