Chapter 293: The Wedding Night

The Du family’s daughter’s wedding was attended by many guests, and the Zhang family’s son’s wedding was equally crowded with visitors. Though he had known in advance that this day would be extremely tough, Zhang Yue had prepared himself carefully over several days. Yet, after being manipulated like a puppet all day long, when he finally stepped into the bridal chamber and was forced to eat longevity noodles at the behest of two relatives and female friends, and only when all the outsiders left and the doors were finally closed did he feel as if his body had fallen apart—every part aching.

Red wedding characters were pasted on the window paper, and the walls were covered with auspicious silver-patterned paper. The red lanterns with wedding characters glowed brightly, and the large red candles in front of the screen burned fiercely. Their orange flames reflected on the red silk canopy on the kang, adding even more festivity to the room. Yet, his gaze soon shifted to Du Wan, who sat beside him.

Earlier, after performing the wedding rituals and drinking the marriage wine, Zhang Yue hadn’t even had time to properly take in a look at his future wife before having to deal with relatives and friends. After several rounds, he must have drunk quite a bit of alcohol. Although his mother had thoughtfully prepared hot sobering soup before entering the bridal chamber, and he had drunk it all at once, his head still felt dizzy. Now, seeing Du Wan turn to look at him as well, he couldn’t help but smile.

When drinking the marriage wine, it was the first time he had seen Du Wan dressed so elegantly. He was unaccustomed to not only the heavy pearl crown and gorgeous robe but also the thick makeup on her face, all of which he had never seen before. Though her elaborate makeup was striking and didn’t detract from her beauty, it still paled in comparison to her natural appearance now.

“There were too many guests outside, so you ended up sitting here for so long.” Standing up, Zhang Yue poured two cups of hot tea. He then sat back down on the kang, handed one cup to Du Wan, and asked softly, “Although you ate some snacks at first and then longevity noodles, this whole day of festivities must have taken a toll. Are you still hungry?”

Anyone who wore such a heavy crown for hours, endured bumpy rides, and went through wedding rituals and setting up the canopy would still feel headaches and neck pain, even after removing their makeup. Du Wan numbly took the cup, her first reaction being to drink it all at once. Only upon hearing Zhang Yue ask if she was hungry did she realize her stomach was empty. But due to the stress of the day, she had no appetite at all, so she simply shook her head.

“I can’t eat those greasy things.”

“Nature isn’t some delicacy that looks good and tastes good but isn’t comfortable to eat,” Zhang Yue said with a smile as he took out two oranges from under his robe. He quickly peeled them and handed the pulp to Du Wan. “These were sent by the British duke’s family earlier. I liked their color, and since oranges are sweet and hydrating, I secretly kept two for you. Eat them to quench your thirst and fill your stomach first.”

Even though Du Wan had thought about what the wedding night might be like beforehand, she couldn’t help but laugh at this, and her tension lessened immediately. She peeled a slice of orange and put it in her mouth—it was indeed sweet and refreshing. She turned to look at Zhang Yue and saw his forehead glistening wetly in the candlelight, so she handed him a handkerchief.

“It’s already September. Look at how sweaty you are—I wonder how much wine you’ve drunk!”

“Fortunately, my elder brother and second brother helped shield me several times. Otherwise, I might have had to enter lying down tonight.” Remembering those noisy noble youths, Zhang Yue couldn’t help but feel uneasy. He wiped his face with the handkerchief, then simply took off his coat and sat cross-legged on the kang. Noticing Du Wan’s flushed face, he instinctively said, “You look hot. Since the kang is lit in the room, why not take off your clothes first?”

September in the north was already approaching winter, and to keep the new house warm, the kang had been lit long ago. The room was naturally as warm as spring. There was nothing wrong with Zhang Yue’s words. Yet when they were spoken, both of them were stunned. One realized the grammatical error, while the other’s face turned even redder as she glared at him angrily.

“I meant you should take off that ceremonial robe outside first—it’s really cumbersome to wear,” Zhang Yue added awkwardly, feeling his situation worsen. He cleared his throat and said, “It’s almost midnight. Are we going to sit here like this until dawn?”

“When my parents got married, they sat by the wedding candles until dawn. The elders said that if the candle on the left went out first, the groom would die first; if the candle on the right went out first, it would be the bride. So, they had to watch until one candle went out before blowing out the other, so that the couple could live and die together.”

Du Wan gazed at the red lantern with wedding characters hanging above the canopy, then quickly turned her gaze away, looking at Zhang Yue with clear eyes. “Although Mother never blamed Father, although Father also felt guilty, although they were always harmonious, I know that in truth, Mother would have preferred to wander the world with Father rather than wait at home day after day for him to return, cutting clothes by the oil lamp, not knowing whether her husband was safe or whether those clothes would ever fit him.”

Zhang Yue had not expected Du Wan to say such things on their wedding night, but hearing these heartfelt words, he gradually understood her feelings.

