Amid laughter and flower-viewing chatter, nearly two hours of competition passed. At last, the winners of each skill category were determined. Elder Yi announced that the official adjudication of the Hundred Flowers Festival was now underway.
There were more than ten judges seated on the platform, each a specialist in their own field. Events like dance, qin music, chess, and calligraphy required judges on site. After a full round, the verdicts for each category were finalized.
Beiye Yinman was brimming with confidence about taking first place this year. If nothing else, she had worked hard—yet beyond that, the other young ladies, knowing she was soon to become the Consort of Prince Su, deliberately "yielded" to her in many areas. To be fair, she wasn't good at everything; what she truly excelled at was qin performance and poetry.
The poem she composed today had been polished for a long time. She had read what the other ladies wrote, and none seemed as good as hers.
Elder Yi announced the results for the festival's team competition. The judges were particularly satisfied with this year's teams. First place went to Crown Prince Heir of Prince Liang—Yi Mingji. Even the team itself seemed pleased with the outcome.
When Beiye Yinman heard the name "Yi Mingji," her heart jolted. Her palm grew damp with sweat, and hatred flashed beneath her brows.
She resented Prince Su bitterly.
He had promised to accompany her this year, yet at the last moment the Emperor dispatched him to Lincity on official business. He still hadn't returned even now.
Every time she needed him, he was never there…
And the moment she thought of what had happened during the spring outing, a vicious, murderous gleam crossed her eyes.
The humiliation, the ruin of her purity—she would repay it.
After all the winners were announced, only the women's individual poetry prize remained.
This year's poetry result was… unexpected.
Someone had not even shown up, and yet her poetry and painting were good enough to take the top honors. But somehow, the judges ended up giving her only third prize. They argued for a long time before reaching a decision.
"Now I announce the women's individual poetry results," Elder Yi declared. "First place: Mo Lixia. Second place: Beiye Yinman. Third place: Yin Shang'er… As for painting—first place: Mo Lixia, second place…"
Below the stage, Beiye Yinman's face turned instantly cold.
"Ahem," Elder Yi continued, "today Miss Mo did not attend. So although she earned first place, we have discussed it and decided she will only receive a third prize as punishment. Therefore, today's first prize goes to the second-place winner, Miss Beiye. Second prize goes to Miss Yin. Miss Mo will receive the third prize."
On stage, the judges held Mo Lixia's poem in their hands and praised it nonstop.
Grand Tutor Qin had his subordinate read Mo Lixia's poem aloud.
In the audience, both young masters and young ladies were filled with curiosity about this "Miss Mo." Who could she be—so talented that she had defeated Beiye Yinman, the two-time champion?
At that moment, Beiye Yinman looked downcast, her brows shadowed with grievance and defeat, though resentment still coiled inside her.
Several close friends beside her hurried to comfort her.
"Could this Mo Lixia be that Mo family young lady we saw last time?"
"It must be. How many Mo Lixias could there be in the capital? That country bumpkin—how could she write something like this?"
"Besides, she didn't even come. Who knows if the poem is really hers? Miss Beiye, don't let a plagiarist ruin your mood. In my opinion, her poem isn't even as good as yours."
Beiye Yinman forced a smile.
"How could that be? Since Miss Mo won, she must have real ability. And the judges were Elder Yi and Grand Tutor Qin—there wouldn't be any favoritism."
As the crowd argued below, someone held up Mo Lixia's calligraphy and praised it.
"This handwriting is excellent—truly excellent."
The speaker was Jiang Yinghan. He had snatched Mo Lixia's work from Liu Jing.
At a glance, the painting style clearly belonged to Yi Junlan, and the calligraphy likely belonged to Zhanchen's younger sister.
"This is Lixia's writing," Mu Tong whispered. "I've seen it before. I didn't expect she had such talent. She's like my Brother Junlan—both of them hide their abilities."
Yu Fu stood beside Mu Tong and tugged at her sleeve.
"Why didn't Lixia come today?"
Mu Tong leaned in and whispered into Yu Fu's ear with a grin.
"She's probably with my Brother Junlan right now."
"Are you speaking of the future Princess Consort of Prince Kang?" Li Menghuai asked softly.
Yu Fu smiled and nodded at her cousin.
