Chapter 48: Sharing the Bed “Just sleep on the same bed.”
Cui Lingyan's eyelashes trembled slightly, and a hint of nervousness appeared in her eyes. Then her cheeks flushed and she called out softly, "Prince."
Lu Bingzhi was stunned. Although there was nervousness in her beautiful eyes, there was no resistance or rejection at all. There was also a bit of shyness in her eyes when she looked at him. Thinking of how this marriage fell into her hands, his heart softened a little and his expression softened.
Nanny Quanfu, who was standing nearby, showed a bit of surprise when she saw Lu Bingzhi like this, but then she was overjoyed. She was sent by the Empress Dowager to the Duke's Mansion to help arrange the prince's marriage.
Now, seeing the prince's attitude towards the young lady, I finally feel relieved. When I return to the palace tomorrow and report to the Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager will also be happy.
After all, although the Crown Prince had helped the Young Madam before, who could truly understand a man's mind? If the Crown Prince truly took those rumors seriously and married the Young Madam without paying any attention or expressing disgust, this marriage would probably become a thorn in the Empress Dowager's heart.
Nanny Quanfu put these thoughts aside and gestured to the maid standing beside her. The maid came forward with a tray with two glasses of wine on it.
"My Lord, it's time to drink the wedding wine with the young lady, and from now on live in harmony and grow old together."
Lu Bingzhi reached out to take the wine glass and his eyes fell on Cui Lingyan.
Cui Lingyan's cheeks flushed slightly, and she reached out to take a glass of wine.
The next moment, Cui Lingyan felt the bed sink and Lu Bingzhi sat down next to her.
The two were so close that she could smell the faint scent of Canaan on him.
Cui Lingyan remembered that when she met Lu Bing by chance at the flower-viewing banquet in the palace last time, he seemed to be scented with this Canaan incense.
Cui Lingyan sniffed lightly. Although the movement was small, it caught Lu Bingzhi's attention.
"how?"
Cui Lingyan's eyes were filled with shyness, and she whispered in a low voice, somewhat embarrassedly: "Does the prince like to use Canaan incense?"
Lu Bingzhi nodded, wondering if she was really that nervous, so nervous that she had to find something to say.
Without revealing her thoughts, Lu Bingzhi leaned forward, their arms intertwined, and they drank the wine in their hands.
Cui Lingyan seldom drank alcohol on weekdays, and even if she did, it was always sweet fruit wine. But after drinking a glass of wine, her cheeks became redder and her eyes became watery, making her look more charming. Especially since she was wearing a bright red wedding dress with gold embroidery, which made people even more imaginative.
Lu Bingzhi glanced at the rosy-faced person in front of him, and his expression softened a little.
Nanny Quanfu was very happy and bowed to congratulate: "We, the servants, wish the prince and the young lady a happy and happy birth of a son soon."
The maids and old women serving in the room knelt on the ground and congratulated in unison.
Cui Lingyan's cheeks flushed and she looked at Lu Bingzhi.
Before she married, her aunt, Mrs. Zhan, had taught her that a new bride should give gifts to her servants upon entering the house. But while she understood this, she felt it was a little inappropriate. After all, she had just entered the house, and now she was acting like a hostess. Even if others didn't think too much of it, she herself felt it was strange.
Noticing her gaze, Lu Bingzhi guessed what she was thinking and said to the people below, "Reward!"
The nanny was a little surprised that Lu Bingzhi would speak up for Cui Lingyan. After thanking her, she was about to leave when she heard Lu Bingzhi say, "Tell the kitchen to make some food and send it over."
After he said this, he looked at Cui Lingyan and asked, "What do you want to eat?"
Cui Lingyan was stunned for a moment, thought for a moment, and whispered, "Let's make a bowl of willow leaf noodles with some bamboo shoots and daylily."
Lu Bingzhi nodded and instructed, "Tell the kitchen to make two bowls according to the instructions and bring a few side dishes. You don't need to make anything else."
When the nanny heard him say this, she knew that the prince was going to have dinner with the young lady.
He immediately agreed and sent someone to give the order.
Lu Bingzhi said to Cui Lingyan, "I'll go ahead first. Ask the maid to help you change into casual clothes. There's no need to be so restrained. No one's coming here tonight to cause trouble."
Cui Lingyan looked at him with some surprise. She was actually a little puzzled. Normally, there would be Lu family wives or daughters in the bridal chamber who wanted to come and see the new bride. But after hearing what Lu Bingzhi said, they probably wouldn't come.
Lu Bingzhi explained, "As you know, the current Duke's wife is my father's second wife, and I am the eldest princess's daughter. Although my two sisters call me brother, there is still a layer of distance between us."