“Now that we are husband and wife, no matter what happened in the past, I just want you to promise me that no matter what happens, no matter what the reason, you won’t keep me in a place you think is safe under the pretext of doing what’s best for me, just like Father did… Back then, he thought that by leaving, he could preserve his loyalty first, thinking that leaving Mother and me in the countryside, relying on our family wealth, would ensure we had enough to eat and wear, thinking that even if something went wrong, Mother and I could still get by… But in this world, it’s not enough to just be alive, nor is it enough to just have food and clothing. As husband and wife, we should support each other no matter what happens.”

“Don’t worry, I promise you everything. Husband and wife are like birds in the same forest; when trouble arises, we must hold hands.”

Hearing Zhang Yue’s words, Du Wan immediately felt the tension in her heart, which had been there for so long, relax. The burden she had carried for years suddenly disappeared, and she now had a solid support behind her. Thinking of her parents’ relieved looks and smiles when they said goodbye, she didn’t avoid Zhang Yue’s hand on her shoulder but let him hold it, then gently unfastened the buttons of her outer wedding robe.

The magnificent wedding robe fell to the ground, revealing the robe with cloud and bird patterns underneath. When Zhang Yue saw the festive red satin dress with silver-red crepe lining that Du Wan was wearing, the red in the room finally made him let go of all his restraint. He casually lowered the large red curtain hanging from the hook.

“Mm…”

Kissing those soft red lips, Zhang Yue swiftly silenced Du Wan’s gasp before it could escape. After savoring that fragrant redness, he reluctantly pulled back slightly and saw that her delicate face was already flushed. He couldn’t help but kiss those warm cheeks again before finally reaching out to untie her clothes. At this moment, the intricately fastened buttons and straps posed no obstacle anymore, and they were quickly thrown to the ground one by one.

The flickering lights illuminated the two entwined figures in the red silk canopy, as a soft noise suddenly erupted. Yet this sound was completely drowned out by the breathless murmurs coming from within—full of endless tenderness and affection. When the two finally became one, faced with the sudden pain, Du Wan let out a soft cry before biting her lip tightly. It was only under Zhang Yue’s whispered words in her ear that she finally relaxed her clenched teeth, though she still refused to speak.

On their first intimate encounter, Zhang Yue, concerned that the bride-to-be would meet his elders the next day, didn’t dare go too far and kept it brief. Yet, despite being exhausted from the day, he felt no urge to sleep, and Du Wan was also wide awake. The two lay side by side on the kang, facing each other, and it was unknown how long passed before Du Wan heard Zhang Yue murmuring softly.

“Even though I knew from the beginning that my teacher was a highly renowned figure, I always thought he lived alone. It was only later that I learned he had a family back home. He taught me with great dedication for four years, so when I first met his wife, I was worried she wouldn’t like me. But that was simply judging a noble person by a petty standard. You know, the first time I met you, I was also very uneasy, and that feeling lasted for quite some time.”

“Ever since my teacher’s wife showed those feelings, I felt uneasy, perhaps even unnatural. I had deceived the most dedicated teacher in the world. If I really married his only beloved daughter, wouldn’t I get all the good things to myself?”

“People say I’m calm at a young age, but I had to be calm. With such a large family full of high-ranking officials, if I couldn’t stand out on my own, I would be forgotten. It might be fine if it were just me, but I have parents, a sister, and now you, my teacher, and his wife. That’s why I have to be even more calm. But who knows? Deep down, I’m just like anyone else—sometimes I also want to be unrestrained.”

“My brother-in-law once asked me if I liked you. I didn’t answer him then, but I can answer you now. Wanmei, I was the one who asked our grandmother for this marriage, so naturally, I have feelings for you…”
Du Wan listened in growing astonishment. When she saw Zhang Yue’s eyes gradually closing, his mouth still murmuring, with a faint smell of alcohol in the air, she suddenly realized—he must be drunk and talking nonsense. Though the words “I have feelings for you” were barely audible, they carried a special meaning to her ears. The image of him dressed in mourning clothes flashed through her mind, reminding her of what Lady Gu had said in the osmanthus forest back then.
“Although it’s arranged by parents and matchmakers, as parents and elders, who doesn’t act for the good of their younger generations? Whether from noble families or scholarly households, everyone knows those stories of secret marriages in gardens are just lies created to deceive people. I understand your concerns, but this marriage isn’t just about the two of you—it involves both families, and it also affects your father who is still in prison.
While marrying into the Du family is partly because of Lord Du, I’ve also heard from Lingxi about your character, integrity, and sense of responsibility, Miss Wan. Nowadays, there are many wealthy daughters, but few who can stay calm in critical moments. Even if nothing like that had happened to the Meng family and the fourth daughter didn’t need to observe mourning, I would have made up my mind long ago—Lord Meng is too materialistic, far from your father’s integrity. Now that your mother has agreed, I’m truly relieved. Although your brother’s father isn’t my biological son, my four grandsons will surely depend on him in the future, so I entrust him to you.”