Xu Yi felt even more flushed at her breath on his cheek and shyly shook his head, “No, no… I really like Miss Jin…”
“Then why are you unwilling to be with me?”
Xu Yi panicked, clutching Jin Yu’s clothing, “I’m not unwilling to be with you…”
“Then why didn’t you want to be alone with me just now?”
Xu Yi was stunned and blushed, not knowing what to say. Being alone with her always made him nervous. Feeling Jin Yu caressing his hand, he lowered his head shyly, “Miss Jin, please don’t ask, I quite like being alone with you… It’s just so embarrassing.”
“Still calling me Miss Jin? Tomorrow you’ll be calling me wife.”
Xu Yi looked up in confusion, “Tomorrow? Wife?”
Jin Yu stroked Xu Yi’s forehead, saying, “The mansion is prepared. Tomorrow we’ll get married, and you won’t have to worry anymore.”
Xu Yi was stunned, tears of happiness welling in his eyes as he nodded eagerly, “Yes, you’ll really marry me tomorrow?”
“Of course. Ask Hua Yan tonight. The mansion is festively decorated for our wedding. Tonight, we’ll wash up, and tomorrow I’ll give you the most beautiful memory.”
Xu Yi lowered his head in embarrassment. Jin Yu took his delicate hand, caressing it gently, causing Xu Yi’s face to burn bright red.
Suddenly, Jin Yu picked up Xu Yi, headed towards the elegant screen, and said, “Now I’ll bathe you.”
Xu Yi panicked and clung to Jin Yu’s neck, “But… we haven’t married yet… I can do it myself, or Hua Yan can help…”
“I’ll bathe you myself.” Jin Yu placed him on a soft chair and began to undress him.
Xu Yi quickly pulled his clothes closed, “No, no… I’ll wash myself… How can we see each other’s bodies before marriage… Just wait until tomorrow…” The thought of it felt so embarrassing.
“We’ve already slept together, no need to worry about this,” Jin Yu traced the red marks at his collar.
“This is different…” Xu Yi couldn’t let her do this. Bathing together was too embarrassing. His cheeks reddened, “Please go out, I’ll do it myself…”
“You can’t see right now,” Jin Yu covered his delicate hand.
Xu Yi’s body trembled, withdrawing his hand, his heart racing. He lowered his head, his face bright red, both shy and anxious, with misty eyes, “Then call Hua Yan to help me; he usually helps…”
After a moment of silence, Jin Yu reached to remove his clothes. “If we don’t wash soon, the water will get cold. Tomorrow we’re getting married, and if you get sick, we’ll have to postpone.”
Xu Yi panicked, quickly releasing Jin Yu’s hand, “Then hurry… just this once…” He couldn’t risk getting sick and delaying their wedding.
Jin Yu’s eyes showed amusement as she removed her inner garment, revealing her smooth skin marked at the collar and arms. During their journey, Jin Yu would often touch him lightly each night, helping him become familiar with her scent and gentleness.
These marks were invisible to Xu Yi. If he knew the frequent gazes these past few days were because Jin Yu had left marks on his body, he’d be even more embarrassed.
Jin Yu removed Xu Yi’s undergarments, exposing his porcelain-like body. He shivered from the cold and nestled into Jin Yu’s embrace. Jin Yu carefully lifted him and placed him in the flower-petal-filled bathtub, gently washing him.
After bathing, Jin Yu wiped away the water droplets, revealing Xu Yi’s smooth skin. She dressed him in post-bath clothes and carried him to the bedside. As soon as he touched the bed, Xu Yi curled up under the blanket. The blue jade hairpin slipped from his hair, and his long, black hair fell on the pillow, some strands brushing his skin, showing red marks. Jin Yu smiled, covered him with the blanket, and kissed his flushed cheek, saying, “I’ll send someone for snacks. You should sleep early for your beautiful wedding tomorrow.”
