The festive sounds continuously filtered in from outside the door. Jin Chao felt a crimson haze before her eyes, the lamplight dim and yellow, everything hazy and indistinct. She still felt slightly dizzy.

The ladies surrounding her were all from prominent families with close ties to the Chen family. She could recognize a few familiar faces. Beside her stood a woman holding a black lacquer tray adorned with red silk. Around forty years old, she wore an embroidered “Ten Treasures” padded jacket, her hair styled in a phoenix-tail bun with two amber flower hairpins. With a face full of smiles, she was Madam Wu, wife of Wu Shuang Quan, the Deputy Commander stationed in the same Rong Xiang Hutong. The Wu family and Chen family had been friends for generations.

The tray contained longan, chestnuts, dates, lotus seeds, and other auspicious items, some of which had already been scattered. Madam Wu was eloquent and accustomed to public speaking, which was why the sisters-in-law had asked her to come forward. She smiled sweetly and said, “The bridegroom should stand together with the bride.”

Chen Yan Yun was momentarily startled, but Elder Lady Zheng had already pulled him over.

Madam Wu scattered another handful of dried fruits while singing: “Scatter in the chamber, a pair of jade lotuses in the moon, as if meeting a goddess tonight, playing amidst clouds descending from Wu Peak. Scatter below the bed curtains, they say golden light illuminates the land, auspicious dreams will accompany you tonight, next year a son will bring honor. Scatter before the bed, deep mist neither fog nor smoke, golden dragons hidden in fragrance, a literary phoenix encounters the colorful immortal bird. Scatter behind the bed, husband and wife in harmony forever preserved, since ancient times, when husband sings, wife follows…”

The fruits fell from above, rolling onto the bed. It didn’t hurt; rather, it felt indescribably ceremonial. Jin Chao glanced sideways and saw that Chen Yan Yun was also being showered with fruits. He lowered his head slightly as the dried fruits cascaded down, and their gazes met…

Jin Chao quickly turned away, but from the corner of her eye, she saw that he had turned his head too, with the faintest hint of a smile on his lips.

What was he smiling about… What was so amusing about this?

Jin Chao listened to the bed-scattering song, feeling quite uncomfortable… it seemed somewhat suggestive.

She didn’t recall hearing this in her previous life. Or perhaps she had heard it but simply couldn’t remember.

After drinking the wedding wine, a maid wearing a purple short jacket with branch patterns brought up a bowl of dumplings. Madam Fan took it and handed it to Jin Chao. The dumplings were half-cooked. She had just taken one bite when Chen Third Master calmly took the bowl from her hand and gave it to a waiting-maid to take away. He whispered to her: “…Eating too many will give you a stomachache.”

The visiting ladies were all extremely cultured. After briefly celebrating in the bridal chamber, they soon withdrew.

Chen Yan Yun turned to look at her again.

Jin Chao sat in her bridal finery on the black lacquered, gold-decorated stepped bed, with her phoenix crown and rosy cape. In the deep candlelight, she seemed somewhat at a loss as she looked at him, yet her appearance was extraordinarily radiant. The bright red wedding dress spread across the bed was exceptionally vivid, yet dignified.

Heart-stirring…

He closed his eyes briefly. People say there are two great pleasures in life: the wedding night and placing in the imperial examinations. He suddenly felt he understood.

“I’ll go to the main hall to attend to the guests first, then return shortly,” Chen Third Master told her before leaving the bridal chamber.

Jin Chao let out a sigh of relief and began to examine the new room’s furnishings. It was different from the room she had lived in during her previous life, seemingly more spacious, decorated with crimson circular golden bed curtains. Directly opposite were twelve sandalwood lattice panels inlaid with jade and emerald branch patterns. Next to them stood a dressing table inlaid with ivory auspicious flower patterns. On the left was a long pear-wood table covered with red silk, displaying a pair of red dragon and phoenix candles, with two grand armchairs placed on either side.

Overhead hung a bright beaded square-colored lantern, with four sides depicting “Harmonious Phoenix and Dragon,” “Guanyin Delivering a Son,” “Achieving First Place in the Imperial Examination,” and “Family Happiness.” The windows were adorned with paper-cuts of double happiness symbols… everything was extremely detailed, clearly having taken considerable thought.

