Behind the bridal veil, Xi Cai could not see the man’s expression, nor did she hear him respond.
Within her field of vision, a maid approached in small, careful steps. She held a low ebony tray, upon which rested a ceremonial balance rod. A silver bell hung from one end of the rod, delicately crafted in the shape of a magnolia blossom.
Xi Cai breathed a sigh of relief. At least the Marquis of Yanling had some manners. He had not made things difficult for her by forcing her to lift her own veil.
Her eyes remained fixed on the balance rod as a slender, pale hand reached down to take it. The hand was beautifully formed, with fingers even more slender and elongated than a woman’s.
If she had not known beforehand that he had followed the founding emperor into battle, she might have mistaken him for some noble young master who had never experienced the hardships of the world and had spent his entire life secluded in a lofty mansion.
His skin was so pale that it carried a faint bluish tinge, yet his fingernails retained a healthy flush of color. A delicate pink, like the fading petals of a lotus flower, showed beneath them. At least he had not yet reached the point of being beyond recovery.
He picked up the balance rod and brought it toward the edge of her veil. As he lifted it, the silver bell at the end chimed melodiously.
Xi Cai lowered her eyes and waited quietly.
When the rod finally lifted her veil, her mind suddenly cleared, as though she had been trapped in a cage for far too long and had finally been released into the open air. Even her breathing became easier.
She reminded herself to arrange her expression and gaze appropriately. When meeting someone for the first time, a young woman should not stare at him so boldly. She ought to appear shy and bashful, perhaps even blush a little.
Then she remembered Xi Xiao’s concern that the marquis might be foul-smelling and rotting away. She could not help paying closer attention to his scent.
They were not standing very far apart, yet she detected no unpleasant odor. Instead, a rich, mellow fragrance of agarwood seemed to linger faintly around him.
She raised her eyes further and finally saw his entire face.
His appearance matched his elegant hands. He was not the gaunt military man she had imagined. His cheekbones were not sharply protruding, nor were his cheeks hollow and sunken.
As a nobleman, he had been accustomed to a life of privilege, and every detail of his appearance was carefully arranged. His dark ceremonial robes were dignified, and his hair was neatly bound without a single strand out of place. A golden hair ribbon adorned with dangling green tassels hung from his crown, resting lightly against his chest like a streak of green shadow.
He was looking at her too. The corners of his eyes tilted upward, and his eyelashes fluttered slightly. Although illness had weakened his body, there was still an unmistakable air of pride, nobility, and refinement about him.
No wonder he was still able to marry. His illness had not reached the point of being fatal. Perhaps the marriage was intended to bring him good fortune and help him recover.
Xi Cai quickly reached her conclusion.
This was going to take some effort, but given enough time, she could still achieve her goals.
Nevertheless, his appearance had surprised her.
Whenever her father spoke of him, he described him as a sinister, deceitful man whose ambition knew no bounds. He had made the marquis sound like the sort of villain who lurked on rooftops and plotted evil deeds.
Yet power and wealth were the finest ornaments a man could possess. Even if a man had a few flaws in his appearance, he could still be an excellent marriage prospect for the young ladies of Luodu.
Before meeting him, Xi Cai had prepared herself for the worst and resigned herself to her fate. Now, she could finally relax.
At least she would not feel sick to her stomach while pretending to be a gentle and virtuous wife.
As for what he thought of her, that did not matter much. He had already married her. If he tried to send her back to her family, the officials at court would have plenty to say against him.
With that thought, she rose to her feet and bowed gracefully.
“This humble wife, Xi Cai, pays her respects to my lord.”
She had already thought him exceptionally tall when judging him by sight alone. But when she stood directly in front of him, she realized just how imposing he was.
Despite his slender frame, he stood like a solitary mountain peak, towering a full foot and a half above her.
The Marquis of Yanling raised a hand slightly to indicate that she need not bow so deeply.
“My lady, there is no need for such formality. Now that we have become husband and wife, I hope you will take good care of me and be willing to put in the effort as we spend our days together.”
Xi Cai answered cautiously, “You are too polite, my lord. Before I left my family home, my parents repeatedly reminded me that once I married, I must respect my husband and put his needs before my own in all matters.”
As she spoke, she smiled shyly.
“I never expected to marry this year, so even now, meeting you feels somewhat unreal. If I do anything inappropriate, I hope you will kindly correct me.”
The beauty of the young woman seemed to overflow with every gentle movement of her head. A pair of jade-green earrings swayed against her slender, fair neck. Judging by her appearance alone, she was practically flawless.
