After successfully completing the wedding ceremonies, Xie Wanqing clutched the red silk and was ushered into the bridal chamber.
The veil was slowly lifted, and Pei Yuqing’s handso face appeared before her once again, his eyes gentle and filled with warmth.
Her heart, a little unsettled due to the wedding, cald down instantly as she smiled back at him.
Surrounded by ladies who were either family friends or relatives of the Pei Family, the atmosphere was filled with joyful chatter.
Pei Yuxuan was among them, playfully winking at her...
She had long known her brother’s feelings, but never expected her usually slow-witted brother could act so quickly.
It hadn’t even been half a year, and now he had brought his bride ho.
Nanny Xi sang auspicious words, and a maid offered two cups of warm wine.
Pei Yuqing took them, handing one cup to Xie Wanqing. They interlocked arms and drank the ceremonial wine.
Amidst the laughter, a maid brought in dumplings.
Pei Yuqing picked one up with jade chopsticks and brought it to Xie Wanqing’s mouth. She bit a piece, and he reached out, saying, "Spit it out."
Xie Wanqing: "..."
She spat the dumpling into his palm, and Nanny Xi laughed as she asked, "Boy or girl?"
Xie Wanqing shyly responded, softer than a mosquito, "...Boy."
The ladies observing the ceremony inside the room started teasing.
Nanny Xi, with a smiling face, added, "Wishing you both eternal happiness and an early blessed child, a life of harmony and joy."
Pei Yuqing, usually calm and composed, now had eyes full of joy. Hearing the good wishes filling the room, he actually said, "Thank you."
His words of gratitude caused self-assured Xie Wanqing to lower her head embarrassedly, her cheeks slightly reddened.
The lively atmosphere in the bridal chamber continued for quite so ti, until dusk fell, and the banquet in the front hall began. Pei Yuqing was called away to toast and entertain guests.
The won inside gradually dispersed, with only Pei Yuxuan staying a bit longer, concerned that Xie Wanqing might feel afraid, being unfamiliar and alone in the new ho.
It wasn’t until the night fully descended that Xie Wanqing urged her to join the banquet, that she finally left.
The double happiness candles in the room were already lit, with only a few maids quietly bustling around.
Erqing was arranging the bridal trousseau when she turned to see her mistress leaning against the bed fra, looking a bit drained, and asked with concern, "Are you tired?"
Xie Wanqing shook her head lazily, saying, "Take them to grab so food, they’ve been busy all day."
Even Xie Wanqing herself, after the long day’s ordeal, had only eaten two pieces of pastry as a snack.
The mistress in the sedan chair was exhausted, and surely the maidens walking alongside were even more fatigued.
As Erqing led a few young maids out, Xie Wanqing heard a voice outside the door greeting, "Greetings to the groom."
She was taken aback, her eyes moving toward the half-burned red candles.
...Already back from toasting?
In her dream, when she married Lu Ziyuan, he returned no less than half an hour late.
The soft creak of the door opening sounded.
A man in a red robe appeared at the door, standing still and looking intently at the bride on the wedding bed.
His gaze lingered so long that Xie Wanqing felt uneasy and muttered, "What, don’t recognize ?"
"I do find you a bit unfamiliar," Pei Yuqing finally moved, but after just a step, turned to instruct Pei Er outside the door, "Serve the dishes."
...His wife hadn’t eaten yet.
Xie Wanqing felt a warmth in her heart, and when he sat by her side and held her hand, she ca back to her senses and complained, "Can I take down these hairstyles now?"
Not just any accessory, even alone the gilded and jeweled phoenix crown was overwhelmingly heavy, not to ntion the layered necklaces around her neck.
Donning such attire from morning to night, while being hungry, had left Xie Wanqing utterly fatigued.
She seed particularly languid at this point, and Pei Yuqing felt a pang seeing it, reaching to hold her shoulders, saying, "I should have co back sooner."
Xie Wanqing remarked, "You’ve already co back quite early."
Although she had been married only twice if dreams are counted, she’d heard tales from other families.
Among life’s four greatest joys, the wedding night is one, and it’s not easy being a groom, as toasting isn’t sothing you escape from easily.
Pei Yuqing guided her to sit before the dressing table, while deftly removing the heavy phoenix crown, smiling as he did, "My reputation for frailty is well known, no one dares to force to drink too much."
Moreover, he had several cousins helping to block the drinks.
The most distinguished among the guests were the Princes and Dukes.
Considering their statuses, they were all his cousins and uncles, and given Princess Duan Yang’s regards, they wouldn’t truly demand the frail cousin and nephew drink more.
Thus, as he stood behind her, Xie Wanqing could barely sll the scent of wine.
His gentle fingers worked deftly, and soon, the weight on her head was relieved, the phoenix crown removed.
Xie Wanqing sighed in relief and turned to smile at him, "You’re surprisingly skilled at taking down a lady’s hairstyles."
That complex phoenix crown was undone without pulling her hair at all, and so quickly too.
Pei Yuqing, upon hearing this, couldn’t help but chuckle, as he bent closer to grasp her chin, "Whose else could I have undone? I rely observed with my eyes."
His gaze carried amusent, a handso face close enough to captivate.
Xie Wanqing blinked, pushed away his hand from her chin, leaned up, and kissed him.
At that mont, footsteps were heard from the unclosed door.
Maidens entered holding dishes with both hands.
Startled, she hastily withdrew and stood up, caught and steadied by the man beside her, who cautioned, "Be careful not to fall."
Almost caught in such an intimate mont by the servants, Pei Yuqing remained calm as ever, making Xie Wanqing view him in a new light.
When the dishes were set, Pei Yuqing dismissed the others and took a seat with her, "You must be hungry, try them and see if they’re to your liking."
Although he asked, his attentiveness was such that what was served couldn’t possibly not cater to her tastes.
Xie Wanqing favored sweet and sour flavors, and among the dozen dishes, the cold and warm ones were predominantly her preferences.
She picked up a piece of sour bamboo shoot with her chopsticks and noticed him eating as well, curious, "Did you not eat either?"
Could it be that even after the toasting, he hadn’t had sothing to nibble on?
"No, I haven’t eaten," Pei Yuqing placed a piece of lotus slice on her plate and gently said, "With you waiting hungry in the bridal chamber for , how could I eat first?"
"I always thought you, like my big brother, were slow and clueless, but now I see you’re getting better at speaking sweetly."
Hearing this, Xie Wanqing smiled and returned the favor by placing a piece of roasted at on his plate.
She thought to herself, it’s utterly remarkable to encounter such a devoted man, usually only found in romance novels.
She had indeed chosen well, for older n could truly cherish soone.
Handso, good-natured, and filled with love for her...
Feeling content, Xie Wanqing began to enjoy her al. Both occasionally served each other food, creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere in the room.
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