48. Wedding night in the bridal chamber, a night of passion and lovemaking.
◎The Finale◎
After soaking in the hot springs, we returned to the inn, and it was already past midnight.
Yan Yunzhao had been in the hot soup for a long time, and her body felt weak. She fell into a deep sleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. Only when she woke up in the morning did she realize that Lou Su had been holding her all night.
The two lay down fully clothed, and when Yan Yunzhao turned over slightly, he was pulled even tighter into Yan's arms.
It wasn't that she disliked it, but the presence of something pressing against her lower back made it impossible to ignore the unusual sensation.
At first, she thought it was the belt digging into her waist, but upon closer inspection, she realized something was wrong, and her face flushed red.
Perhaps sensing that she had quietly moved her body away, Lou Suyou, who had been sleeping on her side, opened her eyes and moved closer to her, placing her hands on her stomach and refusing to let go.
Lou Su seems to... really like rubbing her belly.
Thinking of that proud thing on his lower back, Yan Yunzhao finally couldn't bear it any longer, and threw off the quilt to sit up.
"Lou Su, you..."
Yan Yunzhao gritted her teeth: "How about I help you?"
Lou Su, who had been half-asleep, became more alert upon hearing this and asked in confusion, "Help me?" When his gaze fell upon the ground beneath him, his ears suddenly turned bright red. He coughed lightly, covered his mouth with his sleeve, and quietly pulled the covers up, turning over to lie on his side with his back to Yan Yunzhao.
Yan Yunzhao, after all, was a person who had received a modern education, and she knew that this was perfectly normal for a normally developing adult. However, recalling that she had previously suspected that Lou Su's health was not good and whether there might be a problem in this area, now it seemed... she had been worrying far too much.
Lou Su's calm voice came from the other side: "This matter... is not appropriate. There's no rush to consider it after I marry you."
Yan Yunzhao knew that Lou Su always knew his limits, so he smiled and said, "Since you want to marry me, I wonder what you would be willing to offer as a betrothal gift, Young Master Lou?"
"...With my vast territory, I offer you everything I have. Is Miss Yan satisfied?"
...
As the setting sun shone on the bluestone slabs of the inn's backyard, Yan Yunzhao was squatting by the earthenware vat, brewing wine. She selected the best-looking jujubes, removed the withered leaves, and used a wooden pestle to finely crush them until they were mushy.
The glutinous rice had been steamed by Lou Su at noon and cooled until it was warm and soft. She scooped it into an earthenware jar, mixed it with the collected juice from the Japanese raisin tree, and sprinkled in crushed yeast. As she stirred, the aroma of rice and fruit wafted out. Before sealing the jar, she added some exotic wild fruit she had bought at the market last time. The fruit's skin and flesh were sour and astringent, but when the pit was cut open, it released a refreshing and unique fragrance that lingered around her nose. She sealed the jar and weighed it down with a bluestone slab. After a few days, the wine would be ready.
During their honeymoon in Qingcheng, Lou Su became even more clingy than before. According to him, he used to have to restrain himself because of the presence of outsiders, but now he had no such concerns. In the streets and restaurants of Qingcheng, the two often attracted a lot of stares, so Yan Yunzhao had to pull Lou Su away like a thief.
The once elegant and refined young master Lou now clings to her neck, refusing to let go.
“I’ll be returning to Lixi Town in a few days to prepare for the banquet. How am I supposed to brew wine like this?” Yan Yunzhao put down the earthenware jar in his hand and said helplessly.
"There's no need to do everything yourself. Just hire some people to do these things. How can we hurt Zhaozhao's hands?" As he spoke, Lou Su lifted her pale fingertips and gently blew on them, which made one feel a little ticklish.
"It's already quite an achievement for a small shop to do this much, how can they waste money like this?"
Yan Yunzhao was about to discuss Lou Su's views on money when he saw Lou Su take out a lustrous pearl and say with a smile, "I know my wife is shrewd and good at managing her subordinates, so you don't need to worry about money anymore. You can have as many pearls as you want."
Pearls from the East are often priceless and hard to find in Daqi. Yan Yunzhao looked at the smooth and delicate pearl that Lou Su handed him and couldn't help but sigh quietly. But when he thought of Lou Su's impoverished past, he couldn't help but feel puzzled.
Before she could speak, Lou Su said frankly, "I know that even without my help, you can run the shop very well."
Yan Yunzhao felt a warmth in her heart. Lou Su always understood what she truly longed for, and she indeed enjoyed the experience of building something from scratch even more, finding it more fulfilling.
"Then why did you trade Xiao Pei for salt last time? Or... were you deliberately trying to make that girl misunderstand?"
Yan Yunzhao teased with a half-smile, and Lou Su raised an eyebrow, saying, "That's quite a misunderstanding. Otherwise, when would I ever be able to prove that I'm not really impotent?"
