Chapter 45 The Wedding.

The next day.

When Daiyu woke up, she felt sore and weak all over, and couldn't help but let out a soft groan.

"Are you alright?" someone asked softly beside me.

It wasn't Zijuan's voice...

Daiyu suddenly woke up. She opened her eyes. The room inside the bed curtains was dark, but she could still see the concern in Chu Heng's eyes.

Thinking of the intimacy of the previous night, Daiyu felt extremely shy. She pulled the bright red brocade quilt around herself, her wrists throbbing slightly, and her voice was barely audible: "It's nothing..."

Seeing the blush on her face, Chu Heng couldn't help but chuckle softly, slowly savoring the joy of their newlywed bliss.

Hearing his laughter, Daiyu felt extremely uncomfortable. She tightened her grip on the quilt. He used to be such a proper person, never overstepping his bounds. How could he have become so improper after getting married?

"Come here, let me see." Chu Heng leaned closer, his soft voice almost whispering in Daiyu's ear.

Daiyu's eyes widened, and she hugged the quilt even tighter, stammering, "Look...look at what?"

The smile on Chu Heng's face was reflected in Daiyu's eyes, and his voice carried a hint of apology: "Look at your wrist, I held it too tightly last night, let me apply some medicine for you."

Daiyu's pretty face turned bright red, and she almost couldn't speak. Her mouth opened and closed before she finally said, "No...no need."

"Listen to me." Chu Heng lowered his eyes, tightened his grip slightly, and pulled Daiyu's arm out by grasping half of her fingers.

Daiyu was only wearing a close-fitting undergarment, and her shoulder, exposed outside the brocade quilt, trembled slightly as she stammered, emphasizing, "No...really no...it's nothing."

"Hmm." Chu Heng responded, opened the medicine placed beside the pillow, took a little, and gently rubbed Daiyu's slightly reddened wrist with his index finger.

Daiyu's slender wrist twitched uneasily in Chu Heng's hand, then stopped as he carefully applied the medicine to her. Daiyu couldn't help but look at the person who was carefully applying the medicine to her with his eyes lowered.

Just last night, Daiyu confirmed something.

All the kindness and care Chu Heng has shown her these past few days is because she is in his heart.

He treated her with deep affection and loyalty.

But Chu Heng didn't seem to realize that, as Daiyu thought, otherwise he wouldn't have needed to hide it.

Those who are deeply in love will inevitably yearn for each other's affection. They are already husband and wife, and as they recount their longing for each other, although it may seem a bit hasty, when love runs deep, they often cannot help themselves.

He didn't confess his feelings to Daiyu because Chu Heng was unaware of the depth of their affection.

—This was something Daiyu was unaware of; Chu Heng had always been unable to let go of the fact that Miss Lin had someone she loved. Fearing that she might do something futile, she dared not speak of it directly.

Daiyu thought that he was just acting on instinct, trying his best to be good to her and make her happy.

And what about Daiyu?

She asked herself, what kind of feelings did she have for Chu Heng?

Did she only want to be his queen?

On her wedding night, amidst the candlelight of her bridal chamber, Daiyu did not want to escape, yet the very place where her heart found peace gave rise to the thought of running away.

Is Chu Heng worthy of Daiyu entrusting her life to? Can he also earn Daiyu's trust in him?

Would Daiyu be willing to entrust her heart to Chu Heng?

"Are you feeling better?" A gentle whisper asked again in her ear. Daiyu snapped back to reality and met a pair of deep, affectionate eyes once more.

Daiyu never imagined that she would give her heart away again.

Seeing that she remained silent, Chu Heng frowned slightly: "Where else..."

My wrist no longer aches, but it feels slightly numb and itchy. I don't know if it's because of the ointment or Chu Heng's fingers.

Daiyu quickly shook her head: "That's enough!"

Chu Heng paused, then reached out and covered Daiyu with the blanket again, asking softly, "What's wrong?"

Daiyu clenched her hands slightly under the covers, lowered her eyes for a moment, then looked up at Chu Heng again: "It's nothing."

She was allowed to escape for a moment; with Chu Heng by her side, and today being the second day of their marriage, she simply couldn't calm down.

Looking into her bright, pleading eyes, which she herself might not have even realized were filled with longing, Chu Heng couldn't help but lean down and gently kiss her: "Okay."

Daiyu's heart trembled slightly.

Just as they were enjoying their tender moment, there was a gentle knock on the door: "Your Highness, Your Highness."

Hearing someone outside, Daiyu quickly turned her head away, and it took her a while to realize that the person outside was Zhao Qing.

Chu Heng said, "Today we still need to go to the ancestral temple to pay our respects and enter the palace to pay our respects. Zhao Qing is worried that we will be late."

Daiyu then remembered that there was indeed such a thing. She steadied her heartbeat and said, "Then get up quickly, don't delay."

"Mm." Chu Heng said, reaching out to help her.

"No need...no need," Daiyu said hastily, "I can do it myself."

Chu Heng ignored her and, supporting her shoulders to help her sit up, said, "I'll have them come in to serve you."

Daiyu nodded. After Chu Heng left, she looked down and saw that the marks were hidden in her clothes and no one else could see them. Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.

Chu Heng was really fierce last night.

Daiyu was a little worried; being the Princess Consort of Duan didn't seem as easy as she had imagined.

A short while later, Zijuan and the others brought in hot water and other items, drew back the curtains, helped Daiyu get out of bed to wash and dress, and then helped her change into a set of casual clothes.

Chu Heng didn't need to put on makeup; he had been waiting for Daiyu for a long time. After seeing Daiyu help Zijuan up, he asked Zhao Qing to serve the meal.

