Xiao Jingxi came to fetch his bride on horseback, followed by Yanbei soldiers who rode tall horses with solemn expressions and uniform, orderly steps. On this day, the streets of Yunyang City were packed with people, everyone rushing to the main thoroughfares of the city to catch a glimpse of Yanbei’s first young master. It was also because of this day that many years later, Second Young Master Xiao remained the most handsome bridegroom in the hearts of all Yanbei women, without exception.
A red bridal veil was placed over Ren Yaoqi’s phoenix crown, so when Xiao Jingxi walked toward her, she could not see him. She only felt that at that moment, the surroundings suddenly became quiet, then a pair of boots appeared on the ground directly in front of her. Her hand was gently taken, and that person’s palm was dry and warm, carrying a familiar electric current that made her heart race.
Ren Yaoqi instinctively raised her head, but within her field of vision was still nothing but festive red. That person seemed afraid she might feel uneasy, so he gently squeezed her hand intimately and naturally. Under his guidance, Ren Yaoqi rose and stood beside him.
“Come with me.” Xiao Jingxi’s distinctive voice sounded in her ear, carrying the same reassuring and convincing power as always.
Ren Yaoqi was led by him, step by step, out of her boudoir.
As if to accommodate Ren Yaoqi, Xiao Jingxi took very slow steps, yet they were steady and firm. Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but grip his hand tightly, and feeling this, Xiao Jingxi held her hand even tighter in return.
The two then bowed farewell to Li Shi and Ren Shimin together, after which Xiao Jingxi led Ren Yaoqi along the path laid with a bright red felt carpet out of the Ren residence. Every time they encountered steps, Xiao Jingxi would stop and quietly remind Ren Yaoqi.
The bridal sedan chair from the Yanbei Prince’s Manor was larger than ordinary sedan chairs, made of fine camphor wood with vermilion lacquer as the base and gold decorative carvings. It was dignified and grand, without overly ornate sedan coverings.
When they reached the sedan chair, the wedding attendant came over to help Ren Yaoqi into the chair, but Xiao Jingxi waved his hand in refusal. He lifted the sedan curtain and helped Ren Yaoqi into the bridal sedan.
“If you feel stuffy and hot, lift the veil to get some air—no one will see.” Finally, Xiao Jingxi leaned in close to Ren Yaoqi’s ear and whispered this instruction.
Ren Yaoqi felt her ear grow warm, and then Xiao Jingxi had already released her hand and stepped back.
Then, amid the ceremonial official’s announcements, Ren Yaoqi’s bridal sedan was lifted and followed Xiao Jingxi’s horse out of Baoping Alley.
According to custom, the wedding procession circled past all four gates of Yunyang City—east, west, south, and north—receiving blessings from all the citizens of Yunyang City along the way. Some people had specially traveled from other prefectures and counties to witness the Yanbei Prince’s Manor wedding, and the inns in Yunyang City had been doing exceptionally well these past few days.
Although it was past the hottest time of the day, sitting in the sedan chair, Ren Yaoqi still felt stuffy and hot. She wanted to follow Xiao Jingxi’s advice and lift the veil to get some air, but remembering what Nanny Zhou had said earlier—that a bride’s veil should only be lifted by the bridegroom, and having others lift it would be inauspicious—Ren Yaoqi hesitated for a while before giving up the idea.
Perhaps Xiao Jingxi had made arrangements beforehand, because the entire journey from the Ren residence, around the city, and to the Yanbei Prince’s Manor went very smoothly without any obstacles or incidents.
The sedan chair stopped in front of the Prince’s Manor gates, and Ren Yaoqi was again helped out by Xiao Jingxi. This time, the two stepped through the gates of the Yanbei Prince’s Manor together.
In the main hall of Chengde Palace within the Yanbei Prince’s Manor, an incense altar and sacrificial table had already been prepared. The first thing newlyweds must do upon entering is worship their ancestors, gain the approval of the Xiao family’s forebears, and only then proceed with the wedding ceremony.
Ren Yaoqi had been taught these procedures beforehand, so everything went smoothly.
After worshipping the ancestors, Xiao Jingxi led Ren Yaoqi to Qingzheng Palace, where the Prince and Princess Consort were already waiting.
What followed was another series of complex and lengthy rituals. Ren Yaoqi almost lost count of how many times she had been guided to bow, but fortunately, Xiao Jingxi remained by her side, supporting her throughout. Even so, when the ceremonial official finally announced that the rites were complete, Ren Yaoqi could barely stand up.
The Princess Consort and Prince spoke a few words of blessing from the head table, then Ren Yaoqi was led by Xiao Jingxi to their bridal chamber.
Upon entering the bridal chamber, although there were still quite a few customs and ceremonies to complete, at least there was no more kneeling and kowtowing required.
Xiao Jingxi took a thin weighing rod and lifted Ren Yaoqi’s red veil. The sudden influx of light and the handsome, ethereal face so close before her eyes made Ren Yaoqi blink several times before adjusting.
Xiao Jingxi smiled as he looked at Ren Yaoqi, only turning his gaze away and pulling her up when the ceremonial nanny beside them reminded the couple that there were still some rituals to complete.
The beams and lacquerware in the bridal chamber were decorated with red lacquer, silver paulownia oil, and gold gilding, looking very festive and magnificent. Under the west window sat a pear wood table with various ritual vessels—beans, bamboo containers, bronze vessels, baskets, and cutting boards.
