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 startled 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.

她着實美麗，堪稱君澤辰所見過女子中最為出衆的，這是他發自內心的評價。

只是他萬萬沒料到，尚書令家的女兒，竟然如此善良純真。

他原本以為，今日自己說出這番話，女子必定會淚水如泉湧，哭鬧個不休，甚或使盡渾身解數來勾引于他。

可她卻如此從容，淡定，只是勇敢的說出心中合理的訴求，清澈的眼神，真摯而堅定，令人難以拒絕。

可每個女人都有好幾副面孔，他不至于因為今日這番話便徹底相信她。

君澤辰微微颔首，淡淡地“嗯”了一聲，算作答應今晚留宿夕顏殿。

蘇婧瑤聞得男人答應留下，心中如釋重負，嘴角微微上揚，揚起一抹純真而釋然的笑容。

輕聲道：“妾，謝過殿下。”

随後她略有些不自然的問道：“那殿下需要妾為您更衣嗎？”聲音中帶着一絲不易察覺的緊張。

“不需要。”君澤辰的聲音帶着自他進入寝殿後便伴随着的冷漠。

“好，那妾便自行洗漱去了。”

蘇婧瑤移步至梳妝臺，優雅地坐下，動作輕柔地為自己卸去明豔妝容，接着将頭上的珠釵緩緩取下，烏發如瀑布般垂落，閃爍着柔順的光澤。

随後，她輕盈起身，邁向屏風，在屏風後輕輕解開婚服的系帶，換上單薄的紗裙。

君澤辰眉頭微蹙，目光緊緊盯着女子閑适的背影，她沒有絲毫初來乍到的緊張之态，仿佛他如同空氣一般不存在。

本就生性多疑的君澤辰，心中疑慮更甚。

難道她的真的完全不在意自己的夫君不僅愛着別人，甚至不願意碰她？

只希望這位側妃能夠真的履行今日的承諾，切莫破壞他與淩悅之間的感情，淩悅從小長在塞外，心思單純，不可能是這些世家女子的對手，極容易被挑撥離間。

待蘇婧瑤收拾完畢，移步至床邊時，君澤辰已然身着亵衣，靜靜端坐于床邊了。

他擡頭直視着她，眼前女子卸去妝容後，雖減了幾分嬌豔，卻添了些許無辜與純然。

她的眉眼似彎月，膚如凝脂般晶瑩，宛如白雪般純淨，披肩的長發，在燭火的輝映下，仿若一個不食人間煙火的仙子，飄然降臨。

君澤辰的目光情不自禁地往下移動，盡管女子的薄裙将自己包裹得嚴實，他卻依舊能清晰感受到她格外突出的曼妙曲線。

一股燥熱在他體內如火苗般蔓延開來。

君澤辰迅速轉頭，竭力平複着內心的躁動，語氣冷淡地道：“就寝吧。”

“殿下想要睡外側還是內側？”

蘇婧瑤的聲音自幼便如蜜糖般甜膩可人，她的臉上也滿是純真無邪，然而這句話落入君澤辰耳中，卻格外滾燙刺耳。

君澤辰凝視着她的裝扮，聽着她嬌媚甜軟的聲音，心中的矛盾越發強烈。

眼前的女子似是有意無意地挑逗着他，可當他的目光與她相對時，她的眼神裏卻滿是無辜，清澈得宛如一汪見底的湖水。

仿佛他才是那個內心龌龊的小人。

君澤辰抿了抿嘴唇，沉聲道：“孤睡外側。”

