Chapter 2 Marriage
Red silk flutters, gongs and drums roar, today is Su Jingyao's wedding day.
Looking from afar, the winding team looks like a long red dragon, stretching out into the distance.
Leading the way was a group of attendants in gorgeous costumes, holding various flags embroidered with exquisite patterns that fluttered in the wind.
Next came a row of gorgeously decorated carriages, each loaded with a dazzling array of dowries, with boxes piled high like mountains, some even inlaid with gold and silver.
The dowry in the box included exquisite silks and brocades, as well as countless gold and silver jewelry, each piece of which was exquisitely crafted.
There are countless jewels and jades, with round pearls, sparkling gems, and warm jadeite, which complement each other and are dazzling.
In addition to these, there are also various antiques, calligraphy and paintings, and classic books, all of which demonstrate the elegance and cultural heritage of the Shangshu Ling Su family.
The whole team moved forward slowly and orderly, and the people were all amazed at the magnificence of the red makeup and the abundance of the bridal dowry.
Su Jingyao sat upright in the wedding sedan. In the monarchy, there was no custom for women to wear red veils when they got married. Usually they would just hold a round fan to cover their faces. Moreover, as a concubine, she did not need to perform rituals such as greeting each other as husband and wife with the prince.
The prince only needs to come to pick up the bride, and after arriving at the East Palace, Su Jingyao will be carried into her bedroom.
The prince welcomed the guests in the East Palace Hall.
It was a long journey, and Su Jingyao had so many accessories on her head that she felt really uncomfortable, but she had no choice but to endure it.
Su Jingyao, who was in the sedan chair, could only judge her position by the sounds from the outside world.
When the sounds of gongs and drums gradually faded away, the servants carrying the sedan chair took many turns and finally arrived at Xiyan Palace.
Supported by Miaoyun, Su Jingyao walked into the palace and sat on the wedding bed, never putting down the round fan in her hand.
This time, Su Jingyao brought four maids Miaoyun, Miaoxia, Miaoyue, and Miaoxue as well as Nanny Li to the East Palace. This is the benefit of His Majesty's marriage granting, there is no restriction on a woman's dowry and maids.
After everyone had left, she gently put down her fan, her beautiful eyes moving as she carefully examined the layout of the bedroom.
The floor is covered with gorgeous, soft carpets, and the walls are hung with exquisite paintings with delicate brushstrokes that are lifelike.
The headboard of this wedding bed is also exquisitely carved and even inlaid with the finest pearls and gems. The soft silk bedding is embroidered with exquisite patterns and feels delicate and smooth.
There is a set of exquisite tables and chairs placed by the window, and on the table is a vase filled with flowers, emitting bursts of fragrance.
The entire bedroom is decorated in a festive yet elegant, gorgeous yet warm manner.
It seems that the prince has done a good job in saving his reputation.
It's just that the name of this palace doesn't sound nice, Xiyan?
The palace name of such a young girl is actually Xiyan. It seems that the prince dislikes her very much.
Su Jingyao sat there for an unknown amount of time before she finally heard a sound coming from outside the door. She quickly picked up the round fan and covered her face.
The protagonist of tonight finally arrived.
Jun Zechen stepped into the bedroom, his handsome face without a trace of smile.
Today's wedding banquet was arranged by the emperor, and Su Jingyao was the daughter of the Shangshu and a noblewoman from an aristocratic family. For the prince, even if he was extremely reluctant, he had to accept it.
As the crown prince, although he has great power, he also has greater responsibilities.
After Jun Zechen came in, he stood at a distance, looking at Su Jingyao who was sitting quietly on the bed with complicated eyes.
The round fan obscured her face, making it difficult to see her true appearance.
All one could see was the woman's head full of dazzling pearl hairpins, which were extremely luxurious, and the crimson wedding dress that perfectly outlined her slender waist, revealing her beautiful figure.
The woman's hands holding the round fan were slender, long, white and tender, with a faint pink tint on her fingertips, making her look pitiful and adorable.
She sat there with such graceful posture that no one could find any fault with her.
