Chapter 1

Chapter 1

On the day of Xu Yunqi's grand wedding, the late-blooming osmanthus in the capital city of Shangjing fell to the ground like a golden blanket.

As dusk approached, amidst the tempestuous rain and gloom, the bridal sedan chair was ceremoniously escorted by officials from the Ministry of Rites into the Xi Palace.

Xu Yunqi was to be wedded to the third prince of the Xi Palace, Pei Muhang, known as the most distinguished young noble in the entire capital.

Amidst the bustling crowd entering the palace gates were veiled jeers disguised as congratulatory cheers.

"The Third Prince is the emperor's most favored grandson. At a young age, he was already observing government affairs across six ministries. Among the emperor's numerous grandsons, only the Third Prince, besides the crown prince, has been granted the privilege to attend court sessions in the Heavenly Audience Hall."

"Indeed. Thirteen years ago, when our nation's treasury was depleted, thirty thousand iron cavalry from Da Wu stood menacingly at our borders. The Da Wu envoy proudly flaunted his power on our golden throne hall. It was the seven-year-old Third Prince who, with swords at his chest, fearlessly cited ancient texts and intimidated the arrogant envoy, earning him praise to this day."

"That's not all. Two years ago, the Third Prince participated in the imperial examinations and quietly emerged as the top scholar. That truly astonished everyone."

"His accomplishments in both literature and martial arts would have been impressive enough, but the Third Prince also possesses an ethereal charm and regal demeanor that sets him apart in this world..."

Such a unique individual was, however, compelled to marry an unknown daughter from a humble family.

Amidst the joyous banquet, whispers of silent regret circulated.

"Madam Xu truly has fortunate karma," someone sighed.

"What fortune?" a woman harrumphed, her lips curling. "During that palace banquet celebrating the Empress's birthday, the fireworks illuminated the Silver Pheasant Pavilion. Among all those noble ladies, how did she end up standing beside Third Prince by coincidence? I believe she did it on purpose."

Her words met general agreement.

A month prior, at the central palace's birthday celebration, the female relatives of all fifth-rank officials entered the palace to pay their respects. The sky was clear, stars shimmered like fireflies, and the emperor led the civil and military officials, along with their wives, to gather at the Silver Pheasant Pavilion. The pavilion was brightly lit, with silver trees scattered about, and a cascade of colorful fireworks resembled a falling galaxy, leaving the spectators in awe.

One of the fireworks burst above a jade bridge, casting a glow on Pei Muheng's radiant face. At that moment, a lady in a moon-colored dress gracefully entered the scene. One was as handsome as a celestial being, the other as enchanting as a fairy. The sky was as dark as ink, the flowers like snowflakes, which melted into frost on their shoulders, enhancing their ethereal beauty.

The tipsy old emperor, captivated by their captivating charm, spontaneously pointed at them and bestowed marriage upon the pair.

Upon waking and inquiring about the lady's background, he learned that Yunqi, daughter of Xu, was the offspring of a fifth-rank official from the Ministry of Works. She had been raised in the countryside and had only recently returned to the capital. Her character and talents were unknown; their families were not of equal status. The emperor was momentarily stunned.

A king's word was law, and so the marriage was decided.

When the imperial decree spread throughout the city, who wouldn't comment on Xu Yunqi's cunning schemes?

Indeed, Xu Yunqi had stepped onto that jade bridge of her own volition, but not for Pei Muheng.

Fine drizzle, carrying the moist fragrance of osmanthus, drifted into the room, bringing with it a sudden chill of autumn. Xu Yunqi sat alone on the vast wedding bed, her legs going numb from waiting and her eyes feeling dry. After a moment of stillness, she gently lifted the wedding veil and set it aside.

What greeted her vision was a shimmering red glow, filling the entire chamber with opulence.

Before Xu Yunqi could take in the details, she heard the sobbing voice of the maid Yinxing.

