Fortunately, when the obscured name was revealed, it turned out that Yu Chicheng was also the champion of the written exam. Seeing him pass the first two rounds, I felt relieved. In the third round, Yu Chicheng deliberately let me win the chess game gracefully. Naturally, I reciprocated and let him pass all the tests without much effort.
Everyone was in awe and disbelief. No one had expected a prince from the Northern Cold Region to emerge out of the blue. It was understandable for him to excel in the martial arts exam since the Northern Cold Region valued martial prowess. But for him to also win in the written exam left people puzzled. What they didn't know was that Yu Chiyan, Yu Chicheng's father, had a mother from the Great Yong Dynasty. Yu Chiyan, who lacked sufficient martial strength in his youth, had always relied on his literary knowledge to maintain his position. Therefore, with such a strict and learned father, Yu Chicheng and Yu Chixu had been well - versed in poetry and books since childhood. Understanding the importance of literature, Yu Chiyan had even invited great literary scholars from the Great Yong Dynasty to teach them in the Northern Cold Region.
The grand event of selecting a son - in - law thus came to an end.
My elder brother had basically avoided the whole event, citing poor health as the reason. When Xiyao learned that Yu Chicheng was the final chosen son - in - law, she was extremely excited.
After this, it was soon time to compare the horoscopes and calculate the wedding date.
Half a year later, it was the princess's wedding day. The common people in the imperial city decorated their homes with lanterns and colorful streamers. The ceremony official paraded through the Xuanwu Street, receiving the blessings of the people.
By this time, winter had already set in. I was holding the red - copper hollow spherical hand - warmer that Yu Chicheng had given me before. I was sitting in front of the bronze mirror, wearing a red wedding dress and with my long hair loose.
My mother was behind me, combing my hair while murmuring, "With the first comb, I comb to the end. May you respect each other as guests and live in harmony. With the second comb, I comb to the end. May you have a happy life and many children. With the third comb, I comb to the end. May you be united in heart and never part until old age."
I kept smiling, looking at myself and my mother in the mirror. My mother's features were gentle, and her eyes were full of tenderness as she said, "Xihe, after today, you will be a married woman. From now on, you and Acheng should work together as a couple."
I nodded. After my mother gave me her blessings, she ordered the maids to come forward and do my makeup. When the delicate hibiscus - like makeup was done, I looked at the beautiful and unfamiliar me in the mirror. I had never imagined that I would look like this in such a solemn makeup. The person in the mirror had a complexion as fair as snow, lips as red as a cherry with a pearl on them, eyes like stars, and hair as black as a mountain. She was wearing a magnificent phoenix crown on her head and a bright red wedding dress embroidered with intricate patterns in gold and silver thread. It was truly astonishing.
I was supported by the ceremony official and started the long and complicated ceremony.
There was an episode during this. When Yu Chicheng came to the Twin - Life Palace to fetch the bride, my father gave him a hard time again. In the outer hall of the Twin - Life Palace, my father had five maids who resembled me in figure wear wedding dresses and veils, and asked Yu Chicheng to choose which one was his real bride. Yu Chicheng was at a loss at first. My elder brother said coldly beside him, "I can tell at a glance who my sister is. It's so easy. Don't tell me you can't recognize her."
I knew right away that my elder brother was trying to trick him. Yu Chicheng wasn't willing to admit defeat either. He carefully examined them all and then said, "Xihe isn't among them."
My elder brother asked, "Are you sure?"
Yu Chicheng looked again and then said, "I'm sure."
My elder brother then said, "Your eyesight isn't bad." So he had the maids taken away and had me brought out from the right hall. Yu Chicheng let out a long sigh of relief when he saw me.
At this time, I was covered with a red veil and was slowly walking towards him, supported by the ceremony official all the way. Every step seemed extremely long in my memory.
After a series of ceremonies, I finally got on the sedan chair without a screen. Yu Chicheng rode a tall horse in front, leading our procession all the way to the newly - built princess mansion.
At the front of our procession was the astrologer, followed by the guide envoy, eight boys with hairpins on their heads, servants, and my dowry. Besides the dowry, there were also twenty pairs of candles and lanterns, four square fans, four round fans, ten pots of guiding flowers, twenty hanging lanterns, walking screens, sitting screens, etc.
My mother was sitting in the nine - dragon sedan chair, personally seeing me off. My elder brother rode a horse beside. There were two layers of enclosures on both sides of our procession. Behind me were Uncle Eighteen and his princess consort, as well as the wives of other high - ranking officials.
When the procession arrived at the princess mansion, a nine - course banquet bestowed by my father was held. After the banquet, my mother and elder brother returned to the palace first. I had to share a meal with Yu Chicheng. After the ceremony, I went to pay respects to my father - in - law and mother - in - law, performing the ceremony of serving them for washing and meals. I presented them with a visiting card, a set of clothes, a box of handkerchiefs, a small dressing box, a bag of bath beans, three hundred pairs of silverware, and five hundred sets of fabric. At the same time, I also prepared different gifts for Yu Chixu and Yu Chixue, which would be given to them by my mother - in - law when she went back.
Finally, after all the ceremonies were over, it was time for the wedding night.
When Yu Chicheng lifted my veil with a jade ruyi, his eyes were full of admiration. I gave him a gentle smile, thinking that this long day of ceremonies was finally over. Then I heard Yu Chicheng say in a daze, "Xihe, you're really beautiful."
He smiled and poured two cups of wedding wine on the table. He handed one to me. We each drank half a cup first, then exchanged and finished the rest. Yu Chicheng put the cups back on the table and came back to sit beside me. He said, "Xihe, today really feels like a dream. Although I'm very tired, I'm extremely happy."
I also said, "Brother Cheng, I'm happy too."
Yu Chicheng couldn't help but touch my face and said, "Xihe, you've had a hard day today. The phoenix crown must be very heavy. Let me take it off for you."
A moment later, Yu Chicheng took off my phoenix crown and also helped me take off the heavy wedding dress. Suddenly, I felt much lighter, as if I had been released from a bondage.
At this time, the red candles were flickering, and the wedding chamber was filled with the sweet fragrance of incense. Yu Chicheng's face looked so gentle in the candlelight. Sometimes the atmosphere was just so subtle. We stared into each other's eyes and slowly got closer. Then a gentle kiss landed on my lips. Our lips and tongues intertwined slowly, as if we were pouring out our yearning for each other. Yu Chicheng hugged me and slowly lay down on the bed. Instantly, I knew what was about to happen. The words of the teaching maid echoed in my ears, and my face turned red immediately.
Yu Chicheng's hands began to wander on my body. Then he gently helped me undress while still kissing me. I closed my eyes, too shy to look at him, just feeling his burning passion. A moment later, we were naked. Before I knew it, Yu Chicheng had let down the red curtain...
Then our voices came from inside the curtain.
"Brother Cheng, wait... wait a minute. It hurts a bit."
"Well, then I won't go in for now. Is this okay?"
"Um..."
A moment later.
"Ah, Brother Cheng, don't touch there." My mouth was suddenly covered, and I could only make muffled sounds.
"Are you comfortable now?"
"Um..."
"Then I'm going in, okay?"
"Um... no, it still hurts!"
"Bear with it. It won't hurt soon."
"Ah!"
The maid only said that it would hurt a bit at first, but she didn't say that it would feel so full later. Eh? Wait a minute. Why did it suddenly speed up? Eh? Eh? Eh!
(End of Xihe's Epilogue)