At the auspicious time of dusk, Lu Zhuo brought the bride back from the Princess’s mansion, leading the grand wedding procession homeward in a magnificent parade.

The common people lined the streets to watch, creating an even more lively scene than when Prince Jing married his principal consort last December.

Though this was Lu Zhuo’s second marriage, it was his first time riding a horse to fetch his bride. Dressed in a bright red brocade wedding robe, his face like beautiful jade and smile like spring breeze, the young ladies and wives along both sides of the street could see no one else after laying eyes on him. They wished they could use magic to switch places with the bride in the wedding sedan, so they could take her place in the bridal chamber with Lu Zhuo tonight.

The men, on the other hand, rather wanted to take Lu Zhuo’s place. Ever since Wei Rao became a princess, she moved about with even greater freedom. Though she often wore a veil, everyone had witnessed firsthand her graceful and enchanting figure, and her reputation for beauty had spread throughout the streets and alleys of the capital. Moreover, even those who had never seen Wei Rao could tell from Lu Zhuo’s persistent pursuit of her that she was no ordinary beauty – to make such a divine young master think of her so obsessively, Wei Rao must be comparable only to the legendary Chang’e of the moon palace.

In short, a talented man and a beautiful woman, a perfect jade couple. From the moment the young master began his high-profile pursuit of the princess, the common people had discussed it with relish for a full year. Now that the young master had finally married the princess and brought her home, the people felt a sense of completeness as well.

With music and fanfare, they arrived at Duke Ying Mansion.

Firecrackers shot skyward, red whips crackled and popped, stirring up clouds of white smoke in the air.

Lu Zhuo sat on his horse, looking up at the white rings rippling through the sky.

When Wei Rao first married him, the ceremony should have been as lively as today’s, except he had been lying half-dead in bed. How ridiculous that when he mistook the bride for his original fiancée, he still felt ashamed for letting her suffer such grievance. But when he discovered the bride was Wei Rao, he began wondering why she had agreed to marry him and whether she had ulterior motives.

Today, he finally compensated Wei Rao with a proper wedding ceremony, marrying her wholeheartedly as his wife.

Lu Zhuo knew that Wei Rao’s agreement to marry him was largely because he truly was her best choice, and his family members were also the kindest-hearted family she could find. Wei Rao might not have deep feelings for him, but that didn’t matter – she had entered his household, and he had plenty of time to win her heart.

Rather than being merely the most suitable choice, he wanted to become the man Wei Rao loved most. He wanted her love to penetrate deep into her bones and blood, wanted her devotion to be unwavering until death. Even if one day he met with an accident on the battlefield, she would never entertain thoughts of remarrying and finding another man.

The spring breeze blew away the thin smoke. Lu Zhuo dismounted and, at the female official’s signal, went to kick the wedding sedan.

Wei Rao lowered her head slightly, holding a large red silk ball in her hands, carefully stepping out of the wedding sedan. The bridal veil swayed gently as a pair of black boots appeared in her field of vision – different from little Lu Che’s childish small feet from years ago, these feet belonged to a mature and imposing man who could ride horses and shoot arrows with perfect accuracy.

First bow to heaven and earth, second bow to the parents, husband and wife bow to each other, then escort to the bridal chamber.

Supported by the female official and led by Lu Zhuo holding the red silk, Wei Rao walked along the familiar stone path that the servants had scrubbed clean to Songyue Hall. She still remembered the deathly atmosphere of Songyue Hall on her wedding day four years ago. Today, it was filled with female guests, their cheerful laughter floating over the courtyard walls.

Arriving at the bridal chamber, Wei Rao sat on the bed, listening to the female official methodically arrange for the palace attendants to take their positions for the bridal chamber ceremony.

Wei Rao felt cheerful – this was the kind of wedding she had fantasized about, lively and joyous, without anyone to lift her veil while the groom lay half-dead in bed.

A scale hook reached toward her. Wei Rao took a gentle breath, lowered her eyes, and slightly raised the corners of her lips.

The veil was lifted, revealing the bride’s face.

When she married years ago, Wei Rao’s heart was like still water, indifferent to how others dressed her up. This time was different – Wei Rao had expressed her requirements to the female official. She didn’t want the kind of bridal makeup that covered the face with powder like dough and painted red circles on both cheeks. She wanted to show her true appearance, with cosmetics enhancing rather than uglifying her.

