Chapter 58

When Bai Lian woke up, the dazzling sunlight outside jolted him upright in bed.

After the sudden movement, he realized his whole body ached. He felt limp all over, with barely any strength. He went to the bedside and lifted the curtain, morning light already filtering through the lattice windows and scattering across the room.

At a glance, he saw Ning Muyan in nothing but underclothes, one hand holding a book, the other marking essays. His dark hair fell to his waist as he sat straight-backed at the desk.

Who knew how long he had been there.

Bai Lian smiled, feeling an unexpected sense of peace at being watched over like this.

Then he suddenly remembered that today they had to serve tea. At this hour, he still had not gotten up—it was inevitable he would blame Ning Muyan. “Young master has such refined interests. If your students knew you were grading essays on the first day of marriage, there’d probably be a couple fewer wastrels in the academy.”

Hearing him, Ning Muyan put down the papers. Seeing the person half-sitting on the bed, he smiled and went over, sitting beside him and rubbing his hair. “Sleep well?”

Bai Lian elbowed him lightly. “Do you even know what day it is today? You didn’t wake me up—are you deliberately trying to make Mother and Grandmother say I don’t know the rules?”

Ning Muyan helped him up, smiling. “If I’d gone to Bao’an Hall at dawn as usual to pay my respects, Grandmother probably wouldn’t have been very pleased.”

Bai Lian didn’t understand. Sitting at the dressing table, he tilted his head to look at Ning Muyan. “Why not?”

Ning Muyan picked up the wooden comb and began to smooth Bai Lian’s hair. “She’s long been eager to dandle a grandchild. If I went early on the first day of marriage to offer greetings and tea, the propriety would be fulfilled—but wouldn’t that also make it clear I lacked ability?”

Bai Lian’s face reddened at once. He furrowed his brows and snatched the comb to do his own hair. “You’re always talking nonsense.”

Ning Muyan laughed, then summoned the servants to attend them. After washing, grooming, and changing clothes, Bai Lian felt much more refreshed, and they hurried off to Bao’an Hall to pay their respects.

Following Ning Muyan out and seeing how high the sun already was, Bai Lian felt embarrassed. Even back when he worked in the residence as a physician, he had never slept in so late. Along the way to Bao’an Hall, whenever they passed maids or servants, he felt awkward—while Ning Muyan, aside from the extra joy of a newlywed on his face, showed not a trace of shame.

Bai Lian thought that he never should have indulged Ning Muyan so much the night before, nor should he have gone back to sleep twice so early in the room, giving him material to tease about.

Naturally, Bai Lian also had the decency not to mention that he himself had been bewitched by good looks.

In any case, with a nervous heart they finally reached Bao’an Hall. The old madam was inside the main room, having tea and pastries with Tan Yun. Hearing that the newlyweds had arrived, she stopped talking and smiled, inviting the two of them in.

Bai Lian followed the newlywed protocol and served tea to the two elders. Tan Yun looked much the same as ever—her pretty face carrying a hint of authority. After accepting the tea, she delivered the customary words of instruction to the couple and gave Bai Lian a box of meeting gifts.

Next came serving tea to the old madam. In truth, Bai Lian was not very afraid of Tan Yun. Because she was not close to Ning Muyan, even if she felt displeased, for the sake of the Shi family and Ning Muyan she would not dare make things difficult for him. At most, she would put on a mother-in-law’s airs, but never go too far.

What Bai Lian worried about was the old madam. He always felt that his marriage to Ning Muyan had caught her off guard, and now, coming to pay respects so late, was terribly discourteous.

While offering the tea, Bai Lian stole a glance at the old madam. He saw no sign of displeasure—on the contrary, she looked radiant, truly the picture of someone buoyed by happy events.

Seeing that she was not angry about their late arrival to pay respects and serve tea, Bai Lian finally let out a long breath. Thinking of the old madam’s past special guidance, perhaps what Ning Muyan had said was indeed right.

