The flames of war suddenly ignited
The dragon and phoenix wedding candles are burning brightly.
The gauze curtains hung low, and the candle wick, stirred by the gentle breeze, rippled and shimmered. Melted wax rippled, meandering down the carved patterns, carrying with it fragments of fine gold leaf that adorned the designs, accumulating at the junction of the candlestick and the base. The candle flame devoured the surrounding oxygen, emitting soft crackling sounds, like a withered branch being crushed or a rock being pounded by waves. The wick flickered briefly, then gradually sank back into the flame as the wax beads dripped down.
The candlelight flickered, eventually burning out before dawn. The extinguished wick, weary, sank into the still-warm, soft wax that had piled up into small mounds.
As the sun sets in the west and rises in the east, sunlight once again seeps through the dark blue horizon.
It dries the dew on the green leaves, awakens the creatures that lie dormant at night, climbs over the wave-like curtain, and completely dispels the darkness.
His biological clock made Mu Chuan flutter his thick, curled eyelashes. He opened his eyes, and all he could see was festive red. Even the bedposts around him were decorated with silk woven curtains. In his armpit lay the person he had been longing for, sleeping soundly with a look of contentment on his face.
There could never be a better morning than today.
Mu Chuan leaned in and buried his head in Wang Pan'er's neck, taking a deep breath. Not satisfied, he wrapped his arms around her limbs, holding her even tighter.
Wang Pan'er whimpered as she was squeezed. She frowned in dissatisfaction and pushed against the other person's chest to break free. Once free, she found that the source of warmth that made her feel so comfortable was gone. She could only close her eyes, reach out, and shape the "pillow" into a position that satisfied her before burying her face in it and falling back into sleep.
Fortunately, the poses he was put into weren't anything too difficult. Mu Chuan was both amused and exasperated, letting Wang Pan'er knead and shape him until she was holding him.
As dawn broke, the eldest princess, having taken leave from the morning court session, arrived at the main hall early.
Green Ripple and Granny Xi were already waiting. The two of them had been on duty all night, so they weren't too tired.
"How is it?" the eldest princess asked.
"They only rest at the end of the Yin hour."
The eldest princess chuckled, took the morning tea handed to her by Hongxiao, lifted the lid, stirred the tea leaves around the edge of the teacup, took a sip, and said with satisfaction, "The groom is certainly making a name for himself now. There are no busybodies in the village who want to see him, so let's not disturb them. Serve breakfast."
The eldest son of the Princess's household was usually pampered and arrogant, even more so than his own younger sister. He wouldn't even glance at the noble ladies of the capital. The Princess was worried that something was wrong with his health and had several imperial physicians examine him. Fortunately, it was a false alarm, and he not only seemed to be in good health but also quite vigorous. As his mother, she couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh.
In the new house, Wang Pan'er took a nap and slept until the sun was high in the sky.
She stretched lazily and slowly opened her eyes.
"Finally awake?"
Mu Chuan was held in her arms like an octopus, and asked leisurely.
finally?
Wang Pan'er then noticed the sky and her expression immediately changed.
This is the color of midday sunlight.
According to ancient custom, newlyweds should serve tea to their mother-in-law! The princess treated her so well, and she didn't want to be negligent or break the custom, but...
She was fine while lying in bed, but as soon as Wang Pan'er was about to get up, she felt as if her whole body had been repeatedly run over by a car wheel.
She grimaced and pinched Mu Chuan's abs, twisting them hard until she heard him groan, which relieved her anger a little.
"My bones feel like they're going to fall apart. It's a terrible experience. If this happens again, there won't be a next time!"
Mu Chuan: "!"
He suddenly pounced on Wang Pan'er, nuzzling and acting all cute: "Skills are all learned through practice~"
"Stop!" Wang Pan'er clamped her jaw on his mouth. "Don't you dare mimic your cousin's speech!"
Mu Chuan pouted again, looking aggrieved.