That small moment happened to be seen by Liu Jing on the stage, and the irritation he had barely suppressed rose again in his chest.
When the flower festival ended, Beiye Yinman forced smiles as she bid farewell to her sisters one by one, then boarded the carriage with her brother Beiye Ying.
The instant she got inside, her face collapsed.
Beiye Ying curled his lips into a smile. "What? You didn't get first place and you're that angry?"
Beiye Yinman pouted, turned away, and sulked.
Beiye Ying patted her shoulder.
"Alright, don't be angry. My little Man'er has the greatest talent. That Mo family girl was clearly cheating. Everyone there—those young masters and young ladies—aren't fools."
Beiye Yinman's voice turned icy. "Hmph. Not necessarily."
Then she added, eyes shifting with a cold gleam, "I think that Mo family girl… is simply my nemesis."
"You're overthinking," Beiye Ying said. "Though Father didn't want you marrying Prince Su, the imperial edict has already come down. We can only obey."
His tone sharpened with meaning.
"In my view, you should pay more attention to Miss Yin."
Beiye Yinman's heart tightened, then she smiled faintly, eyes swirling.
"I have my own way."
"Good," Beiye Ying said. "As long as you understand."
He didn't say more. He knew she was smart.
All these years, he and their father had kept their plans hidden from her—afraid she might be blinded by love and ruin everything.
Mo Lixia never expected she would actually get the distillation apparatus back.
She stared at it for a long time, thrilled.
This was a distiller!
The craftsmanship wasn't perfect—the glass looked a bit cloudy—but it didn't matter. You could still see what was happening inside.
Overjoyed, Mo Lixia had Yi Junlan send her back to the manor, and the moment she arrived she rushed into her pharmacy to study the device.
Most pure essential oils could be extracted from plants through steam distillation.
Mo Lixia had Xiqiu bring flowers and a bowl of wine, then tested whether she could extract essential oil.
She suspended freshly picked petals above boiling water. The steam carried the oil out of the petals as it rose. The steam was caught in a container and flowed down a tube.
As the hot vapor cooled rapidly, it condensed into water again—separating the essential oil from the water. Mo Lixia quickly collected the oil on a small dish.
Because she was only experimenting with a small batch of petals, the yield was tiny—only four or five drops.
She smelled it.
A pure jasmine fragrance.
She dabbed a drop onto her face with her fingertip.
The water left behind in the distiller after extracting essential oil was a byproduct. Some aromatic agents dissolved easily in water, so after distillation they remained in the water.
This leftover water was intensely fragrant and valued by aromatherapy practitioners. They considered it a hydrosol, widely used in moisturizing skincare. The water remaining in the distiller could be used as toner.
Common oils like lavender, peppermint, and eucalyptus were distilled this way. The plant materials—flowers, leaves, wood, bark, roots, seeds, or peels—were processed and placed in the distiller with water.
Certain medicinal materials could also be processed with distillation. For example, camphor could be extracted from camphor wood by steam methods. Even Li Shizhen's Compendium of Materia Medica recorded how camphor vaporized and condensed into camphor.
Mo Lixia couldn't help but marvel at how clever ancient people were.
Of course, not all herbs were suitable for steam distillation.
…
Back at her own residence, Beiye Yinman's face twisted in fury. She held a needle and stabbed wildly into Mi Cui again and again. Mi Cui trembled with pain, drenched in sweat—yet she dared not make a sound.
Nearby, Jing Qiao couldn't bear to watch, but she didn't dare stop her mistress. She could only stand uneasily with her head lowered.
When Beiye Yinman was angry, she stayed "rational"—she never smashed the room like a madwoman. Only her mother knew of her vicious temper. Loving her daughter fiercely, she dared not let it spread, and tried desperately to hide it.
If it got out, her daughter's reputation would be ruined.
A beautiful snake—sweet on the surface, poisonous underneath. Who would dare marry such a girl?
After venting, Beiye Yinman collapsed onto the floor, panting hard. She kicked Mi Cui, who lay face-down on the ground.
"Get away. Crawl off."
Jing Qiao hurried to help Mi Cui out, then quickly ordered servants outside to prepare bathwater and attend to the young lady's bathing.
The maids outside were so frightened their legs wouldn't move. It was as if they'd been nailed to the ground.
