Pei Huaijin had always been a man of self-restraint and propriety.
But tonight was his wedding night, and his wife was so exquisitely beautiful that he truly had no need for restraint.
He took that soft hand in his own, his other hand sweeping aside her waterfall of dark hair from her shoulder, gently caressing her jade-like, luminous little face, tilting it up ever so slightly.
Those eyes were far too clear, lashes trembling with shyness, tinged with a hint of fear—how could one not feel tenderness at the sight?
Though they were husband and wife now, they were still unfamiliar with each other. For the coming nuptial rites, Pei Huaijin asked her politely, “May I?”
Shen Youran naturally understood what he meant. Although she had prepared herself, now that the moment was upon her, she still felt nervous. Her hands fumbled helplessly with the edge of her robe, her face flushed as she nodded.
That large, damp hand slid from her cheek down to her delicate collarbone, fingertips cool, easily parting her sleeping robe. With anticipation and bashful longing, Shen Youran allowed him to press her down into the crimson, soft quilt…
On the other side, Pei Huaian finally escaped from his grandfather’s study.
Tonight’s marriage ceremony was only halfway done, when Grandfather’s Vermillion Bird Ascending Malady flared up again. His memory suddenly regressed to twenty years ago when he was teaching the former Crown Prince, and he packed up his bookcase, insisting he needed to enter the palace and give a lesson.
The old man was advanced in age, clutching his bookcase and charging about. The servants, afraid of injuring him, dared not stop him by force. Father and the uncles took turns trying to explain and persuade, but Grandfather would listen to no one. Father had no choice but to fetch his just-married son and send him in to talk Grandfather down.
At first, Pei Huaian was puzzled: “Grandfather won’t even listen to you all. Would he listen to me, his grandson?”
Father offered an idea: “Back then, when your grandfather taught His Highness the former Crown Prince, the prince was about your age. When you see the old master, don’t call him ‘Grandfather,’ call him ‘Teacher.’ Just say there’s no lesson today and ask him to go back and rest…”
Pei Huaian could only gape: “Will…will this work?”
Father urged him on: “It will. Trust your father!”
Half believing, half doubting, Pei Huaian went to Chunxuan Hall. The old master was holding his bookcase and scolding the maidservants blocking his way in the courtyard. Pei Huaian stepped forward and stiffly called out, “Teacher…”
The old master was startled, turning to look at him.
Pei Huaian forced himself to meet Grandfather’s gaze. “Teacher, I have matters today and cannot attend class. Please rest well at home, Teacher.”
He thought this plan was hopeless, but to his surprise, the old master really did hand his bookcase off to someone nearby, straightened his robes, and respectfully walked to stand before him, bowing.
“Diligence brings knowledge; without it, the belly is empty. Your Highness, do not waste time. Come to the study with your subject and read.”
Grandfather actually believed it?
Pei Huaian exchanged a look of astonishment with his father, feeling a bit more confident. “Teacher, I truly have something to attend to today. I will come to seek your guidance tomorrow.”
The old master replied, neither humble nor haughty, “What matter could be more important to Your Highness than studying?”
Pei Huaian pointed to the wedding robe on his body. “Today I am getting married…”
“Did you not get married just last month? Why are you marrying again this month?” The old master grabbed his hand and started dragging him to the study. “His Majesty ordered me to strictly supervise Your Highness. No matter what you say today, you must study first…”
“Teacher, I’m not… Grandfather…” Pei Huaian looked back to his father for help. “Father…”
Father could only wave helplessly. “Just go read for a while, then talk…”
So, he ended up reading for over an hour.
Not until the old master finally regained his senses, holding the book in confusion, did he look at him and ask, “Xiao Qi, aren’t you getting married today? Why are you here with Grandfather? Is it because Grandfather fell ill again?”
“No, Grandson just came to check on you.” Pei Huaian set down the now-creased book, pressed down his anxious thoughts, stood, and smiled. “Then Grandson will return to continue the wedding…”
“Go on.”
The autumn wind was cool that night, the moonlight silver and serene. Pei Huaian had no time to admire the moon, nearly running all the way back to Ciyou Courtyard.
The ritual official and maidservants had waited for ages. When they saw him finally return, they hurriedly resumed their tasks in order.
“Has she been waiting anxiously?” Pei Huaian casually asked one of the maids.
The maid replied, “Young Madam has been very quiet, hardly speaking…”
That meant she was angry—and sulking in silence.
