Wei Yuanyao was deep in a daze, half-asleep.
"Miss? Miss? Wake up, it's almost time for the wedding rites." Qiandai called softly.
Wei Yuanyao opened her eyes and rubbed her neck. "Ow, it hurts so much!"
Huamei stepped forward, helping her massage her neck and shoulders. "Miss, it's no wonder your neck hurts, sleeping against the headboard with such a large head of hairpins and ornaments."
After rubbing for a while, Qiandai said, "Alright, alright, Miss, quickly get up and tidy yourself. The wedding rites are about to begin."
Wei Yuanyao rubbed her neck as she stood up. Every movement of her neck brought pain; it was agonizing.
The two maids reapplied her makeup and tidied her bridal attire.
Wei Yuanyao said, "Alright, is it really dusk so soon?"
She felt as though she had only just closed her eyes for a moment.
"There's still half an hour. This servant just wanted to wake you first, so you wouldn't be groggy during the rites and make a spectacle. When you return home, Madam will surely nag you," Qiandai said.
Wei Yuanyao, knowing she was in the wrong, tugged on Qiandai's hand. "Good Qiandai, please don't tell my mother."
If her mother found out she had eaten and even slept, she would be lectured for three hours straight.
The two maids smiled, their lips pressed together.
"So Miss also knows this isn't right. Quickly shake off your sleepiness, lest you make a fool of yourself. What will you do then?"
"Got it, got it."
She shouldn't have chatted so late with her cousin last night. Now she was being lectured by her own maids. What other young lady was subjected to such humiliation?
Almost an hour passed, and finally, the matchmaker entered with maids.
"Third Young Madam, we're about to go out. Don't be nervous. I'll guide you later, just follow what I say."
Wei Yuanyao, with her bridal veil on, nodded.
The matchmaker extended a hand and smiled. "Come, I'll support you."
The matchmaker helped Wei Yuanyao walk out, with Qiandai and Huamei quickly following.
Wei Yuanyao's palm, resting on the matchmaker's hand, was slightly sweaty.
The matchmaker whispered, "Relax. Look, Third Young Master is waiting for you outside the wedding hall."
As they walked, the sounds of the guests within the wedding hall became clearer.
Upon reaching the outside of the hall, a red silk ribbon was placed into her hand.
Wei Yuanyao knew that on the other end of the red ribbon was Ji Huaizhou. Her heart slowly settled.
"Auspicious red candles illuminate the flower hall, kin and friends line both sides. New couple enters to bow to heaven and earth, a silk ribbon leads to the bridal chamber."
"Incense smoke wafts, candles blaze brightly, please, the new couple, ascend the flower hall!" The master of ceremonies' voice boomed. The matchmaker gently assisted her as she slowly walked inward.
Above, Marquis Wuyang and Madam Ji watched the new couple enter, both nodding frequently.
"First bow to Heaven and Earth for eternal fortune!"
The new couple bowed in unison towards Heaven and Earth.
"Second bow to the Esteemed Elders for long life!"
The matchmaker then helped Wei Yuanyao turn and bow to Marquis Wuyang and Madam Ji above. Both wore beaming smiles.
"Good, good, quickly rise."
"How wonderful, truly wonderful!"
"Husband and wife bow to each other for enduring love!"
Wei Yuanyao turned, gritted her teeth, and lowered her head, still letting out a small whimper of pain.
Her neck truly hurt!
The whimper was drowned out by the cheers of the surrounding guests and went unnoticed.
"The rites are complete! Send them to the bridal chamber!"
Applause thundered around them. Wei Yuanyao breathed a sigh of relief; it was finally over.
Ji Huaizhou led her by the hand, walking towards the room.
"Yuanyao, the step."
"Yuanyao, the threshold."
She thought it was over once they reached the room, but unexpectedly, there was still a whole set of rituals.
Sprinkling the bridal bed, unveiling the bride, drinking the nuptial cup, the couple tying their hair...
"The new couple in the bridal chamber, husband and wife share a new bed. Qilin grants a noble son, the Ji Residence welcomes a top scholar."
