Chapter Sixteen: Love Awakens

“Husband, you’re here.” Gu Qiulan spotted Qin Muchuan at once and rose to greet him.

Yue’er and Linglong, seeing Qin Muchuan enter, changed their expressions as if they’d seen a flood or a wild beast. Moments ago they’d been acting coy with Gu Qiulan, but now both looked as sour and dour as old nuns in a temple, their faces puckered like bitter gourds soaked in vinegar.

A thousand wild horses galloped through Qin Muchuan’s mind. Why did he feel as if his two young maids were straying, and their object of affection happened to be his own wife?

“Tired, husband?” Gu Qiulan beamed as she drew him to sit. “I heard from Leshan that you spent half the day reading in the study—are your eyes strained?”

Qin Muchuan felt too embarrassed to admit he’d dawdled away the day in the study without reading a single word. He stammered, “It’s all right. I’ve already read all those books—nothing new to see, really.”

“Really?” Gu Qiulan looked at him with adoration. “Husband, you’re amazing! I get dizzy just looking at books. This morning, Mother had Madam Li come teach the maids proper rules, and she wanted me to learn the account books too—I nearly got a headache just thinking about it.” She twined her hands around his arm, leaning close to his ear, her breath soft as she whispered, “Husband, have pity on me. Tomorrow Madam Li wants me to study the ledgers—can you find an excuse, say you want to tutor me, and send her away?”

Qin Muchuan’s eyes flickered, and a trace of mischief crept into his smile. “Qiulan.”

“Yes?”

“Skipping lessons isn’t a good habit.”

“Husband…”

“What is it?”

“I heard from Father that you skipped lessons too.”

Qin Muchuan: …………………………………………

“Now that’s what I call a couple in harmony,” Gu Qiulan declared with finality. Tomorrow—no, tonight—she would join Qin Muchuan’s exclusive one-on-one couple’s tutorial!

“All right.” With his abilities, tutoring Gu Qiulan would be easy, Qin Muchuan thought with confidence.

When Qiaoyun heard that Qin Muchuan was preparing a night class just for Gu Qiulan, her gaze drifted into the distance. Her young mistress had used this trick to coax many a handsome young scholar in Yanzhou. Fortunately, back then Gu Zhongyun kept a tight rein, so Gu Qiulan never dared go too far—just a touch here, a tease there.

“That’s my husband, married to me openly and honorably! Can’t a husband and wife share an evening reading session?” Gu Qiulan glared at Qiaoyun’s look. “Besides, so what if I teased a few pretty faces before? I never really took any of them!” At this, Gu Qiulan felt an aggrieved surge of resentment. It was always Gu Zhongyun who ruined her fun!

“I only mean to remind you, Miss, you’re still not fully recovered, and your little beauty is still injured. Even if you’re besotted, you ought to think of him too.”

“It’s just reading together, practicing calligraphy—what could possibly happen? I know how to cherish my own little beauty, Qiaoyun, old nurse, can you relax now?”

Qiaoyun snorted. She wouldn’t stoop to argue with someone as shallow as Gu Qiulan! Yet, as a former soldier, she solemnly warned, “Don’t fall for a beauty’s trap and beware of careless words bringing trouble.”

“I know, I know.” Gu Qiulan waved her off impatiently and turned to prepare paper, ink, and brushes for the evening.

Under the night moon, Qin Muchuan moved the lesson to his study. If he was to be a tutor, he’d be a proper one! Before starting, he asked what Gu Qiulan had learned at home. She replied cheerfully, “My mother always said a woman’s virtue lies in having no talent, so, husband, I…”

He understood—tonight he was teaching a blank slate. Qin Muchuan relaxed; teaching a child their first lessons was well within his abilities. Since Gu Qiulan knew nothing, he’d begin with the simplest texts—the Three Character Classic, the Thousand Character Essay.

He pulled out his old primers and, once everything was set, Gu Qiulan arrived in unhurried grace.

She wore a light green gauze robe, her chest slightly bared, silver bangles on her arms, her fair skin gleaming soft and smooth. Gu Qiulan carried a bowl of chilled mung bean soup and smiled sweetly, “I hear it’s customary for students to pay respects to their tutor with tea. But in this summer heat, husband, have some cold mung bean soup instead.” If her period hadn’t come, she’d have brought out two jars of fine wine for a proper drink—how delightful that would be!

