At the auspicious hour of dusk, Lu Zhuo brought his bride back from the Princess Manor, leading the grand wedding procession on their return journey.
Crowds of commoners lined the streets to watch, the excitement surpassing even last winter's celebration when Prince Jing married his principal consort.
Though this was Lu Zhuo's second marriage, it was his first time riding in a wedding procession. Dressed in brilliant crimson wedding robes woven with gold, his face resembled fine jade and his smile carried the warmth of spring breeze. Young maidens and married women lining the streets could see no one else once their eyes fell upon him, wishing they could work magic to exchange places with the bride in the wedding sedan, to take her place in the bridal chamber with Lu Zhuo that night.
The men, meanwhile, wished they could replace Lu Zhuo himself. Since Wei Rao had become a princess, she had appeared in public more freely. Though she often wore a veil, her graceful and alluring figure was evident to all, and her beauty had become legendary throughout the capital's streets and alleys. Moreover, even those who had never seen Wei Rao could tell from Lu Zhuo's persistent pursuit - that he, a veritable celestial gentleman, would be so enamored - that Wei Rao was no ordinary beauty. Perhaps only the legendary Chang'e from the Moon Palace could compare.
In short, it was a perfect match - a talented scholar and a beautiful lady, two jade-like figures becoming one. From the moment the Young Lord began openly courting the princess, the common people had been discussing it with great interest for a year, and now that the Young Lord had finally brought the princess home as his wife, even the commoners felt a sense of completion.
Amidst the music and celebration, they arrived at the Duke of Yingguo's Manor.
Firecrackers shot skyward, making loud popping sounds, filling the air with half-sky white smoke.
Lu Zhuo sat on his horse, looking up at the white circles drifting in the air.
When Wei Rao first married him, the ceremony must have been just as lively as today's, except that he had been lying in bed half-dead. Ironically, when he mistakenly thought the bride was his originally betrothed, he felt ashamed for putting her through such hardship. But when he discovered the bride was Wei Rao, he began wondering why she had agreed, whether she had ulterior motives.
Today, he had finally compensated Wei Rao with a proper wedding, wholeheartedly taking her as his wife.
Lu Zhuo knew that Wei Rao's agreement to marry him was largely because he was indeed her best choice, and his family members were the kindest she could find. Wei Rao might not have deep feelings for him yet, but that didn't matter - now that she had entered his household, he had plenty of time to win her heart.
He didn't want to be just the most suitable choice; he wanted to be the man Wei Rao loved most deeply, to have her affection rooted in her very bones and blood, to have her remain faithful until death. Even if something should happen to him on the battlefield one day, she would never consider remarrying or seeking another man.
The spring breeze scattered the thin smoke. Lu Zhuo dismounted and, following the female official's signal, went to kick the wedding sedan.
Wei Rao slightly lowered her head, holding the large red silk ball, and carefully stepped out of the sedan. As her bridal veil swayed gently, a pair of black boots came into her view. Unlike young Lu Che's childish feet from years ago, these feet clearly belonged to a tall, grown man - one who could gallop on horseback and shoot arrows with unerring accuracy.
First bow to heaven and earth, second bow to parents, husband and wife bow to each other, then escorted to the bridal chamber.
Supported by female officials and led by Lu Zhuo holding the red silk, Wei Rao walked along the familiar stone path that servants had scrubbed clean, arriving at the Hall of Pine and Moon. She still remembered the lifeless atmosphere in the hall during her first wedding four years ago. Today, it was filled with female guests, their happy laughter floating over the courtyard walls.
Entering the bridal chamber, Wei Rao sat on the bed, listening as the female official systematically arranged the palace attendants in preparation for beginning the bridal chamber rituals.Wei Rao was in high spirits. This was the wedding she had fantasized about—lively and joyous—not one where no one lifted her veil and the bridegroom lay half-dead on the bed.
A scale hook reached over. Wei Rao took a soft breath, lowered her gaze, and curved her lips slightly.
The veil was lifted, revealing the bride’s face.
Back when she had married before, Wei Rao’s heart had been as still as water, indifferent to how others adorned her. This time was different. Wei Rao had expressed her preferences to the female official: she did not want the traditional bridal makeup that caked the face with powder like dough and painted two red circles on her cheeks. She wanted to reveal her true self—cosmetics should enhance her beauty, not mar it.
