Chapter 29

On the day before the wedding, Shao Qing moved into the east wing room for a brief rest.

Wang Mi came along to keep her company. Acting all furtively and clutching something in her arms, she quietly cracked the door open just a little and slipped in.

Shao Qing was surveying the room awash in vivid red—with a tinge of reflective emotion—but when she turned around, she couldn’t help but laugh, “Sister Wang, what’s gotten into you?”

Looking so sneaky, clearly guilty like a thief, was in stark contrast to Wang Mi’s usual image of gentle efficiency.

Even Wang Mi’s face was a bit different from her usual self, tinted with a light layer of rouge. With a blink, she pulled the object from her bosom and said, “Madam, please take a good look at this.”

“What is it?” When Shao Qing peered at it, she discovered it was a book—a “fire-avoidance chart” whose cover featured an elaborately drawn man and woman, their clothes only partly undone, their bold actions intertwined.

It turned out to be premarital sex education.

Shao Qing had no female elders among her relatives nearby, so it was thoughtful of Wang Mi to remember this matter. She had never seen ancient erotic paintings before, so she was quite intrigued. Letting out a surprised “Oh?” she took the book and started flipping through it.

The image quality wasn’t great, but it made up for it with rich content. The proportions of the figures were somewhat unbalanced, but the variety of poses was impressive. The main characters weren’t attractive, but the key areas were clearly depicted. Objectively speaking, this “Fire Prevention Chart” served its purpose quite well.

It was quite bold—people shouldn’t assume that the ancients were always reserved. Some of the poses were so exaggerated that it was impossible for a real person to replicate them.

Shao Qing was amused. Whose ridiculous imagination was this? It was hilarious!

“Madam?” Wang Mi sat down beside Shao Qing. Seeing her chuckling, she thought Shao Qing hadn’t understood and got anxious, quickly explaining, “This is what needs to be done after bowing to heaven and earth!”

Facing Shao Qing’s bright, sparkling almond-shaped eyes, she suddenly got stuck. “Um… it’s about taking off the clothes…”

The “Fire Prevention Chart” happened to be turned to a page where the clothes hadn’t been removed. She quickly added, “Not undressing works too—no, that’s unimportant…”

Wang Mi’s cheeks flushed a deep red, and she stammered through her words, speaking vaguely. Ultimately, she said, “…It might hurt a little, but don’t be afraid. Just listen to the master—this… this will happen naturally.”

The “master,” of course, referred to Wei Jing.

Thinking of him, Shao Qing, who had just been calmly focused on the “Fire Prevention Chart,” suddenly felt an unusual stir in her heart.

Right—after bowing to heaven and earth, this was the natural next step.

Shao Qing was aware of it, but her focus had always been on adjusting her mindset to accept this new relationship. Even when she considered having a child in the future, she had somehow overlooked a crucial step in that process. Being a married couple, having a marital life and children was perfectly normal, wasn’t it?

Yet, this “normal” felt slightly strange when directly linked to Wei Jing.
She swallowed hard, and out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of the two small figures in the “Fire Prevention Chart”—the man’s face had been replaced with Wei Jing’s, and the woman’s with her own.

Immediately, she slammed the book shut with a loud “Pa!”

Feeling the room suddenly grow warm, Shao Qing wiped her face and said, “It’s late, Sister Wang, let’s sleep.”

Quickly stuffing the book away, she threw herself onto the bed, pulled the thin blanket over her face, and buried herself beneath it.

Well, since it was still the mourning period, Wei Jing might not immediately consummate the marriage.

Ah, whatever—things would sort themselves out when the time came.

Shaoqing usually slept well, but tonight, she tossed and turned—something rare for her. It wasn’t until the moonlight filtering through the window had dimmed significantly that she finally drifted into a hazy sleep.

It felt like she had barely closed her eyes when she opened them again to find the sky fully bright.

Wang Mi, already dressed neatly, smiled and said, “Time to get up, Madam.”

Since neither Wei Jing nor Shao Qing planned for a grand banquet, the supplementary wedding ceremony was being held within the county office. There was no need to go out to welcome the groom, and many of the tedious traditional rituals could be skipped, so she didn’t have to wake up before dawn like a typical bride.

It’s about time—dressing up takes a while, and by the time she’s done, the auspicious hour will have arrived.

Warm water was poured into the bath barrel. Shao Qing politely declined Wang Mi and Kou Yue’s offer to help and washed herself thoroughly from head to toe.

After drying her long hair, she put on a fresh, delicate silk inner garment and sat at the dressing table, where Wang Mi started styling her hair.

