Chapter 8: Marriage

A few days later, the grand hall of the Residence of Prince of Lingyang was ablaze with light.

Seated at the place of highest honor, the Grand Princess carried an air of supreme dignity. Her gaze, tinged with satisfaction, fell upon the young woman before her—the daughter of the Grand Protector, Shen Yuling.

Shen Yuling stood with an elegant poise, her slender figure graceful and refined. Adorned in magnificent attire, she exuded an air of nobility and beauty.

Though she had not grown up in the bustling capital of Qianjing, her lineage was anything but ordinary.

Her father hailed from the Shen family of Cangwu, a clan renowned for producing generations of valiant warriors, whose martial prowess had earned them great repute both in the imperial court and the jianghu.

Her mother, on the other hand, came from the esteemed Ye family of Lingxi, a household long celebrated for its unwavering integrity and exceptional literary accomplishments.

The Ye family had produced outstanding talents for generations, with many of its members making their mark in the literary world, shining with brilliance.

In the imperial court, numerous Ye family descendants held official positions, making it a prestigious aristocratic family known for its scholarly heritage.

Because of this, Shen Yuling had been subjected to exceptionally strict upbringing since childhood. She had mastered proper etiquette to perfection, and every movement she made exuded the grace and composure of a noble lady.

In the eyes of the Grand Princess, only a woman of such distinguished lineage, exceptional beauty, profound knowledge, and upright character was worthy of her one and only treasured son.

At this moment, a warm and kindly smile graced the Grand Princess’s face.

Shen Yuling was the ideal daughter-in-law in her heart—the perfect match who could stand by her son’s side for a lifetime.

However, only Shen Yuling knew the truth in her heart.

The seemingly kind and amiable Grand Princess was, in reality, ruthless and calculating.

It was she who had looked down upon Liu Jingyi, deeming her lineage unworthy, believing that their families were ill-matched. With this conviction, she became determined to sever Liu Jingyi’s ties with Feng Moheng.

Thus, in the shadows, the Grand Princess repeatedly employed vicious means to deal with Liu Jingyi.

Yet, every underhanded scheme was carried out in Shen Yuling’s name, forcing her to bear the weight of countless unwarranted accusations.

On more than one occasion, Liu Jingyi had even deliberately framed Shen Yuling.

Yet, the Grand Princess, who usually favored Shen Yuling, never had any intention of helping her.

On the contrary, deep down, she believed that it was Shen Yuling’s own incompetence—her inability to hold onto a man’s heart—that was to blame.

This left her, as a mother-in-law, thoroughly disappointed.

At this moment, Liu Jingyi stood obediently to the side, her status as a concubine already established.

She lifted her gaze and, by chance, met Feng Moheng’s eyes.

Tears shimmered faintly in Liu Jingyi’s eyes, filled with endless grievance, evoking a sense of pity.

Feng Moheng stood there, his heart weighed down with helplessness.

This marriage had been personally decreed by His Majesty. No matter how unwilling or reluctant he was, he had no choice but to marry the daughter of the Shen family.

Seeing the sorrow in Liu Jingyi’s expression, a sharp pang gripped his heart.

He could only offer her silent comfort through his gaze.

To him, Shen Yuling was nothing more than a wife forced upon him by imperial decree.

Following the guidance of the etiquette matron beside him, Feng Moheng went through the motions, lightly supporting Shen Yuling’s hand as they mechanically completed the wedding ceremony.

Each elaborate ritual felt like sheer torment to him.

Liu Jingyi watched the grand spectacle before her. When she had entered the residence, she had arrived in nothing more than a simple sedan chair. Though Feng Moheng had carefully decorated their bridal chamber with the same ceremonial dignity as a principal wife’s,

it could never compare to the grand and illustrious affair of Shen Yuling’s wedding—celebrated and acknowledged by all.

So this… was what it meant to be a concubine.

In that fleeting moment, an unexpected wave of regret washed over Liu Jingyi.

She had come from the modern world, yet here she was, reduced to a mere concubine in ancient times. But now that things had come to this, she could only move forward.

The position of the Princess Consort—she would claim it!

Liu Jingyi refused to accept defeat!

Once all the wedding ceremonies were completed, it was time to escort the bride to the bridal chamber.

The Princess Royal lifted her gaze and cast a subtle look at Huixin beside her.

