Phoenix: Rules Of The Harem
Chapter 8: First Marriage, A Charming Couple of Husbands
On a beautiful night with the full moon and the stars shining brightly, inside the Phoenix Palace, Imperial Chief Apprentice Hong Yu Wen walked gracefully towards the Great Empress's room. Arriving there, Yu Wen smiled gently. He saw the wife and the most powerful and honorable woman in the Shao Empire sitting leaning in the middle of the contest.
"Your Majesty...."
Fang Hua turned his head towards Yu Wen, he smiled faintly. "Main Consort Hong, it turns out you've come."
"Yes, Your Majesty. Is there anything I can do for you tonight?" Yu Wen walked over, politely she lowered her head in reverence before ending up sitting next to Fang Hua.
Fang Hua touched Yu Wen's cheek and stroked her gently. "As always, I need you. Always...."
Yu Wen looked at Fang Hua's charming stern face and smiled slightly, before long she averted her eyes. His expression looked a little unkind, Yu Wen looked agitated.
"What's wrong? Why does your face look so bad? What are you thinking?"
Yu Wen did not reply, in his mind he felt unsure of something. Tomorrow her adorable little princess was about to get married and Yu Wen felt fear for it, with her current condition of her little flower daughter, she was very doubtful of that. "Your Majesty, regarding Mei'er's marriage, does that not matter?"
Suddenly Fang Hua flipped their positions and laid Yu Wen on his bed then he overcame her. "ah! Your Majesty! You surprised me!"
"My husband, what do you doubt about that? Ling Mei has been at a sufficient age for marriage and it is only natural that if I give the decree to her, you don't worry too much."
One by one the clothes started to detach from Yu Wen's body. Staring at her fixedly, Fang Hua brought her face closer and rubbed Yu Wen's cheek with her nose down to her neck. Fang Hua gently kissed the neck and bit it, giving off a red-colored mark that might not disappear in the next few days. Yu Wen could only close his eyes and draped both of his hands to the neck of the Imperial Phoenix, slowly soft voices came out of his mouth.
"Since I'm still a Crown Princess, haven't I told you not to be so formal with me, Wen'er?"
"Uhm, Your Majesty! You are the Grand Empress, I cannot do it, it is not a polite thing."
"Then, talk casually while we're both. Now call my name! Call me, Wen'er!" Fang Hua said with complete dominance.
Yu Wen furrowed his brows, feeling an overwhelming sense when his deepest point was well touched. He could barely say it. "Aah.... Hmh... Fang Hua's! Fang Hua's!"
Fang Hua smiled full of satisfaction with her eyes glittering sharply. "Good, I like it."
They do so, fused in the silence of the night with the beautiful moonlight as a witness. The Imperial Moon's main companion was almost dissolved in an intoxicating temptation, but he quickly restrained Fang Hua with an obvious worried look. "But, Fang Hua, are you sure Mei'er can do it well?"
Fang Hua smiled obliquely, he stroked Yu Wen's upper body with mysterious glittering eyes. "Of course, in that case I'm pretty sure. Mei'er we're really going to live out everything I've given you well."
.
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In a different place, Yun Rui stared at the beauty of the night sky from the round window of her room that was in the Orchid Pavilion. His hand moved to take out a small, long wooden box and carefully opened it. When he saw it, a golden phoenix-shaped hairpick with a sparkling red ruby was inside. Swiping at her slowly, Yun Rui discovered a memory of the past that was so sweet when the beautiful hairpin was given to her.
Eight years ago, when twin sister Shao, the fourth princess and fifth prince were celebrating their birth day, Wei Yun Rui came to the Shao Empire along with his first brother Wei Qiong Lin and the great general of the Wei Kingdom as royal envoys to fulfill the imperial invitation. When the celebration was over and the tributes had been given, Yun Rui again met Ling Mei. With discernment seen at such a young age, little Ling Mei approached him. The little girl smiled sweetly with warm eyes, she gave a lot of joy until Yun Rui thought she could fly to heaven with all those feelings.
"Rui Gege!"
Hearing the call Yun Rui was fixated, but in her heart she felt an overwhelming sense of pleasure. "Your Majesty? ... a-ah! I mean, greeting the Fourth Star of the Shao Empire, may His Majesty always be filled with happiness."
