Pampered Consort's Acting Awards - Chapter 21

The wedding at Jin Palace

The sound of water pattering enveloped Jinlan Courtyard as raindrops fell from the eaves, like a cave with a waterfall in its mouth in the western region.

Chang Ge shrank her neck and said in a low voice: “Meiren Qin is truly big-hearted, she has offended His Majesty, but can still act as if nothing happened.”

Ling Que glanced at the window behind her and faintly replied: “It’s different since she’s under the protection of the consort dowager.”

Exactly at this moment, there was the sound of the door opening.

The strong wind made the rain even stronger, and there was the sound of clothes fluttering. A large area of Xiao Yu’s black dragon robe was already wet.

The young eunuch couldn’t help being startled when he saw the person before him and immediately said with a trembling voice: “T-This servant pays respect to Your Majesty.”

Your Majesty?

After hearing the sound, Chang Ge and Ling Que looked at each other dumbfoundedly before their eyes widened in an instant.

What does His Majesty want to do?

Does he want Meiren Qin to serve him tonight?

Chang Ge was stunned for a while and found it unbelievable, but since it is the harem of a palace, there seemed to be no other explanation aside from this.

Ling Que managed to calm down and reacted first, “There’s no way we can let His Majesty get drenched in the rain, quickly call Meiren Qin to welcome him.”

Hearing this, Chang Ge moved her steps toward the inner room and urgently called: “Meiren, His Majesty has come.”

Qin Ling had just bathed. Her black hair was scattered behind her shoulders like a waterfall, at the tips there were still bright, gem-like water droplets. She was without makeup, but still looked lovely and moving.

Hearing that he had come again, her eyes were filled with puzzlement.

“Meiren, hurry up,” Chang Ge reminded her.

Qin Ling tidied her hair, laid down the comb made of cow-horn in her hand, and walked out.

Meiren Qin opened the parasol, walked to Xiao Yu’s side, and said softly: “This concubine doesn’t know that Your Majesty will come tonight, may Your Majesty forgive this concubine for not coming out to greet you.”

Xiao Yu seemed to have not heard her and went straight into the inner room.

The Emperor’s expression was indifferent, and the atmosphere grew heavy.

The maids and eunuchs of Jinlan Courtyard sighed silently, and there was no smile on their faces.

They were not seeking a promotion anymore, just hoping that their master can serve this master of the heavenly family well.

The heavy rain outside continued. Chang Ge and Ling Que sent towels and hot water into the room. They were about to come forward to serve, only to hear Xiao Yu say indifferently: “Get out.”

Chang Ge and Ling Que said together with a nod: “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Xiao Yu’s clothes were wet, looking to be in a somewhat sorry state.

He took off his big cloak, Qin Ling hurriedly reached out and took it. She looked up and saw that the water droplets on his temple were sliding down her face, and she subconsciously raised her hand to brush it off for him.

As soon as this action took place, the man’s gaze immediately fell on her.

Qin Ling grabbed the palm of her hand, secretly regretting that she shouldn’t have stretched out her hand, and while suppressing the pounding heartbeat and revealing her small white teeth, she smiled to curry favor: “The autumn wind is cold, Your Majesty is drenched in rain, this concubine will serve you in bath.”

Her eyes were bent, bashful, with countless joy.

Xiao Yu frowned and stared at her, as if trying to find something in these eyes, but unfortunately, there was nothing.

He lowered his long eyes, turned, and called Gonggong Sheng to enter and serve him in baath. He didn’t even let Qin Ling stay at the door of the clean room.

This sequence of action made Gonggong Sheng, who had always understood the Emperor’s mind, feeling apprehension.

[T/N: Clean room is this… area beside the tub, usually for taking off clothes, etc.]

While taking off his clothes, Gonggong Sheng glanced at the Emperor’s body up and down to confirm that the dragon’s body was in good health. Then his eyebrows gathered into one line.

Coming to another person’s place to sleep, but does not want the person to serve, what is the meaning of this?

This is wrong ah.

Gonggong Sheng’s puzzled eyes were too scorching. Xiao Yu simply closed his eyes, poured water on his head twice, and got up.

***

After Qin Ling was left in the bedroom by herself, she loosened her belt, took off her shoes, and leaned on the couch while polishing her fingertips, thinking about what that man would do with her tonight.

However, before she finished thinking, the man opened the curtain and walked in.

He walked over, avoided her greeting, bent over and sat in. Then he reached out and removed the golden hook at the head of the bed and turned off the light.

As soon as the curtain fell, the two were trapped in a narrow space.

Although Qin Ling was afraid of the dark, she still followed the rules of the Imperial concubine, so she turned around and covered him with a quilt. However, the other person just closed his eyes directly.

Except for the sound of rain, there was the sound of breathing.

She had been a light sleeper since her rebirth, and now that such a big, living person was suddenly beside her, she couldn’t fall asleep easily. In a trance, she remembered the previous dream.

And thought of his words in the dream, “I’m taking a wife. Even if I don’t like her, I will respect her.”

Thinking of this, the corner of Qin Ling’s mouth unconsciously made a sneer.

Sure enough, the dream is just a dream.

