Remarried to a top-tier playboy, her reborn ex-husband is filled with regret.

Gu Jinghuai didn't even glance at her, turned around and rushed into the side room next door, locking the door with a "bang".

Su Yuyan lay on the ground, staring blankly at the tightly closed door.

She didn't understand. The medicine was prepared according to the madam's prescription, so the dosage must have been quite high. How could this be the result?

Soon, heavy, labored breathing came from inside the room, suppressed and rapid, like the low growl of a trapped beast.

Su Yuyan's face turned pale instantly, and she froze on the spot.

The voice grew clearer and clearer, piercing her heart like a needle.

My cousin would rather... rather take care of it himself than touch her?

This realization was like a bucket of ice water poured over her from head to toe, making her shiver all over.

She always thought that as long as she married into the family, she could win over her cousin's heart with a little bit of skill.

But now she realizes that in her cousin's eyes, she doesn't even deserve this much dignity.

The sounds of panting came in waves from the side room, and after about an hour, they finally fell completely silent.

Gu Jinghuai leaned against the door, all his strength drained away.

After the heat subsided, a deeper fatigue followed; my arms ached so much I could barely lift them, and even my fingertips trembled.

He closed his eyes, but his mind kept drifting to Yun Shuyao.

In her past life, she often had a pale complexion and complained of feeling weak, but he always thought she was just being dramatic.

At that time, he thought that with so many servants in the mansion, Yun Shuyao was just in charge of the accounts, so how tiring could she be?

But now he understands that the exhaustion of being bogged down in trivial matters, being harassed by elders, and being schemed against by one's spouse is something that seeps into one's very bones.

In her previous life, Yun Shuyao had to deal with her mother's pickiness, fill the family's deficit, and cope with his bad temper.

Back then, no one ever asked her if she was tired.

And what about yourself?

They took her efforts for granted, and even thought she was being dramatic when she needed understanding the most.

"Yun Shuyao..."

He murmured the name softly, his voice hoarse.

Su Yuyan had already run away crying outside the door. The wind under the corridor carried crabapple petals, which landed on his cold hand like a belated tear.

He finally tasted the bitter fruit of his actions, a bitterness a hundred or a thousand times greater than that ginseng soup with added ingredients.

Zhenbei Palace.

As dawn broke, a bluish-gray light shone through the window paper.

Xiao Fang had just returned from the martial arts arena, covered in sweat. As soon as he entered the room, he took off his outer robe and casually tossed it onto the back of a chair, revealing his half-open inner garment.

As he turned around, Yun Shuyao came in from the outer room and suddenly stopped in her tracks.

The morning light fell precisely on him, illuminating his strong, muscular waist.

Unlike the pale complexion of a frail scholar, his skin was a healthy, wheat-colored hue honed from years of martial arts training.

The waistline is neatly tapered down, and the abdominal muscles are hidden in the half-open collar.

It rises and falls gently with each breath, like a piece of carefully polished jade, flowing with a sense of power.

She was so engrossed in watching that she forgot to restrain herself.

"Is it pretty?"

The sudden sound startled her, and she immediately turned her face away in embarrassment.

Xiao Fang had already walked up to her without her noticing, a roguish smile playing on his lips, his eyes lingering mischievously on her flushed cheeks.

"I didn't... I didn't see anything..."

Yun Shuyao hurriedly tried to explain, but her ears were so hot they could fry an egg on them. Her words only made things worse.

"I'll have the maid fetch you some hot water so you can wash yourself."

Yun Shuyao turned to run away, but he gently grabbed her wrist.

Xiao Fang's fingertips, calloused from martial arts training, caressed her skin, causing a subtle, tingling itch.

"What are you hiding from?"

The man leaned down, his voice low, as if he were whispering something.

"What part of my body haven't you seen before? Now you're embarrassed?"

"Don't say those things..."

Her face flushed and her heart raced at his words. She tried to break free, but Xiao Fang grabbed her chin with his other hand and gently turned her back.

The man's face was very close, his breath brushing against her nose, carrying a refreshing scent after his morning exercise.

"Look at me."

Xiao Fang spoke, the playfulness in his eyes gradually fading, replaced by a more serious expression.

"Shuyao, I am your husband. Look at me, it's only natural."

Xiao Fang grabbed her hand and pressed it against his waist and abdomen.

When her fingertips touched that warm skin, Yun Shuyao tried to pull her hand away as if she had been burned, but he held it down.

The touch was as firm as she had imagined, the muscles taut yet elastic, like a drawn bow, full of life.

"Look."

Xiao Fang lowered his head, his nose brushing against her forehead, his voice tinged with amusement.

"You like it too, don't you?"

Yun Shuyao burst out laughing at his shameless bluntness.

The shyness in her heart dissipated, and she dared to look up at him.

The morning light fell into the man's open shirt, making his wheat-colored skin appear even brighter.

Xiao Fang's abdominal muscles rose and fell gently with his breathing, creating a perfect combination of strength and beauty.

"Yes, it looks pretty good."

Yun Shuyao whispered, then felt embarrassed and quickly buried her face in his chest.

Xiao Fang chuckled softly, his chest trembling with laughter, and hugged her even tighter.

"That's more like it."

The man lowered his head and kissed the top of her head.

"You can watch it whenever you want from now on, no need to hide."

Between the two of us, there's no need for formalities.

Yun Shuyao nodded in his arms, smelling the soap scent on him.

Suddenly I realized that breaking the rules doesn't necessarily mean a dramatic act of rebellion.

Seeing him so open and honest in the morning light, listening to him say "it's only natural," he seemed really at ease.

This man openly laid out in front of her everything that she dared not think, see, or do in her past life.

With Xiao Fang by her side, she could be herself without worrying about being scolded for being "unruly".

When Marquis Yongning, Gu Yan, left the court, the sun was already setting in the west.

My colleagues walked ahead in twos and threes, their laughter drifting into my ears, yet every word they uttered was barbed.

"That former heir of the Yong'an Marquis's mansion elevated a girl from the brothel to a secondary wife, thus ruining the marriage arranged by the Zhenguo Duke's mansion..."

"Tsk, he's completely disgraced this century-old family!"

"This is truly a disgrace to aristocratic ladies."

"No wonder His Highness Prince Yi ignored him today..."

"If I were Lord Gu, I would break this brat's legs!"

Gu Yan gripped the cuffs of his court robes tightly, his knuckles turning white.

He walked quickly with his head down, not even responding to the greetings from several familiar senior officials.

He just wanted to leave as soon as possible, as if the gazes of all the officials were like needles pricking his back, burning his old face.

Back at the Marquis's residence, Gu Yan slammed the memorial onto the table, his roar shaking the dust off the beams.

"Bring Gu Jinghuai here!"

The servant immediately left without delay.

Gu Jinghuai had just come out of his mother's room, his eyes were covered in bruises, and when he heard his father's summons, his heart skipped a beat.

He had barely stepped into the main hall when Gu Yan pointed his finger at him and started cursing.

"You wretched child! You've completely disgraced me!"

"Father……"

"Kneel down!"

Gu Yan picked up the rattan stick he had prepared and walked towards him step by step.