Chapter 210: Xiao Qiao’s Choice
Gan Ning looked at her for a moment and smiled, “Go back to your own courtyard tonight! Rest well in the evening, and tomorrow you’ll take over for Yun Qing. You won’t be able to relax until the wet nurse arrives.”
“I sleep in the small room and rest just as well. The main thing is that tomorrow morning it’ll be convenient for me to serve Husband as he washes up.”
Two months ago, Xu Wei had caught a cold for a few days, and Xiao Qiao had come to relieve her. She had also stayed in the small room for a few nights.
Gan Ning nodded, “That’s fine too! Go prepare the bedding. I’m a bit tired today and want to rest early.”
Xiao Qiao hurried upstairs to make the bed for Gan Ning. Gan Ning called from downstairs again, “Later, arrange some hot water. I want to soak my feet properly.”
“Got it!”
Naturally, Xiao Qiao didn’t need to fetch the hot water herself. Soon, rough servant girls carried in several large buckets of hot water.
Xiao Qiao gently washed Gan Ning’s feet and dried them with a dry cloth. Gan Ning stood up with a smile, “You go wash up yourself! I’ll go up and rest first.”
Gan Ning went upstairs. Xiao Qiao also removed her hairpins, rolled up her sleeves, poured a basin of hot water, and began washing up herself.
After busying herself for a while, Xiao Qiao finally went upstairs. Gan Ning had already lain down. The weather was cold, and his large bed had panels on all four sides like a small room, with the panel door slightly ajar.
Xiao Qiao didn’t dare go over. She quietly entered the small room and lay down. Xiao Qiao felt both expectant and nervous in her heart. It was now late November, and in another month it would be New Year’s Eve. Older Sister had long promised her that New Year’s Eve would be the night of her consummation.
“Just one more month!”
Xiao Qiao sighed softly. She thought of how Xu Wei and Husband were together, their actions so intimate and natural, the deep affection in Husband’s eyes for her. When he looked at her, though there was a smile, his gaze was clearly different—there was no love in his eyes.
How she longed for Husband to look at her with deep love too!
She had to take that step, or she would never receive Husband’s true affection.
In truth, Xiao Qiao was already prepared in her heart. In this era, girls could marry at thirteen. She would be seventeen after the new year.
Until late at night, Xiao Qiao still couldn’t sleep. She finally got up and quietly came to the front of Gan Ning’s panel bed. The panel door was still ajar. She opened the door, lifted the warm quilt, and lay down inside.
Gan Ning was in deep sleep, breathing evenly. Xiao Qiao lay beside him, feeling a bit restrained. Finally, she mustered her courage and hugged his waist from behind.
She finally held Husband’s warm body. At this moment, Xiao Qiao felt like crying. This was her husband! She had become his woman at twelve, nearly five years ago, and this was the first time she lay beside him, holding her man.
She was truly foolish, delaying so many years over some so-called emotional knot.
‘Xiao Qiao, you are the most foolish woman in the world!’
Xiao Qiao pressed her face against his back, and tears slowly welled up.
At this moment, Gan Ning turned over. Xiao Qiao felt warm lips press against her forehead, and a gentle voice sounded in her ear.
“Why are you crying?”
“Husband, I’ve missed so many years. I should have been with you long ago,” Xiao Qiao choked out.
Gan Ning pulled her into his arms and gently stroked her face with a smile, “All three of you are women I like. In my heart, perhaps Older Sister is a bit more important, but I like you and Yun Qing, A Yu just the same. We’re not in a hurry—take it slow. Sooner or later, things will fall into place naturally.”
“Husband, take me tonight!”
Gan Ning shook his head, “Not tonight. I’ll give you a proper wedding night on New Year’s Eve, alright?”
Xiao Qiao pressed her pretty face tightly against Husband’s chest, “Husband, hold me tight!”
Gan Ning held her tightly in his arms and said softly, “Sleep now!”
For the first time, Xiao Qiao slept so sweetly in her Husband’s arms. The last trace of barrier in her heart quietly vanished.