Jun Zechen walked casually to Su Jingyao, his eyes calm, and nonchalantly took the round fan from her hand and threw it aside.
This sudden and disrespectful action started Su Jingyao, and her eyes showed a hint of panic.
Her beautiful eyes were wide open, filled with fear after being frightened.
Her eyelashes fluttered unconsciously, like petals trembling in the wind, and the movement of biting her lower lip revealed her inner tension and anxiety.
"Your Majesty the Crown Prince." Her voice was soft and trembling slightly.
Jun Zechen had originally heard that the eldest daughter of the Su family was extremely beautiful, but he had been accustomed to seeing beauties since he was a child. To him, a woman's character was more important than her appearance.
After taking away the round fan, he did not expect that underneath the fan was such an exquisite face.
Her makeup is delicate, her face is as rosy as a cherry, her lips are as red as an apricot, her eyes are bright and her teeth are white. She looks bright, attractive, lively and charming.
Jun Zechen's heart couldn't help but tremble.
Although he was distracted for a moment, he still maintained a stern expression.
Beautiful faces are but a fleeting dream in life and will eventually fade with the passage of time. Even if the beauty at this moment is confusing, it will not shake his heart.
Jun Zechen came here today just to explain things to her.
"Get up." His voice was calm and low.
Su Jingyao stood up slowly, but her eyes were always on the prince's actions. Seeing that the prince was still standing, she felt a little uneasy and did not dare to sit down.
After hesitating for a moment, she timidly asked, "Your Highness, would you like to sit down?" Her voice was so soft that it seemed as if only she could hear it.
Jun Zechen stared at her quietly for a moment, with a scrutinizing look in his eyes. His stern face showed no emotion, making it difficult to guess what he was thinking.
The eldest daughter of the Su family is delicate and fragile, and speaks in a soft voice. Jun Zechen dislikes this kind of woman the most.
Isn't this the character of Concubine Shu in my father's harem? However, Concubine Shu is completely different in front of my father and in front of my mother.
Jun Zechen's sharp eyes quickly swept over the seemingly equally delicate young lady, and then he sat beside the bed with an expressionless face.
"You sit down too."
After hearing this, Su Jingyao sat down gently.
There was a slight distance between the two of them. She sat sideways, her eyes constantly fixed on Jun Zechen.
Jun Zechen is worthy of being the male lead, his high nose bridge is as delicate as a sculpture, his thin lips are slightly pursed, revealing a sense of coldness and arrogance.
His sword-like eyebrows were as black as ink, and he looked extremely heroic. The few strands of black hair that slanted into his temples made him look even more unruly and unrestrained.
His profile is handsome and his facial features are impeccable, as if they were a masterpiece carefully crafted by God.
Su Jingyao was quite satisfied with this face and could eat it. She was a bit obsessed with looks and was very strict with herself and men.
In modern times, since entering college, Su Jingyao has never had a window period of being single, and has changed boyfriends one after another. To her, men are the ladder for her to climb up and the driving force for her to explore the stars and catch the sea.
Jun Zechen was keenly aware of the woman's scrutinizing gaze from time to time. His lips became more and more stiff, and his tightly pursed lips revealed his determination.
Since he had already promised Ling Yue that they would be together for the rest of their lives, Ling Yue also gave up her freedom in the frontier and returned to the capital for him.
He would definitely stick to his promise and would never have anything to do with the woman in front of him.
"I'm here today just to explain something to you. The Crown Princess and I are already in love, and our feelings are deep. And the Crown Princess is the only one in my heart, so I won't touch you."
His voice was as cold as a spring, without any emotion. After he finished speaking, he slowly turned his head and stared at her with eyes as sharp as a hawk.
Su Jingyao's face was as calm as a windless lake, or like a pool of water that had never been disturbed, as if she had already known that he would not favor her.
She listened quietly, then raised the corners of her mouth slightly, outlining a faint smile, and her eyes revealed a gentle and pure light, just like the warm sunshine in spring, soft and warm, which made people feel pity.