"You're too formal, Rui Gege. Regarding my arrival to you, I want to give something to you and also .. I miss you." Ling Mei looked at Yun Rui gently, there was a twinkle of happiness visible in the eyes of the imperial star.
As the red hue within his face spread rapidly, Yun Rui was unable to say anything. He felt the heat in his face and ears, so warm yet painless. With widened pupils, he tried to hide the pounding of his heart so hard and fast. Biting her lower lip tightly, Yun Rui thought that she should also say it.
"Your Majesty, I ... I also miss you." immediately Yun Rui averted her gaze, she felt a great shame as she stared at her first love. Seeing that Ling Mei was unable to hide the smile arch on her face.
"For that, thank you for missing me too. Oho! About the things I want to give you...." Ling Mei grabbed Yun Rui's right hand and placed a small long wooden box on it. "You can open it if you're curious about the contents."
Yun Rui stared fixedly at the wooden box, as curiosity began to erupt in her heart she chose to open it. A golden phoenix-shaped hairpick with beautiful and shiny red ruby was neatly placed inside. Yun Rui looked up quickly, looking at the legitimate princess of the empire with round eyes in surprise.
"Your Majesty, this is...."
Ling Mei grabbed onto Yun Rui's dark-night strands of hair, grasped them gently and kissed them. "Since we have promised for a future wedding, I want to give you a special item as a gift from me. On our wedding day, I hope you can put this phoenix hair pin on your hair. It will prove that you are mine."
Yun Rui smiled with great happiness. The hairpin, he likes it. Ling Mei had said very clearly that Yun Rui was hers and since then the teenage Wei Yun Rui had truly given her whole heart to the future grand empress candidate.
.............................
"Your Majesty, I have prepared everything. You should get up and get ready for the wedding." Shu Lian walked into Yun Rui's room with the wedding clothes in her hands, the man's maid looked quite busy at the moment.
"Your Majesty—" Shu Lian's two eyes glared with her mouth open in surprise, shortly after which her facial features became panicked.
Instead of finding the sight of the master who was about to get married with eyes still half-open and was sitting in his contest, Shu Lian actually found Yun Rui's room empty and slightly messy. He was quite understanding of Yun Rui's habits as the only legitimate prince of Wei Kingdom was known for his feisty and slightly mischievous nature. The charming man with blood red eyes will be alone in a place that is quite hidden when it feels too happy or too sad.
Understanding of that, Shu Lian quickly summoned several servants who were in the Orchid Pavilion, most of them were servants brought by the Wei Kingdom to serve their masters in the Shao Empire. It would be very bad if the imperial people knew the unique nature of the Second Prince of Wei even though Shu Lian was sure that such rumors must have been widespread in the Shao Empire.
"Quick! Hurry along! Search everywhere until you find it! We must find His Majesty before the wedding ceremony begins!" Shu Lian exclaimed frantically, her mind constantly working to find places that Yun Rui might have used to hide.
Seeing all the servants who started to move in search of Yun Rui, Shu Lian chose to run looking for her master to the back garden of the pavilion.
"Your Majesty!"
"Your Highness the Second Prince!"
Shu Lian rubbed her face rough, looking frustrated at not finding Yun Rui's whereabouts. The waiter then stood among the large trees not far from the garden and let out a long sigh. Shu Lian raised her head up, trying to think of a place that Yun Rui might have used to hide. But shortly after, Shu Lian's eyes were rounded, right above her, Wei Yun Rui was lying on a tree branch with her back resting on a large tree trunk.
"Caiy! Your Majesty! What are you doing there?!"
"Because I was too happy I couldn't sleep all night and decided to go here. Shu Lian, I can't believe that my marriage to the Fourth Princess actually happened."
Shu Lian heaved a sigh of relief after being struck by a meaningful panic, the young maid smiled at the happiness of her master. He could even see the cheerful smile that was reflected on the beautiful Yun Rui's face.
"I understand, Your Majesty. But, for now you have to go down and prepare for the wedding ceremony. We don't have much time left, you should be inside the wedding sedan and leave for the Fourth Princess' residence on time."
Wei Yun Rui agreed, according to what Shu Lian had said, the young prince came down from the tree where he lay and walked back to his temporary pavilion which had been decorated in such a way with red ornaments typical of Ancient China weddings.