Huixin immediately understood and nodded slightly.

Huixin immediately led a group of palace maids, silently making their way toward the bridal chamber of the Princess Consort.

Inside the wedding chamber of the Residence of Prince of Lingyang, the flickering candlelight cast shifting shadows on the walls.

A sea of celebratory red filled the entire space as though it would consume every corner.

The red wedding candles burned steadily, their wax dripping down in slow, glistening trails.

Shen Yuling sat upright on the intricately carved bed, resembling a delicate yet radiant peony blooming atop the embroidered silk.

She wore an elaborate headdress, its intricate design heavy upon her head, with delicate tassels cascading from the crown, draping over her chest like flowing streams of gold.

Feng Moheng sat alone on a round stool not far away, his presence starkly out of place amidst the festive atmosphere.

His expression was indifferent, his lips pressed into a thin line as he remained silent.

He merely lowered his gaze and sipped his tea, the rising steam swirling gently, shrouding his frustration.

“Your Highness, we were wed today. Why are you sitting so far away?”

At this moment, they were the only two people in the wedding chamber.

Her pair of fox-like eyes shimmered with innocence as she gazed at him, a hint of confusion and grievance within them.

Feng Moheng shifted his gaze away from the teacup and looked at Shen Yuling.

“Is Miss Shen pretending not to know, or do you truly not understand?”

The moment she heard his blunt and unkind words, the temper of a young lady who had been spoiled since childhood flared up instantly.

Her willow-like brows arched sharply.

The delicate dagger-hilted fan she had been toying with was flung onto the bed with a crisp sound.

With a sudden motion, she stood up.

Her imposing presence carried an air of intimidation.

“Prince of Lingyang, what great authority you wield! Is this how you treat your newly wedded wife?”

Shen Yuling huffed in anger, her fair cheeks puffing slightly with frustration.

He was the noble Prince of Lingyang, but she, Shen Yuling, was more than worthy of marrying any distinguished gentleman in Qianjing.

Feng Moheng had always been held in high regard, revered and respected by all.

Aside from his imperial uncle—the one man beyond reproach—no one had ever dared to speak to him in such a manner.

His expression darkened instantly. With a sharp motion, he flung his robes aside, stepping forward with bold strides to face Shen Yuling directly.

His gaze turned ice-cold in an instant, sharp as a blade.

Two proud individuals, neither willing to back down.

“Miss Shen, is this how you address your husband?”

Feng Moheng deliberately lowered his voice, as if trying to suppress Shen Yuling’s defiant arrogance.

Yet she was completely unfazed by his cold demeanor.

In an instant, her expression shifted.

She covered her mouth and let out a soft, lilting laugh.

Swaying gracefully, she sauntered toward Feng Moheng.

Her every movement was enchanting, exuding an alluring charm as she stopped right before him.

Her fair, delicate right hand gently rested on Feng Moheng’s shoulder as he sat there.

“Then how does Husband wish for me to treat you?” she murmured, her voice soft yet teasing. “Today is clearly our first meeting, yet Husband is already so fierce.”

Her gaze held a mix of grievance and cunning.

Feng Moheng was momentarily stunned.

He hadn’t expected a woman to change expressions so swiftly.

“Tonight is our wedding night. Since Husband refuses to take the initiative, I suppose I must do so instead.”

As she spoke, Shen Yuling began undoing her wedding robe.

In an instant, only a thin inner garment remained, outlining the delicate curves of her figure.

“You… how improper!”

Feng Moheng was both shocked and enraged. He hurriedly stood up, turning his back to her in haste.

He refused to look at Shen Yuling’s alluring appearance any longer.

“Put your clothes back on at once.”

Feng Moheng’s voice was stern as he reprimanded her.

Yet, Shen Yuling refused to comply.

Standing behind him, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her delicate face against his broad back.

With a playful chuckle, she teased, “So, the men of Qianjing are this easily embarrassed?”

Her voice was soft and sweet, carrying a hint of mischief.

“I am your Wife, we are husband and wife. You may look at me openly.”

As she embraced him, the delicate fragrance unique to a woman enveloped him like an invisible net, swiftly pulling him in.

For a fleeting moment, Feng Moheng was dazed, his heartbeat seeming to falter in its steady rhythm.

He shook his head forcefully, trying to clear his thoughts.