Qin Yining’s vision was blocked by the wedding veil, and she could only look down at her feet. She was helped to sit on the edge of the bed, then felt the bedding beside her sink as an extremely strong and commanding presence sat beside her. Looking down, she could see Pang Xiao’s bright red outer robe and his long legs.

The auspicious matron smiled and stepped forward, pressing Qin Yining’s dress hem over Pang Xiao’s robe. Then she brought over a tray with a steelyard decorated with a bright red true-love knot laid across it.

“Please let the groom lift the wedding veil with the steelyard, from now on all wishes will be fulfilled.”

Pang Xiao pressed his lips together, his handsome features expressionless. Only he himself knew that this hand, which never hesitated when beheading enemies on the battlefield, was actually trembling as it gripped the steelyard!

He looked toward the delicate person beside him, his hand trembling slightly as he lifted the red veil embroidered with dragons and phoenixes, handing both it and the steelyard to the auspicious matron.

The room was brightly lit, and under the warm orange lamplight, Qin Yining lowered her eyes modestly. Even the luxurious gold ornaments couldn’t overshadow her absolutely stunning beauty.

The bridal chamber fell silent for a moment. Pang Xiao’s long, strong hand lifted the row of flowing tassels at the front of her phoenix crown, securing them to the golden phoenixes on either side.

Beautiful brows and watery eyes, a perfect nose and cherry lips – truly radiant beyond compare.

All the guests who had come to create a commotion in the bridal chamber held their breath, only coming back to their senses after quite a while.

The auspicious matron began reciting the bed-scattering poem:

“Leaves paired with hairpins gleaming purple and polished, fans like clustered clouds with moon-born waves. Two rows of ceremonial attendants bow in greeting, scattering fruits while hearing many songs sung…”①

While reciting, children from the guest families scattered red dates, peanuts, longans, and lotus seeds over Pang Xiao and Qin Yining as well as on the wedding bed behind them.

The guests became lively, shouting auspicious phrases like “may you have noble children soon” and “may you grow old together with white hair.”

After the bed-scattering ceremony, the auspicious matron brought over another tray with two pure gold wine cups.

“Please let the bride and groom drink the nuptial wine, from now on harmonious and beautiful, lasting forever!”

Qin Yining raised her hand to take the wine cup, lightly touching Pang Xiao’s hand before separating again.

She lifted her eyes to look at Pang Xiao.

Pang Xiao also held his wine cup, lowering his eyes to look at her.

When their gazes met, Pang Xiao’s eyes were so passionate they could melt a person. Qin Yining somewhat awkwardly lowered her eyes to avoid them.

Seeing her face flushed like rosy clouds, Pang Xiao felt both fond and tender. He extended his long arm and linked it with hers.

Qin Yining’s face drew closer and closer to his, finally drinking the nuptial wine beside each other’s faces and shoulders.

“Excellent!” Everyone cheered their blessings.

Qin Yining put down her wine cup and lowered her head. The auspicious matron brought over a plate of dumplings, handing ivory chopsticks to Qin Yining.

Qin Yining was somewhat surprised, secretly wondering what kind of ritual this was, but still cooperatively took the ivory chopsticks, picked up a dumpling and took a bite.

The dumpling seemed to have only been briefly dipped in hot water – the dough inside was still raw, with a sugar filling where the sugar hadn’t even dissolved.

Qin Yining frowned and said, “It’s raw.”

Looking up, she saw Pang Xiao’s smiling eyes.

The auspicious matron laughed heartily, “Did everyone hear that? The princess consort said it herself – it’s raw!”

All the female guests in the room burst into laughter, joining in the teasing, “We heard it! The princess consort said it’s raw – princess consort, quickly give the prince a little heir!”

Qin Yining speechlessly spat out that bite of raw dumpling skin, her face completely red as she lowered her head. Her lips still seemed to have sugar on them, sweet when she pressed them together.

“The ceremony is complete, everyone go outside to drink wine!”

The auspicious matron organized everyone to leave.

Soon, only Pang Xiao and Qin Yining remained in the bridal chamber.

