Jiang Changyi smiled gently at Xiao Xuewei, his voice soft but clear: “It’s time to bow.”
The nanny behind Xiao Xuewei pushed her forcefully. This was a crucial moment, with all eyes on them. If the Xiao family’s daughter showed poor manners, wouldn’t it invite ridicule? No matter her dissatisfaction, she must observe the proper etiquette. After all, Xiao’s family daughters were not short of marriage prospects, but reputation mattered, especially with her younger sisters yet to be married.
Xiao Xuewei snapped back to reality and reluctantly bowed, trying her best to shut out everything she didn’t want to see or hear. Though her family had explained much to her beforehand, analyzing the pros and cons, knowing the reasoning was one thing; doing it was another. She still felt deeply unsettled.
If Xiao Xuewei was displeased with greeting the guests, the subsequent “teasing of the bride” ritual felt even more humiliating. She felt like a monkey being toyed with by strangers, while Jiang Changyang and Mudan watched her discomfort from the sidelines. She wanted to cry and scream but couldn’t. She could only repeatedly curse Jiang Changyi in her heart, blaming this shameless, despicable man for ruining her life. Yet she had to accept him as her husband, serve his family, and endure being mocked here for his sake…
The guests came forward to tease and joke with the bride, seeking merriment. But this bride, though not openly angry, was completely uncooperative. She maintained a stony face, lips tightly pressed, chin raised, her gaze cold and impatient. Her whole being exuded aloofness, arrogance, and disdain. The guests sensed her attitude and were reluctant to engage further, causing the atmosphere to cool.
Someone muttered resentfully, “What an arrogant thing, putting on airs.” Though quietly spoken, the words pierced Xiao Xuewei’s heart like a thorn. She clenched her fists, letting her nails dig into her palms, and looked up with a radiant smile. Seeing the speaker shrink back into the crowd in surprise and fear, her smile grew even brighter. She had to survive; she couldn’t let these people devour her.
Jiang Yunqing stood beside Mudan, sympathetically watching Jiang Changyi’s increasingly strained smile and Xiao Xuewei’s odd, triumphant grin that replaced her earlier scowl. She sighed softly, realizing this ill-matched marriage was doomed to unhappiness from the start. She wondered about her fate, lost in thought.
Seeing the awkward atmosphere, the ceremonial master hastily moved on to the next stage, guiding the newlyweds to the bridal chamber for the rituals of drinking nuptial wine, tying their hair together, extinguishing candles, and lowering the bed curtains. With the ceremony complete, the guests withdrew.
In the darkness, Jiang Changyi silently untied the silk thread binding their toes together. His fingers inevitably touched Xiao Xuewei’s foot, causing her to recoil in disgust. But Jiang Changyi firmly held her foot in place. When she tried to pull away, she felt a sharp pain. She tugged again, but the pain persisted.
This was the first truth Xiao Xuewei realized: he wouldn’t yield to her as she had imagined. The man silently and deftly untied the thread binding them together, then lay down beside her. He didn’t transform into a beast and pounce on her, nor did he plead pitifully for her to consummate their marriage. From beginning to end, he didn’t say a word or make any unnecessary movements towards her. This wedding night was far from what she had imagined, and this man was far from the one in her impression.
On this cold late October night, the bridal chamber was chilly. Xiao Xuewei, clinging to her remaining dignity, sat on the bed all night, feeling ignored by the husband she had believed loved her deeply. She heard Jiang Changyi’s calm, steady breathing and the gusting wind outside. Jiang Changyi slept soundly, clearly unbothered by her presence. This realization made her cry uncontrollably. She dared not make a sound, biting her lip hard to suppress her sobs.
In the dim dawn light, a handkerchief appeared before her. She petulantly swatted it away. It was picked up and offered again, only to be rejected once more. Secretly, she hoped Jiang Changyi would try a third time; she decided she would forgive him if he did.
Yuchi Shi had told her this would be her life now, and she should accept it. At least Jiang Changyi truly loved her. If things became unbearable, divorce could be considered later, but not now. She knew that losing her virginity before marriage was different from remarriage; she couldn’t hope for a good match anymore. If not for her parents’ and brother’s love, she would have been cast out by the family. The best outcome now was to elevate Jiang Changyi’s position to secure her honor, a task her father and brother were already undertaking, seemingly pleased with Jiang Changyi’s performance.
This meant that, regardless of circumstances, she would have to stay in the Guogong Mansion for at least a few years. To live well, she needed to keep him firmly under her control. These early days of marriage were crucial for establishing her authority. Xiao Xuewei had stopped crying, waiting to assert her psychological dominance over Jiang Changyi. She wanted to reach a point where he wouldn’t dare disobey her slightest command.
