Fang Linyuan spent the entire night sleepless.

He watched as Zhao Chu removed his wedding robe, extinguished the flower candles, and lay down on the bed fully clothed. The crimson bedding seemed calm on the surface but harboured turbulent undercurrents, much like a serene sea concealing hidden streams.

His territory had been invaded by a giant python.

Fang Linyuan had never felt so aggrieved. Even when the city of Longxi fell to the barbarians, he could personally wield his spear to reclaim it. Yet, ironically, he couldn't even approach the bed he had slept in since childhood, now occupied by another.

This grievance far surpassed the loss of a city and home.

Steady breathing emanated from the bed, prompting Fang Linyuan to turn his head and seek temporary refuge in the nearby blue gauze cabinet.

Originally meant for summer cooling, the gauze windows offered little insulation against the winter chill, but Fang Linyuan had endured harsh conditions during his military campaigns and, filled with resentment, found no comfort in sleep anyway.

He lay alone in the gauze cabinet until the faint light of dawn pierced through, eventually lulling him into a fitful slumber.

In the hazy state between dreams and wakefulness, he reached out and lifted the crimson cover, questioning whether the person was male or female. The princess, dressed in bridal attire, chuckled softly and asked if he was drunk.

How could a voice so melodious belong to a man?

He breathed a sigh of relief.

But at that moment, someone approached him silently.

Alert even half asleep, Fang Linyuan opened his eyes immediately.

In the dim morning light, Zhao Chu stood quietly by the bed, his hair dishevelled, his half-extended hand suggesting he intended to wake Fang Linyuan.

With messy hair and no makeup, his chest was firm beneath the nightgown.

Fang Linyuan snapped to attention.

Sitting up, he furrowed his brow and stared at Zhao Chu. "What is it?"

It took him the whole night to reluctantly accept that Zhao Chu was a man. Yet, he never expected Zhao Chu to confront him so openly on their wedding night.

But Fang Linyuan also understood.

Leaving the capital at ten, he had spent many years away, with no roots or connections in the city. His social circle was as clean as a blank sheet of paper. Moreover, the Marquis of Anping's mansion was even simpler, with only a blind sister-in-law and a child besides him. Easily controlled and free from the complications of many people.

He was the perfect target, willingly walking into the trap.

Now facing Zhao Chu again, Fang Linyuan was on high alert, waiting for his next move.

But Zhao Chu leaned lazily against the bed, exuding the relaxed demeanour of someone just awakened.

"Sleeping here, aren't you cold?" he asked lazily, his voice husky from just waking up.

Perhaps, with no one else here, he felt uninhibited, not even bothering to wear an inner robe.

The flimsy women's nightwear hung loosely on him, revealing the distinct contours of his muscles.

It was not hiding anything.

"You dare fall asleep," Fang Linyuan's eyes bore into him like needles, he then coldly looked away and sat up.

Zhao Chu shifted slightly, making room for him. "Nothing to fear," he said. "Come to bed."

Share a bed with him?

A chill ran down Fang Linyuan's spine, and he instinctively moved back.

"No need," he refused.

But Zhao Chu's gaze drifted past the sheer window curtains, stopping on Fang Linyuan's face.

"You're freezing," he said.

Could he be genuinely concerned about whether he was cold?

Just as Fang Linyuan's eyes flashed with doubt, Zhao Chu continued, "With your body so cold, and half an hour till dawn, how will you explain it to others?"

Indeed.

He had come here early in the morning just to remind himself to act well in their charade.

A surge of frustration welled up in Fang Linyuan's chest. For the moment of goodwill he had felt earlier, he wanted to punch himself.

"Don't expose yourself," he heard Zhao Chu remind him, nonchalantly but with a hint of threat.

After a brief eye contact, Fang Linyuan withdrew his gaze fiercely, standing up without a word and striding out of the blue gauze cabinet.

Blaming his own blindness and foolishness, he now found himself coerced at every step, with no room for resistance.

No wonder the predecessors at Hulao Pass had warned him earnestly: those preoccupied with love and affection would inevitably meet a bad end.

*

Zhao Chu got up and continued bustling about, while Fang Linyuan waited in the red silk canopy until dawn.

The floor stove in the bedroom burned brightly, filling the room with the fragrance of peonies and incense, warming Fang Linyuan's body.

But Fang Linyuan felt restless. Despite the cascading red waves and the suspended pearls, he personally understood why the grievances of those brides in the stories, who were forced into marriage and transformed into ghosts, ran so deep.

At the fifth hour, there was a knock on the door from a maid outside, softly inquiring if water should be brought.

By this time, Zhao Chu had already prepared himself completely.

He had put on his nightwear, with the undergarments neatly in place, resembling a shy maiden covering all her spring charm. His hair was loosely tied up in a bun, and to soften his somewhat sharp features, a few strands of hair were left to drape down, adding a touch of delicate charm.

He then applied light makeup in front of the mirror. Just as the maid outside asked, he finished applying the last stroke of rouge, gently placing down the brush, and skillfully cleared his throat.

"Please come in."

The clear and gentle voice of a woman, slightly hoarse but not unpleasant.

He gracefully rose from his seat, without any pretense, yet exuding an air of noble elegance. Just like when Fang Linyuan saw him again, he displayed neither humility nor arrogance but possessed an innate charm.

However, at this moment, Fang Linyuan cursed himself for not gouging out his own eyes.

*

The maids carrying bronze basins and jade bottles entered in an orderly manner, serving the two of them.

Other maids holding auspicious items like dried longans (NT: fruit similar to a Lychee, also called dragon’s eye) and red dates followed suit, sprinkling the bed with the items while offering auspicious blessings with smiling faces.

