Chapter 69 Entering the Mansion

Three days later, the Cui family's sedan chair appeared outside the courtyard on time.

Wen Youqing only brought a small bag containing a few personal belongings and the contract.

Xiao Cui happily followed Wen Youqing to Cui's residence: "My Lord is indeed very concerned about my wife. The pattern on the top of this sedan chair is a double bird, which is the most difficult pattern to carve."

The sedan chair was indeed luxurious, and the bird with outstretched wings on the eaves was indeed exquisite. Wen Youqing just chuckled: "It's not like he carved it himself, so why would he care so much?"

New identity, old courtyard. The small courtyard west of Cui's residence had been renovated specifically for Wen Youqing. Even though it was early autumn, the flowers and plants were still lush and green.

The name of the garden has been changed to "This Garden", which is quite poetic.

Cui Junji fulfilled his promise and everything was arranged according to the contract. The maids and servants were all tight-lipped people carefully selected by Wen Youqing herself.

The red candle burned brightly, and the tears it shed condensed into bright red corals, illuminating the entire room, but because of the excessive silence, it also appeared strangely solemn.

The bright red wedding characters were delicately cut and pasted on window frames, cabinet doors, and even bed pillars, everywhere, declaring that this was a formal marriage in accordance with etiquette and law.

But it is too grand, this is the rule for getting married.

Wen Youqing sat upright on the edge of the bed covered with a quilt that had been used by hundreds of children and grandchildren. The phoenix crown was heavy, and the complicated wedding dress was worn meticulously. The layers of brocade wrapped around her, making her face look even more delicate. Her long eyelashes drooped, casting a small, soft shadow under her eyes.

She folded her hands on her knees, her fingertips slightly curled up like frightened butterfly wings, looking completely passive and timid, waiting for fate to decide.

This wasn't the first time he'd taken a concubine, but Cui Junji had lost some of his usual composure. There were no guests, but he still drank a little, also to give himself courage.

They'd gone around in circles, unable to get a formal marriage, but in his heart, it was all about marrying a wife. It took some effort to get his family's consent. Every place today was meticulously decorated by him, and he attached great importance to it. Now, he was feeling a little homesick.

After hesitating for a long time, he mustered up the courage to step into the house. He couldn't wait to lift the bead curtain and look at the beauty under the lamp. Her lips were red, her teeth were white, and her eyebrows and eyes were picturesque. It was like a dream come true.

Cui Junji approached with a slightly unsteady gait, the scent of alcohol mingling with the crisp, pine-scented scent he often wore. He sat down beside her, the bed sinking slightly, their hems folded together, their bright red against their bright red, indistinguishable from one another.

"Ah Qing..." he began, his voice hoarse from alcohol and nervousness, "I...finally married you." His words were filled with the satisfaction of having gotten what he wanted, and a subtle smugness. He reached out, wanting to touch the hand on her lap. It was dazzlingly white, but the fingertips were a faint pink, like a flower bud in early spring, and he didn't dare to use force.

Wen Youqing did not dodge. Even when his fingertips were about to touch her, she moved her hand forward a tiny distance almost imperceptibly, just enough for his fingertips to completely wrap around her slightly curled knuckles.

Just as I imagined, it feels slightly cool, soft and boneless.

However, she looked up at him, her eyes not as cold and timid as her fingers. Her eyes were as clear as a mountain stream, reflecting the dancing candlelight, and she looked into Cui Junji's somewhat hazy eyes calmly, even with a hint of gentle inquiry.

Just this one look made Cui Junji's heat and sense of satisfaction in his heart inexplicably pause for a moment.

It was not the shyness and panic of a newlywed bride, nor was it complete obedience. There was something in it... something he couldn't understand, which made him subconsciously sit up straighter.

She spoke, her voice as gentle as a feather brushing against the tip of her heart, yet each word was as clear as pearls falling on a plate, "Go to bed."

"The wedding wine has not yet been drunk." Cui Junji was not in a hurry. He had to complete every step to fulfill his extravagant hope of marrying her. He smiled and held up two wine glasses seriously: "Madam, here."

He handed her one and took the other. Their arms intertwined, so close they could hear each other's breaths. He watched her lips part slightly as she sipped the wine from the glass, the subtle movement of her throat seductive. He tilted his head back to drink it, too, and felt that the wine seemed richer and more intoxicating than any he had tasted before.

At the moment of exchanging cups, Cui Junji felt that his heart was about to stop beating. Happiness was so close at hand, but why did he suffer so much and almost lose it?

As soon as he finished drinking, he took her empty wine glass and interlaced his fingers with hers, trying to increase his grip on her and bring her towards him.

Wen Youqing did not resist his strength and leaned forward slightly, bringing them closer. The elegant fragrance from her body seeped into his nostrils, making his heart flutter.

"Wedding the wedding in the same cellar," she tilted her head slightly, her eyes sweeping over the pair of gourd-shaped wine cups tied with red strings that she had just used, her eyes filled with reminiscence, "You're not getting married, why do you have to drink this?"

She asked lightly, even with a bit of a coquettish tone, but the content was full of disgust and impatience.

Cui Junji was lost in thought. Everything was so beautiful that he had forgotten the way he had come. His eyes also fell on the gourd-shaped vessel inlaid with gold thread.