But Jiang Changyi disappointed her. He didn’t pick up the handkerchief again. Instead, he chuckled softly and asked with unusual gentleness, “Are you unhappy?”
Did he need to ask such an obvious question? Xiao Xuewei decided not to answer. But Jiang Changyi continued softly, “I’m not happy either. You embarrassed me yesterday, and you’ve brought shame to the Xiao family. Your parents won’t be pleased.”
Xiao Xuewei’s first reaction was anger. How dare he lecture her? What face did he have? He was the most shameless person in the world. But Jiang Changyi calmly continued, “I know you think I’m shameless, but in my heart, I think you’re shameless too. For example, could you produce the wedding night evidence?”
How could he say such shameless things? Wasn’t it all his doing? Xiao Xuewei jerked her head up, glaring at Jiang Changyi with hatred, wanting to speak but unable to find words.
Jiang Changyi lay on his side, his profile sharply defined in the morning light. Most distinct was the smile on his lips as he turned to look at her tenderly: “Don’t be angry. What I mean is, that we’re the same kind of people. You must feel very resentful, right? So do I. It’s almost dawn. Let’s discuss how we’ll live from now on. I don’t want to be subservient all my life, and I guess you don’t either.”
His gaze was gentle, his voice soft, but they conveyed a bone-chilling coldness—truly cold, calm, and indifferent. Xiao Xuewei felt genuinely cold. At that moment, she understood one thing: she meant nothing to him, which was why he could be so calm. His calmness strangely affected her. She raised her chin and said coldly, like a hedgehog, “How will we live? You don’t want to be subservient, but do you have what it takes?”
Jiang Changyi reached out and touched her face. Xiao Xuewei’s skin immediately prickled. She jerked her head away, “Don’t touch me!”
Jiang Changyi nodded, “See, you dislike my touch, so I won’t force you. This is the first condition for us to coexist peacefully.”
Xiao Xuewei sensed another meaning in his words: “If I don’t comply, you’ll force me?”
Jiang Changyi replied calmly, “Not force, but fulfill a husband’s duties. I’m sure your parents wouldn’t be pleased if I didn’t touch you. Nor would they like me to have many concubines and bedmaids. I guess you wouldn’t like that either.”
Xiao Xuewei sneered, “You dare do anything to me?” Shouldn’t he be begging her? The Guogong Mansion was in decline; didn’t he need to grovel before her to secure his future? Otherwise, what could he achieve on his own, relying on this faded Zhu Guogong Mansion?
But Jiang Changyi said nothing. He suddenly pressed his leg over her, one hand covering her mouth, the other tearing at her clothes. Xiao Xuewei realized her strength from horseback riding and archery had vanished; this seemingly frail, cultured man was like an immensely powerful demon. She had no chance to resist.
Outside, servants could be heard sweeping and tidying up. Mindful of her reputation, she dared not make a sound, only enduring. He released her mouth but became increasingly forceful. After what seemed an eternity, he finally stopped and got off her. She felt as if a hundred carriages had run over her body. Yet, the earlier feelings of being ignored and neglected had vanished. Though she wouldn’t admit it, deep down she felt a balance had been struck—he did want her after all; his tactics were just meant to possess her. So she slapped him hard across the face.
Jiang Changyi didn’t retaliate. Instead, he dipped a handkerchief in cold water, wrung it out, and gently wiped her body, speaking softly, “Cold, isn’t it? My heart is even colder. You’re thinking of my elder brother, aren’t you? Your past kindness to me was just manipulation and deceit. Today, you’ve merely reaped what you’ve sown.”
Xiao Xuewei shivered from the cold, curling up her body. “I—”
Jiang Changyi pressed a cold finger to her lips. “Shh… Let me finish. From now on, the kind of life you’ll have is up to you. Either join me, and I’ll treat you like a goddess, like the apple of my eye; or be trampled upon until the day we part ways. And about parting ways—you’ll have to wait until the Guogong Mansion can no longer support itself to force me into a divorce. Otherwise, even if I wanted to let you go, the Guogong Mansion wouldn’t allow it.”
Xiao Xuewei stared at him blankly. She was seeing him for the first time.
Jiang Changyi called out gently, “Cailian, bring some hot water.”
As the hot water was brought in, Jiang Changyi chuckled and used it to wipe her body. “If you behave, I’ll treat you well. Otherwise…” He slapped her bottom hard, causing Xiao Xuewei to burst into tears.
“Don’t slap my face again so easily in the future. I’m only kind to you because I choose to be.” Jiang Changyi called for someone to help her dress, smiling gently. “Hurry up, the family is waiting. Don’t be disrespectful again.”