"Your Highness, before I married you, I had already heard about the wonderful story between you and the Crown Princess. You two are so harmonious and I shouldn't have intruded on this beautiful relationship. However, I cannot disobey the Emperor's order..."
Su Jingyao's voice was delicate and soft, her tone full of helplessness, as gentle as the falling of a feather.
She slowly told the truth. This marriage was not only out of the prince's control, but also out of her control.
"Please rest assured, Your Highness. I can accept that Your Highness doesn't like me, or even... doesn't even touch me."
Having said that, Su Jingyao frowned slightly, bit her cherry-like tender red lips, and a hint of shameful pink appeared on her face.
As a woman, she felt very embarrassed to say such words.
Then she said, "It's just..." Su Jingyao hesitated, not knowing how to start.
"Just what?" Jun Zechen's eyes were fixed on her.
Su Jingyao lowered her head slightly, her eyes slightly closed, as if there were thousands of words surging in her heart, but she didn't know where to start.
After a moment of silence, she took a deep breath, mustered up her courage and raised her head again, her eyes full of eagerness, as if a candle flame was flickering in her gaze.
"My father is the Minister of State, he is a good minister of the country, and I don't want my father to be criticized because of me. So I beg Your Highness to give me some respect, and also give my father some respect, and let him stay in Xiyan Palace."
"I will not ask Your Highness to do anything. I will also explain the reason when I pay my respects to the Crown Princess tomorrow morning. I will never destroy the relationship between Your Highness and your sister."
Jun Zechen listened to the woman's words, his brows slightly wrinkled, his eyes lost in thought, as deep as the still water in a deep pool.
He had originally planned to have a clear talk with Su Jingyao tonight and then go to the study to sleep, but what she said made sense.
Su Jingyao's marriage was arranged by her father, the emperor, and her father was a second-rank minister, the head of the civil officials.
If word got out that she was treated so coldly on the first night of her wedding, it would not sound good.
Jun Zechen's gaze, like the calm water of a lake, quietly fell on the woman beside him.
She lowered her head slightly, and her curled eyelashes looked like a dancing butterfly, casting playful shadows in the swaying candlelight.
Her pretty face, perhaps due to her make-up or her inner shyness, had a faint blush on it, just like peach blossoms in bloom in spring.
She was truly beautiful, the most outstanding woman Jun Zechen had ever seen. This was his evaluation from the bottom of his heart.
But he never expected that the daughter of Shangshu Ling's family would be so kind and innocent.
He originally thought that after he said these words today, the woman would burst into tears and cry non-stop, or even try her best to seduce him.
But she was so calm and composed. She just bravely expressed the reasonable demands in her heart. Her clear eyes were sincere and firm, making it hard to refuse.
But every woman has many faces, and he wouldn't completely believe her just because of what she said today.
Jun Zechen nodded slightly and said "hmm" lightly, which was considered as his agreement to stay overnight in Xiyan Palace.
When Su Jingyao heard that the man agreed to stay, she felt relieved and the corners of her mouth slightly raised, revealing an innocent and relieved smile.
She said softly, "Thank you, Your Highness."
Then she asked a little unnaturally: "Your Highness, do you need me to change your clothes for you?" There was a barely perceptible nervousness in her voice.
"No need." Jun Zechen's voice carried the indifference that had been with him since he entered the bedroom.
"Okay, I'll go wash up myself."
Su Jingyao walked to the dressing table, sat down gracefully, and gently removed her bright makeup. Then she slowly took off the pearl hairpins on her head. Her black hair fell like a waterfall, shining with a soft luster.
Then, she stood up lightly and walked towards the screen. Behind the screen, she gently untied the laces of her wedding dress and changed into a thin veil.
Jun Zechen frowned slightly, his eyes fixed on the woman's leisurely back. She did not show the slightest nervousness of being a newcomer, as if he did not exist like air.
Jun Zechen, who was suspicious by nature, became even more suspicious.
Did she really not care at all that her husband not only loved someone else but also didn't want to touch her?
