Chapter 284: I'll Leave After You Finish Eating
The bridal chamber was filled with vibrant red.
The bed curtains were red, the bed drapes were red, and the red mandarin duck quilt was particularly dazzling. Red wedding candles were placed at the head of the bed, their flames flickering.
Yun Chu sat on the edge of the bed, put down her fan, and rubbed her slightly sore neck.
Just then, the door was knocked. Thinking it might be the wedding matron with some instructions, she immediately picked up the fan and sat up straight.
Ting Xue went to open the door: "This servant greets Your Highness."
Chu Yi strode in, placing the food he brought on the small table—a bowl of food and a bowl of steaming soup.
He handed chopsticks to Yun Chu: "Eat something to fill your stomach first."
Yun Chu lowered her fan slightly: "The wedding matron said we shouldn't eat anything before drinking the nuptial wine."
Only then did Chu Yi truly see her appearance clearly.
Her black hair was piled high, adorned with a bride's golden crown. Golden tassels strung with white jade beads cascaded down, making her skin appear as fair as snow. Her face resembled peach blossoms in March, and her lips were like spring flowers in full bloom.
The red wedding dress embroidered with floral branches made her aura exceptionally elegant and transcendent.
Chu Yi's Adam's apple bobbed heavily.
Afraid he might lose control, he averted his gaze and said: "The nuptial wine is for the evening. It's only just past noon—you won't last without eating. Besides, rules are made by people. If you're really worried, I'll feed you."
Yun Chu hurriedly put down her fan and took the chopsticks from him: "I-I'd better do it myself."
In the confined bridal chamber, surrounded by the overwhelming red atmosphere and under the man's intense gaze, her heart began to beat uncontrollably fast.
She quickly lowered her head and picked up a few meatballs to eat.
Since early morning, the wedding matron hadn't even allowed her to drink water because the wedding dress was too complicated, and she was afraid Yun Chu might need to relieve herself. That meant from before dawn until now, she had consumed neither food nor water. After the meatballs entered her stomach, the more she ate, the more she wanted. She ended up drinking most of the bowl of soup as well.
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince and the other princes are looking for you everywhere."
Cheng Xu's voice came from outside.
Yun Chu's face flushed. If the Crown Prince and the others found out Chu Yi had come to the bridal chamber, she didn't know how they would tease him.
She coughed lightly and said: "This is the time for entertaining guests. You should hurry to the front courtyard."
"No rush," Chu Yi's voice was slightly hoarse. "Take your time eating. I'll leave after you finish."
Under his gaze, Yun Chu reluctantly finished her meal.
Just as she was about to ask Ting Xue to clean up, she saw the man directly pick up the bowls and chopsticks she had used.
"I need to go entertain guests now. If anything comes up, send someone to the front courtyard with a message."
Restraining himself, he only gently touched Yun Chu's hair bun before striding out of the bridal chamber.
Yun Chu felt her face burning.
"Princess Consort, let this servant touch up your lip color."
Ting Xue came over and carefully reapplied Yun Chu's lip color, adding some powder to her face as well. Under the candlelight, she looked stunningly beautiful.
Not long after, as the wedding banquet was winding down, female relatives of the royal family of the same generation came to the bridal chamber. Their purpose was twofold: to keep the bride company and alleviate her boredom, and to help the bride get to know everyone.
Among these royal women, the highest-ranking was naturally the Crown Princess, while the closest to Yun Chu was Chu Yi's own sister, Qinghua Princess.Princess Qinghua should have returned to her consort's residence long ago, but due to Chu Yi's wedding, she stayed in the capital for over a month.
Among those entering the bridal chamber were noblewomen and two children.
Chu Hongyu held his younger sister's hand and slipped in with the crowd. Though his father had said he and his sister couldn't see their mother until tomorrow, he couldn't wait and had secretly sneaked in.
When he saw Yun Chu's appearance, he was completely mesmerized.
Mother was so beautiful, like a celestial being—how could there be such a stunning person in the world...
Fang Xinyan, standing beside the Crown Princess, had just been diagnosed as pregnant but insisted on following the crowd to the bridal chamber instead of returning to the Eastern Palace.
She immediately noticed Chu Hongyu staring intently at Yun Chu.
She had heard that the Young Son of Prince Pingxi's manor was extremely mischievous—it was he who had frightened away the Tan family's second daughter.
She thought this Young Son would surely use similar tactics to teach Yun Chu a lesson.
What did a child understand? It was just about venting frustration, but it would be enough to make Yun Chu lose face.
Smiling, she said, "Young Son, this is your future mother. Why don't you go offer her a cup of tea?"
Chu Hongyu's eyes lit up—so he could offer tea to mother!
He hurried to the table and asked Ting Xue to pour tea, which she did and handed to him.
The steaming tea was carefully carried by the little boy as he slowly walked toward Yun Chu.
Fang Xinyan's lips curved upward.
If she wasn't mistaken, the child would unceremoniously splash this tea all over Yun Chu—this promised to be quite a spectacle.
"Mother, please have some tea."
Chu Hongyu declared loudly, his voice clear and resonant.
This was the first time he had openly called someone mother in front of everyone, and the feeling was utterly wonderful.
Yun Chu accepted the teacup with a smile. "Thank you, Yu Ge'er."
Fang Xinyan was completely dumbfounded.
She remembered that Yun Chu had been chosen by the Little Commandery Princess, so this Young Son should dislike Yun Chu—why was this happening...
Perhaps Prince Pingxi had sternly warned him not to embarrass Yun Chu.
She took a deep breath, then suddenly paused. "Why is there a smell of fish balls in this room? There were fish balls at today's wedding banquet too. Could the bride have eaten fish balls in the bridal chamber?"
The women present began sniffing carefully.
Amid the scents of candles and incense, there was indeed a faint but detectable aroma of fish balls.
Princess Qinghua's brow furrowed involuntarily.
On their wedding day, brides were generally not supposed to eat—first, to express reluctance to leave their natal family through fasting, and second, because eating too much made bathroom visits inconvenient. This had gradually become an established convention.
Yun Chu had been married before—how could she not know such basic etiquette?
This was simply disgraceful.
Princess Qinghua prepared to smooth over the situation.
She wasn't helping Yun Chu, but rather protecting her son Chu Yi's dignity.
Before she could speak, Yun Chu smiled and said, "The fish balls were delivered by His Highness. Could it be that on Consort Fang's wedding day with the Crown Prince, His Highness didn't send any food to the bridal chamber?"
Consort Fang's eyes widened in shock.
She had expected Yun Chu to deny it, after which she would present evidence making denial impossible. She never anticipated that Yun Chu would admit it openly and turn the tables on her.On her wedding day, the Crown Prince had been entertaining guests the entire time and was thoroughly drunk. Their wedding night could only be described as perfunctory—she hadn't experienced the slightest tenderness.
Comparing herself to Yun Chu, she felt even more aggrieved about marrying the Crown Prince.
She shot Yun Chu a fierce glare. What was there to boast about just delivering some food? What gave her the right to act so proud!
Yun Chu glanced at the others. "Did everyone else go hungry the entire day of their wedding?"
The women responded with awkward laughter.
If they admitted to having starved all day, it would imply their husbands didn't cherish them.
But if they confessed to having eaten something, how could they mock Yun Chu?
Of course, no one actually went hungry—most had maids bring them snacks to curb their hunger. Only a few women had received food directly from their husbands. These couples shared deep affection, making them better able to understand Yun Chu's situation. They quickly changed the subject through conversation.
With a darkened expression, the Crown Princess summoned Consort Fang to step outside.
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