On the eve of the wedding, the entire palace was busy and no one could sleep well. Only Li Rong slept through the night, looking full of energy and radiant.

She had nothing to worry about. The only thing that worried her was the news from the Princess's Mansion last night that Pei Wenxuan was going to give her a gift and told her not to thank him.

She panicked when she heard this, and felt that Pei Wenxuan was going to do something unreliable.

But since it happened, she decided to make the best of it and didn't think too much about it.

She got up early in the morning and began to dress according to the ritual. She then went to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager, the Emperor and the Empress in turn. After lunch, she changed into her wedding dress and waited for the auspicious time.

All this was not much different from her previous life, except that in her previous life, she actually didn't know who she was marrying. She was nervous, expectant, and a little afraid of the future.

So she always asked people around her what kind of person Pei Wenxuan was, whether he was really as handsome as in the painting, what his family was like, and whether he...

Thinking of herself in her previous life, Li Rong couldn't help laughing. At this time, the sound of the ceremonial officer singing auspicious words came from outside. Jinglan walked in and said with a smile: "Princess, the time has come, get up."

Li Rong responded and raised her hand to block in front of her with a golden round fan embroidered with peonies.

The round fan blocked all her vision. Li Rong lowered her eyes and felt someone helping her up from both sides. Li Rong moved forward. She was wearing heavy clothes. If she were an ordinary person, she would have trembled under the weight. However, Li Rong was extremely relaxed. Her body was like a bamboo, her steps were like lotus flowers, her posture was dignified and elegant, with a elegance that ordinary people could hardly achieve.

The royal family, the century-old noble family, and the aristocratic family may not be able to see the difference on weekdays, but the moment they put on the gorgeous clothes, they will notice the subtle difference. It is like boiling tea with a clear spring, and there is a difference between the mountains and rivers between the lips and teeth.

Li Rong walked forward as others led her. She felt herself stepping on a soft red carpet and flower petals falling on her body. She heard the ceremonial officers standing on both sides chanting words of blessing as she walked by, and heard joyful, distant music coming from not far away.

She walked for a long time, not knowing where she stopped. Jinglan beside her reminded her, "Your Highness, we have arrived at the palace gate."

Li Rong responded, and then she heard the ceremonial officer asking her to thank the Emperor and Empress.

Li Rong, supported by the maid beside her, turned to face Li Ming and Shangguan Yue who were dressed in their best clothes. Then Li Rong, supported by others, slowly knelt down and kowtowed to Li Ming and Shangguan Yue.

Her movements were very steady. Even when she bowed her head and bent her waist, the pendants on her body did not move at all. Li Ming looked at Li Rong and kowtowed. In a hoarse voice, he said the words of blessing that he had prepared long ago.

Then the ceremonial officer sang "Greetings to Shangguan Yue" again, and Li Rong bowed once more in the direction of Shangguan Yue.

Shangguan Yue's eyes turned red when she looked at Li Rong, but she still kept her composure and read out her blessing to her daughter in a crying voice.

After that, the attendant waited for the ceremonial officer to finish his speech before helping Li Rong up. Li Rong had just stood up and was about to turn around and leave as the maid instructed, when she felt someone approach her and suddenly hold her hand.

"Rong'er," Shangguan Yue's voice choked with sobs, "You have to live a good life. Promise mother that you have to live a good life."

Li Rong couldn't help but feel a little sad when she heard this. She controlled her emotions and said gently, "Don't worry, mother. I can come back to visit you every day in the future, just like in the past. Don't be too sad and lose your composure."

After listening to Li Rong's advice, Shangguan Yue slowly let go.

Li Rong turned around and was helped to the front of the horse. She felt a pair of steady hands reaching out to her, holding her and saying, "Sister, I'll help you block the carriage."

The wedding banquet will be held at the princess's residence, and Pei Wenxuan will bring the Pei family to the princess's residence in advance to make arrangements.

According to the customs of Daxia, on her way from the palace to the princess's residence, there would be people blocking the carriage, and the palace would send someone to clear the way for the people with money, which was called blocking the carriage. Li Rong thought that a ceremonial officer would be arranged, but she didn't expect that it was the prince himself who blocked the carriage.

