Chapter 1
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The legendary horse, capable of traveling a thousand miles in a day, came to a halt at the foot of the manor, letting out a sharp neigh.
The young lord, cloaked in the light of stars and moon, returned home under the night sky. Dismounting with ease, he tossed his whip casually to the side.
A servant, waiting by the gate, bowed low and caught it steadily, taking hold of the reins without a word and silently escorting the horse away with his head respectfully lowered.
The stone steps were bordered by lush greenery, their shadows swaying gently in the moonlight. Beneath the trees, clusters of fragrant blossoms exuded their sweet aroma, their elegant forms shimmering under the moon’s glow.
Yet even this serene beauty could not hold back the hurried passage of the deep blue, cloud-patterned hem of his robes.
As he ascended the front terrace of the manor, a grand white jade platform rose sharply before him. Intricately carved moon-shaped archways stood tall, and the walls on either side stretched out into the distance.
Through the slightly open gates and beyond several more layers of stone steps, a faint glimpse can be seen—the imposing and awe-inspiring Biling Manor, revered by countless souls across the martial world.
At the vermilion gates, attendants stood silently on guard. Upon seeing the flowing hem of his robes, they pressed their swords to the ground and knelt in unison, their voices deliberately low and reverent as they greeted him.“Master.”
Through the open doors, faint glimmers of lamplight could be seen. His face softened as the warmth within, separated by a single door, seemed to melt away the frost-like coldness that lingered on him.
The dark silk ribbon binding his hair high swayed gently in the night breeze, blending seamlessly into the ink-black strands.
He glanced in the direction behind the main hall, where a grove of white magnolia trees blocked his view. His voice softened, “Has Madam slept?”
A guard straightened up and replied respectfully, “The steward ordered the lights in Madam’s courtyard to be extinguished. The nursemaid has also coaxed the young master and mistress to sleep.”
The summer cicadas buzzed incessantly. A faint smile tugged at the corners of Tan Ci’s thin lips. He acknowledged the reply with a light hum, casually tossing the famous Zhe Ling Sword at his waist to the waiting servant.
Without looking back, he stepped over the threshold and headed toward the rear courtyard.
Passing the main hall, he walked along a path flanked by flowers and willows. A brook murmured, its gentle flow carrying a few magnolia petals that had fallen early in their bloom.
The petals swirled in the water before disappearing into the night. A gracefully arched stone bridge spanned the stream, leading straight to the wooden pavilion at the end of the path.
The corridors of the pavilion looked pitch black in the night. He chuckled softly and shook his head, lifting the hem of his robe as he ascended the stairs. The air felt slightly cool against his nose. With the aid of moonlight, he carefully pushed open the door.
Inside the hall, only a single red candle flickered. The light wavered for a moment as the door opened, casting a brief flicker in the room.
He paused, held his breath, and moved even more quietly as he stepped inside, gently closing the door behind him.
The crimson gauze curtain was lined with another layer of plain white silk, tightly concealing the scene on the brocade bed.
He moved slowly and silently with each step, and when he reached the edge of the bed, he softly called, “Jiao Jiao…”
There was silence from behind the curtain for a long while. He stood still, neither moving forward nor stepping back, his eyes lingering on the gauze curtain with deep affection.
The wind chimes outside the corridor remained silent, and in that moment of stillness, a faint rustling sound broke the quiet.
A slender hand, delicate and graceful, slowly emerged from behind the curtain—its shape exquisite, with distinct finger joints and rounded fingertips that curled slightly.
Without uttering a word, it exuded an enchanting allure, casting a seductive spell. In the hall, only a single candle was lit, and beneath the glow of the red gauze, the skin appeared luminous, even more delicate and snow-like, glowing with an ethereal beauty.
He saw her and, as if granted a great favor, quickly stepped forward, taking her delicate hand into his palm. With one hand, he lifted the gauze curtain.
The woman was lazily leaning against the bed’s edge, her black hair cascading like a waterfall.
She wore a simple white undergarment, with several of its fastenings undone, slightly parted to one side. The fine red ribbon of her inner garment and the smooth skin at her collarbone were faintly visible.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, the corners lifting just a touch. When she looked at him, countless unspoken words were hidden in that glance.
The beauty’s gaze, half resentful, half playful, stirred his heart, making him almost overwhelmed with joy.
He sat by her side and gently adjusted the covers, a sense of tenderness filling his heart, bringing peace.
The woman on the bed parted her red lips, letting out a sigh that resembled the soft, melodious cry of a nightingale. “My lord, you’ve returned so late…”
Her words were both reproachful and filled with concern, lightly rolling over his heart. Yet, they felt like warm water, soothing and comforting, sweeping away all his fatigue from the day.
The woman on the bed was his life, his beloved wife, with all her charm and allure.
He noticed the fine beads of sweat forming on her forehead from the heat. With a heart full of tenderness, he wiped them away, then held her hand tighter, speaking softly to comfort her.
