Wrapped In Golden Branch - Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Between husband and wife, don’t —
The tenth day of the ninth month was good for marriage and travel. In the early morning, the sky turned pale, but it was still dark all around.
Li Kangning was still half asleep, and the palace servants helped her change into luxurious wedding clothes. It was not until the phoenix crown inlaid with thousands of pearls and gems suddenly pressed down on her head that she woke up instantly. She was going to get married.
Li Kangning stared at the diorama on the dressing table. She rem*mbered the book her mother had handed her shyly last night, her cheeks flushing. She had always thought they would become husband and wife if they worshipped in the hall. Who knew that husband and wife would have to do that thing?
If she had known that they would have to perform such a shameful ceremony after becoming husband and wife, she would not have quickly agreed to marry. But it was too late to regret now.
She looked at her mother, whose eyes were red, and her grandmother, Mrs. Zhou, who was joyful.
Mrs. Zhou was originally the maidservant of the late Empress Dowager Cui. Her daughter became a noble person, so she was now the wife of Duke Cheng’en. She was over sixty years old. Since she lost her husband a few years ago, her health has been getting worse day by day. She has enjoyed all the happiness she should have, but she was worried about her most beloved granddaughter, Ningning.
“Ningning is smart, and Grandma also thinks the new prince consort is better than the previous one!” Mrs. Zhou looked at her granddaughter with a smile, satisfied.
The new prince consort was born tall and mighty, heroic and extraordinary, and looking old-fashioned at first glance, unlike the previous prince consort, who was as weak as a bamboo pole.
Seeing that her grandmother was in high spirits, Li Kangning couldn’t help but feel soft in her heart.
“Mother, the auspicious time is coming soon.” The second prince’s wife, Gu Baoying, walked in with the little Princess of the East Palace.
Little Princess Li Xirong had just turned three years old. Seeing her aunt in a gorgeous and dazzling phoenix crown and bridal robe made her envious and curious.
“Can Rongrong wear it?” She tilted her head and asked in a b*by voice.
Mrs. Zhou smiled and joked, “You must wait for another ten years.”
The little Princess blinked, looking at a loss.
Empress Kang poked her granddaughter’s little fleshy face, “Of course, you can wear it. The Royal Grandmother will order someone to make a set for you tomorrow. We can wear it whenever we want.”
The little Princess was happy, hugging her grandmother’s legs and acting coquettishly: “Rongrong likes the Royal Grandmother the most!”
The very pregnant Crown Princess Xiao Mingxue entered with the support of the palace servants.
“Why is my sister-in-law here too?” Li Kangning looked worriedly at her belly, which was about to move at any time.
“How can I not come to see you off?” The Crown Princess asked with a faint smile.
The Crown Princess was originally the Princess’s study companion. She had taken care of Li Kangning like her own sister since she was a child, and their affection was extraordinary.
As soon as the sky was bright, firecrackers rang all over the capital. Bells and drums rang, and the music of rituals increased. The auspicious time had arrived. The tears that Empress Kang had been brewing for a long time fell.
Li Kangning’s nose was sour. She smiled and said, “I will come to the palace daily to pay my respects to Mother. Please don’t find me annoying when the time comes.”
Empress Kang burst into laughter after hearing, “It would be best if you do that. I wouldn’t dislike you.”
Outside the palace, Pei Yizhi, dressed in a bright red wedding dress, jumped off his horse. He was tall and graceful, with a golden crown tied around his hair. His face was tense, but his eyes, as black as obsidian, shone brightly.
After a series of c*mbersome etiquette, the newlyweds left the palace and entered the Princess’s mansion. The Princess’s mansion was on the east side of the Huai’an Marquis’s mansion, but its area was twice that of the Marquis’s. Huai’an Marquis stood in front of the gate of the Princess’s mansion, and his face was extremely ugly. He had always suspected that Pei Yizhi deliberately framed his eldest son. Now, he was even more convinced. The prince consort’s mother, Mrs. Jin, also dressed up and welcomed the Princess in front of the mansion. She smiled but looked a little strange. While everyone was on the newlyweds, Mrs. Jin quietly asked, “Marquis, how is the Heir doing recently?”
Since returning to the capital from the Rehe Palace, Pei Yujin had locked himself in the courtyard.
“You dare to ask?” Huai’an Marquis sneered and whispered angrily, “Yujin has fallen to such a state; isn’t it all thanks to you, mother and son!”
Mrs. Jin had no words to say and could only swallow it silently. She stared at the Princess’s skirt, which was on the ground and decorated with pearls and jade, seemingly at loss. After a long time, a strange gleam suddenly flashed across her eyes.
In the new room, lights and decorations were everywhere, with big red “?” characters. Li Kangning sat on the wedding bed and urged, “Pei Lan, Zhi Lan, take down the phoenix crown quickly.”
“The wedding ceremony hasn’t been held yet, Princess. Please be patient,” Pei Lan advised.
After dealing with the guests outside, Pei Yizhi hurried back to the bridal chamber. On the mahogany table, there were two golden cups filled with wine, and they each took a cup and drank it in one gulp. The spicy wine rushed straight to the top of their heads after they took a sip.
Li Kangning’s face instantly burned red, and she felt dizzy.
Pei Lan and Zhi Lan quickly helped her bathe and change clothes in the room. Pei Yizhi stood there as if his feet had taken root, staring at their backs as they left. What happened in the past few months seemed like a shocking dream. He was even worried that the dream would be shattered if he touched it.
“Prince consort, do you want me to help you change clothes?” Xiao Luzi smiled at him flatteringly.
Pei Yizhi shook his head and declined. He was used to doing things alone, and no servant was around him. After the two of them finished washing up, the maids left tactfully.
The night deepened, everything was silent, and the red candles flickered. In the big red brocade tent, the newlyweds sat side by side on the bed, and the atmosphere was inexplicably ambiguous. Under the candlelight, the two shadows were very long. The man was tall; his shadow was twice as long as hers.
Li Kangning glanced at the handsome man beside her calmly. Recalling the “knowledge” her mother taught her last night, her flushed cheeks, due to being slightly drunk, became even redder.