Chapter 21: Sharing One Bed—Are You Afraid?

As the guests of the Anke Courtyard dispersed, Xia Wentao prepared a new room for Jun Bu Wen and Xia Jiujang to reside in. In the new chamber, Jun Bu Wen clapped his hands and said, "The Xia family has gotten itself into trouble with you. This was surely Xia Wentao's miscalculation. But tell me, where did you learn your skill in controlling insects?"

His gaze was half sharp, half playful.

Xia Jiujang replied calmly, "I happened upon a sage by chance, who guided me and gave me a medical book about snakes, insects, rats, and ants. That's how I began to study and practice."

In the memories of this body, the art of manipulating insects was a hallmark of the southern lands. It was only natural that Jun Bu Wen would be curious about Xia Jiujang.

Jun Bu Wen said, "Now you've piqued my interest. What kind of medical book was it, exactly?"

Xia Jiujang answered, "I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you. After reading it in the Xia household, I feared my persona as a useless fool would be exposed, so I burned it immediately after reading."

"Persona? Where do you come up with such peculiar words?" Jun Bu Wen knew that even if Xia Jiujang had the remotest chance of being a spy from the southern kingdom, she would never reveal anything in front of him.

Xia Jiujang explained, "Persona means impression, like how the Xia family sees me as an incompetent wastrel. I must maintain that impression—that's the persona. But now that I'm the Princess Consort, there's no need to keep up the act."

Jun Bu Wen, seeing he could get nothing more from her, let go of his vigilance and said, "If that's the case, Princess Consort, let's retire for the night."

He spoke so naturally that Xia Jiujang was momentarily stunned.

Wait, retire for the night? Jun Bu Wen, who always kept his distance, as if fearing Xia Jiujang might force herself upon him, was now suggesting they sleep?

Xia Jiujang felt that Jun Bu Wen ought to ask her to sleep on the floor instead; that would have been the expected reaction.

Jun Bu Wen removed his outer robe, sat on the bed, and patted the spot beside him. "Why are you standing there like a fool? Didn’t you ask me to share half the bed? I’m giving it to you now—are you frightened?"

Xia Jiujang was embarrassed, but Jun Bu Wen’s ink-black hair cascaded down, his loose robe slipping off his shoulder. Xia Jiujang swallowed nervously. Had Jun Bu Wen suddenly become enlightened, now intent on seducing her?

Jun Bu Wen’s mocking smile provoked her, and Xia Jiujang retorted coldly, "You think I’m afraid? Me, afraid? Ha!"

Just as Xia Jiujang put on a fearless face, a barely perceptible footstep echoed from outside the room.

Jun Bu Wen glanced at the door, suddenly whipping off his belt and winding it around Xia Jiujang, pulling her onto the bed. With a flick of his wrist, he extinguished the lamp. The servant outside stole a glance, then scurried away.

Jun Bu Wen covered Xia Jiujang’s mouth and whispered, "Since we’re returning home, Xia Wentao will surely watch our every move, suspecting whether our marriage is genuine. Didn’t you say we must show affection in public? Then let’s cooperate properly."

The words that should have come from Xia Jiujang’s lips—now spoken by Jun Bu Wen—caught her off guard. He was so close she could catch a faint scent of cool, floral fragrance, and feel the breath he released as he spoke.

Following Jun Bu Wen’s reasoning, it meant even their sleep would be under Xia Wentao’s scrutiny. Showing affection in public… had it really come to this, even in bed?

Xia Jiujang pushed away Jun Bu Wen’s hand, her face burning. Thankfully the lamp was out, or she wouldn’t know how to explain herself.

She muttered, "Of course I know we must show affection in public."

With a huff, she grabbed the quilt and pulled it over herself.

Jun Bu Wen lay beside her, finding the game amusing.

But Xia Jiujang felt something wasn’t quite right. Had she been tricked? She was supposed to boldly declare her wish to share a bed with Jun Bu Wen, yet now he was the one taking the initiative, leaving her defenseless.

The servant reported the situation in the room to Xia Wentao, who was stunned. "You really saw Jun Bu Wen and Xia Jiujang lying together?"

"I saw it with my own eyes."

Xia Wentao’s face grew darker, more sinister. Wasn’t Jun Bu Wen known for avoiding women? How could he be interested in that useless girl?

Troubled by this, Xia Wentao was further disturbed by the uproar in Qinlin Courtyard, where Xia Chan, just recovered from her faint, was raising a racket. Her wails echoed throughout the courtyard.

Xia Chan saw Haitang cowering in the corner, humble and shrinking, and her anger flared. Seeing Haitang’s ruined face only reminded Xia Chan of her own disfigurement.

She snatched a pillow and hurled it at Haitang. "It’s all your fault! You tried to stop me from ending it all and ended up ruining my face! Someone, drag Haitang out and beat her to death!"

Haitang trembled, kneeling and kowtowing. "Please, Third Miss, spare me. I only wanted to save you and acted rashly. Please forgive me."

Madam Wei quickly intervened. "You mustn’t kill Haitang."

Xia Chan snapped, "I can’t even kill my own maid?"

Madam Wei replied, "You destroyed Haitang’s face in the guest courtyard before everyone. If she dies and word gets out, the capital will accuse us of cruelty to our servants. Your father will never forgive you."

Xia Chan raged, "Let him not forgive me! He beat me in front of everyone; he’s never treated me as his daughter. No matter what I do, I’ll never be more important than Xia