My hotel is full of emperors throughout history.

the other side

At the same moment, in Chang'an City, at the Changsun Mansion.

Bright red lanterns hang high, and red ribbons flutter in the wind.

Changsun Wuji's residence was brightly decorated and bustling with guests today.

After all, he was marrying a princess—specifically, Princess Gaoyang, one of His Majesty's most favored daughters.

Changsun Wuji stood at the door to greet the guests, his smile polite and reserved, but deep in his eyes, there was a hint of unease that he couldn't quite put his finger on.

Princess Gaoyang...

He was certainly aware of the princess's reputation.

Spoiled, willful, and shrewish, she was pampered by His Majesty since childhood, and no one dared to offend her.

His kind and honest son, Changsun Chong...

Can it be controlled?

Changsun Wuji shook his head, dismissing the thought.

There's no use thinking about it now.

The auspicious time has arrived.

Changsun Chong, dressed in a bright red wedding robe, stood in front of the hall, his palms sweaty.

He was in his early twenties, with handsome features and a gentle demeanor; he was a well-known gentleman in Chang'an.

He usually studies the classics and learns etiquette, and his greatest wish is to marry a gentle and virtuous wife.

But today...

He glanced furtively at the doorway.

At the entrance, a large sedan chair carried by eight men was slowly lowered.

The sedan curtain was lifted, and a woman dressed in a bright red wedding gown was helped out.

Her face was covered by a veil, so her expression couldn't be seen.

But Changsun Chong clearly felt that gaze pierce through the red veil and land on him—

It's chilly.

His back stiffened.

The matchmaker helped the bride walk over and stood beside him.

The chilly feeling intensified.

Changsun Chong swallowed hard.

The wedding ceremony begins.

"I bow to Heaven and Earth!"

The two turned around and bowed to heaven and earth.

Changsun Chong secretly glanced at the person beside him—

Her movements were precise and her posture elegant; there was nothing wrong with her.

But he felt that the chill had intensified.

"Bowing to our parents again!"

The two turned around and bowed to Changsun Wuji and his wife, who were seated at the head of the table.

Changsun Chong glanced at it again secretly—

I still can't find anything wrong with it.

But he suddenly noticed that the bride's hands were clenched tightly.

His knuckles turned white from gripping the fist so tightly.

Changsun Chong's heart skipped a beat.

"Husband and wife bow to each other—!"

The two stood facing each other.

Through the thin red veil, Changsun Chong seemed to see a pair of eyes—

Those eyes were as cold as ice in winter.

He shivered.

Slowly bend over.

Bowing to each other.

"The ceremony is complete!"

There was thunderous applause.

Changsun Chong breathed a sigh of relief.

But he knew that the real test was yet to come.

Wedding night.

Changsun Chong pushed open the door and went inside.

Inside the room, red candles burned brightly, and the bride sat on the edge of the bed, her veil still on.

He walked over, picked up the scale bar next to him, and gently lifted the veil.

The veil fell off.

A face was revealed.

That face was beautiful, with delicate features and snow-white skin; she was indeed a beauty.

But those eyes—

It was as cold as ice.

Changsun Chong's hand trembled.

"Madam..." he chuckled awkwardly, "It's getting late, perhaps..."

"Or what?"

Princess Gaoyang spoke.

The voice was neither cold nor warm, yet it carried an inexplicable sense of oppression.

Changsun Chong's smile froze on his face.

"Um...take a break?"

"Take a break?"

Princess Gaoyang raised an eyebrow.

She stood up, circled around Changsun Chong, and looked him up and down.

That gaze was as if looking at a commodity waiting to be sold.

Changsun Chong felt a chill run down his spine from her gaze.

"Your Highness, Princess..."

"Call me Madam," Princess Gaoyang said calmly. "Now that I've married you, I'll follow the rules."

Changsun Chong nodded hurriedly, "Yes, yes, Madam..."

Princess Gaoyang stopped in front of him, looking up at him—she was a head shorter than him, but her aura was as if she were looking down on him.

"Changsun Chong".

"exist."

Do you know why I married you?

Changsun Chong was taken aback: "This... is a marriage bestowed by His Majesty..."

"Yes, it was a marriage ordained by my father." Princess Gaoyang nodded. "It wasn't my choice."

Changsun Chong's smile froze completely.