Li Rong didn't know what was wrong. She clearly felt that she shouldn't have so many emotions after living for so many years. But when she heard Li Ming's hoarse voice, felt Shangguan Yue holding her hand, and was helped into the car by Li Chuan, she felt as if she was suddenly eighteen years old again.

She still thought she was loved by everyone and would be happy or sad because of a few words from her family.

She sat in the car, watching the palace door creak open with the passage of time and years. She had been trying to control her emotions and think about things that would make her calm and happy.

For example, after the palace gate opened, Pei Wenxuan would stand in front of the palace gate waiting for him.

Pei Wenxuan, that bastard, will say something nice to her soon.

In fact, the task of welcoming the bride should have been done by Pei Wenxuan's brothers. Pei Wenxuan could just lead the Pei family members to kneel in front of the princess's mansion to welcome her.

But in his previous life, Pei Wenxuan had no brothers to rely on, and he did not dare to leave such a big thing to his brothers, or perhaps no brothers were willing to do it, so Pei Wenxuan came by himself, and then wrote a widely circulated "Yin Feng Ci", which was read as a blessing in front of the palace gate. The general meaning was that it was a blessing given by God for him to marry her, and he did not dare to let this blessing down, so he wanted to come and pick her up in person.

She didn't think much about it at the time, but now it seems like nonsense.

At that time, she was sitting in the sedan chair, listening to him reciting poetry. She felt shy but also happy, and she didn't think much about it.

If you had thought more about it at that time, you would have known how difficult it was for Pei Wenxuan at that time.

If she were not alone and helpless, how could she be so eager to be favored by others?

Li Rong thought about it and felt that Pei Wenxuan was a little pitiful. This emotion slightly diluted her sadness. She took a deep breath and heard the curtain in front of her being rolled up. Then she heard a familiar voice coming from the front: "Your humble servant Su Rongqing, on behalf of your brother Pei Wenxuan, welcome Princess Pingle."

Hearing this, Li Rong's eyes suddenly widened. She froze in place, and then heard Su Rongqing begin to recite the words of praise written by Pei Wenxuan.

When Su Rongqing came, Pei Wenxuan naturally would not write "Yin Feng Ci" as he did in his previous life. The formal parallel prose was recited quietly by Su Rongqing in front of him.

Quickly calming down from her initial surprise, Li Rong listened to Su Rongqing reciting his compliments to her. At the end, she heard Su Rongqing's voice pause, but he quickly continued: "My love for you can last as long as the sun and the moon, and I will wait for you to see the peach blossoms next year."

Pei Wenxuan integrated the love poem that Su Rongqing gave her in her previous life into this parallel prose.

Although the parallel prose was not written by Su Rongqing, it bears the shadow of Su Rongqing.

Li Rong couldn't describe the feeling in her heart. It was regret, sadness, a bit of unspeakable helplessness, and a vague, indescribable sense of satisfaction.

In her previous life, she had been with Su Rongqing for twenty-five years, but she couldn't explain what kind of relationship that was.

But occasionally, there will be a bit of regret.

I think maybe Su Rongqing should be given an identity.

However, this regret, at this moment, in an invisible way, seems to be filled, and also seems to be a farewell.

These emotions were too complicated, and layered on top of the previous emotions, making her rarely distracted.

Fortunately, she didn't need to do much, so she just sat quietly in the carriage, holding a round fan in her hand. After listening to the ceremonial officer and Su Rongqing asking questions according to the procedure, the curtain in front of her was lowered.

Before the curtain was lowered, she quietly lowered her round fan and saw Su Rongqing not far away.

He was the same as in her memory, wearing white clothes and a jade crown, quietly looking at her carriage.

He seemed to notice that she had glanced at him, and Li Rong quickly resumed her movements, feeling a little flustered.

Fortunately, the carriage moved forward slowly, so she didn't have time to panic. She heard the people around her making a commotion and shouting her name. She didn't look away, only to hear Li Chuan in front of her seeming happy, scattering money and saying auspicious words, asking the people to make way.