“Madam, your hair is truly well-kept!” Soft and lustrous, like dark silk, it flowed smoothly down to the very roots. As she marveled at it aloud, her hands worked quickly—since she would be wearing a headpiece later, the bun had to be pulled extremely tight, making Shao Qing grimace in pain.
She applied her own makeup, opting for a more natural look instead of the usual bridal style of pale foundation and bright red lips. The balance of light and dark tones made her appearance soft and effortless.

Layer by layer, she donned the fiery red wedding attire. A golden, eight-treasure phoenix crown was placed on her head. In the bronze mirror, a young bride lifted her gaze—her eyes were like shimmering autumn waters, framed by elegant cloud-like hair, her cheeks delicate and rosy.

The red attire burned like fire, dazzling and radiant. Only now did Shao Qing feel the full weight of stepping into marriage—for the first time, in both of her lives.

For a brief moment, she was lost in thought. In her youth, she had imagined what her future might hold, but she had never met the right person before her untimely passing. She never expected that she would be getting married under such circumstances.

Wei Jing was a good choice—undoubtedly the most suitable person for her in this life. She felt certain that her decision was the right one. Even with that certainty, as the bridal veil covered her vision in a sea of red, a hint of nervousness still lingered within her.

The auspicious hour had arrived, and the sound of hurried footsteps echoed outside.

Wei Jing had come. He was always imposing, and even in this joyous moment, Kou Xuan, Zhuang Yan, and the others dared not joke around. Instead, they simply spoke words of celebration with polite smiles.

The voices around him were lively, yet Wei Jing remained indifferent to the noise. His attention was entirely captured by the slender bride seated on the edge of the bed, dressed in a brilliant red wedding gown.

Once, he had abandoned her without hesitation, leaving not a single word behind. At that time, in his eyes, compared to the vast northern borders of Great Chu, a prospective princess consort was insignificant. But times had changed. Only now did he truly understand—amidst the boundless world, she was the only one that truly mattered. Great Chu, the northern borders—mere fleeting clouds in comparison.

He stepped toward her, each stride firm and resolute. A large hand reached out and clasped hers. Through the gap beneath her bridal veil, Shao Qing caught a glimpse of a deep-red wide sleeve adorned with cloud patterns. The warmth of this hand felt familiar. After helping her up, it released her, replacing its grip with a red silk wedding ribbon. She accepted it. Though she couldn’t see, she was certain Wei Jing held the other end.

The officiant, Kou Xuan, shouted, “Step forward!”

Wei Jing took the lead, guiding Shao Qing outward toward the wedding hall. She had walked through this courtyard and corridor countless times, but with her face covered, everything felt different. She trod cautiously, mindful not to twist her ankle and embarrass herself.

Soon, she realized her worries were unnecessary.

Wei Jing walked at a steady pace, just within her comfort zone. Each time they approached a turn or a threshold, he would pause slightly—waiting for her, silently reminding her.

Shao Qing’s lingering nervousness suddenly vanished. They weren’t just husband and wife in name—they were comrades who had shared a battlefield. The bond of brotherhood was strong, wasn’t it? If they could face life and death together, what was there to fear?

Her heart steadied, and her steps quickened.

The wedding hall wasn’t far—they arrived in no time.

“First bow to the heavens and earth!”

“Second bow to the ancestors!”

“Third bow between husband and wife!”

For the ancestral bow, they paid respect to two memorial tablets. Officially, Wei Jing claimed his parents had passed away. However, hidden within one of those ordinary memorial tablets was the posthumous name and birthdate of Empress Fu. The other concealed the memorial of the former crown prince. Wei Jing said that his older brother had often spoken about his marriage—since an elder brother is like a father, it was only right to inform him as well. Naturally, Shao Qing had no objections. After the second bow, she turned around and, through the bridal veil, knelt to face him.

A prince’s wedding ceremony was different from that of commoners—at the very least, the husband and wife wouldn’t kneel fully while bowing to each other. She couldn’t help but wonder if she had somehow benefited from this tradition.

Lost in thought for a brief moment, she heard Kou Xuan say, “Escort them to the bridal chamber!” Wei Jing then led her back to the newly decorated main room.

With a flick of the ceremonial scale, Shao Qing’s vision was finally restored. By now, the sky had darkened, and the room was illuminated by thick, red wedding candles. The warm glow filled the space. She closed her eyes for a moment before opening them again, adjusting to the brightness.

“It’s finally over!” She let out a long breath, taking in Wei Jing’s appearance—dressed in deep-red wedding attire, tall and imposing, exuding an air of authority. He was clearly pleased, his eyes softened with joy, and a smile lingering at the corner of his lips.

