Eighteen thousand and eighteen

Pain—headache, aching waist and back, thighs sore and trembling weakly, utterly drained. Every part of her body throbbed with discomfort.

Shen Shuyao was roused from sleep by the pain. She turned with difficulty and lay flat on her back. Upon opening her eyes, bright light flooded in. Rubbing them, she tried to speak but found her throat dry and hoarse.

Touching her neck, she thought to herself that alcohol was no good. Having drunk a bit, she now felt miserable upon waking. Oh, how her legs ached. There was also a dull pain elsewhere.

She looked down, but her clothes obscured the view. Was Xie Yi trying to take advantage of her? The thought arose and was quickly dismissed. Xie Yi wouldn’t exploit her like that. Besides, if anything had happened, how could she not remember?

Lowering her head, she sighed—probably just the aftereffects of too much wine. Next time, no matter how upset she felt, she would resolutely refuse to drink.

“Suihua, Sui... cough,” she coughed dryly.

Fortunately, Suihua had been standing by the door and hurried in upon hearing her. Seeing her cough, she brought a glass of water.

“Madam, please have some water.”

Shen Shuyao took the cup and drank, unaware of Suihua’s sly smile—a smile heavy with hidden meaning. She looked up at her, signaling for another cup, then a third. Only then did she feel somewhat relieved.

She wanted to ask about last night, but raising her eyes, she caught Suihua watching her with that same ambiguous smile. She couldn’t help but ask, “What are you smiling at?”

“Nothing, I’m not smiling,” the girl said, lying outright.

“I saw you smile, and now you’re lying.”

The little maid was shameless, lying to her face, and when caught, turned away to stifle laughter until her cheeks flushed, pretending Shen Shuyao hadn’t noticed.

Shen Shuyao narrowed her eyes and told her to leave. If she saw that again, she wouldn’t let the girl off.

Unexpectedly, at lunch, Zhiwei and Lingchun wore the same sly smiles, leaving Shen Shuyao baffled. When she asked what was so amusing, they shook their heads, denying anything, yet still could not suppress their laughter.

That enigmatic amusement made her shudder. She lost her appetite.

Zhiwei glanced at her slender neck and smiled teasingly, “Madam, would you like to rest for a while?”

She was indeed weary; after sitting a moment, her waist and legs ached too much to move. She nodded and lay down on the couch. Her expression darkened as she warned Zhiwei, “You’re acting strange today. If you don’t tell me what’s going on, I’ll dock a month’s wages.”

Zhiwei was a first-class maid, earning two taels a month, so losing a month’s pay was a serious blow. Her smile faded to seriousness, but only briefly before she bit her lip and smiled again.

“Madam, you should ask the master.”

“Ah? Ask him what?”

She rubbed her waist, recalling she’d drunk last night and then forgotten everything after getting drunk. Perhaps Xie Yi had carried her back to her room. Judging from Zhiwei’s expression, that was likely. No wonder they were all smiling awkwardly—probably laughing at her.

Shen Shuyao wasn’t embarrassed. She waved her off, saying she had drunk too much and her head still hurt.

Soon, she fell asleep again, restless and half-conscious, seeming to hear footsteps in the room. Too drowsy to open her eyes, she sensed the footsteps pause beside her. Then her cheek felt damp, and a gentle breeze brushed beneath her collarbone, soothing her.

She murmured softly and slept soundly.

—

Waking sticky and uncomfortable, Shen Shuyao felt sweat on her collarbone and climbed from the couch. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, clear eyes met hers—Xie Yi sat inside drinking tea. Hearing the movement, he tilted his head, expression unreadable, glanced at her, then returned to his cup. “You’re awake.”

She responded faintly and saw him bring her a cup of water. He was considerate. Shen Shuyao wasn’t awkward; when someone showed kindness, she accepted it, especially since Xie Yi rarely showed tenderness and she could handle it.

Looking up at him, she asked, “You brought me back to my room last night?”

“You don’t remember?”

His eyes inspected her openly, deep and inscrutable, as if trying to bore a hole into her. After a long look, he smiled meaningfully, unsettling her.

She shrugged. “I’m a poor drinker. Once I’m drunk, I forget everything.”

Xie Yi raised an eyebrow in agreement. She was indeed bad with alcohol and prone to drunken antics, but he liked that wild side.

“Think carefully.”

Think about what? Had she done something improper?

—

That single sentence haunted Shen Shuyao the whole afternoon. No matter how she tried, she couldn’t recall anything. She gave up—what could have happened?

She said so, but her heart remained unsettled. At dinner, she was distracted, nibbling on her chopsticks or sneaking glances at Xie Yi, uneasy and sensing something wrong.

Swallowing nervously, she asked, “What did I do last night?”

Xie Yi’s brow arched as he smiled, seemingly in a good mood with a good appetite. “Asking about Xiao Xiao.”

She parted her lips, then closed them again. So that was it. No wonder his expression had been so strange.

“How did you answer?”

“Ah Si likes Xiao Xiao. They often meet in secret.”

That explained everything clearly.

She widened her eyes in surprise, licked her lips, and leaned over. “Why didn’t I know? When did this start?”

“About a year ago.”

“A year?”

