There was ten miles of dowry, where gongs and drums were clamoring.
Suddenly, a hand resting on a knee twitched.
Linlang opened her eyes to see a world of red.
Oh, she's a bride?Please read this at onemachineshow.blogspot.com
She pulled down the silken veil that blocked her vision. The swaying palanquin rustled the curtains to reveal the side profile of a horse beyond the window.
There sat a groom who looked exquisite in his red robe.
Linlang felt relieved.
An ugly mission target would have affected her performance.
The more beautiful they were, the more miserable she wanted them to be.
After all, destroying flowers was her favorite pastime.
Linlang was in somewhat low spirits. She didn't get a chance to hang out with her girlfriend. After her mission ended, Linlang discovered that Junwan was still working. She could only spend time with Meiqiu. Once she established an ambitious goal to make it lose three catties in a month, she tormented the chubby cat until it almost gave up on life.
Faced with a certain's cat's resentful gaze, she happily took on her next mission.
Aiyo, the plot this time around is quite interesting.
There was a man named Wuyan in the Zhu family whose appearance resembled a blossoming hibiscus tree1.
People were willing to give up three reincarnations and become dust just to win over his heart.
The Zhu family has always dominated Wushuang City, and Zhu Wuyan took over as the city lord when he was eighteen.
Over time, a nursery rhyme circulated.
Suppose the unparallelled city lord marries a wife, what number of maidens will exhaust their tears in this life.
Linlang could hear a young girl sobbing not far away. There were also people screaming at her.
Wow, is she going to be drowned in jealousy?
How would these girls feel if they knew that their dashing lord was marrying in a sacrifice?
Zhu Wuyang had a biological sister named Zhu Jinse. She had a timid personality, tempered by an illness she suffered from a young age. Their parents died early, but fortunately, her eldest brother was intelligent. He defied all odds just so his precious sister could grow up without guilt or worries.
But as her body grew weaker by the day, it didn't seem that she would live past the age of eighteen.
Then, a Taoist clad in purple came to the door, saying the young miss could be cured with the flesh of a close relative's heart.
Jinse did not want her brother to die for her, so the siblings came up with a solution.
Marry a bride, and when she gives birth, they can use the infant's heart to sustain her life.
When the Zhu family announced the city lord's desire to bring in a wife, countless matchmakers flocked to their doors.
Among the candidates was Zhen Linlang, the young miss of the Zhen family.
The Zhen family only had one daughter, one they cherished dearly.
Because the lady had an ethereal beauty, her family feared her looks would attract wicked hearts, and so they raised her deep in the boudoir until she came of age while they sought a worthy husband to provide her a life of peace and stability.
But the two elders did not expect that, despite taking every precaution, they still sent their beloved daughter into the jaws of a tiger. Before she could embrace her baby, her husband snatched the child away and dug its heart out to extend his sister's life.
When Zhen Linlang accidentally learned of the truth, she fainted on the spot and never woke up again.
Tsk, utter scum.
Weren't you afraid of the heavens striking you down for committing such an evil deed?
But the heavens never opened their eyes.
After exiting the palanquin, Linlang was led out by her new husband, and with the red ribbon tethered to their persons, they stepped through the Zhu Manor's open doors. It was in this magnificent compound that Lady Zhen's beautiful dreams of love were once ruined.
She fell in love at first sight on their wedding night.Please read this at onemachineshow.blogspot.com
She naïvely thought that they would join hands for the rest of their lives, never to part from one another.
How could she have known the husband who slept beside her would not hesitate to use her child as a sacrifice?
"I hear you," she breathed softly. It was like a light wave rippling over still water.
The voice of a desperate soul crying out for justice.
Come it will.
Zhu Wuyang paused in his steps.
Her hands resembled porcelain, and the silken veil's sharp contrast against her skin made her appear very fair.
"First, bow before Heaven and Earth."
"Second, bow before your parents."
"And third, bow before your spouse."
Under the guidance of the master of ceremonies, the couple paid respects to each other.
Like a willow, she bent her waist, offering a sincere address.
Zhu Wuyang vaguely saw the corners of his bride's smile from under the fabric.
Her red lips were breathtaking.
'I never expected her to be a beauty', he thought to himself.
"The ceremony is complete. Now, to the bridal chamber."
While the matron of honor assisted the bride to the inner room, Zhu Wuyang remained outside to entertain the guests. As the city lord, his character was always cold and imposing. Not many dared to make trouble with him, and so after receiving a few glasses of wine, he was 'graciously' escorted to the bridal room.
Humans had four blissful occasions in life, and the wedding night was the greatest event of them all.
As the bride sat quietly on the edge of the bed, the red tassels on her veil were swaying rhythmically.
Zhu Wuyang washed his hands in the golden bowl and prepared to uncover her face.
"Just a moment."
Her voice was soft and compelling. Anyone who heard it would feel unfathomably pleased to listen further.
Zhu Wuyang looked at her trembling veil.
"Fujun, we meet for the first time today. Would Qie Shen make a small request?"
He frowned slightly.
In the end, he said, "Very well."
"Fujun, first have a seat."
