Chapter 39: A Man’s Instinct

Page (1/3)

Gu Lizong noticed her hesitation and waved his hand. “Go back. You can stay up and see the New Year in from the room just as well.”

Zhen Manner finally gave in and helped Gu Tingzhi back to the room first.

It was the dead of winter, yet he radiated warmth all over his body. Once inside, he couldn’t help but start removing his clothes.

Seeing this, Zhen Manner helped him sit on the edge of the bed and bent down to untie his belt, taking off his outer robe.

Her hands felt icy cold, but the touch was comforting. Gu Tingzhi greedily pressed his face closer, nuzzling against her, trying to cool the heat on his cheeks.

Zhen Manner giggled as he tickled her, playfully dodging away. Gu Tingzhi wouldn’t let her go; he stretched out both hands and pulled her fully into his embrace. Due to her stature, she hardly seemed delicate or clingy, and with gravity’s pull, when held, she leaned forward, pressing Gu Tingzhi’s entire body down onto the bed.

Embarrassed beyond words, Zhen Manner struggled to get up. Her soft body twisted relentlessly, emitting faint milky fragrance. Gu Tingzhi felt himself growing hotter—both thirsty and burning up.

“Mannan, I’m so hot.”

Zhen Manner, now up and seeing him in just his underclothes, sweating from the heat, regretted letting him drink earlier, but dared not let him undress further for fear of catching a chill.

But drunk Gu Tingzhi was quite persistent. Seeing Mannan no longer helping, he pouted and started undressing himself. Within moments, he was stripped bare.

Zhen Manner was so mortified she didn’t know where to look. Her face flushed even redder than his drunken one. Though married nearly three months, they hadn’t consummated their union.

Although Gu Tingzhi was affectionate, he was clueless about such matters, only liking to hold her from time to time, nibbling or licking the dimples on her cheeks. This was the first time he’d stripped bare in front of her. She strode to the bed, spreading the quilt to cover him.

Gu Tingzhi refused, “It feels good like this!”

Zhen Manner coaxed, “Husband, let’s cover up, alright? Otherwise you’ll catch a cold, and you don’t want to take medicine, do you?”

He remembered the bitter concoctions he had to drink daily and shook his head, “No, it’s not tasty!”

“Then be good. We can’t avoid the bitter medicine without covering up.”

Hearing this, Gu Tingzhi scooted over, making space inside the quilt. He patted the spot. “Mannan, sleep.”

Page (2/3)

Fearing he might truly catch a cold, Zhen Manner hurriedly took off her outer robe and climbed into bed, covering both of them with the quilt. Gu Tingzhi finally settled down but stubbornly refused to close his eyes.

The oil lamp flickered softly, making his eyes look deep and dark as ink. They were close, his breath caressing her pale, delicate face with each inhale and exhale.

“Husband, aren’t you tired? Why aren’t you sleeping?” Zhen Manner looked up at him.

But as soon as she raised her head, darkness seemed to cloud her vision. A large head leaned in and bit the dimple on her cheek.

This time, Gu Tingzhi lingered longer, gently grinding his teeth on the soft flesh around the dimple. He bit lightly, causing no pain, only a tickling sensation.

She reached out to push him away but found herself touching his bare chest. Thinking of his nakedness, Zhen Manner felt both shy and embarrassed, trying to withdraw her hand, but it wouldn’t budge.

Gu Tingzhi’s strength was immense. He pressed her hand firmly against his chest, letting her feel his heartbeat up close.

At this moment, the small dimple seemed filled with a flavor far sweeter than the plum wine they drank at dinner. He couldn’t get enough, biting and licking repeatedly. Gradually, driven by instinct, he moved to her cherry-red lips, opening his mouth to take them in.

Mmm... so delicious.

Zhen Manner’s mind was a chaotic blur; she could no longer distinguish where she was or what she was doing. It felt as if she were immersed in a sea of blooming flowers, surrounded by a hundred blossoms in full bloom.

Her eyes glistened with moisture, gaze growing hazy, a soft moan escaping her lips.

Gu Tingzhi had already released her hand, somehow rolled on top of her, one hand propping beside her ear, the other cradling half her face, kissing her fiercely as if unlocking a new world, endlessly exploring her mouth.

Only when he nearly took her breath away did he relent, moving down to kiss her chin and neck.

Zhen Manner was completely limp on the bed, powerless to push him away—and she didn’t want to.

Before long, Gu Tingzhi stripped her bare too. Her fair, plump body gleamed under the oil lamp’s light, radiant like a large, exquisite jade.

He didn’t really know what he wanted or intended to do. Following only his body’s instinct, he kissed her over and over, leaving his mark until fully satisfied, then fell into a deep sleep.

Zhen Manner, however, remained wide awake, snuggling closer into his embrace. As the rooster crowed outside, various thoughts flashed through her mind before she drifted off.

Page (3/3)

Though they hadn’t completed the final step tonight, they had done nearly everything else. She was already her husband’s woman now. Surely, if his mind recovered and he passed the imperial exams, he wouldn’t abandon her, right?

On the morning of the New Year’s Day, Zhen Manner was awakened by a pounding on the door.

Drowsily rubbing her sleepy eyes, she glanced outside; it was already late.

“Third brother, third sister-in-law, wake up! Wake up! Eldest uncle has passed away!” Gu Qinghe continued knocking.

Half-awake and slow to react, Zhen Manner initially didn’t understand where he meant.

“Mannan, who’s gone?” Gu Tingzhi, now awake, asked upon hearing this.

With a jolt, Zhen Manner’s eyes snapped wide open. She flipped out of bed with a fish-like leap; the quilt slipped off, revealing her bare shoulder. No longer caring about modesty, she hurried to the bedside to grab their clothes.

“Qinghe, wait a moment. We’re coming out now.”

Seeing the neatly folded new clothes on the chair by the bed, she quickly withdrew her hand and rummaged through the wardrobe for the rough linen garments she had worn before.

“Husband, hurry and put these on.”

Gu Tingzhi didn’t understand. Mannan had clearly said they should wear new clothes for the New Year. Yet he always obeyed her, so he obediently donned the robe.

When they hurried to the main hall, before they could ask Gu Qinghe what had happened, Gu Lizong and Madame Zhou entered the courtyard.

Gu Lizong’s eyes were vacant, his face pale and filled with sorrow. His hands, calloused from years of labor, trembled violently. As he stepped into the yard, his body wavered slightly, and it was Madame Zhou who quickly steadied him.