Reborn as a Happy Wife in a Rural Family-Chapter 23: Castrate First, Kill Later?

As for the actual process of making poison, there wasn’t one. The other two were medical books similar to the *Classic of a Thousand Medicines*. Gu Qingli put those two aside and began flipping through the remaining two. Time passed unknowingly.

After Xiao Yunjing had made arrangements and chatted with his parents for a while, he noticed it was getting late. He headed to the bridal chamber, where he found Gu Qingli reading.

"You can read?" Xiao Yunjing had never known she was literate.

"Only a little."

It’s possible she knows a few characters, given there are three literate people in the Gu Family, Xiao Yunjing thought.

When Gu Qingli saw him enter, she put down her book and glanced out the window. It was already late afternoon.

"Where are Dashuang and Xiaoshuang?"

"They haven’t returned. They took the three youngsters up the mountain."

"Oh?" Gu Qingli looked up at Xiao Yunjing, who was sitting on the bed.

Their eyes met, and sparks seemed to fly. Gu Qingli quickly averted her gaze. Today, Xiao Yunjing wore a grand red robe, his hair tied up. Complemented by his somewhat rugged features, he looked quite imposing. Seeing her discomfort, Xiao Yunjing sat for a moment before stepping out. Not long after, he returned with some food.

"Xiao Yunjing, where is the latrine?" Gu Qingli asked as soon as he entered. She had been sitting all afternoon and desperately needed to go.

Xiao Yunjing paused, stunned for a moment, then led her to the latrine.

After returning and washing her hands, Gu Qingli began to eat by herself.

Xiao Yunjing scratched his head. Watching Gu Qingli act so naturally, he couldn’t help but feel something was different. Do women usually go to the latrine just like us men, without any bashfulness?

That evening, Dashuang and Xiaoshuang stayed at the Xiao Family’s home. Mr. Xiao had Eldest Brother Xiao personally go to town to inform Gu Dalin. They also sent over the medicinal herbs the five children had spent the day digging, along with some food and household supplies for Gu Dalin and his wife.

「That night」

Xiao Yunjing had drunk a good deal of wine and reeked of alcohol when he entered the bridal chamber. Gu Qingli was still reading. He closed the door and staggered over to pour two cups of wine—one for her and one for himself. Sitting down, he looked at her in the candlelight and said, "Qingli, come, let’s drink the wedding wine."

Gu Qingli looked at Xiao Yunjing, his face flushed and his breath smelling of alcohol, and asked, "Do we really have to?"

Xiao Yunjing nodded. Of course, we have to. Only after drinking this can we be buried in the same grave when we die.

He took the initiative, holding Gu Qingli’s arm and raising the wine cup to her lips.

Gu Qingli narrowed her eyes, gazing at him. Suddenly, a charming smile bloomed on her face. She picked up her wine cup, entwined her arm with his, and drank.

Xiao Yunjing, caught completely off guard, quickly drank his wine as well.

"Qingli!" Xiao Yunjing exclaimed, putting down his cup with a foolish grin. He was dazzled by her smile. She’s so beautiful when she smiles.

"Mm," Gu Qingli responded with alluring charm. She rose, placed her hands on Xiao Yunjing’s arms, and gazed at him with a coquettish smile.

Xiao Yunjing shivered and hastily stood up, backing away. What is she up to?

With a captivating mix of shyness and allure, Gu Qingli advanced on Xiao Yunjing step by step. It was as if she were a predator cornering her prey. Xiao Yunjing felt like the one being coerced.

His heart hammered in his chest. She can’t possibly want to consummate the marriage, can she? He knew a reckoning was coming tonight, which was why he had drunk so much alcohol for courage.

When Xiao Yunjing could retreat no further, Gu Qingli pounced. He was so tall that she had to scramble a bit to bring her face level with his.

Up close, Gu Qingli found his face rather handsome, with sword-like brows and star-bright eyes—though those bright eyes currently flickered with unease.

"Huh? Is my vision blurring?" Gu Qingli shook her head. She had forgotten she got tipsy with even a sip of alcohol. She bit her tongue, trying to sober up; there was still something she needed to do.

Xiao Yunjing had no idea what she intended, so he simply lay still, resigned to his fate.

Seeing his expression of utter resignation, Gu Qingli suddenly giggled. She reached out, caressed his face, and said, "Dearest, don’t you think we’re a perfect match? You’re a jinx to your wives, and I’m a ’ruined woman.’ But I swore that day I would find the bastard who ruined me, castrate him, and then kill him. So, tell me, dearest, should I castrate you first, or kill you first?"

WHOOSH.

As she finished speaking, a dagger materialized in Gu Qingli’s hand, and she waved it before Xiao Yunjing’s eyes.

Xiao Yunjing was startled. Is she serious?

He suddenly clamped his fingers around the dagger, forcing her hand down.

Though Gu Qingli’s hand had gone limp and her head was spinning, she still clung to the thought: Should I castrate him first, or kill him first?

She stared intently at this scoundrel, Xiao Yunjing, awaiting his answer.

Xiao Yunjing closed his eyes. "Qingli, do as you wish. I am at your mercy!"

I’m ready to die today, he thought. If I don’t get through this, I can only imagine the miserable days ahead.

"Y-you... you admit it?" Gu Qingli’s words began to slur.

"Yes, I admit it. It’s all my fault, Qingli. Do whatever you want," Xiao Yunjing said, clenching his teeth and steeling himself. He would let her kill or torture him, as long as he could get through this night.

"WAAAH... So it really was you! You... you dog! You bastard! You’ve ruined me! The moment I arrived, I became a ’ruined woman’!" Gu Qingli wailed, then collapsed onto Xiao Yunjing’s chest, sobbing.

"Huh? Qingli, d-don’t cry," Xiao Yunjing stammered, completely bewildered. One moment she wanted to skin him alive, and the next she was crying? He shifted, turning her over and pulling the wailing Gu Qingli into his embrace.

How do I comfort her? Xiao Yunjing scratched his head, utterly baffled. He had never comforted a woman before. What am I supposed to do?

But in his arms, Gu Qingli was crying with such heartbreaking sorrow.

And who could blame her? In her past life, her best friend had murdered her. Upon arriving in this world, she was violated. Then came a cascade of agonizing events: a broken engagement, a forced marriage... Though she endured it all with outward composure, she was still just a young woman, one who needed care and protection. And now, she had married the very man responsible for her suffering.

Gu Qingli hiccuped through her sobs, her head swimming and her throat burning. She pointed towards the table.

Xiao Yunjing didn’t understand what she wanted. He looked at the table and saw only the wine and a pitcher of water.

Then it clicked. He gently laid Gu Qingli down and quickly poured a cup of water, helping her drink.

Gu Qingli gulped down several mouthfuls of water. Her throat felt a little better, and then, with a soft, choked sob, she drifted off to sleep.

Xiao Yunjing shook his head. I didn’t expect her alcohol tolerance to be so low.

After carefully removing her outer clothes and shoes and placing them aside, he undressed and lay down on the bed, gently pulling her into his embrace.

Gazing at her sleeping face, he felt an immense wave of relief and gratitude. He had managed to change the course of their original fate. He silently vowed to cherish and protect her from now on. Perhaps my rebirth was a chance granted by the heavens, an opportunity to truly love and care for her.

And so, their wedding night passed.

「The next day」

Gu Qingli awoke. Opening her eyes, she saw she was under a large red quilt and remembered she had gotten married yesterday.

She sat up, rubbing her throbbing temples. Seeing Xiao Yunjing wasn’t around, she quickly retrieved a cup of Spiritual Spring Water from her Space and drank it.

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