chapter 6

I must have lost my mind. Ever since that night when Duan Jing kissed me, fragments of that moment keep flashing through my mind.

Hiss!

Carelessly, the blade rolled over my fingertip, and blood gushed out instantly.

I put my index finger in my mouth, sulking as I sucked on it.

Just then, someone entered the small kitchen.

Turning my head, I saw Duan Jing’s tall figure walking in the cramped kitchen, looking completely out of place.

I was so flustered I didn’t know where to look, almost wishing I could burrow into a hole like a mouse.

“Take your hand out, let me see.”

It was a command, but didn’t sound like one. It was much more pleasant than usual.

“Oh.” My ears turned red as I stretched out my hand for him to see.

My fingertip was wet, the blood spreading into a pale red, still seeping out.

Duan Jing held my hand, bent down, and with a parting of his thin lips, took my finger into his mouth.

“Ah… dirty… it’s dirty…”

He held my finger between his teeth, his beautiful phoenix eyes coldly raised, staring at my face. Such a handsome, celestial gentleman, bowing his head to carefully tend to my wound, gentle and affectionate, making my blood rush and my heart itch, as if tickled by a feather.

His gaze seemed to have hooks, leaving me utterly bewitched.

Just like the Male Fox Immortal in storybooks, who seduces women with his beauty.

I only dared to think this secretly, never to say it aloud.

After a long while, Duan Jing released me and carefully checked the wound: “Alright, it’s stopped.”

I didn’t move at all.

Duan Jing smiled and blocked me inside the stove area: “Never seen someone flirt before?”

“Flirt… flirt with who?” I stammered.

Duan Jing’s hand suddenly held my lower back, giving it a gentle twist. As I gasped in surprise, he laughed with satisfaction: “Flirting with you.”

Help, the Male Fox Immortal is about to catch me.

Suddenly, Chunsheng shouted from outside: “What’s burning? Why does it smell burnt?”

I froze for a moment, cutting off my wild thoughts, and suddenly yelled: “The pot! The pot!”

I pushed Duan Jing, making him stagger, his face darkening: “Damn it, why do you care about that!”

Chunsheng rushed in, and after a flurry of activity, the three of us ended up covered in soot, our faces smeared with ash.

So much for lunch.

Duan Jing grabbed my dusty sleeve and led me outside.

“Husband, I’ll make you another meal.”

Duan Jing suddenly stopped in his tracks: “Do you know what time it is? Aren’t you hungry?”

I felt guilty: “I’m sorry.”

The veins on Duan Jing’s forehead twitched: “Zhang Wanyi, you’re not a maid I bought. The words ‘I’m sorry’-unless you one day have a lover outside-otherwise, you don’t need to say them to me.”

I stared at him blankly.

Duan Jing frowned, his phoenix eyes raised impatiently: “What? Didn’t understand?”

I whispered: “Maybe… I understood, but I don’t quite get it…”

Duan Jing sighed, helpless: “You’re my wife, Zhang Wanyi. Do whatever you want, I can’t control you, understand? You don’t need to serve me.”

“Then what should I do?”

Duan Jing’s frown deepened: “Be idle. Can’t you be a Young Mistress?”

Seeing my bewildered face, he revealed his fierce side: “Let me kiss you! Let me hug you! Let me hold you! Now do you understand?”

My face flushed instantly, and I nodded: “I understand.”

I never imagined being with Duan Jing would be so intoxicating. He truly seems like a Fox Immortal descended to earth; as long as I’m by his side, I can be happy forever.

But then I remembered what Eldest Aunt said, that Duan Jing’s health isn’t good, that he can’t consummate the marriage, and I fell into deep sorrow again.

For the rest of his life, Duan Jing can only kiss, touch, and hold me…

The Wedding Date was postponed, and the Imperial Examination was approaching.

Duan Jing spent more and more time in the study.

That night, I knocked on the study door.

Duan Jing had just bathed, water dripping from his hair onto his inner robe, gradually soaking through to reveal his smooth, fair chest.

It was the first time I’d seen the Male Fox Immortal so disheveled. My heart raced, my mind slowed, and I kept my gaze proper, not daring to look around.

“Husband, I have something to ask you.”

He was very close to me, close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from his chest.

Under his gaze, my face turned red.

“Come in.” Duan Jing opened a small gap, forcing me to squeeze past him into the room.

Lately, the way he looks at me has been strange, and tonight that feeling returned. I felt like a fresh bun just out of the steamer, being stared down by a wolf, as if my life could end at any moment.

Now, under the cover of night, he looked at me boldly, his gaze burning.

I twisted my handkerchief, feet together, standing properly: “Can you help me write a letter home?”

Duan Jing kindly gave me time to compose myself, withdrawing his gaze and asking coolly: “What do you want to say?”