Princess Gaoyang looked at him.

"The person I originally wanted to marry was not you. But my father insisted that I marry you, so I had no choice but to marry you."

Changsun Chong opened his mouth, as if to say something.

Princess Gaoyang did not give him a chance.

"Since I'm married, I accept it. But there are a few things I need to make clear to you."

She took a step forward.

Changsun Chong subconsciously took a step back.

Princess Gaoyang looked at him and a slight smile appeared on her lips—a smile so cold it sent chills down one's spine.

"First of all, mind your own business. I can go wherever I want and do whatever I want."

Changsun Chong was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"Secondly, I don't care about your affairs. I don't concern myself with what you do outside."

Changsun Chong continued to nod.

"Third," she paused, her gaze sweeping over his face, "this room, half for each of us. You sleep on that side, I'll sleep on this side. If you cross this line—"

She didn't finish speaking.

But the unspoken words are more terrifying than the finished words.

Changsun Chong's legs felt a little weak.

"Madam, this...this isn't quite right, is it? After all, we're newlyweds..."

"So what if I'm newly married?" Princess Gaoyang raised an eyebrow. "You have a problem with that?"

Changsun Chong opened his mouth, then closed it again.

Princess Gaoyang nodded in satisfaction.

She turned around, walked to the bedside, picked up a pillow, and threw it onto the small couch at the other end of the room.

Where will you sleep tonight?

Changsun Chong: ...

He glanced at the small couch, then at the large bed, and finally at Princess Gaoyang's icy face—

He silently picked up his pillow, walked to the small couch, and lay down.

The small couch was hard and narrow, making it difficult to even turn over.

He lay there, staring at the roof, unable to shed a tear.

He recalled his dream wedding night—red candles lit, husband and wife sitting opposite each other, speaking tenderly, playing music in harmony.

Now look at the present—

A hard, narrow couch, cold blankets, and a fierce-looking princess radiating coldness from halfway through the room.

His eyes were a little sore.

Suddenly, another figure appeared in my mind.

That gentle and dignified figure, always with a tender smile.

cousin.

Li Lizhi.

He has liked this cousin since he was a child.

She is gentle, kind, well-educated, and her eyes crinkle when she smiles, like the spring moon.

He had secretly thought how wonderful it would be to marry her.

It could have worked out.

But now, my cousin has married someone from the immortal realm, while he—

He married Gao Yang.

Gao Yang was a fierce-looking guy who made you angry just by looking at him.

Changsun Chong's tears finally flowed.

He silently shouted in his heart:

"My cousin—!!!"

Next door, Princess Gaoyang lay on the large bed and turned over.

Of course she heard the noise from over there.

A slight upturn of her lips revealed a smug smile.

Humph.

Marry this princess?

You'll get what's coming to you.

She closed her eyes and quickly fell asleep.

Poor Changsun Chong tossed and turned on his small couch, unable to sleep all night.

The next morning, Changsun Chong appeared before everyone with dark circles under his eyes.

Changsun Wuji glanced at him, then hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but didn't.

Lady Changsun was heartbroken and took his hand, asking, "My son, did you not sleep well last night?"

Changsun Chong shook his head, forcing out a smile that looked more like a grimace.

"Mother, I'm alright."

Princess Gaoyang emerged from behind, radiant and full of spirit.

She glanced at Changsun Chong's dark circles and a slight smile appeared on her lips.

"Husband, did you not sleep well last night? Should we sleep somewhere else tonight?"

Changsun Chong shuddered and quickly waved his hand:

"No, no need! I slept perfectly!"

Princess Gaoyang nodded and left, satisfied.

Changsun Chong stood there, watching her retreating figure, wanting to cry but unable to.

Changsun Wuji walked over, patted him on the shoulder, and whispered.

"Son, bear with it. Princess Gaoyang is naturally headstrong; perhaps she'll become better in the future."

Changsun Chong looked at his father with a resentful gaze.

"Father, why didn't you stop me back then?"

Changsun Wuji sighed:

"Stop it? That's a marriage ordained by His Majesty, who dares to stop it?"

Changsun Chong remained silent.

He gazed at the rising sun on the horizon and suddenly felt that the days ahead were very, very long.

And that gentle cousin has already become someone else's bride.

He could only shout it out again in his heart.

"Cousin!!!"