Chapter 170 The Decoration of the Bridal Chamber

Chapter 170: Renovation of the Wedding Chamber

After that family banquet at the Liu residence, the marriage between Xiao Yan and Liu Qingci was officially recognized, received his parents' blessing.

The wedding date was set soon after.

Liu Wenyuan consulted the almanac and privately asked a close friend from the Bureau of Astronomy for advice, finally choosing an auspicious day one and a half months later.

That day was in late spring, early summer, with a clear, high sky, neither too hot nor too cold—truly a fine season.

According to protocol, a prince's grand wedding required a ceremony at the Imperial Ancestral Temple or the Hall of Ancestral Worship.

Given the special circumstances, the Emperor allowed Xiao Yan to perform the rites alone before his birth mother's spirit tablet, and permitted him to include Liu Qingci's name in the ritual prayer document—this was almost a tacit acknowledgment of Liu Qingci's status as his partner within the imperial clan's lineage, an act of profound significance.

The days that followed seemed to accelerate, passing swiftly amidst an unspoken mutual understanding and a flurry of joyful busyness.

Xiao Yan visited Liu Qingci's new residence—which was in its final stages—almost every day.

After all, it was their wedding chamber; he had to oversee it personally.

Liu Qingci was busy with his duties at the Hanlin Academy and could not accompany him often, but every time he had a day off, he would discuss the renovation of the wedding chamber with Xiao Yan.

One day, Liu Qingci looked at the bathing pool and decided to call the craftsmen back to redo it.

He said, "The bottom of the pool needs to be laid with non-slip bluestone; it can't be too smooth, or else someone might slip..."

Xiao Yan followed behind him, glancing at the newly built pool as his thoughts wandered elsewhere.

This pool was not small—plenty of room for two people to soak, and even space to move around.

Liu Qingci finished speaking and, receiving no response, looked up to see Xiao Yan daydreaming, a slight frown creasing his brow.

"Are you listening?" he asked.

"I was listening." Xiao Yan withdrew his gaze, the smile on his face not yet completely faded, his eyes bright and gleaming. "You said the bottom should be non-slip, to keep from slipping—good call."

Liu Qingci looked at his expression, feeling something was off but unable to pinpoint what.

He turned and pointed to another side. "Over here, I had them build a wall for a bronze mirror, so we can straighten our clothes while bathing."

Xiao Yan followed his pointing finger.

The wall was already up, the mirror not yet installed, with a neat rectangular recess in the masonry, just the right size for a full-length bronze mirror.

He glanced at the recess, then at Liu Qingci, and his straying thoughts spun again.

A full-length bronze mirror—standing in front of it, you could see everything clearly.

He swallowed hard.

"A mirror is good," he said, his voice a little hoarse. "Set it as one continuous piece, from end to end."

Liu Qingci hesitated. "That large?"

"Yes," Xiao Yan replied, his tone leaving no room for argument, as if discussing something very important. "Bigger gives you a better look."

Liu Qingci looked at him, feeling that the "better look" he meant was different from what he meant, but he couldn't say what was wrong.

He lowered his head and enlarged that wall's dimensions on the blueprint.

"Then let's make it bigger," he said, his tone flat, as if stating a routine matter. "You're tall; if the mirror's too short, it won't show your face."

Xiao Yan stood behind him, watching him bend over to modify the drawing. His lowered lashes trembled slightly, as if sweeping across Xiao Yan's heart, making it tingle.

He took half a step forward, closing the distance, close enough to catch the faint soap scent in Liu Qingci's hair.

"Qingqing," he called softly.

Liu Qingci kept his head down, still looking at the blueprint, replying absentmindedly, "Mm?"

"Do you think this pool is too cramped for two people to soak in?"

Liu Qingci did not lift his head, but the hand holding the brush paused slightly.

"It's not," he said, his voice softer than before. "I calculated the size."

Xiao Yan's lips curved upward, unable to suppress his smile.

He watched Liu Qingci's deliberately composed profile, his voice laced with laughter.

"Great. I was afraid you'd find it too cramped and ditch me."

As he spoke, Xiao Yan's fingertip pointed at a spot on the blueprint near the edge of the pool. His tone turned serious, as if he were genuinely discussing a technical issue.

"But shouldn't we add a handrail here? In case... the water gets slippery, or your legs get weak, you'll need something to hold on to—don't you think, Qingqing?"

The phrase "legs get weak," delivered with the same serious tone he used for the non-slip stones, had a completely different effect.

A wave of heat shot through Liu Qingci's head, as if he could already picture certain blush-inducing scenes.

The skin on the back of his neck flushed crimson, spreading to his cheeks and ears in a vivid red.

"...Nonsense," Liu Qingci forced out through gritted teeth, his voice light and trembling, utterly lacking in menace.

He tried to turn his head away from the bothersome breath, but Xiao Yan pressed even closer.

"How is it nonsense?" Xiao Yan's voice laughed even more, feigning innocence. "It's our own pool—we should make full use of it. I'm just seriously discussing it with Qingqing, isn't that right?"

"Xiao Yan!" Liu Qingci finally snapped, a low growl mixed with shame and anger as he raised his arm to elbow the man behind him who was getting more and more presumptuous.

But Xiao Yan seemed to have anticipated this, easily catching his raised arm. His palm was hot, the grip not heavy, but inescapable, pulling him back into his embrace until they were pressed tight.

He lowered his head, rubbing his nose against Liu Qingci's burning ear, his voice dropping low and husky, thick with irresistible coaxing.

"Fine, fine, I'll stop," he said, but his breath was even hotter. "I'm wrong to think about what's to come before the work's finished."

Yet this apology held no sincerity.

Instead of letting go, he kept his arms around Liu Qingci from behind and turned his head slightly, found Liu Qingci's pale lips and kissed him without any warning.

The bathing chamber was not yet in use, with only the faint smell of freshly laid bricks and earth, mingling with the hot breath exchanged between their lips.

The blueprint blew to the floor, flipping a few times before landing by the pool.

Far off under the corridor, Fu'an had long since vanished, and the craftsmen were gone.

Sunlight slanted in from a high window, forming a bright pillar in the air, with countless specks of dust swirling within.

The beam of light fell exactly on their overlapping shadows, outlining their intimate silhouette.

Of course...

the handrail Xiao Yan had requested—it was eventually installed.