On the eve of the grand wedding, the Empress specifically instructed the Crown Prince: "Though the royal family has no custom of the groom personally fetching the bride, as your mother, I still hope you will go yourself to show respect for this marriage. Otherwise, even if Yun Kui becomes your principal consort, the noble families will gossip behind your backs."
The Crown Prince pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement.
The wedding was set for the twenty-eighth day of the fourth month.
Yun Kui had visited the Crown Prince’s dream of their wedding night the night before, barely closing her eyes before being roused to prepare. Her mind was foggy, her eyelids heavy with sleep.
It wasn’t until the weight of the nine-phoenix-and-four-phoenix crown settled atop her head that she fully awoke. Dressed in a crimson robe embroidered with phoenixes and a golden dragon-and-phoenix cloud-patterned cape, adorned with intricate jewels, she looked resplendent.
Staring at her reflection in the mirror—her hair piled high with pearls and jade, her robes magnificent—Yun Kui truly grasped the reality of the wedding and the transformation of her status.
The Marquis of Wuning’s household was marrying their daughter into the royal family, and the estate was bustling with guests. Officials of all ranks, whether acquainted or not, arrived bearing gifts. Those who had once made excuses to avoid the Marquis’s family when King Moshan had sought Yun Kui’s hand now feared the future father-in-law of the Crown Prince might hold grudges. They came with forced smiles and lavish presents.
The Marquis of Wuning greeted guests at the gate, too dignified to dwell on past slights.
But then, at the street corner, he spotted a familiar figure in a blue robe. His gaze sharpened as he strode forward. "General Feng, why not come inside?"
The man, Feng Yu, currently served as a battalion commander in Tongzhou Garrison.
Feng Yu smiled bitterly. "Today is your family’s joyous occasion. An ill-fated man like me should not intrude. I’ve brought a humble gift—I hope you won’t disdain it."
The Marquis sighed. "Why speak like this between us? Let the past remain in the past. I’m sure your late wife’s spirit would not wish for you to dwell on it. You’re still in your prime, skilled in both civil and martial arts. Now that you’ve returned to the capital, you can start anew."
Though only a few years older than the Marquis, Feng Yu bore the marks of hardship—his face gaunt, wrinkles deep, his brow perpetually shadowed. Once a trusted general under Emperor Jingyou, his life had unraveled after his wife’s death. A drunken brawl led to his demotion to the frontier, his promising career ruined. Only last year, through military merit, had he been recalled to the capital, starting over as a lowly battalion commander, weathered by time.
The Marquis wanted to say more, but distant drums and gongs announced the arrival of the bridal procession.
At its head rode a man atop a tall steed, clad in a grand red dragon-embroidered wedding robe, his beauty striking, his posture regal. Behind him, royal guards and attendants marched in perfect order, the common people bowing as they passed.
The Marquis had expected a ceremonial envoy from the Ministry of Rites—not the Crown Prince himself. He hurriedly ordered the household to prepare, while Feng Yu knelt with the other officials outside the gates.
Inside, Yun Kui tensed at the noise beyond her door, her heart fluttering with anticipation.
A matron bustled in, beaming. "The Crown Prince has come to fetch the bride! Quick, the red veil!"
Yun Kui clasped Lady Qi’s hand. "Mother, don’t worry. I’ll visit you and Father often."
Lady Qi gazed at her daughter, radiant in phoenix crown and cape, her heart brimming with joy and worry.
The girl didn’t yet understand—once a royal daughter-in-law, she would rarely step beyond the palace’s towering walls.
But this was a day of celebration. Lady Qi held back her misgivings, offering final advice instead: "The royal family values propriety, especially the Crown Prince. Once in the Eastern Palace, be harmonious with him, mind your words and actions, and rule with both kindness and authority to earn respect..."
Yun Kui nodded earnestly.
