Li Meirong gulped down the liquid between ongoing coughs, her eyes glaring daggers at the man holding her captive on his lap.

After the cup was successfully emptied out, Zhu Qingyue leaned back and affectionately patted Li Meirong's head, his fingers gently glided through her silky, midnight hair.

"Good girl." he murmured.

"Zhu Qingyue!" Li Meirong sputtered in outrage. She shook her head against his hold, feeling as if he was patronizing her.

"Call me husband." Zhu Qingyue's playful voice sounded above her head.

"Release me this instant!"

"Say 'please release me, my dear husband'."

Li Meirong gnashed her teeth. "You infuriating-"

Zhu Qingyue tapped on her lips with his index finger, silencing her. He clucked his tongue in disapproval. "What did I say?"

Li Meirong took in a deep breath, then slowly exhaled. She wasn't the unyielding type that would persist to protect her pride, but that did not mean she wouldn't get back at him, either.

A few moments later, she graced him with a stiff smile. "Darling, please unhand me."

Zhu Qingyue's eyes brightened, looking like he drank a jar full of honey. "Say that again."

"Darling... please."

"Anything for my wife," he said, faintly smiling and seemingly all too pleased with his newly bestowed title. He unhurriedly uncovered Li Meirong from her cocoon-like blanket.

As soon as Li Meirong successfully escaped her woollen chains, she immediately turned around and pounced on Zhu Qingyue.

Seething with frustration, she angrily pounded her fists on his chest. "You utter bastard!"

"Won't your arms grow tired?" Zhu Qingyue asked from beneath her, his voice filled with feigned concern. "If you must discipline me, I would rather engage in a different sort of familial punishment."

"Who's tired? I can do this all day!" Li Meirong announced, thumping on his chest again and again.

'I can't believe I thought he was a man of noble character! He's just a clever, perverted bastard!' she thought, completely rattled by his behaviour.

Highly peeved, she ended up straddling him a second time. Even though she used a substantial spiritual force against the shameless man, her attacks seemed to have no effect whatsoever.

"You should refrain from dancing on top of your husband unless you are willing to handle the consequences. I am all too susceptible to your teasing."

Zhu Qingyue's warning came out as a sharp gasp, golden eyes darkening with lust. His abrupt shortness of breath had nothing to do with Li Meirong's onslaught of attacks.

Li Meirong instantly froze, her mouth hung wordlessly open. At first, she had merely assumed Zhu Qingyue was attempting to provoke her, as he seemed to take great pleasure in driving her mad. However, the growing bulge bumping against her inner thighs proved otherwise.

A bubble of panic rose up inside her chest. She scrambled backwards, nearly falling off the bed once more.

Zhu Qingyue straightened his back as he slowly got off the bed, dusting nonexistent dirt from his wide sleeves. His eyes still held a spark of mischief, even though he acted as if he was the one being wronged.

"You will rest today without me," he announced. "Although it pains me to leave you, alas, I have a meeting which I must attend to. One of the servant girls assigned to you is waiting outside at your convenience. I can now rest assured after seeing my wife regain her strength."

Shock crossed Li Meirong's face as she stood up and stretched her legs. She hadn't even noticed this important detail, but soon after she had been force-fed the water, her body had become fully revitalized.

She turned to face Zhu Qingyue, hoping he wouldn't notice the thread of anxiety in her voice as the words tumbled out of her mouth. "Why are you leaving? Will you be gone for long?"

Zhu Qingyue gave her a mysterious, noncommittal smile, and leaned down to whisper in her. "Do not despair. I shall return shortly to recommence my husbandly duties."

Following that statement, the self proclaimed husband swiftly departed, intentionally leaving Li Meirong utterly mortified in his wake.

"As if I would despair…" Li Meirong grumbled to herself. She grabbed the offended appendage which the shameless man blew his breath into and rubbed it a few times over, unable to shake off the seductive effect he had on her.

Occasionally, Li Meirong kept getting the feeling that Zhu Qingyue wasn't entirely all that he seemed to be. Sometimes, he was simply too much for her to handle. This was definitely one of those moments.

With a furious blush, she gathered a few of her bathing necessities and rushed outside towards the bamboo stall in the backyard.