“Husband... it’s... it’s time to blow out the candles...”

Qin Siyao lowered her head shyly.

Looking at Qin Siyao like this, Xiao Mo could not help a trace of guilt rising in his heart.

If this were an ordinary wedding, if he were not an emperor—even if he were only marrying one person in this wedding—Xiao Mo felt the situation would be far better than it was now.

But at this moment, Xiao Mo felt that he truly was not human.

On the other side, seeing Xiao Mo’s somewhat guilty expression, Qin Siyao seemed to understand something. Her eyes blinked lightly, and she smiled as she spoke.

“Could it be that Your Majesty Brother is not going to stay the night here with this consort today, but is going to go to Sister Ruxue’s place?”

Xiao Mo, having had his thoughts guessed, lifted his head and looked at Qin Siyao. He did not conceal it and spoke frankly.

“By rite and law, Mujiu, both your red veil and Ruxue’s red veil must be lifted tonight.

“But you and Ruxue are both ‘noble consorts,’ with the same status.

“If I lift your red veil first and then lift Ruxue’s red veil, then tonight I must stay in the Hall of Congealed Snow.

“Mujiu, I’m sorry. I’m afraid I can only come to keep you company tomorrow.”

Xiao Mo stood up and clasped his hands in apology, his tone sincere.

“Your Majesty Brother, there is no need for this.”

Qin Siyao also hurriedly stood and helped Xiao Mo up, her eyes seeming full of sincere consideration for him.

“In truth, this consort is not unable to understand Your Majesty Brother.

“Right now the Yan clan controls Great Zhou’s court. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

“If Your Majesty Brother stays the night here with Mujiu, the Yan clan will likely harbor resentment.

“When that happens, the situation will certainly be unfavorable to Your Majesty Brother.

“Since that is so, how could little sister be so unreasonable?”

“Mujiu...”

Hearing Qin Mujiu’s understanding words, Xiao Mo did not know what to say for a moment.

In truth, even if Qin Mujiu were angry, Xiao Mo could understand.

But Xiao Mo had not expected Mujiu to be so sensible.

Instead, it only made the guilt in Xiao Mo’s heart grow heavier, and made him want even more to compensate her properly in the future.

And Sili, eavesdropping outside the door, was also somewhat taken aback.

She also thought this Qin eldest princess would be furious.

After all, she was not someone without status.

This eldest princess had been pampered and cherished since childhood.

And yet on her wedding night, after her husband lifted her red veil, he was going to leave...

Sili felt that even if it were her, she would still have some temper toward her master.

But in the end, not only was this eldest princess not angry, she was considering her master at every turn...

“However, could Your Majesty Brother tell Mujiu—was it because of the Yan clan, or was it that Your Majesty Brother truly wanted to go to Sister Ruxue’s place, so that is why you intend to stay the night there?”

Qin Siyao asked softly.

“Mujiu has no other meaning. Mujiu only wants to know what Your Majesty is thinking. No matter how Your Majesty answers, Mujiu will not throw a childish tantrum.”

Xiao Mo shook his head.

“It isn’t because of the Yan clan’s power. This was a decision I made by tossing a jade pendant. This method truly is improper, but it is the fairest.”

“So it turns out Sister Ruxue’s luck is better than Mujiu’s.”

Qin Siyao’s eyes curved, as if relieved.

“In that case, there is nothing more to say. As long as Mujiu knows that Your Majesty Brother’s heart holds Mujiu, that is enough.”

Xiao Mo let out a soft sigh and met her eyes.

“Mujiu, in the future, I will make it up to you properly.”

“Mhm.”

Qin Mujiu answered lightly and smiled.

“That’s what Your Majesty said. Mujiu will be waiting for Your Majesty...”

“Don’t worry. I will do what I say.”

Xiao Mo promised her solemnly.

In the end, Xiao Mo said a few more words to Qin Siyao, telling her to rest well first, and then he left Qin Siyao’s room.

Qin Siyao stood at the doorway, watching Xiao Mo’s figure walk farther and farther away, until he left her Hall of Holding Wine, until he vanished into the night.

“Husband...”

Qin Siyao looked in the direction Xiao Mo left, her hands resting before her, the corners of her lips lifting slightly.

“Siyao isn’t as magnanimous as husband thinks...”

“Siyao can yield anything, but only my husband—Siyao cannot yield him.”

...

After leaving Qin Siyao’s sleeping palace, not long after, Xiao Mo arrived at the Hall of Congealed Snow.

Compared to just now, when he had gone to the Hall of Holding Wine, Xiao Mo’s heart was even more nervous.

For no other reason than this.

To Xiao Mo, he was more familiar with Qin Mujiu. After all, they had met quite a few times before, and both sides had a certain understanding.

But as for this “number one talented woman of Great Zhou,” Xiao Mo had never seen her. At most, he had only heard her reputation, knowing that in the qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and in poetry and song, she was proficient in everything.

Most crucially, because of Empress Dowager Yan and Yan Shanao, Xiao Mo’s impression of the entire Yan clan was not very good.

So along with that, Xiao Mo’s impression of Yan Ruxue was not very good either.

Even if Xiao Mo knew Yan Ruxue was also a pitiful person.

Knowing she was nothing more than a sacrifice of her family.

Still, that Yan clan identity truly made it impossible for Xiao Mo to feel at ease.

Arriving at the main doorway of the Hall of Congealed Snow, Xiao Mo gathered his thoughts. After having Sili stand guard at the door, he pushed the door open and walked into the sleeping chamber.

Just like Qin Siyao, Yan Ruxue ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ sat on the red wedding bed, her legs together, her skirt hem pressed close against her well-proportioned, long legs.

Even though the red wedding finery was relatively loose, when it was worn on Yan Ruxue’s body, the high rise and fall at her chest was extremely exaggerated.

In Xiao Mo’s view, even if Si Li saw it, she would probably have to yield a point.

Xiao Mo walked forward, picked up the jade scale, and lightly lifted the woman’s red veil.

When Yan Ruxue’s beauty—enough to exhaust all the world—was displayed before Xiao Mo’s eyes.

When the red candles reflected a thousand colors upon her.

When her eyes lifted slightly, and she looked toward Xiao Mo with gentle warmth.

Xiao Mo also stood there, staring at her in a daze.

Compared to Qin Siyao’s slightly playful and pure look, the Yan clan’s young lady had more mature steadiness and a dignified, gentle elegance.

As though you could entrust every matter to her to handle.

As though she could put everything in order for you, and you would not need to worry about anything.

Of course.

What made Xiao Mo lose himself was not only Yan Ruxue’s beauty.

It was because he had seen the woman before him!

“Miss?”

Xiao Mo looked at her in shock.

No matter what, he had never expected it.

This talented woman of the Yan clan was actually the woman from back then in the palace, the one he had picked a kite down for.

Also the proper young lady who, while boating on the lake, had drunk tea and spoken with him.

And the one who, at the New Year, had accompanied him to the Hundred Lantern Temple and hung up a New Year wish together.

Yan Ruxue’s thin lips held a smile. Her beautiful peach-blossom eyes hooked into a faint curve, the cat-tail corners of her eyes bending gently. Though charming, she was not the slightest bit gaudy. Instead, she gave a clean, light feeling, like a spring breeze passing over a lake and raising faint ripples.

“Young master, we meet again.”