The clear and cold moonlight enveloped the entire room, the lightning inside uneven. The room was simple in its arrangement, devoid of any festive atmosphere.
The young maiden, dressed in elaborate wedding attire, with bright and clear eyes, gazed at the folding screen. Her eyes revealed a struggle and hesitation.
After a moment, she tightly gripped the wedding fan and finally mustered the courage to lift her skirt, standing up cautiously and stepping forward.
The room was unusually quiet, making it impossible to determine if there was another person present.
The landscape screen was right in front of her, and Lin Xingxue took a deep breath, then finally crossed over. She moved the wedding fan aside and lifted her eyes to see a blue bed canopy enveloping a bed with a frame made of yellow sandalwood.
A gentle breeze lifted a corner of the canopy, but then quickly returned to stillness.
The maid accompanying her on the journey explained that Jinning Hou had recently fallen ill due to a chill, and he couldn’t personally go to welcome the bride.
Shen Hanxing’s health was poor, spending most of the past two to three years in a state of heavy sleep. When he was awake, there would often be deaths in the residence.
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She hastily took two steps back, feeling frustrated in her heart.
In theory, on the wedding night, the husband should personally take the fan from the bride’s hand. However, Shen Hanxing was still in a deep slumber, making it impossible to perform this customary act.
But this was not her shameless excuse for sneaking in to peek at her husband.
Lin Xingxue lifted the hem of her skirt, hunched her body, and tiptoed as quietly as possible, attempting to sneak back like she did just now.
She walked to the screen, about to step across it, tension in her heart was also relieved to some extent.
Suddenly, the bed curtain behind her gently stirred, and a figure slowly cast its shadow on the curtain.
The person rose slowly, but it was still accompanied by some faint rustling sounds. Lin Xingxue’s foot, about to step forward, instantly halted in place, her spine stiffening.
“Come here,” the person inside spoke, their voice hoarse, revealing no discernible emotion.
Lin Xingxue’s heart tightened, her fingertips clutching the wedding fan turning white. She turned around slowly but hesitated to approach.
Why did he suddenly wake up? Could it be that she had disturbed him by lifting the curtain just now?
She stood there motionless, and the person inside slightly furrowed their brows, lazily leaning against the head of the bed, and uttered, “Water.”
A simple word, but Lin Xingxue could sense a hint of impatience.
She walked briskly to the round table, placed the wedding fan down, and touched the teapot.
The teapot was cool to the touch, and the poured tea showed no trace of steam.
In the cold of winter, the water had chilled quickly, and this tea was already cold, making it difficult to take a sip.
She wanted to go out and take a look, maybe there was hot tea outside.
But as soon as she turned around, the person’s tone turned unfriendly: “What are you dawdling for? Bring it over.”
Now, the impatience was truly evident.
Lin Xingxue felt helpless and had to approach with the cold tea in hand.
As she hesitated whether to lift the bed curtain, a slender and fair hand reached out, directly taking the tea cup from her.
As their fingertips touched, Lin Xingxue’s slightly cold fingertips felt the warmth of the touch.
The person inside drank it all in one gulp, disregarding the coldness of the tea, and handed the cup back, “Pour again.”
He drank two cups of tea, and finally felt much more relieved from his previously dry throat.
Looking outside, he noticed the serving maid’s gaze penetrating through the bed curtains, seemingly staring at him.
His eyes turned cold, playing with the edge of the teacup, showing a hint of impatience.
Lady Tao1 Lady Tao should be the lady who he was betrothed to originally, who then fainted and refused to marry him was truly bold, daring to sneak someone in while he was asleep.
Lin Xingxue, not sensing any movement from Shen Hanxing for a long time, thought for a moment, gathered the bed curtains, and prepared to hang them on the silver hook on the side of the bed frame.
As she pulled the bed curtains halfway, the candlelight illuminated the dim bed.
Gradually, Lin Xueyue saw the half-reclining Shen Hanxing. First, his hands with distinct knuckles, flipping the teacup. The teacup was deep brown, forming a sharp contrast with his fair hands.
Then, his partially open robe revealed a slender chest, followed by a smoothly curved jawline, lightly colored thin lips, a straight nose, and finally, a pair of deep ink-colored phoenix eyes gazing at her with a profound look.
His gaze was cold and icy, as if filled with the accumulation of a thousand years of ice and snow, sending shivers down the spine.
Lin Xingxue’s hands trembled, and at that moment, a deliberately softened footstep sounded outside, followed by the astonished voice of a little maid, “General, how are you awake!”
Startled by the maid’s voice, Lin Xingxue’s hands loosened, and the bed curtain that had just been pulled back fell again, covering those cold and stern eyes.
Lin Xingxue quickly picked up the fan on the table, and awkwardly retreated behind the folding screen, not daring to sit on the couch again. She stood quietly in the side room, waiting for the person inside to get up.
Luo Xhi looked at the newlywed bride running out and was a bit confused. While pulling back the bed curtains, she sneakily glanced at Shen Hanxing’s expression.
With just one glance, she quickly lowered her head, swiftly took out a set of clothes and brought them over. Then, she pushed the wheelchair to the bedside.
In her heart, she thought, “Oh no, oh no. The general is angry as soon as he wakes up. Is he going to vent his anger on the new bride later?”
The new bride can’t even speak; if she’s mistreated by the general, won’t she be unable to even plead for mercy?
She pondered while not forgetting to ring the bell at the bedside.
The crisp sound of the bell echoed outside, pulling the other end of the string.