Feeling guilty, Pei Huaian walked inside, rubbing his hands, apologizing to her, “Sorry, I was delayed at Grandfather’s…”
The pearls and jade on her bridal veil trembled slightly, and a doubtful voice came from beneath it. “Pei Huaian?”
“Ah?” Pei Huaian instinctively answered, finding the voice strangely familiar.
“What are you doing here?”
What did she mean, what was he doing here? “The ceremony isn’t finished yet. I’ve come to complete it with you.”
“Why are you completing the ceremony with me?”
This question left Pei Huaian utterly baffled. “I’m your husband. If not me, then who?”
The person stiffened, then suddenly stood up. “How are you my husband? Weren’t you supposed to marry my Third Sister?”
“Ah…” Pei Huaian’s jaw dropped in shock. “Sister-in-law? Why are you in my bridal chamber?”
Shen Yunshu raised her hand and tore off the veil, glancing at it. It was embroidered with magpies alighting on plum branches. “It’s a mistake. I got Third Sister’s veil by accident…”
“Heavens…” Then didn’t that mean his wife had been sent to his elder brother’s room?
“What are you standing there for?” Shen Yunshu lifted her skirt and rushed outside. “Hurry and take me to your elder brother’s courtyard!”
Embroidered red curtains draped down, transforming the pearwood round bed with mountain-and-river carvings into a world for two alone.
When it came to the matters of husband and wife, neither had any real experience, and because of their unfamiliarity, when the other leaned in for a kiss, Shen Youran instinctively sealed her lips tight.
A burning hot hand slid to her waist, gently pinching, making her let out a soft moan. He took the chance to invade her mouth.
He probably had no kissing experience either. For all his mature appearance, his technique was frankly inexperienced—nothing like what she’d read in her storybooks.
She did her best to respond, awkward and clumsy, and accidentally bumped teeth with him, drawing a low chuckle as he let her lips go, instead burying his face in the crook of her neck.
His straight nose brushed against her neck, nudging and pressing, forcing her to tilt her head back. The hot, damp breath sent odd sensations—part pain, part tickle—while in the spaces between their caresses, her sleeping robe and even the little red silk undergarment were stripped away, tossed outside the curtain.
She tried to untie his robe belt in return. Clearly a simple knot, yet her fumbling only turned it into a dead knot.
He had no choice but to let her go for now, sitting up and, by the candlelight outside the curtains, unfastened his own clothes.
Shen Youran, blushing furiously, hid under the quilt but couldn’t resist peeking, sticking out half her head to steal a glance.
He had just undone the belt, and with a sweep of his arm, his sleeping robe slid off, revealing broad shoulders and a strong, fair chest that didn’t match his jade-like face. Lower down, his waist and abdomen were taut, every line clear and strong, as if brimming with power…
Wasn’t he only sixteen? How could his figure be so… mature and refined?
Lost in thought, she was caught off guard when he suddenly turned and locked eyes with her as she peeped.
Shen Youran quickly ducked under the quilt, but immediately felt lighter as he lifted it away. He pressed over her, trapping her beneath, and asked with a laugh, “Why stop looking?”
The crisp scent of agarwood enveloped her. His body, slightly warmer than hers, was close and comforting. Shen Youran’s face burned, and she shyly covered her eyes, refusing to admit, “I wasn’t looking…”
Pei Huaijin took her hand, moved it aside, and pressed it by the pillow. “No need to be shy. We are husband and wife, you have nothing to fear from looking at me.”
He said so, but Shen Youran, seeing him like this for the first time and so “frank” while they were still strangers, could hardly help but be embarrassed.
Thankfully, he was so close that she couldn’t see anything else, her vision filled only with his elegant, jade-like face and those clear eyes tinged with desire.
Those eyes drifted downward, and as he seemed about to see something, Shen Youran’s hand twitched again, wanting to cover his eyes.
He didn’t allow it; he gently pried apart her slender fingers, his long, strong fingers threading through hers, slowly and tenderly, until their fingers were interlaced.
Those thin lips pressed down again, hotter than before.
Sensing that he was about to go further, Shen Youran nervously closed her eyes, bracing herself.
Just then, a sudden commotion erupted outside.
The voices drew closer. Someone ran up to the partition door and pounded loudly: “There’s been a mistake! There’s been a mistake! The bride was sent to the wrong room!”
What?
The bride was sent to the wrong room?
“Big Brother…”
“Third Sister…”
Hearing her elder sister’s voice outside, Shen Youran’s eyes flew open. She looked up at the man above her, and tentatively called out, “Pei family… Eldest Young Master?”
The man hovering above her stiffened, his clear eyes trembling violently. “Shen family… Third Young Lady?”