“I’m so exhausted.” Shao Qing realized that she had fully adjusted her mindset—surprisingly, she didn’t feel awkward at all. They were far too familiar with each other, making it easy to slip back into their usual way of interacting.

“Get some good rest.” There was no avoiding it—after saying this, Wei Jing added, “You freshen up first, I’ll be right back.”

There was no grand banquet, but Kou Xuan and the county office staff had gathered for a couple of tables. He just needed to make a brief appearance.

Shao Qing shook her head, feeling the weighty phoenix crown pressing down—her neck was already stiff. Hearing his words, she quickly responded with a couple of eager “Mm-hmm” sounds and hurried to the dressing table.

Wei Jing cast her a glance before turning to leave the room.

True to his word, he was quick. By the time Shao Qing had finished struggling with the crown and hairpins and had changed out of her wedding attire, he had already returned.

At the same time, steaming hot water was poured into the large bath behind the folding screen. The rising heat spread throughout the bridal chamber, and the attendants swiftly withdrew, thoughtfully closing the door behind them. Instantly, the room felt noticeably warmer.

Shao Qing had been mentally preparing herself all along, convincing herself that she could remain composed. Yet, at this moment, a faint blush still colored her cheeks.

Being with a comrade in that way? No—after tonight, that comrade would also be her husband.

Oh dear. Just last night, she had considered the possibility that Wei Jing might delay consummating the marriage due to the mourning period. But now, her instincts told her otherwise—he definitely would. Now that the moment was upon her, her heart started racing uncontrollably.

“Ah Qing, you should bathe first.”

“Oh? Okay!” She answered hastily, then quickly slipped behind the screen to undress and begin her bath. She wasn’t bathing in Wei Jing’s presence for the first time—under harsh conditions before, they hadn’t even considered separating. After all, they couldn’t just skip bathing entirely, so they made do with whatever little privacy they could manage.

Over time, she had gotten used to it. Normally, she could still bathe naturally, but today was different. Even with the large screen between them, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Wei Jing might walk in at any moment. Rushing through the process, she hurried to get dressed.

Wei Jing sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for her. Now that she was finished, it was his turn. Shao Qing suggested changing the water.

“No need.” He dismissed the idea casually—having endured hardships in the past, he’d shared her used water more than once. It had always been somewhat awkward before, but now? Hearing his response, Shao Qing’s face instantly heated up. She couldn’t suppress the thought of Wei Jing using the water she had bathed in—her mind wandered, and the warmth spread rapidly to the tips of her ears.

Her skin was fair and luminous, appearing delicate, with a subtle blush that stood out. Now, a deep flush crept up to her earlobes; even the soft curves were tinged with a gentle pink.

Wei Jing gazed at her without blinking—beautiful as jade, shy yet charming. This was the wife he had just wed in a solemn ceremony. Somewhere in him, a reaction quickly arose, swelling and aching.

“Ah Qing?” He slightly raised his arms, calling her over to help him undress.

Shao Qing came over with her head down.

Although August has entered autumn, the clothes are still not thick. After taking off the outer garment, only the inner garment was left. Without the cover of wide sleeves, she immediately saw a conspicuous bulge in the underpants, large enough to be impossible to ignore. Her face turned as red as if it were on fire, her belt fell to the ground in an instant, and a pair of strong arms had already embraced her. She instinctively tilted her face upward, directly meeting Wei Jing’s deep, dark eyes, which seemed even more profound than usual—like turbulent waves surging within.

Wei Jing raised his hand, gently caressing her face.

Today, he was truly happy. They had performed the ceremonial rites of heaven and earth, fulfilling every tradition, making them an indisputable married couple. Most of the lingering unease in his heart had suddenly dissipated.

It was still not enough. As long as their union remained in name only, he couldn’t truly feel at ease.

“Ah Qing, don’t be afraid.” He murmured soothingly, his thin lips brushing against her earlobe, kissing her gently—trailing from her cheek to her lips, capturing them, deepening from light to intense.

He was gentle and careful, and she could clearly feel the sincerity in his touch. However, Shao Qing, usually quick-witted, found her mind in complete chaos, standing stiffly and unmoving.

His muscles were taut, his form powerful and seamless—like a black panther poised for action. His embrace was strong and unwavering, encircling her tightly from above.

For a moment, Shao Qing let him kiss her, her scattered thoughts barely beginning to settle. She told herself to try and relax, took a few deep breaths, and slowly closed her eyes.