Chapter 28: Instructions

Mama Qian, who accompanied them, looked at Jiang Zhanwei with surprise and nervousness, but she approached and pressed the corner of his garment against Lu Man’s clothing.

Lu Man knew this act symbolized a man’s dominance over a woman for life.

Taking the bowl of auspicious fruits from Liu Ya, Mama Qian sprinkled jujubes, chestnuts, peanuts, and sugar over Jiang Zhanwei and Lu Man, singing, “…First, may your parents-in-law be well and peaceful, second, may the husband and wife be joyful. Third, may your in-law be accommodating, fourth, may the flowers bloom in all seasons, fifth, may your son achieve success, sixth, may both young and old be healthy and safe…”

After finishing the song, she took the scissors handed by Tao to cut a lock of hair from both the groom and the bride to be woven into a ceremonial bun.

Jiang Zhanwei waved his hand, “We don’t need this and the wedding wine, we already did it last time.”

His voice was clear and unyielding.

Though she wanted to point out they hadn’t done the ceremonial bun last time, seeing Jiang Zhanwei’s stern expression, she refrained from speaking further, instead picking up a dumpling served by Xing with chopsticks. When Jiang Zhanwei grew more impatient, she had no choice but to set the dumpling down.

As a close attendant to the Princess, Mama Qian was highly regarded by most young masters. She had never paid much attention to this Third Young Master before, finding him quiet and unremarkable, always with his head down, deemed unworthy by the Second Master and ignored even by the old Marquis. Yet, with his current posture and presence, she felt a chill despite her worldly experience.

Even the Princess felt the need to appease him, so she certainly didn’t want to offend him.

Glancing at Lu Man sitting beside him, delicate and serene, Mama Qian thought to herself, both of them were extraordinary individuals, like a dragon and phoenix among people. The Second Master had always disliked exceptional qualities in his illegitimate children, and now, not only was this son unexpectedly outstanding, but his daughter-in-law was equally remarkable. If the old Marquis were well, he might not be pleased.

Concealing her thoughts, Mama Qian smiled, “I won’t disturb you any longer. Liu Ya, you and the other maids, take care of the Third Young Master and Third Young Madam and ensure they rest early. Tomorrow, with the masters all at the residence, the Third Young Master will need to take his new wife to meet the relatives.”

With that, she excused herself and left.

Tao and Xing assisted Jiang Zhanwei in freshening up in the washroom.

Meanwhile, Liu Ya, with Lu Ying and Hong Ling, tidied up the bed, cleared the auspicious fruits, laid a white cloth on the bed, and hung four colorful sachets from the bed canopy.

When Jiang Zhanwei emerged, he was only dressed in white undergarments, with his hair disheveled. He climbed onto the bed, lifted the covers, and lay down.

Observing his back, Lu Man summoned the courage to lie on the outer edge of the bed.

Once the maid lowered the canopy, she quietly exited the room.

The thick red canopy blocked the bright candlelight, casting a reddish glow inside, shrouded in dim lighting and a strong fragrance. Could the sachets hanging at the corners contain aphrodisiacs?

In a typical bridal night setting, the subdued lighting and intoxicating scent would heighten desires. However, Lu Man, feeling incredibly nervous, lay curled up at the edge of the bed, sensing a chill from the person beside her.

Motionless, with her eyes shut, she eventually relaxed as she sensed no movement, assuming he had drifted off to sleep. Taking a deep breath, she shifted slightly, feeling her legs almost cramping. Thankfully, they were not sharing a blanket, leaving her with only a red top, panties, and red underpants.

In a daze, an arm suddenly reached out, removing the thin sheet covering her body. A strong body pressed down, swiftly removing her clothing and roughly flipping her over.

The rapid sequence of events left Lu Man in shock, her mind blank. Suddenly, she felt an excruciating pain, biting down on the pillow to stifle a scream.

That damned man entered from behind… No foreplay, just a brutal and swift encounter lasting a mere two minutes.

The pain exceeded her expectations, engulfing her in humiliation and shame, from physical agony to emotional devastation. She bit the pillow, tears silently streaming down her face, determined to retain a shred of dignity in front of this despicable man.

After Jiang Zhanwei completed his task, he abruptly withdrew from Lu Man’s side, slipping under his own covers as if nothing had happened, turning his back towards her, with the faint sound of his quiet breathing suggesting sleep.

Lu Man couldn’t hold back any longer and cried out.

That bastard! How could he do such a thing to her and then show such disdain and indifference? She felt unwilling and deeply wronged. The humiliation she endured moments ago, the injustices she faced on behalf of others in recent days, the lingering attachment to her past life and mother, the fear of her future, and the shattered dream of a beautiful love she had pursued for years, all intertwined in her chest, overwhelming her with a crushing weight that threatened to tear her apart.

Some things were more agonizing than death.

Lu Man buried her head in the pillow, weeping bitterly. Despite her efforts to stifle her cries, her sorrow grew, eventually pulling the blanket over her head to muffle her sobs. Though she tried to contain her emotions, her weeping persisted, even leading to a few sobs.

From the start, he knew she was crying, feeling the tremors in her body. Turning her over was a deliberate choice, he couldn’t bear to see her face, didn’t want to witness this detestable woman beneath him. This was their first and last time together.

However, as he turned away, Jiang Zhanwei realized the main reason for flipping her over was to avoid seeing her beautiful face and the deep, tranquil eyes that might stir his emotions, making it difficult for him to let go… It was his first time engaging in such an act, and she was his first woman.

He was taken aback by the fragility and beauty of a woman known for her fierce reputation and previous suicide attempt. Her silent weeping stirred a hint of compassion within him.

Despite his initial plan and thoughts about the future, he pushed aside any lingering emotions, proceeding with the act swiftly and efficiently, as if executing a military operation.

As Lu Man’s cries grew louder, Jiang Zhanwei, feeling increasingly irritated and oddly unsettled, turned towards the bed canopy and spoke, “We are husband and wife, celebrating a joyful occasion. This act is to satisfy our elders and gain their approval…” The unspoken part lingered in the air.

Ignoring his words, Lu Man continued to sob.

With a furrowed brow, Jiang Zhanwei continued, “Rest assured, I won’t force you again. I rarely return from the military camp, and in a few months, I may be transferred to the northern border. While I’m away, be dutiful to your grandfather…”