Chapter 387: I’m Begging You

A night breeze blew past, and Zhaodi shivered. "I understand," she replied in a low voice.

Yougen drove the cart into the courtyard, went back into the house, and found his aunt to tell her his plan.

Since the family hadn’t divided its household yet, all the silver they earned was held by his parents. He couldn’t very well tell them where this money had come from.

His aunt was silent for a long while. "Alright. Two taels it is. With these two taels of silver, they won’t starve to death even if they don’t work."

His aunt waved her hand dismissively. "Go and get some rest."

...

Back at the Gu Residence, everyone ate dinner but didn’t stay long, leaving one after another.

Now that the family had servants to clean up, Mrs. Chen and Li Chunhua only needed to help out here and there.

Gu Zhang and Gu Fei were both in a hurry to return to the city. Gu Zhang had to watch over the goods in the mansion. Gu Fei left Fang Fang behind, taking only Yan’er back with her.

Seeing that everyone was busy with their own tasks and no one was paying him any mind, Gu Erlang quickly slipped into the side room.

Lan Zhi had already eaten and was sitting at her dressing table, removing the golden hairpins from her hair one by one.

Gu Erlang stood behind her, blushing. "I... I’ll help you take them out."

Their eyes met in the mirror, and they both shyly looked away.

After the golden hairpins were all removed, Lan Zhi stood up. "I... I’ll go wash my face."

Gu Erlang reached out and stopped her. "You stay seated. I’ll go get the water."

A new brass basin, a new cloth towel. Lan Zhi had just finished washing her face when Er Lang swept her into his arms. His hot breath tickled her ear as he whispered, "Lan Zhi, let’s go to bed."

Lan Zhi didn’t say a word, allowing Er Lang to carry her to the bed.

Er Lang’s hands trembled as he began to undo her wedding dress.

With her hands against his chest and her face flushed crimson, Lan Zhi whispered, "The canopy... the bed canopy hasn’t been let down—"

The bed canopy was lowered, and so were the bright red satin curtains.

The light of the Dragon and Phoenix Candle filtered faintly through the curtains, casting a soft glow on the bed.

As if on a sacred pilgrimage, Er Lang tremblingly removed Lan Zhi’s wedding dress.

He reached out and gently caressed Lan Zhi’s face. "I will be good to you, Lan Zhi. I will cherish you and be good to you for the rest of my life."

Soon, the sound of soft sobs filled the room, followed by Gu Erlang’s flustered voice. "Does it hurt a lot? I... I’ll be gentler—"

The Dragon and Phoenix Candle burned all night.

Shanzimama woke at the rooster’s crow.

She got up, walked over to the room across the way, and listened for a moment. There was no sound.

She drew some water and began to scrub clothes in the courtyard.

After washing and hanging the clothes to dry, Shanzimama went into the kitchen to make breakfast.

People in Jiangnan mostly ate rice, and it wasn’t expensive. Shanzimama put on a pot of white rice congee and then took out some pickled vegetables from a jar to slice.

Once that was done, she walked to the main hall, intending to wake Shanzi and the others, when she heard the rhythmic creaking of a bed frame coming from inside again.

There was also the sound of Du Juan’s low pleas. "Please, I really can’t take it anymore, I’m begging you— Ah—"

Shanzimama stood at the door for a while, her expression indescribably grim.

The sounds drilled continuously into her ears until Shanzimama finally couldn’t bear it any longer. "Shanzi, the sun is already high in the sky! Get up, eat breakfast, and go find work!"

The sounds from the room stopped for an instant, then the creaking started up again.

Shanzimama sighed and headed back to the kitchen.

A little over a quarter of an hour later, Shanzi finally entered the kitchen, picked up a bowl of congee, and began to drink.

Shanzimama handed him a flatbread. "I have a lot to do today. When you’re in town later and have a moment, remember to buy a pair of Dragon and Phoenix Candles and bring them back."

Shanzi grunted in acknowledgment, finished the flatbread, hitched up the mule, and left.

Only then did Shanzimama get up and go into the room. She found Du Juan lying on the bed, covered by a thin blanket, her eyes vacant and the skin beneath them dark and bruised.