"Sire, please unveil the bride!" Eunuch Cui instructed from outside the Main Hall.
Matron Ji, Nian Qu and Qin stood beside him. They had gotten into a line outside before closing the door on us for the bedchamber ritual.
Zheng and I sat on his bed, the same bed we had once laid naked on together. Only, they had changed the sheets into something red. There were plenty of red dates and nuts scattered on the bed, to represent hopes that we would have many children.
In front of us was a small table of items we needed to carry out the ritual. Zheng picked up the short stick that had been covered in a red cloth, using it to lift the veil.
Our eyes met, and I took in my first look of my husband. His usually pale face was flushed, his lips parted as he stared at me, looking surprised.
"Your nephew was right," he muttered, letting out a breathless laugh. I raised an eyebrow, but he only gave me a grin.
