Chapter 9: The Wedding Night

As night gradually fell, the landscape merged into a single shade, the ink-blue hills blanketed by a layer of silvery moonlight. The fields echoed with the occasional chirping of insects and birds, creating an atmosphere of serenity and tranquility.

Tonight marked the wedding night of Du Wanchun and Zhou Ruiyuan.

After chatting briefly with Madam Zhou and tidying up, Du Wanchun prepared to enter the room and rest.

Madam Zhou held her hand gently and patted it reassuringly. “Wanchun, if you don’t want to, you can sleep with me tonight.”

After saying this, she lowered her head slightly and continued, “You entered our home so humbly today. It’s not just because our family is poor, but also because of Ruiyuan’s wishes. His legs are still unhealed, so he didn’t want to go through with the wedding ceremony and delay your future.”

Du Wanchun’s eyes curved into a warm smile. “Mother, my husband has already told me about this. I understand his intentions, and I’m willing to wait for his legs to heal. But how can a newlywed wife leave her husband alone in the bridal chamber? If word got out, wouldn’t people laugh at us? Don’t worry, I don’t mind. Besides, he needs someone to care for him at night.”

Hearing this, Madam Zhou was deeply moved. She gave a few more instructions before urging Du Wanchun to go inside.

“Good child, if anything happens during the night, call for me.”

“I will, Mother.”

Du Wanchun lifted the curtain with a smile and stepped into the room.

Both of them understood the situation well—Zhou Ruiyuan’s legs were injured, and if Du Wanchun was unwilling, there was nothing he could do to force her.

However, the moment she stepped into that room, their fate as husband and wife was sealed. If she wanted to change her mind now, it wouldn’t be easy.

Without hesitation, Du Wanchun walked inside. Whether it was out of gratitude or love at first sight, from the moment she laid eyes on Zhou Ruiyuan, she had already decided—he was the man she would share her life with.

Inside the bridal chamber, Zhou Ruiyuan had yet to sleep. He was still seated at the table, reading under the candlelight. The book in his hands had changed to another one, one that Du Wanchun had never seen before.

Du Wanchun walked over to his side and called to him softly, “Husband, you’re still awake?”

Zhou Ruiyuan was slightly surprised to see her enter so suddenly. “Why are you here…?”

Before he could finish speaking, Du Wanchun interrupted, “We were married today. Why wouldn’t I be here?”

Zhou Ruiyuan had already witnessed her sharp tongue before, so he chose not to argue further. He pushed his chair back and moved to the bed, picking up a quilt in preparation to leave the room.

Du Wanchun quickly stopped him. “Husband, if you walk out with that quilt tonight, by tomorrow, I’ll have the reputation of an abandoned wife.”

She was right. In the village, gossip spread faster than wildfire, especially among the wives who gathered at the entrance of the village. If Zhou Ruiyuan truly left her alone on their wedding night, by morning, people would make up all sorts of rumors about her.

Her maternal family, in particular, would be the happiest to hear of her misfortune. Her stepmother and stepsister never wanted to see her live well.

Zhou Ruiyuan paused and no longer insisted on leaving. He put down the quilt, returned to his chair, and said, “You sleep first. I’ll read for a while.”

Seeing this, Du Wanchun smiled.

She took the quilt back to the bed and divided it into two separate halves—one for her and one for Zhou Ruiyuan.

After removing her shoes and socks, she climbed into the inner side of the bed and lay down quietly.

Zhou Ruiyuan kept his eyes fixed on his book, his fair fingers gently flipping the pages. The entire room was silent except for the faint rustling of paper.

Du Wanchun curled up under her blanket and secretly watched him.

Under the warm, dim candlelight, his well-defined face appeared even more profound than it had during the day. His brows carried a trace of silent ambition and unspoken thoughts.

It was then that she noticed the many calligraphy works and paintings hanging behind him. The characters were written with great skill, and the paintings were incredibly lifelike.

She stared at them for a long time before finally breaking the silence with a question. “Husband, you can read and write well. Why haven’t you taken the imperial examinations?”

Zhou Ruiyuan stopped turning the pages and fell into a brief silence before answering slowly, “I have no desire to become an official.”

Du Wanchun furrowed her delicate brows slightly, puzzled. “But if you don’t become an official, how will you make a name for yourself?”

Zhou Ruiyuan returned to his usual calm, continuing to read as he replied, “The official path is complicated. I’d rather avoid unnecessary trouble.”

Du Wanchun only half understood his reasoning. After thinking for a moment, she smiled and said, “That’s alright, husband. Making a name for oneself doesn’t have to come through the official path. Whether as a scholar, farmer, merchant, or craftsman, there’s always a way for us to succeed.”

With that, she closed her eyes and quickly drifted into a deep sleep.

The events of the day had exhausted her. As soon as she lay down in the comfortable bed, drowsiness took over.

The quilt was newly purchased by Madam Zhou—soft and warm, a stark contrast to the rough straw bedding she had slept on at the Du family’s home.

There was also a faint, clean fragrance in the blanket, the same scent that lingered on Zhou Ruiyuan.

Zhou Ruiyuan, noticing her silence, lifted his gaze slightly to look at her.

She was nestled under the blanket, with only her small, round face peeking out.

It was strange—she was so thin that her entire body seemed to be just skin and bones, yet her face looked soft and plump. Especially while sleeping, she resembled the little child deities from the temple, making one want to take a bite out of her chubby cheeks.

For a moment, Zhou Ruiyuan found himself lost in thought.

After a long while, he hurriedly looked away and set down his book.

The book he had been reading was The Book of Lord Shang, which discussed strategies for governance and military tactics. It had nothing to do with whether or not he wished to pursue an official career.