Before they knew it, afternoon had arrived.
Warm, slanting sunlight spilled over the window. The courtyard was very quiet, with only a faint trace of noise from the distant street.
Inside the modestly sized West Wing, the bed curtains had yet to be drawn back.
Ye Jingtang lay facedown on a pillow, eyes closed, quietly concentrating on regulating his breathing. Pei Xiangjun stood on his broad back, her hands braced against the top of the four-poster bed as she stepped back and forth to loosen his muscles. Occasionally, she asked:
"Does that feel good?"
"Mm. You can press harder. I can take it."
"This is all I weigh. I can't exactly use Thousand-Catties Drop. What if I break the bedboards...?"
Since they had just been intimate, Pei Xiangjun had not put on her elegant, proper dress. She wore only a bellyband embroidered with a chubby Niao Niao and thin white trousers.
Although the trousers were not transparent, Pei Xiangjun had a voluptuous figure, and the close-fitting fabric hugged her snugly, leaving virtually no gaps. As she moved her feet, the swelling below her flat belly was clearly visible.
Third Madam was adamant: the doctor had said once, so once it was-neither less nor more. Thus, after they had enjoyed themselves, Ye Jingtang lay facedown and circulated his energy, tending to his body, which had already essentially recovered, while Third Madam walked on his back and massaged him to help him relax.
There was nothing else to do today. Ye Jingtang had originally intended to follow his schedule, rest here, and take a carriage back to Skywater Bridge after dark.
But after he had lain on the bed for a little while, before Third Madam had even finished his session, Ye Jingtang suddenly heard footsteps in the alley:
Tap, tap,