“Wenru has wronged me. When I was taking the Emperor’s pulse, I saw him looking through the almanac. I noticed he was in a good mood, so I borrowed it to take a look. I happened to see that the day was auspicious. The palace hadn’t prepared the phoenix coronet and wedding gown yet. Look, we’ve gotten a lucky day.”

Lin Miaoshou was talking nonsense with a straight face, and Du Wenru had no doubt about the truthfulness of his words.

He nodded. "Okay, no need to go overboard, just tidy it up casually."

"Wenru, we don't need to have a big banquet, but we still need to decorate the bridal chamber."

"Yes, let's all keep a low profile, so we don't become the laughingstock of others."

“You have no husband, and I have no wife. We can get married openly and honestly. Who would dare to laugh at us? The ones who should laugh are those who are greedy and have their cake and eat it too.”

Lin Miaoshou spoke righteously and humorously, making Du Wenru burst out laughing.

Lin Miaoshou didn't even have time to tell Jiang Shuyue and Su Huai Ren about his upcoming marriage before he started making preparations.

After Du Yutong left the capital, Xiao Jingzhao took Jiang Shuyue to stay at the imperial palace for a while.

Xiao Jingzhao said that Yan Hui Mountain has the best geographical location, making it the most suitable place to enjoy the moon.

Jiang Shuyue, thinking about the height of the mountain, actually believed it to be true.

On the Mid-Autumn Festival night, Xiao Jingzhao dismissed the palace maids and eunuchs who were serving him, and even Qiuju was sent away by him.

Under the eaves of the attic, a table was set with imperial mooncakes and a pot of wine.

Jiang Shuyue doesn't eat much for dinner, and she doesn't eat sweets before bed.

The wine had a faint fragrance of peach blossoms.

Jiang Shuyue knew it all too well; it was peach blossom wine.

The moon had already climbed to the treetops, and Jiang Shuyue stared wide-eyed at it intently.

"Ah Zhao, why do I feel like the moon over Yan Hui Mountain isn't any bigger than the one in the capital? Are you sure you're not being fooled?"

Xiao Jingzhao's phoenix eyes crinkled with laughter, like a fox that had stolen a honey.

He walked to the soft couch, sat down next to Jiang Shuyue, and used his well-defined fingers to pick up the wine pot, pour a cup of wine, and bring it to Jiang Shuyue's lips.

"Moon Lady, please have a taste first. This is peach blossom wine that Hu Qing sent to the palace. It was probably brewed by the nuns at Peach Blossom Nunnery. It tastes quite good."

Seeing that Xiao Jingzhao's answer was irrelevant, Jiang Shuyue took the wine glass, took a sip, and continued to press, "Who told you that the moon is bigger here?"

Xiao Jingzhao reached out and pulled her into his arms, then lowered his head and kissed the beauty mark between her eyebrows. "Moon Maiden, wherever you are, the moon is always round and big. I don't need anyone else to tell me; I can feel it myself."

"You... so you were the one who tricked me. No wonder you didn't bring Sui Sui and Chang Le with you."

Xiao Jingzhao raised his other hand and stroked her smooth and delicate cheek, gazing at the woman in his arms with deep affection.

His voice was deep and magnetic, “The autumn exams will be held after the Mid-Autumn Festival. I’m afraid I won’t be able to see you on time every day after that. I just want to spend a few days alone with you.”

Jiang Shuyue couldn't help but recall the saying, "Wolves always eat meat."

This method of being alone is too dangerous.

As expected, Xiao Jingzhao held her close and raised his glass repeatedly. After a few drinks, she became tipsy.

Before she could even catch a glimpse of the moon, that handsome face loomed over her.

"Ah Zhao, your face seems bigger than the moon, um..."

Through her drunken haze, her soft lips were captured.

His kiss was no longer awkward; he pried open her teeth, and his tongue, like a swimming dragon, roamed back and forth between her lips and teeth.

Xiao Jingzhao carefully felt her gentle response; her kiss was like that of a young girl experiencing her first love, innocent yet sweet.