Qin Muchuan was momentarily dazed, his lips suddenly cool. He looked down—Gu Qiulan had already scooped a spoonful, holding it to his mouth.

“Is it sweet?”

“…Yes.” Qin Muchuan nodded woodenly, his gaze drifting to her chest. Don’t stare, don’t listen, don’t… don’t… but how he wanted to do just that! His heart bled with longing. He knew Gu Qiulan was still unwell. He exhaled quietly and endured.

A man must have self-control!

As Qin Muchuan’s mind waged war with the alluring Gu Qiulan for three hundred rounds, a clear voice broke through: “Husband, what shall we study tonight?”

Her bright, limpid eyes gazed at him with utter innocence. Qin Muchuan felt as though two words—“beastly fiend”—had been branded on his forehead. All his wicked thoughts vanished. He lowered his gaze and said softly, “Let’s start with calligraphy.”

“All right.” Gu Qiulan picked up the ink stick and began to grind. Qin Muchuan watched for a moment before covering his eyes—he couldn’t bear the sight. The precious ink, worth a fortune, was being kneaded as if she were making flatbread!

Such waste!

“Qiulan,” Qin Muchuan approached, “you need to grind evenly, not here and there.”

Gu Qiulan looked up, puzzled. “I don’t understand. Will you show me, husband?”

“All right.” Qin Muchuan sighed and took her hand, standing behind her, leaning close as he guided her, “Don’t use force, just follow my lead, like this…”

So close were they that a downward glance revealed her graceful curves. The subtle fragrance of her body seemed to thicken, weaving a net in which he was the hapless moth, fluttering straight in, powerless to escape.

“The ink is ready. Husband…” Gu Qiulan turned, her red lips brushing lightly against his cheek—a fleeting, tingling touch. A dragonfly’s kiss, yet ripples spread wide.

Before Qin Muchuan could react, Gu Qiulan turned in a swift movement, looping her arms around his neck. She lifted her face, standing on tiptoe, her voice coy and seeking praise: “Husband, did I grind the ink well?”

“…Yes.” Qin Muchuan felt his heart pounding like a drum, his blood surging. His eyes wandered downward and could not move past her rounded chest.

Damn! This was his lawfully wedded wife—what wrong was there in a little intimacy?

His hands tightened around Gu Qiulan’s waist, their bodies pressed together. The room grew feverish, faces flushed with heat. In his embrace, she was soft and fragrant; outside, insects chirped in chorus, but within, a sudden hush descended. Qin Muchuan bent his head, his lips seeking, tongue gently teasing, and with a subtle nudge, parted Gu Qiulan’s lips, kissing her deeply, first slow and gentle, then with growing intensity. His tongue traced circles, drawing forth a soft response until Gu Qiulan nearly melted in his arms.

As their lips clung, Gu Qiulan’s mind drifted to that line—“in books there is beauty like jade”—and she thought, indeed, a scholar does not deceive. Reading truly is the best way to allure! Her grip around Qin Muchuan’s neck tightened as she responded, all sense forgotten, to the passionate kiss.

“No, this can’t go on,” alarm bells blared in Qin Muchuan’s mind, but his hands couldn’t bear to let go.

After a long moment, Qin Muchuan drew a shaky breath and murmured, “Qiulan, we still need to practice calligraphy.” He pulled back a little, but his lips still brushed hers. The two of them clung together, wishing they could merge into one.

Gu Qiulan, thoroughly intoxicated by his charm, heard nothing of what he said. She answered instinctively, “Husband, you’re so good to me.”

Qin Muchuan paused, smugly pleased. “Naturally—if I’m not good to you, who else would I be good to? Your husband has many fine qualities, which you’ll come to know.”

“Yes, you have so many virtues,” Gu Qiulan murmured, completely enchanted by the man before her, every word and gesture now guided by instinct alone.

Qin Muchuan smiled tenderly and tapped her lips. “Little flatterer—such as?”

“Your looks.”

Qin Muchuan: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The late summer night was indeed extraordinarily tranquil.