Brocade Robe Unparalleled

Chapter 163 The Seven-Day Term
Inside the bridal chamber.

Lin Xuan put down the scales, removed the groom's crown, then walked to the table, poured two cups of warm tea, picked up one of them and handed it to Zhao Wan, saying softly, "You've had a long day, have some tea."

His voice was very soft, with a reassuring power.

Zhao Wan paused for a moment, then slowly reached out and took the teacup.

Wearing her wedding dress made movement difficult, and in order to ensure that every step of the wedding was conducted according to etiquette, she had not had a drop of water all day and was indeed very thirsty at this moment.

Even so, she only took a small sip before putting the teacup down.

Lin Xuan, however, had no such concerns. He finished his tea in one gulp, placed the cup on the table, looked at Zhao Wan, and said, "I've read that poem, 'Partridge Sky'..."

Zhao Wan's heart clenched, and her face turned even paler.

Is it finally... coming?
Lin Xuan raised his hand to tidy his hair. Zhao Wan instinctively dodged, but seeing that his slap did not land on her, she sat up straight nervously.

Lin Xuan moved a chair over and said with a smile, "Don't misunderstand, what I mean is that the poem is well written. Miss Zhao truly deserves to be called the most talented woman in the capital. In just a few short lines, every word is precious. It not only expresses her feelings but also captures the helplessness of most women."

His tone remained calm, revealing neither praise nor criticism, but Zhao Wan felt even more uneasy, her body trembling slightly.

Lin Xuan could tell that his new wife was very afraid of him.

Your Majesty has truly committed a sin; this arranged marriage has terrified this talented young woman to no end...

He moved the chair further away, creating a soundproof mental barrier, before continuing, "Don't be nervous. I don't mean anything by it. In fact, I'm just like you, caught in a situation where I have no choice in the matter, so I can understand how you feel."

His expression was gentle, and his tone was equally soft. In just a few words, like a spring breeze and gentle rain, he gradually dispelled the fear in Zhao Wan's heart.

She cautiously raised her eyelids and began to really examine the man in front of her.

He had a handsome face, a gentle demeanor, and clear eyes, without any hint of tyranny.

Lin Xuan already knew Zhao Wan's feelings through that poem.

He felt it was necessary to clarify these matters tonight.

Lin Xuan continued, "I thought this trip to the capital was just a routine report, but I never expected His Majesty to bestow a marriage upon me. To be honest, my beloved is still waiting for me in the southwest. You don't want to marry me, and I don't want to marry you either, but we have to keep up this act, for His Majesty's sake and for the world's sake. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Zhao Wan's eyes shone with an unprecedented brilliance, and she nodded slightly.

On her wedding night, she had imagined the worst possible outcome.

But the result was even better than the best-case scenario she had envisioned.

She never imagined that such a turning point would come in this seemingly hopeless marriage.

He was not a rude brute, but a gentleman with a delicate mind who knew how to respect her. What was even more remarkable was that they were in the same situation, both being pitiful people manipulated by fate.

Zhao Wan's voice remained gentle, but no longer trembled. She nodded slightly and said, "I understand what you mean, my lord. In the future... I will know how to conduct myself in front of outsiders and will certainly not make things difficult for you."

Seeing how understanding she was, Lin Xuan breathed a sigh of relief.

“In that case, let’s agree on three rules to put an end to our worries.” Lin Xuan pondered for a moment and said, “First, in public, we must present a loving couple to avoid arousing suspicion and causing unnecessary trouble.”

Zhao Wan nodded solemnly: "Of course, I will remember that."

Lin Xuan continued, "Secondly... in private, we will not interfere with each other. You have your life, and I have my affairs. You can compose poems and paint as you please. You can live comfortably in the Chen residence. If you need anything, just tell the servants, and I will have them take care of it. I will never make you suffer."

This gave her the greatest possible freedom and respect. Zhao Wan was grateful and said softly, "Thank you, sir."

"third……"

Lin Xuan thought for a moment, then looked at her and asked, "I wonder if Miss Zhao has someone she likes?"

Zhao Wan shook her head repeatedly: "No."

She grew up in a strict family and had few opportunities to interact with outsiders, so naturally she never had a sweetheart.

"I have."

Lin Xuan looked at her, his tone calm but serious: "I hope Miss Zhao will not interfere in my affairs with other women."

