Chapter 19: Reputation Damaged

Gu Ci stripped off his outer robe, leaving only his inner garment as he lunged forward.

Tang Zhao scrambled toward the edge of the bed, but the man grabbed her wrists and pinned her down, leaving her unable to move.

She stammered, "Gu Ci, what are you trying to do?"

"What am I doing? Naturally, I am fulfilling my wife's dream. Speaking of which, it is my fault; we have been married for two months and have yet to consummate the marriage," Gu Ci lowered his head, his gaze wandering as if measuring where to begin.

His jade-like face drew closer and closer. As his piercing gaze fell upon the corner of her lips, Tang Zhao felt a sensation akin to a tearing pain.

Tang Zhao struggled to lift her head to meet his eyes. They say the eyes are the windows to the soul; she wanted this man to see her pure, untainted heart through her gaze.

Instead, she saw a flicker of disgust flash through the depths of his eyes.

*Heh.*

Tang Zhao sneered inwardly. *Trying to play me, are you? Let's see who plays whom.*

"Since my husband says so, I suppose it is only fair," Tang Zhao lay back, intentionally casting flirtatious glances his way. "It is not late. Hurry, husband, let us settle this quickly."

"Hmm?" Gu Ci was stunned, and the hand pressing down on her fair wrists involuntarily loosened.

Taking the opportunity to reclaim control of her hands, Tang Zhao tilted her head slightly and tugged at her collar.

Her fair neck and exquisite collarbones were instantly exposed to the man, and her red plum-blossom patterned camisole, dusted with white, appeared through the gaps.

Gu Ci pressed down on the woman's hands, the veins on his forehead throbbing.

Tang Zhao feigned surprise, struggling forcefully against his grip. "If you keep holding my hands, husband, how am I to offer myself to your bed?"

"Could it be that you wish to do it yourself?" Seeing his silence, Tang Zhao had a sudden realization. "Indeed, undressing is a pleasure in itself; I shouldn't compete with you for that." As she spoke, she wrapped her arms around his neck and said in a sugary, "green tea" voice, "Husband, come quickly."

The woman beneath him appeared as cold and ethereal as the goddess Chang'e, yet her actions were more provocative than a desert enchantress. Her blunt, fiery invitation pushed the contrast to its absolute peak.

Gu Ci's Adam's apple bobbed. After cursing under his breath, he rolled off the bed and hurriedly scrambled to put on his clothes.

Tang Zhao feigned confusion. "Where are you going, husband?"

The man did not answer. With his back to the bed, he straightened his collar and sleeves and strode out of the room.

Nanny Song stared with wide eyes at the master's hurried retreating figure, clutching her hand warmer.

Chunfeng asked in confusion, "Why did the master come so early?"

Qiuyu, holding hot water, countered, "How do you know he came this morning? What if he came last night?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, the three of them rushed into the room.

Chunfeng and Qiuyu looked anxious, fearing their lady had been mistreated, while Nanny Song felt a mix of joy and worry.

As soon as they entered the inner chamber, they saw Tang Zhao sitting blankly on the bed, clutching a quilt.

"Miss!" Chunfeng was the first to reach the bedside. She looked her up and down, and seeing the lady's disheveled clothes, messy hair, and bloodshot eyes, she felt a piercing heartache. "Miss, please don't scare me!"

Qiuyu stood to the side, speechless and pacing like an ant on a hot pot.

Nanny Song took the opportunity to straighten the lady's clothes and looked closely. Seeing that the lady was clean and unmarked, she knew nothing had happened and breathed a sigh of relief. "The Miss is fine. Keep your voices down."

Chunfeng didn't believe it. The lady usually woke up full of energy, but today she looked as if her soul had been lost. How could that be "fine"?

Qiuyu couldn't hold back any longer. "Miss, did the master bully you?"

If the lady only nodded, she would risk her life to get revenge for her!

Tang Zhao shook her head. She lifted her watery eyes and said miserably, "Nanny, what am I to do with the rest of my life!"

"Don't cry, Miss, Nanny will find a way," Nanny Song said, tears welling in her own eyes as she watched the girl she had raised since infancy weeping like a pear blossom in the rain. "Did the master truly bully you?"

