Chapter 37 Wedding Night
Yuezhi could only distinguish light and shadow. Now, with her eyes covered by a veil, even with the red candles flickering in the room, she could only see a blurry black shadow.
Hearing the suppressed, restrained breathing coming from in front of her, she felt somewhat at a loss. There were still a few things to do in the wedding ceremony that the nanny had taught her, and the prince consort had come but neither lifted her veil nor mentioned drinking the nuptial wine; he was just standing there...
Perhaps it was because the nanny had taught her such detailed etiquette for sharing a bed, and now that the prince consort was right in front of her, she couldn't help but let her mind wander, and her throat became hot without her realizing it.
Yuezhi clasped her hands together in front of her, gripped her sleeves tightly, cleared her throat, and called out to him, "Why is the Prince Consort back here instead of accompanying the guests?"
"I want to see you," the young man exhaled slowly, his words revealing little emotion.
Yuezhi lowered her eyes, her cheeks flushed. "I sent the matchmaker and maids to collect their reward money and have something to eat. They've been with me all day and deserve a rest. If the prince consort wants to lift the veil now, I'll have someone bring the matchmaker back so we can complete the proper etiquette."
The nanny repeatedly reminded her during her lessons: the princess's wedding ceremony must be orderly and proper, and must not be done haphazardly. Even the slightest mistake would damage the dignity of the royal family.
She thought that since the prince consort was a gentleman from a scholarly family, she would have to follow all the proper etiquette before they could meet.
But then he said, "There's no need to rush to call them. I just want to spend some quiet time with you."
These words left Yuezhi even more at a loss.
Knowing that he had feelings for her, and bearing the responsibilities of a subject and a husband, he fell deeply in love with her even though they had only met a few times. At this moment, he was not in a hurry to complete the ceremony, but only wanted the two of them to be alone in peace... Wasn't that the pair of butterflies she had embroidered on her handkerchief?
They were deeply in love, inseparable, with only each other in their eyes, oblivious to all the noise and glitz.
The more she felt his affection, the more chaotic her mind became. Her cheeks flushed, her heart pounded, and waves of warmth surged uncontrollably through her body.
She exhaled a long breath, hearing a breathing sound that didn't belong to her rising and falling in front of her, until a pair of affectionate eyes were gazing at her, and then she felt the air was hot.
He didn't say anything, and she was almost dying of embarrassment.
Yuezhi didn't know what to do, so she could only raise her hand and gently push the young man away. "We have already bowed to heaven and earth and are husband and wife. We will spend decades together in the future. Why be so fixated on this moment?"
The woman's soft, slender fingers pressed against the young man's hips. Through his autumn clothes, the touch was barely perceptible, yet it ignited a firework within him.
He held his breath, all the bitterness and repression in his heart being transformed into restless emotions by this gentle touch.
The prominent veins on his neck faded, and he exhaled a long breath. Before she could withdraw her hand, he grasped hers, his rough palm kneading her delicate, slender fingers.
After a while, both of them started to feel itchy.
Yuezhi was very shy and wanted him to let go, but the rough calluses on his palm made her feel a little itchy and a little comfortable. It was as if she could "see" him through the lines on his palm, which felt very strange, so she didn't really want him to let go.
An ambiguous atmosphere filled the room. Pei Heng asked at the opportune moment, "I didn't ask in the past for fear of offending the princess. But today, before we've finished our formalities, I've come to ask if the princess has feelings for me?"
Even those well-versed in poetry and literature, who have exchanged countless love poems expressing their deepest feelings, still come to ask her a truly honest question.
Yuezhi pursed her lips coquettishly, her voice soft and sweet, "Of course you're in my heart."
But then he changed the subject, "Are you thinking of me, or of the handsome and talented second son of the Liang family?"
On their first night as husband and wife, he asked such profound questions?
Yuezhi thought that he was a year younger than her and had an older brother and sister-in-law at home, so it was not unreasonable for him to be a little petty and argumentative at times.
This is essentially asking her whether she likes him as a person, or his status, the glory his family brings him, or his handsome appearance and eloquent speech.
“It’s you.”
Yuezhi answered gently, deliberately suppressing the smile on her lips, and replied to him in a solemn tone.