Soon, hurried footsteps were heard outside the room.
A seventeen or eighteen-year-old young man rushed into the room, pushing the door open, letting the frigid wind from outside blow in.
The cold air rushed into the side room, and Lin Xingxue shivered involuntarily.
This room was excessively cold, and the invading chill seemed to want to occupy every corner.
Lin Xingxue silently shifted a bit, trying her best to hide from the wind.
The young man glanced at the new bride, the wedding fan in her hand covering her face. She stood quietly there, in this solemn room, appearing unexpectedly abrupt, like a sudden burst of bright color.
Luo Yan did not dare to continue to look, suppressing the thoughts in his mind, he hurriedly entered the inner room. Seeing Shen Hanxing sitting in a wheelchair, he first paused, then reacted and looked at Luo Zhi, instructing, “Go, prepare hot tea, and tell the nanny that the general has awakened.”
In less than half a moment after Luo Zhi went out, the entire East Courtyard came alive from its original silence. The lights in the kitchen were lit, servants were busy outside, and no one dared to glance at the main house.
Luo Yan continued to light candles, brightening the entire main room.
Returning to Shen Hanxing’s side, he whispered, “General, why did you wake up at this time? Doctor Qi said it would take ten days.”
It was only the sixth day, and he thought the general wouldn’t wake up, so nothing was prepared inside the room.
As for the new bride, the general had instructed before falling asleep not to add anything to his room, and no one dared to defy his orders.
Shen Hanxing leaned back in his chair, lightly opening his thin lips, “The mansion is so lively; of course, I have to get up and take a look.”
This statement carried a hidden meaning.
Lin Xingxue silently took a step back, feeling increasingly uneasy in her heart.
The sound of a wheelchair rolling over the ground approached gradually and then stopped not far away. A lazy voice sounded, “Why hide? Hasn’t it been seen already?”
As Lin Xingxue saw Shen Hanxing, he also took in her appearance.
He saw the fiery red wedding gown, and without much thought, he knew what day it was today.
His destined marriage, ha…
Thinking of the cold gaze she had just glimpsed, Lin Xingxue took a deep breath before moving the wedding fan away.
The light from the side candles made the room as bright as daylight, clearly revealing the girl’s face.
A splendid phoenix crown gathered all of her inky hair, exposing the beautiful face adorned with fiery red makeup.
The finely curved eyebrows outlined with indigo pigment, a small and straight nose bridge, crimson lipstick applied on vermilion lips complementing the jade-like complexion that glowed like moist porcelain.
Graceful like a fairy, with a jade-like complexion, and outstanding in beauty.
A hint of curiosity flashed in Shen Hanxing’s eyes as he lazily observed the girl, his left hand supporting his chin.
The girl’s wrist, holding a wedding fan, appeared delicate, as if it might break with a slight touch. She kept her head lowered, avoiding his gaze.
A faint smile played on Shen Hanxing’s lips as he remarked, “Just now, you dared to lift my curtain while I was asleep. Now you seem to be too shy to look at me?”
He still remembered the girl’s eyes, gazing directly at him without a trace of concealment.
In response to his words, Lin Xingxue blushed slightly, cautiously lifting her eyes to meet Shen Hanxing’s gaze.
He had changed into a black silk robe, with a fur blanket draped over his knees, covering his legs securely. His face carried a smile that seemed both genuine and insincere, and his gaze appeared softer than before, yet an icy chill lingered in the depths of his eyes.
Lin Xingxue slowly approached, walking up to him and squatting down. Shen Hanxing’s gaze followed suit on her.
More precisely, it landed on her fragile and fair neck.
Lin Xingxue took a deep breath, calming the nervousness in her heart. She tentatively reached out, grabbing his right hand and gently opening his palm.
Luo Yan watched her movements and inwardly sensed trouble.
He didn’t want to intervene. Shen Hanxing remained silent, watching her every move without any reaction.
Lin Xingxue’s heart rate slightly increased. She held onto his right hand, and with slightly cool fingertips, she wrote two characters in the palm of his hand.
As the girl’s fingertips moved, a subtle itch spread in the palm of his hand. Shen Hanxing’s eyes gradually chilled, and his left hand, which was supporting his chin, slowly fell. He gazed at the girl’s neck, like a wolf peeking at its prey in the dark depths of night.
With the final stroke, the girl looked up at him. Her clear and bright eyes met his, and with slightly parted red lips, she silently uttered three words.
“Shen, Han, Xing.”
At this moment, Shen Hanxing’s left hand touched her neck. The broad palm effortlessly grasped the delicate neck of the girl, with five fingers pressing the touched skin, draining it of color, yet not going any further.
Shen Hanxing frowned slightly, finally realizing what the girl had done.
In his palm, she wrote the two characters “husband,” and silently called his name.
It had been a long time since anyone dared to directly address him by name, let alone casually touch him.
However, in a mere moment, the girl did everything she shouldn’t have.
Shen Hanxing thought that he should teach this audacious and presumptuous girl a lesson.
He intended to increase the pressure, but suddenly, his phoenix eyes met the eyes of Lin Xingxue.
Those eyes were pure and innocent, as clear as a spring. She seemed not to understand what he was doing, her pink lips slightly parted, “Husband.”
She silently called him again.
TL Note: Hey guys, Anon here. I was really busy with school recently, hence the lack of chapters. It’s gonna get even busier soon, but I’ll try to get these chapters edited as much as possible. Thanks for your patience and understanding!!
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