The red veil obscured her vision. Outside, laughter and chatter swelled as she was led from her chamber. At the corridor, the sound of kneeling crowds reached her ears, followed by the sight of red-and-gold dragon-patterned shoes stepping into view before halting before her.
Husband, is it you?
The Crown Prince’s lips thinned slightly. He did not answer.
Following his lead, Yun Kui bid farewell to her parents in the main hall, then stepped into the gilded phoenix carriage amid festive music, entering the palace through the main gate toward the Eastern Palace.
At the palace gates, attendants guided her inside. The heavy crown pressed painfully into her scalp, her neck stiff from hours of bearing its weight. Dazed, she followed the ritual officer through the ceremonies.
My forehead hurts.
Why won’t he hold my hand?
Fine, if he won’t—
Before the thought finished, a warm hand enveloped hers.
The touch sent tiny currents racing through her skin, a tingling warmth spreading through her body. Her heart lurched, her mind blanking, her breath unsteady.
H-Help...
The Crown Prince studied the trembling pink-and-white fingers in his grasp, the softness briefly unsettling his usual composure. But he quickly regained his stern demeanor. "Rituals must be observed. Endure a little longer."
"Yes," Yun Kui whispered, trembling.
His voice is so nice...
The Crown Prince: "..."
In the Hall of Radiant Light, Yun Kui was seated on the wedding bed strewn with longans and red dates. The flickering candlelight bathed the room in a glow nearly identical to her dream the night before.
The matron handed the Crown Prince a ceremonial rod to lift the veil. Nervous, Yun Kui fidgeted, her small hands twisting together as the red fabric slowly rose, light flooding her vision.
She looked up—into a face she hadn’t seen in so long. Sharp brows, starry eyes, a noble nose, and thin lips, the candlelight sculpting his features into ethereal beauty, like an immortal descended to earth.
Don’t worry, Your Highness, I won’t kiss you first.
The Crown Prince’s gaze sharpened.
Last night in the dream... did I scare you awake?
His cool, phoenix-like eyes narrowed slightly, thoughtful.
How did she know about his dream?
Unaware she’d betrayed her thoughts, Yun Kui flushed under his prolonged stare, lowering her eyes shyly.
Does he... want to kiss me?
The Crown Prince’s attention drifted to her lips—full, cherry-red, glistening. Surely they’d be soft...
Catching himself, he reined in his thoughts, setting the rod aside.
The rituals—shared meal, shared cup—proceeded smoothly. Yun Kui, though mesmerized by her husband’s beauty, remembered every lesson from the matrons.
After the ceremonial wine came the hair-binding rite. The matron clipped a lock of Yun Kui’s hair, but for the Crown Prince, only a silk cord was used.
Confused, Yun Kui asked, "Isn’t this... the hair-binding ceremony?"
The matron smiled. "Your Highness may not know—as the heir, the Crown Prince’s body is sacred and must not be harmed. A silk cord suffices."
"Oh," Yun Kui murmured. "I see."
When she raised her head and met the Crown Prince’s dark, ink-like phoenix eyes, she immediately grew flustered, afraid she might say something wrong and give the impression that a Crown Princess from the prestigious Sheng family lacked propriety.
The Crown Prince’s gaze remained indifferent as he motioned for the wedding attendant to proceed.
As she watched a lock of his jet-black hair entwine with the cold red silk cord, Yun Kui felt an inexplicable sense of loss.
She was not his wife—only his Crown Princess.
Once the hair-binding ceremony concluded, the Crown Prince had to attend the banquet at Fengtian Hall. Before leaving, he instructed Yun Kui’s maid, "Help the Crown Princess bathe and change."
"Finally, I can take off this headdress!"
"I’m so hungry—I haven’t eaten all day."
The Crown Prince pressed his lips together and turned to his head maid, Cuihuan. "Have the kitchen send over some pastries and light dishes."
Yun Kui’s eyes brightened, and she instinctively licked her lips.
