Chapter 139 Arranged Marriage, Love Later

Yan Wuxin smiled and said, "What are you thinking? If her identity were exposed now, those rebels would boil her alive. How could they be so happy to arrange her marriage and let her enter the bridal chamber?"

Upon hearing the words "entering the bridal chamber," Xiang Ruzhen and Zhang Siyuan exclaimed in unison, asking with puzzlement, "Who did she enter the bridal chamber with?"

“Ji Yunyao’s son.” Yan Wuxin said, sitting down and picking up his teacup. He smiled and said, “I think this marriage was a complete accident, but it hit the Emperor’s sweet spot. A seventeen-year-old young master with a face like an angel, bringing him back to the palace will certainly add a beautiful sight to the palace.”

Yan Wuxin was thinking about one thing, but Xiang Ruzhen was thinking about something else entirely.

Xiang Ruzhen said, "Ji Yunyao is the leader of the rebels, and she's the big boss of the mountain. The Emperor has become her son, so he has some status. Doesn't that mean it will be much easier for the Emperor to do things among the rebels in the future?"

Yan Wuxin smiled and kept everyone in suspense, "Ji Yunyao, the leader of the rebels, is no longer considered a rebel leader, because today the rebels have gathered together to elect the leader of the Eighteen Clans Alliance, who will be the new head and make decisions on all matters within the alliance."

Zhang Siyuan hurriedly asked, "Who is this person? Is he easy to deal with? Will he pose a threat to the Emperor?"

Yan Wuxin suppressed a laugh and said, "This person is the Emperor."

Zhang Siyuan doubted his ears. "The Emperor...she's become the leader of the rebels?"

Yan Wuxin nodded repeatedly, laughing so hard his voice trembled. "The rebels spent so long choosing, and they ended up choosing the Emperor as their leader! Hahahaha..."

*

Inside the government office, Xiang Ruzhen and the others surrounded Yan Wuxin, listening to her recount the events of that time.

In the mountain stronghold, Lu Jinlan grew impatient with drinking contests with the leaders and decided to feign drunkenness. Xu Lin and Ji Yunliu helped her and escorted her back to the bridal chamber.

Ji Yunyuan was already so nervous that he didn't know what to do. He sat awkwardly on the edge of the bed, hiding under the red veil, and adjusted his wedding clothes hundreds of times.

Upon hearing footsteps, he tensed up even more, his whole body stiffening as if he were a wooden sculpture.

The two helped Lu Jinlan to the bed. Ji Yunli nudged her woodcarving junior brother with her elbow and whispered, "Take good care of her."

Ji Yunyuan nodded. After the door closed again, only the newlywed couple remained in the room.

The experienced bride attendant was "asleep," while the inexperienced groom looked around blankly, unsure of what to do.

He gently tugged at her sleeve. "Alliance Leader."

Lu Jinlan did not respond, as if she were fast asleep.

Yuan Zhen pursed his lips and softly changed his address to "My Lady".

"Hmm," the person who had seemed to be fast asleep suddenly came back to life.

She nimbly rolled over, resting her head on his lap, and peered through her slightly drunken dark eyes at his shyness and bashfulness from under her veil.

Ji Yunyuan gave her a reproachful look, "You're not drunk."

Lu Jinlan smiled slightly, "Of course I'm not drunk. A moment of bliss on this spring night is worth a thousand pieces of gold; if I were drunk, wouldn't I neglect our important business?"

As she spoke, she tore off the cumbersome red veil, only to see that Ji Yunyuan's face was even redder than before.

He had never been so close to anyone before. He leaned back slightly, but dared not make it too obvious. He simply leaned back a little, carefully controlling his breathing, but his heart was still pounding faster and faster.

Lu Jinlan looked at him with interest. "Weren't you fine before? Why are you suddenly so afraid of me?"

Ji Yunyuan frankly said, "I used to consider you a friend, but now you are my wife. I know how to make friends, but I don't know how to be someone's... husband."

Lu Jinlan asked with a smile, "Didn't anyone teach you?"

Ji Yunyuan shook his head. "My father passed away when I was young, so my mother and sister naturally couldn't tell me these things. My uncle just came over and gave me a few words of advice. He said..."