"I just went to fetch water from the tea room, and I overheard that old servant gossiping. She said that the Princess has taken a liking to the eldest daughter of Minister Xun's residence. Originally, she planned to propose marriage after the Empress's birthday banquet, asking for the beautiful Second Miss Xun as a wife for Third Young Master. But now that the Emperor has bestowed this marriage, the Princess's plans have been thwarted."

Yinxing stood before the bed, her eyes eagerly fixed on Xu Yunqi, filled with anxiety. "Second Miss Xun and Third Young Master have known each other since childhood; their feelings must be deep. Look, it's almost midnight, and Third Young Master still hasn't returned. Could it be he doesn't want to consummate the marriage?"

Xu Yunqi's vision was still adjusting to the bright light in the room, causing her sight to blur. Rubbing her eyes, she turned her gaze to see tears pooling in Yinxing's eyes. Comforting her, she said,

"No, he will definitely show up, given that the Emperor has arranged this marriage. And even if he doesn't come, it's not a problem."

Her tone remained calm and composed.

As Yinxing gazed at the captivating Xu Yunqi on the wedding bed and then surveyed the deserted bridal chamber, a wave of sorrow welled up in her heart.

Since entering this palace today, rumors have circulated about Princess Xi's illness. The wedding banquet was orchestrated by the eldest madam, Madam Xie, resulting in an event that was more solemn than joyous. In ordinary households, relatives and neighbors would gather to celebrate the newlyweds, or at the very least, unmarried sisters-in-law would accompany the bride.

Yet, the Xi Palace had its own way. The ceremony was considered complete once the bride was escorted to her chambers. Here, the young lady sat alone, untouched by anyone. The grand display outside was for the emperor's benefit; those within the palace held no affection for this marriage.

Putting aside these grievances, after waiting for almost two hours, there was still no sign of the groom. This caused great distress.

Despite the whispers and cold treatment from her husband's family, Xu Yunqi did not utter a single complaint. Her smile never left her face as she softly reassured her maid,

"Serve me a cup of tea first, let's wait a little longer."

Just as Xu Yunqi was about to massage her aching arms, she heard the faintest footsteps coming from the corridor.

The steps were light but steady – the gait of a man.

Xu Yunqi signaled to Yinxing, who understood and quietly retreated to the side.

Supporting herself with a jade scepter, Xu Yunqi sat calmly, awaiting Pei Muheng's arrival.

In a moment, the door creaked open, spilling a soft yellow glow into the room, intertwining with the red lantern light. A tall figure stepped into the shadows.

A sudden chill wind rushed in, dispelling the warm ambiance of the room in an instant.

Red candles flickered, and the rain outside grew denser. The breeze gently swept in, lifting the corners of Xu Yunqi's azure phoenix-patterned robe. She felt even colder, shivering slightly, and, holding her jade scepter, she turned towards the newcomer and bowed politely.

Soft sounds reached her ears, followed by the sight of a pair of cloud-patterned black boots stopping beneath the beaded curtain. For a moment, the wind subsided, leaving the room eerily quiet.

The person paused for a moment before slowly stepping forward, bringing with them an icy frostiness that seemed to permeate the air around them.

Xu Yunqi cast a subtle glance in their direction.

A soft glow from the corner cast a delicate shadow across his chiseled features, hiding his profound eyes in the dimness. His gaze swept over Xu Yunqi from above, without pause, before he casually returned the greeting. Then, he sat down on the cinnabar-inlaid cloud-patterned armchair behind the screen, his long eyelashes barely concealing a subtle hint of fatigue.

Xu Yunqi gestured for the maid Yingxing to serve Pei Muheng tea, and then dismissed her politely.

The couple sat in silence, neither of them speaking for a long while.

Pei Muheng's sword-like eyebrows knit together in a somber expression, utterly disregarding the cup of tea before him. His gaze lifted inadvertently, settling upon the flickering candle flame, where it lingered for a moment in a fleeting trance.

He had resided in this very chamber for two decades, yet now it was suffused with an unfamiliar aura at every turn.