蘇婧瑤自然無從知曉眼前男子心中的百轉千回，她微微颔首，輕移蓮步，動作優雅地緩緩褪下鞋子。

玉足白皙嬌嫩，宛如羊脂白玉，赤裸着輕輕踏上床邊的踏板，接着從君澤辰的身側上床。

君澤辰的目光不由自主地被她裸露在外的白膩玉足吸引，同時，一股幽幽的香氣從她身上傳來。

他的心竟然開始不由自主地瘋狂跳動起來。

君澤辰放在兩側的手緊緊握成拳，全力克制着難以掌控的身體。

不過是個美貌的女子罷了，他堂堂太子又豈會被美色所迷惑？

蘇婧瑤在內側躺下後，将身子完全縮進被子裏，只露出那張精致絕美的面龐，宛如沉睡的睡蓮，恬靜而動人。

濃密的睫毛在燈光下灑下片片陰影，微微顫動着，如春日裏翩跹的蝴蝶，散發着無盡的魅力。

蘇婧瑤眼波流轉，凝視着君澤辰，見他依舊文風不動，身軀竟還有些不易察覺的僵硬。

瞧他那模樣，似乎并無躺下休憩的打算，心中不由掠過一絲疑惑。

“殿下，您不躺下嗎？妾身今日甚是疲憊，想要歇息了。”她的聲線輕柔，宛如夜莺輕啼。

君澤辰聽着悅耳的聲音，心中的矛盾愈發如潮水般洶湧起來。

他不是柳下惠，如此美貌的女子近在咫尺，他的身體難免會産生本能的反應。

然而，他絕不可能違背與淩悅的約定。

最終，君澤辰深深吸了口氣，平複了下身體的躁動，然後默默地背對着蘇婧瑤躺下。

蘇婧瑤凝視着君澤辰的背影，嘴角微微上揚，勾勒出一抹淡淡的嘲諷。

口嫌體正直，呵。

随後，她輕盈地轉過身去，緩緩合上如秋水般的眼眸，不一會兒，便漸漸沉浸在夢鄉之中。

君澤辰自幼便勤練武藝，對旁人的呼吸格外敏銳。

此刻，他靜靜地聆聽，便能清晰地感知到身旁的小女子已悄然進入夢鄉。

他自幼在宮廷中成長，早已深知後宮女子的權謀算計是何等錯綜複雜。

他的母後，不是在算計他人，便是在提防他人的算計。

正因如此，他曾在心中默默立下誓言：倘若将來邂逅了心儀的女子，必當護她一世周全，決不讓她遭受後宮的爾虞我詐。

他的血脈子嗣，也只願由心愛的女子孕育。

然而，命運卻偏好戲弄于人。

他與淩悅結為夫妻已有兩年時光，卻始終未能迎來一兒半女。

母後懇請父皇下旨，将他與蘇婧瑤賜婚。

身為太子的他，實在沒有推脫的理由，延綿皇嗣是他的責任和使命。

但曾經對淩悅的承諾，他依舊會堅守，決不會碰蘇婧瑤一下。

倘若蘇婧瑤是個心思純淨的女子，他會給予她無上的榮華，以彌補對她的虧欠。

在這紛繁的思緒纏繞中，君澤辰也緩緩沉入夢鄉。

燭火搖曳，晃晃悠悠，新婚的二人仿若陌生人般，靜卧于喜慶的紅色喜床之上。

然而，熟睡中的蘇婧瑤卻并不消停。

她的身子不由自主地向着旁邊那具溫熱的身軀緩緩挨近。

睡夢之中的君澤辰忽然感到脖頸處傳來一陣又一陣輕柔的呼吸，溫熱的氣息猶如羽毛輕拂，在他的肌膚上漾起一陣酥麻。

他的手臂似乎也緊貼着某種綿軟之物。

君澤辰的睡眠極淺，此時緩緩睜開了雙眼。

他側過頭去，映入眼簾的是一張白嫩細膩、精致嬌美的面容。

女子高聳的胸脯正壓在自己的手臂上，原本被衣裙遮掩得嚴嚴實實的肌膚，此刻大半裸露在外，随着她輕柔的呼吸而上下起伏。

君澤辰的身體瞬間變得僵硬，心中湧起一股異樣的感覺，眼神中閃過一絲掙紮，手也微微顫抖起來，最終還是毅然将手臂抽離出來，小心翼翼地将女子推開。

蘇婧瑤睡得格外深沉，即使被推開，也毫無醒來的跡象。

她只是本能地抱緊被子，換了個方向，繼續沉浸在甜美的夢鄉之中。

不知是因屋內有些悶熱，還是其他緣故，她的雙腿夾住被子，一條修長白皙的美腿不經意間裸露在外。

側身而卧，更凸顯出她腰肢的纖細。

君澤辰凝視着眼前的景象，心中的躁動愈發強烈。

他緊緊閉上雙眼，全力克制着身體的反應，随後深吸一口氣，起身緩緩走到桌邊，為自己倒了一杯茶，默默喝下。

清涼的茶水入喉，稍稍平複了他內心的燥熱。

待心中的那股燥氣逐漸減退，君澤辰才重新回到床上，躺下入睡。

清晨，陽光透過窗子傾灑而入，向來習慣早起的君澤辰慢慢恢複了意識，隐約覺着手中好像握着個東西。

觸感竟這般柔軟。

他不由自主地又用手捏了捏。

随即，他仿佛陡然間醒悟過來什麽，倏地睜開雙眼。

小女子依然是昨晚他推開她時的睡姿，可讓他駭然的是，自己竟然将她牢牢地摟在懷中，她的後背緊緊貼着他的胸膛，而他的手甚至還……

君澤辰的眼眸猛地一沉，面上飛快地閃過一絲難以覺察的驚惶，手像觸電般迅速松開，接着匆匆起身下床。

這一連串的動作，将蘇婧瑤從睡夢中驚醒。

她慢悠悠地轉過身，眨了眨那如蒲扇般的濃密睫毛，眼眸中尚帶着迷蒙之色，仿佛還未完全從夢境中清醒過來，就這般神情恍惚地望着君澤辰。

“殿下？”

接着，她用手撐着床鋪，動作遲緩地坐起了身。

然而，她卻絲毫沒有察覺，此時自己的酥胸半露，紗裙從肩頭滑落，那副模樣，妩媚十足。

君澤辰筆直地站在床邊，身形高大挺拔，神色卻冷若冰霜，嘴角緊緊抿着，眼神更是冷酷如刀。

果然，這個女人就是在刻意勾引他。

“孤還有政務需要處理，先行一步了。”

他的聲音冷冰冰的，沒有絲毫感情溫度，說罷，甚至不給蘇婧瑤行禮的時機，便毫不留戀地轉身走出了房門。

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.