Jin Chao was lost in these thoughts when a matron pushed open the door. Maids followed, bringing in a table full of dishes: clear stewed pigeon, braised lamb, eel noodles, ham-stewed lotus root, cold cucumber salad… filling an entire table.

The lead matron bowed to her first and said: “This servant is Wang, hereafter in charge of your chambers. Third Master instructed us to bring the meal first, so the Lady can eat if hungry. If you find our service inconvenient, your dowry maids are sitting in the adjacent back chamber.”

In her full bridal attire, eating would be difficult. But since Chen Third Master hadn’t returned yet, it seemed inappropriate to remove her makeup…

Besides, Jin Chao had passed the point of hunger and no longer felt it. She told the matron: “It’s quite all right, but I have a small matter to instruct. Please call Qing Pu here, and the rest may withdraw.”

Matron Wang respectfully agreed and withdrew.

Shortly after, Qing Pu entered. Today she wore a scarlet branch-patterned jacket, her hair neatly arranged, adorned with a wine-cup-sized red crepe silk flower. Jin Chao smiled and praised her: “You look lovely.”

Qing Pu touched her bun, smiling shyly. She approached and whispered: “Your items have been stored properly. Miss Cai Fu will bring them over shortly to arrange. The eight-tenths and six-tenths silver ingots you’ll need tomorrow are prepared, along with a small bag of gold pieces.”

Jin Chao nodded, feeling there was nothing else to instruct, and asked Qing Pu to pour her a cup of hot tea.

Just as she took a sip of tea, she heard Matron Wang announce from outside: “Third Master has arrived!”

So quickly… She asked Qing Pu to put the teacup away as she saw him enter.

Chen Yan Yun still wore that elaborate official second-rank ceremonial robe, the kind worn for ancestral temple sacrifices. With its red silk apron, red and white silk sash, leather belt, and official pendants, it appeared tremendously dignified, yet on him, it conveyed a sense of elegance. He must have been drinking, as his gaze rested on her for quite some time without movement. After glancing at the untouched meal, he finally asked softly: “Are you tired?”

Of course, she was tired… the phoenix crown on her head weighed over three pounds. Jin Chao simply nodded.

Chen Third Master noticed her constraint and smiled: “Go change your clothes first.”

Jin Chao sighed with relief, feeling the atmosphere in the room was quite peculiar. The side chamber served as a washing room. With Qing Pu’s assistance, Jin Chao changed into a lotus-colored long padded jacket, washed off her makeup and applied fragrant cream, let down her hair, and loosely pinned it, using just a single South Sea pearl hairpin to secure it. Looking at herself in the mirror, she suddenly realized this was how she would appear before sleeping at her family home, dressed casually.

It truly gave her the feeling of becoming someone’s wife.

When Jin Chao emerged, Chen Third Master was leaning against the luohan bed reading. Hearing her, he closed his book and glanced at her.

Jin Chao realized that the two servants attending to the Third Master couldn’t properly enter her chambers. If he needed to change clothes, he would likely have to do it himself, as she couldn’t let her maids help him… so she volunteered: “Shall I help you wash up?”

Chen Third Master smiled and shook his head: “What will you call me?”

What else could she call him… surely not “husband,” that would be too embarrassing. Would “Third Master” be too distant? His courtesy name, or given name?

Jin Chao couldn’t decide and hoped Chen Third Master would give her a hint.

Instead, he put down his book and stood up: “It’s fine, I have hands and feet, and I know how to wash my face.” He went to the door and instructed the matron to fetch his change of clothes, then entered the washing room.

The matron quickly brought his clothes, a stone-blue Hangzhou silk robe. Jin Chao delivered it to the washing room.

While he was washing up, Jin Chao asked Qing Pu to withdraw. She picked up the book Third Master had left on the luohan bed. It was a volume called “Cold Mountain Records,” apparently a travel journal… She heard faint water sounds from the washing room and recalled glimpsing his back when she entered earlier. Though the light was dim, she could still make out broad shoulders and a narrow waist…

Jin Chao glanced at the stepped bed covered with red silk bedding, and her heart began to race.

