Until after dinner, the night had deepened, and the noisy vigor in the front hall had gradually quieted down. It was only then that Xie Wanqing felt sowhat awkward.
... Today is their wedding day, tonight is their wedding night.
Wedding night...
The maidservants were clearing away the leftovers, while Erqing approached and respectfully said, "Miss, allow to assist you with washing up."
Xie Wanqing turned to look at the young man seated on the bed. eting his pair of eyes filled with tranquil amusent, her face grew warm under his gaze, and she hastily entered the bathroom.
When she ca out again, the person on the bed had also changed out of the wedding attire, now clad in just a thin night robe, leaning against the headboard.
In the candlelight, his profile appeared handso and cool, without the slightest trace of common life, resembling a trumpet vine blooming on a steep mountain cliff, untouched by worldly dust.
Had it been soone else, they might have felt sha and kept their distance.
But Xie Wanqing not only felt no respect, she felt wholly gratified.
No matter how cool and aloof, he must now wait for her here.
Thinking this, she sat in front of the dressing mirror as the maidens dried her hair, only to hear the man on the bed say, "Everyone, leave."
Erqing paused, looking towards her mistress.
Xie Wanqing raised her hand slightly, leading Yuanyu and Yuan Yue to step back together.
The room was left with only the two of them once more. The man on the bed then got up, walked over behind her, and picked up a cotton towel to dry her hair.
The man behind her was gentle and careful in his movents. Xie Wanqing enjoyed the attentive service, squinting at him through the copper mirror with an intent to tease him. However, as their gazes t, seeing the complex and indistinct emotions in his dark eyes, she unexpectedly froze.
"Has sothing happened?"
How is it that in the ti it took her to bathe, this person’s deanor has changed from warm to sothing else entirely?
At her words, Pei Yuqing’s hands continued their work, mouth opening to reply. Yet before he could speak, both of them heard a hoarse shout outside the door.
"!!!"
Xie Wanqing abruptly stood, her face turning pale: "Lu Ziyuan has returned?"
This voice clearly belonged to Lu Ziyuan.
"Yes, he has returned," Pei Yuqing pressed on her shoulder, saying, "Your hair isn’t dry, sit down and discuss it."
Xie Wanqing was flustered and uneasy, but seeing his composed deanor, she could only comply and sit down, anxiously asking, "When did he return?"
These past days she had never ntioned Lu Ziyuan, genuinely assuming he was still in Yunzhou suppressing the chaos, unlikely to rush back and cause trouble.
Yet now, the voice outside was distinctly clear.
The commotion was reaching the bridal chamber’s entrance.
Pei Yuqing said, "Once our wedding date was set, Mingjian would inevitably investigate; it’s a secret that can’t be kept for long."
With only ten days’ ti, they needed to send out invitations, welcoming friends and relatives, and how could Mingjian in the Capital City not receive news.
As soon as a letter was sent to Yunzhou, with the speed of Yun Jin, Lu Ziyuan could receive the news in five or six days. With the fad steed Ben Yun, rushing back under the stars, he truly could make it in ti...
As she unraveled these thoughts, the sound of swords clashing ca from outside the door.
Pei Yuqing put aside the towel he held, gripped her shoulder, and with an appeasing gesture, kissed lightly the top of her fragrant hair, asking softly, "I’m heading out for a mont, would you like to join ?"
Xie Wanqing’s breath paused, hesitated for a few monts, and shook her head, saying, "I won’t go."
She was already wed, now properly Mrs. Pei, going to see the late-night trespassing forr fiancé would be improper.
Pei Yuqing’s gaze was gentle, patting her small head, "Don’t be afraid, I’ve said before, as long as you don’t regret it, he won’t take you away."
Speaking thus, he donned an outer robe and opened the door to exit.
As soon as he stepped out, Erqing entered hurriedly, looking visibly flustered.
Xie Wanqing stood up, looking towards the window, "What’s happening outside?"
"They’re fighting, many guards have arrived," Erqing supported her, whispering, "I only saw Heir Lu being besieged by a group of guards and dared not look too closely."
Xie Wanqing’s body stiffened.
The guests in the front courtyard had not yet dispersed, and the commotion here was so significant...
It’s conceivable that after this night, the three of them would beco an enduring topic among the people of the Capital City.
But Xie Wanqing already couldn’t concern herself with those matters, her hands clenched tightly, her mind alternating between the image of Erqing beaten to death and Lu Ziyuan’s despairing, lifeless appearance.
Nearly unable to resist heading outside to demand what he intended!
Yet ultimately, after pacing back and forth for a while, she sat back beside the bed.
......
Outside Xuanhua Courtyard.
Hurriedly returned through wind and rain, Lu Ziyuan held a long spear, challenging dozens of guards from Duke Pei Mansion all alone.
The guards had no hesitation against soone wielding a weapon and invading a private residence, while Lu Ziyuan fought with ruthless ferocity.
Since receiving the letter in Yunzhou, his chest hadn’t ceased burning painfully, and upon seeing the courtyard festively adorned, he beca utterly red-eyed.
The guards rushing at him were knocked away one by one by his spear, but having traveled day and night without rest left his body fatigued, along with the intense emotional turmoil, he exposed vulnerabilities several tis, sustaining injuries.
The dark garnts were soaked with blood, yet Lu Ziyuan seed unaware, his gaze fixated on the brightly lit window nearby adorned with the red joy character.
In there, the girl now resides, in the bridal chamber with another man.
... He must take her back, cannot allow her to marry another.
This resolve sustained him standing here without collapsing.
Until the door that had remained closed was opened, and a tall figure stepped out. Lu Ziyuan paused briefly, allowing so guards to seize the chance to pounce forward. His spear swung to fling off one charging guard, but his left arm suffered another sword wound.
Battling on soaked in blood without frowning, upon seeing the man from the bridal chamber already changed out of wedding attire, his tense chin trembled faintly, a heart seemingly weighed down plumting straight down.
Plumting into a bottomless bloody abyss.
While he fought here, what had they done inside?
Why were they changed into different clothes?
Lu Ziyuan tasted a sweetness in his throat, abruptly halting his offensive, the majority of Pei Mansion guards deterred by the imposing aura around him, dared not advance for the mont.
Only a few continued to swing their swords forward but were stopped by the erging host.
Pei Yuqing stepped forward a few paces, gazing at the man in front of him whom he had intensely envied, resented, and blad.
After a long while, he t the bloodthirsty red eyes and slightly smiled, saying, "If you retain any sanity, please leave now. Continued disturbance brings you no benefits."
The wedding sanctioned by the Holy Emperor, causing trouble here not only snubs Duke Pei Mansion, but also insults the Emperor.
No matter the accolades, a subject remains a subject; arrogance from favor is a grave error.
Lu Ziyuan acted as though he hadn’t heard, gripping the long spear pointing directly across, solemnly declaring, "Pei Yuqing, do you know the consequences of daring to move my person?"
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