Chapter 32 The Wedding Night

Chapter 32: The Wedding Night

Lei Ting felt even more restless at Wu Qiu's question, as if a fire was swirling within him. He suppressed it again and again, with effort reining in the heat coursing through his body. Turning around, he pulled Wu Qiu into his embrace and had him sit on his lap. One arm wrapped around Wu Qiu from behind, while the other hand gently pinched his cheek. "Is that really what you're thinking, Qiu'er?"

Wu Qiu wanted to rest his face against Lei Ting's chest but remembered he was still wearing makeup and feared smudging Lei Ting's wedding attire. Instead, he simply looped his arms around Lei Ting's neck, blinking up at him, his voice dropping to a whisper. "But... but today is special. I've heard that after three months it's permissible. If you're gentle, can we try?"

Lei Ting cupped his face and planted a careful kiss on his lips. "Everyone's constitution is different; we can't generalize. Is Qiu'er worried I'll be unhappy?"

Wu Qiu fell silent, a flush of embarrassment at having his thoughts read so easily. He turned his face away, refusing another kiss. After a moment, having calmed the surge of emotion, he looked up at Lei Ting. "I know you wouldn't resent me for this. It's just... others have it. Now that I'm your husband, I naturally want to give you the greatest joy. Of course, there will be many times in the future, but this one is different. I'm afraid later, when you look back, you'll feel today was lacking something."

Lei Ting knew exactly where Wu Qiu was ticklish. Before Wu Qiu could finish speaking, he started covering his neck and ears in playful kisses. Wu Qiu, adorned with numerous hairpins and ornaments today, laughed and squirmed, the gold and silver pieces on his head shimmering in the candlelight. Lei Ting only meant to tease a smile from him and didn't press further, stopping at the right moment. Noticing Wu Qiu had broken a slight sweat, he unfastened two of the frog closures at the collar of Wu Qiu's wedding robe with one hand. "How could there be any regret? The fact that our wedding ceremony is complete today is already a joy beyond words for me. Tonight is indeed special, but every time in the future will be unique too. I only wish for Qiu'er's peace and happiness. That is what makes today truly perfect."

The brocade pouch containing their knotted hair still lay by the bedside. Lei Ting picked it up and pressed it into Wu Qiu's palm. "The wedding night is just a formality. What matters is being with you; that is enough. Qiu'er, don't be upset. Turn around and let me kiss you."

Understanding Lei Ting's deep care for him, Wu Qiu didn't insist further. Though he too was stirred by passion, he was genuinely somewhat tired. Relaxing, he leaned against Lei Ting and yawned. "Sweet talker. You're always so good at coaxing me."

Lei Ting smiled. "I'm not coaxing you; I mean every word. Be good, Qiu'er. Listen to the physician. Let me get you some water to wash up, and we should rest early."

But Wu Qiu pressed down on his arm, preventing him from rising. He smiled right at Lei Ting, then squirmed in his lap, shifting into a more comfortable sitting position.

Lei Ting wrapped an arm around Wu Qiu's waist, his other hand resting on his shoulder, and chuckled. "Be good. Don't move around."

They were so close. Wu Qiu had already noticed the obvious change in Lei Ting's state earlier. Now, sitting in his lap, even the slightest movement made him feel it more acutely.

Wu Qiu slowly began removing the rings and bracelets from his own hands, placing each one into Lei Ting's palm as he took it off. He didn't reply to Lei Ting, just smiled with a hint of mischief. Finally, he looped his arms around Lei Ting's neck and whispered coquettishly into his ear, "Then... can I use my hands to help you?"

Lei Ting still wanted to refuse, to tell Wu Qiu to rest early. Wu Qiu pressed a finger to his lips, a feigned look of reproach in his beautiful phoenix eyes. His other hand had already slid down, brushing against him through the fabric of his clothes. "Don't say no. Brother, how could I bear to see you like this? My heart would ache for you too."

Seeing Lei Ting clench his jaw in silence, still seeming hesitant, Wu Qiu couldn't help but let out a soft laugh. He pressed on, his voice softening as he called out, "Husband."

Even using only hands, they still ended up at it for a long time, the big red wedding candles burning down quite a bit. By the time they finally blew out the lamps and slipped under the covers, the night was deep. The weather had turned cooler now, and Lei Ting's body was warm. Wu Qiu happily burrowed into his embrace. Lei Ting tucked the quilt snugly around them and began massaging Wu Qiu's wrist. "Tomorrow, we should get the bed warmer out. I'll fill one for you to put at your feet. It's warm and not troublesome."

Wu Qiu's hands and feet tended to get cold. Lei Ting had helped him regulate it with some medicine, and it was much better now, but a bed warmer would naturally be welcome too. He nodded. "Alright. It really is getting colder. Tomorrow, I'll get your thicker winter clothes out for when you go to the front clinic. If you have to go out on a house call, you mustn't catch a chill."

Since Wu Qiu's health had improved enough that he no longer needed to stay in bed, Lei Ting had returned to seeing patients at the front clinic. At the turn of autumn and winter, the number of patients had increased again, so he naturally had to help. However, now when Wu Qiu felt well enough, he would accompany Lei Ting, helping to greet patients or sitting nearby sketching embroidery patterns or doing needlework. It wasn't strenuous, and they could be together.