At dusk, she finally arrived at the gate of the princess's mansion. She sat in the carriage and heard Pei Wenxuan's familiar voice: "I am Pei Wenxuan, your humble servant, and I am honored to see Your Highness."

As he spoke, he heard the sound of a group of people kneeling down.

Li Rong did not move, and heard the curtain in front of her being pulled open. Then maids came forward, one on each side helped her get off the carriage. Then Pei Wenxuan came forward and put a piece of red silk in her hand. Pei Wenxuan led her in front, and the maids beside her supported her on both sides. After leading her over the brazier, they walked all the way into the hall.

Then they fought side by side, each holding a piece of red silk in their hands. Pei Wenxuan lowered his voice and asked in a low voice: "Do you like the gift I gave you?"

"Let's talk about it when we get back."

When Li Rong heard that there was a hint of seeking credit in his tone, she became angry and controlled her emotions to warn him in a cold voice.

Pei Wenxuan's heart skipped a beat, and he had a somewhat ominous premonition. But after thinking about it carefully, he felt that Li Rong was probably just having a hard time thinking it through. This was something that needed his help, so it was normal for her to blame him now. Once he talked her out of it, Li Rong would understand.

He sighed silently and listened to the ceremonial officer's shouting. Just like Li Rong in his previous life, he bowed to Heaven, Earth, the Emperor and his parents, and then bowed to each other.

Pei Wenxuan clearly remembered that when they were worshipping each other in the last life, Li Rong's phoenix crown pierced his head, so he was well prepared this time and moved a little further away from her.

Li Rong was angry and wanted to vent, so she bent her waist wider than normal, trying to move her phoenix crown forward a little, thinking that she could poke him like she did in the previous life, but he had to endure it.

Pei Wenxuan sensed her intention when she bent down, and wanted to take a small step back. Li Rong lowered her voice and said, "You dare?!"

Pei Wenxuan also knew that he was in the public eye, so he didn't dare to move. He could only bite the bullet and take Li Rong's Fengguan attack.

Li Rong knew that he had been stabbed, and she felt relieved. She stood up and was helped by the maid to go to the backyard. Pei Wenxuan was then released to accompany the guests with wine. Pei Wenxuan raised his hand to cover his stabbed forehead. Li Chuan walked behind him, glanced at him and said, "Why are you covering your head? Are you crazy?"

Pei Wenxuan: “…”

This brother and sister are really a pair of alike, no wonder they were born from the same mother.

"Your Highness, you are joking," Pei Wenxuan put down his hand, "Your Highness, please take your seat first. I will entertain you later."

"What are you going to entertain?" Li Chuan rolled up his sleeves. "Come on, I'll entertain them for you today. Please control yourself and don't get drunk to see my sister."

As he spoke, Li Chuan pulled Pei Wenxuan up, and together with Su Rongqing, who had already been greeting people nearby, they invited everyone to take their seats.

Almost all the civil and military officials of the Manchu court came today. Su Rongqing was the best man invited by Pei Wenxuan. He was familiar with everyone in the court. With Li Chuan, no one dared to embarrass Pei Wenxuan, and no one would deliberately force him to drink more wine. But there were too many people, so Su Rongqing and Li Chuan drank first, leaving Pei Wenxuan alone to toast the last table one by one.

At first he was still taking it easy, but once Su Rongqing and Li Chuan left, no one urged him to do so. Afterwards, he just listened to people wishing him and Li Rong well, and somehow he drank the whole cup without hesitation.

No matter he was drunk or not, it was hard to tell. He was always smiling and looked calm, just like a normal person. After a round of toasts, everyone was amazed at Pei Wenxuan's alcohol tolerance. Pei Wenxuan knew that he was a little drunk, but it shouldn't be a big deal. After greeting everyone, he went to see Li Chuan and Su Rongqing who were resting on the side. Su Rongqing was a little slower, and Li Chuan was still holding his head in pain. Pei Wenxuan looked at the two of them and couldn't help but said, "You guys take a rest first, I'll go back first."

