The wedding banquet was lively, and even the Duke of Yu let the festivities continue, feeling happy himself. As the night wore on and the guests began to disperse, only the newlyweds remained.
Seated in the bridal chamber, the earlier excitement faded into silence, leaving only the sound of their breathing. The curtain had just been drawn, dimming the light inside, casting their shadows against the beautifully embroidered fabric, which flickered gently.
Wu Zhen looked at Mei Zhuyu. He had never been much of a drinker, but today, despite her attempts to limit his intake, he had consumed quite a bit. Surprisingly, he hadn’t gotten drunk and still appeared clear-headed.
Dressed in a blue wedding gown, Wu Zhen contrasted with Mei Zhuyu, who wore a bright red outfit. Although his looks were not particularly striking and he often seemed somewhat bland, the joyous occasion and vibrant attire made him appear more radiant.
After observing him for a moment, Wu Zhen suddenly raised her hand and removed the large-sleeved robe she was wearing. Mei Zhuyu was startled but quickly composed himself, remaining still. However, Wu Zhen noticed his initial surprise and couldn’t help but laugh.
She wiped her face, feeling the fragrant powder on her hands, and shook her head with a smile. “You didn’t think I’d just sleep like this, did you? With this thick layer of makeup, I can’t sleep unless I wash it off. It’s stuffy in here, and I don’t like it.”
Though Mei Zhuyu wasn’t drunk, his tolerance was still lower than Wu Zhen’s, and he took a moment to respond. “The newlyweds are supposed to…” He trailed off, unable to finish his sentence.
Wu Zhen tossed the heavy robe aside and began to remove the cumbersome hair ornaments from her head. After she finished, she turned her neck, feeling as if her head might break from the weight.
“Alright, come with me. We’re not sleeping here tonight.” Wu Zhen grabbed Mei Zhuyu’s hand and pulled back the curtain, stepping outside. Before leaving, she remembered to extinguish the lamp inside.
The night sky was dark, dotted with brilliant stars. In the distance, faint lights flickered from the corridor, and the nearby flowers buzzed with the sounds of insects, adding to the tranquil atmosphere.
Wu Zhen led Mei Zhuyu back to her courtyard, where she had already arranged for water to be prepared.
“I’ve heard that weddings can be exhausting. Come wash your face; there’s light tea and snacks here. You hardly ate at the banquet, so you must be hungry,” Wu Zhen said, her attentiveness and thoughtfulness would surely astonish the Duke of Yu and Empress Wu if they saw it.
Mei Zhuyu filled a basin with water and wrung out a cloth, but instead of washing himself, he handed it to her and helped her comb her hair. She had hastily undone her hairstyle earlier, leaving it in disarray, and he gently untangled the knots, letting her hair fall freely.
Wu Zhen smiled as she accepted his help, wiping away the remnants of makeup from her face. She placed the warm cloth over her face and leaned back against Mei Zhuyu’s chest. Tilting her ear toward him, she suddenly laughed. “Young Lord, your heart is racing too fast.”
Her voice was muffled beneath the cloth, and if she could lift it at that moment, she would see that her shy young lord’s face was not only flushed with embarrassment but also filled with longing and desire. Mei Zhuyu remained silent, slowly lowering his head to rest against her hair, brushing his nose and lips against her cheek.
Suddenly, he lifted her from the low table. The cloth fell from Wu Zhen’s face, but she didn’t mind; instead, she wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned in to give him a fleeting kiss.
“Shall we go to my room?” she asked softly.
“Okay,” Mei Zhuyu replied, his voice husky.
Wu Zhen’s bed was positioned by the south-facing window, which was wide open, allowing a view of the courtyard filled with peonies. She loved lively surroundings, so her garden was filled with various blooming peonies. By day, they were vibrant and eye-catching, but at night, they were cloaked in a soft glow, creating a dreamlike atmosphere.
The large window was there because Wu Zhen enjoyed lying on the bed and watching the flowers. Tonight, however, an additional person was lying beside her, and neither had the heart to admire the blossoms.
A gentle fragrance wafted in with the light breeze, intoxicating and soothing. Mei Zhuyu held Wu Zhen’s hand against his cheek, and they gazed into each other’s eyes, both reflecting the same emotions. It was unclear who initiated the closeness; when they leaned in together, it felt as if it was meant to be.
In his youth, Mei Zhuyu’s seniors had remarked that he lacked the typical youthful passion and restlessness. His master had also said he was clear-minded and had little desire, destined for a life of cultivation.
Mei Zhuyu had always believed this until he arrived in Chang’an and met Wu Zhen. He realized he was no different from other men; he too could not suppress his feelings and found himself deeply infatuated with someone.
Cultivators rarely married and advocated for self-discipline and moderation. In the past, Mei Zhuyu had no expectations regarding romantic matters. Even after returning to the mundane world, he adhered to the teachings of his sect. However, today he understood what it meant to be utterly captivated.
At this moment, he simply wanted to gather this soft, flowing water and let it flow into his being, quenching the flames of desire within him.