I knew he didn’t like me keeping in touch with my family, but I braced myself and said: “Just to ask how my Parents and younger brother are doing… and my Eldest Aunt…”
Duan Jing turned around, sat back in his chair without a word, tossed the book in his hand onto the table, and let out a soft hum.

That meant he was unhappy.

I hurriedly said, “If you’re busy, it’s fine…”

“It’s fine.” Duan Jing interrupted me coldly, his face expressionless.

“Ah?”

My bewildered, confused face was reflected in his pupils. He spoke, word by word, “Your younger brother’s hand was saved, he married, and he’s doing well.”

I carefully stepped forward and tugged at Duan Jing’s sleeve. “You’re not lying to me, are you?”

Duan Jing stared at me for a long moment, his lips trembling. Then he pulled me over fiercely and held me tightly in his arms. “Ask again and I’ll sew your mouth shut! So naggy.”

His warm body heat dispelled the unease in my heart. I wrapped my arms around Duan Jing’s waist and lazily rested my chin on his shoulder. “Husband, if you sew my mouth shut, we can’t do that…”

“Do what?”

“Kiss… kiss you…”

Suddenly, my body swayed as Duan Jing pushed me away by the shoulders, holding my chin and laughing, “Zhang Wanyi, you know how to flirt now?”

I stammered, “No… I’m not flirting, I just like… I…”

Duan Jing’s eyes grew darker with every stutter, until they were as deep as ink.

He grabbed me, not letting me go. “Do you want to try again?”

At those words, my nose suddenly felt hot.

I covered it awkwardly, but blood still spurted out through the gaps.

Duan Jing was stunned, then burst out laughing, “Zhang Wanyi, aren’t you embarrassed?”

I sat on his lap, sulking, “It’s all your fault!”

He really does suck people’s energy. Because my nose wouldn’t stop bleeding, when Chunsheng entered the room, his face changed dramatically. He pointed at Duan Jing’s blood-stained hem and shrieked, “Young Master! You’re not even married yet! How did it end up like this!”

Like what?

I looked at Duan Jing in confusion.

He seemed to understand, his face darkened, and he cursed at Chunsheng, “Your Young Mistress just has a nosebleed. If you keep imagining things, get out!”

By the time the commotion ended, it was already late at night.

Duan Jing told me to go back to sleep. I said, “I still need to write a letter to Eldest Aunt.”

“Your Eldest Aunt sold you off, and you still want to write to her?”

I nodded solemnly, “Actually, there’s something important.”

Between husband and wife, some things need to be discussed openly.

“Husband, you can’t avoid treatment out of shame.”

Duan Jing was taken aback, lifting his tired eyelids. “What?”

“If you’re sick, you need to get treated.” I finally mustered up the courage. No matter how tired he was today, I had to get this off my chest.

Duan Jing raised his knife-scarred finger, unconcerned. “Mm. It’s nothing.”

I was truly angry. “How can you dodge the issue?”

If he can’t even open up to me, what’s the point of living together?

Duan Jing frowned, “Zhang Wanyi, just say it straight. Don’t beat around the bush.”

My expression grew serious. “Don’t get mad when I say it straight.”

“What could I get mad about?”

“About your impotence, I want to ask Eldest Aunt for a Prescription.”

After I spoke, the study fell silent.

Duan Jing’s voice was so soft it was barely audible. “Say that again?”

“Your-impotence-I want to ask Eldest Aunt for a…”

My voice faded, because as I repeated myself, Duan Jing’s face darkened rapidly.

He was completely… furious.

“Zhang Wanyi.” Duan Jing’s face was black as he pulled out a chilling smile. “Come here.”

I’m not stupid. Knowing I’ve angered him, how could I obey? So I took a step back and explained seriously, “I should go to bed. You should sleep early too.”

Duan Jing was so angry he laughed. I didn’t even see how he moved, and I was already pinned down.

I couldn’t stop trembling, covering my ears and stammering, “Spare me.”

“Spare you?” Duan Jing, now the villain, laughed and retorted, “Zhang Wanyi, are you playing dumb? Husband will spare you tonight. Go back and rest up, you don’t have much time left.”

He said it like a death sentence, and I turned pale with fright.

For Duan Jing, whose father is an official, it would be as easy as crushing an ant to end my life with a flick of his finger. Would he kill me to silence me over his impotence?

When it’s time to yield, you have to yield.

I hugged Duan Jing, earnestly, “Husband.”

“Speak.”

“Husband, you’re healthy. Even if you can’t… do that, I don’t mind. But… if the Prescription works, wouldn’t it be even better?”

“Get out.” Duan Jing let go of me, issuing an eviction order.

I looked at him pleadingly.

Duan Jing said expressionlessly, “Don’t make me repeat myself. Get out.”