After boiling the water, Ye Li first washed his hair. Then he carried the hot water in a wooden bucket and poured it into the bathtub.

Just as he was nearly finished filling it, Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya returned, dragging two bundles of dry firewood.

Ye Li beamed at Jiang Ya and beckoned, “Xiao Ya, I’m taking a bath. Want to join me?”

A bath?

Jiang Ya’s eyes widened in surprise.

But quickly, he tucked his hands behind his back and shook his head. “Brother Li, you bathe alone.”

Though he was willing to listen to Brother Li now, the thought of stripping naked in front of him…

Shy.

Ye Li observed his expression and understood his hesitation. Smiling, he said, “Then I’ll wash you in a few days.”

Hearing this, Jiang Ya still felt shy, but a flicker of anticipation crossed his little face.

He wanted to soak in the bath!

Ye Li then instructed Jiang Mai: “If I take too long bathing, you can cook later. Warm up the leftover flatbread from lunch and make some cornmeal porridge.”

Jiang Mai nodded in agreement.

So Ye Li closed the pantry door and happily went to soak in the bath.

Today was another clear, sunny day. Though early summer, the pantry offered some cool shade, yet soaking in the tub, he felt no chill at all.

He couldn’t help but linger in the water a little longer.

Soon, the sun began to dip toward the west. Jiang Mai rolled up his sleeves and headed into the kitchen to prepare dinner.

Only when Jiang Ya called from outside, and dinner was almost ready, did he slowly emerge.

His hair still damp, he stood in the courtyard meticulously drying it with a cloth.

Having soaked rather long, his cheeks glowed as if dusted with rouge.

His face was fair, his jet-black hair thick and lustrous. Standing casually in the dilapidated, verdant farmyard, he resembled the most vibrant flower blooming in the woods—strikingly beautiful.

Jiang Ji pushed a wheelbarrow full of wild grass into the yard. Seeing him like this, the word “handsome” instantly filled Jiang Ji’s mind.

But Jiang Ji quickly lowered his gaze.

The simpleton had some looks; otherwise, he wouldn’t regret having been betrothed so early.

The simpleton felt he could have chosen someone better than himself, but unfortunately, the early betrothal had taken away that chance.

Ye Li heard the commotion and turned to look toward the courtyard gate. Seeing it was him returning, she smiled and said, “Back already? Perfect timing—dinner will be ready soon.”

“I’ll make some cold tofu salad.”

Truthfully, Ye Li preferred stir-frying.

But alas, their home only had one iron wok.

Once he had enough silver coins, he would definitely buy a small iron pan just for stir-frying.

With this thought, Ye Li headed toward the kitchen.

Jiang Ji hummed in acknowledgment. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ye Li enter the kitchen and immediately frowned, poking his own forehead with a finger.

He actually thought that blockhead was handsome.

What the hell?!

Feeling irritated, Jiang Ji sat down at the table and kept his head down, eating without even glancing across the way.

But Ye Li harbored a secret thought.

He moved his chopsticks while stealing glances at his cheap husband.

After so many glances, not only did Jiang Mai find it odd, but even Jiang Ya couldn’t help but say, “Big Brother, Brother Li is looking at you.”

Looking at me?

Jiang Ji slowly lifted his head to look at the person sitting across from him. “What’s the matter?”

Ye Li looked sincere. “There’s hot water in the pot. Do you want to take a bath?”

“…Alright.”

Jiang Ji nodded.

He really did need a bath.

“I’ll scrub the tub later,” Ye Li thought with secret delight and hurriedly offered.

“I don’t need a tub,” Jiang Ji shook his head.

Beside the vegetable garden stood a small shed. Inside, green bricks were laid on a sloped floor, with a hole at the bottom connecting to the courtyard wall.

This bathing area, built by his father, allowed waste water to flow directly out of the courtyard.

His body radiated intense heat; soaking in this weather was unnecessary.

“Won’t you catch a chill?” Ye Li asked with concern.

“No,” Jiang Ji declared with absolute certainty.

Seeing this, Ye Li said no more.

His eyes darted about, his mind brimming with unhidden thoughts.

But Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya were too young, and Jiang Ji paid him no mind, so no one noticed his peculiarity.

Soon, everyone set down their chopsticks.

The two little ones washed up and prepared for bed.

Jiang Ji carried two buckets of hot water into the small shed.

Ye Li tidied the pots and pans, gave himself a quick wash, and returned to his room.

He sat cross-legged on the kang, ears pricked for sounds from the courtyard.

After waiting about a quarter of an hour, he heard footsteps slowly approaching the main hall. He took a deep breath, silently urging himself on.

With a creak, the main hall door opened.

Immediately after, the footsteps turned toward the east room.

The east room door opened.

The east room door closed.

His husband was going to sleep.

He dared not delay any longer. Hastily lifting the oil lamp, he stepped out of his room and approached the eastern door. He knocked softly twice: “Jiang Ji?”

Jiang Ji had just sat down beside the kang. Hearing the call, he wiped his hair as he walked to the doorway and pulled the door open: “What is it?”

His body was damp with steam, and a faint scent of soapy lather lingered around him.

He stood at the doorway, towering over Ye Li by half a head. Meeting his striking features, Ye Li couldn’t help but blush.

Fortunately, the dim light obscured the slight flush.

Ye Li cleared her throat lightly, peering into the room. “Are Xiao Mai and Ye-ger asleep?”