"You are kind-hearted, have a good sense of proportion, are loyal and trustworthy. You do not look down on me because of my illness, nor do you flatter me excessively because I am a princess. I would like such a good person, whether he is a young master of the Liang family or the Chen family, or a street vendor or a farmer working in the fields."
Her gentle voice flowed slowly into the listener's heart. Because of her sincere affirmation, Pei Heng forgot everything else, and his heart was filled with only the joy of mutual affection with her.
"Princess...does she like me?"
"If you didn't like it, why did I agree to everything when you grabbed my hand when we first met, and then acted so recklessly and rudely on the boat that night? I should have kicked you out long ago." Yuezhi snorted and squeezed the hand that was holding hers.
Yes, that's right, Yuezhi likes him.
The prince consort in her memory, the tokens of their love, the sweet words exchanged during every meeting, and even their first shy kiss, were all with him.
It was originally a relationship between them; Liang Zhang was the outsider. He foolishly thought that Yue Zhi didn't want him and wanted Liang Zhang instead. He was really frustrated and confused.
Pei Heng was thrilled, "I like you too."
Before he understood the nature of romantic love and realized his unusual dependence on Yuezhi, he had already fallen in love with her.
It's not gratitude, nor is it sibling affection; it's a man's liking for a woman.
He held her hand, his heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and urgency, wishing he could tear off her veil and kiss her lips right now.
Yuezhi flinched, her brows furrowing slightly. "My lord, it hurts. You're holding me too tightly."
Pei Heng snapped out of his excitement and quickly released her, his voice brimming with uncontrollable laughter, "I was just too happy and forgot myself for a moment, Princess, please don't be offended."
Yuezhi shook her head slightly, not blaming him.
After pouring out their hearts to each other, the silence made her feel empty inside. She hadn't eaten a single bite since morning, and the sudden hunger made her feel like her stomach was flat.
While the prince consort was still there, she whispered to him, "Prince consort, I'm a little hungry."
Pei Heng's face was still beaming with joy, like a young man experiencing his first love. He quickly replied, "I'll go and ask someone to make you something to eat."
"No need, no need. There should be some snacks on the table. Just give me a few pieces to eat."
With guests thronging the house and palace staff sent to help with the wedding preparations, it would be a laughingstock if they knew the bride had ordered food and drinks into the bridal chamber on her wedding night without even lifting her veil.
Yuezhi thought she could bear it, but her stomach betrayed her and started growling.
The young man smiled easily, "Snacks alone aren't enough."
He picked up a piece of red date milk cake from the table and handed it to her, saying, "Have a piece to tide you over first, and I'll go get you something hot to eat."
"Serving dishes into the bridal chamber at night isn't really proper, is it?" Yuezhi was still a little reluctant.
"What rules? In my eyes, ensuring the princess is well-fed and has a good night's sleep is more important than anything else. You don't need to worry about it. With me here, no one will dare to say anything to you."
When the young man's large palm pressed against her shoulder, Yuezhi felt especially at ease.
Although she felt that these words were not something a prince consort would say, she also felt that such an unseen way of handling things was a true reflection of a person's character. She was happy that he was willing to show his true nature in front of her.
Hearing his footsteps approach the door, she couldn't contain her joy as she opened it and called out to him.
Come back soon.
Pei Heng rested his hand on the door, and when he heard her call, it felt like a gentle breeze was blowing in his ears. He looked back at her and said, "I will definitely come back."
*
After the new emperor ascended the throne, major events originally planned, such as worshipping the ancestral temple, selecting a consort, and autumn hunting, were either canceled or scaled down.
Everyone said that the new emperor disliked grand celebrations, or perhaps the national treasury was empty, which was why he couldn't hold a large-scale event.
It was only today, at Princess Ning'an's wedding banquet, that I realized the national treasury is full of good things, and the Emperor has the patience to hold a grand wedding. However, half of his attention is devoted to state affairs, while the majority is on Princess Ning'an.
In the past, when powerful and wealthy people sent gifts to the princess's residence, they could only return the gifts and not be granted an audience with the princess, which they found regrettable. But today, everyone who has ever had dealings with the princess's residence, regardless of their social status or official rank, has a seat at the banquet.
