88 Marriage
◎The voice of the person beside me came: "Do you still have the energy?"◎
That night, Gu Ningxi stayed alone in Ruihe Palace.
She changed into her nightgown. The curtains were drawn, and the furnishings in the hall did not seem real.
No one knew where Lu Jing had gone, and Gu Ningxi was thinking about the words "tomorrow" he left behind.
Tomorrow is May 28th, which is not a special day. Could it be an auspicious day?
But Gu Ningxi didn't think he would postpone it for a single day, and she wasn't worried. The entire court was closed for three days during the Wanshou Festival, so there shouldn't be any major changes.
I don't know what he is up to.
Gu Ningxi yawned and prepared to go to sleep. Although she was lying on an unfamiliar bed, she felt an incomparable familiarity as she leaned against the soft pillow.
Have a good night's sleep.
The sun shone brightly outside the window, dimly filtering through the brocade curtains. Gu Ningxi, still drunk from last night's drinking, woke up around noon.
She put on her clothes and stood up. A maid called out from behind the screen, "Is the master awake?"
Gu Ningxi responded, and after a while, the maids in the hall opened the curtains in an orderly manner.
She thought it was just ordinary washing and changing of clothes, but when the screen was moved aside, Gu Ningxi couldn't help but be shocked when she saw more than 20 maids lined up in two rows in the hall.
Leading the group was Aunt Sun, who had done her hair a while ago. She smiled and bowed, "I, your Majesty, have ordered you to do Master Gu's hair."
A red sandalwood dressing table inlaid with jade was temporarily carried into the hall, and Gu Ningxi, who had just finished breakfast and woken up, was invited to stand in front of the bronze mirror.
The nine-braid flying fairy bun she had done last time was already complicated and delicate enough, but when Gu Ningxi looked at Aunt Sun's expression in the bronze mirror, she became even more focused and solemn this time.
The black hair was tied up in strands, and it took more than half an hour. The newly combed high bun was called Luanfeng Chaoyun.
There was no rush to put on the pearl hairpin, and another Aunt Zhao put on makeup for Gu Ningxi first.
Aunt Sun wiped her eyes with a handkerchief. Noticing Gu Ningxi's gaze, she hurriedly said, "Don't be offended, Master Gu. I just... just remembered the Empress's appearance when she got married."
The Empress was only seventeen years old when she married into the Prince of Jin's Mansion. The old lady was also there, watching them tie the Empress's hair.
More than 20 years have passed in a flash, and even His Majesty is about to get married.
The princess in Gu Ningxi's memory was a woman of immense beauty and tenderness. Her untimely passing in her prime had caused countless sighs and lamentations.
Aunt Zhao was drawing the flower ornaments on Gu Ningxi's forehead when she said to her old friend, "On such a happy occasion, why are you saying all this?"
Aunt Sun wiped her tears, feeling happy. If the Empress could see Your Majesty getting married, she would surely be delighted.
After finishing her makeup, Gu Ningxi thought she could just change into a red brocade dress, but she didn't expect that what was neatly hung on the rack was actually a bright red wedding dress that fit her body perfectly.
The entire dress, crafted from cloud brocade, seemed to gather the brilliant rays of the heavens, a magnificent spectacle beyond compare. Embroidered with gold thread, it featured a dragon, phoenix, flower, and cloud pattern, with the phoenix's head held high, wings flapping as if ready to take flight. The twelve-panel silk skirt trailed the ground, its flowing clouds and dark floral patterns embellished with pearls and jade, shimmering as she walked.
This luxurious brocade was considered the finest among all the tribute satins produced in Jiangnan over the years, and was a rare find. Not to mention the gold and silver threads, precious pearls, and jade that had to be added, it would probably take at least half a month to prepare them all.
Gu Ningxi stroked the exquisite embroidery. The stitches were so fine that it didn't look like it was rushed at all.
She was curious and asked while changing her clothes, "Where did you get this dress?"
Aunt Sun smiled and said, "When Your Majesty was still Prince Zhao, these were prepared by the Emperor Retired for Your Majesty to marry Princess Zhao."
All the necessary fabrics are ready, and once the choice of the Princess of Zhao is made, the clothes can be cut and sewn immediately so that the wedding can be completed as soon as possible.
Gold and jade are fine, but each piece of brocade takes countless efforts of the embroiderer. If it is kept in the warehouse for a long time, it will inevitably lose its luster.
Therefore, when His Majesty was making a dress for Lady Gu, Steward Sun mentioned this matter, and His Majesty simply ordered someone to make a wedding dress according to Lady Gu's measurements.