The two sat side by side on the step-bed. Not far away, on the Eight Immortals table covered with a bright red tablecloth, red candles burned brightly. Suddenly there was a “pop” sound as one burst into a flower of light.

Pang Xiao cleared his throat, his voice hoarse as he said, “My mother said when wedding candles burst into light flowers, it’s a good omen.”

“Mm.” Qin Yining kept her head down, not knowing what to say.

Pang Xiao continued, “That, that phoenix crown must be heavy, right? Let me help you take it off?”

“Alright.” Qin Yining smiled at him, “This morning my mother had me get up early to have my hair done and face prepared, to dress and apply makeup. Even though evening is the proper time, I was ready by noon. This phoenix crown is solid gold too – my neck is about to break from the weight.”

Pang Xiao then stood up, and with Qin Yining’s cooperation, first removed the several securing hairpins, then carefully used both hands to lift off the phoenix crown, afraid of pulling her hair and causing her pain.

With several pounds of gold and gems removed from her head, Qin Yining moved her neck, even hearing “crack crack” sounds, rubbing her neck and letting out a long breath: “If I had to wear this thing every day, I couldn’t bear it. With something so heavy on my head, I didn’t dare even lower it.”

Pang Xiao laughed, sitting beside her, one large hand massaging her neck and shoulders.

The touch beneath his hand was so delicate and smooth that Pang Xiao’s heart stirred with desire. He quickly coughed and withdrew his hand.

“Yining, that, I, I should go out to toast the guests.”

Seeing Pang Xiao’s expression, Qin Yining knew what he had just been thinking. Her face red and ears burning, she nodded, “Go ahead, if you go too late it would be impolite.”

“Good. Oh, I had someone prepare food for you – they’ll bring it to you shortly. You should remove your makeup and rest first, don’t wait for me. Who knows how late this crowd will keep going.”

Qin Yining nodded again.

Pang Xiao gazed at her gentle, beautiful face, couldn’t help smiling and touching her cheek, “I’m leaving now.”

At this moment, Qin Yining didn’t dare meet his gaze at all, only lowering her long lashes and nodding silently. Little did she know that this appearance of hers made Pang Xiao’s heart burn even more fiercely.

Pang Xiao stumbled as he fled.

If he stayed even a moment longer, he feared he couldn’t control himself and wouldn’t be able to go out to toast the guests.

Only after Pang Xiao left did Qin Yining breathe a sigh of relief.

That look he’d had earlier, staring at his prey as if he could devour her, reminded her of what Sun Shi had said about letting him “do whatever he wanted.” Qin Yining’s ears burned through and through, and she had to cover her cheeks with both hands to cool down a little.

Just then, the room door was gently knocked, followed by a creaking sound as it was pushed open. Bingtang, Ji Yun, Xian Yun, and Qiu Lu entered carrying food boxes and other items.

Bingtang smiled, “The prince just instructed that the princess consort must not be tired or hungry, telling us servants to serve the princess consort some food first.”

“The prince is so considerate of the princess consort. This chicken soup was said to be slowly simmered over low heat in the small kitchen – the bones and meat are stewed until tender, with red dates and goji berries added. It’s good for the princess consort’s health.”

Qiu Lu joyfully set down the food box, ladling a bowl of chicken soup for Qin Yining. She also arranged several plates of delicate pastries and small dishes.

Qin Yining was indeed starving. Sun Shi, afraid of mishaps along the way, hadn’t let her eat much all day. Now, with Ji Yun and Xian Yun helping her out of her wedding dress and letting down her hair, she sat at the Eight Immortals table in her middle clothes and began wolfing down the food.

After eating two pieces of pastry, a few bites of small dishes, and drinking half a bowl of soup, Qin Yining finally let out a long breath, “Ah, only now do I feel like I’ve come back to life.”

The four maids couldn’t help but find it amusing.

Qin Yining asked again, “Where’s Xiaozhou?”

① Quoted from Jiang Zhiqiao’s “Tianqi Palace Poems.”