"The Goddess, the Goddess has indeed come to see me off."
Granny Hua half-opened her hazy eyes. "Our ancestors said that as long as one is devout, one will see the Goddess before death. The Goddess will bestow blessings upon us, and in the next life, we will be free from worries, living in peace and harmony."
"Yes, Granny Hua has been kind her entire life. She deserves such blessings. In the next life, it will be as you wish," Xue Niang said softly.
Her ancestor must have been someone she had helped five hundred years ago, though she no longer remembered.
Granny Hua closed her eyes peacefully, not opening them again.
Xiao Shan stroked Xue Niang's head.
Even though she always said she had no responsibility to save all living beings, no compassionate heart of a Bodhisattva, and that the title of Goddess was forced upon her, which she hated and resisted, claiming to be cold-hearted and unfeeling.
In reality, she had saved so many people. The common folk who had benefited from her kindness, in both past and present lives, were too numerous for even her to count.
She was worthy of this world.
"Birth, aging, sickness, and death are natural parts of life," Xiao Shan comforted Xue Niang.
"I know. After all, she was someone I knew. It's natural to be sad for a while," Xue Niang replied.
Otherwise, she would be a heartless stone.
But it would only be for a while. After all, she had more important people in her heart.
And her responsibility was to ensure that person was happy for the rest of their life.
At night, while Xiao Shan was bathing, a pair of small hands appeared on his back, kneading.
"What are you doing?"
There was no strength in the touch, only tickles, tickles that reached his heart and lungs.
This wasn't a shoulder massage; it was torment.
"Didn't you always want me to do this? Why don't you like it now?"
Xue Niang poked her head out, peering into the water. It was too deep to see clearly.
Xiao Shan took a deep breath. "Where is your third brother?"
"I don't know. He hasn't come back yet. Don't worry about him; he's very capable!"
Who was worried about him!
Did that mean he might be back soon?
It wouldn't be very convenient to have an extra person in the house, would it?
Xiao Shan already had the idea of building another house in his mind.
"I don't have any clothes to wear. You'll have to go buy some for me tomorrow."
What would she wear to sleep after her bath?
Xiao Shan smiled.
"Your third brother only looked for money and didn't see the wardrobe on the kang. There are plenty of clothes. You can change three times a day. Go and see if you like them!"
Huh?
This third brother, when asked to look for small boxes, truly only rummaged through the small ones.
Xue Niang ran back to the bedroom, lifted the curtain, and climbed onto the kang. Only then did she discover that several strings of pearls and luminous pearls were hanging from the canopy.
Did the eldest brother really think this was the setup for Feng Que Lou?
Xue Niang touched the pearls, which swayed and made her dizzy. If a thief were to come... Oh, even if a thief came, she wouldn't be afraid. These were all royal items. Thieves wouldn't dare to take them, and if they did, they would lose their lives.
Next to it was a custom-made wardrobe that covered an entire wall. Upon opening it, she found clothes for all seasons, plain and vibrant, made of fir, cotton, nightgowns, and undershirts, all complete.
They were even scented with incense.
Xue Niang held up a nightgown, covering her face, and giggled foolishly. He was truly thoughtful.
Xiao Shan had already tidied himself up, changed the water, and adjusted the temperature. He came to call her.
"Aren't you waiting for me to take a 'lovers' bath'?"
Xue Niang felt that Xiao Shan had changed. He had become pure and abstinent. Previously, he was the one who always pestered her, but now it was the other way around.
"Mmm, my body is covered in dust. We'll do it another day. Hurry, the water is getting cold."
Xiao Shan pushed her and then closed the door, leaving.
Xue Niang hugged her clean clothes, pouting.
It was fine when she was a child, but she wasn't anymore. Her figure was similar to before, and her chest had grown. He hadn't playfully squeezed it like he used to.
Had Xiao Shan truly been left unsatisfied?
After bathing and changing into her nightgown, Xiao Shan seemed to have heard her thoughts. He opened the door and came back in, holding a thin cotton cloak.
"It's still cool at night, so I didn't think to bring an extra one," he said, fastening it for her.
His eyes still held deep concern.
He hadn't changed, had he?
"A Shan, my body is still sensitive to the cold, you know that. I need yin and yang to be in harmony to get better."
Xiao Shan looked at the slender figure whose cheeks were flushed from the steam, and after suppressing himself, he finally managed to keep his lips from curving upwards.
"I'm even more tender than before now. Touch me if you don't believe me."
Seeing that he didn't speak, Xue Niang continued to promote herself. "And it's a little different from before. Doesn't this make it seem like you've married two wives? Do you feel like you've gained?"
Xiao Shan: "..."
Had she forgotten that her third brother could return at any moment?
Of course, he knew she was tender, her skin as delicate as a peach. Even if she weren't tender, did he have any control over her?
"Xue Niang..." he said, his voice low and slow. "You know, don't you? I've been abstaining for a long time..."
When one endures for a long time, they get used to it. But if one starts, it's like opening a floodgate, and it becomes unstoppable.
Moreover, this newly reborn body of hers should be her first time, right?
She wasn't afraid of pain anymore?
However, her eagerness to offer herself to him brought him immense joy.
Xue Niang hesitated, her delicate eyebrows furrowing. "So, have you really gone bad?"
Xiao Shan: "..."
You little brat, you don't think about anything good!
Xiao Shan scooped her up horizontally and carried her out of the bathing room.
Her soft jade and fragrant scent made him reluctant to let go. She was indeed as tender as a delicate flower; he didn't dare to use too much force, fearing he might break her.
He gently placed her on the kang, then turned to get two cups of wine.
"On our wedding night, I forgot to drink the nuptial wine. We'll make up for it today."
He was so thoughtful. She had forgotten too. The red candles lit on the table were also ordinary ones. This was meant to be another wedding night!
This man, who was so quiet, had been waiting to give her a surprise!
Xue Niang took the wine and drank it down in one gulp.
"All done!"
Xiao Shan's hand, holding the wine cup, froze in mid-air.
She was too fast, so fast that he didn't have time to stop her.
"What? Do you want me to drink this cup too?"
Xiao Shan sighed, poured another cup, and brought it over.
"It's a cross-cupped wine, not meant to be drunk like this."
Xiao Shan guided her, entwining their arms. "Cup to cup, arm to arm, after drinking the cross-cupped wine, we will grow old together."
He looked into her eyes and slowly drank it down.
Xue Niang understood, touched by his words. She followed his example and drank it solemnly.
There, it was made up for. Nothing was missing.
Xiao Shan's lingering worries were put to rest, and his face was filled with joy. He tilted his head, looking at the beautiful wife sitting obediently on the kang, and couldn't help but grin foolishly.
"What are you laughing at?"
Xue Niang was waiting for his next move, but he just kept smiling. What was so funny? Shouldn't he pounce like a beast and enjoy the feast?
Xue Niang's face was hot, and her body was also hot from the wine.
"You're so strong, I don't believe you're impotent..." she mumbled, then flipped over and sat on Xiao Shan.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, her breath coming out in a hazy sigh.
"That move you wanted to try before, it's approved!"