“Now that Muyan has finally married, a great stone has fallen from my heart,” the old madam said with a smile. “When I meet your parents in the afterlife, I’ll have something to say to them.”

She continued, beaming, “From now on, the two of you must live in harmony, supporting and understanding each other. Of course, the Ning family is small in number. Even though academy affairs are busy, you must still keep the matter of descendants in mind.”

Before Bai Lian could respond, Ning Muyan spoke first. “Yes, Grandmother. I also plan to have a child with Bai Lian sooner rather than later.”

Bai Lian shot Ning Muyan a discreet look. This man was so impatient—almost as if he were the one who had married into the family. It wasn’t like he was the one who could bear children.

“Yes,” Bai Lian answered.

After finishing her admonitions, the old madam beckoned and also gave them a box of wedding gifts.

It was already late. After serving tea and chatting for a while in Bao’an Hall, it was nearly noon, so the family stayed there to eat.

It was Bai Lian’s first time dining at the Ning family’s main table.

Though yesterday had been the wedding, he hadn’t touched a single good dish. Now, seeing a table full of lavishly prepared family fare—and after having expended no small amount of effort the night before—his stomach was already growling.

Still, he was too embarrassed to eat freely. He maintained a proper, composed demeanor and only picked at the two dishes placed in front of him.

“Zhengyu,” the old madam said during the meal, half in jest, “you’re still young, and this is the right age to focus on your studies. But your grandmother hopes you’ll marry early once you’re of age—only then will the household truly feel lively.”

Tan Yun echoed her with a smile. “Seeing your elder brother married, Mother has begun to look forward to your happy occasion as well.”

Ning Zhengyu was usually rather aloof and proud in speech, but being teased by the family like this made his entire face flush red. He hurriedly replied, “It’s still far too early for me. I still need to be like my elder brother—earn scholarly honors first, establish myself, and only then think of marriage.”

Seeing both masters teasing Ning Zhengyu, Bai Lian quickly reached out with his chopsticks and took a piece of roast duck that was just a little farther away.

As he savored the crisp, fragrant but not greasy duck, enjoying himself, he saw Ning Muyan extend his long arm. The sweet-and-sour fish that Bai Lian couldn’t quite reach but had been craving landed neatly in his bowl.

Bai Lian looked at Ning Muyan and saw that he wasn’t looking at him at all, but listening attentively to the old madam and Tan Yun. That only made Bai Lian feel even happier inside.

The sweet-and-sour fish hadn’t even reached his mouth yet, but it already seemed to taste sweet.

It was a rare occasion—a family meal filled with laughter and harmony.

In the afternoon, Ning Muyan still had to go to the academy to teach. The wedding date hadn’t been ideal; it should have been held during the academy’s rest days. Unfortunately, the auspicious date chosen by the families didn’t fall on a rest day, so the newlywed academy head had to leave his husband on the very first day of marriage and go face one infuriating student after another.

“How about you come with me to the academy?” Ning Muyan suggested. “You can wait for me in the headmaster’s office, or go to the medical hall—it’s up to you.”

Qingmo had already packed the book case and came to summon Ning Muyan.

Inside the room, Ning Muyan found fault with this and that, hoping Bai Lian would take the initiative to ask him not to go to the academy—or at least to accompany him. But the person who had just returned from Bao’an Hall had buried himself in the bed and refused to move.

In the end, Ning Muyan had to say the thing he most wanted to say himself.

Bai Lian noticed that all the bedding and sheets in the room had been replaced with new ones, and his ears reddened slightly. Only then did he come back to himself at Ning Muyan’s words, and he shook his head very seriously. “I don’t want to go.”

His whole body was sore and weak. Who would want to go to the academy? Leaving aside the physical discomfort, if word got out, it would be enough to make the city’s noble ladies laugh their teeth off.

Even newlyweds weren’t supposed to cling to each other like this. Otherwise, wouldn’t people say that if his husband had to attend court, he’d trail after him there as well?

Most importantly, he wanted to lie in bed and sleep some more.