The Marquis of Yanling spoke in a calm, measured tone that retained a hint of distance. Still, since they would be living together from now on, it was important to make a good start.
“My lady, there is no need to be so distant. I have heard of your excellent reputation for a long time and have admired you for years. Welcoming you into my household today has finally fulfilled my wish.”
He paused before continuing.
“Your father must have mentioned me to you. Do you know my name?”
Xi Cai froze for a moment, surprised to discover that she genuinely did not know his name.
Whenever people spoke of him, they referred to him by his noble title. Perhaps only those who cursed him openly ever called him by his actual name.
However, admitting that she did not know would make it seem as though she had paid him no regard whatsoever.
She could only answer tactfully, “I do not know your courtesy name, my lord. As an unmarried young lady, it would have been inappropriate for me to inquire about such things. I thought it would be better to ask you directly after entering your household.”
The Marquis of Yanling seemed to understand. He took her hand and began writing on her palm with his finger.
“My name is Yang Xun. Xun, as in instruction or admonition. My courtesy name is Xuantan.”
His fingertip moved across her palm while his other hand supported the back of hers. She could feel his warmth and the faintest touch of his fingers. The sensation was strangely ticklish, as though he were writing directly upon her heart.
She was secretly uncomfortable, but she could not pull her hand away. Instead, she concentrated on his courtesy name.
“Tigers are called Banlan at twelve years old, Baie at twenty-four, and Shanjun at thirty. Only after thirty do they become Xuantan. Xuantan is a divine beast. It seems the founding emperor placed great hopes in you, my lord, to have chosen such an auspicious name. Perhaps he wished to bless you with a lifetime of peace and safety.”
A smile appeared on Yang Xun’s face.
“I’m afraid I shall disappoint the founding emperor. My health has deteriorated with each passing year. I spend my days taking medicine, and even after consulting countless famous physicians, my condition has shown little improvement.”
He continued in an unhurried voice.
“I had originally intended to remain unmarried. However, I could not withstand His Majesty’s repeated urging. Several of my imperial uncles have already established their own families, while I remain the only one living alone. Fortunately, your father agreed to the marriage that day, so I accepted his kindness.”
Xi Cai thought he had quite a nerve.
Who agreed to marry you?
Her father had merely said that the matter could be discussed. Yang Xun had deliberately pretended not to understand and sent someone to announce the marriage as though everything had already been settled. Where had there been any actual discussion?
And now he was shamelessly rewriting the story right in front of her.
As expected, politicians had long since perfected the art of making black appear white. They could lie through their teeth without the slightest difficulty.
Since he was playing dumb, she would have to play along as gracefully as possible.
“My lord is considered an excellent husband by everyone in Luodu. Being able to marry you is a blessing in my life.”
Yang Xun sighed softly.
“With a body like mine, I do not know how much longer I can endure. I fear that I may become a burden to you and ruin the rest of your life.”
“Please, do not say such things, my lord,” Xi Cai replied sincerely. “It was fate that brought us together and allowed me to marry into the marquis’s household to care for you. There is no need to fear illness. We can take our time nursing your health back to normal. I believe you will eventually recover.”
She looked at him with an earnest expression.
“Now that I have married you, I intend to remain your wife for the rest of my life. Please do not speak so pessimistically on our wedding night. We should say something auspicious instead.”
Such considerate words seemed to touch Yang Xun’s heart.
He lowered his eyes and slowly blinked before formally cupping his hands and bowing to her.
“Please forgive me for my lack of consideration, my lady. The wedding banquet in the front courtyard ended some time ago. The reason I delayed coming here until now was that I felt uncertain. I was afraid you might not have married me willingly.”
He paused before asking, “Do you know that your father and I often disagree over political matters at court?”
Xi Cai nodded.
“My father and you are both upright officials. It is only natural that you sometimes hold different opinions. Since our two families have now become related through marriage, I hope our union will help ease the tension between you.”
She continued with a gentle smile.
“After all, one is my father, and the other is my husband. I sincerely hope you can get along peacefully. Only then can our family prosper.”
Her words were tactful and flawless, leaving no opening for criticism.
However, Yang Xun had no intention of letting the matter end there.
He raised his sleeve to cover his mouth and coughed softly. His expression remained gentle, but his questions grew increasingly pointed.
“I also hope your father will show more understanding toward my circumstances and stop misunderstanding me. However, deep-rooted grievances cannot be resolved in a single day. If we cannot reconcile our differences for the time being, would that not place you in a difficult position between us?”
