"Miss, Granny Ma has brought food," Liu Rong placed a tray on the wedding chamber table.
Qin Junyao was looking at the room's decor, the cabinets were positioned just like in her room at the Qin family's home.
"Where is Granny Ma?"
"Reporting to Miss, Granny Ma has returned to the kitchen. Young Master is hosting a banquet for the villagers this afternoon. I heard there are two camels, and the kitchen is quite busy."
Qin Junyao nodded and sat at the table. The tray contained only a bowl of millet porridge and a few small dishes.
"Liu Rong, are Hua Mian and the others arranged?" Qin Junyao was asking about her four second-class maids.
These four maids were all around eleven or twelve years old. Qin Junyao had instructed them early on to take good care of the little maids and ensure nothing went wrong today with so many people around.
"Miss, rest assured, they are all arranged. Miss, would you like to eat first, or remove your headdress?"
"The headdress can be removed, so let's remove it first. Liu Yu, go to the kitchen and get some more food. This is not enough," Qin Junyao gestured to the small bowl of millet porridge.
Liu Yu carefully folded Qin Junyao's happy-union cape and said to Qin Junyao with a smile, "Miss, after Young Master finishes toasting, he will return to dine with Miss. This is just for you to fill your stomach for now."
Only a single hairpin remained on Qin Junyao's head to secure her hair; the rest of the hair ornaments were placed in the jewelry box made by Qin San Niu.
After finishing the millet porridge, Qin Junyao sat on the heated brick bed filled with dates, peanuts, longans, and lotus seeds, staring blankly at the doorway.
She was married now?
It didn't feel real at all.
With nothing else to do, Qin Junyao closed her eyes and leaned against the wall, planting crops in her spatial realm.
Liu Yu and Liu Rong each stayed inside the room, while the other went outside to guard.
As the courtyard outside was lit with candles, Zhao Liangcai was helped into the room by Suo Zi and Deng Zi Tui, appearing heavily intoxicated and unconscious.
Suo Zi and Deng Zi Tui ushered those who followed to toast him towards the main hall.
Qin Junyao tilted her head, looking at Zhao Liangcai lying on the bed. She leaned over to pull at the beard on his face.
She had wanted to do this for a long time. No matter when, this beard was always stuck on firmly. Qin Junyao was curious about what he used to adhere it.
Before her hand could touch the beard, her wrist was precisely grabbed by Zhao Liangcai, who had his eyes closed. When he opened them, there wasn't a trace of drunkenness within them.
"You're faking being drunk?"
"Such an important day, I can't get drunk. Are you hungry? I'll have someone serve dishes," Zhao Liangcai said, holding Qin Junyao's wrist as he stood up.
"Bring more of the wine," Qin Junyao still felt no effect from the wedding wine.
She had worried for nothing before; this body's tolerance for alcohol was not just one cup.
"Alright, Miss Ling said you liked it and sent quite a bit. Are there any dishes you'd like to eat?" Zhao Liangcai loosened his belt and went to the door to call for dishes.
He had drunk quite a bit today, but it wouldn't hurt to drink a little more with his new wife.
"Whatever there is," Qin Junyao sat on the bed without moving.
She had tasted the wedding wine, which was sweet. It turned out to be wine sent by Ling Manshuang. It was a shame she had poured it out before drinking it.
When the wine and dishes were served, Liu Yu and the others withdrew. Zhao Liangcai continuously picked food for Qin Junyao and poured her wine.
Qin Junyao, who was not nervous initially, became increasingly so under Zhao Liangcai's gaze, and she drank more wine than she intended.
Zhao Liangcai went out to give Granny Ma some instructions. Upon returning to the bridal chamber, he saw his little wife, who had been sitting by the table eating, now standing on the bed holding a wine pot.
Her eyes were unfocused; it was clear the alcohol had taken hold, and she had drunk too much.
"Stop! Who is this bearded savage you are?" Qin Junyao held the wine pot high with one hand and pointed at Zhao Liangcai with the other, her arm outstretched.