Ning Muyan walked to the bedside and looked at the person sprawled there. “Have you grown roots in the bed or something?”

Bai Lian tilted his head to look at Ning Muyan’s resentful expression. “Whose fault is it that you have to go to the academy today?”

Seeing that Ning Muyan didn’t speak, Bai Lian sat up again, took his hand, and coaxed him gently. “You only need to teach one class this afternoon, and then it’ll be the academy’s rest period. It’ll pass quickly.”

Ning Muyan didn’t respond, but his expression did soften.

“Go on, hurry up.”

Ning Muyan looked at the person who was perfectly content to order him around. He felt that before marriage, Bai Lian had seemed far more attentive to him—if he didn’t go to the academy, Bai Lian would come look for him on his own. Now that they were married, it was a different story; no amount of calling would move him.

“They say once you’ve got it, you stop cherishing it,” Ning Muyan said with grievance. “That’s exactly the kind of person you are.” With that, he suddenly bent down, wrapped his arms around Bai Lian, pushed him into the quilt, and kissed him for a while. “Then wait for me to come back.”

Seeing that storybook-perfect face looking all aggrieved, Bai Lian reached up and rubbed it, nodding obediently. “I’ll cook noodles for you again tonight.”

Ning Muyan neither agreed nor disagreed, but he did get off him.

“Come to the academy to pick me up before class ends.”

Without waiting for an answer, he went out.

Bai Lian watched his figure turn and leave—the broad shoulders, narrow waist, jade-like face, and long legs—and suddenly pressed his lips together, smiling so broadly it was almost indecent.

Worth it.

He touched his lips, still tingling with lingering warmth.

Marriage was wonderful.

All the spring dreams from his previous life had turned into reality—embarrassing, and yet so very happy.

To keep Ning Muyan from finding out just how delighted he was, Bai Lian waited until the man had gone before rolling around on the bed to his heart’s content.

…

Life after the wedding was calm and even. There were the occasional minor frictions, but they were no more than small pebbles tossed into water that was otherwise still.

Aside from his old profession, Bai Lian gradually grew accustomed to the daily ritual of paying respects. Invitations to elegant gatherings were delivered to the residence from time to time, and he slowly transformed into someone wealthy yet far from idle.

Beyond matters of the inner household and noble ladies, he also began learning to read account books and manage the family’s businesses. His days became far busier than before.

Bai Lian figured that all they had really done was replace the time they used to spend sneaking around to meet in secret with proper, respectable affairs. After all, now they no longer needed to travel far just to see one another or steal a single glance.

By June, the weather grew scorching, and the farming season began. Many students at the academy came from farming families, so as usual, they were given time off for the harvest.

With some free time on his hands, Ning Muyan suggested taking Bai Lian outside the city to burn incense for the Bodhisattva’s birthday at a temple beyond the walls.

“I remember you never used to believe in ghosts or gods,” Bai Lian said. “How did you suddenly think of going to the temple to offer incense?”

The temple was surrounded by ancient trees, their canopies blocking out the sky. Beneath the shade, it was as cool as if ice basins had been set out in the residence.

In the spring, Bai Lian had eaten well and slept well, and with such a considerate husband, he had put on some weight. Come summer, the heat dulled his appetite and he slimmed down again.

If not for hearing that the temple’s vegetarian meals were especially delicious, he wouldn’t have bothered braving the summer heat to come out.

But once he arrived and felt how cool it was, he found that he quite liked the place.

“I didn’t believe before,” Ning Muyan said, “but then you returned to my side.”

Hearing this, Bai Lian glanced at Ning Muyan. Yes—they had returned to each other.

Tenderness filled Ning Muyan’s eyes. He reached out and took Bai Lian’s hand, the two of them walking side by side as they lifted their gaze toward the hundred-step staircase ahead.

Even in a vast sea of people, as long as they held tightly to each other’s hands, they would never be separated again.

From here on, step by step, moving forward—no matter how uneven or difficult the stairs might be, they would always be climbing upward.

-The End-