Su Rongqing nodded and waved his hand without saying anything. Pei Wenxuan hesitated for a moment and bowed: "Thank you for today, Brother Su."

"Go ahead."

Su Rongqing finally spoke, saying, "Don't let the beautiful lady down."

Pei Wenxuan laughed: "Don't think I've let you down."

Su Rongqing looked up in bewilderment after hearing what he said. Pei Wenxuan bowed and turned to Li Chuan and said, "Your Highness, I will take my leave."

"You should be nice to my sister," Li Chuan said hoarsely, "I only have one sister, you should be nice to her, got it?"

When Pei Wenxuan heard this, even though he knew Li Chuan was just talking drunk, he still raised his hands in front of him and bowed solemnly, saying, "I obey your order."

Li Chuan felt a little uncomfortable. He turned his head and waved his hand, signaling Pei Wenxuan to leave quickly.

Pei Wenxuan was led to the backyard by a servant who held a lamp. In fact, he was very familiar with this princess's mansion, but everyone treated him as if he was there for the first time and guided him carefully, which he found a little novel.

When he arrived at the door, he saw Jinglan and Jingmei guarding the door. When they looked up and saw him coming, they both smiled. That scene instantly overlapped with the previous life, and Pei Wenxuan couldn't help but be stunned.

The maid beside her called softly, "Prince consort?"

Pei Wenxuan came back to his senses and nodded, "Let's report it."

"Your Highness," Jinglan turned her head and looked inside, "The Prince Consort is here."

"Come in."

Li Rong's voice came from inside. Pei Wenxuan didn't know why, but when he heard Li Rong's voice, he suddenly became a little nervous.

Jinglan opened the door and led Pei Wenxuan in. Then a group of people came in, carrying many plates and standing by one by one.

Pei Wenxuan was led to Li Rong. He looked at the girl in front of him. She was wearing a different wedding dress from the previous life. The original peony was changed into a phoenix. This change made him feel that this wedding was not a replay, but a brand new and different wedding. Because it was similar to and different from what Pei Wenxuan remembered, Pei Wenxuan suddenly had some expectations. He looked at Li Rong and couldn't help but be a little dazed.

Everyone looked at each other and smiled. The maid brought over the first plate, which contained writing brushes, ink, and rice paper, and placed it in front of Pei Wenxuan.

"My dear consort," Jinglan said respectfully, "please write a poem and give me a fan."

Pei Wenxuan came back to his senses after hearing this. Li Rong raised her fan and said calmly, "Write well. If you don't write well, I'll make you pay."

Upon hearing this, the girls in the room burst into laughter. Pei Wenxuan felt helpless. He took a pen, hesitated for a moment, and then started writing.

Half awake, half drunk, half dreaming, the bright moon brightens my heart and this period.

If the beauty would look back at me even for a moment, I would never leave you, even if the mountains and hills never grow old.

Pei Wenxuan wanted to write something casually, but after he put pen to paper, he couldn't control himself. After he finished writing, the maid came to take the paper, but Pei Wenxuan couldn't help but hold the paper. The maid looked up in confusion and asked, "Prince consort?"

Pei Wenxuan froze and did not move. He felt a little embarrassed, as if someone had peeped into his inner thoughts. He also felt that his actions at this moment were even more embarrassing.

He didn't move, and the maid didn't dare to move either. Seeing that there was no movement around, Li Rong asked directly, "Have you finished writing the poem?"

"Your Highness, I have finished writing it."

The maid said, looking up at Pei Wenxuan, and asked cautiously, "Prince consort?"

Pei Wenxuan felt a little overwhelmed and withdrew his hand. Li Rong already knew that he had finished writing, and it would seem too deliberate to rewrite it.

However, fan poems usually praised the beauty of the girls, and he always felt that it was a bit awkward for him to make a solemn vow right away.

Especially since it also mentioned half awake, half drunk, and half dreaming at the beginning, in Li Rong's opinion, could it be a hint of their past lives?

