Chapter 13: Can't Stand It at All

Hearing that, Chen Wuji deftly stripped off his clothes, and his mind almost ran through the seventy‑two forms.

Fortunately his reason was still intact, and his composure was still adequate.

Otherwise he might have already turned into a ferocious beast.

Huo Sanniang's eyes were tinged with shy wetness, her gaze flickering lightly, she scolded, "Why aren't you covering up quickly? What does this look like, hurry."

Chen Wuji didn't make a move. "I don't want…"

"You don't, you don't want to cover up, what do you want to do?" Huo Sanniang's face turned bright red, and she suddenly gave a hard yank on the soft flesh at Chen Wuji's waist.

"Want…" Chen Wuji said somewhat embarrassed.

Huo Sanniang was stunned, "Whatever you want, you… you… wash yourself."

She thrust a hemp cloth into Chen Wuji's hand, then suddenly fled in panic.

She left in a decisive, clean sweep, just ran off.

Chen Wuji let out a faint sigh, still feeling anxious.

Although Huo Sanniang had already agreed, perhaps there were still some grudges in her heart.

This little resentment won't prevent them from marrying, but its impact on this matter might be relatively larger.

Things in name only, after weighing pros and cons, are easier to accept.

But the body…

Chen Wuji also doesn't understand women's psychology in this era; it might be more important.

He can't say for sure, but if he wants a kiss, he'll have to court it slowly.

"Then let's take it slowly…" Chen Wuji chuckled lightly, gave his body a quick wipe and climbed onto the kang to sleep.

This kind of overly superstitious behavior doesn't interest him at all.

It's only to accommodate Huo Sanniang.

However, bathing with Mugwort Water is quite good; it seems to have a noticeable whitening and moisturizing effect.

The next day.

As dawn barely broke, Chen Wuji got up.

As soon as he opened his eyes and stepped down from the kang, he rushed into Huo Sanniang's room.

Last night Huo Sanniang shyly ran away, causing him to forget a very important matter.

He needs to take Huo Sanniang early to the Matchmaker to set the Marriage Matter.

With his official authority, he will crush the Insidious Poison scheme of Yuan Laoer and his brother.

Before the Dayu Dynasty introduced the Matchmaker office, men and women rarely went to the yamen to get married.

But now not going is not allowed.

If you don't prove you're married, they will say it's not allowed and bring a woman to you with officials.

Some hunting household registrations allow multiple wives; if they bring one, you must take it.

But each additional person adds a head tax.

For example, Chen Wuji inherited his father and brothers' hunter registration, allowing him to marry up to three wives.

Polygamy looks beautiful when sleeping, but when paying taxes you will be weeping.

Not to mention, the hunter's tax is heavier than that of ordinary citizens.

Huo Sanniang had just gotten up, sitting on the kang dressing; only half the buttons of her skirt were fastened, revealing a large expanse of moon‑like cold white skin, with faint pink hints and visible valleys.

Chen Wuji's sudden intrusion startled Huo Sanniang; she quickly covered her skirt, embarrassed, shouting, "Damn Chen Wuji, what are you doing at dawn? Really… couldn't hold back?"

"No, I… I have something," Chen Wuji said.

He really isn't in a hurry about this now.

If they delay even a step on today's trip to the yamen, the two will have to go their separate ways.

"Honestly, if you truly can't hold it any longer, just come onto the kang. I'm not refusing you; marriage is supposed to happen, I just want to wait for the Bridal Chamber…" Huo Sanniang said, looking helplessly at Chen Wuji.

"I and your brother have never reached this step; with you, I want to observe some ancient rules and rites. What the ancients set has its reasons; perhaps if we honestly follow them, our lives will be better."

Chen Wuji's breathing became slightly rapid, but he still held back.

"Let's go, we— we're going to the yamen," Chen Wuji said hastily.

"What are we going to the yamen for?" Huo Sanniang asked, puzzled.

She paused, then shyly said, "I thought a lot last night; you, you fool, probably don't even understand what that is, yet you can say you can't hold back— I guess you really can't hold it any longer."

"Come up, we don't care about rites and rules; let me pamper you, you big fool, come."

Chen Wuji felt his heart collapse.

"Don't tell me that now; it's hard for me to pretend to be a fool."

"Yuan Laoer, I want… want to marry you, right, today; let's quickly set the betrothal contract, the rest we can discuss on the road." Chen Wuji forced his way through those romantic thoughts, then stammered a long explanation to Huo Sanniang.

He first highlighted the important points; as for how he knew the rest, he didn't mention it for now.

"Ah? Oh dear, you didn't tell me earlier; let's hurry, bring the hunting registration." Huo Sanniang seemed to grasp Chen Wuji's meaning and couldn't even consider whether Chen Wuji had seen her body, and hurriedly got off the kang.

The two quickly freshened up, took the deer meat and yellow weasel that Chen Wuji had prepared last night, and hurriedly sprinted toward the County City.

On the road, Huo Sanniang finally had a chance to voice her lingering doubt: "How can Yuan Laoer marry me today? How does he marry?"

"The Matchmaker will send me a bride, then take you away," Chen Wuji said while hurrying.

"Last night I passed by and happened to hear Yuan Laoer and the Village Chief discussing this at home."

Huo Sanniang then realized, "So you mean the Matchmaker will bring a bride to you today, and they'll also take me away? Oh, I get it—once you're married, I have no reason to keep looking after you; I must be married."

"This Yuan Laoer, such an Insidious Poison mind, damn old bastard, makes me furious. You should have warned me yesterday; we're already a bit late, hurry up."

Chen Wuji gave a simple smile, "Last night, I didn't have time."

"You've been thinking about my body, huh?" Huo Sanniang's watery eyes flickered lightly, scolding.

"Not entirely..."

"You really can't bear it?"

"Yeah!"

Huo Sanniang giggled, "Silly Wuji, you say you don't even know that kind of thing—how could you not be able to bear it? Could it be that people are really born knowing that?"

"Probably, right?" Chen Wuji said vaguely.

He's joking—would he not know?

Back when he was flush with cash, he'd dare to storm Shang K alone, taking on ten by himself.

Not the 'take ten' kind, but the kind where after drinking and singing, you just take them away.

In terms of experience, he'd leave Huo Sanniang, that inexperienced young married woman, dozens of streets behind.

"How does that kind of thing work? Exactly how do you do it?" Huo Sanniang asked, a sly smile in her eyes.

Chen Wuji froze.

Woman, asking this question at this time—do you know it's illegal?

Who gave you the guts!