Chapter 5

Chapter 5

When all the rituals were finally complete, I sat upright in the room, my hands clenched tight around the skirt pooled over my knees.

The lamps filled the chamber with light, casting red shadows everywhere, bright as stars.

But the moment Xie Wuyang’s face drew close beneath my bridal veil, the whole room seemed to lose its luster.

He was dressed head to toe in brilliant red wedding robes. Though he had washed off the stage paint, his face somehow looked even richer and more arresting.

The robes outlined his broad shoulders and narrow waist, and I couldn’t help thinking of that day on the painted pleasure boat, when he had played a female opera role with such bewitching grace.

Xie Wuyang curled his lips, smiling with the innocent delight of a child who had been given candy.

“Ah, Ah Zhu is my wife now.”

Without his makeup and ornaments, he lazily flopped backward onto the bed. Seeing that I was still sitting ramrod straight, he reached out, hooked an arm around my waist, and pulled me down with him.

Staring up at the red canopy above us, I did not dare let my guard down, so I asked, “What time should I serve tea to Mother tomorrow?”

As I spoke, the Xie household’s housekeeper had already come by. From outside the door, Madam Yan passed along the message with a smile in her voice.

“Master and Madam said that it is already an injustice to you to marry into this family, so there is no need to serve tea and no need to pay morning respects. The money is in the storeroom. If there is nothing important, please do not disturb them.”

I found that hard to believe. I tugged at Xie Wuyang’s sleeve.

“I can handle managing the household, receiving guests, and serving soup and meals. I can do all of it very well.”

“You don’t need to worry about any of that. You just need to eat, drink, and have fun with me.”

Impossible.

Mother had taught me long ago that when a woman married, she was bidding farewell to the carefree, untroubled days of maidenhood.

Living under another family’s roof, if she still acted as willfully as she had in her own maiden home, people would point fingers. She might even be cast out by her husband’s family.

Besides, I had never imagined that marrying Xie Wuyang would give me any sort of good life.

“What else?”

“There is something else, but can you do it?”

“I can.”

Xie Wuyang suddenly leaned his face close, pointed at himself, and grinned like a scoundrel.

“Kiss me and sleep.”

All at once, my head began to ache.

“I’m so hurt.” Xie Wuyang pillowed his head on his hands and let out a long sigh. “I don’t have many days left to live as it is, and I still can’t even get a kiss.”

I truly could not bring myself to say the word kiss. I had no idea how he could hang it on his lips so shamelessly.

“…Is it true that you won’t live very long?”

“Does my wife hope I live a long life?”

“…Of course.”

“Liar.” Xie Wuyang saw through me at a glance. “Alas, I know my wife is hoping I’ll die early too.”

That was not true.

“I don’t understand you. Most of what I know comes from the rumors I’ve heard about you-that you’re a dissolute, idle young master. If the rumors are true, then I do not hope you live long.” I sat up and sighed. “But if I believed every rumor completely, that would be unfair to you.”

“My wife actually doesn’t judge me by rumors.” He propped himself up on one hand and smiled. “Then I must work hard, so I don’t disappoint you.”

“The Xie Family wanted me because they hoped I could keep you in line, make you focus on your studies, and earn yourself a good reputation.”

“I understand. My wife wants me to study, yes?”

I nodded.

“Then if I study seriously, can I get a kiss?”

…

“Can I or can’t I?”