People laughed and talked about the emperor's benevolence and magnanimity. After the initial purge of officials who were demoted and exiled, most of the old officials who were still in the court received fair treatment.
Even newly appointed officials who had passed the imperial examinations were invited to their first banquet at the princess's wedding, and they were all flattered and overwhelmed.
Liang Zhang toasted at the banquet. After several rounds of drinks, the night deepened, and the atmosphere at the banquet was one of drunken joy.
"Princess Ning'an is truly a beauty, and the second son of the Liang family is a rare young talent in the capital. The two of them are a match made in heaven!"
"Look at how much the Emperor values the princess. The prince consort will surely rise in rank sooner or later, and his future is limitless."
"The wine from the princess's residence is clear and fragrant, and smooth on the palate. I have never tasted it anywhere else. It must be a unique brew from the princess's residence. It is truly a rare treat to taste it today."
"My lord, come and drink! As the saying goes, wine enhances the mood. If you don't get drunk at the banquet, you'll probably be intoxicated by the princess's beauty when you return to your bridal chamber."
Liang Zhang was a little unsteady on his feet after drinking, so his elder brother Liang Xiu stepped in to drink a few cups for him. As for the female guests, He Zhiyan was the one keeping them company.
The banquet was laid out across the entire courtyard, with male guests on the left and female guests on the right.
Duan Yunting sat at the table with the military officers. Today he was wearing an orange outfit and his long hair was tied into a ponytail and hung down his back.
After a few drinks, the young man's face flushed, but he still stared intently at the female guest, the woman who was laughing and joking with others, but whose eyes were full of resentment.
She sighed inwardly: Liang Zhang is good, but not so good that he is remembered for so long. Princess Shen has such perseverance in remembering someone else's husband. Why can't she open her eyes and look at other people instead of choosing one of the two trees to hang herself?
I really don't understand what women are thinking.
In the main hall, Liang Zhang finally couldn't hold on any longer and was helped away from the banquet by Liang Xiu, who then took him to the backyard.
As they passed through the archway, the two brothers paused, looked back to see that no one was following, and breathed a sigh of relief. They dropped their pretense of being drunk and smiled at each other.
Liang Xiu sighed and laughed: "I didn't expect there to be so many guests today. If you were to toast everyone at every table, you'd either be drunk or throw up. You wouldn't have the energy to go into the bridal chamber then."
Liang Zhang straightened up, stood still, and wiped the wine stains from the corner of his mouth. "Brother, please don't tease me. I'm still feeling anxious."
Liang Xiu, being an experienced man, naturally knew what was fretting about, and patted him on the shoulder with a smile.
“You are a married man now, and you will be taking care of the princess for the rest of your life. How can you panic tonight? I just want to tell you that it is better to be slow and not rush things. Don’t make a fool of yourself and let the princess laugh at you.”
"Brother," Liang Zhang called out to him, his face flushed.
"Alright, alright, you should go to the princess's place. Your sister-in-law and I will take care of the banquet ahead for you." Liang Xiu suppressed a smile, said no more, and took a detour back to the front yard.
Liang Zhang took a deep breath and continued walking inside, unaware that he had a tail following him.
"Hmm!"
As Liang Zhang walked along the lake, he heard a noise behind him. He turned around and saw the garden filled with candlelight reflecting off the red autumn leaves. A row of servants walked by not far away.
Without giving it much thought, he quickly left the area.
Behind an old willow tree by the lake, Shen Xian's hands were bound, her mouth was tightly covered, and she was pressed against the tree. Her cheeks were in intimate contact with the rough bark, rubbing off her expensive rouge and reddening her face.
Duan Yunting's eyes were glazed with drunkenness, but his hands were strong and he stood firmly, remaining unmoved no matter how much she kicked and struggled.
"How many times have I warned you? How dare you still make a move on the princess and her husband? Is the princess determined to hit a brick wall?"
Shen Xian grunted angrily, her disheveled and submissive appearance eliciting a chuckle from the young man, who deliberately pointed at her.
"The princess has invited many guests today, but I remember your name wasn't on the guest list, Princess Shen. You seem to have come with Minister Chen, didn't you?"
