Tiger Owl

Chapter 196 Bridal Chamber Flowers and Candles
Before dawn, Xu Wei quietly got up, but Gan Ning pulled her back into the covers.

"Gan Lang, it's almost dawn!" Xu Wei whispered urgently.

"I'm resting today, stay with me and sleep a little longer."

"No, that won't do! I have to clock in in the morning, and my older sister isn't feeling well. Starting today, I'll do the clocking in. Or, I can come back and keep you company after I clock in."

Gan Ning nodded and whispered in her ear, "Let's consummate our marriage after your period is over!"

Xu Wei nodded shyly. After sleeping with her lover for one night, her fear gradually disappeared, and she began to look forward to consummating their marriage.

Xu Wei put on a long dress, then lowered her head and kissed her lover again. "I'm going now, I'll be back in a bit."

"Go!"

Xu Wei went downstairs to her own courtyard to wash up. At 1:15 AM, Xu Wei began to take attendance in the central courtyard.

Morning roll call was a necessary task for every wealthy household. In some cases, the steward was in charge of this task because he held a high position, but in most households, it was the head of the household who performed the roll call.

After finishing her roll call, Xu Wei hurriedly returned to the study. Gan Ning was still lying on the couch, pretending to close his eyes and wait for her. She had no choice but to obediently take off her long dress and crawl back into bed.

Gan Ning was no longer sleepy and began to move around in the blankets.

As dawn broke, Xu Wei vaguely heard Xiao Qiao calling outside. She quickly found Xiao Yi, who was curled up in front of the bed, and hurriedly got up to put on Xiao Yi.

The moment Xu Wei stood up, Gan Ning squinted. Sunlight shone on the creamy white snow, its curves undulating like a beautiful oil painting.

"How beautiful!" Gan Ning exclaimed sincerely.

Xu Wei's beautiful eyes sparkled with joy, but Xiao Qiao's shouts were like a death knell, preventing her from letting her lover continue to admire this exquisite beauty.

She hurriedly put on a long dress, her face flushed, and ran downstairs. She sat down and covered her burning cheeks with the back of her cool hands to calm the surging spring fever in her heart.

This was the first time she had been so open and intimate with her lover. Except for the final step, she did everything that she should and shouldn't have done.

"Yunqing, why aren't you opening the door? What are you doing?" Xiao Qiao shouted from outside.

Xu Wei hurriedly went up to open the door. Xiao Qiao brought in a basin of hot water, placed it on the low table in the outer room, let out a long sigh of relief, and rubbed her lower back. "My goodness, I'm exhausted!"

"Ayu, did you bring this from the kitchen?"

"Or else?"

Xu Wei chuckled, "With so many servants, why did you fetch the water yourself?"

"I want to give it a try! But I promise this will be the last time."

At this point, Xiao Qiao looked Xu Wei up and down suspiciously. "Why didn't you open the door for so long? Wait, your skirt sash isn't tied, and the buttons on your chest aren't fastened. Could it be that you two were..."

Xu Wei hurriedly stepped forward and covered her mouth, "Don't think nonsense, I'm on my period!"

"Then why did it take you so long?"

“I was asleep when you woke me up by knocking on the door. You were shouting so urgently that I didn’t have time to tie my skirt.”

"Hehe! I'm sorry."

At this moment, Gan Ning came down from the second floor wearing only his underwear and said with a smile, "Ayu, is your eldest sister up yet?"

"Sister, get up, Gan Lang. I've brought you some hot water. Let me help you wash up today!" Xiao Qiao said with a flattering smile.

Gan Ning smiled. "I'm off today. Go and bring me breakfast! I'd like to eat breakfast in the study, the three of us can eat together." Xiao Qiao was a little disappointed, but Gan Ning's last sentence cheered her up. "I'll go right now!"

Xiao Qiao ran out, and Xu Wei began to busily serve her beloved husband as he washed up and combed his hair.

Just after they finished washing up, Xiao Qiao came in carrying a large food box, followed by Da Qiao.