Only after Jing Qiao shoved them did they finally snap out of it, stumbling away together to fetch water.
"She's terrifying," one maid whispered. "I'm so scared."
"Don't talk," another hissed, glancing around. "If she hears, we'll die."
Then she leaned in, voice lowering even more.
"That day during the spring outing, our young lady was… strange. After she came back, I washed her underclothes. They were covered in mud. You know what that means?"
"What?"
"It rained that day—hard. Why would she take off her outer clothes? The outer clothes weren't even wet."
"And the inner trousers… had blood on them."
"Ah… the young lady—?"
"Shh. Just keep it to yourself. If she knows we guessed, we'll both die."
They exchanged nervous looks and hurried to work.
Beiye Yinman sank into the tub. As the warm water soothed her, her mood finally improved. She reclined, eyes closed—yet she didn't know that Yi Mingji had already appeared beside the tub, staring at her with hungry fascination.
With a teasing touch, he traced her neck… slowly downward…
Beiye Yinman jolted, eyes snapping open.
When she saw it was Yi Mingji, she grabbed a towel, tried to hide in the water, and wrapped it tightly around herself.
She was about to scream—
But then she hesitated, thinking of something, and swallowed the cry.
Yi Mingji chuckled, leaning close and whispering, "Smart. I like smart."
He brushed her cheek, smiling with a wicked charm.
"I've already seen everything. What's the point of hiding?" He reached into the water and yanked the towel away.
"How did you get in?" Beiye Yinman shook with fear. "What do you want?"
"Your 'guards'?" Yi Mingji snorted. "Child's play. I come when I want."
His gaze raked over her. "And today… I came at exactly the right time."
"You… you already took my body—what more do you want?"
"You want your maids to know?" Yi Mingji murmured. "Go ahead—shout louder. I'd be delighted."
Beiye Yinman froze, then forced her voice steady and called loudly, "Jing Qiao! All of you go rest. I don't need anyone to attend me."
"Yes, Miss."
The maids had barely stepped out when Yi Mingji kissed her lips and slid his hand into the water.
"Don't—don't," Beiye Yinman pleaded. "I'll do anything you ask, but not this. This one thing—no."
Yi Mingji's expression turned cold.
"What can I possibly 'ask' of you?" he sneered. "I came here at night for exactly this."
He began stripping off his clothes, and before Beiye Yinman could even react, he stepped into the tub with her.
She clapped a hand over her mouth, letting out only a muffled cry, not daring to make a sound.
"Last time in that cave wasn't enough," Yi Mingji breathed harshly. "Tonight, in this tub… now that's flavor. Let me enjoy myself."
Water splashed onto Beiye Yinman's face, mixing with her tears. His roughness made her ache with pain.
No.
She couldn't let him toy with her like this.
She still had to marry Prince Su.
Thinking that, Beiye Yinman quickly softened her voice and pushed at him gently.
"My lord… don't be like this. I'm already yours. Once or twice, what difference does it make?"
"I only just began learning about men and women… I have no experience…"
"My lord… could you teach me? So that… in the future… I'll know how to please you…"
Yi Mingji laughed.
"Ha… good. That's more like it. Fine. Tonight I'll make you feel good."
He scooped her up from the tub and carried her toward the bedchamber.
After their frenzy, Beiye Yinman lay flushed and damp, sprawled against Yi Mingji's chest, her eyes distant as if calculating something.
Yi Mingji glanced at the water clock.
"My little slut," he said lazily. "I'm leaving."
"Eat this."
He lifted her chin, gaze sharp.
"Unless you want to get pregnant and have me come back for you?"
Beiye Yinman's eyes flickered. Her face, however, bloomed into a seductive smile.
"My lord—don't forget Man'er."
Yi Mingji smiled in satisfaction.
"Good girl. Wait. In a few days I'll come again."
Then his expression turned oddly serious as he dressed.
"When I came in, I heard your two maids talking…"
He laughed.
"Handle it. Then I'll come back."
Once he left, Beiye Yinman's face twisted into something feral.
"Hmph. You think you can play with Beiye Yinman?"
"Hmph. We'll see."
As the weather grew hotter, fewer people used thick scented balms. Mo Lixia began thinking of ways to store flower petals for winter.