Thus, when Lu Zhuo saw Wei Rao, she wore a phoenix crown atop her head, her forehead smooth and flawless, her face as radiant as the moon, her eyes captivating, and a touch of crimson gracing her lips.
Against the backdrop of her bright red wedding dress, her skin glowed like a luminous pearl freshly emerged from the depths of the sea.
At nineteen, Wei Rao had shed the bud-like innocence of her youth, resembling a half-blown peony—gorgeous and alluring, yet still concealing a subtle mystery within its innermost petals, waiting for the quiet of the night to be unveiled by the bridegroom himself.
Ordinary brides were shy, but Wei Rao was not. It was as if she had suppressed herself for too long, eagerly awaiting this moment. Proud and confident in her beauty, she sat there with poise, allowing others to admire, marvel, and yield to her charm. While the bridegroom and female guests remained breathless, captivated by her beauty, Wei Rao moved. She lifted her chin, her phoenix eyes directly meeting Lu Zhuo’s gaze. Her eyes sparkled, calm and unflustered, as if assessing whether this bridegroom was worthy of her.
Lu Zhuo sensed her challenge. He could almost see a smaller version of Wei Rao hidden behind her—the larger Wei Rao sitting primly, while the smaller one soared to the top of the bed, looking down on him with disdain, mocking that it was his honor she had agreed to marry him, and warning him that if he dared look down on her again, he would face the consequences.
Lu Zhuo smiled, conceding with his eyes—he wouldn’t dare.
Satisfied, Wei Rao withdrew her gaze. Of course, Lu Zhuo was an elegant gentleman, but she, Wei Rao, was no less. Recalling Lu Zhuo’s previous condescending attitude, she felt inclined not to let him sleep in the bed tonight.
After the veil was lifted, the couple sat together to drink the nuptial wine and cut a lock of hair to tie into a love knot. With that, the ceremony concluded.
Lu Zhuo and the female guests went to the banquet, while Bitao and Liuya attended to Wei Rao as she removed her makeup. The small kitchen sent over four dishes and two soups. Having fasted all day, Wei Rao had a hearty appetite and ate to her heart’s content.
After freshening up again, Wei Rao leaned comfortably against the headboard, twirling a strand of hair with one hand and flipping through a storybook with the other.
She felt a bit nervous inside, but she didn’t want to show it, not wanting to give Lu Zhuo the satisfaction.
As night fell, the guests gradually dispersed, and the Duke’s Manor finally grew quiet.
Lu Zhuo, having been plied with drinks, was about eighty percent drunk. Upon returning to the Hall of Pine and Moon, he tried to head straight to the back but was intercepted by A Gui, who wrapped his arms around him and said, tilting his head, “Master, look at how drunk you are! The young mistress is so delicate—how could she bear this? We’ve prepared water here. Please bathe and tidy up first, lest the young mistress finds you displeasing.”
This was the second time the Hall of Pine and Moon had hosted a wedding, and the young mistress was still the same young mistress. A Gui and the other servants had experienced her willful temper before and dared not overlook any detail.Lu Zhuo was given two bowls of sobering tea by A Gui, vomited out all the alcohol he needed to expel, bathed and cleansed himself, drank another bowl of sobering tea, ate some pastries to settle his stomach, and rinsed his mouth with mint water. After all this, only half of his drunkenness remained. His vision was no longer blurry when walking, and his body no longer swayed. Graceful and elegant as jade, he made his way to the rear courtyard.
He had taken too long in the front hall. Wei Rao had almost finished reading the thin storybook in her hands when she finally heard movement. Quickly, she flipped the book back a dozen pages and started reading again.
Bitao and Liuya ushered the Young Lord into the inner chamber, then retreated to the courtyard with smiles. On the sixth day of the third lunar month, a crescent moon hung in the sky, and the evening breeze was still somewhat chilly. Yet, everyone felt warmth in their hearts, for the princess and the Young Lord had finally consummated their marriage. The wind, the moon—everything seemed perfect tonight.