“They are.” Jiang Ji glanced toward the kang.

Jiang Ya lay at the far end.

Jiang Mai was in the middle. Both little ones were covered in quilts, sleeping soundly.

“Then come out for a moment.”

Ye Li beckoned Jiang Ji with a finger.

Though puzzled, Jiang Ji followed his lead, quietly closing the east room door behind them.

Standing at the main hall doorway, Jiang Ji asked curiously, “What is it?”

“Serious business,” Ye Li replied solemnly. “It’s time for you to return to our new bridal chamber.”

“Return to the bridal chamber?” Jiang Ji was utterly baffled.

On their wedding night, that good-for-nothing had explicitly forbidden him from entering the west room!

He’d even thrown out all of Jiang Ji’s personal clothes, shoes, and socks.

Now he was being told to return? What trick was this?

Ye Li naturally remembered this incident, but this body had a new occupant now.

He declared with righteous indignation, “We need to consummate our marriage.”

“!”

Jiang Ji instantly took a step back, creating distance. “What did you say?!”

Ye Li retorted indignantly, “Why are you dodging? Don’t you want to consummate the marriage? Why wouldn’t you?”

“…”

Jiang Ji’s mouth twitched.

Don’t you know why I wouldn’t want to?

Last time we met, we argued so fiercely we might as well have divorced on the spot. Now we’re not arguing, but we’re not familiar with each other!

We’re not familiar with each other, okay!

He remained silent, but Ye Li wouldn’t let it go. “Or is it that… you don’t know how?”

“…”

You’re the one who doesn’t know!

Jiang Ji was even more speechless.

But before he could say anything, Ye Li’s expression suddenly changed. Pointing at him with his oil-lamp-free left hand, he looked as if struck by lightning, his face pale with shock. “Could it be… You can’t do it?!”

“?”

Jiang Ji’s handsome face instantly darkened like a sooty pot bottom.

Ye Li burst out laughing: “Alright, alright, I was just teasing you. Of course you can.”

“We’re husband and wife. Are you sure you want to keep living apart like this?”

“Or do you have other plans—like passing the imperial exams to become a Xiucai, then divorcing me to marry some rich, beautiful woman?”

Though Jiang Ji heard the term “rich, beautiful woman” for the first time, its meaning was clear enough.

His face remained as dark as charcoal. “I’ve never had such thoughts.”

“Then why are you being so stubborn? We’ll consummate the marriage sooner or later.”

Ye Li stepped forward, hooked her arm through his, and led him toward the west room. “I know you despise me. Just pretend we’re acting out that loathing, that hatred.”

“…”

Jiang Ji fell silent.

His thoughts tangled like a knot.

Before returning this time, he hadn’t even dared hope that Ye Li could live peacefully with him, let alone consummate their marriage.

The fool’s transformation was too drastic!

And judging by the fool’s demeanor, he seemed more intent on coveting his body!

Half-resisting, half-yielding, he was pulled by Ye Li into the west room.

Under the lamplight, he instinctively surveyed the room’s layout.

This had once been his room. Though a few new pieces of furniture had been added, he felt not the slightest sense of unfamiliarity.

Ye Li placed the oil lamp on the wooden table beneath the window. Seeing him standing motionless, she walked over, took his wrist, and guided him toward the bed.

“Stop resisting. This was bound to happen sooner or later, wasn’t it?”

“…”

This felt odd.

Why did it feel like he was forcing himself on a virgin bride?

Jiang Ji took a deep breath and turned to look at the person beside him.

Ye Li gazed at him with a radiant smile, both striking and gentle.

They were pressed tightly together, appearing extremely intimate.

Yet it felt utterly unfamiliar.

This scene was too strange.

But in his plans, he had never considered directly and proactively seeking a divorce from the person before him.

As the fool had said, it was his father who had actively saved him.

The Ye family had willingly pooled their resources to fund his education—this was a debt of gratitude.

He couldn’t be ungrateful.

Since he hadn’t considered divorce, then…

He spoke in a low voice: “Are you truly willing? You won’t suddenly change your mind?”

“Of course I’m willing!” Ye Li answered swiftly, then added with a hint of displeasure: “I told you my temper has changed. Why won’t you believe me?”

“Then take off your clothes yourself.”

Jiang Ji reminded him.

He feared Ye Li might suddenly change his mind and scratch him.

“Fine, I’ll take them off.” Ye Li immediately raised his hand to unbutton the right side.

Jiang Ji hurriedly averted his gaze.

Gritting his teeth, he also raised his hand to unbutton his own.

The weather had turned warm, so neither of them wore thick garments.

Especially Jiang Ji—having just bathed, he wore only a thin, narrow-sleeved linen tunic over his upper body.

As he slipped off the tunic, his lean, muscular torso was exposed to the air.

Ye Li gasped. Indeed, though his husband looked slender, he was well-built—no skinny little thing.

Thinking of what was about to happen, his face flushed, and he lowered his head to undo his own belt.

Swiftly stripping off all his clothes, he hurriedly pulled back the quilt and crawled under the covers.

Then, covering half his face with the quilt, he said to Jiang Ji, “You undress too and get in.”

Jiang Ji took a deep breath and complied.

Once he, too, had pulled back the quilt and settled in.

Before he could even get comfortable, a warm, slick body pressed itself against him.

He froze instantly.