After the matchmaker finished chanting auspicious words, the maids all curtsied and offered congratulations.
"Congratulations to Third Young Master and Third Young Madam! May Third Young Master and Third Young Madam live to a ripe old age together and have many sons soon!"
Ji Huaizhou smiled, "Go down and receive your rewards and drinks."
"Yes!"
The matchmaker took the maids and left.
Only the two of them remained in the room, staring at each other. Under the crimson candles, red drapes, and red bedding, a subtle current of intimacy flowed between them.
Ji Huaizhou approached and sat beside her, his gaze full of affection.
"Yuanyao is truly beautiful!"
Wei Yuanyao's face flushed even deeper. "Aren't you going to accompany the guests?"
Ji Huaizhou shook his head. "Big Brother and Second Brother are there. I only need to accompany my Yuanyao."
"You whimpered just now, were you uncomfortable somewhere?"
Wei Yuanyao hadn't expected him to hear her, even though she was so quiet.
"Mm, my neck hurts a little."
As she spoke, she walked to the dressing table and began to remove the hair ornaments she had long wanted to take off, one by one.
Ji Huaizhou walked over, wrapped his arms around her, and took a deep sniff. "Yuanyao smells so good."
Wei Yuanyao shifted slightly, whispering, "Stop teasing."
Ji Huaizhou took the wooden comb from her hand and gently combed her dark hair.
Her hair flowed like a waterfall of black silk, her features exquisite, her bright eyes as clear as autumn water, her delicate skin fair as condensed fat.
Ji Huaizhou slowly drew closer, the atmosphere so subtly charged that it made one's toes curl.
"Grumble—grumble"
Wei Yuanyao opened her wide, innocent eyes. "I'm hungry."
Ji Huaizhou didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but he still opened the door and had a maid bring in some food.
"My fault, I forgot you haven't had dinner yet."
Wei Yuanyao ate gracefully, quickly, and silently. Though she was lively, she was still a young lady from a prestigious family; she lacked no proper etiquette.
"I'm finished."
Ji Huaizhou watched her only consume one bowl of porridge and frowned.
"Is the food not to your taste? Why did you eat so little?"
Wei Yuanyao replied, "You should eat less at night, or you'll get fat. That's what the old nanny by my mother's side said. That old nanny came from the palace, so her words must be true."
Ji Huaizhou refilled her bowl, saying, "Eat more. I'm afraid you won't be able to... handle it later."
Wei Yuanyao froze. Seeing Ji Huaizhou's gaze, she understood and her face turned crimson.
"You pervert." She said, then stood up and had a maid bring in water.
"To my own wife, how is that being a pervert?" Ji Huaizhou slowly approached, his eyes dark and deep.
Wei Yuanyao quietly took a step back. "I need to wash up. You go to the outer room first."
Ji Huaizhou chuckled, "Wife, have you forgotten that tonight is our wedding night?"
Wei Yuanyao gritted her teeth. To undress in front of him, she couldn't do it.
Seeing her shyness, Ji Huaizhou took a step back. "Alright, I won't tease you anymore. You go wash."
With that, he exited the inner chamber. Through the screen, Wei Yuanyao saw him sitting at the table, drinking tea.
Listening to the rustling sounds from inside, a smile curled at the corners of Ji Huaizhou's lips.
Wei Yuanyao was soaking in the bath when she suddenly turned around.
"You, you, you..."
Ji Huaizhou, while shedding his outer robe, said, "Wife, this bathtub is big enough. Let's bathe together, like mandarin ducks."
Wei Yuanyao let out a gasp of surprise, water splashing.
Outside the window, tree shadows were sparse, and moonlight streamed like water.
Inside the room, red candles flickered, and soft gasps filled the air.
"Ji Huaizhou..."
"Call me husband."
"Bad person... liar..."
"Are you still going?" Her voice was laced with exhaustion, tenderness, and disbelief.
...
Before Wei Yuanyao closed her eyes, she had only one thought: if she ever had a daughter, she would definitely make sure she stayed far away from boys who sold candied hawthorns!
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