Chapter 22 The Bridal Chamber

Hong Liu and Qing Zao laid out a full table of dishes.  

The inner and outer kitchens of the Marquis of Changxing’s Mansion were already busy preparing the banquet for the front hall, so many of the dishes were readily available. Xu Rong walked over to inspect the spread—though it must have taken effort to arrange, the presentation was excellent, steaming hot and appealing in both color and aroma.  

She directed Bai Fu to divide the meal into three portions—two roughly equal and one slightly smaller.  

“Cover this plate of stir-fried pork, this dish of shredded chicken with tofu, and this bowl of rice, then place them on the smoking cage.”  

Bai Fu obeyed but couldn’t help asking, “Miss, what are you—?”  

“Saving some for the second young master,” Xu Rong replied. “He’s out there making toasts—in such a setting, he likely won’t have time to eat. He might return with an empty stomach.”  

“Miss is always so thoughtful.”  

Now that they were already married, Bai Fu’s mindset had naturally adjusted. She carefully arranged the food, then touched the waist-high smoking cage to ensure it was warm enough to keep the dishes from cooling before returning.  

Meanwhile, the other three maids had already cheerfully moved one of the portions Xu Rong had set aside to the heated kang table in the southern Warm Pavilion. Though they had brought snacks in their bundles, after such a tiring day, dry pastries couldn’t compare to a hot meal.  

Incidentally, the main hall of this courtyard, serving as the bridal chamber, consisted of three rooms. The central one was the reception hall, flanked by two side chambers—the western one being the bedroom. The bedroom was further divided, with a Warm Pavilion sectioned off to the south, proving that though small, it was fully equipped.  

“We’ll eat here,” Xu Rong said, already seated at the table in the bedroom, gesturing for Bai Fu to join her. Finally, she addressed the Xiao Family maids: “You may go rest for now. I won’t be needing your service at the moment.”  

The maids exchanged glances but said nothing, curtsying before filing out one by one, lifting the door curtain as they left.  

Once outside the main hall, their liveliness returned.  

“The mansion is going to get lively now.”  

“Indeed! Did you all see that? The second young madam started managing the household on her very first night here. Tsk tsk.”  

“Well, she’s not exactly an outsider—ahem.”  

The speaker tossed a knowing look, earning nods from the others.  

A more mature-faced maid shook her head in warning. “Shh! If you want to gossip, do it back in our quarters. Out here, if someone overhears and decides to make an example of you, you’ll only have yourselves to blame.”  

This quieted them somewhat, though some still couldn’t resist stealing glances at the bright red windows of the bridal chamber. One whispered, “I don’t think we need to be so careful. No matter how capable she is, now that she’s married to the second young master, this is as far as she’ll go.”  

Several maids nodded in agreement, though one laughed. “Who knows? I’ve heard the second young master has been studying hard lately.”  

“What, has he been so shaken that he plans to strive for the top scholar title?”  

“Giggle…”  

The maids covered their mouths, laughing—except for one who protested, “The second young master may be difficult, but he’s never wronged you. Why mock him like this?”  

“Who’s mocking him? I’m genuinely curious—you little hussy! You never spoke up for him before. Why defend him now? Earlier, when you served him wine inside, I noticed you were distracted. Could it be you’re getting sentimental in your old age?”

“Pah, what nonsense are you spouting? I’ll tear your mouth apart!”

One of them stamped her foot and moved forward, but a more mature maidservant quickly squeezed between them to separate the two. “Enough, enough! I told you not to argue, yet you’re only getting more worked up. On such a joyous occasion, must you disgrace yourselves before you stop?”

The two troublemakers pouted and fell silent, while another scoffed, “Sister Xia Ying, you’re too cautious. This Second Young Madam isn’t like before. She has to win over the Second Young Master first—how would she have time to trouble us over a few idle remarks?”

“Exactly,” someone chimed in, giggling suggestively. “Did you hear what she said earlier inside? So thoughtful—starving herself all day, yet saving the first bite of food for the Second Young Master.”

“Oh, stop it! I’m not the Second Young Master, but even my heart feels warm hearing that.”