After the wine entered my throat, I felt the spiciness coming back belatedly.

He seemed not to hear her, bent down to kiss her, and reached out to unbutton her wedding dress.

The clasp was made of pure gold, engraved with a double lotus pattern, delicate and intricate. As his fingertips touched the cool metal, Wen Youqing let out a soft hiss, startling him and causing him to stop in a hurry.

She frowned slightly, as if she had discovered something troubling. "Something's caught in my hair." She tilted her head slightly, revealing a fair, graceful neck and a few strands of black hair that were indeed entangled in the buckle. Her expression was a little bewildered, as if she were truly hurt.

Cui Junji immediately stopped what he was doing, moved closer to take a look, and said apologetically: "I was being impatient and hurt you? Let me take a look." He tried to help her untie her hair carefully, but the hair was so tangled that the more anxious he was, the more clumsy he felt. He was afraid of tearing her hair, and even more afraid that she would think he was rude.

Wen Youqing waited quietly, her breath gently caressing his earlobe. After he had tried several times without success, with a slight sweat on his forehead, she spoke softly, with a hint of guidance: "Just pull it off. It's really fatal."

Cui Junji did as he was told, and sure enough, the strand of hair came loose easily. He breathed a sigh of relief and raised his eyes to meet her close gaze. There was a faint smile in her eyes, like appreciation, but also like something else.

"My husband is so smart." She said softly.

This compliment came naturally, but it made Cui Junji dazed for a moment. Was this the first time she called him husband?

It was the first time she called him husband!

Before she could even get excited, Wen Youqing had already pulled away slightly, raised her hands to her neck, and spoke in a voice so soft that water could drip out of it: "This wedding dress is heavy. I've been wearing it all day, and I'm feeling a bit stuffy. Can you help me take it off?"

Whether she did it intentionally or not, this was a naked seduction. He took a deep breath, trying to concentrate his mind which was somewhat eroded by alcohol, and began to undo the complicated buckles for her with his fingers very cautiously, even with a solemn attitude.

Every movement was slow and steady, fearing any mistakes. All his attention was focused on how to perfectly unbutton those buttons, as if it was not just a step before the wedding night, but an extremely important ritual.

Wen Youqing lowered her eyes slightly and let him move. Only when he hesitated a little, she would silently guide him with extremely subtle body language - such as taking a very light breath, or slightly turning her neck to an angle that would be more convenient for him to operate.

When the last button was undone and the heavy wedding gown came off, revealing the same red but softer silk undergarment underneath, Cui Junji actually felt a sense of relief as if he had completed a difficult task, and even subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.

Wen Youqing looked up at him. Under the candlelight, the corners of her eyes were slightly red. She didn't know if it was because of her makeup or shyness, but her eyes were moist.

Cui Junji looked at her now vulnerable and completely dependent appearance, and the slight strange feeling he had before was long since dispelled by the surging desire to protect and possess her. He approached again, his breath becoming hot, believing that now he could finally truly possess his bride.

However, just as he was about to touch her, Wen Youqing stretched out her hand, which had been slightly curled, and gently placed her fingertips on his lips. The movement was gentle, even trembling, like a butterfly hovering, but it effectively stopped him from moving further.

Cui Junji looked at her in confusion.

There was a hint of cunning in her eyes, and her voice was soft but clear: "I'll do it."

Two words, softly spoken, but like a silent command.

Cui Junji's anxious movements once again froze. He looked at her, at those clear, calm, even tender yet unquestionable eyes, and suddenly understood everything.

The wedding wine, untying the hair, taking off the wedding dress... and even this gentle push at this moment.

She never said a single "no," never expressed any clear resistance, and even seemed to cater to his wishes with every step, pushing him into a dominant position. But in reality, from the moment they entered this new house, every rhythm of their steps, every permission for their movements, even every ups and downs of his emotions, were all subtly guided and controlled by her seemingly fragile and helpless posture.

She was like a skilled trainer, weaving the softest silk into reins and silently putting them around the neck of a ferocious beast eager to come closer. Every seemingly submissive bow, every gentle whisper, was a silent command, making him unconsciously follow her pace and make him believe that everything was his own will and choice.

She is indeed his sweetheart.

Wen Youqing met his understanding gaze, her fingertips slowly moved away from his lips, gently slid down, rested on his lapel, and then, extremely slowly, hooked a ribbon.

Her eyes were still pure, even a little innocent, as if asking: What's wrong?

Cui Junji's Adam's apple rolled.

He suddenly laughed softly, not in triumph, but full of the excitement of discovering the true face of his prey. He took hold of her hand that was hooked around his belt, lowered his head, and with an unprecedented, solemn gesture, placed a light kiss on her fingertips.

"Madam, the night is still long, there is no rush." ​​He followed her wishes, his voice lowered, with a burning passion that was completely ignited, yet willing to be guided, "Let Madam pick it."

The red candle crackled softly, and a bright flower burst out.

The corners of Wen Youqing's lips finally curled up in a faint, yet profound, arc. She slowly reached out and pushed him into the red wedding quilt. As Peanuts and Longans scattered, she straddled him.

"So good."