Chapter 11 "On the wedding night, this is how things should proceed..."

night

The wedding curtains were lowered, and the soft candlelight cast a warm glow throughout the room.

Ling Zhenli was too lazy to think about Xiao Chongheng anymore; her priority now was to take advantage of their wedding night to improve her relationship with Pei Xuanlin.

She first drank a few glasses of wine, partly to embolden herself to flirt with Pei Xuanlin, and partly so that Pei Xuanlin wouldn't think she was being improper when he saw she was drunk.

So she leaned against the couch, her fingertips hooking the golden goblet, constantly changing her posture, trying to find a way to be alluring yet elegant.

The amber-colored liquor swayed slightly, reflecting her half-drunk eyes and brows.

She had already drunk three cups, her face flushed slightly, and her eyes glistened with tears, yet she maintained her dignified posture, only slightly loosening her wedding dress to reveal a section of her snow-white neck.

Footsteps sounded outside the door. Her eyelashes fluttered slightly, and then she tilted her head back and drank the wine in her glass, deliberately letting a drop of wine slide down the corner of her lips.

When Pei Xuanlin pushed open the door, he saw her covering her lips with her sleeve, looking at him with a spring-like gaze in her eyes, her voice so soft it could melt water: "Your Highness... why did it take you so long? I've been waiting for you."

He paused in his steps.

The dignified and composed Crown Princess of the daytime was now like a lazy cat, her fingertips unconsciously twirling her hair, her red lips slightly parted.

"You're drunk," Pei Xuanlin said in a low voice, but couldn't help but walk closer.

"Your Highness..." Ling Zhentou's voice was soft as she poured two cups of wine, handing one to him. Her sleeve slipped down, revealing a section of her snow-white wrist. "You haven't drunk the nuptial wine with me yet."

Pei Xuanlin took the wine glass, his fingertips lightly brushing against the back of her hand, feeling the smoothness of her skin.

"The wedding ceremony is proper," Pei Xuanlin said in a deep voice, wrapping his arm around hers, and the distance between them suddenly closed.

Ling Zhenli could smell a faint fragrance emanating from him, which inexplicably made her heart race.

She lowered her head slightly, pressed her lips to the rim of the glass, and drank the wine with him.

The liquor goes down your throat, spicy with a hint of sweetness.

The cups were removed, but Pei Xuanlin did not let go. Instead, in the posture of exchanging cups, he gently rubbed her wrist bone with his thumb.

"Is the liquor strong?" he asked, his gaze intense.

Ling Zhenli's eyes sparkled, and she deliberately coughed lightly, a blush rising on her cheeks at the opportune moment: "I was a little tipsy from drinking too much just now, I hope Your Highness will not take offense."

Pei Xuanlin chuckled softly, then suddenly leaned in and whispered in her ear, "Since my beloved consort is tired, why don't we retire for the night?"

Warm breath brushed against her ear, and Ling Zhenli's fingertips trembled slightly, but she leaned into his arms, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible:

"Your Highness... are you sleepy?"

After saying that, she chuckled softly, reached out and grabbed his collar, pulling him closer.

Ling Zhenli tilted her head back, her breath brushing against his chin, carrying a faint scent of wine. Her voice was soft and gentle: "But the instructive matrons said... on the wedding night, we should do this before we can go to bed..."

The madams in the brothel were also considered half-nannies, and she didn't think that was a lie.

Her fingertips slid down Pei Xuanlin's collar, awkwardly unbuttoning a button, but when she touched his Adam's apple, she pretended to be nervous and withdrew her hand, lowering her eyelashes as she said, "Ah... I'm so clumsy..."

Pei Xuanlin's breathing became slightly heavy from her teasing, and he suddenly grabbed her wrist.

In the candlelight, his eyes were deep-set, yet a rare hint of hesitation lingered: "You're not sober right now."

Ling Zhenli pouted slightly, using the alcohol as an excuse to act coquettishly and ask for favor: "I don't care, Your Highness has no idea how hard I've waited for you. Actually... I've admired Your Highness for a long time."

The next second, she boldly kissed his lips, very lightly and gently.

Pei Xuanlin's breath caught in his throat from her kiss. He cupped the back of her neck with his palm and deepened the kiss.

His lips were warm and forceful, carrying a long-suppressed aggressiveness, as if he wanted to devour her whole.

Ling Zhenli's fingertips trembled slightly, but she still remembered to pretend to be naive, clumsily yet boldly responding to his kiss. Occasionally, she would "accidentally" bite his lower lip, then hurriedly pull away, her eyes filled with tears.

"Your Highness, I...I'm not very good at it..." she gasped, her voice soft and timid, like a frightened bird.

Despite saying those words, she pressed her body even closer, brushing against him almost imperceptibly through his clothes, her fingertips seemingly grazing his waist and abdomen unintentionally, sending a shiver down his spine.