“Shameless little thing! It wasn’t saved for you—why are you getting flustered? Ah, I know—you must be like Cui Ting, pining for a little husband. Tomorrow, I’ll report to Madam and have one assigned to you—”

“You wretched girl! Why drag me into it when you’re teasing her?”

Cui Ting, the maidservant who had earlier served wine, was also annoyed. The three of them tussled playfully. The mature maidservant listened to their chirping voices, relieved they at least kept their volume low, and didn’t bother stopping them, merely shaking her head helplessly. “A bunch of silly girls—”

Little did they know, those who could humble themselves were the truly formidable ones.

Before she could voice the latter half of her warning, she suddenly noticed a figure entering the courtyard gate. His attire was festive red, but his demeanor was as solitary as the night, carrying a chill and the scent of alcohol.

“Second Young Master.”

She hurriedly curtsied, puzzled inside: He’s returned rather quickly.

The bickering maidservants immediately quieted down at the sound and bowed in unison.

Xiao Xin ignored them all, ascending the steps straight into the main hall. By then, those inside had also heard the commotion. The Sprinkled Flower Soft Curtain was lifted, and a young maid peeked out with a lively smile. “Second Young Master is back! Are you hungry? Our young lady saved some food for you.”

Xiao Xin paused briefly before stepping inside.

The fragrance of cosmetics, the savory aroma of food, and the warmth from the Smoking Cage gently enveloped him. Xiao Xin stopped, unmoving.

For some reason, he simply didn’t want to move at that moment.

Until the young girl at the table looked up and greeted him with a smile, “Second Young Master, come sit. I saved two dishes for you. Did you eat enough outside? If not, you can have some more.”

Only then did Xiao Xin walk over.

Bai Fu deftly retrieved the untouched dishes from the Smoking Cage and set them out, then picked up her own empty bowl and slipped away to the south side to tidy up with Hong Liu and the others.

Xiao Xin stood by the table. “Where did these come from?”

“I asked the kitchen for them,” Xu Rong replied, generously offering praise. “Your family’s cooks are even better than mine.”

It was true. Madam Xiao hailed from the Duke of Ying’s Mansion, which boasted the longest heritage, its refinement surpassing most noble households. The culinary skills under her management were naturally beyond comparison to ordinary families.

But that wasn’t the point.

Xiao Xin asked, “They gave it to you just because you asked?”

Xu Rong smiled. “Why wouldn’t they? Your Madam went through so much trouble to bring me into this household—she ought to at least feed me, no?”

It wasn’t that simple.

Xiao Xin knew, but the hollow, burning sensation in his stomach made itself known, and he didn’t feel like pressing further. He sat down, lowered his head, and picked up his bowl.

The maids, being numerous and quick, had the dishes cleared and the Warm Pavilion restored to its original state in just a few words before discreetly withdrawing.  

Occasional distant firecrackers could still be heard, but the remote courtyard only amplified the quietude. In this serene atmosphere, Xiao Xin finished every last bite of the meal set aside for him. Xu Rong tentatively pushed her own half-eaten dishes toward him, and without being picky, he nearly emptied those plates as well.  

Xu Rong hadn’t expected him to have such an appetite and, recalling a common saying, remarked offhandedly, “No wonder they say, ‘A growing lad eats his father out of house and home.’”  

As soon as the words left her mouth, she noticed Xiao Xin’s expression darkening—though not entirely, likely because he realized he had just eaten her food and couldn’t very well scowl at her right after putting down his bowl.  

Xu Rong stifled a laugh and poured him a cup of tea. “You’ve just eaten your fill—don’t be upset. Have some tea to help digestion.”  

Xiao Xin lowered his eyes, dragging the teacup toward himself before muttering, “I’m not upset.”  

Xu Rong responded absentmindedly, “Mm, good.”  

The tea was warm and pleasant. After silently drinking most of it, Xiao Xin held the cup in his fingers and suddenly said, “Miss Xu, you’re only a year older than me. There’s no need to speak to me like that in the future.”  