“Mm,” Xu Yi blushed, picking up the fallen hairpin. “I’ll wear this during the wedding.”
Jin Yu placed the hairpin in his hand. “Okay, whatever you want.”
Xu Yi giggled, but then grew nervous and grabbed her clothing. “Tomorrow… you’ll really marry me? You won’t suddenly… again…”
His voice trembled with fear.
“I will, I’ll marry you,” Jinyu tenderly held his hand, comforting him. “Just one more night, and you’ll be mine. Don’t you trust me?”
“It’s not that,” Xu Yi shook his head, lowering his eyes uneasily. “I’m just afraid… afraid this is all a dream, and when I wake up, I’ll still be at the Xu family, and you’ll still be the Jin family master…”
Jinyu softly reassured him, “No, we’re already in our new home. Once your eyes heal, you’ll be able to see everything here.”
Xu Yi’s mood improved slightly. “Can you stay with me a while? I’m afraid alone…”
“Okay, sleep early. Tomorrow you’ll need to get ready in the wedding clothes you made for me. Don’t tire yourself out tonight, understand?”
“Mm, stay with me…”
Xu Yi ate the meal Jinyu fed him, holding her clothing and lying in her arms for a while before reluctantly letting go.
When Huayan entered, Xu Yi was still lying in a daze. Hearing the door open, he eagerly propped himself up. “Miss Jin…”
“Young master, it’s me,” Huayan said softly, walking to the bedside. “How did Miss Jin treat you? Did she…”
Xu Yi felt a little disappointed at her question. His face still flushed, he awkwardly interrupted, “She didn’t do anything to me…”
They had bathed together, after all.
Huayan advised, “Young master, if Miss Jin comes to sleep with you tonight, you must refuse. Newlyweds cannot meet before the wedding.” She was concerned that this pure young master had fallen for Miss Jin.
Xu Yi blushed and lowered his head. “We’ve been together day and night these past few days. I just want to be with her.”
“But…” Huayan felt helpless. “Tomorrow you’ll be married. You only need to wait one night. Think of your reputation.”
“Huayan, do you think I’ve become… very lewd?” Xu Yi’s shyness diminished, replaced by dejection.
Huayan remained silent.
“Even if my reputation is gone, I can’t deceive my heart. I want to be with her. I won’t regret it, even if I’m considered lewd.” Xu Yi’s eyes moistened. He just wanted to be with her.
Huayan lowered her head. “Young master, I never thought you were that kind of person…”
“Huayan, I’m going to sleep,” Xu Yi said, wiping away tears and curling into the blanket. “Bring me my wedding clothes. I want to hold them while I sleep.” He was exhausted and couldn’t bear the thought of being abandoned again.
Huayan moved her lips but said nothing.
After bathing, Xu Yi’s fatigue diminished, and he quickly fell into a comfortable sleep.
The mansion was quiet in the cold winter month. Occasional bird calls echoed, and the servants diligently did their work. The sky gradually darkened, and sandalwood smoke rose from the incense burner on the rosewood table.
A woman in a brocade robe bowed, “Master, everything is prepared. Whenever you wish to begin, we are ready.”
Jinyu’s face showed seriousness, “Zi Yuan, put those things aside for now. Just control the power here. We’ll live here from now on.”
Heng Zi Yuan was slightly stunned, “Master, this is what you’ve prepared for many years. Are you abandoning everything now? Just give a nod, and we can immediately…
Zi Yuan,” Jin Yu interrupted, sighing, “I didn’t know before, but now what’s more important to me are the living people around me, my husband, and you all. I hope you can all remain safe.”
Zi Yuan fell silent and eventually responded, “Everything will be as the master commands.” This was a hidden mansion in the mountains, where both servants and kitchen staff possessed high-level martial arts skills. They were formerly subordinates of the master, and now, except for a few important people, no one knows that the current master is the former master.
Thinking of that person, Zi Yuan said, “Su Shao Jun has already settled in. When does the master plan to meet him?”
