Forced to Share a Bed

Xu Weibei was, indeed, worth a little.

The paddles landed on his body with muffled thuds.

Xu Weibei clenched his teeth and said nothing. Only his taut muscles revealed how hard he was trying to endure the pain.

The Grand Princess Dowager said, "You have earned some merit, but you shouldn't have grown arrogant and willful because of it, much less laid hands on your own wife's elder brother. Where does that leave His Majesty? How could you put Wanning in such a position?"

Gu Wanning raised her hand and covered her face with her handkerchief, pretending to wipe away tears as she chimed in. "Only Grandmother cares about me. I know the marquis has no place for me in his heart. His cold words in private would have been one thing. As his wife, no matter how my husband treats me, it's my lot to bear. But in front of so many people, the marquis trampled my face into the dirt. How can I show my face outside again?"

So please don't make me go out to social engagements anymore.

I just want to farm and build my career in peace. Do not disturb.

"Grandmother, please stop the beating." Gu Wanning reckoned he had received a dozen or so strokes before she put on an act of pleading for him. "It's enough to give my father and brothers an answer. The marquis is the one being hurt, but doesn't the pain fall on me and my sisters' hearts too?"

After all, he was her golden thigh; she couldn't afford to offend him either.

She could express her grievances to the Grand Princess Dowager, but she couldn't appear utterly heartless toward Xu Weibei.

Striking the right balance really wasn't easy.

The Grand Princess Dowager seemed to have been waiting for those very words. "Enough. If your wife hadn't pleaded for you today, I truly would have beaten you to death."

If you really mean that, Gu Wanning thought, I can take my words back.

Now, in this marquis's residence, none of the concubines looked quite so disagreeable to her.

The only one who didn't belong was Xu Weibei.

If Xu Weibei died, she could promise to remain his widow and never leave the marquis's residence for the rest of her life.

Xu Weibei reached out and shook off Gao Lan, who was helping him up. He stood on his own and put on his clothes, as though he hadn't been the one beaten just now.

Gu Wanning strongly suspected that the two eunuchs had gone easy on him.

But there was nothing she could do. The Grand Princess Dowager had already given her ample face by coming to put on this show.

"I originally told you to take your wife back to her maiden home, and now that you've beaten your brother-in-law, all the more reason to go and apologize. But His Majesty has confined you to reflect on your conduct, so send someone with gifts to apologize first. Once His Majesty lifts your confinement, go at once and carry a thorny rod on your back to beg forgiveness!" the Grand Princess Dowager said sternly.

Xu Weibei said nothing, clearly unwilling to agree.

Gu Wanning was watching the show and didn't mind how high the stage was. She truly hoped the Grand Princess Dowager would give this grandson a pounding.

But the one who was loved had nothing to fear, while the one who loved him backed down first.

The Grand Princess Dowager took Gu Wanning's hand. "Grandmother knows you've been wronged. Don't worry. As long as Grandmother is here, no one can take precedence over you."

Gu Wanning feigned bashfulness. "Grandmother, the others and I are as close as sisters, especially Second Concubine. She's the most considerate..."

She couldn't let Second Concubine's silver go to waste.

Wasn't this the start?

"What a softhearted, foolish child," the Grand Princess Dowager said with a smile. "You and Weibei married in a hurry and never consummated the marriage. In Grandmother's opinion, there's no time like the present. Let it be today."

Gu Wanning was astounded.

No, no, no, this can't happen!

He slapped my face, and now he gets my body too?

How come all the good things go to him!

Although she did indeed rather crave a body like Xu Weibei's, she couldn't stand an egomaniac even more.

"Grandmother—" Gu Wanning shook the Grand Princess Dowager's hand. "Please don't talk about such things in front of everyone. Let nature take its course."

Xu Weibei's face had been ashen all along. Even now, he gave no response, watching Gu Wanning's affected display with cold eyes.

He would never share a bed and pillow with Gu Wanning.

He wanted no ties to the Gu family whatsoever.

"No, it must be today. Grandmother will see to it for you!" The Grand Princess Dowager gave Xu Weibei a warning look. "Grandmother is old and only wants to hold a great-grandson soon."

Gu Wanning: "..."

Good grief. From the sound of it, is the Grand Princess Dowager going to stay and "supervise" us rolling in the sheets?

She imagined Xu Weibei with his bare backside, going at it like a machine, a little leather whip flicking at him from behind every now and then...

The scene was too beautiful; Gu Wanning didn't dare imagine any further.

"Grandmother, there's really no need," Gu Wanning said hastily.

Right now, she was terribly afraid that, with grandmother and grandson locked in a contest of wills, Xu Weibei would be provoked into actually sleeping with her. Then, after he was done, he would pull up his trousers and say viciously to her, "Are you satisfied now?"

Oh no, wouldn't that mean I'd somehow transmigrated into

an angst

novel?

No, no, this absolutely won't do.

Every pore in Gu Wanning's body was resisting.

Xu Weibei disagreed too, saying categorically, "Grandmother, I absolutely will not consummate the marriage with her!"

The Grand Princess Dowager repeated her old trick, clutching her chest and gasping for breath. "You... you won't be satisfied until you've angered me to death, will you? Fine, fine, fine... Then I'll die right here today!"

Third Concubine hurriedly got up to attend to her.

Seeing that Xu Weibei was about to give in, Gu Wanning felt alarm bells ringing in her head.

She didn't want to either!

What was Xu Weibei acting so aggrieved for?

"Marquis." She walked over to Xu Weibei, stood on tiptoe, and whispered by his ear so only the two of them could hear, "Just agree for now. I promise I won't touch you. If I do, may heaven strike me with lightning!"

Well, don't misunderstand. On this matter, I'm absolutely on the same side as you.

Let's coexist peacefully and respect each other's sovereignty!

Xu Weibei scrutinized her suspiciously, as if saying, Woman, what scheme are you hatching now?

"Surely you don't want the princess to go on like this," Gu Wanning said, unable to bear it any longer.

Who do you think you are?!

You do have power and status, good looks, and a good body, but—but any grapes I can't eat are sour.

Any man I can't sleep with is soft!

So, as far as I'm concerned, you can't get it up!

Chapter 18: Forced to Share a Bed

Gu Wanning truly had to exert the strength of nine oxen and two tigers to put a stop to this farce.

In the end, the venerable Grand Princess Dowager showed great mercy and let her off, declining to personally watch the wedding night.