The topic had been brought up to this point, making one feel embarrassed. Yan Yunzhao's ears burned a little, but he pretended not to understand the implication and ordered Lou Su to get busy brewing wine.
Two days before the banquet at the Liu residence, the two returned to Lixi Town. The grand finale, bamboo-joint wine, was successfully prepared without incident, and all the dishes on the table were improved as Yan Yunzhao had suggested. The Liu residence was decorated in a festive red, and everyone's face was beaming with smiles, giving the impression that the Second Young Master Liu was about to get married.
She just married into the imperial court.
During his stay at the Liu residence, Yan Yunzhao was inevitably infected by the joyous atmosphere, which lasted until the day of the banquet. All the guests came to the Liu residence to offer their congratulations, and the maids arranged the gifts they brought, filling the courtyard. The scene was truly lively.
Yan Yunzhao was staring at the back kitchen of the Liu residence, but unlike the lighthearted and cheerful atmosphere in the front yard, the atmosphere was somewhat heavy.
The cooks who were braising the spiced pork hock were so busy that they forgot to watch the fire and accidentally overcooked a pot of it. These spiced pork hocks need to be simmered over low heat for a whole morning to achieve a smooth and glossy texture. If they made it now, it might not be ready to serve in time. The cooks were so anxious that they were on the verge of tears, but Yan Yunzhao managed to calm them down in time.
"Don't panic, everyone. Leave this dish to me."
There were twenty-two tables set up for the banquet today, and five of the twenty-two dishes of spiced pork knuckle were poorly made. If she were to recreate them in less than two hours, she would have to resort to magic. Although there were many people around, there was no time to think too much about it.
The kitchen was the only place where she prepared seasonings and side dishes. She couldn't change the stove or dismiss the others, so she had no choice but to try anything, hoping that the other cooks wouldn't notice anything unusual.
The spiced seasoning and the aromatic side dishes for the braised pork hock were already prepared. Yan Yunzhao instructed a few assistants to put several pieces of prepared meat into the pot. A few wisps of steam rose from the wooden lid of the pot. If you looked closely, you would notice something unusual: the firewood in the stove at the bottom of the pot was burning very slowly, but the fire inside the pot was very strong. After a while, watermarks appeared around the stove.
Yan Yunzhao made a hand gesture with one hand and fanned himself with a palm-leaf fan by the stove with the other, pretending to tend the fire. There were at least twenty cooks in the kitchen, all busy with their own tasks, and they trusted Yan Yunzhao and the others with this dish, so no one noticed the commotion. It was only because the head cook hadn't inquired that the commotion was noticed.
"Miss Yan, I just heard that the spiced pork knuckle was overcooked. We're about to serve hot dishes. Are you really sure you can handle it?" The head maid looked a little flustered, but her voice remained calm.
Yan Yunzhao had no choice but to calm her down first, and said confidently, "I have a special method that I have tried many times. It will definitely not go wrong, and the taste will be just as good as before."
The head maid nodded, wanting to ask more questions, but worried about disturbing her, so she called over two maids to help.
Yan Yunzhao had just managed to get rid of two kitchen helpers, and now two more had arrived, leaving her somewhat amused and exasperated. Fortunately, she only needed to use magic to control the heat, ensuring the meat was thoroughly and evenly cooked, and with the pot lid covering it, ordinary people couldn't see it clearly.
Cooking meat requires adding ingredients and water as needed; even a few moments' delay could alter the texture and flavor of the meat. The three of them were constantly counting, working in a flurry of activity.
"In the past, we would add water after eight pieces of firewood had burned for half an incense stick's time. Why are you adding water so quickly now, young lady?"
"I have my own unique method, so there's no need to worry."
Yan Yunzhao carefully controlled the heat and temperature, but it wasn't appropriate to frequently lift the lid to check, so he had to rely on experience to get a general idea. When the bubbling sound in the pot became too loud, he turned the fire down. When the two girls wanted to add something, he restarted the fire. He kept turning the fire on and off more than ten times, his forehead beaded with sweat.
Fortunately, there were no serious incidents. When the familiar aroma of meat filled the air, she knew it was done. The pork knuckle had a thick, moist skin, a slender, white interior, and the reddish-brown color of the outer skin was just right. It was glossy and shiny in the white porcelain plate.
When this grand finale dish was served, all the guests exclaimed in admiration, praising the excellent cooking skills of the Liu family.
The banquet was filled with a dazzling array of dishes, not only beautifully presented, which delighted the eyes of the literati who loved to indulge in refined pursuits, but also satisfied the appetites of the hungry diners.
This banquet brought honor to the Liu family. The Liu family patriarch, madam, and second young master were extremely satisfied and politely invited Yan Yunzhao to the table to offer a toast.