Xi Cai met his gaze. Her expression was firm, as though she had already made a decision.
She answered each word clearly.
“I have studied the Book of Etiquette and understand the principle that a married woman should follow her husband. If you and my father ever come into conflict, I would certainly feel heartbroken, but I would still put you first.”
She looked directly at him.
“You are the person I will rely on for the rest of my life. As husband and wife, we are one. If you suffer a setback, how would that be any different from suffering one myself?”
Ugh, that was so sickeningly sweet.
Was this what it meant to be foolish to the extreme? She was practically declaring her virtue with her eyes wide open. Still, men probably loved hearing such things.
Yang Xun studied her face as though trying to determine whether she truly meant what she said. After a brief pause, a look of satisfaction appeared in his eyes.
“With a wife like you, what more could a man ask for? The Zhongcheng residence has certainly raised you well. You live up to your excellent reputation and deserve to be called the most virtuous woman in Luodu.”
Both of them appeared satisfied.
Their outward harmony concealed the turbulent undercurrents of hostility between them.
They had more or less finished negotiating the unspoken rules of their marriage on their wedding night. Now came the main event of the bridal chamber. It was time to prepare for bed.
“My lord, you must be exhausted after such a long day,” Xi Cai said. “Shall I have someone bring water so I can help you wash up?”
Yang Xun declined.
“I have already washed before coming here. Would you like to wash as well, my lady?”
It was an entirely ordinary question, but given the circumstances, it was difficult not to read something else into it.
Xi Cai glanced up at him. His expression was calm, as though he had meant nothing by it.
“I have already washed. Allow me to help you prepare for bed instead.”
As she spoke, she stood and began helping him remove his ceremonial robes.
He was simply too tall. To look at his face, she had to tilt her head back. If she wanted to keep her gaze level, all she could do was stare at his chest.
What kind of monster is this?
No wonder he had won so many battles on the battlefield. His height alone must have given him a considerable advantage.
Strangely enough, although his body was slender, he did not seem frail in spirit. He resembled a green bamboo stalk that refused to bend despite having endured countless storms. Illness clung to him, but he was weak without being defeated by it.
“Thank you for your trouble.”
His voice drifted down from above her head, deep and clear, with a resonance that seemed capable of reaching straight into a person’s heart.
Xi Cai steadied her hands and placed them on his waist sash. After fumbling around for quite some time, she finally managed to undo the jade belt hook.
Inwardly, she was groaning.
She had grown up in the Xi household, where other people had always attended to her needs. She had never helped anyone change clothes, let alone a man.
If she had known this would happen, she should have practiced on Xi Tan first. Then she would not be fumbling around now, nearly unable to find the mechanism on the belt hook.
Fortunately, everything went smoothly in the end, and she managed to remove his ceremonial robes.
She was also thankful that it was the height of summer, when people wore fewer layers. Beneath his outer robe was only a lighter inner garment. All that remained was to remove his shoes.
However, just as she was about to crouch down, he stopped her.
“There’s no need. I’ll do it myself.”
Then he asked, “Would you like me to help remove your hair ornaments and change your clothes, my lady?”
Xi Cai was momentarily stunned before smiling.
“How could I trouble you with such things? Please lie down and rest first, my lord. I’ll join you shortly.”
Her words and actions remained calm and dignified. Yet once she sat before the dressing table, anxiety began to creep into her heart.
Through the reflection in the bronze mirror, she saw that he had already climbed onto the bed and was leaning against a bolster, supporting his chin with one hand as he watched her leisurely.
Xi Cai’s heart began to pound.
His health is so poor. Surely he must be unable to perform his husbandly duties.
A thousand thoughts raced through her mind. When their eyes met in the mirror, however, they both exchanged polite smiles.
Each had their own thoughts. It was simply a matter of who could remain composed longer.
Xi Cai began removing her elaborate hair ornaments. The complicated accessories had become tangled with her hair after being rubbed against the bridal veil. One of her hairpins simply refused to come loose. It was caught like a fine string stretched taut across a bow, and trying to free it threatened to pull everything else out of place.
Only then did she realize that Yu Wu and Gong Xi had already left the bridal chamber.
After carefully trying to untangle the hairpin twice, she finally accepted that it was impossible to free it gently. Gritting her teeth, she pulled it out by force.
She did not know whether Yang Xun had noticed, but she saw his eyebrows rise slightly.
Xi Cai seized the opportunity to express her devotion.
