Chapter 199

Chapter 199

The red bridal veil was slowly lifted, revealing a face as lovely as a hibiscus bloom.

Her usually unadorned features had been carefully made up. A plum blossom adorned her forehead beneath delicately arched brows, and her luminous eyes rippled like spring waters. With her delicate nose and red lips, she was enchantingly beautiful.

As the veil rose, Ji Hanyi slowly lifted her gaze. Her tender almond eyes were so captivating they seemed capable of stealing one’s very soul. Even Shen Si’s hand froze for a moment, his breath hitching as he found himself drawn into those eyes.

Framed by jewels, pearls, and festive red, her face was alluring and beautiful, yet touched with a restrained shyness-a gentle loveliness unique to Ji Hanyi alone.

Once the veil had been removed, the wedding matron approached with a tray lined in red cloth and said with a smile, “Marquis, it is time for the nuptial wine.”

Only then did Shen Si tear his gaze away from Ji Hanyi’s face. He pursed his lips, picked up a small jade-colored wine cup, and gently placed it in Ji Hanyi’s hand.

Ji Hanyi hardly dared meet his eyes. As she accepted the cup, she stole a quick glance at him. Dressed in scarlet wedding robes, Shen Si still wore his usual cold expression, his dark eyes fixed intently on her. She had no idea what he was thinking, but his stare made her heart pound. Somehow, he was still so intimidating even at a time like this. She lowered her gaze, not daring to look at him again.

Their arms intertwined. Shen Si’s heated breath brushed her cheek, and his scent filled her nose.

Ji Hanyi’s heart tightened. Keeping her head down, she dared not look around as she drank the wine in her cup.

There was not much wine, but its bitterness and burning bite left her uncomfortable.

A cup of tea was soon offered to her. Shen Si’s long, slender hand entered her vision as his deep voice sounded beside her ear. “Have a sip to soothe your throat.”

Ji Hanyi hurriedly took it.

Watching this, the wedding matron was still marveling that the Marquis had such a considerate side when his cold, indifferent gaze turned toward her. Her heart skipped a beat. She hastily gathered everything and withdrew.

Only the two of them remained in the room.

The bed beside her dipped slightly, and Ji Hanyi realized that Shen Si had sat down next to her.

She shifted away from him, though not for any particular reason. She had endured the discomfort all afternoon and finally could not stand it any longer, so she swept the peanuts and lotus seeds beneath her aside before sitting down again.

Her body had grown stiff from sitting for so long. She shifted gingerly and glanced around the room.

This should be Shen Si’s courtyard. Ji Hanyi thought she had been here once before, when Li Mingrou poisoned her, but looking at it now, everything felt strangely unfamiliar.

In truth, as she studied the room’s furnishings, Ji Hanyi was wondering how they were supposed to spend their wedding night.

If there was only one bed in the room, was she expected to sleep beside Shen Si?

The mere thought seemed out of the question. After all, they had only married to escape an imperial marriage decree. It hardly counted as a real marriage.

Shen Si’s gaze never left Ji Hanyi. He watched her edge away, then turn to peer behind the folding screen. He knew exactly what she was looking for-a place where she could sleep for the night.

He knew every thought running through Ji Hanyi’s mind. Like a hunter, he silently watched her cautious movements, already prepared to savor his prey.

His gaze settled on her fair profile, his eyes gradually darkening as they traveled slowly over every inch of her. This was their wedding night, yet Ji Hanyi had plainly not settled into her role.

Glancing at the distance she had put between them, Shen Si asked, “Are you hungry?”

Only then did Ji Hanyi belatedly turn toward him. She had eaten nothing but a few pastries that morning and had long since grown hungry.

She nodded honestly.

Shen Si studied her. She was radiant and alluring, soft and captivating. At that moment, she looked like the sweetest, most delectable thing in the room.

He watched her silently for a long moment before calling out an order. Soon, a small feast was brought in and set on the table.

After the servants withdrew, Shen Si rose and walked over to Ji Hanyi, bending down before her. She instinctively leaned back, only for Shen Si to catch her with a hand against her back.

Shen Si lowered his gaze to her flustered eyes. His own were as dark as ink as he asked softly, “Are you really that afraid of me?”

Ji Hanyi looked up at him. There was no smile on his face, and with the light behind him as he loomed over her, he did look rather frightening.

Shen Si rarely smiled. His face always carried an air of sternness.

Ji Hanyi replied quietly, “No…”

Shen Si pressed his lips together. He removed the hand supporting her back, then raised it to take the heavy bridal crown from her hair.

The moment the crown came off, Ji Hanyi felt as though a weight had been lifted from her body. At last, she no longer had to keep her shoulders rigid.

Only then did she understand why Shen Si had suddenly approached her. She looked up at him and thanked him softly. “Lord Shen, thank you.”

Shen Si raised a brow and silently studied her for another moment before saying, “Eat something first.”

Ji Hanyi hurried over to the small table.

She wore scarlet wedding robes, her raven-black hair swept into a bun. With the bridal crown removed, there were no ornaments in her hair, yet the simplicity suited her beautifully.

Every dish on the table was something Ji Hanyi liked. Shen Si sat beside her and quietly watched her eat.

Under his unwavering gaze, Ji Hanyi forced herself to endure her discomfort and ate her fill.

When she set down her wooden chopsticks, she rinsed her mouth. Shen Si then pushed a plate of lotus seeds toward her and looked into her eyes.

“They say that eating these on your wedding night will bring many children and many blessings.”

His cool, detached tone made it sound like the most ordinary remark in the world, yet it sent Ji Hanyi’s heart into a violent flutter.

She stared blankly at the lotus seeds placed before her. Under Shen Si’s watchful gaze, she finally picked one up, peeled it, and bit into it.
Shen Si’s expression softened, and he ate one himself.