He leaned down, his chest pressed against the girl's back, and deliberately breathed alcohol on her back, whispering and laughing softly.
"Attending someone else's wedding with your fiancé, whom the Emperor bestowed upon you, instead of appreciating his good qualities, you're thinking of stealing someone else's bride. Princess Shen, aren't you afraid of being ridiculed if this gets out?"
"You chat so amiably with those noble ladies, but do you know what they'll say about you behind your back if they knew you were eyeing other women's husbands and had ulterior motives?"
The stubbornness in Shen Xian's eyes gradually faded. She stopped struggling and sobbed resignedly.
Duan Yunting let go of her, looked at her face where her rouge was smudged, and laughed happily, "I thought you were so beautiful, but it turns out it's all just makeup."
"Slap!" Shen Xian slapped him across the face.
"You rude brute, how dare you threaten me, the princess, and even have the audacity to say that I am ugly? You are the ugly one! With your earthy face, even ten pounds of makeup couldn't cover it up!"
Having found an outlet for her anger, she vented her frustrations.
Duan Yunting was drunk and didn't feel any pain from being hit twice. He didn't hold it against her and instead respectfully invited her back to the front yard.
"Princess, stop worrying about it. If you keep making a fuss, I'll casually mention this to the Emperor. Not only will Liang Zhang not want you, but the marriage with the Chen family will also fall through. Greed will only lead to losing both your money and your partner. Don't you agree, Princess?"
The boy's words, though unpleasant to hear, were the truth.
Shen Xian looked dejected, biting her teeth repeatedly. Thinking of Liang Zhang, whom she could never reach, she closed her eyes tightly and didn't look back.
Seeing that she stubbornly refused to shed tears, but still chose to obediently go with him, Duan Yunting felt a sense of satisfaction as he listened to her sobbing.
—He's a soldier trained by the Emperor; he can tame even the wildest horses. How could he not handle a little woman?
The two returned to their seats one after the other, unaware that not far from them, Liang Zhang was suddenly attacked from behind and knocked unconscious before he had even crossed the garden.
Two men with swords at their waists skillfully evaded all eyes and ears, dragging the unconscious Liang Zhang to a secluded spot...
*
"I envy you so much. You have a loving younger brother who goes to great lengths to arrange your marriage. With the Emperor around, no matter who the princess marries, her future husband will treat her well."
"You can't say everything. Life is unpredictable. Three years ago, I was making clothes and doing embroidery to earn money to supplement my family's income. I never thought I would have such a good life now."
"After hardship comes happiness. The princess has endured the bitter days, and now only good days are left."
"I take your kind words to heart, and I'll pass them on to you as well. I don't know what kind of person you're going to marry, but everyone has a heart. Either you can live a harmonious life as a couple, or you can just have enough to eat and wear. Things will get better eventually."
"Your Highness is right, I will remember that."
Not long after the prince consort left, Cui Xianglan entered the bridal chamber. Because of her reputation for bringing bad luck to husbands, which had spread throughout the capital, even though she was now a guest of honor at the princess's residence, the people at the banquet treated her with outward warmth but inward coldness. In her distress, she came to talk to Yuezhi.
Yuezhi was still hungry after eating a piece of milk cake, her mind preoccupied with food. Just then, Yuezhi came over, so she pulled her aside and chatted privately for a while.
After her mother passed away, no one else spoke to her so sincerely. Cui Xianglan was deeply moved and held Yuezhi's hand tightly, reluctant to let go.
"The 28th is an auspicious day. I will be setting off for Qingzhou on that day, and I will not be able to see Your Highness again."
Yuezhi gently stroked the back of her hand, "Write to me after you settle down. If your husband dares to bully you, I will go to Qingzhou to teach him a lesson for you. Don't be afraid. You are such a proud person. Even your stepmother and sister, who are so cunning, couldn't make you submit. What's there to be afraid of in a mere man?"
Cui Xianglan was amused and nodded emphatically.
She was just an unloved daughter of a minor official, how could she possibly expect a princess to travel thousands of miles to support her? She was content with the princess's kindness at this moment.
As they were talking, footsteps could be heard outside.