Before her marriage into the Xie family, they had been seeing each other privately, hidden so well she hadn’t heard a whisper. Judging by Xie Yi’s words, those previous times she saw Xiao Xiao, it was Ah Si, not him. So Xie Yi didn’t like Xiao Xiao and wouldn’t take her as a concubine.

The heavy weight pressing on her chest for days finally lifted, and she felt a deep relief.

Catching her smile out of the corner of his eye, Xie Yi’s gaze darkened slightly, lips curling. “Wine helps with sleep. Want some?”

Mentioning drinking made Shen Shuyao shake her head, uninterested; her head still throbbed.

“No.”

Xie Yi replied quietly, a trace of disappointment in his tone.

After dinner, instead of retreating to his study, Xie Yi sat in the room drinking tea, his eyes flicking to her often, making her uneasy. Tentatively, she asked if he wasn’t busy.

Surprisingly, he said no. In the past, even if not busy, he would always go to his study after dinner to read or practice calligraphy. What was going on today?

More strangely, Xie Yi asked if she was thirsty. When she said yes, he immediately stood and offered to pour her wine to quench her thirst. Shen Shuyao stared at him in shock, muttering, “Are you crazy?”

“No.”

If it weren’t still early, and if she weren’t unable to sleep, she would have closed her eyes to avoid looking at him.

Turning to lie on her side, the intense gaze from behind made her flush, heating her back and cheeks fiercely. She took a deep breath to ignore him and returned to reading her book.

After some time, sleepiness overcame her. She tossed the book aside and staggered toward the bed.

Closing her eyes, fragments of memory flashed suddenly, making her open them wide. She was momentarily stunned, then closed them again as the images became clearer.

Staring at the ceiling, she dared not sleep, bewildered at how such licentious and wanton scenes invaded her mind. Her breathing quickened. Before she realized it, Xie Yi had climbed onto the bed beside her.

Nervously, she looked at him. Her red lips parted as she mustered courage to ask, “Last night, did we...?”

Xie Yi’s face lit up with delight, reaching out his arm. “You remember.”

It was true.

—

The curtains fluttered in the breeze, sometimes fast, sometimes slow. The oil lamp beside flickered dimly, casting a hazy, ambiguous light.

The orange glow painted blurred shadows on the floor, growing more indistinct and suggestive.

She lowered her head, hands fumbling clumsily at something, working for a long time. Nearby came restrained breathing, growing increasingly urgent.

Her small hands struggled slowly and painstakingly with the object. A fragrant scent wafted near her nose, growing richer—a faint hint of sandalwood mixed with musk, surprisingly pleasant. The scent filled every breath.

Xie Yi pressed his lips tightly, jaw clenched, nearly unable to restrain a roar.

“Wine is a good thing,” he exclaimed softly, eyes open.

Her pale skin stood out starkly against the dark night.

Shen Shuyao stayed silent, fearing he might think her frivolous or wanton. Yet at this moment, she seemed to release her nature freely, doing whatever felt good.

—

Like a warbling song, endless and sweet.

Her voice was naturally soft, gentle even when speaking seriously. Now, it broke into intermittent coos, deeply seductive.

Shen Shuyao grew tired of the game and began directing him, “Change, change position.”

To the drunken man, this was a joyous surprise. A wild, primal desire surged through him, his waist and abdomen taut as stone, ready to carve open heaven and earth.

“From behind.”

Watching her movements, Xie Yi’s eyes reddened further. Usually composed and restrained, now he was like a reckless youth, throwing caution to the wind, abandoning all daytime calm and control.

“Xie Yi, Xie Yi.”

“Brother, brother, master...”

“Why aren’t you speaking?”

Xie Yi chuckled. Sweat dripped from his chin onto her back. He teased her, telling her to behave at this moment.

Hearing “brother” from her lips was rare—no one had ever called him that. It was peculiar, especially now, with such suggestive and provocative undertones.

Tonight, the man was extraordinarily vigorous, seemingly tireless.

“Madam, you really know your ways.”

An hour later, exhausted, Shen Shuyao murmured, “Next time, you kiss me.”

No need for next time; Xie Yi kissed her forehead at once.

Displeased, she grabbed his hand and said, “Here.”

He laughed heartily, kissing her cheek multiple times. “Who taught you that?”

Her only answer was even breathing.

—

Recalling last night, Shen Shuyao blushed and hid in a corner. “No, no, I was just drunk.”

“Xie Yi, believe me, I’m not a frivolous or wanton woman.”

She hurried to explain, fearing he’d misunderstand her as loose. She insisted it was only the wine.

Xie Yi didn’t care at all. He was still enchanted by last night and wished every day could be like that.

Pulling her into his embrace, his deep voice whispered in her ear, “We are husband and wife. There’s no need for secrets. Honesty is the foundation for lasting.”

“Want more wine?” He adored her drunken self.

She shook her head, finally understanding why he kept offering her wine tonight.

“Don’t mention last night again, and no more drinking.”

“All right, call me brother.”

“Xie Yi.”

Embarrassed beyond words, she wouldn’t look at him for days.

The man chuckled deeply, his chest rising and falling with a heartbeat like thunder.

“The foot of the bed seems loose? It creaks when I move.”

Xie Yi dismissed it, “We used it hard last night. I’ll fix it tomorrow.”

She hit him in anger, covering her face to hide her shame.