When Zhao Xiheng woke up, Wei Li took the initiative to boast to her, with a hint of self-satisfaction, "That Xie Qingyu, I didn't kill him or lock him up. I invited him to live in the courtyard next door."
"Hmm?" Zhao Xiheng, who was originally drowsy, suddenly became clear-headed. Wei Li had suddenly become very magnanimous, even though he was angry with Xie Qingyu the day before yesterday.
"That's good. My lord is becoming more and more tolerant and magnanimous. That's wonderful. What about the other deputy envoy? And those beauties?" Zhao Xiheng praised him, hoping that he would continue to work hard and go further on the path of being a good person.
"When he has some free time, have him come and visit us." Wei Li avoided the main point; why bring up a dead person?
Zhao Xiheng's attention was drawn to this, and she felt that something was off about what was being said. "Can you use the word 'visit' when inviting someone over?"
"But he lives in our house, so isn't it only right that he visits our host?"
It seems like there's nothing wrong with saying that, but doesn't it seem very impolite?
Wei Li didn't reply; instead, he looked at her with a smile. Zhao Xiheng rubbed her eyes, suddenly remembering that Wei Li had never been a polite person. For Xie Qingyu to come and "visit" him was already a great favor, given his busy schedule.
“After all, you can’t step out of this courtyard,” Wei Li explained, smiling as he tucked her disheveled hair behind her ear.
Zhao Xiheng slapped her forehead and remembered that Wei Li had said the day before yesterday that he would imprison her and make sure she could never leave this courtyard for the rest of her life, and that he would break her legs if she took a single step out.
Yes, yes, when she has time, she'll step out of this courtyard openly and honestly in front of Wei Li and let him see.
He even broke his leg? Look how powerful he is.
"By the way, did Xie Qingyu tell you when he's going back?"
"No, why would he tell me that?" Wei Li couldn't wait for Xie Qingyu to leave, but he also wanted to appear as a loving couple in front of Xie Qingyu, making him leave in a miserable state. However, he was also afraid that Zhao Xiheng wouldn't cooperate, and in the end, he would be the one who lost face.
"Oh." Zhao Xiheng was a little worried. If Xie Qingyu failed to complete the mission Zhao Mingjin had given him, would he be punished?
Since Aye's death, the Xie family's situation has not been very good.
"What are you thinking about?" Wei Li pinched her cheek. "I bought some things, and someone will deliver them later."
What did you buy?
"It's getting hot soon. The bed outside looked a bit old, so I had a new one made, along with some other less important things."
Zhao Xiheng, “???”
Because of the unique climate in Pingzhou, people sleep on a kang (heated brick bed) half the time and a bed the other half. The old cot that Wei Li mentioned outside was a new one made last winter when he was decorating the courtyard, and it had never been used.
"How dare you call me wasteful? The bed is new." She complained softly.
“If I say it’s old, then it’s old.” Wei Li coughed twice without any embarrassment.
He touched Zhao Xiheng's soft arm, then whispered in her ear, "Zhao Xiheng, don't you think there's something missing between us?"
"What's missing?" She felt that nothing was missing.
If there's anything missing, it's Wei Li's sharp tongue; he's really asking for trouble.
“Other people’s weddings involve bowing to heaven and earth, how can you be so stupid and know nothing?” Wei Li mocked, his palms sweating and his throat dry.
Zhao Xiheng had better understand the meaning behind his words and agree quickly, otherwise he would tie her up even if he had to.
Why should he have what others have but not others? He's richer and better looking than others.
Besides, what would it look like if he didn't hold a wedding? Now that Zhao Mingjin is openly demanding people from him, if he doesn't hold a wedding to tell the world, will people think he's easy to bully?
"Of course I know!" Zhao Xiheng didn't care, so she deliberately ignored the matter. "Why did my lord suddenly think of this?"
“When I went to Dongying for inspection last time, they insisted on attending my wedding banquet. Do you think I really wanted to get married to you? I was just going along with the public’s wishes.”
Zhao Xiheng remained silent, about to utter a threat, "If you don't agree, I will..."
"Okay, whatever you say." She pulled the covers over herself again.
She might only get married once in her life. What if Wei Li doesn't die before her? She won't even have a proper wedding, which would be such a pity.
"Hmm." Wei Li hummed, and in a very good mood, he touched her hair, only to have Zhao Xiheng gently pat it away. "I'm not feeling well yet, go out and have some fun by yourself."
"Does it still hurt?" Wei Li had been up all night and his flirtatious talk had faded. Hearing that she was not feeling well, the tips of his ears turned slightly red. He leaned closer to her and asked softly.
"..." Zhao Xiheng also blushed and nodded gently.
"I've prepared some ointment, do you want some?"
Since Zhao Xiheng didn't speak, it meant she agreed. Wei Li took the ointment out of the cabinet.
His fingers touched Zhao Xiheng's warm skin, and he recoiled from the heat. He didn't dare to pull her out completely, only using the blanket to half-cover her. His heart became restless again, and all his previous shyness and guilt disappeared.
