The red bridal veil fluttered slightly in the candlelight, like a fleeting shadow, making the world before her eyes hazy and illusory.
"Your Highness, please lift the bridal veil. May Your Highness find contentment and enjoy a long and harmonious marriage," the wedding maid said with a smile. With the attendant maids standing by, she respectfully presented a gold-threaded tray on which lay a delicate wedding scale.
Xiao Jingnan's lips curved slightly. He reached out and picked up the wedding scale, gently stroking the ivory rod with his fingertips. His gaze fell upon her.
Li Wanming's heart skipped a beat.
Her fingertips unconsciously tightened on the pomegranate pattern embroidered on her cuffs, and her palms grew slightly sweaty.
He's coming!
He's coming!
He's striding over with his robust steps!
The candlelight flickered, and the twin lotus pattern embroidered with gold thread on the bridal veil rose and fell with her breathing...
"Why are you trembling?" Xiao Jingnan suddenly stopped, his voice laced with a mischievous smile.
Li Wanming was taken aback. Then she felt both ashamed and angry, shouting silently in her heart, "Who's trembling? You're talking nonsense! I'm the one who can fight tigers on the mountain and catch dragons in the water..."
"Who would have thought that the valiant Third Miss Li, who can fight tigers on the mountain and catch dragons in the water, would be afraid of having her bridal veil lifted? Hmm, did the wedding maid paint you a hideous face when she did your makeup this morning?" By the end of his words, Xiao Jingnan was almost laughing out loud.
Li Wanming cursed in her heart, "You're the one with a hideous face! Uglier than a leopard! If it weren't for the wedding maid being here and me having to maintain my dignity, I'd show you what real ugliness is!"
The wedding maid, obviously not accustomed to such a groom, was stunned for a moment. Then she quickly put on a festive smile and said, "Your Highness is really humorous. It's only natural for the bride to be shy on her wedding night. Please stop teasing her and lift the bridal veil quickly."
Xiao Jingnan held back his laughter and finally approached with the wedding scale.
The nervousness in Li Wanming's heart had vanished. She gritted her teeth, waiting impatiently to have a good fight with him after the wedding ceremony...
As his figure drew closer, she could smell the faint aroma of wine on Xiao Jingnan.
Just when the scent was right in front of her, it suddenly stopped just one step away.
With a "bang", the door was suddenly pushed open.
"Your Highness!" Lu Ping's voice was panicked and urgent, like a quenched knife that instantly shattered the tranquility and sweetness in the room.
What's going on?
Li Wanming's heart skipped a beat.
Lu Ping was not the kind of person who didn't know his limits. If it weren't an extremely urgent matter, he wouldn't have interrupted Xiao Jingnan on his wedding night.
"Your Highness..." Lu Ping hesitated, and even the tail of his voice carried by the night wind trembled slightly.
Li Wanming's heart sank.
All the previous nervousness, uneasiness, sweetness, and shyness... vanished in an instant. Her nails slowly dug into her palms.
The cold wind that rushed in through the door carried the unique smell of saltpeter from the wedding ceremony. Although it was so warm and festive, for some reason, it gave her goosebumps.
Xiao Jingnan also seemed a bit surprised. He paused for a moment, then lowered his head and said gently to her, "Wait a moment. I'll be back soon."
He casually placed the wedding scale on the tray and then walked out...
He even thoughtfully closed the door, leaving everyone in the room staring blankly at each other.
Li Wanming was extremely anxious. She really wanted to tear off the bridal veil and stare with them, but as the bride, she had to maintain her dignity before the wedding ceremony was completed. So she could only hide under the bridal veil, her mind racing with wild thoughts.
What could it be?
Had the prince or princess suddenly fallen ill? Or was there another problem with the Li family?
Or was it something in the palace? Had Empress Dowager Kang changed her mind? Or had Zhao Yanke had an accident?
Li Wanming was in a turmoil. Her thoughts were like boiling water, bubbling and making her anxious.
Thankfully, Xiao Jingnan didn't stay away for long.
In just the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he returned.
His steps were steady and unhurried, as if nothing had happened just now.
This made Li Wanming feel a little relieved.
He spoke softly, but it was to the wedding maid, "You may leave. I'll handle the rest myself."
Huh?
Everyone in the room was stunned.
Even Li Wanming couldn't help but raise her head in surprise under the heavy bridal veil and headdress.
Do it himself?
There were still a whole bunch of procedures left, like lifting the bridal veil, sharing the nuptial cup, and the hair-tying ceremony... Did he plan to do them all by himself?
Throughout history, there probably hadn't been anyone who did things like this!
The wedding maid was obviously shocked by his words. She hesitated for a moment before saying, "Your Highness, doing it yourself... might not be in line with the etiquette..."
Xiao Jingnan's voice suddenly turned colder, with a hint of impatience. "We're already husband and wife after paying respects to Heaven and Earth. There's no need to be so rigid about those formalities!"
As soon as the words were out, he seemed to realize that his tone was too harsh. He softened his voice and said with a pleading smile, "Auntie, the wedding night is short. I'd like to spend more time with my wife. Please grant my wish."
Hearing this, the wedding maid suddenly showed an extremely ambiguous smile on her face. As if suddenly enlightened, she nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, yes. This old servant understands. I'll lead everyone out now!"
As she spoke, she quickly put down the things in her hands and motioned for the maids and servants in the room to quickly retreat.
The dull Chuntao was still in a daze. "Hey, the hair cut off during the hair-tying ceremony should be given to me for safekeeping. Madam specifically told me..." Before she could finish her sentence, she was dragged away by Nanny Song.
As soon as they left, the room instantly fell silent, except for the faint crackling sound of the dragon-and-phoenix wedding candles on the table.
Through the vermilion silk veil, Li Wanming saw Xiao Jingnan walk to the table and pick up the long wedding scale again.
But for some reason, when he came over, he didn't say a word or move. He just stood in front of the bed, looking down at her motionlessly.
What's going on?
Li Wanming became even more confused.
What on earth was the matter that made Lu Ping come in such a hurry?
Why did Xiao Jingnan drive the wedding maid and the others out?
Now, he neither lifted the bridal veil nor said a word. He just stood there stupidly staring at her... What on earth was he up to!
With the extremely heavy headdress on her head and the exquisitely embroidered silk bridal veil covering her face, she couldn't see Xiao Jingnan's expression at all. She could only sit there gracefully, roaring silently in her heart.
Xiao Jingnan stood there for a long time before finally taking a half step forward.
The gold-threaded cloud pattern on the corner of his robe flickered in the shadow of the silk and the candlelight. The tip of his black python-patterned boots stopped just in front of the hibiscus pattern on the hem of her bright red pomegranate dress.
Then, he stopped again!
Moreover, he let out a very soft and faint sigh...
Sigh?
What was he sighing about!
A sudden surge of无名 anger welled up in Li Wanming's heart.
She had been hungry for a whole day, sitting there stupidly for a long time, and just now she had suffered an inexplicable scare. She hadn't even sighed, so what was he sighing about!