"Boss Yan's wine is fragrant but not strong, much better than the bamboo joint wine I've had before. It's clear that he's put a lot of effort into brewing it."
The matriarch of the Liu family was very polite, and Yan Yunzhao responded with a smile: "Madam is too kind."
After exchanging pleasantries, Yan Yunzhao found a quiet spot to eat some food, as she had never liked such lively scenes. But before she could even take a couple of bites, her attention was drawn to the drunken ramblings of Young Master Liu.
"If we're talking about a powerful and ruthless leader, a loyal and wise minister of the Great Qi Dynasty, then it has to be Prime Minister Lou!"
Lou? Why is it the Lou surname again? Yan Yunzhao ate his food while listening to the commotion over there.
"Prime Minister Lou was skilled in both literature and martial arts, and achieved fame at a young age. When he was named the top scholar in the imperial examination, he was actually two years younger than me!"
The fact that the Second Young Master Liu became the top scholar at the young age of twenty is already a remarkable story. When everyone heard about the Prime Minister Lou's legendary deeds, they were filled with regret and admiration.
"I have long admired the name of Prime Minister Lou. He is a young talent and a rare find."
"Yeah yeah……"
"Of course! He once led his troops to reclaim the lost border with minimal force, defeating the Red Army so badly that they abandoned their homeland and fled! Upon returning to the capital, he was appointed Grand General. In this time of peace, he became a great remonstrating minister for reform and opening up, submitting numerous memorials to His Majesty, urging him to investigate thoroughly, dismiss countless corrupt officials, and protect the people's fertile land..."
"This Prime Minister Lou was indeed a man of exceptional talent, it's just a pity he died young..."
"Hiccup, you bet... Well, that's because handsome men have short lives! This Prime Minister Lou is both a scholar and a warrior, upright and honest, and handsome too! How could he not be envied by the heavens?"
The drunken young master Liu pulled out a portrait from his pocket and placed it on the table. It was inscribed with "Valiant General," and it was indeed Lou Su's appearance.
She couldn't believe that Lou Su had such a dramatic life during the four hundred years he had been searching for her, and she couldn't help but raise the corners of her lips.
When you have time, you must ask Lou Su to tell you the story from that time in detail.
...
Half a month later, in the Demon Realm's Azure Sea, which had never been set foot in before, two figures appeared, leaning on each other.
“My grandfather is my only relative in this world. Now that I have been cured of the poison, I only wish to catch the escaped Qiling as soon as possible and get rid of my grandfather’s position as the core of the formation.”
Yan Yunzhao smiled brightly at him and gently took his hand: "I will stay with you. For... Grandfather."
Qing Xiang watched the two from a distance, smiling without saying a word.
...
Lou Su speculated that Qi Ling's escape was inextricably linked to the later decline of the Qingshan Sect.
But the most important thing right now is this wedding banquet that has shocked the entire demon realm. Lou Yan and his companion, dressed in red wedding attire, entered the elegant mansion nestled in a beautiful valley.
Under the flickering red candlelight, Yan Yunzhao's beautiful eyes sparkled as she gently covered his soft lips with hers. He held her tenderly in his arms, a moment he had longed for day and night, yet now he held her as if she were a priceless treasure, afraid of even the slightest mishap.
The heavy layers of red clothing were removed, revealing skin as white as snow beneath. A small, delicate hand rested against his hot, hard waist and abdomen, trembling uncontrollably.
Tonight the celestial signs are auspicious; it is an excellent night. The sacred tree in the courtyard, which had not borne fruit for a long time, suddenly soared into the sky overnight, nestled among the wisps of mist, and bore fruit.
In the latter half of the night, rain and fog swirled, and the clouds hung low. The tree and the cloud clung to each other until dawn, when they finally parted reluctantly under the bright sunlight.
[Author's Note]
I'll probably write more side stories later to explain Lou Chengjing's storyline and other foreshadowing, as well as some stories about expanding the store and post-wedding sweet moments.
I'm actually a little sad to see this story finish, but as my first novel, I have so much to say! [Sprinkling flowers] This story went through hundreds of revisions, and I even had to cut the outline due to my writing skills. From unexpectedly getting zero approvals at the beginning, and not even knowing how to write a detailed outline, to gradually grasping the basic elements of a novel, I've really improved a lot. I also consciously read various classic works when I don't have classes to hone my writing skills. I know I have many shortcomings in my novel writing, such as not being able to control the pacing, not being detailed enough in description, and not laying the groundwork properly, but I want to say: persevere, this is the first step to progress! [Go for it!] It took me three whole months to write this story. Sometimes I couldn't think of a plot and couldn't sleep all night, but I really love writing and I love every character I created. I've done my best to complete this story well. Thank you to all the readers who have read this far, and thank you for your understanding of my first book. I'll improve faster and faster in the future, so please look forward to it! [Hugs]
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