"Lixia, don't worry about the flowers," Mu Tong said with a smile. "My family has an ice cellar. I'll store them there."
"Ice cellar?" Mo Lixia blinked. "Your family has one?"
Mu Tong laughed. "My father loves wild game. The meat he hunts in autumn and winter has nowhere to go, so he had people dig an ice cellar."
"My Brother Junlan's manor also has one. Father helped him find people to build it."
Mo Lixia's eyes lit up. "That's perfect. In summer you could put fruit in there and eat it cold."
"Exactly," Mu Tong said. "If you want one, build it too. It just takes manpower."
"Mu Tong," Yu Fu teased, "don't be silly. Lixia is about to marry into Prince Kang's manor."
Mu Tong blinked. "Oh! Right—I'm so stupid."
Then she leaned in with a grin. "Lixia, is your wedding dress ready?"
"Wedding dress?" Mo Lixia said. "Junlan said he prepared it for me."
Mu Tong stared. "He prepared your wedding dress too? I embroidered mine myself!"
"I wanted to embroider it," Mo Lixia said helplessly, "but if you ask me to sew a shoe and stitch a little flower, I can manage."
"A wedding dress is a huge project. I don't have time. Sister-in-law offered to do it, but Junlan insisted he'd already prepared it."
Yu Fu rolled her eyes. "Ohhh—'Junlan, Junlan'—so intimate."
Mo Lixia shot back, smiling, "Jealous? I heard you broke off the engagement with your cousin."
Yu Fu's face darkened. "Yes. But my cousin won't accept it. He keeps harassing me. It's so annoying. I never realized he could be that shameless."
"Don't overthink it," Mu Tong comforted her. "Hide for ten days or half a month. He'll forget."
Then she added, relieved, "Thank goodness my parents didn't match me with a cousin. After I told Mother what you said, she was shocked."
"She started thinking of our relatives, and… aren't they all like that?"
Yu Fu nodded quickly. "When I told my parents, they immediately agreed to cancel it. My father has seen Lixia's medical skills—he believes her completely."
"He went straight to my uncle and talked. My uncle agreed too."
"Good," Mu Tong said. "Thank goodness Lixia warned us. If you got married first and only met Lixia later, that would've been a disaster."
Mo Lixia smiled without speaking. She could tell Yu Fu never wanted to marry that cousin in the first place. This was a good way to push the marriage away—otherwise she'd spend her whole life trapped with someone she didn't love.
"By the way," Mo Lixia said, "I used the distiller to make some floral water. In summer, pat it on your face—it's refreshing."
She had Xiqiu bring two small porcelain bottles.
"Here. Smell."
Mu Tong sniffed and exclaimed, "Lixia, so you asked for the distiller at the festival for this? We didn't even know what it was. How did you?"
Mo Lixia smiled without blinking. "I saw it mentioned in one of my master's notes, so I wanted to retrieve it and try."
Mu Tong gasped. "Wow. Your master truly traveled widely."
"Even the family who provided that item didn't know what it was. They kept it at home for years doing nothing, so they just donated it."
Yu Fu sniffed again. "Why is it so fragrant?"
"It's extracted from petals," Mo Lixia explained. "I added some herbs too—hydrating and whitening."
"It takes a lot of petals to make even one small bottle, but this bottle can last for months."
Mu Tong huffed. "This is great. Lixia, you don't even know—ever since I lost weight, invitations keep coming."
"Those noble ladies want to play with me? Hmph. I know exactly why."
"They just want to use me to show their faces in front of my brother, hoping one day he notices them."
Mo Lixia shook her head, laughing. "You may be thinner now, but you still have to maintain it. Don't slack and start overeating again."
Mu Tong looked embarrassed. "I know…"
Yu Fu, hearing Liu Jing's name, felt irritation flare again—though she couldn't even say why.
…
As the wedding approached, Mo Lixia stayed in the manor almost every day, distilling essential oils and floral toners from petals.
Mo Chen returned from the army a few days ago—tanned darker, sturdier, more muscular.
The moment he came back, he excitedly told Mo Lixia about the surgeries he performed in camp, the problems he encountered, and how he solved them.
"Master, the army doctors are all old," Mo Chen said proudly. "Sometimes they even ask me questions."