"I suppose the Prince Consort has returned. I must not disturb your wedding night. I shall take my leave now." Cui Xianglan smiled, rose, and pushed open the door to leave.
She smiled and was about to say auspicious words to the approaching prince consort when she saw that the man was a young man of eighteen or nineteen.
He was dressed in a lake-blue robe, with jade pendants and rings at his waist. He was tall and imposing, almost as tall as her when he stood at the bottom of the steps. His long hair was half-combed and half-draped, and he had deep phoenix eyes, a high nose, and an incomparably handsome face, yet his expression remained calm.
The two maids by the door also saw the person who came, but neither informed the princess nor did they intend to stop him.
Cui Xianglan sensed something was wrong and was about to ask a question, but the young man looked up at her and she was so startled that she dared not speak and subconsciously lowered her eyes.
This person entered the princess's inner courtyard as if it were empty. Could he be the princess's...? She remembered that night when she accidentally entered this courtyard and overheard the spring chanting.
The situation suddenly became awkward.
Cui Xianglan nodded cautiously to the person who came, hurriedly walked down the steps and left, not daring to look back even once more.
After she left, a table of hot dishes was brought into the bridal chamber from the kitchen. Seeing Pei Heng standing in the bridal chamber, the servants dared not look up for long, but still pretended to be cheerful and respectfully withdrew.
Yuezhi smelled the aroma of the food and knew that the prince consort had brought back a meal.
Red candles burn high, and brocade curtains hang low.
Amidst the joyous atmosphere in the room, Pei Heng picked up the scale rod wrapped in red silk, reached it into the edge of the veil embroidered with mandarin ducks playing in the water, and murmured, "Lift the veil, may all your wishes come true."
Touched, Yuezhi did not mention calling back the matchmaker, letting him lift her veil, revealing the warm light of the red candles before her.
The candlelight flickered, illuminating her lowered eyes. The young man stood before the wedding bed, gazing at her intently.
Beneath the trembling gold tassels of the phoenix crown, the bride's eyelashes fluttered nervously, and the rouge color spread from her cheeks to her earlobes, making her snow-white skin bright and beautiful, even more vibrant than the bright red wedding dress.
As if sensing his gaze, Yuezhi's clear eyes lifted slightly, her dark eyes clearly reflecting his stunned expression upon seeing her face.
Her lips twitched slightly, and a shy smile spread across her face like a pebble thrown into spring water.
Pei Heng's heart suddenly raced out of control. He put down the scales, and when he spoke again, his voice was hoarse. "I... cough... the phoenix crown is too heavy. Let me take it off for you."
"Mmm." Yuezhi nodded gently, the pearl tassels on his body rustling and bumping against each other, just like the surging, turbulent tide in his heart.
After removing the phoenix crown and taking off the outermost gorgeous clothes, I can finally relax and feel relaxed.
Pei Heng helped her to the outer room and served her her meal.
"This is crab-stuffed orange, it's fresh, sweet and sour with a wonderful aroma, you should try it." He scooped out a spoonful full of crab roe and meat and added it to her bowl.
Yuezhi scooped up a spoonful of rice with the crab meat and put it in her mouth. It was indeed fragrant and sweet. She happily said, "It's delicious. This must be a dish added by the imperial chefs in the palace for the banquet. The chefs in our mansion have never made it before."
Seeing her enjoying her meal, her cheeks puffed out and her red lips slightly pouted, Pei Heng felt delighted.
"If you like, I'll have them write down the recipes and leave them at our house, so we can cook them for you often."
"He is a royal chef in the palace. He was only allowed to cook a banquet at your residence for one day because of the Emperor's favor. You must not treat him like your own chef."
"I have a way to help you." Pei Heng said without changing his expression. He watched her swallow a mouthful of rice, then picked up two more slices of oily, golden-brown meat and put them into her bowl. "This is roasted camel hump. It's a bit greasy. Just eat a couple of slices to taste it."
Yuezhi scooped it up with a spoon, put it in her mouth along with the rice, and found it crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a rich, oily aroma.
Her eyes lit up, "This is delicious too!"
Pei Heng smiled at her, took a handkerchief and wiped the grease from the corner of her mouth. "I specially asked them to make some dishes that you've never eaten before, so you can try them today."