The more Pei Wenxuan thought about it, the more flustered he became. He did not dare to think too much and pretended to be calm while waiting for Li Rong to take the poem. Li Rong held the fan in one hand and read the poem with the other. Pei Wenxuan seldom wrote such poems, which were different from his usual level, but for some reason, when she saw it, she still felt indescribably moved.

Perhaps it was the phrase "half awake, half drunk, half dreaming" that made her empathize.

Or maybe it was the words "As long as the mountains remain young, I will always be with you" that made her feel a little yearning.

Li Rong calmed down and said with a smile, "It's really good."

As she spoke, Li Rong slowly put down the fan.

The first thing that came out was her eyes. She had a pair of smart and beautiful eyes, which seemed to be phoenix eyes outlined by pen and ink, with a hint of smile.

That smile was different from the one in her previous life. In her previous life, when she looked at him at that moment, she felt shy but also happy. But now, she looked at him as if he were an old acquaintance, with a hint of teasing in her eyes.

Then there was her high nose, her thin dyed lips, and the lines of her entire face, which were beautiful and luxurious, and Pei Wenxuan couldn't help but stare at her in a daze for a moment.

The maids beside her wanted to laugh but didn't dare to. Li Rong looked at Pei Wenxuan who hadn't said anything for a long time and couldn't help laughing again: "Is the Prince Consort satisfied?"

"Satisfied." Pei Wenxuan came back to his senses and blurted out.

The people around him burst into laughter. Li Rong grabbed some peanuts from the bed and threw them at him, saying with a smile, "How dare you talk to me like that."

Pei Wenxuan listened to Li Rong's smiling voice and slowly came to his senses. He hurriedly said, "I was wrong." Then, Pei Wenxuan smiled and bowed, "I hope the princess will forgive me."

"I'm too lazy to talk to you."

Li Rong glared at him and stood up. The maid beside her brought up another plate. Li Rong picked up the wine glass and raised her chin towards Pei Wenxuan. Pei Wenxuan lowered his head and chuckled, then walked over and also picked up the wine glass. In front of everyone, the two of them put their hands together and raised the glasses to their lips.

Pei Wenxuan raised his eyes and glanced at Li Rong who was very close to him. Li Rong saw him looking at her and raised her eyebrows and asked, "Why are you looking at me?"

"A beautiful lady is offering wine," Pei Wenxuan smiled softly, "How can I not look at a beautiful lady?"

"How about a few more drinks?" Li Rong asked again with a smile, "How about I serve you an altar?"

"Forget it," Pei Wenxuan said hurriedly, "One cup will be enough."

After saying this, the two of them drank the wine in one gulp.

Then they said some auspicious words according to the process, and finally the whole process was completed and everyone left.

As everyone retreated, the two of them lost their temper. Li Rong became completely limp. She sat down on the bed, leaned against the bed rail, and sighed, "I'm so tired."

Pei Wenxuan sat next to her, leaned on the other side, and sighed, "Me too."

The two of them were silent for a while. Li Rong couldn't help but ask, "Why don't they help me take off my pheonix crown and clothes so I can sleep better?"

"That's probably my husband's business."

Pei Wenxuan blurted out, and Li Rong couldn't help but look over after hearing this.

Pei Wenxuan noticed Li Rong's gaze and turned to look over. As they stared at each other, Pei Wenxuan felt an ominous premonition: "What do you want to do?"

"Do you know how much my phoenix crown weighs?"

"Do you know," Pei Wenxuan pointed to his hair crown, "how much does this weigh?"

"Is it as heavy as me?"

After Li Rong finished asking, Pei Wenxuan fell silent. Li Rong leaned against the bed rail and waved, "Come and take it down."

"Oh My God."

Pei Wenxuan cried out in pain, but he accepted his fate. After all, they didn't want to call anyone in to help them take off their hats and clothes.

Pei Wenxuan mustered up his last bit of energy, first took off his hair crown and heavy outer clothes, then climbed onto the bed, knelt behind Li Rong, and began to remove the tiara for her.

It wasn't the first time he had done this. He had done it last time and vaguely remembered the procedures. He yawned as he dismantled it.