"I didn't dare boast. I explained patiently. And if there was something I didn't understand, I asked the senior army doctors too."
Mo Lixia nodded, pleased. "That's right. That's called courtesy and exchange—mutual discussion."
"We learn medicine to treat the wounded. The more people know, the more lives are protected."
"We never hoard medical knowledge."
Mo Chen nodded solemnly. "Master, once you're married, can I visit you?"
"Of course," Mo Lixia said warmly. "If you miss me, come to Prince Kang's manor and find me."
Mo Chen hesitated, then said, "Master… let A Mu stay with you. When I go to the army, that little thing keeps running around."
Mo Lixia smiled. "Alright."
"And in the army, be careful," she added. "Even if you don't need to attend the academy every day, you can't neglect learning."
"Those unofficial histories and miscellaneous books—you can read them. I'm not strict. Sometimes you can learn from 'trash books' too. Understand?"
"Yes, Master."
The day before the wedding, Prince Kang's manor delivered Mo Lixia's wedding dress.
They had already sent it once before for adjustments and taken it back. Now, it fit perfectly.
In this era, wedding dresses were uniformly red.
This one even had a name: the "Lan-pattern bridal robe."
It was made from the finest silk, embroidered with blood-red spider lilies like a flowing sunset. Over it was draped an extremely soft, thin rosy gauze.
On Mo Lixia, it hugged her figure perfectly, making her skin look pale with a rosy glow—an irresistible charm.
Sister-in-law said it was the most beautiful wedding dress she'd ever seen.
Mo Lixia, however, couldn't tell much difference from the dress her sister-in-law wore when she married—she was utterly clueless about fabrics.
…
Before dawn, Xiqiu and Hongshang dragged Mo Lixia up for a bath.
Mo Lixia was speechless.
She had washed last night! And now she had to wash again first thing in the morning?
So many rules. No wonder people said ancient customs were complicated.
This time, Xiqiu added a few drops of Mo Lixia's own essential oil to the bath.
When she emerged, her body carried a soft fragrance that filled the entire room.
They brought out the phoenix coronet and bridal robes and dressed her properly.
"Xiqiu, I haven't eaten!" Mo Lixia groaned. "Bring me some porridge. I won't have any strength otherwise."
"No, Miss," Xiqiu said seriously. "A bride cannot eat. You can only eat at night—after entering the bridal chamber."
"You have to endure."
Mo Lixia's jaw dropped.
"Who made that rule?!"
If she'd known, she would've eaten more last night.
While she was suffering, her mother and sister-in-law arrived.
Madam Mo personally arranged Mo Lixia's hair and placed the phoenix crown on her head.
Nanny Guirong threaded her brows and "opened her face."
Sister-in-law did her makeup.
"Miss is so beautiful today!" Xiqiu squealed. "When His Highness lifts the veil, he'll be stunned!"
Mo Lixia pretended to be angry. "What? Am I not beautiful usually?"
Everyone laughed.
Xichun added, "No, Miss is always beautiful. But today you're even more stunning—different from usual."
Xiqiu hurried to hold up the mirror.
Mo Lixia stared at her reflection.
She almost didn't recognize herself.
If only there were lipstick… but in this world, there was only one kind of red, and it was too intense. Mo Lixia couldn't help dabbing her lips with a handkerchief to soften it.
Because she had just bathed, her cheeks were naturally flushed. Sister-in-law patted her face with floral toner, applied scented balm, and dusted a little rouge.
Mo Lixia looked… breathtaking.
Even she was transfixed. Let alone anyone else.
Then her thoughts wandered.
Could Yi Junlan actually… consummate the marriage?
Would it be too soon?
And his legs…
Could he?
She was still drifting into those thoughts when Nanny Guirong shoved a book into her hands and whispered instructions.
Mo Lixia turned crimson—mortified and speechless.
Ancient people were really direct.
"Guirong Auntie," Mo Lixia said shyly, lowering her head, "I'm a physician. I… I know these things."
She returned the erotic manual to the nanny.
The nanny looked awkward. "Miss already knows?"
Mo Lixia nodded.
"That's good," Nanny Guirong said earnestly. "His Highness's legs are inconvenient. Tonight, Miss must be more主动—more proactive—so you can give His Highness a child."