"say what"

Yuan Zhen found it difficult to speak, and after hesitating for a long time, she finally picked out something she could say: "He said that I should help you wash up and change first."

There must be a "first" and a "second". With a slightly ambiguous smile, Lu Jinlan kindly sat up and stretched out her arms, "Come on."

Ji Yunyuan had thought she would refuse, but she hadn't expected her to be so impolite.

He felt she was doing it on purpose, deliberately wanting to see him so nervous that his fingers were chattering and he couldn't unbutton her clothes, before gently comforting him, "Take your time, no rush."

After serving Lu Jinlan until she washed her face and feet and changed into her nightgown, Yuan Zhen was already sweating profusely with panic.

Fortunately, when he returned with the water, he found that Lu Jinlan had already gone to bed.

So he deliberately lingered a while longer, folding her clothes neatly and squarely. He guessed that she was already fast asleep, then quietly climbed into bed and lay down on the edge of the bed.

He had just breathed a sigh of relief when he suddenly heard her whisper in his ear, "You're just going to sleep like this?"

Ji Yunyuan sat up abruptly, realizing that he probably couldn't fool anyone tonight.

On second thought, since we're already married, this is bound to happen sooner or later. I've just heard that a man's first time having sex is very painful.

If a wife is unkind, she might take the opportunity to be mischievous and deliberately make her husband suffer so he will learn a lesson.

His uncle told him, "As husbands, we can't disobey our wives. If she wants something, you give it to her. If it hurts, grit your teeth and bear it, just think of it as being caught in a trap. Once you get through the first time, it will be better afterward."

When Yuanzhen was a child, his foot was caught in an animal trap, and the pain was so bad that he couldn't walk for half a month.

From then on, he walked with extra caution. Little did he expect that he would be caught in an animal trap again.

Yuan Zhen was scared, but then he realized that being scared was useless; Lu Er would never let him off the hook.

Maybe she'll deliberately cause trouble so he'll behave himself and stop thinking about that Lu Jinlan.

Yuan Zhen made up his mind after thinking about this. He figured he might as well go through with it and be in bed for another half month.

He closed his eyes, calmed his mind, raised his chin to reveal the buttons of his nightgown, and said decisively, "Go ahead and do it."

Lu Jinlan was both amused and exasperated. "Look at your solemn and tragic appearance, anyone who didn't know better would think you're going to the execution ground. This doesn't look like you're entering your wedding night at all."

Yuan Zhen was taken aback. "Then...then I'll do it myself."

He had just unbuttoned one button when Lu Jinlan's warm hand grasped his trembling fingers. "No need to force yourself."

Yuan Zhen quickly shook her head, "I won't force myself, I'm just... just scared, I can do it."

“But I can’t,” Lu Jinlan laughed. “These things are more enjoyable when they happen naturally; there’s no need to rush. There’s plenty of time; we can talk about it later. Go to sleep.”

As Lu Jinlan spoke, she actually lay down, and Yuan Zhen said in disbelief, "But you just said that a moment of passion on the night of passion is worth a thousand pieces of gold..."

Lu Jinlan sighed, "Yes, a moment of passion is worth a thousand pieces of gold. But I'm a rich man, what's a thousand pieces of gold to me? I'll just consider it as throwing it into the river and letting it go to waste."

Yuan Zhen couldn't help but think to herself that Lu Er, despite his seemingly philandering nature, was actually quite tender-hearted.

Watching her turn away with a sigh, Yuanzhen couldn't help but chuckle softly.

Lu Jinlan glanced back at him and said, "Alright, it wasn't a waste of money. I spent a fortune to win a smile from the beauty."

Yuan Zhen smiled and lay down, patting her arm gratefully. "Thank you for your understanding, my wife."

"Mmm." Lu Jinlan took his hand in her hand. "Go to sleep."

*

The next morning, Yan Wuxin came to find Lu Jinlan and saw through the window that Ji Yunyuan was tying Lu Jinlan's belt, asking softly as he did so, "Isn't this too tight?"

Lu Jinlan shook her head, "No, it's just right."

Yuanzhen continued, "The mountain paths here are difficult to traverse. You've been running up and down the mountain these past few days, and your shoes are all worn out. Let me take your measurements, and I'll make you a pair today."