If he really had the word “respect” in his heart back then, he would not humiliate her on the wedding night, and they would not be like that during those days.

On the other side, Xiao Yu didn’t fall asleep either. Listening to the breathing sound in his ears, he couldn’t help feeling a little irritable. After holding it in for a long time, he said: “Why don’t you sleep?”

His tone was full of blame.

Qin Ling returned to her senses and quietly replied: “Is this concubine… bothering Your Majesty?”

Xiao Yu agreed coldly.

Qin Ling curled the corners of her lips.

We did not see each other for only three years, why do you have so many added shortcomings now?

Qin Ling was aware that the arm cannot beat the thigh, just like how a 6th-ranked meiren won’t be able to beat the emperor, therefore she quickly closed her eyes.

No one knew how long it took, but as they breathed lightly, the feeling of dizziness in their heads come again—

The 36th year of Yongchang era, July 16th.

Red candles filled the house, and drums rang outside the house.

There was a wedding at Jin Palace today.

Su Ling was dressed in wedding clothes, with her hands folded on her knees, sitting on the couch.

Her bearing looked upright, but under the scarlet hijab, what was hidden was a desperate gaze.

Xiao Yu raised his hand to take the jade stick, and slowly raised the red silk hijab in front of him. The people of Jin Palace raised their eyes with bated breath and secretly looked at the bride’s face.

After a glance, everyone became rowdy.

The eldest miss of Zhen Estate, the eldest daughter of General Su, was very beautiful.

Exquisite face and painting-like eyebrows.

Even Xiao Yu, who had never been obsessed with women, couldn’t help but look at her twice, and the corners of his mouth also had a little smile.

Getting married is a happy thing after all.

After sharing the nuptial cup, the matron cut a strand of each of their hair, tied them together, put them in a peach wood box, and smiled: “Congratulations, Your Highness the Prince. Congratulations, Your Highness the Princess Consort. The ceremony is done.”

The ceremony was done. Xiao Yu needed to go outside and greet the guests.

He looked down at the Su family’s daughter’s small, fair hand, held it, and said: “Wait for me to come back.”

As soon as he left, Su Ling rubbed her right hand with her left hand, her ears filled with those words she heard at Qingfeng Pavilion that day.

“Able to win over Duke of Zhen is good. However, the reputation of Su family’s daughter is not good, her relationship with He Zichen is ambiguous. This is a troublesome matter.”

“What’s so troublesome? Su Jingbei doesn’t have any other daughter.”

“If you don’t want to take side concubines, you can just raise a few thin horses from Yangzhou. The women from Yanhuan are lean and fertile. You won’t need anything else!”

Su Ling’s brain was in a mess, and her body became stiff.

In the end, she still married him.

Su Ling looked at the burning red candle in front of her, and the hope in her heart turned into smoke.

The guests gradually dispersed, Xiao Yu turned and walked towards the inner hall. The female official who guards the door said in a low voice: “This servant pays respect to Your Highness.”

The man replied to dispense. Hearing his voice, it was clear that he was a little drunk.

In an instant, her heartbeat sounded faster than the sound of footsteps outside.

Xiao Yu walked towards her, sat down beside her, and looked at her.

As the four eyes met, Su Ling’s grip at her cuff tightened.

Xiao Yu leaned forward to remove the hairpin for her, and when his fingers crossed the thin white neck, Su Ling couldn’t help but withdraw. As soon as she avoided his touch, the man chuckled.

His hand rested on the back of her neck, stroking it leisurely.

“Why did you avoid it?” He looked at her.

Su Ling was startled.

She felt like seeing a calm lust in those eyes.

Lust should be uncontrollable, but from his eyes, it looked easy.

It was as if she was not his wife, but a chess piece in his hand.

Su Ling breathed faster than before, and pretended to be calm and said, “It wasn’t that qie wanted to avoid it, it was because Your Highness’ hand is cold.”

After she said this, he slid his hand directly to her waist.

Su Ling trembled, but did not avoid it.

Her whole being was the same as her eyes, all competing with the man in front of her.

The corner of Xiao Yu’s lower lips curled. He turned over and pressed her on the couch.

Su Ling lifted her chin slightly and let out a soft cry.

And another one.

Although he wasn’t fond of the daughter of Su family in the slightest bit, he still coveted the soft, jade-like flower in his palm right now.

A wedding night should be filled with soft whispers, gentle feelings, and recklessness.

But the 3rd Young Master Xiao who had never touched a woman before didn’t understand that he was hurting the other person. Moreover, his temperament was cold and the strength in his hand was not light, Su Ling quickly became frightened.

The man, whose physique was as lofty as a mountain, shackled her wrists and pushed her down until she couldn’t breath.

It hurted so much. In which part it didn’t hurt?

Su Ling closed her eyes, grabbed the quilt, and said in her heart: Ah Ling, Ah Ling, you have to bear it. This is your future husband at any rate, not a villain.

The momo already said, just one of pain, bear it and it will pass.

When the tears rolled down, he seemed to have pinched her a little.

In which part, she did not know, in any case, tears streamed down her eyes.

Her body that spasmed in her effort to endure it silently was like thunder for Xiao Yu.