The Crown Prince glanced down and caught the glistening sheen on her rosy lips, along with the faint peek of her pink tongue. His gaze darkened slightly before he turned and strode out of the bedchamber.
Once Yun Kui removed the phoenix crown and shed the heavy wedding robes, she felt like someone who had been carrying ten pounds of cotton while drowning—only to suddenly cast off the burden, leaving her light and utterly relieved.
The kitchen sent over chicken noodle soup and a few side dishes with a balance of meat and vegetables. Having starved all day, Yun Kui devoured every last bite, even finishing the broth, before stretching lazily.
The senior maids in the room had all been personally selected by the Empress. Even the youngest, Yu Zhu, had served in Kuning Palace for five years—yet none had ever seen a noble lady behave so casually.
Most well-bred young ladies dined with refined elegance, adhering to strict rules on how many bites to take per dish or how many times to chew. But the Crown Princess ate with hearty abandon, leaving nothing to waste.
The maids exchanged amused glances as Cuihuan helped Yun Kui undo her elaborate hairstyle while Bao Zhu removed her makeup.
Even without cosmetics, the Crown Princess’s skin remained flawless—snowy and delicate, with a natural rosy flush on her cheeks. Her delicate nose, cherry lips, bright eyes, and pearly teeth made her a vision straight out of a painting.
Qiu Chan and Dongyue attended to her bath.
The tub was filled with petals, and under the billowing steam, the Crown Princess’s skin glowed like freshly fallen snow. Tiny droplets trailed down her slender, snow-white neck, while the soft curves of her chest resembled polished jade—pale with a faint pink undertone, delicate yet lush in all the right places, breathtakingly beautiful.
Even Qiu Chan and Dongyue couldn’t help but blush and avert their eyes when Yun Kui began washing herself, especially when she tended to those snowy peaks.
After her bath, Yun Kui obediently sat on the bridal bed to wait.
By the time the Crown Prince returned from Fengtian Hall past the hour of Hai, two maids bowed in the corridor as he passed.
He gave a slight nod but hadn’t even stepped inside when he overheard their silent musings.
"They’ll consummate the marriage soon, right?"
"His Highness has always been indifferent to women—I wonder if he’ll be able to resist the Crown Princess."
Unable to bear it, he coldly dismissed them.
After bathing in the cleansing chamber, the Crown Prince returned to Chengguang Hall. Before he even saw her, her thoughts drifted out to him.
"Why isn’t he back yet? I’m so tired and sleepy..."
"Your Highness… husband… where are you?"
He could already picture her—languid and sprawled without a care for decorum.
Sure enough, when he stepped inside, he found the Crown Princess draped in a water-red pomegranate-patterned nightgown, slouching haphazardly against the bed.
Hearing his footsteps, her eyes snapped open, and a spark of delight flashed in her almond-shaped gaze. Her rosy, dewy lips parted as she murmured, "Your Highness, you’re back?"
The Crown Prince responded coolly, "Mn."
They weren’t particularly familiar—their few past encounters had left Yun Kui too embarrassed to recall. Besides, the Crown Prince had always been reticent and solemn. Best to get straight to the matter—she was exhausted!
According to the illustrated manual, she still had to serve him for another quarter of an hour before she could sleep.
Crown Prince: "..."
Yun Kui pressed her lips together and rose. "I—this consort will help Your Highness undress."
As her small hands reached for him, the Crown Prince instinctively took half a step back. "I’ll manage."
"He won’t let me undress him?"
"Is he afraid I’ll peek… or grope?"
The bridal bed had already been tidied. Yun Kui quietly slipped under the covers but kept her eyes fixed on the Crown Prince as he leisurely removed his outer robe. The thin satin nightgown clung to his broad, well-defined frame—his shoulders wide, his waist narrow, his entire body exuding raw, restrained power. Her excitement surged like never before.
"Why are you just standing there? Hurry up and come here—let this consort take a good look at you!"
