Meanwhile, in the bridal chamber, Shen Huaiyu and Ningning were keeping Pei Qingyun company. The group chatted and laughed together, which eased some of Pei Qingyun's tension.
"Sister Qingyun, you look so beautiful today, as bright as a star!" Ningning exclaimed loudly, even drawing with her hands, which was incredibly cute.
“Brother Rui was completely mesmerized today,” Shen Huaiyu said with a smile, covering her mouth with a handkerchief.
Pei Qingyun blushed deeply. After a while, Shen Rui arrived, and the group left with smiles.
Inside the new house, the dragon and phoenix red candles cast a warm glow, illuminating the festive red hue that filled the room.
Shen Rui gently closed the door, shutting out the faint noise from outside. He took a deep breath; the air was filled with a faint smell of alcohol and a sweet fruity fragrance. He walked to the bedside, looking at the seated bride, his heart pounding like a drum, even more nervous than when facing a thousand troops on the battlefield. He picked up the wedding scales, his hands trembling slightly.
"Qingyun..." he called softly, his voice slightly hoarse. Xicheng gently lifted the red veil embroidered with dragons and phoenixes.
The veil slipped down, revealing Pei Qingyun's meticulously made-up face. In the candlelight, her eyebrows were like distant mountains, her eyes like autumn waters, and her cheeks were flushed with a shy blush, more dazzling than any jewel. She slightly raised her eyelids, meeting Shen Rui's burning yet gentle gaze, and then lowered them shyly again, her long eyelashes fluttering gently like butterfly wings.
"Rui...Brother Rui..." Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, carrying the shyness of a new bride.
Shen Rui put Xi Cheng aside and sat down next to her. There was a subtle distance between them, yet they seemed to be able to feel each other's warmth.
“Qingyun,” Shen Rui looked at her lowered profile, a thousand words surging in his heart, finally turning into the simplest and most sincere words, “We…are finally married.” He reached out and carefully, with infinite tenderness, took her slightly cool hand resting on her knee.
Pei Qingyun's hand trembled slightly, but she didn't pull it away. Instead, she curled her fingers slightly and held his hand back. This small response filled Shen Rui's heart with a huge surge of warmth.
“Mmm…” Pei Qingyun responded softly, mustered her courage to look up at him, her eyes brimming with tears, “Brother Rui, I…I’m so happy.”
Shen Rui smiled, a smile that dispelled his usual composure and brought with it the pure joy of a young man: "Me too! Qingyun, do you know? From a young age... from a young age I knew that you would be my wife." His voice was deep and gentle, as if afraid of disturbing this beautiful moment.
“I know that too.” Pei Qingyun smiled, with a girlish charm. “My mother and aunt (referring to He Mingzhu) always said that when Yun’er grows up, she will marry Brother Rui. At that time, I didn’t understand. I just thought Brother Rui was good. He always thought of me when he had something delicious or fun.”
“It’s not just because of the marriage arranged by our elders,” Shen Rui gripped her hand, looking intently into her eyes, speaking each word clearly and solemnly, “Qingyun, I really… have liked you since I was little. I like how you chase after me calling ‘Brother Rui,’ I like how your eyes crinkle when you smile, I like how you stubbornly refuse to take the last piece of sweet cake from my bowl even though you’re afraid of bitterness… I like everything about you.”
Pei Qingyun's cheeks burned with his straightforward and affectionate confession, her heart pounding like honey, making her dizzy with sweetness. She recalled their childhood memories, how he clumsily tried to make her happy, how he would sternly discipline the children who bullied her... So, all of that was love.
“Brother Rui…” Tears welled up in her eyes. “Me…me too. When I was little, I only knew that Brother Rui was the best. But as I grew up…I just wanted to be Brother Rui’s bride.” Her voice grew softer and softer until it was almost inaudible, but it was filled with unwavering determination.
Shen Rui was deeply moved and couldn't help but reach out and gently wipe away the tears that welled up in her eyes with his fingertips, his movements as tender as if he were handling a rare treasure: "Silly girl, why are you crying? Today is our big day." He picked up the nuptial wine that had been prepared on the table beside him, "Come, drink this cup of nuptial wine, and from now on, we will be husband and wife as one, and stay together until our hair turns white."
Two gourd-shaped wine glasses tied together with a red string were raised. The candlelight reflected the wine, and also the deep affection in the eyes of the newlyweds.
"Qingyun, in this life, I, Shen Rui, will never let you down."
“Brother Rui, I, Pei Qingyun, will follow you through life and death.”
Arms intertwined, wine flowed down their throats, slightly spicy yet sweet to the core. From that moment on, their fates were intertwined, bound by a red thread.
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