Thirty-six
Thirty-one
An auspicious day was chosen, and the wedding was grand and solemn. The Emperor decreed the marriage, the Xuanyuan family personally handled the wedding arrangements, and the Kaifeng Prefecture dispatched guards to escort the bride. This wedding attracted the attention of the imperial court, the martial arts world, and the people of Bianjing. The wedding procession stretched for miles, with red bridal makeup for ten miles, the sound of gongs and drums filling the air, and the people lined the streets to watch, creating an unprecedented spectacle.
Xiaoyou Villa was brightly decorated with lanterns and colorful ribbons. The wedding ceremony followed ancient customs meticulously, elaborate and solemn. Zhan Zhao, dressed in a bright red wedding gown, looked even more handsome and upright, though beneath the joy in his deep eyes lay a hint of unyielding heaviness. Xuan Yuantian wore a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, the vermilion dot on her forehead peeking through the beaded curtain. Her usual languid demeanor was transformed into a breathtakingly radiant beauty by this exquisite attire. Her movements were composed and graceful, and no one could discern the true emotions beneath her red veil.
They bowed to heaven and earth, kowtowed in gratitude for the emperor's grace, and the ceremony proceeded one by one. Until they were led to the bridal chamber, the noise was shut out, leaving only the crackling of the brightly burning red candles.
After the wedding attendants and maids left, an awkward silence fell over the bridal chamber. Zhan Zhao stood a few steps away from the bed, looking at Xuan Yuan Tianyi, who sat upright on the edge of the bed with a red veil covering his head, and for a moment he didn't know what to do.
Xuan Yuan Tianyi spoke first, her voice coming through the veil with her unique coolness and calmness: "Zhan Zhao, are you planning to leave this veil on my head for the night?"
Zhan Zhao suddenly realized what was happening, and hurriedly stepped forward, picked up the jade ruyi beside him, tightened his fingers slightly, and gently lifted the large red veil.
The beaded curtain clattered, making a crisp sound. Beneath the veil, Xuan Yuan Tianyi looked up at him. In the candlelight, her beauty was unparalleled, her eyes clear as water. She showed no shyness like a typical bride, but rather a knowing and detached gaze.
"You've had a long day, get some rest." She said casually, as if she were just saying something perfectly ordinary.
Zhan Zhao looked at her, his Adam's apple bobbing, a thousand words stuck in his chest, but in the end he could only say, "...Okay."
He turned and walked to the table, poured two cups of nuptial wine, and handed one to her. Their arms intertwined, the wine went down their throats, spicy with a hint of bitterness. This ritual, symbolizing sharing joys and sorrows, felt more like a reluctant completion at this moment.
After drinking the nuptial wine, the atmosphere became tense again.
Xuanyuan Tianyi removed the heavy phoenix crown herself, her ink-black hair cascading down, softening her overly striking features. She walked to the dressing table and began to comb her long hair, her movements unhurried and deliberate, as if she were the only person in the room.
Zhan Zhao stood there, watching her retreating figure. In the red candlelight, she wore red robes and had black hair; her figure was graceful and undeniably beautiful. Yet, he felt no romantic feelings, only a heavy burden. He took a deep breath and finally spoke, his voice low and solemn:
"Tianyi, I am extremely grateful for what happened today. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have needed to get involved in this situation."
Xuanyuan Tianyi continued combing her hair, glanced at him in the mirror, and said in a calm tone: "The imperial decree has been issued. Now that we are husband and wife, there is no need to mention these things again."
Zhan Zhao was silent for a moment, then said, "I know you prefer peace and quiet and are not used to being restrained. This marriage... is not what either of us wanted. I dare not be presumptuous. From now on... I will stay in the study or return to Kaifeng Prefecture to keep watch at night. You can do whatever you want. I will never use this identity to bind you."
He finally spoke the words he had been pondering for days, adopting an extremely humble posture and clearly intending to draw a line between himself and others.
Xuanyuan Tianyi put down the jade comb, turned around, and looked at him directly, a half-smile curving her lips: "On our wedding night, Lord Zhan wants to sleep in separate rooms? Is he planning to let the old woman who comes to collect the handkerchief tomorrow, and everyone in Bianjing who is waiting to see me make a fool of myself, know that I, Xuanyuan Tianyi, have lost my husband's favor and become a discarded wife the moment I got married?"
Zhan Zhao was taken aback; he hadn't considered this possibility. Indeed, countless eyes were watching this marriage, and any slightest movement would be magnified. If he spent his wedding night elsewhere, the rumors tomorrow would likely be even more unbearable, not only making it impossible for him to clear his name but also placing Xuan Yuan Tianyi in an extremely embarrassing situation.
Seeing his stunned expression, Xuan Yuan Tianyi stood up, walked to the bedside, took off his elaborate outer robe, wearing only his inner garment, lifted the brocade quilt and lay down, his back to him, his voice carrying an undeniable certainty: "Zhan Zhao, I, Xuan Yuan Tianyi, never regret my actions, nor do I need anyone else to make arrangements for me. Go to bed and sleep."
Zhan Zhao stood there, looking at the slender yet upright figure on the bed, his heart filled with mixed emotions. Her words had awakened him; he couldn't just focus on his own "not being presumptuous" feelings and let her suffer undeserved criticism.
Finally, he blew out most of the candles, leaving only a pair of dragon and phoenix candles in the distance, then took off his wedding robes and lay down on the outer side of the bed. Under the bright red brocade quilt, Xuan Yuan Tianyi turned around and nestled into Zhan Zhao's arms. Zhan Zhao looked at Xuan Yuan Tianyi's sleeping face in his arms, sighed silently, and resignedly stretched out his arms to hug her.