"If you feel lonely, I will send someone to invite them to accompany you."
Cui Lingyan shook her head and said gently: "No need, I think this is fine." It also saved her from having to deal with these girls from the Lu family tonight.
Lu Bingzhi nodded: "You take a rest first, I will come back to have dinner with you later."
Cui Lingyan stood up and wanted to see him off, but Lu Bingzhi held her shoulders to stop her from getting up, then turned around and walked straight out.
Soon, Birou and Bitao were the only ones left in the room.
Cui Lingyan looked at his back as he left, and for some reason she felt relieved.
Before, she was a little afraid of getting along with Lu Bingzhi, thinking that he was of noble status and difficult to approach, and he might not be satisfied with this marriage. What's more, there were those rumors about him and Qi Shaozhang before. Although she felt that since Lu Bingzhi was willing to help her, he should not blame her for this, she was still a little uneasy in her heart, afraid that Lu Bingzhi, the prince, would dislike her as soon as she got married.
If that were the case, how would she cope with herself in the Duke of Wei's Mansion?
Now seeing Lu Bingzhi's attitude towards her, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He gave her the respect that a wife deserved, and she even felt that he was somewhat protective of her.
She didn't think it was because of her appearance. After thinking about it, she felt that it was because Lu Bingzhi also knew how this marriage happened to her, so he was somewhat tolerant and apologetic towards her.
No matter what Lu Bingzhi thought, Cui Lingyan was happy to see this result.
As long as she gets along well with him and doesn't offend him, I think when he enters the Eastern Palace and becomes the crown prince in the future, even if her status is not high enough to be the crown princess, he should be able to let her go because of their mutual affection.
Cui Lingyan suppressed these thoughts and showed a relaxed smile on her face.
Bi Tao, who was standing beside her, smiled and said, "Miss, I see that the prince treats you very well."
"I thought the young lady must be hungry right now, but I just arrived at the Duke's Mansion and didn't know how to ask. Fortunately, the prince gave the young lady instructions first."
"Besides, since the Duke's wife and the other girls in the mansion aren't coming tonight, you can relax a bit. The Crown Prince's noble status is a good thing. This way, you, the young lady, won't be looked down upon in the Duke's mansion."
Cui Lingyan smiled and said to Bitao, "Okay, give me some snacks first, or I'll be exhausted."
Birou brought over some snacks and tea. After watching Cui Lingyan finish two snacks and drink half a cup of tea, she said, "The prince will probably be back later. Madam, take this opportunity to bathe and change into your daily clothes."
Cui Lingyan was not used to hearing her call her Young Madam, but she also knew that the rules were very strict in the mansion. Since she was married, she was the prince's wife, and Bitao and the others had to call her Young Madam.
Cui Lingyan nodded, and Birou pushed the door open and went out. After a while, several maids and servants came in one after another, carrying a bathtub and all the necessary bathing supplies.
Birou helped Cui Lingyan take off the red hairpin on her head, let her hair down, and take off her complicated and heavy red wedding dress. Then she helped Cui Lingyan to the bathroom.
When she came out again, Cui Lingyan had changed into a bright red casual dress embroidered with gold peony flowers. Her hair was casually tied into a bun and pinned with a red gold hairpin inlaid with rubies, which was the gift that Mrs. Dou had given her that day.
She walked out slowly and saw Lu Bingzhi sitting on the soft couch. He had also changed into a red casual suit, a jade pendant around his waist, and his hair was tied up with a jade crown. Under the red candlelight, his eyebrows and eyes looked even more noble and cold.
Hearing footsteps, he raised his head and his eyes fell on Cui Lingyan.
Cui Lingyan bowed and called out, "Prince."
Lu Bingzhi nodded, stood up from the couch, and said to Cui Lingyan, "The kitchen has sent the food over. Let's eat together."
Cui Lingyan nodded and followed Lu Bingzhi to sit down at the round table.
Cui Lingyan looked at the two bowls of steaming noodle soup and a few side dishes on the table. It was not extravagant, and she felt a little more at ease.
"Eat quickly, aren't you hungry?" Lu Bingzhi said.
Cui Lingyan nodded, picked up the chopsticks and started using them.
It was the first time the two of them had dinner together, and it was their wedding night, so the atmosphere was actually a bit awkward.
In particular, before returning to Beijing, Cui Lingyan always felt that Lu Bingzhi was her future brother-in-law. Even if she returned to Ningshou Marquis Mansion in the future, she would definitely bow to him and call him brother-in-law in a proper manner when she saw him.