The person before him was, after all, the wife whom His Majesty had personally bestowed upon him in marriage, the wife he had married through proper channels and who had been carried home in a grand sedan chair carried by eight men.

Her status was far higher than that of an ordinary wife.

If she doesn't allow it, Lin Xuan's kissing and hugging with Qingluan Youmeng would be considered as having affairs outside, wouldn't that be going against the natural order?

Zhao Wan nodded slightly and said, "Of course."

The conversation with her went exceptionally smoothly. Lin Xuan breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That's all I wanted to say. Does Miss Zhao have any other requests?"

Tonight's surprises have far exceeded her expectations. Zhao Wan gently shook her head: "No more."

The atmosphere eased, and Lin Xuan's gaze swept over the pair of exquisite wine glasses tied with red thread on the table. He asked, "There's still some nuptial wine left. Since there's no one else here, let's skip it."

Although the wedding ceremony wasn't finished yet, there was no one else around, and Lin Xuan didn't want to force her.

Zhao Wan followed his gaze and hesitated for a moment.

This wedding was not what the two of them wanted in the first place, so these formalities should be avoided if possible.

But for some reason, looking at the two wine glasses that symbolized unity, she felt a strange sensation.

This was, after all, the most important day of her life. She had imagined her wedding day, and the real wedding was undoubtedly ten or a hundred times grander than she had imagined. Since she had already come this far, she might as well make it a perfect one.

Of course, more importantly, she had a vague feeling in her heart.

She'll definitely regret it if she doesn't drink this.

She raised her eyes and said softly, "The proper etiquette cannot be disregarded... Let's drink it then, so that it will have a proper beginning and a satisfactory conclusion."

Lin Xuan glanced at her with some surprise, then nodded knowingly, "Okay."

He stood up, picked up the two glasses of wine, and handed one of them to Zhao Wan.

Their arms were intertwined, bringing them closer together so they could clearly feel each other's breath.

Two blushes rose on Zhao Wan's face, and she lowered her eyelids, not daring to meet his gaze.

Lin Xuan remained calm and politely drank the slightly bitter wine in his cup in one gulp. Zhao Wan followed suit, enduring the unpleasant taste, but was choked and coughed.

Lin Xuan handed her the bridal veil at the opportune moment. She took it, gently wiped her mouth, and whispered, "Thank you."

After the toasting ceremony, the entire process of this grand wedding was officially completed.

As for the final step of the wedding night, it was naturally omitted.

After putting down her wine glass, Lin Xuan naturally began making the bed.

He swept the dried fruits, such as longan and red dates, which symbolized "having a son soon," aside, then picked up a pillow and said to Zhao Wan, "It's getting late, let's get some rest. You sleep on the bed, I'll sleep on the floor."

There was only one quilt in the new room, but fortunately there was a clean carpet next to the bed. Lin Xuan didn't mind, put down the pillow, and lay down.

Zhao Wan looked at him, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

He was such a gentleman, leaving her the comfortable wedding bed while he willingly slept on the cold floor.

She opened her mouth as if to say something, but ultimately remained silent.

"Then... you should rest early, sir."

She only said this one sentence in the end, then silently walked to the bedside, lay down fully clothed, and pulled the quilt over herself.

Lin Xuan extinguished the red candle with a wave of his hand. In the darkness, both of them kept their eyes open, unable to sleep.

As Zhao Wan lay on the wedding bed, feeling the comfort of the soft mattress beneath her and the warm quilt covering her, she was filled with a sense of unreality.

From extreme fear and despair to the comfort and peace of mind she felt that day was like a very long dream.

After finally relaxing, a wave of drowsiness washed over her, her eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and soon the sound of steady breathing filled the air from the bed.

Lin Xuan rested her head on her arm, listening to the steady breathing coming from above, and gazing at the blurry curtains above her head, her mind filled with countless thoughts.

He thought that after getting rid of the mandala and the Nanzhao Kingdom, he would be able to completely control his own destiny.

Unexpectedly, upon arriving in the capital, not only was marriage out of his control, but even making friends had to be done secretly.

For now, we can only take it one step at a time.

That night, inside the Jinluan Pavilion, the red curtains and wedding quilts remained unchanged.

There was no whispering sweet nothings or tender affection; the newlyweds, though in the same room, were clearly separated.

……

The next morning, as dawn broke, Lin Xuan woke up first. The floor was hard, and although his cultivation level wasn't uncomfortable, it wasn't as comfortable as sleeping in a bed.