She decided to sit on the luohan bed and read.

She didn’t even notice when the water sounds stopped. By the time she became aware, she first smelled the clean scent of soap. Chen Third Master stood behind her, bending down to see her reading intently, and softly asked: “Is it interesting?”

A warm, moist air and his voice, deep yet gentle.

Jin Chao stiffened, and after a long moment calmly turned a page and said: “Yes, it is.”

“More interesting than me?”

What?

Jin Chao maintained her composure: “Both are interesting.”

Chen Third Master straightened up, took the book, and told her: “‘Cold Mountain Records’ was written by Zhang Zizhan during his exile to Huangzhou when he was nearly forty. Originally an Academic Reader of the fourth rank, he was later demoted to Deputy Training Commander. Most of his works express melancholy and autumnal sentiments, with heavy emotions. Not very suitable for a young lady to read. His early poetry is quite good though. I have a ‘Collection of Zizhan’s Poems’ in my study; you can find it to read…” He casually placed the book in the curio cabinet nearby.

“The guests have all left, let’s sleep.” He blew out two candles, and the inner chamber immediately dimmed.

He got into bed first, lying on the inner side, pulling the thin quilt over himself.

Jin Chao hesitated. On their wedding night, sharing a bed… this was a married couple’s duty. She had lived through this in her previous life, so what was she afraid of? She removed her satin shoes and got into bed, maintaining a foot’s distance from Chen Third Master. Qing Pu entered at this moment to lower the bed curtains. Someone came to clean the washing room, but Qing Pu stopped them and sent them away.

Jin Chao could smell the aroma of the cold dishes, the scent of the gilded silver incense balls hanging from the brocade quilt, and even the faint, gentle sandalwood fragrance from Chen Third Master. She gradually became drowsy and closed her eyes.

A strong arm encircled her waist, drawing her into an embrace.

Jin Chao’s eyes snapped open, drowsiness vanishing, her entire body tensing.

“Don’t be afraid…” he said softly, embracing her but making no further movement. He simply rested his chin on her head, holding both her and her brocade quilt in his arms.

She had rarely experienced this in her previous life…

Chen Third Master spoke again: “You’re still so young, putting on a face of complete composure as if a mountain could collapse before you without changing expression. Yet with the slightest scare from me, you become like a frightened rabbit…” As he spoke, he slowly pulled away Jin Chao’s quilt and drew her into his covers.

Jin Chao’s elbow touched his chest, her body pressed against an unfamiliar yet warm form.

In the dim light, he looked down to see Jin Chao gazing up at him, just like during the bed-scattering ceremony earlier, their eyes meeting.

Jin Chao sensed that the Third Master’s breathing was slow and sustained. His face had never been this close to hers before, his features distinct, handsome, and scholarly.

Had his breathing become irregular? Or was it her own? Jin Chao couldn’t tell anymore.

A large hand untied the sash at her waist, slowly reaching inside. Third Master said softly: “Close your eyes.”

Jin Chao could only comply.

He moved above her, pressing her down. Jin Chao had just relaxed, only to tense up again. She felt gentle kisses landing on her cheek, the movements soft, the heat scorching. Her clenched fists were irresistibly seized by him, separated, and pressed down at her sides.

A tearing pain…

Though his movements were gentle, she still frowned in pain.

Kisses then fell upon her brow.

She felt no pleasure… Chen Yan Yun could sense this; she was still too young. But at this point, he couldn’t withdraw, and could only comfort her: “It will be better soon…” His movements became slightly firmer.

Jin Chao felt sweat dripping onto her forehead. Though the weather wasn’t hot, why was he sweating…

This moment seemed endlessly long. She could only endure as best she could, but toward the end, finding it nearly unbearable, she gripped his arm and whispered: “It’s been quite a while… aren’t you finished yet?”

Chen Yan Yun couldn’t help but laugh, burying his face in her neck for several breaths before raising his head to say hoarsely: “Mmm… almost.”