“Please don’t be angry with me, my dear. Getting angry while you’re still in your postpartum recovery period isn’t good for your health. I’ll leave tomorrow evening and accompany Jing’er for sword practice in the morning. Is that alright?”
But she pouted as if throwing a childish tantrum, her bright, clear eyes filled with grievance. She moved to withdraw her hand.
“It seems all you think about are those little boys and girls. If I bear your children, does that mean I’m no longer of any use to you?”
He adored her like this, yet it was also something he couldn’t bear. She had been a woman who, even before her marriage, was famous in the Jianghu for handling matters with great authority.
But before him, she appeared to have shed all traces of her formidable persona, turning into nothing more than a soft, affectionate cat that begged for his attention.
Tan Ci, unwilling to let go of her hand, stood up and lowered his head. He gently tugged the loosened corner of her inner garment and planted a kiss on her smooth shoulder.
His warm lips lingered on her cool, slightly sweaty skin, and he refused to pull away for a long time. Jiao Jiao lowered her head, her eyes watching as he closed his eyes, his long eyelashes trembling slightly.
The sight stirred something within her, and her voice softened to a hushed tone. She instinctively pushed his broad, solid shoulders, her breath quickening.
“The postpartum recovery period is hard… don’t tease me… don’t tempt me.”
He pressed against her chest, his breath steady for a moment, before slowly pulling back. His gaze darkened, as if unwilling to look at her, and he nervously adjusted her clothes.
With a low voice, he complained, “If I didn’t care about you so much and worry, I wouldn’t have stayed with you on the same bed tonight…”
She smiled, covering her lips with the hand he hadn’t taken, the smile soft but filled with deep affection. As she looked at his handsome profile, her fingers gently stroked the back of his hand, coaxing him with a sweet touch.
“Using the same old tactic of the villain playing the victim again? Alright, I won’t blame you for coming back late, okay?”
In front of her, he dropped all pretense, his defenses completely gone. He laid his head gently on her knee, and her jade-like fingers tangled through his black hair, loosening his hairpin and tenderly massaging his scalp.
With a slightly aggrieved tone, he said, “I went far today… It was supposed to be a journey I couldn’t return from. But thinking about you being unwell, I couldn’t bear to leave you sleeping alone. I rushed back as quickly as I could, and even in the snow, I was so tired I could hardly breathe….”
Even a famous horse that could travel a thousand miles would be exhausted—what more a person? She could tell he was waiting for her to praise and comfort him, but she couldn’t resist teasing him.
With a playful smile, she responded, “Then why rush? I can sleep alone just fine. Hong Guo’er and the others are outside. If anything happens, I’ll just call them…”
Before she could finish speaking, she saw him suddenly look up at her, his eyes filled with what seemed to be an unfair sense of hurt.
Finally, he let out a laugh, but afterward, he couldn’t bear it and gently combed his hair, starting to rub his forehead. “Alright, alright, I understand. You’re doing all this for me. You’ve worked so hard. I’ll go fetch some water for you to bathe in.”
As she started to get up, Tan Ci quickly pressed her down, looking even more upset. “Why should I trouble you with such things? I only regret that I can’t stay at home every day. Otherwise…”
She slightly squinted, smiling as she looked at him. “Hmm? Otherwise, what?”
Tan Ci nearly ground his teeth. “Otherwise, I’d make sure to watch over you, not let you move a step. Last time, you complained the candlelight was bad and hurt your eyes, always saying your eyes hurt. Look, there’s still only one candle lit in this hall. If you don’t take care of yourself properly this time, I will be angry…”
His words were sincere and heartwarming, and Jiao Jiao was moved. Tears were about to fall, which startled him. He immediately stopped pretending to be angry, carefully cupping her face and wiping away her tears.
His tone softened as he pleaded, “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have been harsh with you. Jiao Jiao… please don’t cry. Crying during your postpartum recovery period will harm your eyes…”
She felt even more upset inside. As tears streamed down, she held his hand tightly and looked at him steadily.
“Tan Lang, it’s my fault. I kept thinking that if I didn’t light the lamp, you would come back and think I had already gone to sleep. But when you found out I was waiting for you, it would make you happier…”
His heart softened like water at her words. Seven years of marriage, and yet he could still feel it; his wife loved him even more than she did back then.
Over those seven years, through storms and sunshine, with children of their own, their love had not changed in the slightest.
Tan Ci gently pulled her into his arms, softly patting her back. Jiao Jiao finally managed to calm down, stopping her tears.
She didn’t dare cry anymore, just listening to him soothing her in a low voice, “Whether you wait for me or not, as long as you’re by my side, I don’t care about anything else…”
But she wouldn’t let it go. She lifted her head to look at him, her tone stubborn yet serious. “Being by your side is the best, is it?”
Her eyes were filled with unshed tears, holding the entire galaxy within them, so tender and captivating that they pulled him in for a kiss. He responded with devotion, “I ask for nothing else.”
The wind chimes outside seemed to finally let out a sigh, chiming softly in the air. The red curtains in the hall fell, and the warm, tender atmosphere inside could no longer be seen. The couple’s whispered words blurred into the night.
