Having returned to his senses, Long Xuanmo, guided by Madam Quanfu, completed the remaining rituals. Amidst the joyful teasing of the crowd, he reluctantly left to entertain the guests in the front yard. Before departing, he repeatedly entrusted Long Jingxi and Long Yingtong with the care of Yang Mengchen.
Princess Ning took her leave along with the others, leaving only Long Jingxi and Long Yingtong, the sisters, to accompany Yang Mengchen.
"Sister, oh, I mean Third Sister-in-Law, we finally become one family, how wonderful!" Long Yingtong laughed joyfully, holding Yang Mengchen’s hand. frёewebηovel.cѳm
Beside them, Long Jingxi smiled and said, "Little Third Sister-in-Law must be hungry, right? Have something to eat first." She then instructed the maid to bring in some food.
"Thank you, Eldest Imperial Sister."
In ancient weddings, the bride could only have a few pastries in the morning. Yang Mengchen was no exception and was very hungry at this moment. She sat down at the table, thinking about the important matters to come and ate as quickly as possible to sate her hunger.
Watching her forthright Little Third Sister-in-Law, Long Jingxi smiled and thought to herself.
From the first moment she saw Little Third Sister-in-Law, she had taken a real liking to her, and knowing her little brother’s feelings, naturally, she gave him her full support. Now that her brother’s wish had been fulfilled, she sincerely shared in his joy, hoping that he and his little sister-in-law would forever be loving and grow old together.
About half an hour later, Long Xuanmo returned to the bridal chamber, clear-headed and obviously not drunk.
Long Jingxi, pulling Long Yingtong with her, tactfully excused themselves and left.
Gazing deeply at the quietly seated, slightly blushing woman before him, whose face blossomed like spring and who had a twinkle in her eyes, and whose brows conveyed an elegant and demure aura, Long Xuanmo was completely enchanted. He walked towards her slowly, step by step.
As Long Xuanmo came closer, Yang Mengchen’s cheeks turned redder, and she fidgeted with her sleeves, her heart pounding uncontrollably.
It was rare to see Ah Jiu so shy and flustered, and Long Xuanmo felt warm and sweet inside. He sat down beside her and gently pulled her into his embrace: "Ah Jiu, we are husband and wife now. From now on, I am yours. You mustn’t let me down or want to leave me!" he said earnestly and firmly.
Yang Mengchen looked at Long Xuanmo with wide eyes, her lips twitching almost imperceptibly with mixed emotions. She was about to speak when warm lips pressed against hers, and her mind went blank, her breathing suddenly becoming rapid.
The Dragon and Phoenix Candles burned until dawn, and the rich warmth lingered in the bridal chamber.
The next morning, accustomed to waking up early to practice martial arts, Long Xuanmo naturally awoke on time.
The scent of medicinal herbs filled his nostrils as he glanced at his sweetly sleeping wife in his arms, his face tender and gentle, his lips curling into a fulfilled and intoxicated smile.
His pale and slender fingers gently stroked his wife’s long curly lashes, her cute little nose, her rosily transparent cheeks, and her peach blossom-like lips. Seeing that his wife remained unaware, still sleeping soundly, Long Xuanmo chided himself inwardly.
During their wedding night full of passion, he, experiencing this bliss for the first time, was a bit clumsy. Having finally tasted the utmost joy of this world, he also felt for his wife, as it had been her first time, so he had to hold back using his strong self-control.
Carefully moving his wife’s arm from his neck, Long Xuanmo got out of bed quietly. After washing up in the bathroom, he returned to the bedside with warm water. He wrung out a washcloth and tenderly and attentively washed and wiped his wife’s face and body.
Feeling a foreign sensation in her body, Yang Mengchen slowly opened her eyes, her gaze blurry for a moment until she saw the deep, fervent eyes of Long Xuanmo beside her and remembered that yesterday had been their wedding day. Seeing him washing her, her face turned as red as a boiled shrimp, yet her heart fluttered with sweetness.
Having a husband like this, what more could a wife ask for?
"Wende, I, I can do it myself..." Even though they had already done the most intimate things, Yang Mengchen still felt somewhat uncomfortable.
Long Xuanmo continued his motions without stopping, his voice enchanting and intoxicating, "Last night tired Ah Jiu, let your husband take care of these little things."
Yang Mengchen’s face flushed, and she cast a reproachful glance at Long Xuanmo before turning her head away, ignoring the rascal.
Long Xuanmo had already felt a little stirred while washing his wife, and now, hooked by her chiding yet enchanting glance, he suddenly dropped the cloth in his hand, embraced his wife, and fiercely kissed the cherry lips he so adored.
After a long while, considering they had to enter the Imperial Palace later, Long Xuanmo released his wife. He finished washing her and helped her get dressed, then led her to sit in front of the dressing table. With practiced ease, he styled her hair and painted her eyebrows. In the mirror, a match made in heaven, so beautiful and harmonious it was envy-inducing.
Just then, Sister Jin’s voice came from outside, "Are the Prince and princess awake? Sister Chu and Sister Liang (the Empress’s trusted sisters) have come to check the bridal handkerchief."
"Come in," Long Xuanmo said indifferently.
Hearing the call, Sister Chu and Sister Liang followed Sister Jin in, and curtsied, "Your servant sees the Prince, princess."
"You may dispense with the formalities," Yang Mengchen said with a smile, stepping forward and making a slight gesture as if to help them up. The two sisters were the confidantes of the Empress Dowager and Empress, and she knew she should show them respect and courtesy.
Long Xuanmo took the embroidered box from the bedside stand and handed it to Sister Chu. Inside was a bridal handkerchief with specks of red plum that he had placed there when changing the bedsheets the night before.
Sister Chu opened the box, and along with Sister Liang, after a brief inspection, they both smiled broadly and said in unison, "Congratulations to the Prince and princess on your harmonious union and may you be blessed with a son soon!"
Yang Mengchen glanced at Sister Jin with a flushed face. Sister Jin then took out two exquisite pouches and handed them to the sisters. Sister Chu was quite composed, while Sister Liang nodded subtly, thinking that although the princess came from a peasant family, she truly had a clear and perceptive mind, and her respect for the princess grew.
After breakfast, Long Xuanmo and Yang Mengchen took a carriage to the Imperial Palace, accompanied by Sister Jin, Hai Tang, and Lv Luo.
The Chen Prince Mansion was only a quarter of an hour away from the Imperial Palace. Upon reaching the Inner Palace Gate, they alighted from their carriage and walked toward Cining Palace. Previously, Sister Chu had mentioned that this time, the kinship banquet was moved to the Empress Dowager’s Chamber (it was always held in the Empress’s Chamber before), which showed how much the Empress Dowager favored the couple.
Suddenly, a man and a woman walked over from the left. The man had eyebrows like ink paintings, a face like peach blossoms, eyes like ripples in autumn, and lips as pink as a baby’s. He wore a moon white silk robe that made him extraordinarily elegant and handsome.
The woman next to him had a face like a lotus and eyebrows like willow leaves. Her eyes were alluring, skin fairer than snow, black hair done up in a beauty’s bun, gleaming with eye-dazzling luster under the sunlight, and her red lips slightly upturned. Dressed in a crimson long skirt and adorned with blush on her cheeks, she looked stunning and enchanting.
"Your servant greets Third Imperial Older Brother and Third Imperial Sister-in-Law," the man said with a spring breeze of a smile, "I didn’t expect to meet Third Imperial Older Brother and Third Imperial Sister-in-Law here. Consort Ying and I were just on our way to Cining Palace as well; perhaps we could go together?"
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