Mo Lixia: "…"
She understood the theory, but in practice she was still a virgin. Asking her to be proactive?
She was still embarrassed, okay?!
"Miss," the nanny pressed, "do you remember what I said?"
Mo Lixia nodded perfunctorily. "Yes… I'll try my best."
"What do you mean 'try'?" the nanny scolded. "On the wedding night, you cannot let His Highness lose interest. In the palace, losing favor is disastrous!"
"It's that serious?!"
"Of course it is!"
"Okay, okay, I understand," Mo Lixia hurriedly agreed, desperate to end the topic.
Only then did the nanny finally stop.
Sister-in-law was snickering in the corner. Mo Lixia saw it and sighed.
…
Before, she didn't feel the pain of separation. Prince Kang's manor wasn't far from the General's manor, after all.
But once her mother placed the phoenix crown on her head, Mo Lixia's chest felt clogged.
The red bridal veil, studded with pearl-like southern pearls, covered her face. Tears rolled and rolled in her eyes until warmth finally spilled over.
Madam Mo heard her crying and quickly choked out, "Alright, alright, don't cry. Your makeup will be ruined."
Mo Lixia didn't care. She lifted the crown slightly, threw her arms around her mother, and sobbed angrily—
"Foolish girl," Madam Mo murmured, equally tearful. "Don't cry. If you cry, Mother can't bear it either."
She lovingly adjusted the tassels on the phoenix crown, touched up Mo Lixia's makeup, then led her out.
Her brother carried her on his back to the front hall.
General Mo's eyes were cloudy yet tender as he stared at his daughter in red.
He had raised her for eight years, cherished her like treasure—then lost her.
He had only just found her again, not even two years ago, and now she was being married away.
How could he bear it?
But no matter how much he loved his daughter, he couldn't defy the Emperor. The imperial edict had been issued. The wedding date had arrived.
There was only this road.
"After you marry," General Mo said, voice heavy, "you can't be as casual as you are at home."
"If anyone bullies you over there, come back. This will always be your home."
"I know, Father," Mo Lixia answered. She couldn't see him under the veil, but she could hear his reluctance.
Madam Mo was reluctant too. But she also knew she couldn't keep her daughter by her side for life.
She only hoped Mo Lixia would live gently, wisely, with mutual respect between husband and wife—time would grow affection, and perhaps life wouldn't be bitter.
"Lixia," Madam Mo whispered, eyes wet, "Prince Kang's legs have issues, but his character is good. Live well there, alright?"
"Mother, I remember," Mo Lixia said softly. "I will live well with Prince Kang."
Outside, the wedding procession from Prince Kang's manor arrived.
Firecrackers snapped—pa pa pa—burst after burst.
Madam Mo wiped her tears quickly.
General Mo patted her shoulder, unable to hide his own unwillingness to part.
Mo Chen stood nearby, tears threatening to fall too. Cold Xue pulled him close and comforted him.
"Lixia, once you're at the manor, you must not behave as you did when you were a girl…"
"I know, I know!" Mo Lixia patted her mother's hand, trying to lighten the mood.
Then the matchmaker outside called, "The auspicious hour has arrived! Bride, enter the sedan chair!"
The matchmaker waited, and when the bride still didn't come out, she understood—this was the inevitable tearful farewell scene—so she stepped inside to urge them.
Only then did Zhanchen carry Mo Lixia out and place her into the bridal sedan.
Now Mo Lixia finally understood the saying: "A grown girl enters the sedan for the first time."
This was her first time ever riding one.
The sedan swayed and rocked.
As she listened to the firecrackers and drums along the road, she realized—
A moment ago she was a maiden, and the next moment everyone would call her "Princess Consort."
(Or rather—she was a Princess.)
It still felt strange.
The procession outside stretched long. Mo Lixia had no idea how much dowry her parents had prepared, but judging by the scale, it must be enormous.
When her mother told her about it, she hadn't cared. As long as she had food and clothing, she was fine.
Managing accounts every day sounded exhausting.
Still, Mo Lixia didn't forget to bring everything from her pharmacy—those were her treasures.
The rocking of the sedan felt novel at first. But she had woken before dawn, and soon drowsiness crept in.
With the red veil covering her eyes, everything was dim and blurry. Her eyelids kept drooping.
Her head nodded again and again, making the phoenix crown loosen.
