Chapter 69 Newlywed bliss and the warmth of a family dinner
Chapter Sixty-Nine: The Warmth of Newlywed Life and Family Feast
As the noise in the front hall gradually subsided, Su Jizhi, having finished entertaining the guests and slightly tipsy, returned to his meticulously decorated bridal chamber under the moonlight. He gently closed the door behind him, shutting out the joy and commotion that filled the courtyard.
Inside, red candles burned brightly, creating a warm and tranquil atmosphere. Pei Yunxi had finished washing up and changed into a bright red silk nightgown. Her dark hair cascaded down her back, and she sat upright on the edge of the bed covered with a quilt draped with a hundred sons and a thousand grandsons. Upon hearing footsteps, her hands, which were resting on her lap, unconsciously tightened slightly.
Su Jizhi sat down beside her, bringing with him a faint scent of alcohol and a familiar masculine aroma. He reached out, his warm palm covering her slightly cool hand, his voice deeper and gentler than usual due to the alcohol: "Have you been busy all day? Are you hungry?"
Pei Yunxi lifted her eyelids, glanced at him quickly, then lowered them shyly, shook her head, and whispered, "Just now... Mother had a maid bring over some snacks, which I've already eaten." "That's good." Su Jizhi felt relieved, his gaze falling on her cheeks flushed with rouge. He raised his hand, his fingertips gently lifting her chin, turning her face towards him.
Pei Yunxi's heart suddenly raced as she was forced to meet his burning gaze. She knew what was about to happen. Before her marriage, her maid, Lai, had secretly shown her a few pages of "Secret Erotic Illustrations of the Boudoir."
Although she only caught a few fleeting glances, the alluring and entangled scene was enough to make her blush, her heart filled with both panic and fear. Su Jizhi slowly leaned down, his warm lips covering her trembling cherry lips. Pei Yunxi's mind went blank, and she could only passively endure this deep kiss, tinged with alcohol and affection, her body slightly weak.
Su Jizhi gently laid her down on the soft brocade quilt, his tall body covering hers. Feeling the delicate body beneath him stiffen instantly, he propped himself up on his arms, creating a slight distance between them. By the candlelight, he watched her tense expression, her eyes tightly closed and her long eyelashes trembling. He lightly stroked her rosy cheeks with his fingertips and whispered hoarsely, "...If you feel unwell, tell me."
After speaking, he kissed her again, this time with greater patience and tenderness, his large hand gently caressing her back. Under his gentle onslaught, Pei Yunxi's tense nerves gradually relaxed, her body no longer so stiff, and she even began to respond awkwardly, yielding to his rhythm like a small boat swaying in a storm.
After two such passionate encounters, Su Jizhi, pitying her for being a virgin and her delicate body, forced himself to stop, even though he was not yet fully satisfied.
He held Pei Yunxi, who had almost immediately fallen into a deep sleep, and cleaned her up. Looking at her peaceful sleeping face, he was filled with love and contentment, and then he also fell into a deep sleep.
The next morning, Pei Yunxi slowly woke up, feeling sore all over. As soon as she moved, she saw Su Jizhi push open the door and enter. He was already dressed and looked refreshed, obviously having gotten up earlier.
Seeing that she was awake, he walked to the bedside and sat down, his gaze gentle: "Awake? Is your body... still in pain?"
Pei Yunxi recalled the madness of last night, her cheeks instantly flushed red, and she shyly pulled the quilt over half her face, revealing only her watery eyes, and nodded gently.
Seeing this, Su Jizhi affectionately touched her flushed cheeks and chuckled softly, "I was being rash. Next time... I will definitely be gentler."
Pei Yunxi was so embarrassed by his words that she wanted to disappear. She gently pushed him through the blanket.
Su Jizhi smiled and took her hand: "It's time to get up. The Emperor and my sister are still in the mansion. We need to go and pay our respects."
Pei Yunxi then remembered that she had important business to attend to and quickly nodded.
On the other side, after Su Su got up, she went straight to her mother Tang Wanqing's room. Li Qianche was accompanied by Su Mufeng in the front hall.
Inside the boudoir, Tang Wanqing held Su Su's hand, dismissed everyone around, and carefully examined her daughter, her eyes reddening again. She touched Su Su's left cheek, then looked at her right, and asked in a low voice, full of worry, "Su Su, tell your mother honestly, is the Emperor... treating you well? Have you suffered any grievances in the palace?"
