After Marrying The Paranoid God of War (Rebirth) - Chapter 42
After a standoff, Huo Pingxiao finally released the girl’s delicate hand and turned to prop up his strong and sinewy arm by her ear, his deep eyes intently gazing at her face.
In the dimly lit bedroom, the oppressive shadow of the candlelight gradually enveloped the girl completely.
The man’s dark eyebrows and eyes, naturally stern and profound, often revealed an unintended sharpness when he looked indifferently at others.
Like thorny brambles, cold and wild, with a sense of invasion.
Although Ruan An could not see, she could still sense the dangerous aura emanating from Huo Pingxiao.
The girl opened her soft lips, feeling guilty because he had caught her red-handed, and looked at him in confusion in the dark, unsure of what to say.
Seeing that Ruan An remained silent, Huo Pingxiao stretched out his rough hand and gently caressed her soft and smooth cheek, with an implicit urging.
The man supported himself with just one arm, still very steady, not pressing on her at all.
Ruan An silently felt the familiar touch of his palm, dry and cold.
Suddenly, Huo Pingxiao pressed her delicate eyelids with his thumb and called her in a rascally manner, “Wife.”
After speaking, Huo Pingxiao suddenly bent down and asked her softly, “Why do you always touch the scar on my neck?”
The wolf totem on his neck fell on her collarbone, retaining his body heat.
Ruan An’s ears tickled from his breath, causing her to shrink her neck and her cheeks to grow hotter.
Huo Pingxiao, after all, was a military general, and when he was with her privately, he occasionally had a rough manner but did not seem vulgar. Instead, he had an indescribable wildness and allure that complemented his temperament.
To her surprise, Ruan An found herself liking this about him.
The girl felt even more embarrassed for harboring such thoughts.
“Do you think it’s ugly?” he asked softly.
Perhaps fearing that the wolf totem might scratch her soft skin, Huo Pingxiao slightly rose, ready to move the totem from her slender shoulder blade.
Just as Ruan An was about to push it away, her weak and boneless hand accidentally touched the back of the man’s hand. Feeling the distinct tendons on it, she was momentarily startled and quickly withdrew her hand.
Ruan An tightly closed her eyes and slowly exhaled a sweet breath, calming her uneven heartbeat, clearly shy.
At that moment, Huo Pingxiao chuckled deeply and then pulled Ruan An’s right hand, placing it on the scar on his left neck, allowing her to touch it.
He silently watched her, as if to say, since you want to touch, let you touch enough.
Ruan An replied timidly, “I don’t find the scar on your neck ugly, it just seems old… I am a doctor, prone to these habits of touching… don’t mind it…”
The scar, with its burst and everted skin, must have been there since Huo Pingxiao was very young, and according to Ruan An’s judgment, other weapons would not have left such a mark on his neck.
This scar seemed more like someone had fiercely slashed him with a dagger, aiming for his artery with a deadly intent.
Who could be so heartless to treat a child this way?
“Is that so?”
Huo Pingxiao did not let go of Ruan An’s hand, and after a self-mocking laugh, he added, “Since you don’t find it ugly, I actually wish this scar was on my face.”
Ruan An blinked in confusion and asked, “Why would you say that?”
She suddenly remembered the scar on her face from her previous life, inflicted by Li Shuying’s orders. Her expression flickered with a moment of sorrowful dejection as she murmured softly, “No one would wish for a scar on their face.”
Upon hearing this, Huo Pingxiao’s eyes slightly froze.
He originally wanted to say that because of his face, he was often mocked as a “pretty boy” by enemy generals on the battlefield, since the scar on his neck was usually covered by his helmet.
Unaware of Ruan An’s past life experiences, he took her words as a mere dislike.
“Alright, I’ll be more careful in the future.”
Huo Pingxiao deliberately elongated his tone, then leaned close to her face, sensing Ruan An turning her head to avoid his kiss. The man quickly grasped her chin and lightly pecked her lips.
The touch was warm and soft, leaving Huo Pingxiao somewhat unsatisfied.
He lowered his voice, coaxing her, “If my wife doesn’t like it, I shouldn’t have a scar on my face.”
After speaking, he reached out to pinch her soft waist.
Ruan An immediately understood his intentions and stopped him.
Knowing that he was in his prime and a military general, always exuding a heated aura, she worried that his constant restraint could harm his health.