"I can do it myself, you can leave." Although she was embarrassed to do it herself, Wei Li's attempt to apply the medicine for her was even more embarrassing!
Wei Li grabbed her wrists and pushed them upwards, pinning her firmly beneath him. Then he kissed the corners of her flushed eyes and reached down with his hand.
Zhao Xiheng was about to cry. She wanted to have all the pictures in her dowry burned. What were they? They were misleading people!
"It's a little red and swollen." He held Zhao Xiheng's delicate earlobe in his mouth and breathed into her ear.
Zhao Xiheng shuddered and bit her lower lip, "Shut up."
Men in bed are usually shameless, and Zhao Xiheng couldn't do anything about it now. Wei Li didn't stop his actions and continued to breathe into her ear.
"Really? Do you want to take a look?"
Have you checked it since yesterday morning?
"Shameless." Zhao Xiheng's voice trembled, almost as if she could squeeze water out of it.
"And there's something even more shameless. I've read all thirteen of them."
The delicate buds are half-open, glistening with dew.
Wei Li was afraid that Zhao Xiheng would be angry with him, so after applying the medicine, he kissed her and ran away, saying, "Wait for me to come back for dinner tonight."
Zhao Xiheng covered her face with a soft pillow and kicked him; the ointment felt cool.
The things Wei Li mentioned were delivered in the afternoon. Xie Qingyu heard the commotion outside and went out to check. He saw red everywhere and almost lost his balance, so he grabbed the door frame for support.
The scene was quite lively, filled with wedding-related items, including a bed. Normally, people in Pingzhou sleep in beds less often, so the items should be kept simple. However, Wei Li insisted on ordering a canopy bed, and not only that, but also carvings of a hundred sons and a thousand grandsons and pomegranate flowers.
What Xie Qingyu found so glaring was almost painful. He gently touched his forehead, closed his eyes, and concealed the pain within.
Two maids chattered in his ear, explaining, "When the lord and his wife were together, they were in a bit of a rush and didn't have a grand wedding. The lord said that if others have it, the wife should have it too, and it should be even grander and better than others. So he prepared the wedding ceremonies and wanted to give the wife a grand wedding."
"Young Master Xie, will you be staying to attend the ceremony? You are the only friend of Madam's family here, so you can accompany her as a member of her family."
Xie Qingyu couldn't stand it anymore and stormed off.
Not only Xie Qingyu, but even Zhao Xiheng blushed when she saw the bed. The maids teased her for being shy, but in reality, she felt like tearing Wei Li apart. How could she face anyone after seeing that? Couldn't he think of something else all day long?
"Cover it up, cover it up, don't let me see it." She turned around with a headache and had someone cover it with silk. Out of sight, out of mind. That's just how Wei Li's aesthetic sense is.
Wei Li is always quick to act. He announced the wedding ceremony that afternoon.
After walking around, I received many congratulations.
"My lord, congratulations! If you are going to hold a banquet, please don't hesitate to send me an invitation. I will certainly bring generous gifts."
"No problem, no problem." Wei Li's smile never faded.
So this is what it feels like to actually get married. It's novel and grand, especially with everyone congratulating him, as if the marriage is blessed by everyone and will surely be happy.
He had initially thought it was just a perfunctory ceremony to assert his sovereignty, but now he couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and nervousness, his heart as relaxed as if it were soaking in warm water.
No wonder everyone holds a ceremony when they get married.
He now longs to see Zhao Xiheng. It doesn't mean anything else; he just really wants to be with her at night, with the lights on, discussing how to handle everything, from writing the invitations to the wedding attire, from arranging the ceremony to the wine at the wedding banquet.
Wei Li had no such experience; he didn't even know the customs of Jinyang. But he was certain that there was one person who did know.
Xie Qingyu sat opposite Wei Li, her handsome face expressionless, her eyes lacking any sparkle, and her hands, hidden in her wide sleeves, barely clenched.
"The three letters and six rites, the three matchmakers and six betrothal gifts." Wei Li asked him a question, and he answered it.
“After all, this is the only wedding A-Dan will have in her life. I’m sure Mr. Xie won’t mind if I ask for more details.” Wei Li smiled and tilted his head to look at him, just like Zhao Xiheng.
His lips were somewhat red, and there was a small cut on the corner of his mouth, making it obvious who had done it.
Xie Qingyu felt a breath of stale air, unable to exhale or swallow, and finally said in a deep voice, "No."
"Since Mr. Xie is an old friend of A-Dan, he must also hope that she is doing well, so he would send us his sincerest blessings, right?"
Xie Qingyu's resentment had reached its peak. Suddenly, a string in his mind snapped, and his mind cleared instantly. Instead of being angry, he laughed and said, "I should have said my blessings to A-Dan's face."
"After all, if she wanted blessings, she would have come to me personally to ask for them, rather than having Young Master Wei overstep his bounds and do it for her. What are you trying to prove by provoking me like this? Or are you trying to cover something up?"
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