No one knew how much time had passed before the bridal sedan finally came to a slow stop.
The curtain was lifted, and the noise of the outside world instantly rushed in. The sudden, dazzling light made Lu Jiaojiao narrow her eyes slightly.
A large, well-defined hand reached beneath her bridal veil.
The palm bore the thin calluses of someone accustomed to martial training.
It was Huo Shiran’s hand.
Lu Jiaojiao’s breathing caught almost imperceptibly. Then, she gently placed her slightly cool fingers into his.
His hand was warm. She could even feel the rough calluses left behind from years of gripping weapons.
The moment her fingertips touched his, that hand seemed to stiffen almost imperceptibly as well.
With a faint snort, Lu Jiaojiao pinched him hard.
She could distinctly feel the man beside her freeze for a moment.
He led her forward, guiding her over the saddle and across the brazier as they completed one elaborate wedding ritual after another.
Throughout the entire process, the two of them were exceptionally “cooperative.”
Their postures were elegant, their behavior impeccable. To any observer, they appeared to be a perfect match—a handsome groom and a beautiful bride, a union made in heaven.
Only their arms, pressed close together, could sense the barely perceptible tension radiating from the other’s body.
And only they could feel the force hidden beneath their seemingly supportive gestures—as though they were secretly competing with one another.
They entered the wedding hall.
They bowed to Heaven and Earth.
They bowed to their elders.
Then came the bow between husband and wife.
When the officiant loudly called, “Husband and wife, bow to each other!”
Lu Jiaojiao, separated from him by the thick red veil, could feel the oppressive presence of the man before her as he bent forward.
She slowly bowed as well.
The pearls and jeweled ornaments on her phoenix crown lightly struck one another, producing a series of delicate sounds.
The ceremony was complete.
The bride was sent to the bridal chamber.
Surrounded by attendants, Lu Jiaojiao was led toward the courtyard that had long since been prepared for the newlyweds.
Meanwhile, Huo Shiran was left in the front hall to deal with the guests who had come to offer their congratulations and who would undoubtedly do their best to force wine down his throat.
Inside the bridal chamber, the red candles burned brightly.
Brocade quilts and embroidered bed curtains filled the room, everything bathed in festive red.
Lu Jiaojiao was helped to the edge of the bed, which had been covered with a traditional quilt symbolizing a long line of children and grandchildren. At last, the noise around her faded somewhat.
The maids and matrons offered a few auspicious blessings before quietly withdrawing to wait outside.
The enormous room was left with only her—
and the occasional soft crackle of the burning red candles.
She sat silently.
The bridal veil blocked her entire view. All she could see were her own hands, tightly clasped together in her lap.
The composure and pretense she had maintained earlier slowly began to fade in the silence of being alone.
A complicated mixture of confusion, unwillingness, and faint excitement rose within her like the tide.
She was truly married.
Married to Huo Shiran.
She took a quiet breath, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in her heart—and the mist gathering in her eyes.
The air was thick with the rich fragrance of incense, mixed with the distinctive scent of fresh paint and polished wood unique to a newly decorated bridal chamber.
She could imagine how lively the front hall must be at that very moment.
She could imagine Huo Shiran surrounded by guests, being relentlessly urged to drink.
Fine.
Let him drink.
The more, the better.
Beneath her sleeve, Lu Jiaojiao’s fingertips unconsciously stroked a small, hard object hidden there.
It was something she had prepared for herself
another “wedding gift.”
Beneath the bridal veil, the corners of her lips slowly curved into a cold, resolute smile.
Time passed slowly, stretched between the silence of the bridal chamber and the distant revelry outside.
Every minute and every second seemed to lengthen countless times over.
Lu Jiaojiao maintained her dignified posture, but gradually, her body began to stiffen.
Why isn’t he here yet?
She listened carefully to the sounds outside, trying to determine whether the banquet was nearing its end and estimating when Huo Shiran would arrive.
Finally, the commotion from the front courtyard seemed to gradually subside.
A series of slightly unsteady footsteps approached, growing closer and closer, accompanied by the indistinct laughter and conversation of men.
They were heading toward the bridal chamber.
Lu Jiaojiao’s heart suddenly tightened.
Then she forcibly suppressed the feeling.
The door was pushed open.
Huo Shiran entered, carrying with him the crisp scent of alcohol.
He waved away the wedding matron who attempted to follow him inside and closed the door.
The enormous room was left with only the two of them.
His footsteps were slightly unsteady as he walked toward her.
He stopped before her and paused for a moment.
Lu Jiaojiao could feel his gaze resting upon her.
That gaze was so intense that she almost wanted to rip off the troublesome red veil immediately.
But she restrained herself.
She continued sitting upright and properly, as though completely unaware.
Meanwhile, Huo Shiran was actually wondering whether the woman beneath the red veil had somehow found a substitute for herself just to give him a fright.
He had clearly drunk quite a bit.
The corners of his eyes were tinged red, and the sharp, bold gaze he usually possessed was now clouded with alcohol, making his expression seem slightly unfocused.
He took a deep breath.
Perhaps he was trying to dispel some of the drunkenness.
Or perhaps he was simply gathering the courage to face what came next.
Only then did he pick up the jade ruyi wrapped in red silk and move it toward the crimson bridal veil.
His movements were cautious, carrying a care he himself had not even noticed.
With a gentle lift
The red veil fell away like a receding tide.
The first thing that came into view was a fair, slender chin, beautifully curved.
Then came her eyes and brows features both familiar and strangely unfamiliar to him.
Carefully painted and adorned, they were more exquisite than he remembered. Her long lashes rested like butterfly wings, casting small, alluring shadows beneath her eyes.
When the veil was completely lifted and the candlelight fell freely across her face, Huo Shiran felt his breath catch.
His hand tightened almost imperceptibly around the jade ruyi.
The haziness in his eyes caused by the alcohol suddenly vanished, replaced by a sharp, unmistakable sense of astonishment.
She had lost so much weight.
That was Huo Shiran’s first thought.