First, they bowed to Heaven and Earth, then to their elders, and finally to each other.

Before the ceremony concluded, a palace servant brought forward a tray bearing a gourd with two halves connected by a red string. Two palace maids simultaneously presented each half to Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong.

This was the ceremonial wine of union. Drinking from the same gourd – bitter in form but sweet in content – symbolized sharing both joy and sorrow, facing life’s challenges together.

After drinking the ceremonial wine, the couple turned to face the civil and military officials, noble ladies, and imperial relatives, receiving their kowtows. Only then was the ceremony complete.

Shen Xihe left the Purple Dawn Hall and boarded the carriage to enter the Eastern Palace, while Xiao Huayong had to remain behind to feast with the guests.

At the Eastern Palace, Tianyuan served food: “Crown Princess, please eat something first. If there’s anything specific you’d like, just let this servant know.”

Shen Xihe glanced at the dishes – all her favorites were there, including her beloved Xiaoling roast. She wanted to remove her phoenix crown as it was heavy, but the female official sent by the Empress Dowager wouldn’t allow it – only the husband could remove a bride’s crown.

Mindful that this official served the Empress Dowager, Shen Xihe didn’t insist. Though the pearl curtain of her crown had been pulled aside to allow her to eat, she found it particularly uncomfortable to raise and lower her head with such weight.

This diminished her enjoyment of the feast. As if sensing her discomfort, a light cough announced Xiao Huayong’s arrival. She looked up to see him standing there, tall and elegant, gazing at her with gentle eyes.

Shen Xihe stood with Zhenzhu’s assistance. Xiao Huayong entered, steadying her as she tried to bow, then took her hand and led her to the dressing table. He removed her crown, letting loose her cascade of smooth black hair, then stood behind her and bent to kiss the top of her head: “I’ll return early.”

With that, he left as quickly as he had come.

He still had many ceremonial duties to complete but had specifically made time to remove her crown.

With the weight lifted from her head, Shen Xihe’s mood lightened. She enjoyed her meal, then washed and removed her makeup, revealing her natural beauty like a water lotus. She also changed into more comfortable clothing.

Xiao Huayong was occupied until nearly dusk before arriving at the feast. By then, his complexion was poor, face somewhat pale, looking as if he might faint at any moment, his steps unsteady. Who would dare make him drink?

Even though it was his wedding day when all taboos were lifted, no one dared. Even when officials toasted him, they anxiously added: “Your Highness, please drink as you please, as you please.”

Even so, with Xiao Huayong taking only small sips from each toast, his pale face soon showed an unnatural flush, making everyone even more nervous. Later, people actively substituted tea for wine in their toasts, and Xiao Huayong graciously followed suit.

Shen Xihe had expected him to return only when the moon rose above the willow tops, but he was brought back before nightfall, supported by others in the last rays of sunset.

While other grooms needed support from drinking too much, he needed it from… physical exhaustion…

After Xiao Huayong was brought to the bridal chamber, everyone else tactfully withdrew, leaving just the two of them. As soon as the door closed, Xiao Huayong sprang up from the bed and pulled Shen Xihe, who was standing beside it, into his embrace, deeply inhaling her fragrance.

Though he hadn’t drunk much, his rounds at the feast had left him smelling of alcohol. Shen Xihe pushed him away with slight distaste: “I’ve prepared fragrant bath water for you, go bathe quickly.”

Xiao Huayong held her, burying his face at her waist: “Do Youyou want to join me?”

Shen Xihe blushed and pushed him away forcefully, watching him fall back onto the bed as she stepped back: “Go quickly.”

“Hehehe…” Xiao Huayong lay spread-eagled on the bed, deep laughter rumbling in his chest as he gazed at Shen Xihe, who couldn’t understand his mirth. His eyes sparkled teasingly: “So… Youyou is this eager…”

Finally understanding his implications, Shen Xihe could only glare at him in embarrassed anger.

Xiao Huayong laughed even more heartily, causing Shen Xihe to turn and stride out of the bedchamber in anger. She feared if she stayed any longer, she might grab something and throw it at his face.

Though his little wife had stormed off in anger, Xiao Huayong couldn’t stop smiling.

He didn’t know why, but he loved teasing her until she was embarrassed and angry – she looked so vivid and lovely then.

Slowly sitting up, Xiao Huayong noticed the clean clothes prepared nearby. A warm feeling filled his chest, expanding and full. He gathered the clothes and went to the side chamber he had specifically set aside as a bathroom, with its square bathing pool.

After his bath, just as darkness fell, he emerged to find Shen Xihe sitting sideways by the lamp, reading. He strode forward and embraced her from behind.

Shen Xihe instinctively stiffened but quickly relaxed, for the first time willingly nestling into his embrace.

Delighted, Xiao Huayong lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bedchamber.

Shen Xihe’s heart tightened, expecting the wedding night’s intimacies, but instead, Xiao Huayong set her down on the edge of the bed. Seeing her tension, he smiled, touching her forehead to brush aside her hair as he whispered in her ear: “Don’t be afraid, it’s not yet time.”

After this cryptic statement, he retrieved two cloaks that the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau had rushed to make according to his specifications – one black, one white, both trimmed with raccoon fur and embroidered with subtle Pingzhong leaves at the hem.

Under Shen Xihe’s puzzled gaze, he fastened her cloak, then his own, and took her hand to leave the room, bewildering Zhenzhu and the others standing guard outside.

“All of you wait here,” Xiao Huayong commanded, then led Shen Xihe to another part of the Eastern Palace.

She followed him into a room where a wall opened to reveal a secret passage.

Down in the passage, corridors crisscrossed with multiple routes. Xiao Huayong confidently led her along one path, turning so many times that Shen Xihe nearly got dizzy. What shocked her more was discovering that beneath the imperial palace lay a maze-like network of passages leading in all directions.

When she next saw daylight, they had already left the palace grounds. They emerged into the wilderness, the exit hidden by overgrown weeds. Shen Xihe couldn’t help looking back at the door.

“This is outside the palace walls, where no one comes. This door cannot be opened from the outside without a key,” Xiao Huayong explained as he led her away from the palace.

After walking for a quarter-hour, they found a horse waiting. He helped her mount, then spurred the horse into a gallop.