I just hope that this concubine can really fulfill her promise today and not destroy the relationship between him and Ling Yue. Ling Yue grew up in the frontier since she was a child. She has a simple mind and cannot be a match for these girls from aristocratic families. She is very easy to be sown into discord.
When Su Jingyao finished cleaning up and moved to the bedside, Jun Zechen was already wearing underwear and sitting quietly beside the bed.
He raised his head and looked at her. After removing her makeup, the woman in front of him was less charming, but more innocent and pure.
Her eyebrows and eyes were like crescent moons, her skin was crystal clear and as pure as snow, and her long hair was draped over her shoulders. In the glow of the candles, she looked like a fairy who was not affected by the worldly affairs of the world and had suddenly descended upon us.
Jun Zechen's gaze couldn't help but move downwards. Although the woman's thin skirt wrapped herself tightly, he could still clearly feel her particularly prominent and graceful curves.
A heat spread throughout his body like a flame.
Jun Zechen turned his head quickly, trying his best to calm his inner restlessness, and said in a cold tone: "Go to bed."
"Your Highness, do you want to sleep on the outside or inside?"
Su Jingyao's voice has been as sweet as honey since she was a child, and her face is full of innocence, but these words sounded particularly hot and harsh to Jun Zechen's ears.
Jun Zechen stared at her outfit and listened to her charming and sweet voice, and the conflict in his heart became stronger.
The woman in front of him seemed to be teasing him intentionally or unintentionally, but when his eyes met hers, her eyes were full of innocence, as clear as a lake with a clear bottom.
It was as if he was the villain with a dirty heart.
Jun Zechen pursed his lips and said in a deep voice: "Sleep alone on the outside."
Su Jingyao naturally had no idea what was going on in the man's mind. She nodded slightly, took light steps, and slowly and gracefully took off her shoes.
Her feet were white and tender, like white jade. She stepped lightly on the footstool beside the bed naked, and then got on the bed from Jun Zechen's side.
Jun Zechen's eyes were involuntarily attracted to her exposed white and smooth feet. At the same time, a faint fragrance emanated from her body.
His heart began to beat wildly uncontrollably.
Jun Zechen clenched his hands into fists at his sides, trying his best to control his uncontrollable body.
She was just a beautiful woman. How could a prince like him be seduced by her beauty?
After Su Jingyao lay down on her inner side, she completely curled up into the quilt, leaving only her exquisite and beautiful face exposed. She looked like a sleeping water lily, peaceful and moving.
The thick eyelashes cast shadows under the light and trembled slightly, like a fluttering butterfly in spring, exuding endless charm.
Su Jingyao stared at Jun Zechen with eyes moving around, and saw that he remained motionless, with a barely noticeable stiffness in his body.
Looking at his expression, he didn't seem to have any intention of lying down to rest, and a trace of doubt flashed through my mind.
"Your Highness, won't you lie down? I am very tired today and want to rest." Her voice was soft, like the chirping of a nightingale.
Jun Zechen listened to the pleasant voice, and the conflicts in his heart surged like a tide.
He is not Liu Xiahui. With such a beautiful woman so close to him, his body will inevitably have an instinctive reaction.
However, there was no way he would go against his agreement with Ling Yue.
Finally, Jun Zechen took a deep breath, calmed his body's restlessness, and then silently lay down with his back to Su Jingyao.
Su Jingyao stared at Jun Zechen's back, with the corners of her mouth slightly raised, outlining a hint of mockery.
He says one thing but acts another, haha.
Afterwards, she turned around lightly and slowly closed her eyes as clear as autumn water. After a while, she gradually fell into a dream.
Jun Zechen has been practicing martial arts since he was young and is particularly sensitive to other people's breathing.
At this moment, he listened quietly and could clearly sense that the young woman beside him had quietly fallen asleep.
He grew up in the palace and knew how complicated the schemes of the women in the harem were.
His mother was either scheming against others or guarding against others' schemes.
Because of this, he once silently made a vow in his heart: If he ever met the woman of his dreams in the future, he would protect her for the rest of her life and would never let her suffer from the intrigues in the harem.
He only wants his bloodline offspring to be conceived by the woman he loves.