Inside the chamber, the first thing Lu Zhuo noticed upon entering was a pair of dragon-and-phoenix red candles, as thick as a wrist, placed on the wedding table. Their golden-red flames flickered quietly, dripping wax.
Before the bed stood a four-panel screen embroidered with flowers and a full moon. Through the screen, he could see a figure in red lazily reclining inside the curtained canopy bed, knees bent, a book held in her fair, delicate hands resting on her legs. Her face was hidden by the bedpost.
Lu Zhuo had always known Wei Rao was bold, but he never expected her to be more composed than him on their wedding night.
Did she not know what was to come next? How he would consummate their marriage?
Lu Zhuo closed the door behind him and walked step by step toward the bed.
As he rounded the screen and stepped into the outer area of the canopy bed, Wei Rao finally spared him a glance before returning to her book, as though they were a long-married couple rather than newlyweds.
Lu Zhuo smiled and sat beside her, his gaze also falling on the storybook. "What are you reading?"
Wei Rao showed him the cover: The Huangshi Mountain Hero Fights a Tiger, illustrated with a burly man punching a fierce tiger in the abdomen.
"The princess is truly a heroine among women, reading stories unlike those of ordinary ladies," Lu Zhuo remarked with a laugh.
Wei Rao ignored him and continued reading.
Lu Zhuo sat close to her, still in a posture as if accompanying her reading, but his handsome face tilted toward hers, taking in her appearance. She had washed her face, leaving no trace of rouge, yet her skin was as fresh and tender as white peonies, tinged with a faint blush. Her long lashes rested quietly, her nose was delicate and lovely, and her lips...
Before he could take his fill, Wei Rao, unsettled by his intense gaze, shot him an annoyed sidelong glance. "You're blocking my light."
Lu Zhuo chuckled softly. "My mistake."
With that, he shifted to the other side. While Wei Rao leaned against the head of the bed, he settled at the foot, observing her face even more openly.
Wei Rao could hardly bear it, her heart flustered and uneasy. She straightened up, tossed the book onto a small side table, slipped her feet—clad in red silk socks—into soft-soled embroidered shoes, and walked around the screen to pour herself some tea.
Lu Zhuo was thirsty too, but his thirst could not be quenched by tea.
After drinking her tea, Wei Rao found herself with nothing to do. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Lu Zhuo had also taken out a book to read. This relieved her—she had been afraid he would immediately embrace her and insist on that matter.
Since Lu Zhuo was reading, Wei Rao picked up the tiger-fighting storybook again, leaned against the head of the bed, and continued reading.
As she read, her gaze drifted over the top of the pages, secretly peeking at Lu Zhuo’s book. She noticed he held it against his knees, obscuring the words on the cover."What are you reading?" Wei Rao asked curiously.
Lu Zhuo looked up, gazing at her as he said, "Would the Junzhu like to see?"
His face remained that same sanctimonious mask, but his phoenix eyes were dark and burning, as if concealing twin flames.
Wei Rao instinctively sensed danger and immediately averted her gaze, snorting, "Never mind, let's each read our own."
Lu Zhuo chuckled and suddenly sat up.
Startled, Wei Rao looked at him warily.
Lu Zhuo rolled up his book and came to lie down beside her, adjusting his position while saying, "The lighting is better over here, Junzhu."
Wei Rao remained guarded until Lu Zhuo reopened his book, then she relaxed slightly. It was at this moment that Wei Rao's gaze finally fell upon the pages of Lu Zhuo's book. On the left and right pages respectively were two paintings, depicting a man and a woman...
Wei Rao's face flushed crimson. She slapped her copy of "The Tiger Hunter" over Lu Zhuo's book to cover it, scolding sharply, "Shameless! I forbid you to look!"
Lu Zhuo had long lost interest in reading. He reached out and caught the fleeing bride around her waist, turning to press her down onto the bed.
Wei Rao glared at him furiously.
Lu Zhuo could no longer conceal his ragged breathing. After staring at Wei Rao for a moment, he suddenly lowered his head. With a soft cry, Wei Rao dodged aside, and Lu Zhuo's burning lips landed beside her ear.
Like a spark from fireworks falling upon a lake covered with tung oil, towering flames leaped from that single point and blazed fiercely.
OpenNovel