Chapter 24.2: Getting Married

In the flickering candlelight, the girl’s skin was as fair as snow, her hair adorned with a delicate hairpin. Her features were exquisite, with clear, glimmering eyes that hinted at shyness. Her red lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something. Despite her heavy makeup tonight, she didn’t appear vulgar at all.

Gazing at the cup of wine she offered, Gu Qin looked at her intently and asked in a deep voice, “What other customs are there?”

Xia Tong was speechless. Terrified, she took a step back, panic flickering across her small face. “Um… just this one…” she stammered.

Gu Qin didn’t respond; his eyes scanned the cup of wine before suddenly shifting to the incense pouch at the head of the bed.

Xia Tong was still thinking of how to deceive him, but when she saw him walk toward the bed, her face paled in fear.

“If you have things to attend to, then don’t drink it,” she said, holding her breath and her expression tense.

Gu Qin reached for the embroidered lotus flower pouch and suddenly turned to look outside the room. “Come in.”

Moments later, Xifeng entered with a sword in hand. He thought he should stay away today, considering it was his master’s wedding day, but inside, it didn’t feel like a celebration at all.

Gu Qin handed him the pouch, his gaze dark as he looked at Xia Tong, his expression stern and dangerous.

Xia Tong trembled all over, her head lowered, wishing she could disappear into the ground. When Xi Feng took the pouch and sniffed it, he recoiled as if facing a great threat.

“Master, although this pouch appears to contain ordinary fragrances, I’ve read in ancient texts that this combination of fragrances, when mixed with wine, will render a man incapable of consummation,” Xifeng said, his brow furrowed. He couldn’t believe such a thing was in his master’s room!

Before Gu Qin could erupt in anger, Xia Tong suddenly knelt on the ground, tightly hugging his thigh, and cried, “It’s all my fault! I bought this on the street. I didn’t know it contained anything vile. Someone must have set me up! Please believe me!”

Xifeng was startled. He hadn’t expected the pouch to belong to the princess. He wondered how such a thing could end up in his master’s room—it was impossible!

Seeing his master’s expression, he pressed his lips together and slowly retreated, firmly closing the door behind him.

If the new princess were to die in the bridal chamber tonight, the Xiahou family would surely be afraid to retaliate. However, if she survived until tomorrow, it would be a different story. If the master spared her life after such an event, it meant he truly cared.

Outside, the moonlight was bright, and the night was still. Inside, the candlelight flickered, creating a somber atmosphere. Xia Tong could already envision her demise, yet she continued to struggle. She didn’t want to be the first bride to die on her wedding night!

As she sobbed softly, looking so aggrieved, her delicate neck was smooth and pale. The man slowly crouched down, gripping her soft neck in his hand, gradually tightening his grip. His eyes flashed with a hint of danger. “How do you want to die?”

How dare she use such a thing on him! This woman had such audacity!

His cold, chiseled features were filled with severity, and Xia Tong realized she might really be finished. Giving up, she closed her eyes and ceased her struggles, tears streaming down her exquisite face. “You can kill me or dismember me. Just leave my body intact.”

In the dim candlelight, the girl’s long eyelashes fluttered, revealing her fear. Gu Qin’s gaze was dark; As long as he exerted a little force with his hands, the person in front of him would definitely not live to the next day. No one had ever dared to do such a thing and still live under his watch.

Looking at the tears that were gradually falling, the tightening grip around her chin suddenly relaxed. A cold voice asked, “Do you still want to keep your body intact?”

Xia Tong slowly opened her eyes, suddenly locking gazes with a pair of icy eyes, so frightened that she barely dared to breathe.

“Your explanation will be judged by Lord Xia himself. We’ll see how he raised his daughter,” Gu Qin said coldly, slowly rising. He glanced at the five distinct finger marks on her neck and left the room without a second thought.

He intended to keep this woman alive, to torment her until she wished for death!

In the silent bridal chamber, Xia Tong sat on the floor, overwhelmed with despair. Hadn’t Fang Yu said she wouldn’t be discovered? How could that Xifeng be so formidable?

Was she really going to end up as a human skin lantern?!

Outside, Xifeng waited for a while. Just as he was about to enter to collect the remains upon seeing his master’s displeased expression, he was suddenly called to halt.

“Do not give her any food tomorrow!”

After speaking, Gu Qin strode off into the night, leaving Xifeng standing there, bewildered, staring at the door.

The princess treated the master this way, and the master only denied her food?

What a serious punishment!

*

After a sleepless night, Xia Tong spent the entire time in tears. She began to regret her actions. Her initial plan was to strike first, considering that the other party wanted to turn her into a human skin lantern. But now, everything had backfired; she could only wait for death.

The thought of being skinned would surely be agonizing, and she wouldn’t die quickly. Would she become the most tragically fated person in history?

With dark circles under her eyes, when Xia Tong finally got up the next day, she noticed that those who came to attend to her all wore strange expressions, including Qing’er and Fang Yu. Moreover, after washing up, no one brought her any food. Was she about to be abused?

“Why isn’t there any breakfast?” she asked, displeased, while looking at the maidservants in the copper mirror.