Almost at the same time he sat up, Zhao Wan also opened her eyes.

She didn't sleep soundly that night, waking up at the slightest noise. Seeing that Lin Xuan had already gotten up, she quickly sat up as well.

She glanced at Lin Xuan, then hurriedly looked away.

This was the first time in the past nineteen years that she had woken up in the same room as a man.

Lin Xuan walked outside the tent and said, "Let's change our clothes first."

The wedding dress was very heavy, and two sets of everyday clothes were also prepared in the bridal chamber.

Zhao Wan hid under the covers and slowly took off her wedding dress, changing into an ordinary skirt. Lin Xuan also changed into her everyday clothes outside.

Just as the two finished tidying their clothes, the female official's voice rang out from outside the door: "Lord Chen, Madam, the time has come. We servants have come to help you and Madam with your washing and dressing."

Lin Xuan said calmly, "No need. I am not used to having someone serve me while I wash and groom myself. You can wait outside."

His voice carried an unquestionable authority, and the female official did not speak again, standing respectfully outside the door.

A moment later, Lin Xuan opened the door.

Several palace maids stood at the door. One of them, a female official, held a delicate silver tray in both hands, smiled at Lin Xuan, and said, "Lord Chen, please give me the handkerchief so I can return to the palace to report..."

Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow slightly. The handkerchief was meant to collect a virgin's blood. The two of them hadn't consummated their marriage last night, so where would the blood come from?

This item was not included in the wedding itinerary provided by the Ministry of Rites.

His Majesty has decreed this marriage; does he even need to interfere with such matters?

Lin Xuan glanced back at Zhao Wan, whose face was pale, and said to the female official, "His Majesty's bestowal of this marriage is of extraordinary significance. I wish to keep that handkerchief myself; may I ask if that is permissible..."

The female official nodded slightly and said, "Of course, but I still need to see the handkerchief with my own eyes first."

Lin Xuan said, "Wait a moment."

He closed the door. Zhao Wan stood beside him, looking panicked. She grabbed Lin Xuan's sleeve and whispered, "What do we do..."

Lin Xuan didn't say anything. He walked to the bedside, gently ran his fingertip across his fingertip, and a drop of bright red blood seeped out.

He casually smeared the drop of blood onto the clean white handkerchief by the bedside. The bright red spot, like a red plum blossom in the snow, suddenly bloomed and was particularly eye-catching.

Zhao Wan's cheeks flushed slightly as she watched his actions, and she subconsciously turned her head away.

Although she knew it was fake, the scene still made her heart race, and she felt an indescribable sense of shame and embarrassment.

Lin Xuan waited a while longer, until the bloodstains on the handkerchief dried, before walking to the door, reopening it, and saying to the female official, "I'm sorry, I was too engrossed in the moment last night, and I didn't even realize the handkerchief had fallen under the bed. I searched for a long time before finding it..."

The female official smiled slightly and said, "It's normal for a newlywed to be so passionate during the wedding night, but..."

She changed the subject, saying with a half-smile, "This servant observes that Madam is still a virgin... I must have misjudged her. Why don't we have the palace maids verify it, so that I can return to the palace and report back?"

Lin Xuan had forgotten that even Wenren Yue could tell whether he was a virgin or not. These experienced palace ladies must have their own methods for distinguishing virgins.

Zhao Wan's face turned ashen, while Lin Xuan calmly said, "My wife was unwell last night, so I did not consummate our marriage. I had intended to make it easier for you to report back, but since you are unwilling, then forget it. I will consummate our marriage whenever I wish. Do you even need to interfere with this?"

The female official still smiled and said, "His Majesty has decreed this marriage. If you, sir, are unwilling to consummate the marriage, it would be tantamount to deceiving the emperor. Lord Chen, you don't want to bear the crime of deceiving the emperor, do you?"

Lin Xuan discovered that these officials under the emperor's nose often used crimes such as "deceiving the emperor" and "disobeying imperial orders" to intimidate people. The commander did this, and so did this female official in the harem.

His face darkened, and he said coldly, "Don't try to intimidate me with His Majesty's name. Where were you when I risked my life for the court? Do you think you're qualified to threaten me?"

His Majesty treats him so well because he hopes that he will continue to serve the court.

Lin Xuan has already married Zhao Wan as he wished, so he can't punish him for this.

