Perfect Match – CH 095

Chapter 95 [Epilogue] Daily Life (1)

At Teng Mansion, in Chengfeng Garden.

After becoming an apprentice, Teng Xiao moved to live with her master, Shen Run, outside the city. However, she returned to her home in the city yesterday afternoon to look through some books on mechanical arts that Shen Run had given her a few years ago.

She returned late yesterday, so she stayed at home.

There was hardly anyone at home now. Her mother went back to her hometown and went to a temple with her aunt from the Yang family. Her brother was mostly away from the mansion, and even she had gone outside the city and rarely came back. The mansion had become quite deserted.

But everyone had their own place to go, and everyone was busy and safe. It was better than being together and being too entangled with each other. When Teng Xiao went to bed that night, it had not snowed yet, but when she woke up the next morning, she saw that the stone roofs of the entire courtyard were covered with a thick layer of snow, like a cotton blanket.

The snowy scenery was pleasant, but she scratched her head.

“Master’s courtyard outside the city is remote, and the road is rugged. How will we get back with this snow?”

The maidservant advised her not to rush and to stay at home for a couple of days until the snow melted. Teng Xiao thought about her master’s poor health and was somewhat worried, but she feared that traveling today would be difficult.

She thought for a moment, then picked up a sword and went to the snowy area in the backyard. Her master always reminded her to practice swordsmanship to strengthen her body, and she could not be lazy today.

However, she had not gone far when she saw several young maidservants gathered in a sheltered corner, chattering animatedly.

The young maidservants loved to gossip, chatting about everything under the sun, their enthusiasm bordering on storytelling.

Teng Xiao had never been interested in such trivial matters, but as she passed by them, she overheard them saying something about “Liumingxuan,” “Second Master,” and “bringing a woman back.”

Teng Xiao stopped abruptly.

Just then, a gust of wind blew snow from the eaves, carrying the whispers of the maids.

“They say it was almost midnight, and Second Master suddenly returned, riding a grey horse, with that woman on it.”

“What did that woman look like? Did anyone see her clearly?”

The speaker shook his head. “I do not know. They say Second Master carried the woman off the horse, and they went very fast, straight to Liumingxuan!”

“And then?”

Someone asked urgently, and Teng Xiao listened intently.

But the people employed at Liumingxuan were all personally selected by Second Master; what happened inside was rarely known to those outside.

However, one of the maids stammered, saying she had overheard a little.

“It’s…it’s…last night, Liumingxuan seemed to ask for water three times, from midnight until dawn this morning…I heard from my godmother that Second Master spent the whole night with the woman he brought back last night!”

Upon hearing this, the maids’ faces all turned bright red, their cheeks as if dripping blood.

But Teng Xiao was different; her face instantly turned pale.

She had been planning to practice her sword in the backyard, but suddenly she turned and charged towards Liumingxuan, sword in hand.

“Second Brother, no, how could Teng Yue do this? How could he betray Sister-in-law like this?!”

*

In Liumingxuan’s main room.

If the sun were out today, it would be high in the sky, but even without the sun, the snowy scenery should not be wasted.

He pulled the exhausted Deng Ruyun out of bed, wrapped her in the blanket, and dressed her.

“Do you not want to go horseback riding outside? The snow scenery outside the city must be magnificent. Or perhaps we could go to the Plum Garden, enjoy wine, admire the plum blossoms, and appreciate the snow—we could have a rare moment of peace and quiet?”

The snow scenery outside the city was indeed beautiful, and the Plum Garden he mentioned was a winery outside the city, renowned for its winter wine and plum blossom viewing.

But Deng Ruyun shook her head at the thought of going outside the city on a snowy day.

Teng Yue continued, “Since you do not want to leave the city, how about our backyard? I can have someone set up a pot; a hot pot meal on a snowy day will keep you warm.”

Deng Ruyun did not understand where his enthusiasm came from. They had clearly—cough cough—only gone to bed properly last night almost at dawn. It had only been a few hours!

Deng Ruyun’s upper and lower eyelids were tightly closed, as if glued together.

At this moment, Teng Yue loosened his grip slightly, and she hugged the blanket and flopped back onto the pillow.

But the man pulled her up and draped his clothes over her.

“I am truly happy today, and it’s such a rare snowy scene… Yunniang!”

Deng Ruyun finally managed to open one eye a crack. He did indeed look radiant, his bright eyes seeming to reflect the white snow outside, shining brilliantly. His face was flushed, as if the imperial edict bestowing upon him the title of Earl of Xianning had arrived in Xi’an that very day.

But Deng Ruyun looked at herself. Without a mirror, she could not see herself, but she just wanted to stick to the bed like a piece of soft dough.

“Are you… are you some kind of ghost in disguise? Have you drained all my life force?” she could not help but ask.

This question made Teng Yue laugh out loud.

The world usually talked about female ghosts absorbing men’s life force, but in her mouth, it was the opposite.

Teng Yue accepted the ghost’s name, draped another garment over her, and carried her from the bed to the dressing table.

“Just wash up; a short walk will wake you up. It’s rare that we both have some free time.”

Normally, either he was busy with military affairs or she was looking after Yuyun Hall. When did they have a chance like this?

But Deng Ruyun just wanted to catch up on sleep today.

Realizing she could not reason with him, she suddenly looked up, her lips brushing against his.

She touched him, and his figure, about to lead her out, froze.

Deng Ruyun blinked and asked softly.

“So, can we not go out?”

Her sleepy eyes held a hint of mischief; especially when she blinked, it was full of a manipulative air.

Teng Yue did not mention going out again for a moment but instead lifted her from the chair onto the dressing table and bit her first.

Deng Ruyun: “…”

Why did a ghost bite?

But the next moment, he was already conquering her.

