Chapter 207: The Bridal Chamber
Chapter 207: The Bridal Chamber
The ancestral worship, the fetching of the bride, and the welcoming ceremony proceeded seamlessly.
Although the Yu family was no longer the most influential in Yu City, the marriage was officiated by none other than Chen Mu, with Yan Jingqing, the Censor, serving as the master of ceremonies. This ensured that no one dared to cause any disturbances, not even the Mystic Mechanism Pavilion.
The Xue and Xie families sent representatives with gifts, congratulating the newlyweds.
Xu Hongyu, dressed in a vibrant red bridal gown and a red veil, was led by Xiao He. She felt a bit dazed, as if in a dream, as she entered the main hall. Despite being a Bone Forging Realm martial artist, even with her vision partially obscured by the veil, she could distinguish people and directions. However, at this moment, she was slightly bewildered, as she had never thought about her own marriage before.
On one hand, her exceptional talent allowed her to climb the martial path, and on the other, she never had such thoughts. She never imagined herself wearing a bright red bridal gown and entering the main hall like an ordinary girl.
Following the tea ceremony with Yu Zuyi and Yu Jiujiang, Chen Mu and Xu Hongyu paid their respects to the elders of the Yu family.
Yan Jingqing, dressed in the ceremonial attire of a master of ceremonies, smiled upon seeing the newlywed couple.
He had mediated marriages and served as a master of ceremonies while working for the government, but now, with his position as Censor, things were different. If Chen Mu were just an ordinary subordinate and a commoner, he wouldn't have personally come to officiate, and neither would Xu Hongyu or the Yu family have attained such status.
However, Chen Mu was a Heavenly Talent on the New Talent Register, with a great chance of reaching Yan Jingqing's level and even surpassing him. Despite being younger, Chen Mu held a unique status in his eyes.
In reality, in Yan Jingqing's opinion, Xu Hongyu's physique, family background, and abilities barely qualified her to be Chen Mu's wife.
But throughout Chen Mu's journey, he had received much support from Xu Hongyu, and the two had mutually supported each other's progress. Now, with their hearts aligned, they were indeed a perfect match.
Time passed quickly.
Yan Jingqing checked the hour and signaled for silence. The entire hall became quiet.
"The auspicious hour has arrived. Let the newlyweds step forward."
His voice, calm and composed, resonated through the main hall and the courtyard, but it didn't startle the birds in the trees. Instead, they quietly turned their attention to the festive hall.
Holding the silk ribbon, Chen Mu and Xu Hongyu walked forward together.
"First bow to Heaven and Earth!"
The elders of the Yu family smiled, but some also felt a tinge of regret. They wished Chen Mu had a fondness for women, as they had eligible daughters and granddaughters. Even if their talents and abilities couldn't compare to Xu Hongyu's, their youth and beauty meant they could still bear Chen Mu's offspring in the future.
"Second bow to the ancestors!"
Chen Mu and Xu Hongyu bowed to the ancestors, Yu Zuyi and Yu Jiujiang, as both their parents had passed away.
"Spousal bow!"
Chen Mu looked at Xu Hongyu, who was wearing a vibrant red bridal gown and a red veil. It seemed as if his gaze penetrated the veil, seeing her serene and elegant face, now adorned with a hint of spring's blush.
"Escort the bride to the bridal chamber!"
The entire hall was filled with joy, yet it remained quiet. With Yan Jingqing as the master of ceremonies and Chen Mu as the groom, no one dared to create a ruckus. Behind them, Chen Yue pulled Yu Ru, whispering something, seemingly trying to convince her to join the 'bridal chamber' celebration later. But Yu Ru seemed oblivious, only nodding absentmindedly, her big eyes filled with envy as she watched Chen Mu and Xu Hongyu's backs.
Noticing Yu Ru's dazed expression, Chen Yue pouted slightly, then turned her clear, bright eyes towards Chen Mu and Xu Hongyu. A hint of radiance sparkled in her gaze.
Unconsciously, she was approaching twenty years old.
No longer the naive little girl, she, like Chen Mu, had experienced the warmth and coldness of the world and understood the unpredictability of human hearts.
If her parents had arranged her marriage according to tradition, she might have already been wedded. But now, she never considered the possibility, feeling that perhaps she never would. Although there might be someone better than Chen Mu in the world, who could treat her better than he did?
Her heart was never fragile, and she didn't need anyone to take care of her. With Chen Mu by her side, Yu Ru as a close friend, and many acquaintances in the Yu family, she felt the world had already treated her more than well.
Gazing at the bright main hall, filled with smiling Yu family elders, she couldn't help but stare at Chen Mu and Xu Hongyu's backs, momentarily lost in a daze like Yu Ru.
This was a life she had never dared to dream of before.
...
The sun set, casting a golden glow on the window paper.
Sparrows chirped at the setting sun, adding to the festive atmosphere as night fell.
In the spacious room, red candles were lit, their flames dancing brightly. Xu Hongyu sat quietly by the bed, adorned in a vibrant red bridal gown, with a wedding quilt embroidered with mandarin ducks behind her.