"May you two be inseparable, may Lord Hou and his lady have everlasting unity."

"May your union be as precious as gold and jade, may Lord Hou and his lady have a hundred years of harmonious marriage."

"May your love bloom like twin flowers, may Lord Hou and his lady have noble children soon."

“...”

As the bedding gradually filled up with gifts, Fang Linyuan's expression grew darker and darker while sitting on the bedside.

He had already tasted the bitter fruit, so why subject himself to such humiliation again?

One maid after another uttered seven or eight auspicious phrases before Zhao Chu's clear voice rang out from the side with a faint smile, "Alright, my lord is sensitive, don't tease him anymore."

The surrounding maids burst into laughter.

Fang Linyuan lifted his head, his icy gaze wishing it could transform into blades and pierce Zhao Chu.

He looked at Zhao Chu.

Under the bright sunlight, most of the snow outside the window had melted. The warm plum blossoms cast spotted shadows through the lattice windows, reflecting on the dressing table.

The dust danced lightly in the sunlight, Zhao Chu sat there, while a maid combed his hair, his charming face illuminated by the light. His cool demeanour was accompanied by a faint smile, like the melting snow on the plum branches outside, presenting the appearance of a happily newly married couple.

This scene had been devoutly sketched in Fang Linyuan's mind, but he didn't expect that when his dream came true, disaster would befall him.

Behind him stood three palace attendants like grim reapers. The older one, named Song Yan, was said to have served the former empress. Her stern and severe appearance gave off an intimidating aura, and her gaze was sharp and scrutinous, especially towards Fang Linyuan.

The younger one, named Juan Su, was said to be even more clever than the attendants serving the noble concubines. She stood straight, her eyes observing calmly, not even bothering to acknowledge Fang Linyuan.

And there was the one-eyed old eunuch named Wu Xinghai, arched and emaciated like a piece of withered wood. He stood alone, emanating a chilling aura, causing even the lively maids to avoid him carefully.

As if sensing Fang Linyuan's gaze, the old eunuch turned his head, his cloudy lone eye silently glancing at Fang Linyuan.

A warning, a scrutiny, like a hunting dog waiting for orders.

No wonder when they saw him outside the door yesterday, their eyes were dark and piercing.

They were not just solemn and orderly servants in the palace; they clearly knew the secrets of their master and were monitoring him!

"My lord, it's time to change clothes."

At this moment, the maids Hanlu and Jingzhe from the Fuguang Pavilion, holding Fang Linyuan's robes, stood beside him.

Fang Linyuan was not accustomed to being taken care of by others, and a customary practice had formed in the Fuguang Pavilion. Fang Linyuan stood up, picked up his robe, and dressed himself.

On the other side, the maid who was combing Zhao Chu's hair continued to cheerfully recite auspicious words.

"First comb symbolizes unity, second comb symbolizes harmony, third comb symbolizes many children..." She recited while combing.

Zhao Chu seemed pleased by her words.

"You're quite clever," he said. "Reward the Fuguang Pavilion upstairs and downstairs."

Juan Su stepped forward and handed out heavy silver ingots to the maids one by one.

For a while, there was laughter and joy in the bedroom, and the maids all thanked the princess for her grace, even the maids Hanlu and Jingzhe received money and thanked the princess with smiles.

Fang Linyuan felt surrounded and overwhelmed in this place, a lone soldier facing overwhelming odds.

He couldn't stay here for another moment.

He quickly put on his robe, adjusted his crown, and was about to pick up the leather belt from the tray when a slender hand pressed down on it.

Fang Linyuan paused, only to see Zhao Chu, who was already dressed up, step forward and take the leather belt before him.

"Husband, please wait for me for a moment. Let's go together to offer tea to our elder sister-in-law later," he said in a gentle voice, his eyes fixed firmly on Fang Linyuan's, saying the words "elder sister-in-law" slowly, clearly a threat.

With that, he approached gradually, his arm gently encircling Fang Linyuan's waist, and then wrapped the leather belt around his waist.

The light fragrance of pearl powder enveloped Fang Linyuan instantly, and the hand that Zhao Chu used to arrange his clothes lightly brushed against his waist, like a dragonfly landing on the surface of a lotus leaf.

Fang Linyuan stiffened all over.

He felt like a spider was trapping him in a web, tightly bound and unable to move.

Involuntarily, he took a step back, his entire body tense.

Zhao Chu's hand paused slightly, then he looked at him.

"Husband?"

Like a beckoning spirit's banner.

Fang Linyuan's lips trembled, and he quickly tied the leather belt himself, murmuring softly, "Thank you, Madam. I'll wait for you outside."

With that, he lowered his head and walked out.

He couldn't stay here for another moment; rather than enduring such love and shame, he'd rather stab himself in the heart with a sword!

*

Fang Linyuan fled in panic, just wanting to find a place where no one was around and shake off the goosebumps all over his body.

Meanwhile, Zhao Chu remained in place, turning his head to observe Fang Linyuan's fleeing figure quietly.

Was it so easy to tease him? He used to think he was just one of those who was easily swayed by beauty, but he didn't expect that even a slight touch would make him shiver and blush.

"My lord is shy," the maid beside him said with a smile.

"Yes, Madam, please don't mind. Although my lord emerged from the barracks, he is quite thin-skinned," another maid added, trying to defuse the situation.

Zhao Chu watched quietly as Fang Linyuan disappeared from sight. After a moment, a hint of interest gradually emerged in his eyes.

"Indeed," he said casually. "Your lordship is quite intriguing."

 

--

Author's note:

Fang Linyuan wrote fervently in his diary: Equally hating every man who has no sense of boundaries!

The word "man" was emphasized, and the paper was almost torn to shreds.

 

Translator : DarNan