If Cui Linghui had not fallen into the water and caught a cold, it would be Cui Linghui, her stepsister, who would be sitting here.
Cui Lingyan lowered her head to eat, but her mind was full of complicated thoughts. Sometimes she thought about the dream, and sometimes she wondered whether Lu Bingzhi would consummate the marriage with her.
It is said that Lu Bing became ill after being poisoned and has not recovered yet.
Cui Lingyan shook her head slightly, thinking that she shouldn't think about such messy things.
Just as I was thinking about it, I felt a pair of eyes falling on me from above my head.
Cui Lingyan knew that it was Lu Bingzhi who was looking at her, so she raised her head and smiled at him.
After dinner, the maid brought mouthwash. The two of them rinsed their mouths and washed their hands before sitting down in front of the couch.
The maid brought tea, which was the best cloud tea.
Cui Lingyan sat on the soft couch and drank half a cup of tea with Lu Bingzhi. She was wondering whether to consummate the marriage tonight. She couldn't help feeling a little nervous and restless.
At this moment, Lu Bingzhi suddenly said, "It's getting late, let's get settled early."
When Cui Lingyan heard him say this, she was stunned for a moment, and then her cheeks suddenly turned red.
The atmosphere in the room suddenly became more affectionate and charming.
Cui Lingyan followed Lu Bingzhi into the inner chambers. As they neared the bed, she remembered that Lu Bingzhi had been poisoned not long ago and had rarely been seen due to poor health. Even the imperial physicians from the palace checked his pulse every few days, and the Empress Dowager was deeply concerned about his health. She spoke cautiously, "The prince is not fully recovered yet. If he is unwell, I will sleep on the beauty couch outside tonight."
Her skin was as white and tender as snow. When she said these difficult words, her cheeks flushed and even her neck turned a faint red.
Lu Bingzhi stopped and looked back at her.
Seeing the concern and embarrassment in her eyes, he couldn't tell how much courage she mustered to say these words to him.
Girls are naturally delicate, so it's rare for them to think about their own health.
Lu Bingzhi was silent for a long time. Just as Cui Lingyan felt that she had said something wrong and touched a sore spot in Lu Bingzhi's heart, and was faintly regretting it, she heard him say with a hint of a smile in his ears: "Just sleep on the same bed."
Cui Lingyan was stunned for a moment, and seeing that there was no annoyance in his eyes, nor the charm of the upcoming marriage consummation, she understood what Lu Bingzhi meant.
While she felt relieved, she was also wondering who had poisoned Lu Bingzhi, the prince of Weiguo. A man of his status must be feeling very uncomfortable now that he is ill.
He helped her, and today's marriage gave her the dignity that a wife deserved. Now that she has become his wife, she will definitely take good care of him and will not have any inappropriate thoughts that embarrass him.
The two of them lay down on the bed. Cui Lingyan was so nervous that even her breathing became rapid.
Lu Bingzhi smoothed down the corner of her quilt and said, "Don't be nervous. Just take care of the affairs of the mansion and fulfill your duties as a young lady."
He thought for a moment and then added, "You are my wife, no one dares to bully you."
Under the red candlelight, Cui Lingyan smiled, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "I will behave myself and take good care of the prince, and learn to be a good wife. If the prince is satisfied, maybe he will promise me something in the future?"
The red candle flickered, and through the big red tent, the girl's eyes were like autumn water, looking at the man in front of her with a bit of pleading and uneasiness in her eyes, as if waiting for the judgment of fate.
As their eyes met, Lu Bingzhi, who had always been aloof and somewhat cold, felt a momentary softening of heart. He wondered what a woman in the inner chamber could possibly ask for, and all he wanted was a bit of respectability. He also thought that if she married him, she would be treated as a pawn, so he nodded and agreed.
"Okay, I'll do what you say."
Hearing his agreement, Cui Lingyan smiled, finally feeling relieved. However, this was her wedding night, and it was her first time sharing a bed with a stranger, so falling asleep was difficult. It took an unknown amount of time before she finally fell asleep.
Hearing the long breathing sound beside him, Lu Bingzhi slowly opened his eyes. He had never liked being close to others since he was a child, and now that he was suddenly married, he was really not used to having a woman around him.
But Cui was his legally married wife, and even though he was not used to it, he had to give her due respect. Husband and wife were one, and he couldn't just leave here tonight and embarrass her as his new bride.
Thinking of what Cui had just said, Lu Bingzhi smiled. This Cui was much more interesting than Cui Linghui. Perhaps, it would not be a bad idea to ask her to be the wife of the prince.
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