Chapter 63 Wedding Night

Once Tang's mother relented, the Tang family's efficiency in handling matters became astonishingly high.

Under the care of Tang's mother, all the procedures—betrothal, name inquiry, auspicious date selection, gift presentation, and wedding date setting—were completed as quickly as possible, and a lucky day was finally set for a month later.

Tang's mother felt sorry for her daughter and insisted on making the event a grand affair.

The entire Tang Mansion was brightly decorated with lanterns and colorful ornaments, and it was bustling with guests.

Since Li Minghua had no senior disciples or elders, Tang's parents made the decisions, and everything was done according to etiquette.

She wore the same bright red wedding dress as Tang Xiaoning. Her usually aloof face was softened by the red, revealing a gentleness rarely seen on her face, and... an obvious nervousness.

She stood tall and straight in the wedding hall, listening to the master of ceremonies chant the rituals, but her gaze kept drifting involuntarily to the figure beside her, dressed in a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, with a red veil covering her head.

Even through the veil, she could almost feel Tang Xiaoning's equally excited and joyful emotions.

"Husband and wife bow to each other—"

As the emcee gave the final shout, Li Minghua and Tang Xiaoning faced each other and bowed deeply.

As she stood up, she saw Tang Xiaoning's hand, hidden under her wide sleeves, making a subtle gesture that only they understood. She couldn't help but smile slightly.

After the ceremony, they were escorted to the bridal chamber.

The noise was shut out from the new house.

Inside the room, red candles burned brightly, and a pair of mandarin ducks were adorned with brocade quilts, exuding joy and warmth.

Li Minghua's hands trembled slightly as he held the scales.

She took a deep breath before carefully lifting the red veil embroidered with dragons and phoenixes.

Beneath the veil, Tang Xiaoning's bright eyes and rosy cheeks revealed a beauty that was beyond compare. Her usually lively features were now tinged with the shyness and charm of a new bride.

She raised her head and looked at Li Minghua, her eyes sparkling with affection and a touch of playfulness.

"Minghua..." she called softly, her voice as sweet as honey.

Li Minghua stared at her, momentarily mesmerized, and could only nod blankly, "Mm."

Tang Xiaoning was the first to laugh, breaking the enchanting yet slightly silly atmosphere.

She pointed to the Heqin wine on the table between the two of them: "What are you staring at like an idiot for? We haven't even drunk the Heqin wine yet."

Li Minghua then came to his senses and quickly picked up his wine glass.

Arms intertwined, the wine entered their throats, carrying a hint of spiciness, but mostly an indescribable sweetness that warmed their hearts.

After the drinking ceremony, the atmosphere seemed to quiet down again.

The red candles crackled, illuminating their slightly flushed cheeks.

Tang Xiaoning glanced at Li Minghua's still somewhat tense sitting posture and her eyes darted around.

She stood up, walked to the dressing table, and began to remove the elaborate and heavy phoenix crown and hairpins from her head.

As she unloaded the load, she looked through the bronze mirror at the figure behind her whose gaze was always following her, and deliberately complained, "These things are so heavy, my neck is about to break... It's so much better to be in Minghua, where everything is so light."

Upon hearing this, Li Minghua immediately stood up and walked behind her, naturally taking over the work from her hands and carefully removing the remaining ornaments for her.

Her fingers moved nimbly through Tang Xiaoning's cloud-like black hair, her movements gentle, as if handling the most precious porcelain.

With her hairpins and ornaments removed, her long, black hair cascaded down, adding to her gentle beauty.

Tang Xiaoning turned around, looked up at Li Minghua, and suddenly pointed to the sword that was still worn at her waist, as well as the crooked blue-gold tassel on the scabbard and the wildflower that had long since dried but was still attached, and laughed: "Miss Li, on your wedding night, do you still have to keep your sword with you at all times?"

Li Minghua looked down at his sword, then at Tang Xiaoning, his eyes serious: "As long as the sword is here, it is here."

She paused, then added, "To protect you."

Tang Xiaoning felt a sweet warmth in her heart, but deliberately teased her: "So tonight, will you keep your sword by the bedside, or... hang it on the curtains?"

Li Minghua's ears burned at her question, and he pursed his lips, seemingly seriously considering the issue.

Seeing her like that, Tang Xiaoning couldn't hold back any longer. She laughed and threw herself into her arms, hugging her waist and burying her face in her chest. She said in a muffled voice, "My silly Minghua... tonight, all you need to do is hold me! It's more effective than any sword!"

Li Minghua was held tightly in her arms, her body stiffening at first, but then slowly relaxing.

She reached out and wrapped her arms around Tang Xiaoning's slender waist, holding her tightly. She gently rested her chin on the top of Tang Xiaoning's head, inhaling the delicate fragrance of her hair.

"Okay," she replied softly, her voice slightly husky and magnetic, "I'll hold you."

The flickering red candles cast their embracing figures onto the wall, a picture of unparalleled intimacy.

Tang Xiaoning lifted her head in her arms, her fingers gently tracing the exquisite embroidery on her wedding dress, then touching the same fabric she was wearing. Suddenly remembering something, she chuckled: "Minghua, do you remember those bolts of brocade you bought when you proposed? Mother hired the best embroiderers to make them all into clothes for us."

She tugged at her sleeve: "Look, isn't it beautiful?"

Looking at her magnificent wedding dress, and recalling his own "practical" reason for buying it, Li Minghua blushed slightly and nodded: "Yes, you look...very beautiful in it."

"You look good in it too!" Tang Xiaoning smiled, her finger playfully poking at her chest. "But, I still prefer you in a tight-fitting outfit, you look especially handsome!"

The two looked at each other and smiled.

As night deepened, the red candles shed tears.

Tang Xiaoning pulled Li Minghua to sit on the edge of the bed, leaned on her shoulder, looked at the flickering candlelight, and whispered, "Minghua, we are now a real husband and wife."

"Mmm." Li Minghua put his arm around her shoulder, feeling the weight of happiness in her heart.

“In the future, we will go to many places together,” Tang Xiaoning said with anticipation, “to see the mountains and rivers you marked on your map, but… we have to choose safe routes!” she added with a smile.

"Okay," Li Minghua replied, hugging her even tighter.

"We'll eat lots of delicious food together..."

"good."

"I want to embroider many, many sword tassels for you, although they may still not look very good..."

"It's alright, your kindness is the best."

The whispered conversation gradually faded into the warmth of their close embrace.

The red curtains slowly fell, concealing the springtime beauty and enchantment within the room.

Outside the window, the moonlight was like water, and the stars twinkled, witnessing the vows the newlyweds made to each other for life.

Her world of martial arts has found its home; her life in the human realm has been enriched with the most vibrant colors.

The wedding night is a precious occasion, worth a fortune.