The four of them laid out breakfast on the long table and began to eat around it.

After breakfast, Xu Wei and Xiao Qiao tidied up the table, while Gan Ning and Da Qiao took a leisurely stroll in the garden.

Gan Ning thought for a moment and said, "I want to have a simple marriage, while you are not yet too obvious."

Da Qiao, arm in arm with her husband, smiled and said, "Sure! Yun Qing can come too! That way, it will be perfectly legitimate for you to take her into your household."

Gan Ning nodded, "If we leave Ayu alone, she'll feel uncomfortable. So why don't the three of us go together?"

"That's good, of course. Let's settle the formalities first, and then we can consummate the marriage later. So, when does my husband plan to hold the wedding?"

"The sooner the better, five days from now!"

Five days later, Gan Ning held a simple and low-key wedding, with Lu Su as the witness and Jiang Wan as the master of ceremonies. More than sixty guests were invited, and together with their families, about two hundred people witnessed the wedding of Marquis Gan Ning of Wuchang.

Gan Ning officially married Da Qiao, Xiao Qiao, and Xu Wei. In fact, the entire Yuzhang County knew that the three of them were the lord's wives, but this wedding ceremony was a formal recognition of their status.

Da Qiao was the principal wife, Xu Wei was the secondary wife, and Xiao Qiao was the concubine. Since they were all wives, they were all referred to as "Madam".

Amidst the joyous and lively celebration, Da Qiao led the way, followed by Xu Wei and Xiao Qiao, all dressed in identical wedding attire and adorned with phoenix crowns. At the master of ceremonies' call, the four held their wedding ceremony. Afterward, the newlyweds left the stage, and the banquet continued.

Tonight is Xu Wei's wedding night. The bridal chamber is in her bedroom. Xu Wei is dressed in her wedding gown, her face full of shy anticipation for the moment to arrive.

She had been sleeping with Gan Lang for the past few nights. Although they hadn't taken the final step, their intimacy had eliminated any barriers between them, and Xu Wei's heart was completely at ease. She even looked forward to that moment, to dedicate her whole being to her beloved husband.

The sound of a door closing came from outside; the groom had seen off the guests and entered the bridal chamber.

Gan Ning walked into the room and immediately picked Xu Wei up by the knees. Xu Wei lowered her head shyly and whispered, "Gan Lang, turn off the light!"

Gan Ning turned and blew out the lamp. The curtains were lifted and then fell back down, leaving the inside pitch black, but the heat melted their hearts together.

Xu Wei was soon drawn into a world she had never experienced before. She tossed and turned in that wonderful world until the clapper sounded at dawn, and then she fell into a sweet sleep in her husband's arms.

Although it was her wedding night, Da Qiao remained as calm as ever. Her large wedding dress concealed her nearly five-month pregnancy. She was also a little tired, and after the wedding, she returned to her bedroom with the help of her maids.

Her younger sister, Xiao Qiao, came back with her. Knowing that her sister was feeling a little uncomfortable, she asked her to sleep with her that night to comfort her.

"Ayu, we agreed that your wedding would be next year, so don't get emotional now."

Xiao Qiao pouted and muttered, "I'm not being emotional, I'm just a little upset. Sister, it's our wedding night! But I'm not included."

Da Qiao said irritably, "Fine, I'll give you another wedding next year, and make up for your wedding night!"

Xiao Qiao actually knew in her heart that if Xu Wei really gave her the wedding night candles, she would be so scared that she would run away.

"There's no need for that. I'm just angry with myself. Why can Yunqing do it, but I can't? She's only a month older than me."

"It has nothing to do with age, it depends on your own condition. Just like fruit, I am already ripe, Yunqing is half red, and you are still a green apricot. Who would want to pick a green apricot? That's why Dr. Liu tells you to eat more meat so you can grow faster."

Xiao Qiao sighed, "Alright! Tomorrow I'll eat some big pieces of fatty meat and let this green apricot ripen sooner."

(End of this chapter)