Soft whispers filled the room, followed by muffled laughter as the women covered their mouths in amusement. Even Liu momo shook her head with an exasperated sigh, while Madam Zhang shot her a glare. “Have you no shame?” she scolded.

Faced with their teasing gazes, Liu Yin kept her head down, saying nothing. She was merely stating the truth—there was no way that cold, insufferable crown prince would share a wedding chamber with her. Honestly, she preferred it that way. The last thing she wanted was to serve that heartless man.

“You are the crown princess,” Madam Zhang reminded her sternly. “Lu Ruan is just a concubine. By tradition, the prince must come to you tonight. Stop this nonsense.”

Liu Yin let the words go in one ear and out the other. She swore, if the prince actually laid a hand on her tonight, she’d write her name backward for the rest of her life.

“He’s here! He’s here!”

Excited cries rang out from outside. Chaos erupted in the room at once, the earlier gloom swept away by Liu Yin’s sharp interjection. Madam Zhang wasted no time, quickly lowering the red bridal veil over her head. Then, with urgent motions, she called for the wedding matron to enter.

Seeing that she didn’t have to walk, Liu Yin obediently lay against the wedding matron’s back, letting the woman carry her out the door without protest.

With the bridal veil covering her face, she couldn’t see anything outside. All she could do was listen—voices chattering all around her, waves of congratulations echoing through the air. As they left the manor, the distant murmurs of curious onlookers grew louder, the bustling commotion of the crowd filling her ears.

Outside the Liu residence, a grand wedding procession stretched down the street. Imperial guards kept the gathered commoners at bay, leaving a clear path for the entourage. At the very front of the procession, a man clad in a crimson wedding robe sat atop his horse. His posture was upright, his figure striking. The sharp angles of his face, handsome and commanding, made many young maidens in the crowd blush, their hearts filled with regret. How could that shrew from the Liu family possibly be worthy of a crown prince blessed with both intellect and martial prowess?

The surrounding clamor was overwhelming, but Liu Yin finally let out a breath of relief once she was inside the bridal sedan. Not long after, she felt the sedan being lifted, swaying slightly as it moved forward. She didn’t dare peek outside and could only raise a hand to adjust the heavy phoenix crown on her head. It felt as if the weight alone might snap her neck.

The capital was alive with excitement today. People craned their necks, eager to catch a glimpse of the grand procession. Teahouses and taverns buzzed with gossip—everyone was discussing how disgraceful the Liu family’s eldest daughter was, questioning how she could possibly be worthy of the esteemed crown prince. Yet, when the wedding entourage passed by, the same onlookers rushed outside, scrambling to witness the spectacle firsthand.

The procession stretched for two entire streets, its grandeur rivaling that of any royal wedding. On the second floor of a teahouse, a man sat by the window, gazing down at the lavish display below. He took a slow sip of tea, the corner of his lips tugging into a faint smirk.

“Honestly, His Highness could have just married the Prime Minister’s daughter instead. I can’t fathom why he chose otherwise,” the attendant beside him muttered, utterly perplexed.

The man withdrew his gaze, his expression unreadable. “Do you really think the emperor would allow us to form an alliance with the Liu family?”

At that, the attendant immediately lowered his head, not daring to say another word.

Gripping the delicate porcelain teacup, He Ji cast another glance at the scene below, his eyes dark and thoughtful. “Tell me—between the capital and Liancheng, which do you think is more prosperous?”

The attendant frowned in thought before finally mustering the courage to respond. “The southwest is indeed rich in resources, but in every other aspect… it still falls short of the capital.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he stole a glance at the man beside him, only to find him gazing into the distance, his expression unreadable.

“A shame,” the man murmured, his voice as light as a breeze, lost in the ceaseless chatter of the bustling streets below. Meanwhile, the wedding procession continued its slow march forward, leaving the townspeople eagerly discussing the day’s events.

Upon entering the palace, the noise of the outside world gradually faded, until only the rhythmic sound of footsteps remained. Then, without warning, the bridal sedan came to an abrupt halt.

“Lower the sedan!” came the wedding matron’s sharp call.

Liu Yin flinched at the sudden command. From her angle, she could only see the sedan curtain being lifted, followed by the wedding matron swiftly reaching in to lift the cumbersome layers of her gown. Taking a deep breath, she braced herself and stepped out, the weight of her ornate headdress pressing down on her.