In the end, she couldn't resist and simply closed her eyes for a short nap.
She didn't know how long passed before she heard Yi Junlan's voice.
"Lixia, are you alright?"
Mo Lixia jolted awake. "Ah—yes, I'm fine."
"Good." Yi Junlan's voice softened. "Then come down."
A pale, beautiful hand extended before her.
Mo Lixia suddenly noticed for the first time just how beautiful Yi Junlan's hands were—long, slender fingers, neatly rounded nails with a faint pearly pink sheen.
When his fingertips clasped hers, warmth rose through her palm.
"Come," he said gently. "Let's go."
His voice was clear and elegant—like a thin mint-scented breeze in summer. Even through the red veil, it brushed against her face, cool and light, and somehow slipped straight into her heart.
Yes.
That was the feeling.
From the moment she stepped across the threshold, Mo Lixia had felt something… quiet, almost cold.
It seemed there weren't many guests.
Gu Qing pushed Yi Junlan's wheelchair, Yi Junlan held Mo Lixia's hand, and together they entered the front hall.
Only then did she hear the bustling noise.
She couldn't see under the veil. She only heard the ritual officiant call out that the auspicious hour had arrived.
Yi Junlan and Mo Lixia bowed to Heaven and Earth.
Then she heard the officiant shout loudly:
"The rites are complete—send the couple to the bridal chamber!"
With the veil on, everything felt uncomfortable. She couldn't see anything and grew impatient.
Only when Yi Junlan led her into the room did she finally breathe out in relief.
"Are you tired?" His voice came near her ear.
Then he lifted her veil.
As the veil fell, light flooded her vision. The world opened wide again, and she felt instantly more comfortable.
Before her stood Yi Junlan in bright red wedding robes—so handsome it made her freeze.
For a heartbeat, Yi Junlan also went still, a flash of astonished admiration passing through his normally calm eyes.
Mo Lixia saw it.
For a moment, they simply stared at one another, both awkward, both nervous.
"Cough… you—"
"You…"
They spoke at the same time, then both fell silent again.
"…Are you hungry?" Yi Junlan finally asked.
Mo Lixia pressed her lips together, embarrassed, and nodded.
"Yes. I'm hungry."
Yi Junlan turned his wheelchair with one hand and took her to the table with the other.
"Come. Eat something first. At least fill your stomach a bit."
"I haven't eaten since morning," Mo Lixia complained. "I'm starving."
As soon as she said it, several maids entered with trays of pastries.
Mo Lixia glanced at the table.
There were clearly dishes and soup already there.
Why were they bringing pastries instead of letting her eat the real food?
She had questions, but didn't dare ask. She obediently took a pastry and bit down—
Then immediately spat it into her hand, frowning as she held it out to Yi Junlan.
"It's raw."
Yi Junlan's eyes narrowed with mischievous amusement, the smile sinking deep into his gaze.
He didn't answer.
An elderly nanny who had entered with the maids immediately laughed.
"Raw is good, raw is good!"
Then everyone knelt at once.
"May His Highness and Her Highness have an early son!"
Mo Lixia's face turned scarlet. She lowered her head, not daring to look at Yi Junlan.
"Reward them," she mumbled.
"Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you, Princess Consort!"
"Mm. All of you, leave."
"Yes."
After they left, Yi Junlan squeezed her hand.
"It's a custom," he said gently. "Every bride experiences it. It's for good luck."
Then he ladled her a bowl of soup.
"Drink. This one is cooked."
"Oh."
"You eat first," Yi Junlan said. "I'll go check outside."
"Mm."
As soon as he left, Gu Qing came in.
Mo Lixia's heart muttered: Is Prince Kang's manor not soundproof? How do they appear the moment someone speaks? Where's the privacy?!
"Miss," Gu Qing said, "His Highness has gone."
"Yes, I know," Mo Lixia said, sipping soup.
"Earlier, Xiqiu saw Lady Mu and Miss Yu Fu in the outer hall."
"Eh? They came too?"
"Yes. They said they'll come see Miss in a moment."
"Lixia?"
Speak of the devil—
They arrived.
"Lixia, we came to see you!" Mu Tong and Yu Fu entered, grinning.
"You two—why are you here?"
