Inside the bridal chamber, the wedding candles burned brightly.
Qin Lang waved his hand, dismissing Shijian and the other maids and matrons. The clamor outside the door continued, but the room suddenly fell silent.
Shen Ruojin’s red veil was lifted. As she raised her eyes, she met the affectionate, smiling peach-blossom eyes of the young Prince Qin.
This hastily changed husband was truly handsome.
A man of unparalleled brilliance, unmatched in the world.
Even if their future days were not smooth, just looking at her husband’s face would lift her spirits considerably.
Alone together under the red candlelight within the lotus-patterned bed curtains, Shen Ruojin met his gaze. Even a girl like her, who had grown up surrounded by handsome men, couldn’t help her racing heart and burning ears.
“Shen Ruojin, why are you blushing?” Qin Lang suddenly leaned in, flicking her earlobe lightly with a bent finger.
The bride’s fair, delicate skin had taken on a faint peach-blossom hue, making one want to take a bite.
Qin Lang chuckled softly by Shen Ruojin’s ear, “Your ears are so hot. Weren’t you quite bold before getting into the bridal sedan?”
She even dared to ask him publicly if he wanted to change brides? Yet now she was clearly a bit nervous, unable to relax.
Shen Ruojin usually remained calm in the face of trouble, rarely showing her emotions, but after all, she was only eighteen and getting married for the first time.
But she was never one to admit defeat. Teased by Qin Lang like this, she directly grabbed his hand and pulled him down to sit together on the wedding bed.
The red gauze curtains swayed slightly. Peanuts, longans, and red dates scattered on the wedding bed were swept to the floor, spreading everywhere.
Holding Qin Lang’s hand, Shen Ruojin pressed it against the bedpost. “It’s not that I’m blushing or my ears are hot, husband. It’s that your eyes are red and your palms are warm.”
This sudden address of “husband” caught Qin Lang slightly off guard, but he quickly recovered, gripping Shen Ruojin’s hand in return and pinning her down on the bed.
Qin Lang’s thin lips curved slightly. “You certainly don’t hold back.”
Shen Ruojin raised her foot to kick him but suddenly remembered that the person before her was her newlywed husband, not an enemy she was fighting.
She withdrew her lethal leg, trying to relax her body. “Aren’t you in a hurry too? We haven’t even drunk the nuptial wine, and you’re already thinking of consummating the marriage?”
Their skin was pressed close, allowing them to clearly feel each other’s body heat. The position was truly suggestive.
It really did seem as if they were about to consummate the marriage.
Just then, a servant arrived outside the door to request, “Second Master, the Crown Prince is looking for you. It’s time to go out and entertain the guests.”
“Not going.” Qin Lang, still holding Shen Ruojin down on the bed, refused without a second thought. “What guest could be more important than accompanying my bride? If he loves entertaining guests, let him do it.”
Shen Ruojin pushed him.
Not only did Qin Lang not get up, but he also reached out to remove the phoenix crown from her head and casually set it aside.
Shen Ruojin’s long, dark hair cascaded down, pooling on the red silk wedding quilt. Her already stunning beauty instantly reached its peak allure.
The intimate scene within the chamber grew increasingly enchanting and alluring, the temperature inside the red gauze curtains rising steadily.
Unable to persuade the groom, the servant bowed his head and left.
Not long after, the manor steward arrived, standing outside the window and speaking respectfully, “Second Master, the Prince summons you.”
“Not going!” Qin Lang laughed in exasperation. “What kind of father disturbs his son’s wedding night?”
“Second Master, you mustn’t say such things…” The steward also failed to summon the groom and turned to report back.
“You really aren’t going?” Shen Ruojin couldn’t help but laugh. With a bit of force, she pushed Qin Lang, making him roll over.
The bed was covered with peanuts and red dates, quite uncomfortable to lie on.
Qin Lang, however, seemed perfectly at ease, reaching out to twirl a strand of Shen Ruojin's dark hair around his finger. "If I left now, wouldn't that leave you alone in an empty bridal chamber?"
