The laughter from the outer courtyard had yet to dissipate, but the backyard had quieted down. The idle maids and guards had returned to their rooms, leaving the night to the bride of these few days.

Sitting in the bridal chamber of the back residence, Wu Xin’Er was elegant and proper, a red veil covering her head, and she had not moved in quite a while.

Her hands twisted nervously at her waist, straining to listen to the surroundings, her heart filled with a nameless anxiety and nervousness.

She actually didn’t have much affection for Chen Mo, but Chen Mo’s repeated rejections made her resent him a little. She was a pure and innocent maiden, the legitimate daughter of the Wu Family, yet he despised her like this.

However, alongside the resentment, she also had a fondness for Chen Mo. Handsome, close in age to her, powerful, and standing at the pinnacle of the Great Song Dynasty—what girl wouldn’t have such dreams about such a man?

So, under Wu Lu’s repeated matchmaking, Wu Xin’Er eventually agreed.

Ever since the marriage was decided, Wu Xin’Er had imagined the scenes with Chen Mo on the wedding night countless times in her mind, yet having never experienced these things, she didn’t know how to face them.

After all, what she knew about matters between men and women came from books or what others had told her. It was theoretical knowledge, but theory is, after all, just theory; it needs to be put into practice.

About to transition from girl to woman, how could her heart not have any tension at all?

When he comes, should she be reserved and shy, or should she be proactive and get straight to the point?

Didn’t Mama Tian say that men like their women to be gentle like noble ladies in public, but in bed...

But truly doing it according to what Mama Tian said, wouldn’t it seem too wanton? What if he misunderstands?

Thinking of this, Wu Xin’Er took out the little booklet that Mama Tian had given her for another look.

Whether reserved or wanton, it wouldn’t hurt to learn more about the "knowledge" here. If he thinks the experience is poor and she loses his favor later, wouldn’t that be even worse?

But after just flipping two pages, Wu Xin’Er’s face turned red as a beet, burning fiercely. The illustrations were too embarrassing for someone like her, who had yet to experience such things.

And these names, the ancient tree...

While Wu Xin’Er was engrossed in her observation, a soft creak suddenly came from the door.

"?"

Wu Xin’Er shivered all over, quickly grabbing the red veil to cover her head, but then remembered the booklet and hurriedly hid it behind her.

"You... you came?"

Wu Xin’Er’s body felt a bit stiff, and she quickly straightened up to not let Chen Mo notice anything unusual.

"What are you hiding?"

Chen Mo closed the door and walked over curiously.

"N-nothing..." Wu Xin’Er’s cheeks under the veil were as red as if they were about to bleed. As she was thinking up an excuse, the booklet hidden behind her back was suddenly pulled away, followed by Chen Mo’s surprised exclamation.

Wu Xin’Er was so embarrassed she wished for a hole to hide in, hurriedly explaining, "I... I don’t know how this ended up in the room, so I... just picked it up out of curiosity. I... I swear, I didn’t mean to look..."

Chen Mo casually flipped through it, then tossed it aside with a playful smirk, "How about we try everything in here tonight?"

"Ah... ah..." Wu Xin’Er was so startled she lifted her head, the red veil slipping down, her mouth agape, and then she quickly pulled the veil back on, saying, "But... but I still... don’t know how."

"You can learn."

"But... but I..."

Though Wu Xin’Er was a smart and independent woman, she was almost in tears over this matter.

Chen Mo slowly lifted her veil, revealing first her dewy lips and high nose bridge, a pair of clearly transformed peach blossom eyes, shy and delicate, concealing the usual coolness and a touch of youthful inexperience. In the dim candlelight, they exuded the mesmerizing aura only a mature woman could have.

Chen Mo stared intently, making clicking sounds, "Three days apart indeed!"

"Hmm?" Wu Xin’Er was puzzled.

"Making me see you in a new light." Chen Mo set down the veil, lifted her chin with a smile, saying, "Call me husband, my lady."

"Ah... oh..."

Wu Xin’Er remembered the procedure, composed herself, glanced at Chen Mo’s exceptionally handsome face, and, blushing slightly, sincerely said, "Husband."

Chen Mo nodded in satisfaction, then reached towards her waist. As the waist tie was about to be undone, Wu Xin’Er hastily stopped him, "Husband, we haven’t drank the nuptial wine yet, let’s follow the procedure."

Chen Mo was only teasing, nodding, then turning to fetch two cups of nuptial wine from the nearby table, handing one to Wu Xin’Er, then sitting beside her, wrapping an arm around her slender waist.

"Don’t be so tense, I won’t eat you." Sensing Wu Xin’Er’s slight trembling, Chen Mo chuckled softly.

Wu Xin’Er silently cheered herself, raised her hand, passed it through Chen Mo’s arm, and drank the nuptial wine.

But before she could swallow, her lips were sealed with a kiss, leaving her breathless.

"Clink..." The wine cups slipped from their hands, falling to the floor.

Kissing, Wu Xin’Er followed his lead, falling onto the bed, her hands grasped and raised above her head by Chen Mo.

"Is it... is it happening?" Wu Xin’Er trembled, softly saying, "Husband... I’m a little scared."

Slightly timid.

But at this moment, Chen Mo suddenly moved off her, lying beside her, laughing, "I’m a bit tired, why don’t you take over, my lady..."

"Ah..." Wu Xin’Er’s eyes widened in surprise.

"You’re so clever, my lady, understanding Martial Arts Classics just by reading them. Surely the Spring Palace Album won’t stump you either."

"How... how can it be the same?" Wu Xin’Er felt a bit at a loss.

But seeing Chen Mo lounging there like a master, cheerfully watching her, Wu Xin’Er had no choice but to grit her teeth. Just as she was about to climb onto Chen Mo, he stopped her, "Alright, alright, just teasing you. Let me do it."

Chen Mo flipped over, pressing Wu Xin’Er beneath him, capturing her crimson lips.

His hands expertly undid Wu Xin’Er’s clothes and his own garments.

Just as they were about to reach the final moment, Wu Xin’Er pushed against Chen Mo’s chest, "Husband, wait..."

"What’s wrong?" Chen Mo was puzzled.

Wu Xin’Er discreetly retrieved a piece of white silk from somewhere, placing it beneath her, then wrapped her arms around Chen Mo’s neck, softly saying, "Husband, please be gentle!"