The princess's hairpin, also crafted by the retired emperor, was placed nearby. It was considerably more elaborate than that worn by a regular prince's wife. It had a gold base and was inlaid with pearls, rubies, corals, tourmalines, and other gemstones. The stamens, twisted with golden thread, trembled slightly, and the petals, layered and folded, shimmered with brilliance.
The phoenix in the center held a luxurious tassel in its beak, and a sparkling pearl was reflected right between Gu Ningxi's eyebrows.
After putting on layer after layer of wedding clothes, the newly married girl put on nine gorgeous hairpins in order, sat in front of the mirror, and the whole palace was illuminated.
Even the betrothal gifts were complete, originally stored in the warehouse of the Ministry of Rites, and delivered to the palace early in the morning.
The wedding ceremony was meticulously planned and meticulously executed. Gu Ningxi could be considered to have left the palace and entered Prince Zhao's mansion to complete her marriage.
She took the dragon and phoenix brocade fan handed to her by Aunt Sun. The carriage was already waiting outside the hall.
The wedding car was too conspicuous, so the outer decorations were removed and only the inner decorations were used.
Gu Ningxi boarded the carriage, and until this moment, he actually felt that he was getting married.
Tonight's sunset is gorgeous, dyeing the entire sky red, echoing the wedding dress.
In the familiar Prince Zhao's Mansion, the backyard has been newly decorated.
The carriage stopped smoothly in front of the hall. As soon as Gu Ningxi stepped out of the carriage, the bride-picking man lifted her over his knees and held her horizontally in his arms.
Lu Jing had been waiting for a long time. Gu Ningxi saw that he was also wearing a bright red wedding dress, and the jade hairpin used to tie his crown was the birthday gift she had given him yesterday.
She rarely saw him dressed so brightly, and he actually suited himself very well in such gorgeous and eye-catching colors.
Gu Ningxi stared at him for a long moment, then belatedly remembered the round fan in her hand. However, they were too familiar with each other, and it was not right to cover half of his face, nor was it right not to cover it.
Tuanshan was in a dilemma, and she heard his very light laughter in her ears.
Gu Ningxi met his eyes. Today was their wedding ceremony alone.
Lu Jing carried the person and strode into the bedroom without leaving any servants behind.
Gu Ningxi's feet were stepping on the brocade carpet, her bright skirt spread out, and all she could see was a dazzling red.
Lu Jing held her hand. After all, a day's preparations had been too hasty. He respectfully informed Heaven and Earth, and the clan members, that the ceremony of enthroning the empress would be held later. Tonight, they would only drink a single bottle of wedding wine.
The wine entered Gu Ningxi's throat, but she hadn't yet tasted the flavor. The inner room was utterly silent, the red candles of dragon and phoenix flickering softly. She saw the fiery intensity in the man's eyes.
"I...I..." When the time came, Gu Ningxi inexplicably felt like retreating, and her earlobes turned red.
"I'll go take off my bun." She came up with a delaying tactic, lifted her skirt and slipped in front of the bronze mirror.
The hairpins were pulled out one by one, and the tassels were tangled together, just like her indescribable mood at the moment.
Hua Shu hooked a strand of her black hair, and the person behind her raised her hand to untie it for her.
Gu Ningxi was enveloped by his aura, and the cold gem on the hairpin poked at her palm.
Lu Jing did the job, and Chaoyun's hair was perfectly tied up. When the last hairband was removed, her three thousand strands of black hair fell like a waterfall.
In the lingering candlelight, my beloved is wearing a wedding dress as fiery as fire, with flowing black hair and a flower on her forehead, which is extremely beautiful.
The restraint in Lu Jing's eyes burned away.
The next moment, Gu Ningxi was picked up and taken to the couch.
The four corners of the golden and jade tent swayed slightly, and pieces of clothes flew out from between the beds and piled up on the brocade carpet.
The jade belt was thrown far away, and it made several crisp sounds when it hit the gold bricks.
On the red wedding dress, the last piece of clothing replaced the chest binder and fell down gracefully.
The person on the couch was breathing rapidly and disorderly, their lips and teeth intertwined, plundering wantonly.
The bright red brocade quilt makes the girl's skin look whiter than snow, and the touch of her palms is extremely soft and smooth.
The slender knuckles extended downwards, and the hot breath still lingered there.
Gu Ningxi's beautiful eyes were covered with a layer of mist, and she was lost in thought. An uncontrollable moan escaped from her lips.
The curtains shook more violently.
…
The sound of the night watchman stopped, and the dim candlelight shone through the curtains.
Gu Ningxi, who had just changed into a set of crimson pajamas, was already in a state of confusion, and felt a thousand times more tired than in her dream.
The bed was extremely spacious, and she was not used to falling asleep in someone's arms, so she wanted to move quietly to the inner room.
However, she had only moved an inch when the voice of the person beside her came: "Do you still have the strength?"