The general, while fiercely attacking the city, said, “Since Yunniang only wants to stay in the room, then I will not go out either.”

But as he spoke, he began to remove the clothes he had already put on.

Deng Ruyun was startled and quickly grabbed his hand as he tried to loosen his belt.

“If you do not want to go out, then do not go out. Why are you taking off your clothes?”

His belt was fastened around his slender and powerful waist, like a Taoist seal. Deng Ruyun had already experienced the power of his lower body; how could she dare let him remove the seal so easily?

“No, no!” Her drowsiness vanished instantly, half gone.

Teng Yue, seeing her shake her head in fear, laughed again.

“Was it not you who did not want to leave the room?”

He even pressed his lips to hers.

But Deng Ruyun only wanted to catch up on her sleep. She held onto the seal around his waist, refusing to let go, almost wrapping her arms around his waist.

“Calm down!”

But she clung tightly to his waist, and Teng Yue felt he might truly lose his composure.

Just then, a noise suddenly came from the courtyard gate. Someone seemed to have broken in, and the gatekeeper hurriedly tried to stop them.

“Miss? Miss?! Second Master is in his room!”

It was his sister Teng Xiao’s voice.

“Get out of the way! I am looking for him!”

That was quite a boast.

Deng Ruyun and Teng Yue were both startled. The latter wanted to call out and ask someone outside.

But Teng Xiao’s footsteps went straight to the door, and then, with a bang, she kicked the door open and burst in.

Deng Ruyun had not even washed or dressed yet. Seeing Teng Xiao enter like this, she quickly turned and hid behind Teng Yue.

Teng Yue, bewildered by his sister’s actions, covered his wife’s face while glancing at her through the doorway.

Teng Xiao was utterly enraged.

Her sister-in-law had left home to save his second brother. Although she had not decided to return, her brother had brought a woman to Liumingxuan last night and demanded water three times in one night—what kind of behavior was this?!

She looked into the inner room and saw a woman, too ashamed to be seen, hiding behind her brother, who was also protecting her, frowning and asking her questions.

“What are you doing?”

“You are asking me? How could you bring another woman into Liumingxuan? How could you betray my sister-in-law like this?! Are you even a man?!”

Teng Xiao grew increasingly agitated. Thinking of her sister-in-law’s kindness, she suddenly drew her sword and pointed it at Teng Yue.

“Brother, you’ve disappointed me so much!”

She blurted out angrily.

Now, not only was Teng Yue stunned, but Deng Ruyun was also bewildered. She could not help but peek out from behind Teng Yue, looking at his sister, who had rushed in with a sword drawn, furious on her behalf.

When she showed half her face, Teng Xiao immediately froze.

But the next moment, Teng Xiao felt a little dizzy.

“Sister-in-law?”

She scratched her head, then looked again to make sure it was indeed her sister-in-law.

“This… those maids said Second Brother brought a woman back and that he favored her all night. So, the person Second Brother supposedly favored all night was you, Sister-in-law?”

She asked doubtfully, but these words, falling on Deng Ruyun’s ears, nearly made her explode.

What did she mean by favored all night? What kind of lewd talk was this?!

Deng Ruyun’s face instantly burned, and she quickly covered herself with her hands.

How did things get spread like this?

She was shameless; who would buy her? Two ounces a pound…

Deng Ruyun felt utterly humiliated. Teng Yue’s ears burned with embarrassment. He noticed his wife hiding behind him, too ashamed to show herself. Looking at his sister, who was still scratching her head, he could not help but snap angrily.

“How did you become such a brute? How can a young girl like you say such things? Get out of here!”

After saying this, Teng Xiao realized something was amiss. Seeing her brother’s anger, she quickly covered her mouth, turned, and ran out.

This…this…she’d been completely ruined by those maids!

…

About half an hour later, Deng Ruyun finished tidying up and called her back to the room.

Both were somewhat embarrassed. It was Teng Xiao, who had done wrong, who spoke first.

“Sister-in-law, were you frightened? I did not know you were back. Why did you not tell me?”

Deng Ruyun lowered her head and sipped her tea. “I did not know my sister was home either.”

Teng Xiao also lowered her head and sipped her tea. Neither of them dared to look at each other too closely, which made Teng Yue, standing to the side, secretly amused.

Teng Xiao explained that she had only come back to get something, but unfortunately, the snow had stopped her at home. However, she turned to Deng Ruyun.

“And sister-in-law? Did you really come home?”

This question was quite clear; she was asking Deng Ruyun if she had truly returned.

The whole household knew about Deng Ruyun, so what else was there to say?

She hummed in agreement and nodded slightly.

Before her words were even finished, Teng Xiao’s eyes lit up.

“That’s wonderful! That’s wonderful!”

Teng Yue had heard her say this last night, but hearing it again now completely put his mind at ease. But then, Teng Xiao suddenly called out to him.

“Brother, sister-in-law cannot just come back without a word, can she?”

Just as she knew nothing, everyone else was probably equally confused.

As soon as she said this, Teng Yue’s gaze hardened, his expression shifting slightly as he became serious.

“What are you trying to say?”

Teng Xiao’s gaze swept between her brother and sister-in-law twice before she spoke.

“Sister-in-law gave you a divorce agreement before leaving. Now that she’s back, are you not going to properly marry her again?”

After saying this, Teng Yue turned to look at Deng Ruyun.

That was exactly what he intended.

He had been thinking of slowly winning her back, and once she did, he would prepare to properly marry her again.

But he had not had a chance to say it last night.

Now, he looked down at Deng Ruyun and softly asked her.

“What does Yunniang think?”

He asked, and Teng Xiao also looked over.

Deng Ruyun had not expected the conversation to turn to this.

She paused, blinked, looked at the two siblings, and suddenly smiled.

“This matter… I think, let’s just let it go.”