However, fate likes to play tricks on people.
He and Ling Yue had been married for two years, but they still had no children.
The queen mother pleaded with the emperor to decree that he should marry Su Jingyao.
As the crown prince, he had no reason to shirk his responsibility; it was his duty and mission to pass on the throne to the emperor.
But he would still stick to the promise he made to Ling Yue and never touch Su Jingyao.
If Su Jingyao was a pure-hearted woman, he would give her supreme honor to make up for what he owed her.
Amidst these complicated thoughts, Jun Zechen slowly fell into sleep.
The candlelight flickered and swayed, and the newlyweds lay quietly on the festive red wedding bed like strangers.
However, Su Jingyao, who was sleeping soundly, was not at peace.
Her body involuntarily moved slowly towards the warm body next to her.
Jun Zechen, who was sleeping, suddenly felt a series of soft breaths on his neck. The warm breath was like the brush of a feather, causing a tingling sensation on his skin.
His arm also seemed to be pressed against something soft.
Jun Zechen was in a very light sleep and he slowly opened his eyes.
He turned his head and what came into view was a fair, delicate, exquisite and beautiful face.
The woman's tall breasts were pressing against his arms. The skin that was originally tightly covered by her dress was now mostly exposed, rising and falling with her gentle breathing.
Jun Zechen's body suddenly became stiff, a strange feeling surged in his heart, a trace of struggle flashed in his eyes, and his hands trembled slightly. In the end, he resolutely pulled his arm away and carefully pushed the woman away.
Su Jingyao was sleeping very soundly, and even when she was pushed away, she showed no signs of waking up.
She just instinctively hugged the quilt tightly, changed direction, and continued to immerse herself in her sweet dream.
I don't know if it was because the room was a bit stuffy or for some other reason, but her legs were wrapped around the quilt, and one of her long, white legs was inadvertently exposed.
Lying on her side further highlights the slenderness of her waist.
Jun Zechen stared at the scene in front of him, and the restlessness in his heart became stronger.
He closed his eyes tightly, trying his best to control his body's reaction, then took a deep breath, stood up, walked slowly to the table, poured himself a cup of tea, and drank it silently.
The cool tea went down his throat and slightly calmed the heat in his heart.
After the irritability in his heart gradually subsided, Jun Zechen returned to bed, lay down and fell asleep.
In the early morning, sunlight poured in through the window. Jun Zechen, who was used to getting up early, slowly regained consciousness and vaguely felt that he seemed to be holding something in his hand.
It feels so soft to the touch.
He couldn't help but pinch it again.
Then, he seemed to suddenly realize something and suddenly opened his eyes.
The little girl was still sleeping in the same position as when he pushed her away last night, but to his surprise, he actually held her tightly in his arms, her back pressed tightly against his chest, and his hands were even...
Jun Zechen's eyes suddenly sank, and a barely perceptible panic flashed across his face. He quickly loosened his hand as if he had been electrocuted, and then hurriedly got up and got out of bed.
This series of actions woke Su Jingyao from her sleep.
She turned around slowly and blinked her thick eyelashes that were as thick as a palm-leaf fan. There was still a hazy look in her eyes, as if she had not yet fully awakened from her dream. She looked at Jun Zechen in a trance.
"Your Highness?"
Then, she supported herself on the bed with her hands and sat up slowly.
However, she didn't realize that her breasts were half exposed and her dress had fallen off her shoulders. She looked extremely charming.
Jun Zechen stood straight beside the bed, his figure was tall and straight, but his expression was cold as ice, his lips were tightly pursed, and his eyes were as cold as a knife.
Sure enough, this woman was deliberately seducing him.
"I still have some government affairs to attend to, so I'll go first."
His voice was cold, without any warmth of emotion. He said nothing, and without even giving Su Jingyao a chance to bow, he turned around and walked out of the room without any reluctance.
Su Jingyao witnessed this scene, her eyebrows slightly raised, the corners of her mouth slightly raised, and a faint playful smile appeared on her face.
Haha, all men are like this.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