These words frightened Gu Ningxi so much that she dared not move anymore.
She held her breath, fearing that the unsatisfied person would not let her go.
With a cautious look, Lu Jing took the person back a little.
The palm resting on her waist was burning hot, and Gu Ningxi silently adjusted herself to a more comfortable position in his arms.
She thought she would have trouble falling asleep, but her body was so tired that she fell into a deep sleep the next moment.
The moonlight flows silently, reflecting the candlelight in the hall.
Lu Jing lowered his eyes and looked at the person in his arms, an indescribable sense of satisfaction filling his heart.
He lowered his eyes and placed a light kiss on her forehead.
There was no need to attend court after the Wanshou Festival. Gu Ningxi, who was sleeping, seemed to know this. He slept soundly until the afternoon before he showed signs of waking up.
The festive decorations in the bedroom had not been changed. The red color dazzled her eyes for a long time before she realized where she was.
"Have you slept enough?"
She looked at the person who opened the brocade curtain and saw that he looked energetic and did not look like he had been tired all night.
She finally understood what it meant to pursue the enemy without taking off her armor for three days and two nights.
Yuan Le didn't say a word. Lu Jing looked at her rolling eyes and guessed that she didn't want to say anything good about him.
"Do you want to get up?" he said with a smile.
Gu Ningxi didn't want to move, but he didn't eat much the night before, and he was tossed and turned all night, so he was naturally hungry.
The meal was delivered to the inner room, and Lu Jing carried the person down to bed.
After drinking a bowl of shrimp porridge and eating six fried buns, Gu Ningxi finally regained some strength.
The next three days were all for rest, and Lu Jing did not return to the palace, so it was natural for him to leave the person in the palace.
Today, the clothes prepared by the palace for Gu Ningxi were still a light red skirt embroidered with acacia flowers, which was very suitable for the festive occasion of a newlywed couple.
Lu Jing held the person in his arms. Yesterday's preparations were hasty, and Yuan Le was still wronged.
But he really couldn't wait much longer.
Sun Jing was passing on the news outside, and he was extremely reluctant to spoil the fun, but there was one thing he had to ask.
He asked through the screen, "Where should the betrothal gifts from the palace be sent to Master Gu?"
Gu Ningxi thought of the pile of gold and jade. The dowry for the princes of this dynasty to marry their principal wives was already generous, and the items prepared by the emperor for Prince Zhao's marriage exceeded the limit by 30%. The person in front of him probably added a lot more to it.
She definitely couldn't let go of the small courtyard in Yongningfang. If she was sent back to the Marquis' Mansion, her mother would definitely teach her a lesson.
Gu Ningxi looked up: "Just leave it in the palace, okay?"
Lu Jing was in charge of all these matters. Now that they were married, he could take over many things with good reason.
He asked, "Should I allocate some manpower to you?"
Yuan Le is surrounded by people from the Xuanping Marquis Mansion, and the Marquis Mansion has extremely strict control over the younger generation.
Gu Ningxi asked, "Your Majesty, could you please teach me some techniques for controlling people?"
She lacks a lot in this area, and the man in front of her should be a good teacher.
Those sparkling eyes make it impossible for people to even think of refusing.
"Okay." Lu Jing's eyes were filled with doting, and he lowered his eyes and kissed her.
In Prince Zhao's palace, Gu Ningxi soon had his own bedroom.
The house was carefully decorated according to her preferences, but she had no time to live there in the past two days.
The moonlight was dim and the door to the bedroom was closed early.
The scene on the couch was charming and the movement lasted for a long time.
Gu Ningxi leaned in front of him and discussed with him, "Let's just leave it like this for now, okay?" She thought Prince Zhao's mansion was a good fit, so she didn't dare push it too far. "Just for a year or two."
Lu Jing was thinking that it was still early and he could go in again, so he quickly responded when he heard that.
Gu Ningxi's eyes were filled with surprise and her eyebrows were curved. Things were going much more smoothly than she had expected.
She hadn't used a single word of her many excuses.
The laces of the pajamas were not tied properly, and before the next round began, both parties were very satisfied.
…
After staying in Prince Zhao's mansion for three days, at dusk on the last day, Gu Ningxi had his meal and was about to return to Marquis Xuanping's mansion.
She was away from home for three days on leave. Fortunately, she had thought of an excuse in advance, otherwise she wouldn't know how to explain it.
She said goodbye to Lu Jing: "I won't be back tonight."
The court session will resume tomorrow, so he should return to the palace early.
Lu Jing watched Gu Ningxi's carriage leave and began to recall what happened last night.
What did he promise?
A few words came back to his mind, and the young emperor couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
Why did he agree?
【Author’s words】
There will be an extra update on Sunday!
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