Su Su grasped her mother's hand and said frankly, "Mother, the Emperor... didn't treat me very well at first. But now he treats me extremely well."
Upon hearing this, Tang Wanqing burst into tears, choking back sobs as she said, "I've regretted it more than once. How could I have been so blinded by greed and agreed to let you enter the palace... Hearing of your demotion, my heart... felt like it was being torn apart, and I couldn't rest easy day or night. Now that the Emperor seems to be treating you well, my heart is finally a little relieved. But you must remember, if... if one day in the future the Emperor dislikes you and you suffer any injustice, you must tell me! I'll risk my life to make sure your father finds a way to bring you home!"
Su Su felt a lump in her throat and quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe away her mother's tears, gently comforting her, "Mother, I know, don't worry. Don't cry anymore. When my brother and sister-in-law come to pay their respects later, they'll worry unnecessarily if they see you like this."
Just then, Su Jizhi brought Pei Yunxi over. When Pei Yunxi saw Su Su, she was about to bow according to custom, but Su Su quickly reached out to stop her, saying, "Sister-in-law, there are no outsiders here, so there's no need for such formalities."
Su Jizhi nodded in agreement, then looked at Su Su and asked with concern, "Su Su, how have you been in the palace lately? Is the Emperor... treating you well?" This question was exactly the same as his mother's.
Su Su couldn't help but chuckle: "Why is Brother asking the same question as Mother?" She took Tang Wanqing's arm and smiled at her brother, saying, "The Emperor treats me very well, so you can rest assured, Brother."
Seeing that she spoke with certainty and without any sign of reluctance, Su Jizhi finally felt relieved. After chatting privately for a while, the group went to the front hall together.
Breakfast was served, and the family sat down to eat. During the meal, Li Qianche naturally took care of Su Su, putting her favorite foods into her bowl. When he saw her glance at the dish of cold dishes, he gently shook his head and said in a low voice, "This is cold in nature. The imperial physician said to eat less of it." Although Su Su pouted, she obediently listened.
Tang Wanqing watched this all clearly. Seeing how meticulous the Emperor was with his daughter, even to the point of “disciplining” her, her last bit of doubt vanished. She finally believed her husband’s private joking remark that “our Emperor is probably a little afraid of his wife now.”
After breakfast, it was time to return to the palace. In front of the Su residence, Su Su bid farewell to her parents, brothers, and sisters-in-law with reluctance. Seeing that her eyes were slightly red, Li Qianche felt sorry for her and immediately said to Tang Wanqing, "If Mother-in-law misses Su Su in the future, she can send a token to the palace to visit her at any time."
Upon hearing this, Su Su looked at Li Qianche with delight. Seeing him nod in confirmation, she burst into laughter through her tears. She chatted with her family for a while longer before, with Li Qianche's help, she reluctantly boarded the carriage back to the palace, turning back to look at him every few steps.
The carriage rumbled along. Inside, Li Qianche pulled Su Su into his arms and asked her, "Were you happy to see your parents and family?"
Su Su nestled in his arms, a satisfied smile on her face, and nodded vigorously, "Yes! I'm very happy, thank you, Your Majesty." Li Qianche raised an eyebrow, a meaningful smile playing on his lips, "Then...do I have a reward?"
Su Su looked up at him, puzzled: "What reward does Your Majesty desire?"
Li Qianche leaned down, his warm lips close to her delicate earlobe. His breath made her ears turn red instantly. In a voice only the two of them could hear, he whispered intimately, "Tonight... I want to try... that position. My beloved consort, you mustn't refuse again..."
He somehow acquired some illustrated books like "The Secret Manual of Yin and Yang" and has been pestering her to "study" them together lately. Some of the positions in the books are quite embarrassing, and she has always refused to agree. But this time, he found an opportunity to ask for a reward.
Su Su's face flushed crimson with embarrassment and anger. She swung her fists and pounded his firm chest: "Your Majesty...you're lewd!"
Li Qianche laughed loudly, letting her hit him, and held her even tighter in his arms. The carriage, carrying their sweet thoughts, slowly drove towards the nine-layered palace.
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