Zhao Liangcai reached up to his forehead. "Yaoyao, I am your husband, Zhao Liangcai."
"Nonsense!" Qin Junyao stumbled on a date on the bed, startling Zhao Liangcai, who walked over to help her.
Qin Junyao dodged Zhao Liangcai's hand and retreated further into the bed. She raised her index finger to her lips, "You liar, hehe, my grandma said Zhao Liangcai was a great handsome man, hehehe, you're not, hahaha."
Zhao Liangcai had never seen Qin Junyao like this before. He was somewhat taken aback yet found it amusing.
There were things all over the bed, and he was afraid Qin Junyao would step on something and fall, so he could only coax her, "If I turn into a handsome man, will you come to me obediently?"
Qin Junyao nodded, hugging the wine pot.
Zhao Liangcai took out a medicinal solution and quickly peeled off the fake beard from his face, instantly transforming from a savage into a handsome man.
"Wow," Qin Junyao, who had somehow squatted down at the edge of the bed, looked at Zhao Liangcai with shining eyes.
She put her finger in her mouth, wanting to whistle, but after several tries, she couldn't.
Seeing this, Zhao Liangcai wanted to grab Qin Junyao, but she rolled back into the bed with a side somersault. Because she was wearing a padded jacket, Qin Junyao didn't feel any discomfort.
"Great handsome man, you're not well-behaved, who are you?" Qin Junyao's eyes were now hazy, and she didn't recognize anyone.
Zhao Liangcai found a box and began to put the dates and peanuts from the bed into it while responding to Qin Junyao, "Yaoyao, I am your husband. We had our ceremony a little over two hours ago."
"Ceremony?"
Qin Junyao took a sip of wine and thought for a moment. Suddenly, she flipped over and knelt on the bed. She crawled to the edge of the bed and patted the space next to her. "Great handsome man, kneel here, we'll do it again. I didn't see it."
Zhao Liangcai tidied up the things on the bed. He looked at Qin Junyao, who had become娇憨 (cute and endearingly naive) due to the alcohol, and was utterly smitten. He complied and knelt beside Qin Junyao.
"Hehe," Qin Junyao smiled and patted Zhao Liangcai's shoulder. "You're cooperative. Follow me."
Qin Junyao cleared her throat, clasped her fists in front of her chest, and suddenly raised her voice, "Heaven above, Earth below, I, Qin Junyao, and Great Handsome Man today pledge our brotherhood, woo~~."
Her subsequent words were not spoken because Zhao Liangcai covered her mouth.
Those guarding outside the door heard the words coming from inside and struggled to stifle their laughter.
"Everyone, move further away," Zhao Liangcai shouted to the outside, then removed his hand from Qin Junyao's mouth. His middle finger had several teeth marks from Qin Junyao's biting.
"Pah, pah, pah, why did you cover my mouth?" Qin Junyao, leaning in Zhao Liangcai's embrace, was very displeased.
Zhao Liangcai pinched Qin Junyao's cheeks. "What are you pledging? Brotherhood?"
Qin Junyao shook her head, not dodging Zhao Liangcai's hand, and could only grip his hand. "You're injured, you can't do it, so of course, I have to pledge brotherhood with you, hehe."
"If you think it sounds bad, I can call you Big Brother, and you can call me Second Brother. I don't mind, hehe."
Veins began to pop out on Zhao Liangcai's forehead. He looked down at Qin Junyao, who was lying on his lap and finding a comfortable position, and asked through gritted teeth, "Who said I can't do it?"
"Shush, can't say," Qin Junyao's voice suddenly became small, whispering,
"Great Handsome Man, Zhao Liangcai is injured and can't do it, this is a secret, can't say it."
"Big Brother, drink."
Zhao Liangcai took the wine pot Qin Junyao offered and drank the wine inside.
He let out a heavy sigh and helped the person in his arms sit up. He set the wine pot aside; he needed to understand why she thought he couldn't do it.