So the Wei Rao that Lu Zhuo saw wore a phoenix crown on her head, with a smooth forehead, face like the bright moon, charming eyes, and lips touched with a hint of crimson red.

Against the bright red wedding dress, her skin was snow-white and luminous, like a white pearl just emerged from the deep sea.

Nineteen-year-old Wei Rao had shed her bud-like innocence, resembling a half-opened peony – gorgeous and enchanting, yet still hiding some exquisite secret in the innermost petals, waiting for the deep of night to give to her new husband to explore personally.

Ordinary brides were shy, but Wei Rao was not. She seemed to have suppressed herself too long, waiting for this moment to arrive. She was proud and confident of her beauty, sitting there openly for all to admire, to be amazed by, to submit to. While the groom and female guests were still immersed in her beauty and forgot to breathe, Wei Rao moved. She raised her chin, her phoenix eyes looking directly at Lu Zhuo standing before her, her gaze shimmering, unhurried and unruffled, as if merely examining whether this groom was worthy of her.

Lu Zhuo sensed her provocation. He could even see behind Wei Rao another small Wei Rao hiding – the large Wei Rao sat properly, while the small Wei Rao flew to the top of the bed, looking down at him condescendingly, mockingly saying that her willingness to marry him was his honor, and if he dared look down on her again, he would regret it.

Lu Zhuo smiled, using his gaze to show submission to her. He wouldn’t dare.

Wei Rao withdrew her gaze with satisfaction. Indeed, Lu Zhuo was an elegant young gentleman, but she, Wei Rao, was no less impressive. Thinking of Lu Zhuo’s formerly lofty attitude, Wei Rao didn’t even want to let him sleep in the bed tonight.

After lifting the veil, the couple sat together to drink the nuptial wine, cut a lock of hair to tie into a lover’s knot. With this, the ceremony was complete.

Lu Zhuo went with the female guests to the banquet. Bitao and Liu Ya served Wei Rao as she removed her makeup. The small kitchen sent over four dishes and two soups. Wei Rao had been hungry all day and now had a great appetite, eating with satisfaction.

After washing and grooming again, Wei Rao leaned comfortably against the head of the bed, one hand twirling her hair, the other flipping through a story book.

She was still a bit nervous inside, but Wei Rao didn’t want to show it-didn’t want to let Lu Zhuo feel smug.

Night fell, and guests gradually departed. Duke Ying Mansion finally quieted down.

Lu Zhuo had been forced to drink until he was eighty percent drunk. Returning to Songyue Hall, he wanted to head straight to the back, but A’Gui caught him around the waist, tilting his head and saying: “Master, look how drunk you are. The young madam is so delicate – how could she bear it? The water is ready here. You should bathe and freshen up first, lest the young madam find you distasteful.”

With Songyue Hall hosting its second wedding celebration and the young madam still being the same young madam, A’Gui and the other servants had all experienced the young madam’s pampered temperament and dared not be anything less than thoroughly considerate.

So Lu Zhuo was made to drink two bowls of sobering tea by A’Gui. He vomited up all the alcohol that needed to come out, bathed and cleansed himself, drank another bowl of sobering tea, ate some pastries to fill his stomach, and rinsed his mouth with mint water. After all this, Lu Zhuo’s drunkenness was reduced to only fifty percent. When walking, his vision was no longer blurred, and his body no longer swayed. Gentle as jade and elegantly charming, he came to the back courtyard.

He had delayed too long in the front. Wei Rao had nearly finished the thin story book in her hands. Finally hearing movement, Wei Rao quickly flipped back dozens of pages and resumed reading.

Bitao and Liu Ya invited the young master into the inner chamber, then withdrew to the courtyard with smiles. On the sixth day of the third month, a crescent moon hung in the sky. The evening breeze was still somewhat cold, but the princess and young master had finally achieved their good fortune. Everyone felt warm in their hearts, thinking that tonight the wind was good, the moon was good, everything was good.

In the inner chamber, Lu Zhuo first saw upon entering a pair of wrist-thick dragon and phoenix red candles placed on the wedding table, their golden-red flames dancing quietly, dripping several drops of wax.