Pei Xuanlin's eyes darkened, his fingertips caressing her lips, his voice low and husky: "It's alright, I'll teach you."

As soon as he finished speaking, he picked up Ling Zhenli and carried her to the bed.

Ling Zhenli gasped softly, wrapped her arms around his neck, pressed her cheek against his chest, and listened to his rapid heartbeat.

Is he nervous?

Ling Zhenli was gently placed on the brocade quilt, and the red gauze curtains hung down. Candlelight shone through the light gauze, casting ambiguous shadows on her skin.

Pei Xuanlin leaned over her and supported himself above her, his fingertips gently untying her sash, his movements restrained yet irresistible.

Ling Zhenli feigned fear, frantically grabbing his hand, her eyelashes trembling slightly, as if pleading for mercy: "Your Highness... I'm afraid of pain."

Men love to hear these kinds of things.

Sure enough, his breath hitched, a hint of pity flashed in his eyes, and he lowered his head to kiss her forehead: "Don't be afraid, I'll be gentle. Tell me if it hurts, and I'll stop."

The next instant, his kisses traveled down her neck, burning hot, as if he wanted to brand her into his very bones.

Ling Zhenli bit her lip and hummed softly, her fingertips digging into his shoulder and back, her breathing unsteady.

His hand covered her waist, his fingertips caressing the marks Xue Haoting had made on her a few days ago, startling Ling Zhenli so much that she gasped for breath and froze instantly.

Noticing the change in Ling Zhenli's body, Pei Xuanlin gently kissed her forehead, as if to comfort her.

Then he got up and saw the scar on her waist, but instead of asking about it, he got down and kissed the scar.

This kiss felt like it was meant to soothe all of her past.

Ling Zhenli's heart skipped a beat, and she was momentarily stunned.

But soon, she was pulled back to reality.

Because Pei Xuanlin's kiss became forceful, his hands gripped her waist, and he completely possessed her.

She felt the pain acutely; it made her brow furrow and tears welled in her eyes.

Men love this kind of conquest of purity, and Ling Zhenli has indeed suffered some hardship. In the mix of truth and fiction, her panting has a slight sob, and there is also a hint of grievance in it. She is so delicate that she could drip water.

"Your Highness...it hurts..."

Upon hearing this, Pei Xuanlin softened his movements, soothing her with kisses and trying to please her again.

...

Afterwards, Pei Xuanlin personally helped her bathe. By the time they finished cleaning up, it was already late at night. Feeling a bit tired, he went back to bed, hugged Ling Zhenli, and prepared to fall asleep together.

But with the beautiful woman in his arms, it was the first time he had ever tried to sleep with her, and he struggled for a long time before he could fall asleep.

Why isn't Your Highness asleep?

Ling Zhenli was indeed a bit tired from all the commotion and needed to rest, but she wasn't very sleepy. She noticed the subtle movements of the person next to her and subconsciously showed concern.

After a moment's thought, Pei Xuanlin replied politely, "It's still early, I'm not too sleepy yet."

"Then let me keep Your Highness company for a chat," Ling Zhenli said softly, leaning against him.

Pei Xuanlin thought for a moment and asked, "Does my beloved concubine have any private messages?"

My parents call me Ah Li.

This is also the only thing she has in common with Xue Yingyue. Once, Xue Haoting was drunk and called out to her many times, which is when she realized that she and Xue Yingyue both had the nickname "Ali".

"Ah Li..."

Pei Xuanlin pulled her closer, kissed her forehead again, took a strand of her long hair, intertwined it with a strand of his own, and played with it between his fingertips.

“When you married me, your father must have told you that I am not His Majesty’s biological son, but an adopted nephew.”

"I know," Ling Zhenli nodded.

“My father is the current emperor’s elder brother, Emperor Ruizong. After my mother passed away, my father posthumously honored her as empress. Before her death, she was just a palace maid, and she came from a humble background, being a prisoner of war captured by my father during his conquests. Therefore, the people in the palace do not like me…”

"Your Highness..."

Seeing that Pei Xuanlin seemed downcast, Ling Zhenli couldn't help but reach out and stroke his face. Her warm and soft hand not only caressed his face but also touched his heart.

Pei Xuanlin pondered silently. Although Xue Wenmian was cunning and treacherous, Xue Yingyue was Xue Wenmian's daughter, but she was also his wife, Pei Xuanlin's first wife. She would care for him, love him, and be of one mind with him.

Ling Zhenli gently rested her head on Pei Xuanlin's shoulder and said, "Let's pay our respects to the Emperor and Empress first thing tomorrow morning, and then offer incense to His Highness's father and mother."

"Don't you despise me because my birth mother was of lowly status?"

"How could that be?" She leaned closer, her nose almost touching Pei Xuanlin's face, and whispered between breaths, "Your Highness is my husband, and Your Highness's mother is naturally my mother as well. I would not look down on you."

