The moon was bright and the stars sparse, and most of the guests at Prince Zhen Nan’s Mansion had already dispersed.

Chen Mo, unlike usual, did not linger in battle, and since it was Wu Xin’Er’s first night, he only tasted briefly and then left her bridal chamber in less than half an hour, heading towards Xiao Qing’Er’s bridal chamber.

If he didn’t hurry, it wouldn’t be finished by dawn.

Inside the room, with the help of a maid, Xiao Qing’Er took off her wedding dress and took out the phoenix coronet and red robe gifted by the Empress Dowager, putting it on.

The phoenix coronet and red robe were very large, perfectly covering Xiao Qing’Er’s slender frame. Her tall figure and breathtaking beauty unexpectedly highlighted the elegance of an empress.

Afterwards, she dismissed the maid, sat on the wedding bed, covered with a red veil, quietly waiting for her husband’s arrival.

At the same time, she secretly calculated in her mind, wondering which order she would be.

First would undoubtedly be Wu Xin’Er, that was without question.

Second, perhaps Prince De Ning.

Third, would be herself.

She calculated the time, estimating that if she were third, with Chen Mo’s stamina, it would probably take...

"Creak..." Just then, the door opened and footsteps approached, followed by the door closing again.

These footsteps, Xiao Qing’Er was quite familiar with, it was Chen Mo.

"So soon..." Xiao Qing’Er sat up slightly straighter, wondering if he was tired today, so...

Yet, despite this, she still did not speak.

Her personality was cold and she spoke little, even if curious, she wouldn’t ask proactively.

Seeing Xiao Qing’Er’s outfit, Chen Mo for a moment thought he had entered the wrong bridal chamber, but after lifting the red veil gently and confirming it was Xiao Qing’Er, he breathed a sigh of relief, saying:

"Qing’Er, how do you have a phoenix coronet and red robe? Isn’t this the standard for an empress?"

Hearing this, Xiao Qing’Er originally wanted to reply indifferently, but remembered she was now Chen Mo’s lawful wife, married and would be living together, she couldn’t be like that anymore, so she replied in a softer voice:

"It was given to me by the Empress Dowager. She said I shouldn’t lose face in front of your other women."

Saying this, Xiao Qing’Er took out a small booklet from under the pillow and handed it to Chen Mo.

"This was given to me by the Empress Dowager, it’s the method to activate the Heaven-Burning Furnace, one of the dowries she gave me," Xiao Qing’Er said truthfully.

Seeing the small booklet handed by Xiao Qing’Er, Chen Mo was momentarily stunned, and looking at her, she seemed to have turned into Xiao Yunxi: "Yunxi..."

Chen Mo raised his hand, wanting to touch "Xiao Yunxi’s" face, but soon realized something was wrong, shaking his head lightly, he accepted the booklet from Xiao Qing’Er and set it aside casually, saying:

"Forget about this for now, tonight is our wedding night, come, let’s toast to each other."

Xiao Qing’Er nodded, feeling a warm current flow through her heart.

Knowing Xiao Qing’Er’s indifferent nature, Chen Mo didn’t tease her, adhering to the customary wedding night rituals.

"My dear, it’s time to call me husband." Seeing Xiao Qing’Er still staring blankly at him, Chen Mo removed the phoenix coronet from her head, kissed her forehead lightly, and said with a smile.

Xiao Qing’Er was slightly taken aback, then blushed, and belatedly called out "Husband."

"My dear."

"Husband."

"My dear."

"Husband."

"..."

"My dear, it’s time to rest." Chen Mo coughed lightly.

Xiao Qing’Er: "Oh oh."

Chen Mo: "..."

"Never mind, I’ll do it myself." Chen Mo gently pushed Xiao Qing’Er’s shoulder, laying her on the bed, and then bent down to personally remove her embroidered shoes.

Xiao Qing’Er remained motionless, letting Chen Mo proceed, but her hands moved to a new position, nervously placed in front of her.

But then she realized something was wrong, Chen Mo hadn’t removed her phoenix robe, instead folding its hem upwards, revealing her long and snowy legs without any cover.

Her tall stature, due to years of martial training, had firm and toned legs with an elastic contour, smooth lines, and two naturally delicate jade feet which added the final touch.

Finally, Xiao Qing’Er couldn’t hold back and asked, "Aren’t we... taking off the clothes?"

"No, you look stunning in this phoenix robe."

"But how can we make love with clothes on?"

"Come, let me teach you..."

...

In the Imperial City, Weiyang Palace.

Above the bedchamber, Xiao Yunxi was dressed in a bright red long dress, holding a small wine jug, sitting sideways by the roof ridge. Above her was a vast sea of stars, yet she had no time to admire them, gazing instead in the direction of Prince Zhen Nan’s Mansion.

However, the vastness of the Imperial City and the height of the city walls locked her inside, destined to see nothing.

Meeting the right person in the wrong identity.

The excitement at Prince Zhen Nan’s Mansion today had ultimately nothing to do with her.

This pain, which could not be revealed openly, she could only silently endure.

She took a sip of wine; perhaps it was already pretty good this way, having everything, what more could she ask for? For more would be too greedy...

She raised her hand, gestured, plucked a leaf from the tree below, brought it to her lips and gently blew a melody she learned before entering the palace.

"Whoo..."

A melodious and serene tune slowly drifted into the distance.

And like Xiao Yunxi, who shared the same melancholy, was Zhao Qianyi at the Princess’s Mansion.

Tonight, with Prince Zhen Nan’s grand wedding so lively, she had even gone to the street herself, witnessing Chen Mo’s bridal sedan and the people’s congratulations, making Zhao Qianyi immensely envious of the bride in that sedan.

Yet all of this was too far away from her.

Perhaps twelve years ago, when she left the Imperial Palace to go to Tiger Prison Pass, everything of today was already irrelevant to her.

Tonight, she prepared lots of wine, not resisting with True Qi, wanting to drink to her heart’s content, using alcohol to numb herself.

...

After leaving Xiao Qing’Er’s bridal chamber, Chen Mo proceeded to Zhao Jiangning’s room.

Zhao Jiangning had a surprise for him,

He approached the door, opened it, only to find it empty inside. Just as he was about to use Ancient Heavy Pupils to search, Zhao Jiangning, who was hiding behind the door, placed a red cloth over his head.

Chen Mo could have avoided it, but he did not.

The red cloth was Zhao Jiangning’s red veil.

Chen Mo lifted her up, pressing her against the door: "What trick are you trying to play?"

"You’ve bullied me before, now on my wedding day, could you indulge me a little and let me bully you?" Zhao Jiangning said.

"How do you want to bully?" Chen Mo was taken aback.

"You put on my wedding dress, let me lift your veil."

"No way." Chen Mo immediately shook his head, saying: "Cross-dressing is impossible, not in this lifetime." 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"Ah, just once, won’t you, dear... husband..." Zhao Jiangning cajoled.

"No, no, it’s a matter of principle."

"If you agree, afterwards, let me do as I please, alright?" Zhao Jiangning pondered and said.