Four folding screens embroidered with flowers and a full moon were placed before the bed. Through the screens, he could see a figure in red clothes lazily leaning inside the canopied bed hung with red curtains. Her knees were bent, a pair of fair, small hands holding a book resting against her legs, while her head and face were blocked by the bed head.

Lu Zhuo had long known Wei Rao was bold, but he hadn’t expected her to be even more composed and calm than him on their wedding night.

Did she not know what would happen next between them in consummating their marriage?

Lu Zhuo closed the door behind him and walked step by step toward the bed.

He circled the screen and stepped into the outer area of the canopied bed. Wei Rao finally graced him with a glance, then continued reading as if they were a couple married for many years rather than newlyweds.

Lu Zhuo smiled and sat beside her, his gaze also falling on the story book: “What are you reading?”

Wei Rao showed him the cover: “Huangshi Mountain Hero Fighting Tiger,” with an illustration of a strong man punching a fierce tiger in the belly.

“The princess is truly a heroine among women – even the storybooks you read are different from ordinary women,” Lu Zhuo said with a smile.

Wei Rao ignored him and continued reading.

Lu Zhuo sat beside her, maintaining the posture of accompanying her reading, but his handsome face turned toward Wei Rao’s face, taking in her current appearance. She had washed her face clean of any rouge traces, yet her skin was fresh and tender like white peonies, showing a faint blush. Her long eyelashes hung quietly downward, her nose tip delicate and adorable, her lips…

Before Lu Zhuo could look his fill, Wei Rao felt flustered by his burning gaze and glanced at him with considerable distaste: “You’re blocking my light.”

Lu Zhuo chuckled softly: “This subject’s fault.”

After speaking, he changed direction. Wei Rao leaned against the head of the bed while he leaned toward the foot of the bed, even more openly examining her face.

Wei Rao couldn’t bear it, her heart fluttering in panic. She sat up straight, tossed the book onto the small table beside her, slipped her feet in red silk stockings into soft-soled embroidered shoes, and went around the screen to pour tea.

Lu Zhuo was also thirsty, but this thirst could not be quenched by tea.

After Wei Rao drank tea with nothing else to do, she glanced toward the canopied bed from the corner of her eye and saw that Lu Zhuo had taken out a book to read as well. This made Wei Rao breathe a sigh of relief – she had truly feared Lu Zhuo would immediately embrace her to do that sort of thing.

Since Lu Zhuo was reading, Wei Rao picked up the tiger-fighting story book again and leaned against the bed head to continue reading.

As she read, Wei Rao’s gaze moved past the pages, secretly glancing at Lu Zhuo’s book, but she saw he held his book against his knees, blocking the words on the cover.

“What are you reading?” Wei Rao asked curiously.

Lu Zhuo raised his eyes, looking at her: “Would the princess like to see?”

His face was still that sanctimonious face, but his phoenix eyes were deep and burning, as if hiding two flames.

Wei Rao instinctively sensed danger, immediately averting her gaze and humming: “Never mind, let’s each read our own.”

Lu Zhuo smiled and suddenly sat up.

Wei Rao was startled, looking at him warily.

Lu Zhuo rolled up his book and came to lean beside her, adjusting his position while saying: “The princess has better light here.”

Wei Rao remained vigilant until Lu Zhuo reopened his book, when she relaxed slightly. Just then, Wei Rao’s gaze finally fell on the pages of Lu Zhuo’s book. Left and right pages each contained a painting, with the men and women in the paintings…

Wei Rao’s face flushed red. She slapped the tiger story in her hand over Lu Zhuo’s book to block it, scolding: “Shameless! You’re not allowed to look!”

Lu Zhuo had long stopped wanting to read. He reached out to embrace the new bride, who intended to flee around the waist, turning to press her onto the bed.

Wei Rao glared at him angrily.

Lu Zhuo could no longer hide his rapid breathing. After gazing at Wei Rao for a moment, he suddenly lowered down. Wei Rao cried out softly and dodged away, so Lu Zhuo’s burning lips landed beside her ear.

Like a spark of flame falling onto a lake spread with tung oil, tongues of fire several feet high leaped up from that single point, burning fiercely.