……….
The next day before dawn, Xu Wei quietly returned to the study and found the main door unexpectedly unlocked. A sudden unease stirred in her heart. Had someone entered last night?
She entered the study, picked up the lantern, and went straight to the second floor, all the way to the bedside. Only then did she see Xiao Qiao sleeping sweetly in Husband’s arms.
“So it was A Yu!” Xu Wei secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
“Yun Qing, is that you?” Xiao Qiao also woke up.
“It’s me. You forgot to lock the door last night. I thought… never mind, you sleep!”
Xiao Qiao quickly got up and carefully got out of bed without disturbing Husband. She returned to the small room to put on her dress and fur coat.
“Did you two do it last night?” Xu Wei asked with a smile.
Xiao Qiao blushed and shook her head hurriedly, “Husband said he’ll give me a proper wedding night on New Year’s Eve!”
Xu Wei nodded, “It’s too cold to sleep here in winter, and not convenient either. From now on, let Husband sleep in our courtyard! We’ll alternate every other day, okay?”
Xu Wei had actually long wanted Husband to sleep in her room, but she worried Xiao Qiao would be unhappy, so she hadn’t dared mention it. Now that Xiao Qiao could sleep with Husband so openly, she could bring it up.
Xiao Qiao nodded lightly, “Okay, it’s really inconvenient here!”
The two busied themselves together, lighting the fire, brewing tea, and having rough servant girls fetch hot water. They washed up first. At this time, Gan Ning got up, and Xiao Qiao hurried upstairs to serve Husband as he rose.
She served Husband as he relieved himself and could finally face it openly.
……
After breakfast, Gan Ning came to Da Qiao’s room and happened to meet his mother-in-law Madam Yang. Madam Yang was immersed in Buddhist affairs and only learned of her eldest daughter’s childbirth in the evening.
So she had hurried over before dawn today to visit her daughter.
Seeing her son-in-law enter, Madam Yang quickly stood up and smiled at her daughter, “I’ll come see you again when I return!”
Da Qiao smiled and nodded, “Mother, you go ahead!”
Madam Yang curtsied to Gan Ning and then hurried off.
Gan Ning stepped forward and gazed at his son sleeping sweetly in the cradle, wearing a little hat, his small face rosy and plump.
Da Qiao said softly, “The little one is very good. He only woke once last night. Yun Qing changed his diaper in the morning, and Mother changed it once too.”
“Has Doctor Liu come to check?”
“He has. He said the child is completely normal and very healthy, but my milk is too little. The child runs out before he’s full, which will leave him hungry.”
“Don’t worry. The wet nurse will arrive today. Her milk is plentiful and can feed the child.”
Da Qiao breathed a sigh of relief, “That’s perfect!”
Gan Ning sat on the bedside, held his wife’s hand, and asked gently, “How did you sleep last night?”
“I slept well, thanks to Yun Qing. She barely slept all night, watching the child. Doctor Liu said the first night is very important for the child—someone must watch him and notify her immediately if there’s any abnormality.”
Gan Ning nodded. He hadn’t known there was such a thing.
“Yun Qing really worked hard.”
Da Qiao smiled and asked, “How was A Yu last night?”
“She came to sleep with me in the middle of the night.”
Da Qiao looked at Gan Ning in surprise. Gan Ning smiled, “Don’t overthink it. It’s just like when you first started. I’m thinking of giving her a proper wedding night on New Year’s Eve.”
Da Qiao said happily, “Looks like she’s finally gotten past her entanglement. I’ll arrange it then!”
“Are you sure she’s ready?”
“Of course she is. She’ll be seventeen after the new year. How many girls are unmarried at seventeen?”
At this time, Xu Wei and Xiao Qiao brought in breakfast. Gan Ning smiled, “Then I’ll head to the official residence first. I’ll come back early this afternoon.”
Gan Ning leaned down, kissed his son’s little cheek, and then hurried off.