It was like a clear mountain spring, gently flowing through his heart, captivating him and leaving him unable to extricate himself.

In a daze, Jiang Shuyue felt his restless large hand slide towards her clothes.

"Ah Zhao, no..."

Her voice was soft and alluring.

This aroused the man, who was barely suppressing his lust, to the point that he almost devoured her.

His kiss was domineering and passionate, and their breaths became rapid.

At this moment, Jiang Shuyue was so engrossed in the kiss that she was completely lost in a daze. She was like a small boat on a vast ocean, and Xiao Jingzhao was like a giant wave in that ocean.

The small boat was swept away by the giant waves, and she was powerless to resist no matter where they would take her.

The two kissed so passionately that even the moon seemed to hide behind the clouds in embarrassment.

She didn't know how much time had passed when a long kiss ended. The effects of the alcohol hit her, and Jiang Shuyue felt weak all over. She rested her head on his shoulder, and her eyelids grew heavier and heavier.

"Yue Niang." Xiao Jingzhao called softly.

"Hmm, Ah Zhao, sleepy."

Jiang Shuyue responded with her eyes closed.

"It's late at night and the dew is heavy in the mountains, let me take you inside to sleep."

Jiang Shuyue tried to stand up, but the aftereffects of the peach blossom wine were too strong, and she was too weak to do so, so she had no choice but to let Xiao Jingzhao carry her into the house.

He walked to the large canopy bed in the attic, gently placed her on the bed, and removed her hairpin.

He gently untied her waist sash, and in her dazed state, Jiang Shuyue felt him awkwardly undressing her.

A moment later, she fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, Jiang Shuyue was awakened by the chirping of birds in the forest.

She slowly opened her eyes, turned her head slightly, and saw a magnified handsome face right in front of her.

Those eyebrows were thick and long, and his nose was high and straight; his features looked as if they had been meticulously sculpted.

Jiang Shuyue's heart pounded as she looked at the handsome man beside her.

He was turned to the side, with a large hand wrapped around his waist.

The faint scent of cool bamboo lingers in the air, bringing a sense of peace and tranquility.

Seeing that he was still asleep, Jiang Shuyue thought of the unrestrained kiss last night, and a blush crept up her cheeks.

The two slept in the same bed; could they have already... you know... last night?!

Jiang Shuyue gently lifted the brocade quilt covering her chest, revealing that she was only wearing her undergarments.

Just when she thought the other party had taken advantage of her, she heard Xiao Jingzhao's lazy voice.

Did you sleep well last night?

Jiang Shuyue quickly covered herself with the quilt, blushing as she said, "Yes, I slept very well."

Jiang Shuyue has a modern soul; she's never eaten pork, but she's seen pigs run.

She moved her legs slightly and found nothing wrong with her body.

Xiao Jingzhao raised his head, propped it up with one arm, and looked at her intently with doting eyes.

He saw right through Jiang Shuyue's thoughts.

He smiled gently, a handsome curve appearing at the corner of his lips, and said, "Last night we..."

Jiang Shuyue jolted awake, and blurted out, "What happened to us?"

"It's nothing, you're sleeping soundly, I don't want to get you that way."

"I want to save our first real time for our wedding night. Does Moon Maiden agree?"

Seeing his burning gaze, Jiang Shuyue nodded hastily.

Seeing the woman so docile, like a kitten, Xiao Jingzhao's playful side was aroused.

He said mischievously, "If Yue Niang has any objections, I can also..."

As Xiao Jingzhao spoke, he leaned forward and moved two inches closer.

"Don't talk nonsense, I didn't mean that." Jiang Shuyue sat up instinctively.

The blanket slipped off her body, revealing a patch of snow-white skin.

The most striking thing was her close-fitting undergarment, which was a modified version of a traditional Chinese undergarment.

Looking at the undulating curves of her chest, Xiao Jingzhao felt his mouth go dry.

"Moon Lady, I was just teasing you."

Seeing her frantically trying to pull the blanket over herself, Xiao Jingzhao scooped her up with his large hand and pulled her and the blanket into his arms.