He hesitated for a moment, then sat on the side of the bed, some distance away from her.
This husband is quite vigilant.
Linlang smiled slightly.
"Let's play a game where we guess what sort of person the other party is."
"If Qie Shen guesses correctly, Fujun must grant Qie Shen's wish. If Qie Shen asks for the moonlight, Fujun cannot compensate with a firefly."
Zhu Wuyang raised his eyebrows. "And should you lose?"
"Then... Qie Shen's life will be at the mercy of Fujun, never to escape."
Her smiling expression was like a flower.
With a simple sentence, Zhu Wuyang felt a slight tingle in his heart.
"All right," he answered.
It was only a game. What could he possibly lose?
"Then, Qie Shen will start first."
Don't cry when you lose.
Linlang stretched out her hand and gently placed it on the hand resting on his knee.
The man seemed startled, but he immediately recovered his calm as he followed her fingertips fleeting over his palm.
His eyes were cast down, making it impossible to see the glimmer within.
"Fujun has a steady and strong pulse. There are calluses on the palm, likely from years of practicing martial arts and killing countless enemies."
He smiled coldly. "Who does not know this?"
Linlang was silent for a moment. "Do they hurt?" she asked in a quiet voice.
"What?"
He thought he had heard it wrong.
"There are three bone-deep scars. Had they gone any further, Fujun's hand would have been abolished. That person was very cruel."
She pointed to the grotesque cuts.
"If it hurts in the future, Fujun mustn't endure it alone. Since I am your wife, I must shoulder your burdens, mortal or otherwise."
Zhu Wuyang subconsciously wanted to withdraw his hand.
However, he didn't resist hard enough to keep Linlang from grabbing it back with little effort. She trailed her other hand along his arm and squeezed his shoulder. Smiling, she said, "Fujun has broad shoulders, a symbol of a just and upright man."
Zhu Wuyang pursed his lips.
He is not.Please read this at onemachineshow.blogspot.com
He is a cold-blooded person who can do whatever it takes to achieve his goal.
The other person gently slid her fingers along his forehead, eyes, and nose.
"Fujun's crown is full, a mark of good fortune.
"Fujun's sword eyebrows and bright eyes are profound, like an all-seeing deity.
"Fujun's..."
When her fingertips touched the man's lips, she fell quiet and lowered her head as if feeling shy.
The tassels swayed a bit more vigorously.
He suddenly felt an urge to tease her.
"Why don't you speak?"
As he said this, he moved his lips closer, like he was about to kiss her.
Is this a countermove?
Linlang brows and smiles, "Qie Shen is done guessing. It's now Fujun's turn."
She gently pulled the man's palm and guided it under her head covering.
Zhu Wuyang touched a delicate face.
Warm, soft, and sleek.
A very strange feeling suddenly took root in his heart.
Before Linlang, his hands had only ever touched his sister's face.
Because she was ill, her complexion was normally pale, and her skin felt cold to the touch.
But she was different.
Vividly different.
As his fingers carefully stroked her eyebrows, he could almost imagine what this person looked like.
Willow-thin eyebrows, fine nose, and jade-like lips.
Zhu Wuyang's fingers paused. It wasn't clear what he was thinking about to have stopped at her lips.
"Fujun?"
He might have paused for too long. She sounded flustered.
A flow of warmth passed between her lips when she spoke.
Zhu Wuyang's eyes darkened slightly.
Linlang could sense it.
The veil slipped off.
As the candlelight flickered, the man's eyebrows seemed to extend to his temples. His pair of eyes gleamed in a way that could easily fascinate the mind.
But in reality, this unrivaled city lord was absent-minded at the moment.
The peach tree is young and elegant,
brilliant are its flowers.2
"Fujun, it's a pleasure to finally meet."
Her smile had an eloquence, and autumn waves seemed to flow in her affectionate gaze.
Never before has the word 'stunning' suited a woman so.
Bang-bang-bang—
A violent knock on the door broke the beautiful atmosphere between them.
Zhu Wuyang lowered his eyes. The cold air around him seemed to intensify. "Come in."
The person who arrived was Yuque, the personal servant of the second young miss.
"Master, the miss' illness has broken out! Please see to her!"
The anxious little girl seemed ready to cry.
Zhu Wuyang stood up immediately. He didn't even bother to take a cloak on his way out.
The little girl who followed him secretly turned her head around and smiled provocatively at Linlang.
Oh, this little one has some teeth and claws.
A dog using its master's power to threaten others?
It seems that this sickly sister-in-law is not good-natured.
The smile deepened in Linlang's eyes.
Fighting with people was a lot of fun.
The moment the man stepped over the threshold, he suddenly turned around.
Looking back, he caught sight of the deep affection in her eyes.
The man was stunned.
She also didn't seem to have expected him to look back.
It was too late to cover up her expression, and she seemed somewhat embarrassed for it.
"You should rest. It has been a long day. I will return after I see Jinse." His expression was indifferent, but Linlang could hear a tone of comfort.
A smile bloomed on her beautiful face.
It was like a splendid mountain flower, a charming existence from afar.
My dear man, you've already softened.
Don't blame me for being too cruel when the time comes.