The red candles burned out, and the long night passed in silence. The wedding night quietly slipped away.
From that night on, Zhan Zhao began a life of going back and forth between Xiaoyou Villa and Kaifeng Prefecture.
During the day, he remained the same dutiful Guard Zhan of Kaifeng Prefecture, handling cases, patrolling the streets, and protecting Lord Bao, seemingly no different from before his marriage. Only in the evenings did he no longer stay overnight at the prefectural office as usual, but instead returned to Xiaoyou Villa.
In the secluded courtyard, although the two got along naturally and were quite intimate, they never consummated their marriage and only slept in each other's arms every day.
Xuan Yuan Tianyi remained noncommittal. She continued to live her own life, managing the affairs of Xiaoyao Tower, occasionally visiting Xuan Yuan Wuji in the palace, or playing chess with Leng Moyan. She seemed completely unconcerned about Zhan Zhao's aloofness, as if this marriage was truly just a mutually beneficial partnership.
That day, after finishing his official duties, Bao Zheng saw that Zhan Zhao was still organizing the files, so he said, "Guard Zhan, it's getting late. You should go back early and not keep your wife waiting."
Zhan Zhao paused in his actions and respectfully replied, "This subordinate will return now."
Bao Zheng looked at his thin figure and the barely perceptible weariness in his eyes, and sighed inwardly. How could he not see the stubbornness in Zhan Zhao's heart? This child, his mind was too heavy, he suppressed that feeling of "owing" and "not wanting it to be hers" deep in his heart, imprisoning himself in his own self-imposed prison.
“Guardian Zhan,” Bao Zheng said gently but with a deeper meaning, “Now that you have started a family, you must manage it with care. Tianyi is no ordinary woman. Since she has chosen to spend her life with you, you should treat her with sincerity, rather than dwelling on past reasons. Escaping is not taking responsibility.”
Zhan Zhao lowered his head: "Your teachings are correct, sir. I understand." Despite his words, the struggle in his eyes did not disappear.
On the other side, after reporting to Zhao Zhen, Xuan Yuan Wuji arrived at Xiao You Villa.
"Auntie!" The little girl rushed into Xuan Yuan Tianyi's arms, looking up at him with a worried expression. "I heard that you and Uncle's relationship isn't very good after you got married? Did you... have a fight?"
Xuan Yuan Tianyi ruffled her hair, his expression indifferent: "If things aren't going well, who are you listening to gossip about?" He then glared at Leng Moyan.
Leng Moyan gave a wicked smile and said nothing more.
"Isn't that right..." Xuan Yuan Wuji shook Xuan Yuan Tianyi's arm affectionately.
"That's not true." Xuan Yuan Tianyi looked at the fallen leaves in the courtyard outside the window and said calmly, "Children shouldn't worry about adult matters."
Xuanyuan Wuji pouted and muttered, "But Wuji wants Aunt and Uncle to be happy..."
Upon hearing of Zhan Zhao's marriage, Bai Yutang finished his business and rode swiftly from Trap Island to Kaifeng. He happened to run into Zhan Zhao, who was coming out of Kaifeng Prefecture. Noticing that Zhan Zhao looked unwell, Bai Yutang couldn't help but tease him, "Hey, Lord Zhan, why do you look so pale after getting married? Could it be that you've been indulging in too much pleasure and are exhausted?"
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Zhan Zhao just glanced at him helplessly. Seeing that his expression was off, Bai Yutang put his arm around his shoulder. "You two haven't consummated your marriage yet, have you?"
Seeing Zhan Zhao fall silent upon hearing this, Bai Yutang stopped in his tracks. "Really? You two didn't consummate your marriage? Was it because Tianyi was unwilling? Or..." Before he could finish, Bai Yutang glanced at Zhan Zhao's lower body. "Could it be that you're impotent?"
Zhan Zhao flung Bai Yutang's arm away: "White Mouse, if you're really that free, go back to Trapped Sky Island." He then strode forward.
"Hey..." Bai Yutang sensed something was wrong and quickly caught up with Zhan Zhao. "What exactly happened?"
Zhan Zhao stopped in his tracks: "You know perfectly well why the Emperor bestowed this marriage upon us..."
"What do I know? What exactly happened?" Bai Yutang was completely confused by Zhan Zhao's explanation.
"Don't ask anymore, this matter involves the palace." Seeing that Bai Yutang was unaware of the situation, Zhan Zhao was unwilling to say more, only saying that he still had to patrol the streets to say goodbye and leave.
Bai Yutang was left standing there, completely bewildered: "Fifth Master hasn't been to Kaifeng for a while, what's going on?" He turned and entered the Kaifeng Prefecture. Now that he was here, he had to find out what had happened.
Everyone noticed the unusual relationship between the newlyweds and was secretly anxious, yet helpless. Zhan Zhao, like a stubborn ox, believed that the marriage was forced by circumstances and a sacrifice by Xuan Yuan Tianyi. He used this almost "proprious" self-exile to alleviate his guilt, unaware that it was actually a deeper emotional escape.
In Xiaoyou Villa, Xuanyuan Tianyi would wait for Zhan Zhao to return every day to dine with her and discuss matters of the court, but the two never consummated their marriage.
This seemingly peaceful, yet internally strained, newlywed life passed by day by day in this strange balance. Until a certain event shattered this fragile tranquility.
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