Wu Zhen finally found a moment to breathe, placing her palm against Mei Zhuyu’s chest. She found it strange that although he looked slender, he had such strength, making even her, the proud cat lady, feel a bit overwhelmed. Unable to resist, she pinched his arm, curious about where that strength came from.
Mei Zhuyu inhaled deeply, holding her hand. Feeling his face buried in her neck, Wu Zhen wrapped her arms around his head, playing with a strand of his hair.
“Young Lord.”
“Hmm?”
“My waist might be bruised from your grip.”
Mei Zhuyu sat up abruptly to check her waist, but from his elevated position, he saw her lying on the disheveled bed, smiling brightly, completely unguarded. He silently pulled a thin blanket from the side and covered her. Wu Zhen turned over, burying her laughter in her arm, only to discover that a pair of hands had found their way to her waist. Though warm, they were quite proper as they began to massage her.
Leaning on her arm, she turned to look at Mei Zhuyu, who sat beside her, bending slightly, his hair cascading over his shoulders. The dim light outside cast a soft glow around him, resembling a pine tree on a cliff—Wu Zhen thought to herself unexpectedly.
Suddenly, she turned and reached out to pull Mei Zhuyu down. She didn’t say anything, but her intentions were clear.
The night was not long, and soon dawn broke outside. When the sound of bells and drums echoed from the imperial city, Wu Zhen had just fallen asleep. Finding it disturbing, she fumbled around beside her and buried herself in something.
Mei Zhuyu was awakened by the sounds of bells and his new wife’s movements. Blinking in confusion, he saw Wu Zhen frowning and hiding in his embrace. Realizing what was happening, he quickly covered her ears with his hand. She relaxed her brow and wrapped her arms around his waist, falling back asleep.
The bells and drums rang several times, and usually, Mei Zhuyu would rise at the first sound, sit quietly in the courtyard for a while, practice swordplay, then wash up and prepare for breakfast before riding out for duty, especially on days of court assembly when he would leave even earlier. But today, he lay there, feeling no desire to do anything but watch Wu Zhen.
Suddenly, the hand that had been around his waist moved away, and Mei Zhuyu felt a shadow pass over his eyes as Wu Zhen covered them. In a sleepy, slightly nasal voice, she said, “You’re making it hard for me to sleep.”
Mei Zhuyu apologized, and Wu Zhen opened one eye to glance at him.
“Look out the window.”
Following her instruction, Mei Zhuyu turned to look. The garden was filled with peonies shimmering in the morning light, likely due to the dew on the petals. The morning air was fresh, carrying a faint fragrance, but for some reason, Mei Zhuyu felt that it was not as strong as the scent from the previous night.
Wu Zhen propped herself up, resting her chin on his shoulder as they both admired the peony blossoms outside.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?”
“Very beautiful.”
Wu Zhen kissed his cheek, lay back down, and rested her head against his back, lazily saying, “Since it’s beautiful, let’s enjoy the flowers. I’ll sleep a little longer.”
Mei Zhuyu found her hand beneath the thin blanket and held it, quietly watching the peonies until the sky brightened.
Ultimately, he was not accustomed to staying in bed too late. Mei Zhuyu got up, quietly tidied the room, closed the two wide-open windows, leaving a small gap, and then stepped outside.
When Wu Zhen finally finished sleeping and dressed, she saw her father and new husband sitting in the hall, drinking tea.
“The new tea brewing method from the south is quite popular in the temples around Chang’an. Earlier, Cousin Pei came by and taught me how to brew tea. You should try it,” the Duke of Yu said with a smile, looking every bit the doting father. Wu Zhen leaned against the doorframe, watching for a moment. She knocked on the nearby wooden frame, and when they looked over, she said, “That tea isn’t good; it has no flavor at all.”
Seeing her in such a disheveled state, the Duke of Yu instinctively frowned. Looking at his well-mannered son-in-law, he felt even more that his daughter was being improper. He was about to reprimand them when he heard his son-in-law say, “You shouldn’t sleep in so late; missing breakfast isn’t good for your health.”
The Duke of Yu’s heart sank. He knew his daughter well; she hated hearing such things. Even if her father said a few words, she would be annoyed. He hadn’t heard how they had been getting along, but now, hearing his son-in-law reprimanding his daughter made him worry she might get angry. It would be terrible if they quarreled on their wedding day.
Clearing his throat, he wanted to say something, but Wu Zhen had already responded. “Oh,” she said, showing no signs of anger or joy, just her usual expression as she walked over, asking, “What did you have for breakfast?”
Mei Zhuyu answered and then asked if she had eaten something to fill her stomach. Wu Zhen nodded, and he stood up to go get her the breakfast that had been prepared but was now over an hour late.
After Mei Zhuyu left, Wu Zhen took his seat and casually picked up the half-finished cup of tea he had just drunk, commenting, “It is bad.” She then finished it in one gulp.
The Duke of Yu looked at his daughter and then at the empty doorway, feeling a bit confused. However, he felt relieved, thinking that there was no need to worry too much. He might as well return to the temple early.