"Miss Lin..." Chu Heng had barely opened his mouth when everyone in the room looked at him.

Chu Heng paused, then looked at Daiyu and asked, "What's wrong?"

Daiyu suddenly remembered that when they first met last year, Chu Heng had asked her a question.

"Your Highness, what is my name?" Daiyu asked him with a gentle smile.

Chu Heng was taken aback, and after a long while, he showed a very embarrassed expression and said softly, "Daiyu."

Daiyu lowered her head and smiled, "Mm."

Zhao Qing watched as the maids set out the meal, then walked over and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, Your Highness, please have your meal."

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw the prince glare at him. Zhao Qing was completely bewildered. What had he done wrong?

When Chu Heng looked at Daiyu, his expression was tender and affectionate: "Let's have our meal."

Daiyu nodded.

Zhao Qing followed along, completely bewildered, wondering what he had done wrong.

Although it was breakfast, the dishes, soups, and snacks on the table were extremely plentiful, with flavors from all over the country, from Jiangnan to the capital.

Chu Heng asked, "Is there anything you don't like? Then you shouldn't let the kitchen prepare it in the future."

Daiyu glanced at it and said, "I prefer lighter flavors and am not picky about anything else. Your Highness, since it's just the two of us dining, please don't prepare so much next time."

Chu Heng tilted his head to look at her, his eyes crinkling with a smile, and asked, "Miss Lin, what's my name?"

Daiyu was taken aback, then laughed and said, "This is against the rules."

“Miss Lin, do we really need to follow these rules in our own home?” Chu Heng said with a hint of grievance.

Seeing him deliberately referring to her as "Miss Lin" repeatedly, Daiyu couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Seeing her beautiful features and radiant smile, Chu Heng couldn't help but smile as well.

After a moment, Daiyu stopped laughing, looked at Chu Heng seriously, and called softly, "Chu Heng."

Chu Heng nodded and said, "Daiyu."

Zhao Qing listened from the side, hesitating whether he should remind his masters to eat, as it would be bad if the food got cold, and it would be even worse if they were late.

Fortunately, the princess was very understanding, and she quickly said, "It's getting late, let's have dinner."

To Zhao Qing, this sounded like heavenly music, and he busied himself serving his masters their meal.

After finishing their meal and rinsing their mouths, Chu Heng and Daiyu changed into formal attire and brought along the two governesses bestowed by the Empress Dowager.

According to the customs of this dynasty, on the day after the wedding, the prince and princess must first go to the ancestral temple to worship, and then enter the palace to pay their respects to the emperor and empress dowager.

As they came out of the ancestral temple, Chu Heng saw that Daiyu was slightly out of breath, so he took her arm and said, "Don't rush, I'll have the carriage slow down, you can rest in the carriage."

Daiyu nodded at first, then couldn't help but blush a little.

Since returning from Longhua Temple last year, Daiyu's health has improved day by day, and her physical strength has also increased significantly. The reason why she can't even bear this little bit of fatigue today is because Chu Heng was too energetic last night.

But how could Daiyu possibly say such a thing? She could only let Chu Heng hold her arm and lean against him, and then help her into the carriage.

"It's my fault," Chu Heng said apologetically, rubbing her wrist.

The medicine applied in the morning was very effective; the red marks on her wrist had disappeared. But upon hearing him say this, Daiyu felt her wrist begin to ache and go numb again.

Daiyu bit her lip and whispered, "No."

Chu Heng gently stroked her face and whispered a promise: "It won't happen again."

He couldn't explain why, perhaps it was Daiyu's approval, or perhaps it was finally marrying his beloved. Last night, Chu Heng couldn't resist touching Daiyu and lost his composure, causing her to feel so uncomfortable today.

Daiyu blushed from her face to her neck, and said in a voice barely audible, "Don't...don't say these things in broad daylight."

Chu Heng's heart softened upon hearing this, and he couldn't resist lowering his head to place a kiss on her fair forehead.

Even though the carriage was a private space, they were still outside. Daiyu was startled by his sudden movement. Her eyes widened in alarm, and her voice, held low in her throat, sounded soft and delicate, quite charming: "I just said I wouldn't..."

Her eyes were filled with accusation that Chu Heng had broken his promise.

Chu Heng gently touched her rosy lips and whispered, "You won't be so fierce at night anymore."

Daiyu blushed and thought for a while before realizing what he meant. It was daytime, and he had not made any promises about daytime.

Daiyu was both ashamed and angry. She was afraid that people outside would hear, but she didn't dare to argue. In her anxiety, she raised her hand, clenched her fist, and lightly punched Chu Heng.

A soft fist can't hurt a person, but it can strike Chu Heng's heart. He wrapped Daiyu's hand in his and smiled gently: "I was wrong, don't be angry."

Daiyu turned her head away and gave a soft hum.

"I'm sorry," Chu Heng said tenderly, scratching her fingers.

Daiyu blushed even more. She used her free hand to test the temperature of her face. How could she face anyone in this state?

Seeing this, Chu Heng quickly sat up straight and said in a deep voice, "Shall we sit properly?"

"What do you mean, 'what do you mean'?" Daiyu retorted inwardly. "When have I ever not sat properly?"

Chu Heng had never been like this before. It was just a marriage, how could he have changed so much? Daiyu complained inwardly, yet an unstoppable sweetness lingered in her heart.

Daiyu turned her head, trying to sneak a peek at him, but he was staring intently at her.

When Chu Heng saw Daiyu looking over, he was about to move closer to her, but then he remembered what he had just said and had to hold back.

But he still held onto Daiyu's hand tightly.

Daiyu did not try to break free.