Just then, a hand appeared in her line of sight—a large, well-defined hand, its fingers long and steady.

The silence around them was almost suffocating. It wasn’t until the wedding matron gave her a small nudge that Liu Yin hesitantly placed her hand in his. The next moment, he clasped her fingers and led her forward.

His hand was warm.

Liu Yin hadn’t expected this gesture. The surprise made her breath catch in her throat.

Court officials stood in two neat rows on either side of the grand hall. At the center, seated atop the throne in imperial yellow, was the middle-aged emperor, his expression calm and composed. Beside him, the empress wore a radiant smile, her delight barely contained—especially when she saw the crown prince holding her niece’s hand. Her eyes shimmered with unconcealed joy.

Minister Liu, standing proudly in the hall, was all smiles as well. He graciously accepted the congratulations of his fellow ministers, basking in the triumph of the moment. If ever there was a picture of a man on top of the world, it was him.

Liu Yin, on the other hand, was a bundle of nerves. Her heart pounded so hard it felt like it might leap out of her chest. Even her palms had begun to sweat. Just as she struggled to steady herself, her small hand was suddenly squeezed. Startled, she didn’t dare move her gaze.

At the front of the hall, a highly respected elder prince of the royal family presided over the ceremony. After reciting a long string of ceremonial blessings, his voice rang out:

“First bow—to Heaven and Earth!”

The empress, beaming with satisfaction, watched the couple from her seat. At long last, everything was as it should be. A night as husband and wife leads to a hundred days of affection, she mused. With time, she was certain the crown prince would no longer resent Yin’er. As long as the crown princess earned his respect, that would be enough.

Once the wedding rites were completed, Liu Yin was escorted back to the bridal chamber by the wedding matron. The grand hall, the nobles, the ceremony—none of it concerned her anymore. As soon as she stepped into the room and the doors shut behind her, Liu momo’s solemn voice filled the air.

“Your Highness need not worry. This old servant will oversee everything.”

Liu Yin stiffened. Oversee? Even the wedding night needs supervision?!

Not that it mattered—tonight, there would be no wedding night.

Even if the crown prince had any interest in touching her (which she highly doubted), her monthly cycle hadn’t even ended yet. There was simply no way.

As soon as Liu momo left, the room felt eerily empty, as if she were the only one left in the world. Liu Yin didn’t bother lifting her bridal veil. Instead, exhausted, she leaned against the bed’s railing and pulled a small packet of pastries from the wide sleeves of her robe. Good thing I planned ahead—imagine starving the whole day just for some outdated tradition.

She had no idea what time it was outside. After eating a few pieces, the dryness in her throat became unbearable, but with the heavy headdress weighing her down, moving around was far too troublesome. Sighing, she slumped against the bed, deciding to close her eyes for a moment.

She had no idea how long she dozed off, but when she groggily woke up, the room was still as silent and empty as before. She sat there absentmindedly chewing on another pastry, grumbling inwardly at the injustice of it all. Marriage is completely unfair to women. Why do men get to feast and drink all night while I have to starve from morning till night? And they have the nerve to call this some sacred tradition? Feudal nonsense.

Outside, the palace banquet was winding down. The bright moon hung in a sky of clear, quiet darkness. Suddenly, at the end of the corridor, a tall figure emerged, his steps steady and deliberate.

Seeing who it was, Liu momo straightened immediately, and the palace maids outside quickly stood at attention. None of them had expected the crown prince to actually come.

“Your Highness,” Liu momo greeted, bowing deeply.

Inside the room, Liu Yin nearly choked in shock. In a panic, she shoved the remaining pastries under the bed, then sat up straight, hands folded neatly in her lap, her heart pounding wildly.

“Leave us,” came the prince’s cold command.

His voice was deep and rich, laced with a husky undertone—perhaps from the wine he had been drinking. As the door creaked open, steady footsteps crossed the threshold. Liu Yin didn’t know why she was so nervous, but her breath caught in her throat all the same.

Liu momo hesitated, glancing at the two inside as if she wanted to say something. In the end, she chose silence, quietly pulling the door shut behind her. Servants had no place meddling in such affairs.

The candle flames flickered seductively, casting a warm glow over the festive red chamber. In front of the grand bed sat a woman in a brilliant crimson wedding gown. Unlike her usual restless energy, she was now unnervingly still.

