Chapter 394 The Wedding Night
Only a few lamps were left on in the sleeping quarters of Chang Le Palace. In the ambiguous and hazy light, Qi Yuxuan felt a lightness on her body and found herself being picked up again.
Her face was still forced up, and all her attempts to speak were blocked.
Then, she was carried and placed on the bed, sinking into the soft bedding.
The man propped himself up on the covers and looked down at her.
Qi Yuxuan felt a flush rise to her face as she was stared at by that gaze.
His eyebrows were like swords, and his phoenix eyes were long and narrow. When he was expressionless, his handsome face was full of a powerful and imposing aura. But at this moment, the corners of his lips were curved and the corners of his eyes were also curved, as if he was admiring her.
She suddenly realized that the other person was staring at her on purpose, wanting to see her blush, and immediately met that gaze back without any hesitation.
In Qi Jun's eyes, his empress was bright and beautiful, with skin as white as snow, her moist lips slightly swollen, and her watery eyes staring straight at him, as if inviting him.
For a moment, the two seemed to be competing with each other, and neither of them spoke.
Qi Jun chuckled softly, then leaned down again and showered her with delicate, persistent kisses.
...
When things got really tough, her fingers started to scratch around unconsciously, almost tearing the Shu brocade wedding quilt apart.
I don't know how much time passed before the clouds cleared and the rain stopped.
Qi Jun held her, his chin resting on her already disheveled hair, his heavy breaths repeatedly sweeping over her head.
Qi Yuxuan was hot and tired, her body drenched in sweat. Being held in his arms made her feel like she was melting.
She tugged at his arm that was across her, moved her shoulder in resistance, and said softly in a hoarse voice, "I want to take a shower."
The result was just this one movement—
"No, no..." Qi Yuxuan stared wide-eyed in horror.
But she was turned around again, and all her remaining pleas for mercy were swallowed back down.
Those hands were like branding irons, holding her captive, making her float and sink in the boundless tide.
Outside the palace, the January night sky was still filled with a chill.
Bihui and another senior palace maid, Yinling, stood guard outside the door with their heads bowed, listening to the sounds inside, their expressions somewhat unnatural.
Yinling felt a little embarrassed and couldn't pretend she couldn't hear it.
Bi Sui's brows were slightly furrowed as she looked up at the sky, which was beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn.
Your Majesty and the Empress are too...unrestrained! If this continues, it will be dawn soon, and we still have to pay our respects to the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager today!
If this continues, won't Her Majesty only be able to sleep for an hour at a time?
As she pondered, Yinling glanced cautiously at Bihui and whispered, "Sister Bihui, should we remind His Majesty?"
"Remind His Majesty?" Bi Sui glanced at her.
She and Lanxin had both sent their luggage into the palace yesterday and only officially became head palace maids today. They were not familiar with the other two head palace maids sent by the Imperial Household Department.
All she knew was that this girl, named Yinling, was nineteen years old, quite pretty, and very warm, lively, and talkative.
The other one, named Chunyue, is twenty years old this year. She has a round face, is reserved and dignified, and looks rather quiet and gentle.
When she and Lanxin were arranging the night watch, Yinling offered to take the lead, saying that she and Chunyue could keep watch tonight so that her two older sisters, Bihui and Lanxin, could get a good night's rest.
Bihui and Lanxin exchanged a glance, both disagreeing.
Logically, one senior palace maid would suffice for keeping watch, but tonight is the Emperor and Empress's wedding night, so Bi Sui, who is closer to the Empress, will keep watch, along with Yin Ling, who is more familiar with the palace. Tomorrow, Lan Xin and Chun Yue will take their place.
By staggering the two shifts, there wouldn't be a shortage of people to serve the Empress during the day, nor a shortage of people to serve the two masters at night. As for Sun Miao—
He had already received His Majesty's golden words, so he didn't need to keep watch at night or enter the palace to serve. Several senior palace maids were both curious and envious.
Bi Sui and Lan Xin only just realized that His Majesty used to never need palace servants to attend to him; he dressed and washed himself.
Bi Sui also lowered her voice and warned in a whisper, "His Majesty and the Empress know what they're doing; these are matters we shouldn't interfere in."
Originally, the aunts by the Empress Dowager's side should have come to keep watch tonight, but everyone in the palace knew about the Empress Dowager's current condition, so only the two senior palace maids from the Empress's side were on night watch.
Perhaps startled by the serious tone, Yinling unconsciously shrank back, her expression somewhat innocent: "Yes, I understand. Thank you for your reminder, Sister Bihui. I was just worried about Your Majesty's health. I will definitely be more careful with my words and actions in the future."
Bi Sui gave a very soft "hmm". It was not good to whisper in the palace, so she did not speak again and continued to stare at her toes with her head down.
Yinling glanced discreetly around the palace, then refrained from speaking further.
Before they knew it, all sound had fallen silent inside. Then, the emperor's voice, still tinged with lingering interest, rang out from within: "Someone come here."
Bi Sui immediately beckoned the two eunuchs carrying water behind her to come over, then lowered her head, placed her hand on the door, and prepared to push it open.
"Let me do it, Sister Bihui!" Yinling stepped forward and opened the door to the palace.
Bihui had already grabbed her arm and pulled her back, her attitude very firm.
Yinling is new here and wants to make a good impression on His Majesty and the Empress, which is understandable, but it depends on the timing.
The Empress has just entered the palace, and we probably won't even recognize her face now. If Yinling goes in now, she won't get any good results.
Yinling could only stand there and watch Bihui lead the little eunuch inside.
Qi Yuxuan was unaware of everything outside the door. She collapsed helplessly into the warm, soft bedding, feeling as if she had just been pulled out of the water. She was dizzy and couldn't open her eyes, and she didn't even have the strength to lift a finger.
Bi Sui entered with her head down, not daring to glance at the couch. She directed the eunuchs to place the water buckets down, and then heard the emperor say, "Put down the water and leave."
It means we no longer need them to serve us.
Bi Sui felt as if she had been granted a pardon. She bowed to the two eunuchs and left.
Yinling was waiting outside. She was a little surprised to see them come out so quickly. She asked in a whisper, "Didn't His Majesty ask you to wash and serve him?"
Having received a negative answer, Yinling nodded thoughtfully and said nothing more.
Bi Sui looked her over a few more times, feeling puzzled.
If Yinling had other intentions, today was only the Emperor and Empress's wedding day, and she hadn't even served the Empress yet. She shouldn't be in such a hurry. Or rather, being in a hurry wouldn't do any good, since the Emperor had already said in court that there would be no more selection of concubines and no other consorts.
But if she said no, why did Yinling act as if she wanted to go in and serve him personally, and take credit for his services?
Bihui had seen several maids in the Xiao household who had designs on him before, but Yinling didn't seem like one...
An hour later, it was dawn, and it was time for the masters to get up.
Lanxin and Chunyue arrived early to relieve Bihui and Yinling, and together with Sun Miao, they helped the Emperor and Empress get up and wash.
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