Li Rong felt him struggling with Feng Guan behind her. She held on to her last bit of sanity and said with difficulty, "Pei Wenxuan."

"Um?"

"Why did you ask Su Rongqing to pick me up?"

"Can we discuss this issue tomorrow?"

Pei Wenxuan took off Li Rong's phoenix crown, along with all the hairpins that were fixed on it, and moved it off the bed and placed it on the table.

Li Rong leaned on the bed, looked at Pei Wenxuan who came back exhausted, and said, "Pei Wenxuan."

Pei Wenxuan hadn't sat on the bed yet, he just said, "Hmm?"

"I still have my clothes on."

"You want me to take off my clothes too?" Pei Wenxuan turned back with a bitter face, "Why don't you take them off yourself?"

"I'm so tired."

Li Rong turned her head to look at him: "And you said that this was taken off by my husband."

Pei Wenxuan choked up. Li Rong stared at him with a rather pitiful look in her eyes. Pei Wenxuan sighed and could only say, "Stand up."

Li Rong supported herself to stand up, Pei Wenxuan helped her remove the belt first, then grabbed all her clothes and took them off together, leaving only a single shirt inside.

Li Rong felt herself freed instantly and fell directly onto the bed.

Pei Wenxuan grabbed a pile of clothes and looked at Li Rong who had already climbed onto the bed. He felt more tired than ever before and couldn't help but ask, "You sleep on the bed, where should I sleep?"

"Sleep wherever you like."

Li Rong got into bed and said, "I need to rest now."

He wants to rest too!!

Pei Wenxuan felt hopeless when he thought that he still had to work as a floor clerk at this time.

He took a deep breath to calm himself down. After putting Li Rong's clothes away, he turned around to look through the closet. Li Rong heard Pei Wenxuan looking through the closet. She thought for a moment, poked her head out, looked at Pei Wenxuan and said, "Why don't we sleep together?"

Pei Wenxuan froze and stammered, "No... not good, right?"

Li Rong thought about it. She didn't care about these things, but Pei Wenxuan was still very cautious about this matter. Now that they agreed to be allies, Pei Wenxuan would definitely keep his chastity to the end. Although her idea was just to give him half of the bed, Pei Wenxuan might feel that even the bed was a violation of his chastity.

So Li Rong decided to respect him and said, "Oh, then I'll take a rest first."

After saying that, Li Rong closed her eyes and fell asleep. She was really too sleepy and tired.

Pei Wenxuan turned his back to Li Rong, feeling a little surprised. Is this the end?

Li Rong no longer persuades him?

In fact, he still... still... really wants to sleep in the bed.

He was really too tired now and didn't want to go to the floor at all. He could promise not to touch Li Rong even a finger and would never cross the line.

Li Rong's steady breathing sound soon came over, Pei Wenxuan hesitated for a moment, and he made an important decision.

He decided to go to bed.

Even if Li Rong kicked him off, he would still sleep on the bed.

After making this decision, he suddenly felt a lot more relaxed. He hugged the quilt and happily returned to bed.

The bed was very big. Li Rong curled up in the innermost part, wrapped in the quilt. The small person had lost her usual proud and arrogant temperament, and looked pitiful and cute.

An invisible softness slowly spread in Pei Wenxuan's heart. He spread the quilt at the edge and then slept in it.

There was a great distance between them, and he was on the outermost side, seemingly shielding her from all the wind and rain, creating a small world for her.

For a moment, he suddenly had a sweet, proud feeling that was hard to describe and he hadn't even noticed it himself.

He felt he was protecting her.

His Royal Highness the Princess.

The author has something to say: [Small Theater]

Q: What do you think of this drama?

Li Rong: Helplessness, sadness, a spider web, everyone is stuck on it, unable to move.

Su Rongqing: Conspiracies and plots, and a deep blood feud.

Pei Wenxuan: ??? I...I thought this was a sweet story? Aren't we here to fall in love?

Everyone in the text looked at them in shock.

Pei Wenxuan: ...Sorry to bother you.