"We were afraid you'd be lonely," Mu Tong said brightly. "My father and mother went to your manor to drink the wedding wine."
"I came to Prince Kang's manor with my brother."
Mo Lixia understood. In this world, both families hosted banquets—though the bride's side was usually quieter than the groom's.
Her father wasn't from a great clan. He didn't have many relatives. The guests were mostly old friends.
At this moment… her parents must be heartbroken.
A daughter's wedding was always more sorrowful than a son's. It was leaving, not bringing someone in.
Mo Lixia didn't know how many guests Prince Kang's manor had today, but from the ceremony earlier, it didn't seem like many.
"Lixia," Mu Tong whispered, "Brother Junlan doesn't like noise. He only invited a few close brothers and some royal family members."
"You don't even know how glorious Beiye Yinman was today. Prince Su's manor almost couldn't fit the banquet tables. More than half the officials in court went there."
"So what if they have more people?" Mo Lixia said lazily, sipping soup and biting into a chicken leg. "That's just one day of glory."
"Marriage is living day by day. It's about two people, not the crowd."
Mu Tong nodded and poured herself soup.
"True… but it's the same day, and the difference is still huge."
Mo Lixia smiled and put food into Mu Tong's bowl.
"Enough. Today is my wedding. Don't think too much. Eat."
"With you two here, I feel much calmer."
"Oh?" Yu Fu teased. "So even Lixia gets nervous?"
Mo Lixia hesitated.
"…Yeah. A little."
Mu Tong and Yu Fu stared at her like they'd discovered a rare creature.
Mo Lixia rolled her eyes. "Stop staring. The food is getting cold."
Mu Tong waved a hand. "It's fine. I'm dieting."
Yu Fu laughed. "If anyone will be more nervous soon, it'll be Mu Tong when she marries."
Mo Lixia nodded, fully agreeing.
Mu Tong blushed and pouted. "Fine, fine. Stop laughing at me."
Then Yu Fu lowered her voice conspiratorially.
"Honestly, that Beiye girl might not have it easy. I heard Prince Su also took Miss Yin from the Yin household."
"Those two 'good sisters' marrying the same man—do you think Prince Su's inner court will be peaceful?"
"Doesn't Miss Yin enter the manor a month later?" Mu Tong added. "Prince Su already has concubines too. Beiye Yinman probably has plenty of suffering ahead."
Mo Lixia tapped Yu Fu's shoulder.
"Don't worry too much. You'll have a better match."
Yu Fu sighed. "I hope so. My parents are already looking for someone."
"I don't know what kind of family it'll be in the end."
Mu Tong's eyes suddenly brightened, turning mischievous.
"Speaking of matches… Yu Fu, what do you think of my brother?"
Yu Fu's heart slammed so hard it felt like blood rushed straight to her face.
"Y-your… brother?" she stammered, forcing her breath steady.
Then she lowered her head, stubborn.
"…No. Forget it."
But inside her chest, a voice kept repeating—
Liu Jing is good. Liu Jing is good…
Mu Tong leaned closer, delighted.
"Yu Fu, I'm telling you—my brother may look flamboyant, but he's loyal."
"He doesn't even have a chamber maid in his courtyard."
"He's still a virgin."
Mo Lixia nearly choked.
"Pfft—cough cough!"
She stared at Mu Tong in awe.
This ancient girl truly had no shame filter. She could say anything!
Yu Fu's face went bright red. "Mu Tong! How can you say such things?!"
Mu Tong waved it off confidently.
"What's wrong with it? I'm matchmaking. Of course I have to be clear."
"Look—my brother is handsome, from a great clan, and he doesn't go around flirting."
"Where else can you find a noble young master like that?"
"If you agree, stop being shy. We're sisters—what's there to be shy about?"
"I'm keeping the best water in the family, not letting it flow to outsiders."
"If my parents arrange a marriage for him with some other noble lady, you'll regret it!"
Yu Fu twisted her fingers, stubborn and flustered, putting on a "saving face" front.
"Still… no."
Mo Lixia chuckled softly.
"Mu Tong, maybe you can ask your brother's opinion more… subtly."
Mu Tong nodded thoughtfully.
"True. I'll ask him when I get the chance."
Yu Fu panicked.
"Don't! Don't ask! Please don't ask!"