He also needs to show some resistance at appropriate times, otherwise such things may happen more and more often in the future.

After saying that, he ignored the female official, took Zhao Wan's hand, and left.

The female official stood there, facing the direction the two had left, and called out helplessly, "It is the proper etiquette, please do not take offense, Lord Chen. Since the lady is unwell, I will give you another seven days. If you have not consummated the marriage by then, I will report to His Majesty truthfully. You should think of the lady and the Zhao family, even if you do not think of yourself..."

She did not intend to make things difficult for Lord Chen; it was simply the proper etiquette.

Let alone a marriage bestowed by His Majesty, even in the most wealthy families, the bride's handkerchief must be inspected the day after the wedding.

His Majesty has bestowed this marriage upon us, yet we do not consummate our marriage on our wedding night. Wouldn't that be a sign of dissatisfaction with the bestowal of the marriage, and with His Majesty himself...?

But she didn't want to offend this young and promising big shot too much.

Seven days was the maximum grace she could give.

Zhao Wan let Lin Xuan hold her wrist and followed him out of Qinfang Garden.

She turned her head to look at the person beside her. The way he had just lost his temper was completely different from how he was in front of her, but instead of being afraid, she felt a sense of security.

It seemed that as long as he was there, all difficulties would be easily resolved.

This feeling is something I only experienced when I was a child and my father was holding my hand...

A luxurious carriage was already waiting at the entrance of Qinfang Garden.

Lin Xuan helped Zhao Wan into the carriage before letting go of her hand. Zhao Wan looked at him with some worry and whispered, "Sir, will His Majesty be angry with you for treating that female official so badly just now..."

Lin Xuan sat opposite her and said indifferently, "At worst, I'll just be dismissed from my post. I'm happy to have some peace and quiet."

Touched, Zhao Wan whispered, "Thank you."

Lin Xuan did not respond. If he really slept with her, how could he explain it to Qingluan Youmeng?

He made sure they understood perfectly the night before last…

Not long after.

Chen Mansion.

A carriage slowly came to a stop in front of the mansion gate.

The steward, leading a group of maids and servants, stood in neat rows at the gate. Seeing two figures alight from the carriage, they immediately bowed respectfully: "Welcome back to the manor, Master and Madam..."

After getting off the carriage, Zhao Wan took Lin Xuan's arm.

The two entered the Chen residence together. Normally, the second day after the wedding is for the newlyweds to pay respects to their parents-in-law, but since Lin Xuan's parents are both deceased, this procedure was skipped.

Walking into the courtyard, Lin Xuan turned to look at everyone and said, "From now on, Madam is the only mistress of this Chen family. All internal affairs of the family will be decided by Madam. If anyone dares to disrespect Madam, don't blame me for being impolite."

"Yes!"

The steward and all the maids and servants bowed.

Lin Xuan looked at Zhiqin and instructed, "I still have some things to take care of. Zhiqin, please show Madam around the house first, and tell the kitchen to prepare some breakfast for her..."

After arranging all this, Lin Xuan returned to his study alone.

She would feel restrained if I were around.

He took out his telescope from the drawer and began to send a message to Qingluan, who was thousands of miles away. Although it was their wedding night, he hadn't done anything, so it shouldn't be considered philandering, right...?

After Lin Xuan left, the atmosphere in the courtyard seemed to relax a bit.

Zhiqin stepped forward, smiled at Zhao Wan, and said, "Madam, your room has been arranged. I will take you to see it. If there is anything you do not like, I will have it adjusted immediately."

Zhao Wan nodded and, surrounded by Zhiqin and the others, slowly walked towards the inner courtyard.

Looking at all this unfamiliar surroundings, she felt a little lost and unprepared to become the mistress of this mansion.

Fortunately, her husband took great care of her, and the maids and servants in the mansion treated her with great respect. The situation was a hundred or a thousand times better than she had expected. Looking back now, it felt like a dream...

But soon, a sense of worry surfaced in her mind...

Seven days.

This is a marriage bestowed by His Majesty. If they have not consummated their marriage within seven days, it would be considered deceiving the Emperor.

This crime is one that he, as one of the Sixteen Guards, cannot bear, and the Zhao family is even less capable of bearing it.

She cannot harm everyone because of her selfishness.

She bit her lower lip lightly, having already made up her mind.

If it's him, then it's not impossible...

(End of this chapter)