Wang Pan'er ignored his dissatisfaction and complained, "It's too inappropriate to serve tea to His Highness like this today."
"It's alright. If Mother is concerned, someone will come to wake us up," Mu Chuan said calmly.
Whether the eldest princess cares or not is her business; the fact that she needs to express her opinion shows her respect for the eldest princess.
Wang Pan'er groaned twice, her body aching all over, and looked at the culprit with a forced smile, ordering, "Help me get out of bed."
The instigator scrambled to his feet, first helping Wang Pan'er sit up, then taking out the clothes that the servants had already prepared for her the day before from the wardrobe, and helping Wang Pan'er put them on.
Seeing that Wang Pan'er was still frowning, he began to rub her back and shoulders with a keen eye.
Those who practice martial arts have special relaxation techniques. Each massage goes straight into the muscles and bones. After the whole set, Wang Pan'er really felt much better.
She stood up and took Mu Chuan's arm for support: "You're on the right track."
When Wang Pan'er and Mu Chuan arrived at the main hall, the princess was having snacks and chatting with Mu Lan and the maids.
Upon seeing the two younger generation members arrive late, his face was full of teasing.
It was rare for Wang Pan'er to blush when teased by others. She raised her elbow and nipped Mu Chuan in the waist in an annoyed manner.
Mu Chuan wasn't annoyed; he grabbed her elbow and pulled her towards him.
After a while, their subtle actions became obvious.
Seeing this, Hongxiao handed over a red envelope and, unusually, said something clever: "Congratulations, Your Highness. The Prince and Princess are indeed as you guessed, their relationship harmonious and loving. His Majesty must be very pleased to have made such a good marriage possible."
Grandma Xi nodded repeatedly.
Green Ripple then carried the tea to the two of them.
Following Mu Chuan's example, Wang Pan'er bent down and raised the teacup above her head to the princess, saying, "Please have some tea, Your Highness."
After taking a sip of the tea offered by the two, the eldest princess waved the red envelope in her hand and said, "Pan'er, you need to change how you address her. Otherwise, you won't get the red envelope."
Wang Pan'er was naturally very willing, and she said sweetly, "Mother."
The eldest princess found it very pleasing to the ear, sighed, and handed the red envelope to her: "Open it and take a look."
Inside the red envelope was a jade safety buckle.
Wang Pan'er didn't know much about jade, but this safety buckle was immediately striking. It was a vibrant, glossy green, with a rich yet clear color. Even a blind person could tell it was a rare treasure. Mu Lan's eyes lit up: "Imperial Green Glass Type!"
The eldest princess tapped her forehead: "When you get married, you'll get your share too."
Mu Lan chuckled.
The safety buckle had been carefully knotted, and Wang Pan'er solemnly put it around her neck: "Thank you, Mother, I really like it."
"I'm glad you like it. Seeing that you and Chuan'er get along well makes me feel very relieved." After she finished speaking, she added, "I have never liked to restrict the younger generation. There are not many rules in the manor. I go to court every day, but I don't follow the morning and evening greetings. If anything happens, the servants will inform you. You can live your lives freely in the manor."
Therefore, when it comes to marriage, you should not only consider the person you are dating, but also their family.
This must be the result of burning incense for eight lifetimes.
After serving the tea, the princess left the residence to attend to her business.
The newlyweds were in the throes of honeymoon. On the first day, Wang Pan'er lay there feeling weak and didn't want to move. On the second day, Mu Chuan dragged her out of bed to look at his private collection. On the third day, she went out to meet Mu Chuan's two or three friends.
Life was leisurely and carefree.
However, happy days are always short-lived. Early on the fourth day, before dawn, someone from the palace came and said that the Emperor urgently summoned His Highness the Prince to the palace for an audience.
A bad feeling welled up in Wang Pan'er's heart. She followed the servants and hurriedly helped Mu Chuan put on his court robes. Then she watched him run out the door and get into the sedan chair.