Upon hearing this, several maidservants fell to their knees and replied respectfully, “It is the prince’s orders that you are not to eat today.”

Who didn’t know that last night, the prince had gone to the study? Even on their wedding night, he gave her no consideration, indicating he must have grown weary of her. Last night, even the emperor had visited. They had thought the new princess was quite favored, but it turned out to be nothing of the sort.

Xia Tong opened her mouth, momentarily speechless, realizing she was truly being mistreated!

At that moment, Fang Yu suddenly instructed the others to step aside. She had already guessed what had happened, but the situation was likely not that simple. The master had done such a thing, and the prince did not blame him. This indicated that the prince truly cared for the master. As long as the master softened her stance, the prince would surely calm down.

“Last night…”

“You don’t need to say anything,” Fang Yu interrupted her. She then glanced discreetly outside before leaning in to whisper, “You mustn’t mention this again. The prince is just angry for now. If you flatter him a bit later, he certainly won’t punish you again.”

What kind of person was the regent? If anyone else had done this, they would not survive to see the next day. Fang Yu was certain the prince was genuinely concerned for the master; otherwise, it wouldn’t simply be a matter of not allowing her to eat.

Xia Tong, feeling faint from hunger, just waved her hand dismissively, her face showing despair. “It’s useless. I’m just waiting to die.”

She felt like a useless person now.

“Unless you try, how will you know?” Fang Yu frowned, feeling that the master was being too biased against the regent.

Having resigned herself to her fate, Xia Tong, wanting to look even worse, applied some powder to make her face appear even paler.

Outside, the autumn wind was bleak, and the sky was gloomy, carrying an inexplicable chill. Xia Tong picked up a cup of hot tea and began walking toward the study. Unlike the tension of her previous visit, she felt remarkably relaxed this time—what was there to fear when she no longer feared death?

The servants in the residence had heard about how the prince had abandoned the princess to go to the study last night. While watching the commotion, they also pitied the new princess, who had faced disdain from the prince upon her arrival. Her future days would likely be difficult.

However, upon seeing her delicate figure dressed in green, the crowd couldn’t help but admire her beauty. Yet, seeing her pale complexion, they all sighed inwardly. Was the princess truly going to seek out the prince in the study?

But the study was a restricted area within the estate, heavily guarded. The princess’s visit would likely provoke the prince’s ire again.

The regent’s residence was vast, and it took Xia Tong quite a while to reach the study’s entrance. However, she was intercepted before she could get too close.

“This is the study, a place of great importance. You cannot enter,” two guards said coldly, as if they would draw their swords at any moment.

Xia Tong instinctively took a step back, wanting to say something but eventually sighed and turned back toward the residence. She couldn’t afford to bump into this obstacle.

“Why is the princess here?”

Just then, a familiar voice called from behind. Turning around, Xia Tong saw Xifeng. For a moment, she didn’t know how to explain herself, so she awkwardly looked at the tea in her hand. “I… I came to bring tea for the prince.”

Upon hearing this, the guards exchanged glances filled with disdain. How could the prince allow her to enter?

Noticing this, Xifeng stepped closer to examine the cup of tea. After confirming there was no issue, he turned to the guards and smiled. “Let her in.”

“Wait…” The guards’ expressions shifted immediately.

Xifeng shot a cold glance at them, realizing they were quite clueless. No wonder they hadn’t been able to be promoted yet.

Feeling as though a pie had fallen from the sky, Xia Tong gratefully nodded at Xifeng, thankful for his kindness.

Carrying the cup of tea, she quickened her steps toward the study, unaware of the many surprised eyes watching her from the shadows.

Pushing open the door, she took a deep breath and stepped inside slowly. The spacious study was silent, with books lining the walls on both sides. Not far away, at a desk, sat a cool figure, seemingly engrossed in reviewing documents, his expression as cold as ever.

Xia Tong slowly closed the door and tiptoed over while holding the tea. It seemed that the man hadn’t noticed her arrival. As she got closer, she softened her voice and said, “Your Highness must be tired. May I give you a shoulder massage?”

After she spoke, the man didn’t even look up, maintaining his cold and indifferent expression as he continued to read the documents in his hand.

Feeling a bit defeated, Xia Tong placed the teacup on the table and moved to stand behind him. She playfully began to knead his shoulders with her fists, her delicate fingers gently tapping on him with a tender touch.

“The weather has turned cooler recently, so you must remember to wear more layers. Don’t let yourself catch a cold,” she said in a sweet and gentle tone.

At this point, the man finally turned his head, and his gaze fell on her face, which was full of flattering expressions. Since she had entered the courtyard, Gu Qin had already sensed her presence. He hadn’t expected that Xifeng would dare to let her in. Did this woman really think she could fool him?

Noticing the coldness in his eyes, Xia Tong instinctively began to feel intimidated. A sudden urge to escape washed over her; she thought it might be better to continue starving than to face immediate danger.

When he saw her hesitating to leave, the man’s eyes darkened. He abruptly pulled her into his embrace, gripping her slender arm tightly, and spoke in a low, heavy voice, “Aren’t you here to give me a shoulder massage?”