Chu Sheng specially invited the most respected Teacher in the city to write the marriage certificate—two copies, meticulously penned in vermilion ink, each character as precious as a pearl.
Ninth held his own copy of the marriage certificate, staring at the words with shimmering eyes, as if this wasn’t just a piece of paper binding them in matrimony, but a future he had never dared imagine suddenly taking tangible shape.
Chu'he watched Ninth’s joyful expression and thought to herself that sometimes, a little ceremony in life wasn’t so bad after all.
Chu Sheng, however, snorted disdainfully, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Looking so closely—can you even understand the words on it?"
Ninth lowered his gaze, his lashes trembling faintly, as if the sharpest blade had pierced the softest part of his heart. Even the glow of his ruby earrings seemed to dim.
Chu'he replied, "It doesn’t matter if Ninth can’t read it now. I’ll read it to him."
Chu Sheng could only glare, helpless against his stubborn daughter.
The Teacher stroked his graying beard and chuckled. "Children have their own blessings, Master Chu. There’s no need to worry so much."
With no choice, Chu Sheng swallowed his bitterness and personally escorted the Teacher out.
As soon as the others left, Chu'he immediately pulled Ninth to sit down. She unfolded the marriage certificate, pointing at the words. "Ninth, this part here says—"
"Chu'he’s name," Ninth answered eagerly, his fingertip lightly brushing over the characters for "Chu'he," then sliding to rest beside another name. "And this is mine."
When the marriage certificate was being written, Chu'he had asked whether he wanted "Chi Yan" or "Ninth" inscribed. Without hesitation, he chose "Ninth," so the Teacher penned those two characters.
Traditionally, marriage certificates included family names and generational rankings, but "Ninth" stood alone—no surname, no lineage. It was perhaps the most unusual certificate the Teacher had ever written.
But given that Ninth wasn’t from the Central Plains, and likely followed different customs in Miaojiang—and since neither Chu Sheng nor Chu'he objected—the Teacher had simply gone along with it.
Ninth had learned a few characters from Chu'he. Aside from questionable phrases like "swaying" or "ecstasy," he had at least mastered their names.
More complex words, however, remained beyond him.
Ninth’s finger traced further. "Chu'he, what does this part say?"
Chu'he replied, "'A harmonious union for a hundred years, in perfect accord like the qin and se.'"
Ninth blinked. "'A harmonious union for a hundred years, in perfect accord like the qin and se'?"
"It means we’re a match made in heaven."
A match made in heaven.
The boy’s eyes sparkled like a lake touched by spring breeze, rippling with light. His lips curled uncontrollably, even the tips of his brows dancing with delight. "So everyone will know that Chu'he and I are a match made in heaven?"
Chu'he propped her chin in her hands, watching him with amusement. "That’s right. The whole city will know we’re husband and wife. They’ll all know we’re meant to be."
So this was the true value of a marriage certificate.
Ninth’s hands unconsciously tightened around the paper, yet he was careful not to damage it. His knuckles whitened, though he barely noticed, his chest burning so warmly he could hardly contain his joy. He wanted to shout it to the world.
His crimson eyes shimmered like stars, his pale cheeks tinged with color, breathing life into his features. For a moment, he seemed like any ordinary youth of seventeen or eighteen, unable to hide the emotions bubbling inside.
"Chu'he."
Chu'he gazed at him, thoroughly entertained. At his call, she tilted her head. "Hmm?"
Ninth leaned down, brushing his nose against hers. "Let me keep your copy of the marriage certificate for you, okay?"
Chu'he pretended not to see through his little scheme, pressing her lips together. "I don’t need you to keep it for me. I can take care of it myself."
Ninth’s eyes wavered. He pressed his forehead to hers, letting her see the pitiful gleam in his red eyes—eyes that held only her.
"No?" he mumbled incessantly. "Chu'he, no? No? No—"
Chu'he covered his mouth, cutting off his whining. Whether out of annoyance or surrender, she relented. "Fine, fine. You can keep it."
Ninth’s eyes curved with quiet triumph. He quickly snatched the certificate from her hands and tucked it, along with his own, into the innermost fold of his robes. Patting the spot protectively, he treated it as something more precious than life itself.
Then, unable to resist, he cupped Chu'he’s face and kissed her, devouring every trace of the rouge she had applied before stepping out.
Ninth had assumed marriage was simply a ceremony—exchanging vows, then the wedding night. But the Central Plains’ sense of ritual far exceeded his expectations.
Somewhere along the way, Ninth had developed a habit of sleeping in. Yet these past few days, Chu'he had been dragging him out of bed early to prepare for the wedding. Half-asleep, his body felt like a broken-down machine.
The "activation" method, however, was simple. Chu'he would kiss his lips, then lightly nip his lower lip. His drowsy eyes would instantly brighten, curving into crescents as he playfully pinned her down for a moment. By the time they got up, all traces of laziness were gone.
The Chu family’s wedding preparations hadn’t taken long, but no tradition was overlooked. As the big day approached, the finest tailor in the city delivered the custom-made wedding attire.
Unsure which gown to choose, Chu'he forced Ninth into a chair and, undeterred by the hassle, modeled each elaborate dress in front of him.
As for the superstition about the bride and groom not seeing each other before the wedding? To these two unconventional souls, it meant nothing.
Chu Sheng grumbled but let them be.
"Well, Ninth, do I look good?" Chu'he twirled in a gold-embroidered gown adorned with cloud patterns, her eyes bright with anticipation.
Ninth beamed. "Beautiful!"
Chu'he disappeared into the inner room again. Moments later, she emerged in a pomegranate-red gown, its cuffs stitched with twin lotus flowers, her cheeks glowing like peach blossoms.
"Ninth, how about this one?"
Ninth propped his chin on one hand, unable to look away. "Beautiful!"
Chu'he pursed her lips. After a pause, she changed again.
This time, the crimson hem was dotted with tiny silver bells that chimed like clear springs striking jade as she moved. "And this one? Pretty?"
Ninth’s eyes lit up. Now supporting his chin with both hands, he grinned. "Beautiful!"
Chu'he finally glared at him. "Why is every single one 'beautiful'?"
Ninth flinched. "Because Chu'he is beautiful in everything."
Defeated, Chu'he changed back into her everyday robes and slumped into a chair, cheeks puffed in displeasure.
Ninth crept closer, hesitantly asking, "Chu'he… no more trying on?"
"No more. You’re just humoring me anyway." She turned her face away, clearly done with him.