The surroundings had undergone a complete transformation, with the formerly grand and spacious Eastern Antechamber now filled with various feminine items, such as a rosewood inlaid with gemstone vanity table and a purple sandalwood imperial concubine couch piled high with colorful dowry boxes... Along with an unfamiliar face sitting timidly on the wedding bed. Bai Muheng pressed his aching forehead, remaining silent.

With Bai Muheng not speaking, Xu Yunqi didn't bother to respond. Holding a jade scepter, he quietly dozed off, until he heard Bai Muheng's calm and unhurried voice in his drowsy state,

"Since you've entered the palace, from now on, you'll be a royal consort. Your words and actions will represent the Xi Palace."

His slender fingers gently traced circles on his forehead, revealing a slender and toned arm from the sleeve. The hazy light outlined the smooth contours of his muscles, while his lowered eyebrows concealed his emotions, making them unreadable.

Xu Yunqi stared at him, her vision gradually clearing.

Pei Muhang's gaze remained fixed, but his tone gradually turned solemn, even carrying a hint of chilliness.

"I am usually occupied with official duties and have little time to oversee the estate. You should learn to manage the domestic affairs and consult your mother when in doubt," he paused, as if remembering something, then added, "My study is a vital area in the residence; do not casually seek me out in the front courtyard. If you have matters to discuss, send someone to deliver a message."

Xu Yunqi understood – he was afraid she would cling to him.

She slowly lowered the jade staff in her hand and looked at her unfamiliar husband, softly acknowledging with an 'mm-hmm'.

In the quiet of the night, this gentle sound was like a soft breeze brushing over a lake, conveying a hint of complaint.

Pei Muheng had never been one to show compassion towards women, and he remained unresponsive at this moment. He merely continued,

"Serve your parents respectfully at home, comport yourself with propriety and decorum. Be cautious with your words and actions outside, neither arrogant nor hasty. As husband and wife, your every move reflects on me. Do you understand?"

These were his three rules for her.

Xu Yunqi understood perfectly. With her clear eyes fixed on him, she nodded and replied,

"I understand."

Seeing how readily she agreed, the restlessness in Pei Muheng's heart dissipated slightly. His slender arm hung down as his fingertips grasped a sky-blue teacup, taking a light sip before casually opening his eyes to look at her.

"What about you? If you have any requests, feel free to speak up beforehand."

Regardless of whether she had acted deliberately or unintentionally that night, since they were now married, he would give her the respect due. If he could set rules, she could make requests too.

Their eyes met through the hazy lamp light, their gazes clashing in a silent duel, neither yielding to the other.

Xu Yunqi couldn't recall any expectations she had for this nominal husband of hers, so she shook her head. "None."

Pei Muhang averted his gaze, not saying another word.

After a moment of silence, he rose to his feet and said, "I have other duties to attend to. You've had a long day, so rest now."

Then, his statuesque figure disappeared behind the beaded curtain, heading for the western chamber.

Yunqi watched the swaying beads in silence, not offering any comment.

Since he didn't have affection for her, he naturally had no desire to consummate their marriage. Xu Yunqi sighed in relief and turned to summon a maid for assistance.

Ginkgo entered with a huff, attending to Lady Xu Yunqi's wardrobe change and toilette while indignantly muttering,

"I had thought we were awaiting the groom's consummation of the marriage, but instead, we were subjected to a barrage of rules. It seems they take it for granted that we are delighted to be royal consorts..."

As the silver apricot was about to speak, Xu Yunqi silenced her with a subtle glance. She gently rubbed her handkerchief, soothing the maid whose worries had become entangled like a knotted rope.

"There are advantages to not consummating the marriage right away, it should happen naturally when the time is right."

Ginkgo supported Xu Yunqi as they traversed the intricately draped curtains, leading her to the sparsely occupied wedding bed. She whispered softly,

"Will there come a day when everything falls into place naturally?"

Xu Yunqi froze for a moment, responding with a smile but no words. The gentle breeze in her eyes dissipated, leaving only a faint detachment etched deep within her pupils.

Pei Muheng's heart was already taken, and she had her own plans in order. Two individuals who were originally unrelated had been forcefully intertwined by the old emperor's will, a rather absurd situation.