Xu Rong, who had also been sipping tea, paused. “Hmm?”  

Xiao Xin replied coolly, “I’m not Young Master Xu.”  

Xu Rong caught on. “Oh—”  

He thought she was used to lecturing her younger brother and had unconsciously adopted the same tone with him.  

An eighteen-year-old youth refused to be treated like a fifteen-year-old—no, wait. After the New Year, Xu Huazhang had turned sixteen. So Xiao Xin wouldn’t allow himself to be treated like a sixteen-year-old younger brother.  

He didn’t know that, in reality, she wasn’t just one or even three years older than him, but—  

Xu Rong stopped herself from dwelling on it and struggled to suppress the laughter threatening to burst out.  

Fine, then. One year was good. One year it was.  

She set down her teacup and stood up, keeping a straight face. “Understood.”  

She headed south, and Xiao Xin eyed her retreating figure suspiciously, sensing something amiss. Just as he was scrutinizing her, Xu Rong turned back, pointed to the heated brick bed beneath the window in the Warm Pavilion, and said with a suppressed smile, lowering her voice, “Second Young Master, if you don’t mind, you’ll sleep here tonight?”  

This bed was typically meant for maids on night duty, but Xu Rong had already found an excuse to send all the maids to the side rooms in the courtyard.  

Xiao Xin immediately forgot his earlier suspicion, subtly exhaling in relief. Since this was a fake marriage, of course he wouldn’t share a bed with Xu Rong. But it wasn’t appropriate for him to bring it up—no matter how he phrased it, it would be offensive. Having her take the initiative to arrange it was the best possible outcome.  

It seemed she could handle anything with effortless ease.  

The thought flickered through Xiao Xin’s mind. He nodded in acknowledgment, then noticed there was still some tea left in his cup and lowered his head to finish it. After drinking, he leaned back in his chair, his spine and limbs relaxing slightly.  

Composure was contagious.  

Her calm demeanor made the irritation, discomfort, and faint regret that had gnawed at him while toasting guests in the front hall gradually fade away.  

There was nothing to fear.  

A planned future, no matter how difficult, held a glimmer of hope—far better than the confusion and chaos of not knowing where to direct one’s efforts.

Once his mind settled, the exhaustion he had been suppressing seeped into every limb. Xiao Xin’s eyelids began to droop. He felt there was still something left undone, but in this warm, contented atmosphere, he couldn’t muster the energy to think or move—until he heard Xu Rong’s amused voice: “Second Young Master, if there’s nothing else, please step aside for now. I need to bathe.”

Xiao Xin jolted awake, nearly leaping to his feet. “—Oh.”

He swiftly pushed aside the curtain and hurried out, as if someone were chasing him from behind.

Youth truly brimmed with vitality.

Xu Rong shook her head and called in the maids one by one to clear the table, bring in the bathtub, and fetch hot water. Hearing that Xiao Xin had retreated to the eastern side chamber, she also had a tub sent over for him.

A short while later, after Xu Rong had finished bathing and tidying up, she sent someone to fetch him again and dismissed all the Xiao Family maids who were still on duty, sending them off to rest.

This time, she had them leave the courtyard entirely. Some hesitated, while others were eager to go. “I don’t care—I’m going to rest. If you all want to stay here and keep hauling water, suit yourselves.”

Two large buckets!

Their wrists were nearly worn out. This Second Young Mistress certainly knew how to put people to work.

Once one took the lead in leaving, the others couldn’t hold out either. In no time, only Cui Ting and another maid named Cai Die remained. They had been assigned to serve here, so they didn’t need to leave.

But they couldn’t enter the main chamber either. Cui Ting, somewhat resentful, muttered under the corridor eaves, “What kind of new bride is this? The moment she steps through the door, she takes control of the Second Young Master’s daily life, making us seem like outsiders.”

Cai Die yawned and said, “Sister Cui Ting, save it for tomorrow. If you’re not tired, I certainly am.”

Cui Ting glared at her in annoyance. “You were originally assigned to the Second Young Master—how can you have no ambition at all?”