The ceremonial nanny had the two sit facing each other. While chanting, she guided them to consume the food on the table. This was also a worship ritual, meant to show respect to heaven, earth, spirits, and ancestors, and to signify that this new couple would share meals from now on.
After the worship ritual came the “Joining of Gourds” ceremony. Xiao Jingxi picked up a slice of good meat and ate it, then picked up another piece and brought it to Ren Yaoqi’s lips. Ren Yaoqi also ate it—this was “sharing the same sacrifice.” The ceremonial nanny handed each of them half of a split gourd, poured wine into them, then the two poured the wine from their gourds into the same wine cup and drank it together—this was “joining gourds.”
After drinking the gourd wine, all the rites were finally truly complete.
Xiao Jingxi gave an instruction, and the room full of nannies and maids all withdrew in orderly fashion. Before Ren Yaoqi could react, all the miscellaneous people who had just filled the entire east room had departed, leaving only her and Xiao Jingxi alone in this small world.
Ren Yaoqi blinked and looked up at Xiao Jingxi. Her heart couldn’t help but feel somewhat nervous. Xiao Jingxi pulled her to sit on the bed, then leaned toward her. Ren Yaoqi was startled—her heart was still hesitating whether she should dodge away when she discovered that Xiao Jingxi had only leaned over to help remove the phoenix crown from her head.
Ren Yaoqi’s face flushed red. She thought she must have been influenced by that book she had looked at last night, which made her think of all sorts of random things. It was still early now, and Xiao Jingxi still had to go out to receive guests.
Xiao Jingxi looked at her flushed face with interest, asking with some teasing in a low voice: “What are you thinking about?”
Ren Yaoqi bit her lip and lowered her eyes: “Nothing… the phoenix crown on my head is very heavy.”
Xiao Jingxi chuckled softly, not exposing her lie, and carefully removed the crown that was six or seven inches tall from her head, casually placing it aside.
Once the crown was removed, Ren Yaoqi suddenly felt her head lighten, along with an inexplicably floating and dizzy sensation.
“Do you want to change out of the wedding dress?” Xiao Jingxi leaned close to Ren Yaoqi’s ear and asked quietly.
Tingling electric currents flowed from Ren Yaoqi’s ear throughout half her body. Perhaps because Xiao Jingxi was leaning too close, and because his tone when saying this was somewhat different from usual—deeper and lower—this originally somewhat suggestive statement sounded very blush-inducing and heart-racing.
“No, no need… I’ll change later.” Ren Yaoqi said nervously.
Xiao Jingxi smiled and quietly looked at her without speaking. Ren Yaoqi was about to say a few more words to ease this inexplicably tense atmosphere when she saw Xiao Jingxi suddenly lean toward her.
Ren Yaoqi felt a clear, pleasant scent envelop her completely, then her lips were covered. Ren Yaoqi only felt a “boom—” sound in her mind. She had no idea how to react, only feeling as if she were floating on clouds.
Ren Yaoqi couldn’t sit steadily and quickly used her hands to support herself on the bed behind her to stabilize her body. Xiao Jingxi then reached out to hold her in his arms. His lips gently rubbed against hers, and after she grew accustomed to his scent, he explored the edge of her lips with his tongue before entering uninvited.
Xiao Jingxi’s kiss was somewhat different from his usual impression. In the eyes of the world, Second Young Master Xiao was like an immortal figure who didn’t partake of earthly pleasures—someone who could always make others feel refreshed like a spring breeze, a gentle and refined young master.
But Xiao Jingxi’s kiss carried an unquestionable dominance and forcefulness within its tenderness. Ren Yaoqi found herself with nowhere to retreat, nowhere to hide, only able to sink together with him into this intimate moment of sharing each other’s essence.
Ren Yaoqi remained somewhat dazed throughout. She didn’t know how long this kiss lasted until knocking sounds from outside interrupted Xiao Jingxi’s forceful claiming.
Xiao Jingxi gently licked the corner of her lips, then released her, though his fingers tenderly caressed her lips.
Ren Yaoqi’s face was somewhat flushed from holding her breath, and there was still a watery gleam in her eyes. She looked at Xiao Jingxi for a long moment without coming back to her senses.
Xiao Jingxi chuckled softly and covered her eyes with his hand, saying in a very good mood and low voice: “Being looked at like this by you, at least not now… I still have to go out.”
Only then did Ren Yaoqi return from the clouds to reality. Just as she was about to push him away, she heard someone outside knocking on the door while saying, “I’m coming in.”
Then came the sound of footsteps approaching the east room.
Ren Yaoqi realized that her current position with Xiao Jingxi was somewhat intimate and quickly pushed him away with force. Xiao Jingxi had originally intended to move back anyway, but caught off guard by Ren Yaoqi’s embarrassed and angry push, he nearly lost his balance and fell off the bed. Fortunately, Second Young Master Xiao wasn’t as frail as the outside rumors suggested, or he would have made quite a spectacle of himself.
Xiao Jingxi stood up properly, but the look he gave Ren Yaoqi carried a somewhat aggrieved expression.
Ren Yaoqi also felt somewhat embarrassed and was about to say something when the person outside had already lifted the curtain and entered.
“Father and Mother want you to go to Qingzheng Palace.” Xiao Jinglin’s voice sounded in the room the next moment, dispelling the intimate atmosphere between the two.
Xiao Jinglin’s gaze was perfectly straightforward, no different from usual, which saved Ren Yaoqi, who had just done something “improper,” considerable embarrassment from being caught in the act.