After seeing Mu Chuan off, she was filled with anxiety and couldn't fall asleep. She could only sit on the edge of the bed and watch the sky outside the window change from dark to bright, and then to a clear blue sky.
For three days, the two were inseparable. Suddenly, the person beside her left, leaving Wang Pan'er feeling empty inside, as if a draft had been blown into her heart.
She sat there until the Princess returned to her residence and was summoned to the main hall.
The eldest princess looked grave and said to Wang Pan'er, "Small-scale conflicts have begun to break out in the Jinzhou area. Yun Ji has ordered troops to go there to suppress and garrison the area, and they are to depart today. However, the Ministry of Revenue is a cause for concern. We need a trustworthy person to personally supervise the transport of military supplies. Chuan'er is the best choice. You pack his valuables for him, and I will tell the kitchen to prepare more dry rations."
Wang Pan'er was stunned, her heart skipped a few beats: "How could this be so sudden!"
Are Xiaoyao and the others alright?
The eldest princess sighed: "Actually, we received the news a few days ago, but Yunji and I couldn't bear to disturb your newlywed bliss. Now we can't wait any longer."
Wang Pan'er trembled as she hummed in agreement and went back to her room.
She opened the wardrobe.
Mu Chuan has a lot of clothes. The ones on the outside of the wardrobe, which are easy to reach, are all newly added according to her preferences.
While the ones further inside are also well-organized, they lack some clever details.
She touched the tassels, ribbons, and other items she liked, and then picked out seven or eight sets of pure cotton, breathable, and simple-looking clothes from her old clothes to stuff into her bag.
Knowing that winter would be here soon, she rolled up another layer of fur mat.
However, with limited space in her luggage, Wang Pan'er had to take two or three more sets of clothes to make room for the cushion.
When marching and fighting, cleanliness and tidiness are not important; being well-fed and warmly clothed is the most important thing.
Wang Pan'er came out carrying her luggage, while the Princess also packed a lot of naan bread and dried meat.
The dried meat was probably started being prepared a few days ago, but the two of them didn't know it.
Mu Chuan returned in a flurry of activity, but stopped when he saw his mother and wife waiting in the main hall.
He felt so guilty in front of his wife that he couldn't even lift his feet. They had only been married for three days, and he had to leave his wife to go to the front lines. As a soldier, he had done right by heaven and earth and by the country, but he had failed his family.
Mu Chuan didn't move, but Wang Pan'er stepped forward and handed him her luggage, her eyes filled with worry as deep as ink. Mu Chuan was moved. Ignoring the others present, he cupped Wang Pan'er's cheeks and kissed her forehead: "This is a suppression operation. The Great Xia army is strong, so there's no need to worry too much."
It's impossible not to worry.
But Wang Pan'er still nodded to Mu Chuan against her will.
It was considered unlucky for the army to depart after noon, so Mu Chuan didn't even have time to eat lunch before heading out to meet up with the army.
Seeing the two reluctant to part, the eldest princess couldn't bear it and said, "Let Pan'er and I see you off."
The three of them boarded the sedan chair together, but remained silent.
Mu Chuan took Wang Pan'er's hand and held it tightly. His eyes were deep and intense as he looked at her, his gaze concealing the unspoken attachment and reluctance he felt.
The military camp was soon reached, and Wang Pan'er got out of the sedan chair. She watched as Mu Chuan saluted and joined the army.
The princess instructed the coachman to follow the army to the city gate.
The guards granted Princess Chang and Princess Consort permission to go up to the city wall to see them off.
But soldiers cannot turn back once they set out on a campaign. Countless soldiers can only bear the worries of their families and leave behind their resolute backs.
The army marched further and further away, until Mu Chuan's figure was no longer visible.
The eldest princess turned around first, patted Wang Pan'er on the shoulder and said, "Let's go back to the manor."
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