The new chamber was packed with people. Through the red veil, Lin Hao could only see pairs of shoes, some exquisite, some simple. Among them, one pair of boots needn’t be questioned—they belonged to Qi Shuo.

The boots A’Shuo wore today are really quite sharp.

Lin Hao’s mind was muddled. Just as this irrelevant thought flashed through, she felt a brightness before her eyes as the bridal veil was lifted.

The sudden change in light made her instinctively look up, slightly narrowing her almond-shaped eyes.

What met her gaze was the groom, clearly stunned.

The married woman of complete fortune on the groom’s side couldn’t bear to watch and reminded them, “Heir, Heir’s Consort, it’s time to drink the nuptial wine.”

The Heir usually had such a calm and carefree temperament, yet he could actually be dazed staring at his new bride. No wonder everyone said the Heir and his consort were childhood sweethearts who got along extremely well.

The woman of complete fortune brought over a pair of wine cups connected by red silk.

Qi Shuo and Lin Hao each picked up a cup. Their arms intertwined as they brought the cups to their lips and drank the nuptial wine.

Afterward, Qi Shuo went to the front to toast the guests. Those crowded in the new chamber also withdrew, leaving Baozhu to attend Lin Hao as she removed the heavy and cumbersome ornaments and re-styled her hair into a loose bun.

Lin Hao gently moved her somewhat stiff neck, wishing she could just collapse directly onto the wide, soft wedding bed.

“Miss must be tired. Have some water first.” Baozhu brought over a cup of warm water.

Lin Hao took it and drank a few sips. A light knock came at the door.

Outside came Qi Qiong’s voice. “A’Hao, I’ve brought you some food.”

Baozhu hurried to welcome the young princess in and took the tray from her hands.

On the tray was a bowl of soft, glutinous red bean porridge and a small dish of red cherries.

“You must be starving after not eating all day, right? I heard you ate lightly the two days before the wedding, so I didn’t dare send you meat dishes. Have a bowl of red bean porridge to fill your stomach.”

“Thank you, Princess.”

Qi Qiong smiled gently. “You should call me younger sister now. Oh, I also can’t call you A’Hao anymore—I should call you sister-in-law. By the way, this dish of red cherries was something Big Brother specifically reminded me to bring. Sister-in-law, you should eat more of them.”

Having delivered the food, Qi Qiong didn’t linger and left with a smile.

Lin Hao picked up the porridge and ate it spoonful by spoonful.

Sugar had been added to the soft, glutinous red bean porridge, and it was perfectly warm. After finishing the bowl, Lin Hao immediately felt energized. She picked up a cherry as red as a ruby and put it in her mouth.

Cherries had just come into season at this time. Such sweet cherries were truly rare. Before she knew it, she had finished the entire dish of cherries. She rinsed her mouth again and sat primly on the wedding bed waiting for Qi Shuo to return.

The time spent waiting was always agonizing. Each moment seemed infinitely stretched, making one restless and anxious. Yet simultaneously, the gaps between these emotions were filled with joy and anticipation.

Lin Hao found these emotions strange and unfamiliar. Her eyes remained fixed on the doorway.

A’Shuo still wasn’t back, still wasn’t back, still wasn’t back…

Finally, a figure in red appeared at the door. Lin Hao’s eyes instantly brightened.

The person at the door had jade-like cheeks tinged with crimson—from wine, and also from joy.

“Have you been waiting long?” He walked to Lin Hao’s side and grasped her hand.

“A bit long, yes.”

The magnificently dressed young lady complained with unconscious coquettishness, making the man in bright red wedding attire stare in a daze.

Thump-thump. He heard his own rapid heartbeat.

“I’ll go wash up first.” Qi Shuo took a deep breath and quickly walked toward the washing room.

Lin Hao was also attended by Baozhu as she removed her complex and magnificent wedding attire. After bathing, she changed into an inner robe.

When Qi Shuo entered, what he saw was a woman in a bright red inner robe sitting quietly on the wedding bed, her almond eyes looking toward him with rippling smile.

His steps paused, then quickened as he sat down beside her.

Baozhu quietly withdrew.

Only the two of them remained in the new chamber, gazing at each other. The dragon and phoenix wedding candles burned quietly.

Neither wore outer garments. Their loose, soft red inner robes pressed together like two flames colliding, scattering invisible sparks.

The temperature in the room suddenly became hot.

Qi Shuo felt he should say something.

“Are you still hungry? Would you like more pastries?”

Lin Hao shook her head. “I’m not hungry. I just ate red bean porridge and cherries.”

“Were the cherries sweet?”

“Sweet.” Mentioning this, the corners of Lin Hao’s lips couldn’t help but curve upward.

Qi Shuo’s gaze wavered. He felt nothing could be sweeter than her smile.

“Are you tired?”

“Mm.” Lin Hao’s hands resting on her knees tightened on the soft inner robe.

It seemed like it was time to rest. Last night, A’Shuo also… must have looked at the little booklet, right?

Completely beyond her control, images from the booklet flashed through her mind like a lantern show. Lin Hao’s face suddenly flushed red.

“Then let’s sleep early.”

The man beside her raised his hand to lower the red gauze curtains and embraced her as they lay on the wedding bed. The wide wedding bed suddenly felt cramped with two people lying on it.

Lin Hao stared at the golden hook on the canopy top, profound doubt rising within her: That’s it?

She turned her head slightly and crashed into a pair of deep eyes.

“A’Shuo?”

“Mm.” He responded in a low voice.

Originally Lin Hao had been both shy and nervous, but the man beside her seemed even more nervous than she was, like a stiff wooden post.

Suddenly she wasn’t nervous anymore and even felt composed enough to tease him.

“A’Shuo, have you seen that thing?”

“What thing?”

Lin Hao propped her chin on one hand, her lips touched with a smile. “The thing everyone looks at before getting married. You couldn’t have not seen it, so—”

Before she could finish the rest of her words, they were blocked by his kiss.

He turned over, one hand cradling her head as he pressed her firmly toward him.

Lin Hao was caught off guard. Even after that earth-shattering kiss ended—no, it hadn’t ended yet…

The red bed curtains concealed the spring scenery within. The moon in the sky also hid behind the clouds. Only the insects kept calling, as if competing to grow louder and more lively.

Much later, a man’s somewhat hoarse voice came from within the curtains. “I’ve seen it, and I’ve learned it too. You can rest assured…”

“A’Shuo!”

The insects’ chirping grew even louder.

Dawn came quickly.

When Lin Hao woke, she saw Qi Shuo already fully dressed and groomed, holding a scroll in his hands but not reading it.

As if sensing her gaze, he looked over. “It’s still early. You can sleep a bit more.”

Lin Hao pressed her dry lips together, her gaze lingering on him.

He wore a crimson robe with a jade belt properly fastened at his waist. Perhaps he had just washed his face—his fair complexion was like snow on a high peak. Though he was smiling, there was a sense of cool detachment.

Lin Hao quite impolitely rolled her eyes.

Last night she had been deceived by this well-dressed scoundrel. He looked so honest and proper like a wooden block, but who knew he knew everything!

He actually knew everything!

Not knowing what she thought of, Lin Hao pulled the silk quilt over her face.

“A’Hao—”

Lin Hao curled up under the quilt and wouldn’t come out.

Thinking of how last night she had wanted to tease him made her feel embarrassed.

The quilt was suddenly pulled away. The person sitting beside her had dark eyes. “Perhaps… being late for the tea ceremony wouldn’t matter much…”

Lin Hao shot up, pushing him while shouting, “Baozhu, quickly bring the clothes I’m to wear today!”