"That's enough for me, Ahri. Go to sleep."

Ling Zhenli undoubtedly pleased Pei Xuanlin tonight, and she could clearly feel that Pei Xuanlin had lowered his guard a little.

But there's still a long way to go, so she can't let her guard down yet.

***

On the second day after the wedding, one must get up early to dress up and go to the palace to meet the emperor.

Upon waking, Pei Xuanlin, to show his concern, personally drew eyebrows for Ling Zhenli. Ling Zhenli was initially very touched, but after a few strokes, she failed to achieve the desired effect and had to erase it so that the female officials could do it.

The ladies-in-waiting of the Eastern Palace styled Ling Zhenli's hair into an elegant palace updo, with a golden phoenix hairpin swaying gently at her temples, and her magnificent Crown Princess court dress wrapped around her in layers.

"Your Majesty, the time has come; it's time to depart," a palace maid gently reminded you.

Ling Zhenli was gradually becoming familiar with these tedious rules, and she remained calm as she boarded the carriage with Pei Xuanlin.

The carriage moved slowly along the palace road. Pei Xuanlin sat opposite Ling Zhenli. Today, he was wearing a python robe as elaborate as hers, which made his face look like jade.

The warmth of my fingers from drawing Ling Zhenli's eyebrows this morning still lingered on her brows, but she had already returned to her usual aloof demeanor.

She couldn't help but feel a little scared. Xiao Chongheng must know that she was going to meet the emperor today, but she didn't know his identity. She was afraid that if she saw Xiao Chongheng in the palace, her secret would be exposed and she would die a horrible death.

"Your Highness," Ling Zhenli called out softly, her expression flustered.

Pei Xuanlin looked up at Ling Zhenli. She was a little nervous, but it was understandable. He had heard that she had never left home, so it was normal for her to be a little emotional at this time.

"Don't be nervous," he said calmly. "The emperor is kind and gentle, and the empress won't treat you harshly either. Just follow the rules and you'll be fine."

Ling Zhenli bowed her head in response.

Pei Xuanlin didn't know that her nervousness wasn't due to the fear of meeting the emperor, but rather the fear that her secret might be exposed at any moment.

I was filled with trepidation the whole way, but we still arrived.

The eunuch's high-pitched singing voice pierced through the vermilion palace gates.

As Ling Zhenli followed Pei Xuanlin into the inner hall, she bowed her head in greeting and caught a glimpse of the emperor and empress sitting at the head of the table.

"Get up. Seeing how well-matched you two are makes me very happy."

The emperor spoke in a very gentle tone, even with a hint of kindness.

Ling Zhenli respectfully rose and then saw the emperor's face clearly. He was smiling kindly, with a loving expression and a gentle look between his brows. His dark circles under his eyes were obvious, indicating that he was troubled by the affairs of the court.

The Empress, on the other hand, was elegant and graceful, her phoenix eyes smiling as she looked at Ling Zhenli.

"Good child, come here and let me take a good look at you." Empress Chen Xiang beckoned to Ling Zhenli, who slowly stepped forward and was pulled by the empress's hand. "You're so beautiful, why don't you go out more often?"

Ling Zhenli's heart skipped a beat, but she didn't show it on her face. She replied obediently, "Your Majesty, I know that I am dull-witted. In order to be worthy of the position of the Empress's daughter-in-law, I have been studying the Four Books and Five Classics at home all these years, and practicing the zither, chess, calligraphy and painting diligently. I dare not slack off."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xiang's eyes reddened, and she gently patted Ling Zhenli's hand: "Poor thing, so sensible at such a young age." She turned to the emperor, "Your Majesty, look, Zhen'er has found such a good wife."

Pei Lian nodded with a smile, and Chen Xiang then turned to the palace maid and instructed, "Go and bring me my set of shimmering jewelry, as well as the South China Sea pearls that were presented as tribute the other day, and bestow them upon the Crown Princess."

Ling Zhenli knelt in gratitude, and as her forehead touched the ground, she sneered inwardly, feeling a sense of irony.

If the Empress knew that she was just a lowly courtesan, it's hard to say whether she would feel sorry for her or despise her.

"Zhen'er, take the Crown Princess for a stroll in the Imperial Garden. The peonies there are in full bloom, and you'll all get to know each other well," the Emperor said kindly.

Pei Xuan bowed and accepted the greeting, and Ling Zhenli followed him out of the hall.

"Shall we go admire the flowers?" Pei Xuanlin asked as soon as he stepped out the door.

"Since we're here, we should at least take a look around to make the trip worthwhile," Ling Zhenli said with a slight smile.

She was also curious to see what the imperial garden in the palace looked like.

"Come on, I'll take you to see it." Pei Xuanlin was happy to listen to her.