Like this morning, the day after their wedding ceremony. After breakfast, Wu Qiu brought his needlework and sat down beside Lei Ting at the desk. He had already changed out of his wedding attire and was wearing his usual dark blue padded jacket. A stove warmed the room, and a small foot warmer sat beneath his feet, so he had taken off his cloak and draped it over his legs. On his embroidery hoop was stretched a piece of extremely fine red silk. The thin backing was also made of high-quality, soft cotton fabric. On the silk surface was outlined the pattern of a little tiger, only half-embroidered so far. One could see the meticulous work—fine, dense stitches, colors, and patterns all executed with great care.

Having just seen a patient out, the clinic was momentarily empty of others. Wu Qiu set aside his needlework for a moment and held up the embroidery hoop for Lei Ting to see. "Look, isn't it pretty?"

This was a little bellyband for their child.

Yang Shu's embroidery skills were better. Many of the child's other small clothes, hats, and shoes were being made with the help of Yang Shu and Madam Liu. But this was the first bellyband prepared for the baby, and Wu Qiu wanted to make it entirely with his own hands from start to finish. That small piece of red cloth, excluding the border fabric, had an embroidered area in the middle only about the size of Lei Ting's palm. Lei Ting carefully held it and praised softly, "It's very beautiful. This little tiger looks so lively. They say the mountain lord can ward off the five poisons, and since it's made by your own hands, it will surely protect our child, safe and sound."

Wu Qiu held the bellyband fabric against his own stomach, comparing the size as he smiled. "I asked Mother and Father, and they both said making it this size is right. Look, how can it be so tiny?"

His action made Lei Ting's heart soften even more. He stroked Wu Qiu's hair. "The bellyband is small, so embroidering it strains your eyes more. Rest for a while."

Wu Qiu thought for a moment, then shoved the needle and thread into Lei Ting's hand. "Brother is a physician and the child's father. If you embroider some, wouldn't that be even more effective at warding off illness than a tiger? Come, you do a few stitches. I'll teach you."

This wasn't Lei Ting's first time using a needle and thread, but previously it was mostly using bone needles to suture wounds for the injured. Now, holding this delicate embroidery needle, he uncharacteristically showed a hint of awkwardness. "I've never done such delicate work. If I do it poorly, wouldn't it ruin all your previous hard work?"

Wu Qiu's eyes curved into smiles. "How could it 'ruin' it? This is something we make together. It's our heartfelt intention, the most precious thing. However it turns out doesn't matter. In terms of embroidery skill, I'm not as good as Mother's craftsmanship either, but I still embroider. I'll teach you. Come, start from here, thread the needle through."

Lei Ting followed his instructions with extreme care. Wu Qiu leaned close to his right side. Worried he might accidentally prick Wu Qiu when raising his hand to pull the thread, Lei Ting quickly switched to holding the needle in his left hand. Wu Qiu kept praising his steady hand from the side, but Lei Ting still felt he was embroidering with trepidation. After a few passes of threading and stitching, he held it farther away to look and felt it truly wasn't as pretty as Wu Qiu's work. He laughed. "No wonder those great masters of painting and calligraphy can distinguish themselves from ordinary people with a single stroke. My few stitches are already worlds apart from yours."

But Wu Qiu thought it was wonderful. Just then, someone entered. He quickly took the item from Lei Ting's hands and quietly retreated to sit to the side, holding it happily as he looked at it. Lei Ting's few stitches were on the tip of the little tiger's tail. Wu Qiu naturally continued embroidering from there, unable to suppress the joy in his heart. When Lei Ting had settled the patient to wait on the side, written a prescription, and sent Lei Tan to fetch the medicine, he glanced over and saw Wu Qiu still wearing a smile on his face. Unable to resist, he came over, leaning down to brace his hands on the arms of Wu Qiu's chair and whispering in his ear, "Do you like it that much?"

Since there were still patients waiting, Wu Qiu couldn't engage in much conversation with him. He just nodded, his face flushed with a smile.

Lei Ting didn't do anything more, just pressed the back of his hand against Wu Qiu's cheek. At that moment, Lei Tan returned, so he went to wrap the medicine, handed it to the patient along with the prescription noting the dosage times, and reiterated some important instructions. The patient was an elderly woman. After agreeing to everything, she looked at Wu Qiu and asked Lei Ting, "Is this your husband, sir? He looks like he's with child."

Lei Ting merely thought the old woman was being gossipy and casually acknowledged it. He didn't mention the child, only said Wu Qiu was his husband, not paying it much mind. Even Wu Qiu, listening from the side, didn't pay it much attention and continued with his needlework.

The old woman didn't go home immediately after leaving the clinic. She turned into a small alley, where a man in his thirties or forties was standing at the alley's entrance. The old woman approached and held out her hand to him. "I've inquired for you. That is indeed Master Lei's husband. The silver you promised me earlier—you can't shortchange me."

The man smiled. "Naturally, I won't shortchange you. Did you find out if the gentleman is with child?"

The old woman shook her head. "They weren't willing to say. Some families here are particular, saying it's not good to speak of a child when the months are still few. But judging by his body, I'd say he must be at least five months along."

The man didn't forget to flatter a little. "You're an experienced elder who has seen much of the world. Naturally, you can tell without asking. Here is the one tael of silver I promised you earlier. Please take it."

The old woman accepted the money, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes bunching up with her smile. She never imagined that just going to see a physician, she could encounter such a kind-hearted person on the way, who would give her a whole tael of silver just for asking a couple of questions. Her curiosity finally got the better of her, and she hurriedly asked, "Sir, if I may ask, what use is this information to you? And why not go ask yourself?"

The man shook his head. "I'm not from around here originally. It wouldn't be proper for me to ask rashly. There are reasons for my asking, but it's a matter of heaven's secrets that cannot be revealed. I cannot say more."

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