“What ambition should a maid have?” Cai Die retorted. “All I ask is to live peacefully without displeasing my masters.”

She chuckled. “Sister Cui Ting, if you have grand aspirations to pursue, I won’t stand in your way.”

Cui Ting’s face flushed—whether from anger or the red glow of the lanterns hanging along the corridor was unclear. “What nonsense are you spouting? I’m just a maid too, only following Madam’s orders. She told me to serve diligently, so I’ve said a bit more.”

Cai Die nodded, yawned again, and glanced toward the window of the bridal chamber. “Well, there’s no rush. Look—things have quieted down inside. Ah, the lights are out too.”

Indeed, the window had darkened, though a faint, lingering red glow still seeped out—the bridal candles, meant to burn brightly through the night.

By this hour, the guests in the mansion had dispersed, the firecrackers had ceased, and the courtyards lay silent in the night. The two maids stood in the empty corridor, locked in a brief stalemate, when suddenly they heard a faint sound.

Subtle, the kind only perceptible through the window on such a quiet night—hard to describe in words, yet instinctively recognizable: the kind of sound that came from a bed.

Rustling.

And what seemed like soft, restrained sighs.

“This—” Cai Die was the first to snap out of it. “Sister Cui Ting, I dare not eavesdrop on the Second Young Master’s private affairs. If you want to listen, go ahead. I’m leaving.”

She hurried off towards the side room in the courtyard without looking back. Cui Ting was stunned, wanting to stamp her foot but not daring to, so she could only quicken her pace to follow, her face flushed crimson as she scolded, “What nonsense are you spouting? Who wants to hear that? I—am I that kind of person…?!”

**

Inside the bridal chamber.

Xu Rong sat by the kang, clutching the Happy Tent over her face, desperately holding back laughter.

She trembled with suppressed mirth, causing the entire Happy Tent on the bed to shake along with her.

A few steps away, Xiao Xin stood stiffly, finally unable to bear it any longer: “Miss Xu, what exactly is so funny?!”

Xu Rong’s voice also trembled: “You—just wait a moment—”

Xiao Xin didn’t want to wait. He stepped forward and angrily tried to snatch away the cloth strip resting on Xu Rong’s lap. The cloth had been crumpled into a ball, making its contents unclear, but with this tug, large patches of bloodstains were revealed, startling at first glance.

At the sight, Xu Rong clutched the Happy Tent and shook with laughter again.

She barely managed to grab the other end of the cloth, stopping Xiao Xin: “Second Young Master, wait—just wait and let me explain.”

Xiao Xin gave her face and let go, glaring at her coldly.

Xu Rong pinched her palm, finally composing herself. She cleared her throat before speaking: “Second Young Master, I know you meant well and thought things through, but there might be some details you didn’t inquire about—or perhaps didn’t ask at all?”

Xiao Xin didn’t respond, neither nodding nor shaking his head—he seemed frozen.

Xu Rong got her answer and sighed with a smile: “I see. Second Young Master, I’m not mocking you. Your purity, integrity, and uprightness are the marks of a gentleman. But this—” She lowered her head, set the cloth aside, then turned to peel back the layers of bedding at the head of the bed. Beneath the layers, she retrieved a square piece of silk, also stained with blood. Compared to the large patches on the cloth strip, it was like a stream next to a lake.

“The bridal night won’t be as you imagined—well, a river of blood.”

Xu Rong explained tactfully. She wanted to educate Xiao Xin further—that if a woman’s body was mature, not bleeding was normal—but when she looked up, the words stuck in her throat.

Xiao Xin stood rooted to the spot, tall and slender. Xu Rong had always felt a psychological advantage over him due to her experience, but that advantage wasn’t enough to let her speak freely on certain topics.

No matter how youthful Xiao Xin appeared, he was already eighteen—a grown man in the eyes of the law.

Suddenly, the silk in her hands felt awkward. Calmly, she tucked it back into the bedding and concluded: “—I’ve inquired about this. We can just use mine.”

“…Oh.”

Xiao Xin responded, picked up the cloth strip he had prepared, crumpled it into a ball, and quickly fled as if escaping.