Chapter 316: Bridal Chamber (2)
Chapter 316: Chapter 316: Bridal Chamber (2)
The phrase "bear a noble son soon" made Zhi Wan’s face flush bright red.
She pouted coquettishly. "Don’t be ridiculous." With that, she turned away, intending to pick up the auspicious fruits from the mattress.
A flutter went through Lu Zhan’s heart, and he hugged her from behind. "How am I being ridiculous? Isn’t that what these fruits represent?"
Zhi Wan’s body trembled slightly, but she ignored him and continued picking up the fruits.
Lu Zhan didn’t say anything more and helped her gather them.
After a short while, they finally finished picking up all the fruits and placed them on a plate.
Their eyes met, and Zhi Wan suddenly felt a little hot.
"I... I’m a little thirsty," she said in a low voice, lowering her gaze.
"Mm," Lu Zhan grunted, getting up to pour her a cup of water.
Zhi Wan took the cup and drank from it in small sips.
"Still thirsty?" Lu Zhan asked when she finished.
Zhi Wan shook her head. "Not anymore."
"Good." Lu Zhan took the cup from her hand, placed it on the table, then stood by the bed and let down the bright red curtains.
The moment the curtains fell, the light within the bed dimmed, and a subtle tension seemed to fill the air.
When Lu Zhan pressed her down again, the tension she had been feeling suddenly melted away.
They had already been together once.
’It’s... not unfamiliar anymore.’
As he buried his head in the crook of her neck, she even reached up and wrapped her arms around his broad back.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!
Just when she was starting to feel overwhelmed, a sudden knock sounded at the door of their bridal chamber.
Her hazy senses snapped back into focus, and she looked up, blushing, at the man on top of her.
"Lu Zhan... someone’s knocking."
Lu Zhan had heard it, of course.
His handsome face darkened.
’Who the hell is so tactless that they’d dare to knock at a time like this?’
He wanted to ignore it, but the person outside continued to knock, persistent and unyielding.
"Lu Zhan... why don’t you go see who it is?" Zhi Wan whispered, biting a lip so red it looked like it might bleed.
The knocking was making her frantic; she couldn’t possibly pretend not to hear it.
Lu Zhan grunted in agreement, straightened her clothes, and got off the bed.
He yanked the door open, his face a mask of fury, only to see several of the maids on night watch standing there, trembling with fear.
"Who was knocking?" Lu Zhan asked in a low voice, suppressing his anger.
"It-it was the eunuch who serves Princess Chang Le. I think... I think his name is Eunuch Yuanbao," one of the maids replied.
As soon as Lu Zhan heard that, he understood.
’Last time, Princess Chang Le said she was going to give them a grand wedding gift. So this is her grand gift? Sending someone to knock on the door of his bridal chamber and interrupt his wedding night?’
His brow was frosty as he asked coldly, "Where is he?"
"He ran away," the maid answered timidly, then pointed to the floor by the door. "He left these books."
Only then did Lu Zhan notice the books on the floor by the door.
He paused, then bent down to pick up the books. "All of you, withdraw to the courtyard and stand guard," he ordered. "And tell Chen Jiu and Jiang Shi to guard the courtyard gate. No one is to be let in without my command."
"Yes, sir," the maids answered respectfully.
After closing the door again, Lu Zhan returned to the room.
Zhi Wan had already sat up and parted the bed curtains. "Lu Zhan, who was knocking?"
Lu Zhan sat down on the edge of the bed and said lightly, "It was that eunuch, Yuanbao."
Zhi Wan glanced at him, hearing the sound of gritted teeth in his voice.
Hearing it was Yuanbao, Zhi Wan knew it had to be a prank by Princess Chang Le.
Seeing his angry expression, she paused, then rested her face against his back and said softly, "Don’t be angry, Lu Zhan. Her Highness meant no harm."
Lu Zhan was flipping through the books Yuanbao had brought. At her words, he paused and turned his head to look at his delicate, sweet cousin.
His heart softened, but he said, "Why don’t you take a look at these before you defend Princess Chang Le?"
"What?" Zhi Wan asked, confused.
"See for yourself." Lu Zhan gave her a long look and handed her the book.
Zhi Wan reached out and took it.
When she opened it and saw the contents, her face instantly burned red.
She slammed the book shut with a SNAP, grinding out through her teeth, "Her Highness has gone too far."
"Now do you still think she meant no harm?" Lu Zhan tossed aside the picture album in his hand and pinned his cousin down on the bed.
Zhi Wan’s face was still bright red.
’So the grand gift Princess Chang Le mentioned was... erotic art?’
Remembering the explicit images she had just seen, she felt as if her entire body was on fire.
She clenched her fists. "She’s too much! When she gets married, I’ll give her a grand gift, too."
"Mm," Lu Zhan murmured absentmindedly, pecking at her soft, tender red lips. "Though a few of the illustrations in that album were... quite interesting."
"What illustrations?" Zhi Wan asked blankly, a bad feeling rising in her heart.
Lu Zhan gave her a deep look but said nothing.
Soon, Zhi Wan understood. And experienced it firsthand.
Her long hair, damp and disheveled, clung to the sides of her face. Her breathing was ragged, but her lips were bitten shut.
Lu Zhan’s long fingers brushed over the lips his cousin had bitten crimson. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, his voice low and husky, "I’ve sent everyone away. You don’t have to hold back..."
Gasping for breath, Zhi Wan suddenly opened her mouth and bit down on his shoulder.
"Ngh!"
Lu Zhan let out a muffled groan.
The sudden pain made him lose control for a moment.
Zhi Wan had only meant to make him feel a little pain, too. Who knew that she would be the one to suffer in the end.
It wasn’t until dawn was about to break that he finally let her go.
Looking at the girl sleeping soundly in the crook of his arm, Lu Zhan leaned down and kissed her forehead. They fell asleep in each other’s arms.
「The next day.」
When Zhi Wan woke up, she saw Lu Zhan sitting by the bed, immaculately dressed and reading a book.
She was dazed for a while before she remembered that last night was their wedding night, and she was now his wife.
She couldn’t help but scoot closer, resting her head on his lap.
Seeing her awake, Lu Zhan reached out and stroked her hair. "Do you want to sleep a little more?" he asked gently.
Zhi Wan still felt very drowsy, so she nodded. "Mhm."
"Then sleep a little longer," Lu Zhan said.
Zhi Wan did as she was told and closed her eyes.
Just as she was about to fall asleep, she suddenly remembered something and was instantly wide awake.
"No, I can’t! I still have to serve tea to Aunt and Uncle," she said, sitting up anxiously. "What time is it?"
"Still calling them ’Aunt’ and ’Uncle’?" Lu Zhan teased, lightly tapping her nose with a smile. "It’s almost noon."
Zhi Wan was feeling a little shy, but when she heard it was almost noon, her expression changed instantly. "Why didn’t you wake me up?"
"You were sleeping so soundly, I couldn’t bear to wake you. Besides, Mom and Dad have always doted on you. Making them wait a little longer is no big deal," Lu Zhan said nonchalantly.
Zhi Wan didn’t dare take it for granted. After all, she was a new bride, and she was supposed to serve tea to her parents-in-law on the first day. She couldn’t act spoiled just because they doted on her and make them wait.
Her lips pursed. She didn’t say anything, but threw back the covers and got out of bed.
However, in her haste, her legs gave way as she got out of bed, and she nearly fell. Fortunately, Lu Zhan caught her just in time.
Lu Zhan sighed. "Even an ugly bride isn’t this nervous to meet her in-laws! Besides, in this entire grand residence, there’s no one left who would dare gossip about you. You don’t have to worry."