Lu Jinlan said, "There are ready-made ones at the market down the mountain, so you don't need to make them."

Yuan Zhen laughed and said, "The shoes sold by vendors have stiff uppers and are easy to rub your feet. They can't compare to the ones I make myself. The shoes I make are both comfortable and sturdy, and they're quite presentable. You'll see when you wear them."

“My mother and sister both praise me for being good at making shoes. Last year, when my senior sister had her birthday, she asked me to make her a pair, and they're still in good condition.”

Lu Jinlan was momentarily dazed, recalling how her father, when he was alive, loved to make shoes for her by hand. Now, her husband's temperament was surprisingly similar to her father's.

Lu Jinlan let him measure her shoe size before going out.

As soon as she stepped outside, she saw Yan Wuxin standing with his arms crossed, smiling at her. "Oh, bride, you look great. I see your husband is so attentive and considerate to you. It seems you two were all lovey-dovey last night, it was wonderful."

Lu Jinlan smiled and shook her head, "We didn't do anything last night, we just held hands and slept through the night."

Yan Wuxin looked incredulous. "Really? Then how did you manage to subdue him so completely?"

Lu Jinlan said, "He is very obedient to me, which is his duty as a husband. As for love, it's not a question."

Yan Wuxin said, "Men are always saying one thing and meaning another. Maybe he has already fallen in love with you, but he is just too embarrassed to say it."

Lu Jinlan shook her head; if that were the case, the system would have already notified her. However, she hadn't yet unlocked the "Winning the Heart" achievement with Ji Yunyuanzhen.

Lu Jinlan said, "But there's no rush. We're already married. He'll fall in love with me."

Yan Wuxin asked, puzzled, "Why would he fall in love with you after we got married? Didn't he only like Lu Jinlan?"

Lu Jinlan: "Haven't you heard of 'marriage first, love later'? Marriage first, love later, Lan Er rises to power, it's very popular."

"I've never heard of 'marriage of convenience turning into love.' Who's Lan Er? Aren't you Lu Er?"

Yan Wuxin was completely confused, but Lu Jinlan hooked her arm around her shoulder and said, "You'll understand in time. Let's go to the main hall for the meeting. It's my first day as the leader of the alliance, so I need to make some moves."

Getting down to business, Yan Wuxin quickly said, "I secretly went down the mountain last night to meet with Ruzhen and told her everything you wanted to say. She's drafting a new policy overnight, and she'll refine the details in the next couple of days. As for when it will be released, that's up to you."

"Also, you tell everyone that the Emperor has left the palace and is heading to Yaozhou. Ruzhen wants to arrange for someone to come from the capital in a grand manner with the Emperor's entourage and guards. This way, the rebels' attention will be focused on the Emperor coming from the capital, so as not to arouse suspicion towards you."

Lu Jinlan nodded; this charade had to come to an end. When it was time for the emperor to reveal his identity, there had to be a retinue of guards, imperial robes, and background music—she'd seen it on television.

Lu Jinlan instructed, "Remember to have them bring the dragon robes, as well as the musicians from the Department of Rites and Music."

Yan Wuxin was puzzled again, "Why bring musicians?"

Lu Jinlan chuckled, "You'll find out when the time comes."

"By the way, tell Ruzhen to follow the plan. Once we've finished negotiating with the government, she can issue the new policy."

"So, as the leader of the alliance, I've fulfilled my campaign promise. I said I'd negotiate with the government, and I did. And the negotiations were fruitful. Tell me, isn't this rebel more efficient than the local officials?"

Yan Wuxin laughed and said, "I think you've become addicted to being a traitor."

Lu Jinlan smiled, "Traitors have their own tricks. Look at the people here, they only listen to the alliance leader, not the emperor. Give me some time, and I can make them listen only to me, regardless of whether I am the emperor or the alliance leader."

Yan Wuxin hurriedly asked, "What about your husband? What if he falls in love with Lu Er now, and Lu Jinlan reappears? What will happen then?"

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Author's Note: Sorry, sorry, I was supposed to update yesterday, but something unexpected happened and I was delayed. Here it comes~