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The man who had held her through the night was no longer beside her. Rong Shu half-opened her eyes and reached out to touch the spot; it was still warm, so he couldn't have been gone for long.

While pondering this, Gu Changjin had already lifted the canopy.

Rong Shu propped herself up and mumbled, "Won't people from the palace be arriving soon? I should get up now."

But Gu Changjin pressed her back onto the bed and said, "Zhu Jun mentioned that the palace specially sent someone to inform us that the auspicious time calculated by the Astronomical Bureau has been changed to the afternoon. There's no need for us to go to the palace too early."

Upon hearing this, Rong Shu's drowsiness dissipated slightly.

The time calculated by the Astronomical Bureau was when the Crown Princess and the Crown Prince would pay their respects at the ancestral temple, which did not conflict with the time they were supposed to meet the emperor and empress.

Even in ordinary households, a newlywed bride would have to visit her husband's parents early in the morning on the second day. The palace was the place that valued etiquette the most. How could they possibly allow a new bride to sleep in until late morning before entering the palace?

It didn't take Rong Shu long to figure out the reason behind this.

Probably, news of their secret trip to the Star Tower the previous night had reached the palace, hence the nobles had arranged for the Astronomical Bureau to change the auspicious time so that they could rest for a few more hours.

Gu Changjin uncovered the quilt and pulled her into his embrace. "Don't think too much about it. Since the time has been changed, we'll just follow what the Astronomical Bureau says."

Miss Rong Shu's cheeks had a subtle pink tinge from her sleep, but dark circles beneath her eyes were evident, revealing her lack of rest.

She lifted her head to look into his eyes.

Her drowsiness had vanished; how could she possibly fall back asleep now?

Her eyes shimmered brightly, and as Gu Changjin gazed at her, his Adam's apple rolled subtly.

He had only slept for an hour before waking up. In the dim light seeping through the window paper, he had watched her for a long while. At that moment, his thoughts were pure, filled with a sense of fulfillment from realizing an old wish.

The Gu Changjin who had waited for so long in time merely yearned for another glimpse of her.

For countless days and nights to come, he would now awaken to see her, finally fulfilling his desire.

But now, things were different.

She looked at him with her innocent eyes, and through the loose fabric of her clothing, hints of his touch from the previous night were visible.

To be honest, he had not been sated last night. She had grown tired after just a few moments in the pool, and he had restrained himself, fearing he might exhaust her.

With the tender warmth of Rong Shu in his embrace and at the peak of his virility, the desires suppressed from the previous day surged like a tidal wave.

Gu Changjin's hand, resting on her waist, slowly climbed upward, slipping into the loose collar of her garment to gently caress the mole on her right shoulder.

"Can't sleep?" His voice still held a hint of huskiness. Upon meeting his dark, enigmatic gaze, Rong Shu instantly understood his intentions and promptly pressed down his hand, whispering, "Not now!"

Yesterday, his grip had nearly snapped her waist in two. After leaving the hot springs, she could barely stand on her own.

If they repeated their actions, she doubted she'd be able to enter the palace today.

Gu Changjin's lips curved into a smile as he withdrew his hand from her clothing, only to continue its ascent, covering her captivating eyes. "Then sleep quickly. If we don't, I might not be able to hold back."

Rong Shu obediently closed her eyes.

After a moment, a memory provoked a soft chuckle from her. "Yunzhi, you've done this before."

Lowering his gaze, Gu Changjin pondered for a while before recalling the incident she referred to. He released her eyes and pinched the tender flesh of her earlobe, saying, "Back then, it was clearly you who was teasing me."

It was a matter from their third year of marriage.

Rong Shu had never mentioned to Shen Yizhen that she and Gu Changjin had never consummated their marriage. Upon noticing that Rong Shu's belly remained untouched after over two years of marriage, Shen Yizhen arranged for her to take fertility-enhancing medicines.

Yingyue and Ying Que empathized with Rong Shu's plight. Unfortunately, Ying Que couldn't keep the secret, revealing the truth about the unconsummated marriage.

Upon hearing this, Shen Yizhen was utterly shocked. She dismissed everyone around her and grilled Rong Shu alone in the room.

Cornered by her mother's persistent questioning, Rong Shu admitted, "He has suffered too many injuries and is occupied day and night with official duties, hence his lack of interest."

Rong Shu's intention was to reassure her mother and alleviate her worries. However, her words only served to deepen her mother's concerns.

On that day, as they returned to Wutong Lane, the health supplements and medicines brought back from the Marquis residence were all aimed at replenishing yang energy.

Before they left the marquis' residence, Shen Yizhen pulled Yingyue and Ying Que aside, sternly instructing them, "Remember to prepare nourishing soups for Lord Husband every day, do you understand?"

Yingyue and Ying Que accepted their mission with a sense of fatalism. Back in Songsi Courtyard, they practically supervised the preparation of these soups in the kitchen daily.

The elderly physician who prescribed these supplements assured Shen Yizhen with conviction, "In about half a month, the man's yang energy should be replenished."

Yet, barely had the seventh day passed when Rong Shu sensed a subtle change in Gu Changjin's gaze; it appeared more enigmatic than usual, and his typically pale complexion had taken on a slight rosy hue.

That night, she inexplicably felt anxious, tossing and turning, unable to find sleep.

He was clearly also awake, his breathing heavy. But he remained still for a long while.

Rong Shu, clutching her crescent pillow, turned to face him. He was also facing her sideways, his eyes dark and deep, intensifying her unease.

They locked eyes for a moment. Suddenly, he reached out to cover her eyes, saying, "Go to sleep."

Startled, Rong Shu assumed he was irritated by her restless movements disturbing him.

Closing her eyes, she turned over quietly, emitting no sound.

However, after only a brief lull, the man beside her suddenly sat up, hastily reaching for a handkerchief from the small table by the bed.

Rong Shu quickly followed, lighting a lamp. The sudden brightness stung her eyes, and when she opened them again, she noticed a few spots of blood on the bed, while the man standing by the table was wiping away dripping blood from his nose with the handkerchief.

"What's going on?"

Rong Shu was startled, fearing that he might have been injured somewhere again.