Once the servants had come in to clear everything away and withdrawn, the two of them were alone in the room again.

It had to be quite late by now. Ji Hanyi finally worked up the courage to look at Shen Si, who was also dressed in red, and said, “Tonight… Why don’t I sleep on that chaise?”

Ji Hanyi knew they would have to sleep in the same room tonight. There was no question of her going to sleep in the side chamber. The chaise looked spacious enough, and since it was only for one night, she felt she could manage.

After all, she could hardly ask Shen Si to sleep there.

Shen Si arched a brow and glanced at the chaise. He had forgotten to have it moved out earlier.

“The bath has already been drawn. Go bathe first. We can discuss it afterward.”

With that, he summoned the servants. Before Ji Hanyi could even react, three or four maids were ushering her toward the bathing room.

The bathing room was enormous, as was the tub, which steamed with curling white mist. The maids who had followed her in began helping Ji Hanyi undress.

She did not recognize any of them and was unused to being watched by unfamiliar maids, so she kept only Rongchun with her.

The maids were all extremely deferential. At Ji Hanyi’s request, they quietly withdrew, though one asked softly, “What kind of incense does my lady prefer? The Marquis usually burns pine incense when he bathes.”

Ji Hanyi could not help glancing at the tub. The thought that Shen Si usually bathed there made her heart flutter nervously again.

She liked the scent of plum blossoms, light and delicate, so she asked if they had any. If not, they could simply go without.

The maid soon returned with some, however, and withdrew as soon as she had lit it.

Ji Hanyi soaked in the tub for a long time, still wanting to delay going back out.

Looking at the flush the hot water had brought to Ji Hanyi’s face, Rongchun could not help whispering, “Miss, you can’t stay in any longer. You’ve been in here for nearly an hour.”

Ji Hanyi blinked in surprise. Had it really been that long?

It seemed she truly ought to get out.

Rongchun went to fetch her clothes, only to return with nothing but a nightgown.

The maids could hardly be blamed. At this hour, there was no reason to put her outer robes back on after bathing.

Ji Hanyi emerged in her nightgown. Beyond the layers of curtains, Shen Si had already changed into a casual robe and was sitting on the chaise beside the folding screen.

He held a book and appeared to be reading idly. When he saw Ji Hanyi enter, he set it aside.

This was Ji Hanyi’s first time appearing before Shen Si in her nightclothes, and she could not help feeling terribly self-conscious.

Fortunately, Shen Si noticed her discomfort and said quietly, “It’s late. Go to bed first.”

Ji Hanyi blurted out without thinking, “What about you, Lord Shen?”

Shen Si rose and walked toward her. Dressed only in a simple moon-white robe, Ji Hanyi looked fresh and lovely. The makeup had been washed from her face, leaving her with a soft, unadorned beauty.

Her long black hair hung loose over her slender shoulders. Shen Si’s gaze merely brushed the slightly damp neckline of her gown, yet heat surged through him.

His eyes darkened, and his voice grew husky. “You don’t need to worry about me.”

His gaze lingered on her graceful figure, so evocative in the thin nightgown. “The bed has already been prepared. Just go to sleep.”

He gave Ji Hanyi another long, searching look. “I’ll go bathe first.”

As he spoke, Shen Si placed a hand on Ji Hanyi’s shoulder, then bent to murmur in her ear, “Hanyi, try to act naturally. There are matrons in the residence, and people sent from the palace too.”

Ji Hanyi stiffened at once and hurriedly nodded.

Shen Si looked at her, at the bright eyes reflecting the candlelight. She trusted him so completely, while all he could think of was possessing her.

He tucked a lock of Ji Hanyi’s hair behind her ear before finally turning away.

As he turned, Shen Si glanced at the matron standing nearby. Understanding her master’s meaning, the matron waited until the Marquis had left, then came over and asked Rongchun to retire for the night.

After all, this was their wedding night. Rongchun could hardly remain in the room.

Rongchun understood as well. Ji Hanyi wanted to call her back, but then realized that keeping Rongchun by her side would only make the others suspicious. In the end, she said nothing and went around the screen to the bed.

The bed had already been made, and the ceremonial fruits scattered across it had been removed.

Ji Hanyi sat on the edge for a while, then glanced at the matron still standing beyond the screen. She had no idea whether the woman was one of those sent from the palace. Drawing a deep breath, she finally climbed into bed.

Though all the bedding had been replaced with bright red silk, it still carried the agarwood scent that always clung to Shen Si.

Ji Hanyi tucked herself into the farthest corner of the bed.

When Shen Si returned from his bath, all he saw was a tiny bundle huddled in one corner. A spill of black hair covered the pillow embroidered with mandarin ducks, but her face was nowhere in sight. She had buried herself completely beneath the covers, and he could not tell whether she had smothered herself under there.

Shen Si’s eyes darkened further. The mere thought that the person in his bed, waiting for him, was Ji Hanyi sent heat coursing wildly through his body.

He sat on the edge of the bed and leaned forward to lift a corner of the quilt. Beneath it was Ji Hanyi’s face, flushed pink from being covered for so long.

Her fair, exquisite face was framed by wisps of hair tangled across her cheeks. Her red lips were slightly parted, her cheeks peach-pink, and her luminous eyes stared up at him in a daze. Shen Si’s entire body abruptly tensed.

He bent closer, his dark eyes fixed intently on her, unwilling to miss even the slightest change in her expression. His voice was impossibly hoarse. “Weren’t you afraid you’d suffocate under there?”

Ji Hanyi bit her lip and murmured, “Mm.”

Her voice was soft and husky, sweet and delicate with a velvety lilt that drew Shen Si another inch closer.

Looking down at her, he asked, “Shall we sleep?”