Yet, Ruan An still pushed against his broad shoulders with a small hand, refusing in a buzzing voice, “It’s too late, I want to sleep.”
“And besides… I’ve already allowed you once today.”
Huo Pingxiao frowned in displeasure, saying lightly, “I have a day off tomorrow, no need to go to the camp.”
Ruan An pursed her soft lips, righteously declining, “But I still have a lot to do.”
“Alright.”
He replied with a word, his tone indulgent. He stretched his long arm and effortlessly scooped Ruan An into his embrace.
Huo Pingxiao lowered his eyes, watching Ruan An snuggle into his embrace, yet felt he had agreed too quickly.
His thin lips slightly curved, a mischievous thought struck him. Taking advantage of her unawareness, he whispered into her ear in a deep, magnetic voice, “Because you’re always afraid of getting pregnant by me, I’ll let you off tonight.”
Ruan An’s eyes widened in shock, her sleepiness completely dispelled by his blunt words.
Huo Pingxiao, despite his cold and indifferent handsome appearance, who would have thought he always spoke such crude words to his wife!
She was nearly dying of embarrassment!!!
“Can you… not always talk to me like this?”
After speaking, the girl clenched her fists and forcefully punched his shoulder.
Huo Pingxiao actually enjoyed her indignant little expression, like a non-threatening, biting rabbit.
He kissed her with a smirk, his voice hoarse, replying with two words: “Cannot.”
Three days later was the Qianqiu Banquet. Ruan An valued this event highly and had recently adjusted her mindset, not as fearful as before.
She expected to see many familiar faces at this banquet. The Empress had originally planned to select a suitable bride for the Crown Prince at this event, and the legitimate eldest daughter of the Wenchang Marquis’s family would also be attending.
Ruan An thought, as dejected as she had been in front of Li Shuying in her past life, she would be just as glorious in this life. Since she couldn’t avoid it, she would face it openly and boldly.
But she still hadn’t decided what clothes to wear, nor had she decided on how to style her hair or what hairpin to wear.
She really wasn’t skilled at dressing up.
Bai Wei and Ze Lan brought several wide-sleeved shirts for Ruan An to choose from.
Ruan An, facing the bronze mirror, tried these clothes against herself, but none seemed satisfactory.
Every time she went to the Minister’s Mansion, Madam Gao and He Xinruo would advise her not to always wear the same green dress and to change her outfits, as her current status was that of a marquise. Even though she didn’t have an imperial edict, she should dress more impressively on a daily basis.
The young lady felt that, coming from a rural background, whatever she wore still carried a hint of rusticity.
Seeing Ruan An’s dejected expression, Bai Wei consoled her, “Madam, you are naturally so beautiful, you really don’t need to worry about what dress to wear.”
Ruan An replied helplessly, “Some dresses are too revealing, and the marquis doesn’t allow me to wear them. It’s just the beginning of autumn and the weather is still somewhat hot, wearing something too thick isn’t good.”
“Is the madam complaining about me early in the morning behind my back?”
Huo Pingxiao’s lazy voice came from outside the bamboo curtain. The man was dressed in the attire of a marquis, dignified and elegant, tall and straight. The wolf and pig patterns on the gold belt at his waist clinked with his steps.
Ruan An helplessly lifted her eyes to look at him.
No matter how casual Huo Pingxiao acted in front of her, he couldn’t change his noble birth and upbringing. Raised in luxury since childhood, if he wasn’t in the military camp, he always presented himself with dignified manners, exuding the air of nobility in every move.
He was indeed different from her.
Bai Wei and Ze Lan simultaneously greeted, “Long live the marquis.”
Huo Pingxiao glanced indifferently, looking at the few women’s clothes in the hands of the maids, and then at Ruan An’s somewhat discouraged expression, suddenly had an idea.
“Call Wei Yuan over.”
“Yes.”
After Wei Yuan arrived, Ruan An saw Huo Pingxiao whisper something to him but didn’t know what Huo Pingxiao was planning.
After Wei Yuan left, a maid came from behind the screen, respectfully reporting, ‘Marquis, madam, the main mother of Minister’s Mansion, Madam Gao, has come to visit. She is seated in the Mandarin Duck Hall, and asks for madam to come.”
Ruan An replied softly, “Understood, I’ll go right now.”
Huo Pingxiao frowned slightly, puzzled, “Why has she suddenly come to our mansion to find you?’