“Since your health is poor, my lord, I must never allow my own affairs to trouble you. You should simply rest and leave the arrangements of daily life to me. I will take care of your food, clothing, accommodation, and everything else.”
She continued earnestly, “I may not do everything perfectly at first, but with enough practice and time, I will certainly learn to make you comfortable in every way.”
The man reclining on the bed seemed deeply touched.
“Having to follow me must be exhausting for you, my lady.”
“It is no trouble at all,” Xi Cai replied. “I am still inexperienced as a wife, and there are many things I have yet to learn. If you have any wishes or suggestions in the future, please tell me. You may also entrust the household’s daily affairs to me. Your health will always be my highest priority.”
Yang Xun agreed.
“Very well.”
He shifted toward the inner side of the bed. When he saw her undoing her quju robe, he quietly turned his gaze away.
“The red candles must not be extinguished. They have to burn throughout the night,” Xi Cai reminded him.
After blowing out the oil lamp on the lampstand, she gathered up her hair and walked toward the bed in a thin sleeping garment.
Her figure was exceptionally graceful. The translucent silk fabric swayed with each step, concealing her form without fully hiding it. The more indistinct her silhouette became, the more alluring and suggestive it seemed.
Xi Cai herself did not notice any of this.
She sat on the edge of the bed and stretched out her arms to reach the curtain hooks. Her snow-white arms were exposed, and the green jade bracelets on her wrists accentuated their delicate lines, like the first slender shoots of an orchid emerging from the earth.
When she turned around, she belatedly remembered to feel shy.
“Please sleep well, my lord. If you become thirsty during the night, just tell me. I’ll get you some water.”
Yang Xun’s expression softened as he smiled.
“My lady, you have thought of everything and seem not the least bit shy around me. I almost forgot that tonight is our wedding night.”
Xi Cai’s heart gave a sudden jolt.
As expected, there’s no escaping this.
Now that she had married him, this matter would eventually be unavoidable. Still, she had to do whatever she could to save herself.
She gently advised him, “Your health is not good, my lord. You should focus on taking care of yourself and avoid overexerting your body.”
Yang Xun did not respond, nor did he make any move.
Instead, Xi Cai began to feel awkward. Perhaps she had misunderstood him. Although he had mentioned their wedding night, he had not actually indicated that he intended to fulfill his marital duties.
However, they were now lying side by side without their outer garments, making each other’s scent much more noticeable.
She tried to detect even the slightest trace of decay beneath the fragrance of incense, but after carefully examining the scent, she found nothing of the sort.
Perhaps it was because he had been taking medicine for so many years. There was a faint, bitter fragrance about him, like a mixture of medicinal herbs and wine. It drifted straight into her nose.
The bridal chamber was completely silent. The only sound came from the insects chirping intermittently outside the window.
Xi Cai thought he had fallen asleep and was about to close her eyes when his voice suddenly sounded beside her ear.
“My lady, you are almost too considerate. It makes me feel ashamed. Is it because you believe my health is so poor that I am incapable of fulfilling my marital duties, and that is why you keep trying to reassure me?”
Xi Cai’s mind nearly failed to keep up.
Her first instinct was to admit that he was right. But after reconsidering, she decided that she should be more tactful.
She answered obediently, “You and I are going to be husband and wife for the rest of our lives. We have plenty of time ahead of us. There is no need to rush into anything tonight.”
She thought she had handled the situation rather well. She had protected his pride without sacrificing her own safety.
But she never expected him to let out a short, mocking laugh before suddenly turning over and propping himself above her.
In the flickering light of the red candles, she saw his eyes shining in the darkness like those of a wolf ready to hunt its prey.
Xi Cai was instantly frightened.
Her father had told her that Yang Xun could barely remain standing for the time it took to drink a cup of tea while attending court. He had been granted special privileges: he could wear his sword and shoes into the palace, walk without hurrying before the emperor, and receive formal praise without having his name announced. He was even allowed to sit during court audiences.
Yet now, he seemed to have suddenly regained his strength, as though experiencing a final burst of vitality before his condition worsened.
The oppressive feeling was almost suffocating. In the next moment, he seemed ready to devour her whole.
And she had not been mistaken.
He lowered his head, his warm breath brushing against her neck. His lips pressed against her skin, and his teeth grazed it with just enough pressure to create a strange, tingling ache.
Before she could recover from her shock, he parted the front of her sleeping garment. His hand followed the contours of her ribs before settling firmly around her slender waist.