Yuezhi felt a sweet warmth in her heart and muttered softly, "How does the prince consort know what I've eaten and what I haven't eaten?"
“Just ask the cook at home and look at the old menus.” Pei Heng answered fluently, and then said, “The princess eats too blandly on weekdays, with only two meat dishes per meal. Ordinary wealthy families usually have three meat dishes and seven vegetable dishes per meal. How can she have the strength to recover from her illness if she eats so little?”
The prince consort was older than her, and when he criticized people, he had a lot of reason to back it up. It was pitiful that she couldn't finish her meals, which consisted of two meat dishes, two vegetable dishes, and a bowl of soup, and she would leave most of it uneaten.
It wasn't that she didn't like to eat, but eating alone was quiet and boring. Hua Chun served her meals, but unlike the prince consort, she didn't chat with her. Before she knew it, she had finished a bowl of rice.
“Princess, you are suffering from anemia. It must be because the servants in your household have not taken good care of you. I will take care of you personally from now on. I guarantee that within half a year, your health and eyesight will be restored.”
"Come and have a piece of fish, it's steamed and very tender."
"Let me ladle you a bowl of soup. Drink some soup to help you digest and prevent indigestion. It's getting cold, so a warm drink will help you replenish your energy."
The young man was busy with his hands, and although he didn't eat a bite himself, he fed Yuezhi until she was full.
With her stomach full, Yuezhi felt much more energetic. She thought about how the prince consort had been nagging her as he served her food, which reminded her of Aheng a year ago, except that Aheng wasn't as talkative or attentive as the prince consort.
Pei Heng is like resilient gold, while the prince consort is like warm, lustrous jade—both are precious, yet possess different personalities.
She's lucky; she always seems to meet good people.
The maid cleared away the dishes and brought out wine cups. Her lowered face showed no joy, but she forced a smile and said, "Please, Princess and Prince Consort, drink the nuptial wine."
A wine cup was handed to Yuezhi, or perhaps a cup of unknown depth. She was a little worried that she wouldn't be able to see the prince consort, and that she shouldn't spill the wine during the upcoming toast, lest it spoil the auspicious occasion.
A young man whispered in front of her, "You don't need to move, I'll take your arm."
The intimate voice made her ears tingle, and she obediently sat still. Then a strong arm came over and intertwined with hers. The scent of pine resin on her clothes mixed with the cool aroma of wine, making her dizzy and almost drunk on him.
After a drink, we share both the bitter and the sweet.
"Congratulations on your wedding, Princess! We wish you both a son soon, a long and happy life, and may this precious moment of your wedding night be well with you. You two should rest now."
The maid withdrew, and the room became quiet.
A small cup of wine warmed Yuezhi's body as it went down her throat, and she got up and followed him back to the bedside without the prince consort reminding her.
The newlyweds sat together on the bed, surrounded by auspicious fruits. The flickering red candles illuminated their beautiful faces, and their silhouettes on the window slowly drew closer, their lips meeting.
The red candles burned brightly. Pei Heng slowly closed his eyes, moved his hand from her shoulder to hers, and after a deep kiss filled with the scent of wine, their palms were damp with a thin layer of sweat. He touched her slightly cool fingertips and realized that he had been holding her slender hands for quite some time.
As he swallowed a sip of light wine, he felt a sense of intoxication seeping into his entire body. The scene and the person before him were as beautiful as a dream.
"Yuezhi." He called her softly, cupping her face in one hand and gently placing the other hand on her waist, supporting her body that was about to melt from the kiss.
“My lord…” Yuezhi replied softly.
In the swaying light and shadow before her eyes, the young man's tall body leaned in, and her furry head rested in the crook of his neck. His hot breath sprayed on her neck, making her feel unbearably itchy.
"Yuezhi, will you call me husband tonight?" Her voice was low, husky, and magnetic, yet gentle and alluring.
Yue Zhi's heart softened, how could she not agree? She placed her palm on the back of his hand, relaxed her face against his palm, and said softly, "Husband."
As soon as she finished speaking, a force pushed her down gently onto the brocade quilt, and a series of delicate kisses fell upon her.
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