With the wedding imminent, the even calm of Ling Jingshu’s heart began to slowly grow complex and hard to describe.
Nervous was perhaps too strong a word. She and Wei Yan had long since been of one heart and one mind, and she had longed for this day.
But to say she felt not the slightest flutter — that was impossible too.
For a woman, marriage meant leaving familiar family and surroundings behind and entering a completely unfamiliar environment to begin a wholly new life. In these times, most marriages were arranged blind — the bride and groom strangers to each other, learning each other’s face only on the night of the wedding.
Thinking of it this way, she was already extraordinarily fortunate. At the very least, she and Wei Yan knew each other as well as two people possibly could.
And Wei Yan’s parents had both passed away, and he had no other relatives at home. His only elder sister resided deep within the imperial palace and would virtually never leave it under ordinary circumstances. After marrying into the Wei household, she would neither need to wait upon in-laws nor deal with anyone else at all — truly the luckiest of situations.
Ling Jingshu kept reassuring herself in this way, and gradually her mood settled back into its customary calm.
The night before the wedding, Sun Shi came specially to Ling Jingshu’s chambers and earnestly pressed several things upon her.
“A’Shu, you will be leaving tomorrow. Once you are in the Wei household, you must put the Wei household first in everything and need not always be thinking of your family at home. That way Wei Yan will not feel displeased. Men are all the same in their thinking — they always hope their wife will place them first.”
“The Wei household’s situation is unusual. Apart from Wei Yan, there is no one else there. You will not have to wait upon in-laws after you marry in, and there will be no rules to stand on ceremony with — that is indeed a fine thing. However, towards the Empress in the palace, you must on no account be neglectful…”
Sun Shi went on with a long string of instructions on one matter after another. “You are sharp and clever, and composed and careful in how you conduct yourself. Even if I didn’t say these things, you would certainly have thought of them yourself. In short — think things over carefully before you act. We all hope you and Wei Yan will live in harmony and happiness.”
The Ling Family hoped to forge ties with the Wei Empress — and that depended on Ling Jingshu.
Sun Shi’s wish for Ling Jingshu and Wei Yan to live in mutual affection was not mere empty words.
Ling Jingshu listened to Sun Shi’s instructions, and a faint warmth stirred in her heart. “Thank you for the reminder, First Aunt. I have taken it all to heart.”
The kindness Sun Shi and Ling Daye had shown her did carry a degree of self-interest. But water too pure has no fish. There was no need to take issue with such small particulars.
Seeing Ling Jingshu so gentle and obedient, Sun Shi felt quite pleased, and words she had not planned to say came naturally out of her mouth. “Your father was indeed somewhat muddled before — too easily taken in by your stepmother’s words, and too little attentive to you and your brother. But he is, after all, your birth father. No matter how much you dislike Li Shi, don’t let her be the cause of your growing distant from your own family.”
Ling Jingshu tugged at the corners of her lips and replied lightly: “That will depend on what Father chooses to do.”
Sun Shi was left speechless.
Having spent more than two years in the imperial palace, Ling Jingshu had undergone an unmistakable change. A warning delivered in that manner — unhurried and utterly free of any trace of urgency, yet pointed without being overt — clean and deft.
She really would have to counsel Ling Wuye more in the days ahead. He must not be foolish. When it came to matters concerning Ling Jingshu and her brother, Li Shi was not to be allowed to interfere or involve herself again.
Sun Shi made a mental note of this, while the smile on her face grew warmer. “Your father may not say it aloud, but in his heart he cherishes you and your brother most. He knows what he ought to do. He will not disappoint you.”
Ling Jingshu gave a faint smile. “One can only hope.”
Sun Shi hesitated briefly, then drew a thin, slim booklet from her sleeve and pressed it into Ling Jingshu’s hands. “You will be married tomorrow — read this booklet carefully, and the matters of husband and wife will come naturally to you.”
Ling Jingshu: ……
Without even opening it, she could already guess what it was.
So this had been Sun Shi’s true purpose in coming!
No matter how thick Ling Jingshu’s composure, she could not help but flush red. For once, she looked exactly as a young woman on the eve of her wedding should look.
Sun Shi had felt somewhat awkward herself, but seeing Ling Jingshu’s shy embarrassment, she steadied herself considerably and said with a low laugh: “There is nothing to be embarrassed about. This is an important step for a woman when she marries. It doesn’t matter how much you know — just follow your husband’s lead when the time comes.”
Ling Jingshu felt a warmth behind her ears and murmured a vague sound of acknowledgement.
Sun Shi gave a knowing smile. “Have a good look, and remember to sleep early — you’ll need to rise early tomorrow for your hair and makeup.”
With that, she rose and left with considerable thoughtfulness.
……
Ling Jingshu sat alone for a moment, then steeled herself and opened the booklet.
In her previous life, when she had been about to be married, she had not yet seen through Li Shi’s true nature. The one who had instructed her in the matters between husband and wife had been Li Shi herself. In this life, she would no longer have to face that hateful woman’s face.
She did not know where Sun Shi had found this illustrated booklet. The pictures were extraordinarily lifelike — even the woman’s expression of intoxication and the man’s face of pleasure were drawn with perfect clarity.
As she looked, the man’s face in the pictures gradually transformed into Wei Yan’s. And the woman gradually became herself. An indescribable heat stirred and surged ceaselessly within her body…
Her cheeks burning scarlet, Ling Jingshu closed the booklet and tried to settle her unsettled emotions.
The door was suddenly pushed open.
Ling Jingshu had no time to see who it was. Without thinking, she shoved the booklet hastily under the pillow.
Bai Yu: ……
Ling Jingshu: ……
Mistress and maid stared at each other — one sitting at the edge of the bed with a face blazing red, the other standing in the doorway with her mouth hanging open.
After a moment, Bai Yu finally gathered her wits. She made a determined effort to suppress her laughter and pretended to have seen nothing at all. “This servant has already prepared the warm water, Miss. You should go to the bathing room now and bathe early, then sleep. You’ll need to rise early tomorrow!”
Ling Jingshu cleared her throat. “I understand. You may withdraw first. I will be there presently.”
Bai Yu bowed her head in acknowledgement, the corners of her mouth curving as high as they could go.
She had never once seen the young miss look this flustered and red-faced before!
After Bai Yu left, Ling Jingshu sat a moment longer, waiting for the heat to fade from her cheeks. Then, with a composure that was wholly feigned, she went to the bathing room.
She bathed, changed into her night clothes, and lay down.
But on a night like this, how could Ling Jingshu possibly sleep?
Sweet anticipation tangled with unease; longing tinged with an inexplicable flutter of confusion — her heart a hopeless tangle of loose threads. Perhaps every young woman on the eve of her wedding spent the last night in her family home with just this kind of complicated feeling.
She did not know how long she lay lost in her wandering thoughts. At last, Ling Jingshu drifted into a hazy, half-conscious sleep.
The moment she fell asleep, that infuriating, handsome face of Wei Yan appeared before her.
“A’Shu, we have finally wed.” Wei Yan gazed at her with deep affection, his eyes burning with an ardent light that nearly melted her. “I have waited for this day for a very long time.”
Indeed!
Not only he — she, too, had waited for a very, very long time.
He spread his arms wide and pulled her firmly into his embrace.
He lowered his head, pressing his lips upon hers in kiss after kiss, their lips and tongues entwining in a dance together.
His hand slipped inside her collar, roaming and exploring everywhere, igniting her passion completely…
A familiar voice shattered that exquisite, wonderful dream: “Miss — it is the fifth watch now. Time to rise!”