He let go of her leg and withdrew, then pulled at her chin and asked: “Why are you crying?”

Su Ling answered in a small voice: “It’s nothing.”

Like a low tide, the heat turned calm instantly.

He saw clearly that she was unwilling.

In regards to the bedroom matters, for men: doing it with someone who likes you is one taste, doing it with someone who dislikes you is another taste, doing it with someone obedient is one taste, doing it with someone disobedient is another taste.

You can even turn off the lights and do it while not knowing who is underneath.

And still be happy.

But that won’t do with her. This is Princess Consort Jin.

He couldn’t force her.

Xiao Yu looked at her back and couldn’t help thinking about the letters that Yang Di had intercepted. Those were the letters He Zichen had written to her, after he read them one by one, he admitted that the feelings contained in it were indeed sincere.

He thought: Do you like He Zichen that much? So much that you can’t even pretend on the wedding night?

Su Ling was crying, still aware that she was in a sorry state, she pulled at the beddings to cover up.

And silently cursed: After starting with great difficulty, you want to start over again from the very beginning?

Why is the candle in the bridal chamber so long?

[T/N: So most novels describe that the characters do “it” until the candles are naturally extinguished. Which is where Su Ling’s remark of “Why is the candle night in the bridal chamber so long?” come from. I’m not sure of how things work in real life though.]

Seeing her blocking his face, Xiao Yu couldn’t help but sneered, and said in his heart: What is this? Don’t want to see me? If you were not Su Jingbei’s daughter, do you think I’d take you as my wife?

Although marrying Su Jingbei’s daughter was just to lure the Zhen Estate into the game and he clearly knew that she had someone else in her heart, 

at this moment, Xiao Yu found that he had overestimated himself and couldn’t bear it.

Using the last bit of patience he had, he spoke calmly: “Don’t cry. Look at me.”

Su Ling loosened her shoulders, pulled down the bedding and looked at him.

The makeup on Su Ling’s face was completely spent, her hair was messy, her eyes flushed, and she was biting her lower lip.

Looking very miserable.

Xiao Yu’s eyes sank, and he clicked his tongue.

Alright then.

Xiao Yu left the bed, put on his clothes, and opened the door.

Su Ling was stunned in the same place.

On the night of the wedding, the groom just left.

Fu Ying hurriedly walked in, she was shocked when she saw her miss’s appearance, so much that she even forgot to call her princess consort, “Miss… What happened?”

Su Ling stared at the door with her eyes wide open for a long while. Unable to respond.

How can this person… be like this?

Fu Ying went to look at the kerchief on the couch again. The couch was messy, but there was no blood.

Fu Ying draped the clothes on Su Ling‘s body, stroked her back, and said, “Miss, what happened? The prince… didn’t touch you?” She dared not the following words.

How could you be like this if he didn’t touch you?

Su Ling continued to stare at the door.

“Miss, don’t scare me. If something happens to you, the Duke and the Heir will feel distressed.”

At the mention of her father and eldest brother, Su Ling began to crumble.

With both hands covering her face: “I can bear with it so much and so hard, what else is he dissatisfied with? It’s not that I want to marry him! Why did he humiliate me?”

Fu Ying almost never saw Su Ling cry. She panicked for a while, and quickly hugged and comforted her: “Miss, don’t cry, don’t cry…”

Su Ling slowed down, and after a long while, she got up and washed her face, and gradually calmed down.

And said to Fu Ying: “When we return to the estate, you are not allowed to mention today’s matter with Father and Eldest Brother.”

Fu Ying nodded hesitantly.

The bride got dressed and fell asleep alone.

The faint morning light poured into the inner room, and the whole night passed like this.

At noon, Fu Ying pushed the door and entered again. While handing over the small box and account book in her hand, she said, “This is the purchase account book of the palace. Housekeeper Wen handed it over personally. This is the key to the warehouse.”

Su Ling accepted it and said: “Where is he?”

Fu Ying hesitated.

Su Ling: “Just tell me.”

Fu Ying: “His Highness has some matters to deal with outside, and he will not come back tonight…”

Will not come back?

Well, It is better not to come back.

Su Ling raised her head and said: “Keep these things well. In the future, don’t get involved with the affairs of this place. His life and death has nothing to do with me!”

As soon as the words fell, the red candle flickered for the last time, and burned out.

Xiao Yu and Qin Ling opened their eyes together.

Everything in the dream felt too real, making Qin Ling’s chest feel stuffy, so she closed her eyes.

XIao Yu sat up.

Soon after, Qin Ling narrowed her eyes to look at him, sitting by the bedside with both hands pressing on his eyebrows without a word.

The sky outside had obviously cleared after the rain, but above the man’s head was still densely covered with black clouds.

NGL I laughed so much when imagining them questioning each other’s actions xDD I wonder if I’m still normal, but then I remembered that the author categorized this novel not as “Drama” but “Easy”, something not as heavy as drama genre but not as silly as comedy genre. And very sorry for the super late updated advance chapter! I got my 2nd dose and it KOed with diarrhea and- *sneezes* flu. I should be able to finish up to December’s share before next week. Stay fit guys~