It didn't take long for Yun Rui to prepare for her appearance. With a special hanfu and red wedding robes filled with golden phoenix embroidery on each corner, as well as her nightly black hair that was partially rolled up slightly neatly, she said, and a beautiful handsome face that Shu Lian had well-done. Yun Rui really looks to be the most beautiful and shining groom among all the Grooms of the Shao Empire this time of year.
"It's over, Your Honor. You are really very beautiful and handsome, maybe you are the most charming groom of the year." Shu Lian spoke with excitement, her master really shines so brightly that he is speechless.
"Thank you, Shu Lian." then Yun Rui's hand moved taking out a small long wooden box and carrying it over the palm of her right hand. "Can you pair this for me, Shu Lian?"
Shu Lian opened it and to her surprise, a phoenix-shaped golden hairpick with an exquisite red ruby decoration was seen before her eyes.
"Your Majesty, this is...."
Wei Yun Rui smiled. "The Fourth Daughter gave it to me eight years ago, when she said that the hairpin was proof that I was hers."
"I'll put it together carefully for you."
It had been finished when all the typical wedding trinkets and accessories had been perfectly attached to Yun Rui's body. Shu Lian carries a bridal veil in her hand, as a final touch, the bridal veil will be fitted to the groom's head and will be opened by the bride on their first night.
"The marriage medley that the Fourth Princess had sent was already at the front door of the Star Hall. We have to help the groom get into the bridal sedan chair." Tian Zhi said softly, he looked at his second brother who was ready to be sent to the Fourth Princess' new residence.
Even if the corner of his heart throbbed pain, Tian Zhi was unable to do anything, he just continued to hold it for himself. A warden then entered the door and picked up the red veil Shu Lian had brought, then helped Yun Rui to cover her head. A while later, Yun Rui was surrounded by a crowd escorting him out of the Orchid Pavilion. Walking towards the Star Hall that was one place with the Orchid Pavilion, Yun Rui fell silent with a restless feeling, she thought that this would be alright? Then he realized even though Ling Mei did not remember him or even no longer loved him, Yun Rui would still have the same feelings for him.
After walking inside the Star Hall, an explosion of erupting firecrackers that sounded loud and festive filled everyone's hearing.
"Groom, please enter the sedan chair!"
Hearing those instructions, Wei Yun Rui entered the wedding sedan and was taken towards the fourth princess' official residence. Silently Yun Rui lowered her veil and sighed nervously, at this moment, the next bridal procession was to walk along the streets and markets in the capital. Since the residence of Fourth Princess Shao Ling Mei was north of the capital Xiaoyang while the Imperial Palace was south of the capital, the wedding sedan chair had to travel through almost the entire city to reach its destination.
Immediately, when the bridal sedan had arrived before the door of the fourth princess residence, Wei Yun Rui sneaked a sneak peek at the people standing outside the door. She holds a red veil and re-wears it to cover her head and upper body, then waits for a warden to help her out of the bridal sedan. Aided by Shu Lian, Yun Rui walked towards the door of the residence which was filled with several imperial princes and princesses who had been standing and waiting for his arrival ever since. Crown Princess Shao Mu Lan, Second Princess Shao Mu Rong, the two youngest Fifth Princes Shao Qiao Feng and Sixth Prince Shao Xu Cheng had arrived. Only Third Princess Shao Ming Fei was not present in the important guest group, reportedly the third princess hated her sister so much that she did not want to come on the fourth daughter's official wedding day.
Back after the series of wedding ceremonies had been performed by Shao Ling Mei and Wei Yun Rui, the night was held the first night ceremony which was quite alarming. Seeing Ling Mei's idiot-like nature, everyone was sure that there would not be a good first night for the newlyweds. Even when Shao Ling Mei had opened Yun Rui's red bridal veil, then they exchanged a cup of wine and drank it according to tradition, Ling Mei simply played her clothes and said: 'Ling Mei:
"Dad said if I was married, then I should give myself to my partner and my bride would give herself to me. But I still don't understand what Dad said. Rui Gege, after this can we just sleep?"
Yun Rui smiled with gentleness, she understood Ling Mei's condition and she understood. "Of course, as you wish, Your Majesty."
As has been predicted, there is no good first night in the marriage of a mentally disabled trashy princess. They only slept with Ling Mei who turned around and turned her back to Yun Rui who was staring at her heartily from behind her back.