Chapter 277: Chapter 115: Consummation, Part 2

The moment Zhao Jing returned, she closed the book of incense recipes and tucked it under her pillow. As she lay down, she turned to him and said, "Jing, I still owe you a custom incense I haven’t made yet."

Zhao Jing smiled. "I know. I thought you’d forgotten, or were planning to go back on your word."

She had promised to create a special incense just for him, but all she had given him since was an embroidered sachet.

As three or four months went by without a trace of the incense, he’d begun to think she planned to go back on her promise.

’So she wasn’t trying to get out of it, she just didn’t have any inspiration?’

Chen Wanqing nodded. "I always keep the promises I make to you. The only reason I haven’t delivered is that I felt the blends I’ve been developing privately just weren’t worthy of you."

"It is I who am unworthy of your incense."

"That’s not true at all. And I’m not just saying that to flatter you. Those blends were all too common. I felt they didn’t match your temperament."

"What temperament is that? Do tell."

Chen Wanqing indulged him. "Jing, your temperament is pure and austere, like a solitary, resilient stalk of green bamboo. Your character is noble, like the silent moon hanging high in the sky. The incense for you should be just as elegant and noble—serene, but not cold."

This made Zhao Jing chuckle. Smiling, he lifted the covers on his side of the bed and slid in. With a swift, practiced motion, he pulled Chen Wanqing into his arms and held her close.

"Whatever you say, goes. I trust your eye for these things."

He added, "There’s no rush to make the incense. Take your time with it. Make it whenever inspiration strikes."

"I hope to have the incense finished by the time you come back as a Scholar. It can be a surprise for you."

"That surprise doesn’t count, since I already know about it. You’ll have to think of something else. I want a different surprise."

Chen Wanqing lowered her eyelids, hesitating for a moment before asking softly, "Do you only want a surprise when you get back? Or would you... like one now?"

As she spoke the last few words, an uncontrollable tremor entered her voice, and a fetching blush spread across her cheeks.

A man as sharp as Zhao Jing, he understood instantly what kind of surprise she was talking about.

Her monthly courses had ended some time ago. Logically, they should have consummated their marriage by now, but they hadn’t.

On the day her courses ended, they had both prepared themselves, a silent understanding between them. But it didn’t happen that day.

An aunt, a close relative, had fallen critically ill. She was on her deathbed, and the entire clan had been summoned.

But the aunt didn’t draw her last breath. She clung to life for another day, and not only did she not pass on, she actually rallied.

She was still alive even now, though she was clinging to life by a thread.

Although she hadn’t been able to take even rice water since yesterday, she had managed to hold on for many days.

In the midst of this, Zhao Jing had also been summoned to the county seat by the County Magistrate for several days to discuss expanding the scale of local livestock farming.

He had already said all he could on the subject and truly had nothing more to add.

Unfortunately, the County Magistrate was convinced Zhao Jing had a brilliant mind. He not only kept him by his side at the county government office but also insisted he accompany him to the surrounding towns and villages in search of veteran cattlemen, shepherds, and swineherds.

In truth, Zhao Jing had been kept at Mr. Cheng’s side for several days.

So, even on the few days when the aunt’s condition was relatively stable, the two of them still hadn’t been able to consummate their marriage.

But if they didn’t consummate their marriage tonight, they would have to wait until Zhao Jing returned from the Prefecture.

He would be gone for at least a month, possibly even two or three. That was far too long.

Zhao Jing’s throat bobbed.

His fingers trembled as they rose to cup Chen Wanqing’s enchanting, luminous cheek. His voice was husky, like that of a traveler on the brink of death in the desert, filled with the suppressed excitement of finally seeing an oasis.

"Wanqing... do you know what you are saying?"

Chen Wanqing’s eyelashes fluttered like a butterfly’s wings as she looked up at Zhao Jing, but as if scalded by his gaze, she immediately dropped her eyes again.

"Of course I know what I’m saying. This has been delayed for a long time, after all. But if you’re worried about your journey tomorrow... that this might sap your strength... we can wait until you get back."

"No. It has to be tonight!" 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Zhao Jing suddenly gripped her chin, forcing her to look up at him.

In the very next instant, however, his expression shifted to one of regret and anguish. "Wanqing, you can’t torment me like this."

"How am I tormenting you? Is finally consummating our marriage a torment? If you’re not willing, I won’t force you."

Zhao Jing suddenly buried his face in the crook of her neck, his voice muffled and thick with emotion. "You’re provoking me on purpose. You know perfectly well that the thought of this has been driving me mad."