Ruan An hadn’t mentioned her argument with He Xinruo to Huo Pingxiao, and two days ago, she had received an invitation from the Minister’s Mansion, so she explained to Huo Pingxiao, “After all, since we moved, my mother-in-law hasn’t visited. Maybe she just happened to be free and came to see.’
Doubts arose in Huo Pingxiao’s heart. He looked down and saw Ruan An looking up at him, then asked gently, “Husband, would you like to accompany me to meet Mother?”
“There’s no need.”
He coldly refused, then instructed Ruan An, “Go quickly and return quickly, no need to talk with her for too long.”
Ruan An nodded at him, not saying anything more.
Soon, accompanied by Bai Wei and other maids, she arrived at the Mandarin Duck Hall and saw Madam Gao sitting on the left side of the hall. Ruan An, not finding it appropriate to sit at the head, chose a chair opposite Madam Gao.
Today, Madam Gao’s attitude towards Ruan An was very amiable. She instructed the maid to hand over a box made of mother-of-pearl inlaid wood containing several sets of expensive headdresses to Bai Wei.
“Lady Fang, that day at Minister’s Mansion, it was my fault as the main mother for my words. But I really didn’t mean to target you and Huo Xi. Huo Xi is so well protected by Lord Xiang, he will surely grow up safely. Don’t overthink it.’”
Ruan An found Gao Shi’s sudden friendly attitude quite strange, but she didn’t show it in front of her. Instead, she replied calmly, “What is Mother talking about? I almost forgot about that day’s incident. But indeed, you should discipline that He family girl. Speaking out of turn within the family is a minor issue, a confinement punishment would suffice, and as the eldest sister-in-law, I wouldn’t be too harsh on her. However, if she speaks so improperly outside the Huo family’s doors, it would be the Huo family’s reputation at stake.”
Gao Shi felt a complex and indescribable emotion surge in her heart upon hearing Ruan An’s words.
Huo Changjue, a soft-hearted child, knew that he might not be very fond of He Xinruo, but still had affection for his wife.
After Gao Shi explained He Xinruo’s actions to him, Huo Changjue was angry, but still pleaded on He Xinruo’s behalf in front of her.
Huo Changjue saw He Xinruo kneeling painfully in her courtyard and even asked the old nanny who had raised her to bring her some water.
He Xinruo’s recent behavior had been good, and with the He family hearing some rumors, He’s father swallowed his pride and personally apologized to her and Huo Lang, thus the matter was put to rest.
However, being far in the North, Ruan An was unaware of these recent events, and Huo Pingxiao, busy with military affairs, was also clueless.
Considering this, Gao Shi thought that someone would eventually tell her about He Xinruo’s act of putting something in Lady Fang’s tea, so it might as well be her to earn this favor.
So, she picked the important parts of the incident and told Ruan An about them.
“He family’s daughter is overly pampered by her parents, being the only legitimate daughter in the house, with no competition from the concubines’ daughters. So she has become spoiled. Look at you, more beautiful than her and better in other aspects, which I, as a mother-in-law, should not comment too much on, but you are certainly superior.”
“He family’s daughter is a few years younger than you. She just came of age last year. Her mind is not mature yet, so she resorted to petty tricks and put something in your tea that disrupts a woman’s menstrual cycle. However, the person serving the tea mixed up the cups, and she ended up drinking the medicine herself, suffering from stomach pains for days…”
Ruan An frowned, completely unaware that He Xinruo had been up to such mischief behind her back.
She never learns, her face was damaged by the same medicine she used, and it’s still not healed.
Ruan An always felt that the medicine He Xinruo put in her tea was not just to disrupt her menstrual cycle.
But the incident had passed for many days, and the evidence was probably long gone.
“What did you say? He family’s daughter put something in her tea?”
A cold and heavy male voice suddenly sounded in the hall, and Huo Pingxiao entered unnoticed.
Gao Shi was startled, and her expression instantly turned to shock, realizing that since Huo Pingxiao had heard this, the matter couldn’t be downplayed.
Ruan An followed the voice and saw Huo Pingxiao already sitting beside her.
The man’s profile was rugged, his thin lips tightly pursed, and even with his eyes cast down, the lurking anger in his pupils was unmistakable.
Ruan An was quite puzzled.
Huo Pingxiao had just said he wouldn’t come over, hadn’t he?