Before Shen Ruojin could respond, another urgent voice came from outside.
"Young Lord, it's terrible! Haitang Hong is singing on stage when a drunken playboy rushed up, tore at her clothes, and tried to take her right then and there—"
Qin Lang propped himself up on the bedpost and slowly sat up. "What kind of act is this now?"
The person outside replied, "It's… it's the second son of Minister Li! That Li the Second only dared to take advantage because he knew you were getting married today. If you were there, how would he have the nerve?"
Qin Lang scoffed but said nothing. Instead, he stood up and began untying the sash of his wedding robe.
Seeing that he hadn't left despite being summoned three times, Shen Ruojin couldn't help but ask, "Are we really going to consummate the marriage tonight?"
Qin Lang raised an eyebrow slightly, countering with a question instead of answering. "Scared?"
"Not exactly scared." Shen Ruojin just found it all rather strange. "But Qin Lang, you, the esteemed young lord of Zhenbei Wangfu, suddenly took a fancy to a mere concubine-born daughter of a marquis's household, decided to marry her as your principal wife, and even arranged the wedding on the same day as mine—that was already odd enough.
Today's events were sudden, yet when I suggested switching brides, you agreed without the slightest hesitation.
Now you're even abandoning the actress you spent a fortune to promote, leaving her in trouble just to stay here with me in the bridal chamber…"
She looked at Qin Lang, listing each inconsistency in his behavior before concluding, "You're really not acting like yourself, Young Lord Qin."
For a fleeting moment, Qin Lang's eyes wavered, as if a deeply buried secret had been partially exposed.
Thus, the man known to outsiders as a romantic in the pleasure quarters, a charming patron of brothels, found himself unable to meet Shen Ruojin's gaze at this moment.
Qin Lang turned his back to her, hung the removed wedding robe on a wooden stand, and pulled on an everyday garment from nearby.
Using the time spent tying his sash to steady himself, he walked back to the bed and looked down at his bride. "Shen Ruojin, what exactly is going through your mind? Don't tell me you thought I was undressing to sleep with you?"
Shen Ruojin remained silent.
After all, that was exactly what she had been thinking.
Qin Lang tossed her a retort, "Wishful thinking."
Shen Ruojin was momentarily speechless.
This young lord Qin, how could he change his expression so abruptly?
Qin Lang immediately added, "I was merely testing you just now. I didn't expect you to take the bait so easily."
A faint smirk curled his thin lips, assuming an 'I've seen right through you' expression. "So you really do have designs on me."
Could it really be like that?
Shen Ruojin felt both angry and amused. "Since you've said it all, if I didn't actually want something, I'd be at a disadvantage."
She had indeed married into Zhenbei Wangfu for its power and wealth, so she wasn't exactly being wrongfully accused.
Qin Lang gave her a deep look. "In the Wangfu, know what you can seek and what you cannot. I hope you understand."
"Naturally." Shen Ruojin nodded in agreement.
Power and wealth were attainable; love and sincerity were not.
She had long been clear about that.
Qin Lang turned and left the bridal chamber, summoning several close guards to accompany him as he departed the estate overnight.
From the commotion, Shen Ruojin guessed he was heading to the theater to play the hero and rescue the beauty.
Once he left, he likely wouldn't return tonight.
With that thought, she stood up, removed her wedding dress, and was left wearing only the innermost layer of white undergarments.
Qin Lang's departure from the mansion caused quite a stir. The maids and matrons outside whispered among themselves, saying that since the newlyweds didn't share a bed on their wedding night, this marriage was unlikely to last.
Shijian brought in hot water and asked softly, "On the wedding night, why did the young prince leave you alone here?"
"He's afraid I might have ulterior motives."
As Shen Ruojin spoke, she touched her earlobe, which indeed felt somewhat warm.
However, as she watched the young prince Qin's retreating figure just now, why did his imposing demeanor seem to carry a hint of fleeing in panic?
Strange things happen every year, but today seems to have more than its share.