Suddenly, Xiao He, Yu Ru, and the others who had been keeping her company quietly left the room.
Chen Mu approached the bed, gently lifting Xu Hongyu's red veil, revealing her serene and elegant face, untouched by any makeup. In the candlelight, her exquisite face reflected the festive red glow.
Chen Mu gazed at Xu Hongyu.
Xu Hongyu also looked at him.
"So beautiful," Chen Mu admired the exquisite features of Xu Hongyu, her face as pure and ethereal as a celestial maiden, a lotus blossoming amidst the vast mortal realm.
Initially, he hadn't harbored such fantasies about Xu Hongyu, but the appreciation of beauty is innate in all. He wondered if there was an even more captivating side to her cool and noble countenance. And now, at this very moment, he beheld a unique blend of elegance and allure, a contradiction that coexisted harmoniously.
"Is it so?" Xu Hongyu's eyes remained clear as amber, reflecting the vibrant candlelight. She stared at Chen Mu without blinking, then spoke in a coy tone, her delicate earlobes tinged with a faint blush.
She understood, she knew, that since childhood, people had praised her beauty. As she grew older, many continued to admire her appearance, but some would also say, 'It's a pity she's a bit too cold.'
Xu Hongyu didn't consider herself particularly cold.
It was just that, before meeting Chen Mu, she had little interest in anything.
Listening to Xiao He's words day after day, she felt no different from other girls, at least in front of Chen Mu. Hearing his compliments, she felt joy and shyness.
"Hmm," Chen Mu's gaze was fixed on Xu Hongyu. In his current memory, all he had seen paled in comparison to her. Even the most delicate flowers or the renowned courtesan queen of the brothel couldn't rival Xu Hongyu's beauty at this moment.
He sat beside Xu Hongyu, gazing at her exquisite face up close. "The first time I saw you, I thought the rumors were not exaggerated. The Chief Inspector of the Southern City District, you truly are a woman of exquisite beauty and cold demeanor."
Xu Hongyu's eyes, clear as ever, met Chen Mu's. She blinked playfully.
Chen Mu smiled and said, "How did you know what I was thinking? Initially, I didn't have the slightest disrespectful thought about the Chief Inspector. It was later..."
"Later?" Xu Hongyu blinked again.
Chen Mu looked at the beauty before him. "Well, at first, I thought you were majestic and awe-inspiring, a Chief Inspector who commanded respect from the highest point in the Southern City District, deciding matters with a single word. But gradually, I realized that being the Chief Inspector must be exhausting..." He continued, "When I was forced to take action against He Mingxuan, I considered the aftermath and how it would affect you and the Yu Family. It might not be a good thing for them, but for you, it could bring some relief."
Xu Hongyu stared at Chen Mu, then leaned in close, whispering in his ear.
"Husband... What else do you want to see?" Her exquisite face was bathed in a rosy glow, as if it might drip down.
Chen Mu wasn't going to let Xu Hongyu's forwardness pass. He gently kissed her earlobe. "Everything."
Xu Hongyu's slender fingers slid down, and without a sound, her vibrant bridal gown fell away.
Her slender waist and graceful figure were flawless, beyond any criticism. In the candlelight, she resembled a perfectly carved crimson jade sculpture, unlike anything from the mortal realm.
"Husband, whatever you desire to see, whatever you wish to look at, Hongyu can..." Xu Hongyu's eyes remained clear, though a hint of shyness tinted her irises. Her gaze never left Chen Mu; she continued to watch him.
Like a freshly bloomed lotus, its petals adorned with dewdrops, it was captivating yet delicate, almost too precious to disturb or pluck. Chen Mu was momentarily taken aback, then gently waved his sleeve.
The bed curtains fell silently.
His heart's desire was to follow his heart's wishes, and tonight, there was no need for restraint.
Having cultivated the Water Hexagram Intention, Xu Hongyu's skin glowed with vitality. At this moment, without any need for his teasing, the smooth and exquisite flower bud within her held a hint of dew. Her eyes, like spring water, shimmered as she gazed at him.
Outside, the moon silently climbed the tree branches.
Inside, the red candles quietly extinguished.
In the moonlit courtyard, a single pale pink peach petal drifted in the gentle breeze, gliding over the white jade rockery and down the smooth, pale mountain peaks, until it landed in the pond, making a soft 'pop' sound before sinking slowly.
Ripples spread across the water's surface, layer upon layer.
Gradually, a faint mist veiled the moonlight, as if shy of being seen.
Xiao He, hiding outside, strained her ears to listen carefully. Her body softened, and she leaned there, feeling as if she had momentarily grasped the essence of the Water Hexagram Intention.
Meanwhile, Chen Yue and Yu Ru, crouched at the base of the wall, listening intently to the sounds within the room. Their faces flushed with shyness, and after a quick glance at each other, they sneaked away.
This night was destined to be sleepless.
(End of Chapter)
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