Seeing Nanny Song crying along with her, Tang Zhao felt she might have overacted, but since the atmosphere had reached this point, there was no turning back. She gave Nanny Song an apologetic look and raised her voice eight octaves. "Husband... Husband is... impotent!"

Chunfeng, Qiuyu:???

Nanny Song:...

Nanny Li, eavesdropping outside the door:...

The guards, servants, nannies, and maids in the main courtyard:...

*The Young Mistress—no, the County Mistress—is shouting so loudly, is she really okay?*

Inside the chamber, Nanny Song clutched her chest. "Is what the Miss said true?"

Tang Zhao nodded and used "artistic license" to describe the morning's events, striving to embed the rumor of Gu Ci's impotence deep into the hearts of everyone in the Bi Dan Courtyard.

*How dare he play me!*

Gu Ci, currently bathing in the outer courtyard: *Achoo!*

Having heard the story, Nanny Song believed it implicitly. After all, no one had more authority on such matters than her own lady. She burst into tears. "My poor, ill-fated girl!"

She was going to be a widow for the rest of her life!

"Don't cry, Nanny," Tang Zhao felt a bit guilty, but seeing the navy blue cloth shoes embroidered with longevity peaches outside the door, she persisted. "Nanny, you must not let this news spread. Otherwise, I won't be able to show my face in society."

Nanny Li, outside the door, turned around. The people in the courtyard who had been eavesdropping immediately pretended to be busy or deaf, acting as if they hadn't heard a thing. They felt as if the sky were falling.

This wasn't just about the County Mistress being unable to live with dignity; this clearly meant the Young Master was finished!

Nanny Li gave everyone in the courtyard a fierce, indiscriminate glare and rushed to Ming Hui Hall to report to the Princess Consort.

The Princess Consort, who was currently dining:?

One night passed, and her son was impotent?

Nanny Li was clearly traumatized. "This old servant saw with my own eyes as the Fifth Young Master fled the master bedroom in a panic this morning. There was no sound last night, nor was any water requested." Her old face wrinkled like a chrysanthemum. "The County Mistress could not have slandered the Young Master without reason!"

After all, such a matter was quite undignified!

Princess Consort Xuan was speechless. "Don't believe everything you hear," she commanded. "Go and call the Fifth Young Master here."

The guard obeyed and left.

"Princess Consort, this old servant is worried," Nanny Li said, dismissing the others. "The poison in the Young Master's body..."

This was also what Princess Consort Xuan was concerned about. "We will discuss it once Yuan Ye arrives."

After Gu Ci finished his cold bath, he was summoned to Ming Hui Hall. Perplexed, he asked, "What does Mother wish to discuss?"

Princess Consort Xuan got straight to the point. "Your daughter-in-law says you are impotent. Do you have anything to say in your defense?"

Gu Ci's ears rang. *Impotent?*

Nanny Li quickly recounted everything that had happened after Gu Ci left that morning.

Gu Ci's fingertips turned white from clenching his hands. *Tang Zhao!*

He closed his eyes and took several deep breaths to suppress the rage boiling like fire. Under the piercing gazes of Princess Consort Xuan and Nanny Li, he said through gritted teeth, "I... am... fine."

*Ahem.* Princess Consort Xuan cleared her throat. "Then why did you run away?"

Gu Ci remained silent. He couldn't exactly say he still hadn't overcome the psychological hurdle. Thinking of the news he had just received, he pursed his lips and said, "The Southwest has achieved a great victory, and the Duke of Wei is returning to the capital. I left in a hurry to handle this matter."

"I see," Princess Consort Xuan nodded. "And your poison..."

"It is temporarily under control." He didn't know how it was happening either; although his condition hadn't improved, he could move freely as if he weren't poisoned. Only the fifteen minutes of intense pain at midnight reminded him that he was still deeply afflicted by venom.

"Go back and explain the misunderstanding to Zhao Shan," Princess Consort Xuan said, feeling relieved. "Don't let Zhao Shan misunderstand."

"I understand, Mother."