Volume One, Chapter Nine: Wedding Chamber Blossoms?

The grandeur of the wedding far exceeded everyone’s expectations. From the Xiao Mansion to the Eastern Palace, the path was adorned in red, with drums and music ringing out in unison. By the time they completed the rites to heaven and earth and were led into the bridal chamber, the moon was high in the sky.

In the main hall of the Eastern Palace, a grand banquet was laid out. Civil and military officials, imperial relatives, and nobles filled the room. As the groom, Li Xuan naturally became the center of attention.

Holding a cup of wine, he moved gracefully among the guests, smiling and chatting, handling every situation with ease. Whether it was the cunning ministers of the court or scheming brothers, he managed every encounter flawlessly.

The Second Prince, Li Zhan, approached with a glass in hand, his face wearing a false smile. “Sixth Brother, congratulations! Today you truly stole the spotlight. Even Father praised how well you handled yourself. Come, let me toast you and your new sister-in-law—may your union last a hundred years!”

“Thank you, Second Brother.” Li Xuan clinked cups with him and drained his drink, smiling. “Speaking of which, that Master Zhang from Zhuque Street today is quite the character. You’ve always been close with the scholars of the National Academy; do you know him? One day, I must learn from him what it means to ‘speak up for the common people.’”

Li Zhan’s smile stiffened. Li Xuan’s words were clearly a jab.

“Heh… haha, Sixth Brother, you jest. There are tens of thousands of scholars in the capital; how could I possibly know them all?” He forced a laugh and stepped back, clearly unsettled.

Li Xuan watched him retreat with no flicker of emotion. This level of confrontation was but an appetizer to him.

After several rounds of wine, the feast began to wane. Supported by a eunuch, Li Xuan feigned drunkenness as he staggered toward the bridal chamber.

Opening the door, a faint, delicate fragrance greeted him.

Inside the spacious bridal room, red candles burned brightly, crimson curtains hung low, casting a warm red glow throughout.

Xiao Ningshuang sat upright at the edge of the bed, still adorned in her phoenix crown and ceremonial robes. She resembled a finely carved jade statue—beautiful yet utterly lifeless. At the sound of the door, her body stiffened perceptibly.

Li Xuan waved the palace maids and eunuchs away, personally closing the door behind them.

With a soft creak, the bolt slid into place, sealing off the outside world.

Only the two of them remained in the room, so silent they could hear each other’s breathing and heartbeat.

Li Xuan did not approach the bedside but instead sat at a table a few steps away, pouring two cups of the nuptial wine. He knew Xiao Ningshuang must be tense and guarded at this moment; pressing too hard would only backfire.

“You must be tired after the day. Have a drink.” He pushed one cup toward her, his tone even, betraying no emotion.

Xiao Ningshuang did not move but regarded him coldly. “Your Highness, what do you mean? Have you forgotten the agreement between us?”

Her voice trembled slightly, revealing the turmoil beneath her calm exterior. Beneath her wedding dress, her hand gripped a golden hairpin tightly—her means of defense.

“Of course not.” Li Xuan raised his cup and drank it dry, then inverted the empty cup. “Nominally married, mutually uninvolved. I remember that very well.”

He looked at her with sincere, clear eyes. “I know you hate me and why. Though the ‘Li Xuan’ who committed those beastly acts is dead, the one inhabiting his body now is me. I accept that debt.”

Confusion flickered in Xiao Ningshuang’s beautiful eyes. What was he saying? That the ‘Li Xuan’ was dead? What madness was this?

“I won’t touch you,” Li Xuan continued, as if seeing through her thoughts. “Not tonight, and not ever again unless you want me to. I am not so desperate as to prove myself by forcing a woman.”

His words deflated all the fierce resistance she had prepared like hitting a cotton ball—there was no point of leverage. She stared at him blankly, momentarily at a loss for how to respond.

Li Xuan rose and paced slowly to the window, opening it. The night breeze blew in, stirring his hair and dispersing the charged atmosphere in the room.

“Xiao Ningshuang, let’s talk about a deal,” he said, back turned to her, his voice drifting on the wind.

“A deal?”

“Yes, a deal. Or rather, a covenant.” He turned to face her, eyes blazing. “We are now husband and wife; what benefits one benefits the other, and what harms one harms the other. My enemies are yours. If I fall, the Xiao family will not fare well. General Xiao understands this better than you do.”

Xiao Ningshuang fell silent, unable to argue. This was precisely why she was forced to marry him.

“So, I need your help.” His tone grew serious. “I need the Xiao family’s influence in the military, your support as the Crown Princess to stabilize my rear, and, when necessary, for you to be the bridge between me and the court officials. I want a true ally, not a resentful wife filled with hatred.”

He stepped closer, stopping before her, lowering his gaze.

“As for the return,” his voice deep and enticing, “I will give you and the entire Xiao family everything you desire—power, glory, and a secure position to ensure your family’s prosperity for generations. I will make you the most honored woman in the world, and your father a pillar of the nation, second only to the emperor himself. Will you accept this deal?”

Xiao Ningshuang suddenly lifted her head to meet his gaze.

What eyes those were—profound, calm, brimming with indisputable confidence and the ambition to dominate all.

In his eyes, she saw no trace of passion, only naked politics and bargaining chips.

At that moment, she understood.

This man before her cared nothing for love or desire. What he sought was the empire itself, and she and her family were merely essential stepping stones on his path to power.

This purely utilitarian, emotionless exploitation strangely eased the tension that had gripped her heart for so long.

What she feared was the libertine who would force himself upon her. This cold, formidable politician, though intimidating, gave her a strange sense of security.

At least, he kept his promises.

After a long pause, she nodded slowly, her voice hoarse. “Very well.”

One word, yet it carried the weight of a thousand pounds.

“Excellent.” Li Xuan smiled with satisfaction. He reached out—not to touch her, but to gently lift the cup of their shared nuptial wine.

“Then, ally,” he raised his glass and saluted her from afar, “to our future cooperation—cheers.”

With that, he drained the cup.

Having done so, he moved to a corner of the room, picked up a silken quilt, and went straight to the soft couch meant for servants’ rest.

“Rest early. The phoenix crown is heavy.” He spread the quilt over the couch, dressed lightly, and lay down, turning his back to her. “Good night, Crown Princess.”

The red candles in the bridal chamber still burned, crackling softly.

Xiao Ningshuang sat at the edge of the bed, staring at the figure lying not far away, motionless.

The golden hairpin in her hand had slipped to the floor without her noticing.

Her life, her marriage, on this absurd wedding night, began in a way she had never imagined.

She did not know what the future held, but she knew that from this night on, her fate was irrevocably bound to that man lying on the couch—the ambitious Crown Prince.

Was this fortune or misfortune?

She had no answer.