With the appearance of Li Fen, the rest of the venue remained subdued and quiet as they cast glances towards the various members of the Li Family.
Li Fen was observed by everyone to gauge her strength and understand if she spoke out for her sister out of care of for saving face.
Li Yichen was still getting few glances, and the ones she did receive were from the women inside the venue, who were comparing themselves to the lowly wife I had been forced to take.
Li Hui Ling was smiling around the room, sharing laughs with the men and flirting with the women, her hands always near someone who wanted to try and seduce the eldest daughter.
Though, many would find themselves ruined by such a shortsighted pursuing of Ling'er, as she was rather... skilled in bed.
As for the Li Family heads, Lady Ai and the Matriarch calmly sipped on some wine as they accepted the various gifts and praises the others heaped onto their table, all while the Matriarch's concubines made sure to try their best to please her and Lady Ai.
Considering the slightly cold look in Lady Ai's eyes as she observed the Matriarch's newest women though, she very clearly didn't care for their presence.
Making our rounds of the venue once more, I had to stop myself multiple times from either reprimanding someone or grabbing a bottle of wine and draining it down my gullet, this perpetual boredom slowly whittling down my restraint minute after minute.
Returning to the stage, we joined the Matriarch at the table and began to eat, the luxurious foods and fragrant wines spread out before us washing away that irritation, albeit slightly.
Glancing at Yi'er beside me, I frowned as I watched her pick at a salad, her blue eyes frosty as she stared at the table, her thin lips pulled into a frown.
Plucking a diced cube of braised beef with my chopsticks, I placed the meat on top of her salad, earning myself a confused stare as she looked my way.
"Eat. It's been a long day, so you need to eat."
My voice was calm and steady, but I narrowed my eyes at her before looking down at her barely concealed bump, which prompted her to nod.
The others observed that as well; Lady Ai and her eldest, Ling'er, watched on with a smile, while the Matriarch and Fen'er watched me cooly before returning to their own meals.
Yi'er dug into the food before her with a little more relish then before, her appetite flaring at the reminder of our child growing inside her.
Some hushed whispers surfaced in the venue, only to be silenced as the Matriarch looked up from her bowl of egg noodles bathed in a spicy pork broth.
The range of food before us, paired with the excellent wine, continued to ease my boredom as I ate, each dish and sip more pleasant than the last.
Beef that was braised with lemon and lime juices and rubbed with a hot chili powder.
Pink grain rice balls rolled around succulent Frost Minnow strips, a dash of Mountain Salt and Dawn Chives added in as well.
Pork dumplings served with a savory soy sauce.
Bottles of Darkberry Wine, Painted Lion Wine, and Sparkling Peach Wine were open in the center of the table, each one offering a unique flavor that paired well with each dish.
Downing another cup of Painted Lion Wine, I glanced at Yi'er hungrily, the stress, wine, and good food igniting my suppressed lust.
My newly wed wife met my hungry gaze and smiled slightly, the small up turn of her lips driving me crazy as she looked at me from under her lashes.
Chuckling, Lady Ai raised a brow at me as I coughed, trying my hardest to reign in my desires for the moment.
Ling'er smirked at me, while Fen'er looked between Yi'er and I before returning to her dumplings, her sword resting against the table.
"How does it feel to be finally married, Chen'er, Yi'er~?"
Lady Ai grinned at Yi'er and I, and I sipped at another cup of wine that Yi'er poured for me.
"I... It doesn't feel any different then before, but I never was one for these more formal events."
Yi'er nodded, which made Lady Ai roll her eyes as she muttered "You're both no fun... Such a thing should be celebrated with the world, not alone..."
Ling'er nodded, her smile growing as she gently poked her mothers side with her elbow.
"Well, let's make mine a larger event then~! Though, it's not happening anytime soon, but I would like a giant party~! Maybe one that lasts multiple days?"
Lady Ai sat up and grinned at her daughter, and the two fell into discussion excitedly, all while the Matriarch remained focused on Yi'er and I.
"Have you decided on a name yet? Or are you going to wait a little longer?"
Li Fen nodded as she too focused on us, while Lady Ai and Ling'er stopped their discussion and turned back.
Pursing my lips, I reached over and grabbed Yi'ers hand, the feeling of her cool skin on mine only making the heat that much more apparent.
"Not yet... I had a few ideas, but nothing... popped out to me."
Yi'er tilted her head at that, and I scratched my cheek awkwardly as I looked away, slightly embarrassed at that admission.
For some reason, ever since this little bunny truly entered my life, I've begun to change...
Slowly but surely, I've changed from the aloof, bored woman I used to be to something else, and I don't know how to feel about it.
Maybe it wasn't her; maybe it was the child in her womb.
That was likely it; marriage was insignificant, but a child?
A child that would be the likely heir to me and my branch of the Li Family?
That was cause for change.
I needed to start preparing different techniques, materials, training programs...
My child wouldn't be some useless, lazy, spoilt, arrogant second generation leech.
I would beat that out of them and instill the building blocks for the person to eventually be my heir.
Strength, discipline, wits, restraint, lethality...
Things I had in abundance or lacked; I would use the mistakes of my life, albeit short, and forge something better.
The discussion rolled on for another hour, and we talked about any and everything that could come to mind, Lady Ai and Ling'er fueling the conversation as best they could before noticing the bored and tired look in Yi'ers eyes.
Getting up, I gently lifted the exhausted bunny into my arms, staring down at her surprised expression and sighing as I said "We'll retire for now... Mother in laws. Have a good night."
Bowing to them, I strode from the venue before forming a Saber with my Saber Qi, gently standing on the flat of the blade and shooting off towards the Shimmering Palace.
As we flew, I grinned at Yi'er as she looked over the mountains around us, and I whispered into her ear, enjoying her flushed features as she nodded.
"Little bunny, are you ready to officially consummate our marriage?"