The third day of the eighth lunar month.
A clear sky, a gentle breeze. Auspicious for marriage.
Following the lively sounds of suonas and percussion, one congratulatory remark came after another.
The night was deep.
In the grand and festive bridal chamber, Dragon Phoenix Candles as thick as an adult’s arm flickered, casting an ambiguous yet soft, dim light.
Within the hibiscus-patterned bed curtains, the scenery of spring was boundless.
The faint, elusive scent of osmanthus filled her nostrils.
Xiang Zhile felt as if she had been asleep for a very long time.
Her head was groggy and heavy.
She felt something heavy pressing down on her body, and something soft was blocking her mouth, stopping her breath.
She was about to suffocate.
“Mmph…”
She let out a soft whimper, instinctively trying to push away the “thing” on top of her.
Unexpectedly, the pressure on her mouth vanished, only to be replaced by a cold and familiar voice by her ear.
“Feel it clearly. This Prince is Yan Junnuo. Your husband can only be me. You had best take back those thoughts you shouldn’t be having.”
All sleepiness vanished in an instant.
She opened her eyes in disbelief.
Under the soft candlelight, a beautifully sculpted jawline was the first thing to enter her vision.
Then—
Before she could guard herself, he engaged her in another round of deep exchange, showing no tenderness at all.
This familiar tone, these familiar words, and this familiar pain in her body.
Xiang Zhile was jolted wide awake.
This was… her wedding day with Yan Junnuo from seven years ago?
The scene of her death was still vivid in her mind; the heart-piercing pain as the poison took effect still made her shudder with lingering fear.
Could it be that the heavens had heard her repentance and let her return?
Or was this just a dream after her death?
Her hand trembling slightly, she brought her right hand to her mouth and bit down hard.
It hurt. A very real pain.
To think that one could have such a realistic dream after death.
“What, so disappointed to find that this Prince is not Yan Beimo that you’re resorting to self-harm?”
Yan Junnuo seized her hand, roughly pinning it above her head. He bit her lip punishingly, not giving her another chance to bite herself.
Xiang Zhile’s eyes instantly reddened.
If this was a dream, she hoped she would never wake from it.
Because the Yan Junnuo here was not a memorial tablet, but a real person with body heat.
On their wedding day back then, the people of the Xiang Residence, fearing she wouldn’t cooperate, had her dowry maid drug her.
She had consummated her marriage with Yan Junnuo in a daze.
Unexpectedly, in a moment of passion-fueled confusion, she had called out Yan Beimo’s name, dousing the tenderly affectionate Yan Junnuo with ice-cold water.
And this was his second, punitive time.
She still remembered that after this, she had resisted him for a long time.
Yan Junnuo never touched her again.
It wasn’t until after Yan Junnuo’s death that she was filled with regret. Why couldn’t she have given him a wedding night where she was wholly devoted to him?
In her dreams in the middle of the night, she relived this wedding night over and over, yet she would always wake up at the crucial moment.
She never thought the heavens would take pity on her, allowing her to re-experience the feeling of being Yan Junnuo’s wife even after death.
An hour of a spring night is worth a thousand pieces of gold.
Not daring to waste a single moment, she wanted to break free from his grasp, but his grip was too strong; she couldn’t move an inch.
She could only use a bit of strength to prop her head up and whisper softly into his ear, “Junnuo, I’m sorry.”
These were the words she had wanted to say to him countless times in the three years since his death.
Taking advantage of his stunned pause, she offered her lips without hesitation.
Yan Junnuo was struck by lightning. His cheeks and the tips of his ears flushed red rapidly, and his entire body froze, momentarily unsure of where he was.
This stupid woman, why… why was she suddenly so gentle…
And she even… kissed his lips?
Before he could recover, a certain stupid woman said something even more shocking.
“Junnuo, let’s hurry up.”
!!!
What was this now?
Could it be that this woman, in order to lull his vigilance, was willing to seduce him and then find the right moment to leave?
The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed. All of Yan Junnuo’s amorous thoughts scattered completely, leaving only a chest full of rage.
Even her urging took on a different meaning in Yan Junnuo’s ears: If you’re going to sleep with me, do it quickly. After you’re done, get the hell out. I don’t want to see you again.
The more proactive she was, the darker Yan Junnuo’s expression became.
Xiang Zhile was baffled.
Why did he look so furious?
Her mind, usually so adept at strategizing, was now just a muddled mess.
She wanted to cherish their precious wedding night, but a certain someone was not appreciating it. What should she do?
She tried hard to recall everything from that year, but unfortunately, it seemed she had fainted that night. Besides the pain, she had no other deep impressions.
The next day, she heard the servants talking. It seemed that after the wedding night, His Highness had needed to see a physician…
A flash of inspiration struck Xiang Zhile.
Right, he had a stomach ailment. She could start by showing concern for his physical well-being to make it up to him.
And so, just as Yan Junnuo decided he was going to tie this stupid woman up…
A certain stupid woman gave him a gentle and bewitching smile. “Your Highness, haven’t you eaten?”
!!