The silence in the room was suffocating. Liu Yin kept her eyes shut, focusing on steadying her breathing. It’s just a political marriage. Nothing to be nervous about.

But just as she convinced herself to relax, the light before her suddenly grew brighter.

Slowly, she opened her eyes—only to realize her bridal veil had already been lifted.

The first thing she saw was the room, draped in red and adorned with endless double happiness symbols.

The second was the man standing before her.

Even dressed in a vibrant red wedding robe, he exuded an air of aloof nobility, his presence distant and imposing. His sharply defined features carried a natural chill, making people instinctively wary of approaching him. Yet beneath that icy exterior lingered the faint scent of alcohol—he had clearly been drinking quite a bit.

“So quiet now,” he remarked, his deep voice breaking the silence.

Liu Yin lowered her head, nervously twisting the fabric of her sleeve between her fingers. Her voice was barely above a whisper. “I… I’ve always been quiet.”

The candlelight flickered gently, casting warm hues over her delicate features. Her skin was as fair as snow, her brows and eyes exquisitely shaped, and beneath the bold wedding makeup, her cheeks held a natural flush. Yet there was no trace of gaudiness—only an unexpected touch of allure.

Qin Yan’s gaze darkened. Without another word, he turned and strode toward the table where a set of wine cups awaited.

Now that the veil had been lifted, Liu Yin wasted no time removing the heavy pearl ornaments from her head. If she left them on any longer, she was certain her neck would snap from the weight.

She knew what came next—the wedding toast. Following tradition, she picked up the wine cup, but just as she was about to drink, she hesitated for a brief moment.

Then, without further thought, she tipped her head back and downed the entire cup in one go.

“—Cough! Cough!”

Liu Yin had never tasted such strong liquor before—her throat felt like it was on fire. Just as she thought she might choke, a cup of tea was placed in front of her. Without hesitation, she grabbed it and took several desperate gulps.

The brief moment of composure didn’t last. Soon enough, her true nature emerged again. The man across from her cast a faint glance in her direction, then quietly poured himself another drink. His sharp, chiseled features remained as calm as ever, showing not the slightest trace of joy befitting a newlywed.

Qin Yan didn’t think he was drunk. Yet, for some reason, he had left the banquet early and come here.

He stayed silent, but Liu Yin didn’t mind in the least. She was already used to it. With zero hesitation, she sat down across from him and helped herself to the pastries on the table. No one knew how hungry she was. Truthfully, she would have preferred a proper meal, but eating rice and meat at this hour would sound scandalous if word got out. She decided to endure it.

The atmosphere in the room settled into an oddly peaceful rhythm. When she finally felt full, Liu Yin took a sip of tea, resting her head in one hand as she openly studied the man before her.

Under the warm glow of candlelight, his sharp and angular features appeared even more striking. Without realizing it, she found herself blatantly staring.

Perhaps it was because she had removed her heavy hair ornaments, letting her dark, silky locks cascade freely down her back. Against the contrast of her snow-white skin, she looked even more captivating.

Out of the corner of his eye, Qin Yan noticed her gaze. His thin lips parted slightly. “Had your fill?”

Snapping out of her daze, Liu Yin quickly nodded, then straightened up and spoke with utmost seriousness.

“I know you never wanted to marry me, but what’s done is done. Don’t worry—I’ll do my best to be a proper crown princess. You can take as many concubines as you want, I won’t interfere. How’s that? Am I not being considerate enough?”

Liu Yin truly believed she deserved the Wife of the Year award—no competition!

Her crisp voice carried a sense of sincerity, and her delicate face was filled with an air of solemn determination. Qin Yan’s brows furrowed slightly as he studied her intently, his gaze unwavering. The longer he stared, the more uneasy she became. Just as she was about to break the silence, he suddenly stood up.

Seeing that he was finally leaving, Liu Yin quickly followed, intending to politely see him off. But to her utter shock, he wasn’t heading for the door—he was walking toward the bed.

Panic surged through her, and she stammered, “Y-You’re not going to see Consort Lu?”

He halted mid-step, then turned around abruptly. In one swift motion, he caught her slender wrist, his dark gaze locking onto hers.

“I have a legitimate wife—why would I go to a concubine?”

=^_^=