Chapter 365 – Whirlwind in the Capital (22)
“Does the Young Master not want to part with the Second Miss?”
Xu Ke had already shed his lowly status and, as Liu Xi’s right-hand man, secured a corner spot for himself, indulging in exquisite delicacies.
Noticing Jiang Pengji’s slightly displeased expression, he feared she might take some improper action, so he cautiously probed for her thoughts.
“Why would I be reluctant?” Jiang Pengji glared at him with annoyance and said, “I was just reminded of a past event. A few years ago, during the wedding of the Second Prince and the Northern Princess, the capital was just as lively. Despite the icy weather, there were hundreds of tables filled with food to celebrate, and they still managed to create a festive atmosphere… Now that I think about it, it’s strikingly similar to today’s scene…”
Xu Ke fell silent upon hearing this.
Of course, he knew what had happened that year—the heavy snow disaster in the capital. Despite dire circumstances, the wedding was bustling with activity, with hundreds of banquet tables set up for nine days and nights, yet the food remained largely untouched… In the freezing cold, no one wanted to eat cold food.
Nearby, common people were dying of hunger while the Second Prince’s residence was overflowing with wasted food, filling bucket after bucket…
Thinking about all this, it was no wonder the Young Master couldn’t be happy.
The banquet was originally intended to bring joy to the city and celebrate with the common people, a celebration of the new couple.
In reality, the ordinary folks weren’t able to get anywhere near it, let alone sit at the tables.
“Young Master, today is the Second Miss’s joyous day; you should… sigh, at least show some happiness…”
Xu Ke’s distraction had quenched his appetite entirely.
Similarly, today’s groom was also lacking appetite.
After being lightly pressured to drink a couple of cups, Wu Ma Jun stumbled into the bridal chamber, sporting a faint drunkenness. As he gazed at his bride sitting by the bed, her youthful face and awkward, slender figure completely extinguished any interest he might have had.
The maidservant helped Liu Huan wash off her makeup and remove the heavy headdress.
Without the thick makeup, her youthful face appeared even more delicate. Although her features were lovely—clearly a beauty in the making—Liu Huan was still too young, making her resemble an unripe fruit. How could he eat that?!
Wu Ma Jun was unwilling in his heart, but the wedding traditions demanded it.
Not wanting to disdainfully reject the bride would only lead to shame on her family if they found out.
Liu Huan peeked shyly at her husband, instantly blushing bright red.
Though Wu Ma Jun wasn’t a gentleman, he had a rather impressive façade, adept at charming innocent girls.
After they shared the nuptial wine, even though the alcohol wasn’t strong, Liu Huan felt slightly woozy, floating as if walking on cotton… Wu Ma Jun furrowed his brow in disapproval, his lips pressing tighter.
According to royal tradition, the nuptial wine contained some stimulating ingredients meant to help freshly married couples break through shyness and awkwardness, easing their way into intimacy. Liu Huan couldn’t tell, but Wu Ma Jun, who had seen plenty in life, could certainly taste it.
Wu Ma Jun kindly suggested, “You must be hungry; let’s eat something before getting settled.”
Even though Liu Huan was young, there were still nuances to being young; after all, the loss wasn’t his.
Liu Huan blushed, nodding shyly as she secretly gripped a small vial hidden in her sleeve.
This item was something she had sneaked from Hui Jun, who treated it as a treasure. Paranoid, Liu Huan thought it was something Hui Jun used to harm her, but their family physician confirmed it was a fertility aid.
Skeptical, Liu Huan discreetly had several physicians check it, and they all reached the same conclusion.
It was harmless and contained many valuable herbs, promoting conception!
At first, Liu Huan didn’t want to use it, but her curiosity ultimately got the better of her.
Later, she secretly ground some of the powder and mixed it into her food, passing it to a miscellaneous woman who had been married for three years without having any children, already looked down upon by her husband due to her lack of offspring.
Liu Huan ordered a trusted maidservant to secretly bribe a cook, enabling him to take advantage of the woman at night. A month later, she surprisingly had good news!
All this transpired during the journey to the capital, done silently and carefully, without drawing suspicion.
Liu Huan was determined to capture her husband’s heart and establish a foothold in the Fourth Prince’s residence, naturally prioritizing her offspring.
During breakfast this morning, she had secretly taken one of those fertility pills and had sent Hui Jun some cold food mixed with undesirable ingredients.
With this, she was determined to give birth to a son before Hui Jun.
After eating a little food, Liu Huan coyly asked, “It’s getting late; shall we settle down, husband?”
Perhaps the effect of the nuptial wine took over, and Wu Ma Jun felt a heat rising within him. He nodded and picked her up, carrying her to the wedding bed.
After some tender moments, Wu Ma Jun rose when the effects of the medicine had worn off and called for someone to prepare hot soup.
He glanced with disdain at Liu Huan, who was sleeping with traces of tears on her face. With a grimace, he thought her slender figure was akin to that of a man.
“I’ll serve the Prince with a bath.”
Wu Ma Jun felt utterly bored on this wedding night when a waft of fragrant scent streamed into his nose, causing a tightening sensation below. Listening carefully, the voice was equally enticing, tickling his senses and sending shivers down his spine.
“Yes, come in…”
Wu Ma Jun hazily responded, as a graceful figure with a basin of water slipped through the curtain, gliding in with elegance.
Dressed simply and with her hair lacking any unnecessary adornments, she resembled a lively lotus flower standing in a gentle breeze. Yet, her captivating star-like eyes seemed to draw in souls, and her full lips were alluringly rosy, tempting one to lean in to taste.
“What’s your name?”
The other party appeared baffled by such a brusque question, hanging her head shyly, “My name is Hui Jun.”
“That’s a lovely name.” Wu Ma Jun’s eyes literally glued themselves to her curves and asked, “Are you a maidservant of the residence?”
“No, I’m a companion maid of the Second Miss… the Fourth Princess…”
She nearly bit her lip when saying the last part.
As a companion maid, she inherently had duties to serve the male master.
Wu Ma Jun’s eyes sparkled upon hearing this.
However, being a hypocritical gentleman, he couldn’t just grab her outright and instead pretended to be aloof, asking, “How come I’ve never seen you before?”
Hui Jun replied, “Tonight is the Young Master’s wedding night with the princess.”
Mentioning that, Wu Ma Jun’s mood soured slightly, but upon glancing at the enchanting beauty before him, his lower belly tightened again.
“Come here and help me bathe.”
“Yes!”
Hui Jun wet a cloth with warm water, ready to help him scrub his back, only for her wrist to be suddenly seized.
Wu Ma Jun felt as if he were clutching a delicate hand, softer than a peeled egg.
As they drew close, the sweet fragrance became even more noticeable.
“Your Highness…” Hui Jun stammered in confusion, seemingly wanting to struggle, but her feeble strength was no match for him.
