Chapter 1867: 925 Bridal Chamber Candlelight_3
Princess Xinyang’s face turned crimson as she walked over and swiftly snatched the book away, "Who allowed you into my room!"
Marquis Xuanping glanced at her peculiarly, "Weren’t you the one who asked me to come?"
"When did I..."
Halfway through her sentence, she realized something and suddenly turned around, staring at Yujin by the door.
Yujin lowered her head sheepishly, "Just now... YiYi was crying badly, and you were busy, so I... called the Marquis over."
She gritted her teeth and hid the booklet behind her back, "But that doesn’t mean you can just rummage through my things!"
Marquis Xuanping defended himself, "It was right there on the table—no, Qin Fengwan, liking this kind of thing is no big deal; who doesn’t have a little quirk?"
She replied coldly, "I don’t like it!"
"If you don’t like it, why read it?" Marquis Xuanping scanned her from head to toe; her face was so red, it seemed she was about to bleed. Having been married for so many years, he had never seen her this shy.
In a flash, he understood, realizing suddenly, "Are you trying to learn?"
Princess Xinyang was bewildered, "Huh?"
Marquis Xuanping took a step forward, and Princess Xinyang instinctively took a step back, forgetting there was a table right behind her, her hip hitting the table edge.
Marquis Xuanping placed one hand on the table behind her, his powerful presence enveloping her. She wasn’t used to being so close to someone, her breath catching in her throat.
He looked at her intently, a smile playing on his lips, "Or are you hinting at something with this Marquis? Qin Fengwan, are you saying you haven’t desired this Marquis for a long time?"
Princess Xinyang: "...?!"
...
The wedding at Marquis Xuanping’s residence was exceptionally lively, with over a hundred tables set up, the entire place bustling with people. Empress Dowager Zhuang and the Emperor also attended. Empress Xiao was granted leave, joining those returning home to visit family.
Colleagues from the Hanlin Academy also came by, with Fen Lin, Lin Chengye, Du Ruohan, and Ning Zhiyuan dragging Xiao Hen to drink several rounds.
They were all somewhat drunk.
Du Ruohan, heavily inebriated, slurred, "You lad... I said you... weren’t really Liulang, right...? Huh? Wasn’t I right! Fen Lin!"
He slapped Fen Lin on the back.
Fen Lin, already quite drunk, raised his head in a daze, "Huh? Ah, drink, drink more!"
Du Ruohan lifted his cup, "Cheers with the young marquis...!"
Lin Chengye slumped over the table, "Cheers...!"
Lin Chengye and Fen Lin were both married, with Fen Lin being a father and Lin Chengye’s wife also pregnant.
Du Ruohan focused on his studies and hadn’t yet considered marriage.
They had only learned of Xiao Liulang’s true identity recently. To say they weren’t shocked would be a lie, but thinking about it, it all made sense.
How many prodigies can there be in the world?
The world’s wisdom consists of ten parts; the young marquis holds nine, leaving the remaining one for all others.
"Drink! Drink!" Ning Zhiyuan poured another two cups into Du Ruohan, who fell completely onto the table. There were still a few colleagues left standing at the table, and Ning Zhiyuan exchanged a look with Xiao Hen, "Leave it to me, go on."
Xiao Hen bowed towards Ning Zhiyuan, "Thanks a lot."
"I dare not accept such courtesy from the young marquis!" Ning Zhiyuan quickly supported him.
Xiao Hen patted his shoulder gratefully and left.
Meanwhile, at another table, the Gu Family, who had planned to make merry at the bridal chamber, were all held up by Shangguan Qing.
In terms of martial arts, Shangguan Qing was no match for Gu Changqing, Gu Chengfeng, Xuanyuan Qi, or the old Marquis, but when it came to drinking games, even a hundred experts together wouldn’t match his skill.
Single-handedly, he managed to drink everyone at the table under.
Xuanyuan Qi and the old Marquis, among others, were sprawled on the lawn, completely defeated! The bride’s family army, obliterated!
Shangguan Qing sat on a stool, one foot propped on its edge, nonchalantly sipping his wine, "How lonely it is... to be invincible..."
From his perch on a treetop, Liao Chen snickered.
Shangguan Qing said, "Monk, what are you laughing at?"
Liao Chen chuckled, "Did you forget? I’m not drunk yet? That lad may not make it to the bridal chamber tonight."
"Oh, is that so?" Shangguan Qing arched his brow, casting an amused look at Liao Chen up in the tree.
Liao Chen squinted, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Shangguan Qing flashed a sly grin, "Turn around."
At his words, Liao Chen turned his head.
Bathed in moonlight, the Taoist priest Qingfeng stood against the wind in a deep blue robe, his expression cold, eyes filled with menace.
Liao Chen’s scalp tingled!
Qingfeng Taoist looked at someone perched on the treetop, enunciating, "You said you would wait for me in Shengdu, and you broke your word."
Was he to wait and be chased relentlessly?
Liao Chen clenched his fists and glared at Shangguan Qing, "Did you bring him here?"
Shangguan Qing shrugged innocently, "I lack such skills."
It was that pesky little brother.
Even I was only lured by his new firearm, otherwise who would volunteer to shield that brat from alcohol?
Hmph!
...
As night descended, Xiao Hen returned to the bridal chamber.
The dragon and phoenix candles were lit, casting a romantic glow across the chamber decorated with symbols of happiness.
Xiao Hen gently lifted her veil with a Yu Ruyi.
A stunningly beautiful face captured his sight; he never imagined she could be so breathtakingly alluring.
It wasn’t that she wasn’t beautiful before, but tonight, adorned in a phoenix crown and red robe, she was dazzlingly radiant.
He stared at her, unable to look away.
Gu Jiao, too, stared at him in a daze; he always wore cool-colored clothes, and she never knew how handsome he could be in a bright red wedding robe.
He chuckled softly, "My lady, let’s have the Nuptial Wine."
Gu Jiao was dazzled by his smile.
Before even drinking, she already felt intoxicated.
Xiao Hen poured the wine, suddenly thinking of something, asked her, "Will you get drunk again?"
He remembered this girl’s tolerance was never beyond a single cup.
"No, I won’t," Gu Jiao replied.
The first aid kit had a detox pill, which she had just taken.
The two drank the Nuptial Wine.
From the front yard stage, the sound of opera singing accompanied by guests’ enthusiastic cheers carried through the distant skies, making the already tranquil courtyard even more serene.
Neither spoke, nor acted further; they just sat earnestly on the bed.
Xiao Hen steadied his pounding heart, asking her, "What are you thinking about?"
Gu Jiao replied honestly, "Counting."
Xiao Hen looked at her puzzled, "Why are you counting?"
Gu Jiao counted on her fingers, "The book says a woman should be reserved, so I have to count to a hundred before I can eat you up."
Xiao Hen’s eyes darkened, "What number are you at now?"
Gu Jiao counted aloud, "Fifty-nine, sixty, sixty-one..."
He could wait no longer.
The remaining thirty-nine could end him.
Xiao Hen raised his hand, softly cradling the back of her head, and pressed his lips to her soft ones.
The crimson curtains slowly descended, their clothes tangled and tossed on the ground.
The moonlight was gentle, the night deepening endlessly.
The dragon and phoenix candles dripped wax that resembled the crimson blood of a maiden.