Zhu Yuanzhang: My second son is invincible!

The banquet was held in the main hall and front and back courtyards of the Wu King's Mansion, with a total of three hundred tables.

All the civil and military officials, as well as the imperial relatives and nobles, had arrived. Xu Da, Chang Yuchun, and Lan Yu, among other military officers, sat at one table and had already started drinking.

Zhu Hui changed into a light formal dress and went from table to table toasting.

He didn't know how to give fancy toasts; he would just raise his glass and say, "Drink."

Then he drank it all in one gulp.

The guests didn't mind at all; on the contrary, they thought the prince was very honest.

The civil officials took cautious sips, while the military officers downed their drinks heartily. Lan Yu, in particular, grabbed Zhu Hui and drank three cups in a row, slurring his words, "Your Highness! Take me with you to battle next time! I'll be your vanguard!"

"Okay." Zhu Li nodded and downed another cup.

When the toast was served to Xu Da's table, Xu Da stood up and said earnestly, "Your Highness, that girl... is entrusted to you."

"Don't worry, Uncle Xu, I'm good to her," Zhu Hui said earnestly.

Xu Da patted him on the shoulder, everything was understood without words.

After going around toasting everyone, Zhu Hui had drunk at least dozens of cups.

But his expression remained unchanged, and his steps were steady, making Zhu Di click his tongue in amazement, "Second Brother, how did you develop such a high alcohol tolerance?"

Zhu Biao chuckled: "Your second brother has a special constitution; he can't get drunk."

Sure enough, after Zhu Hui toasted all the guests, he was able to walk in a straight line back to the main table and sit down next to Zhu Yuanzhang.

"Father, I toast you." He raised his wine glass.

Zhu Yuanzhang was in a good mood today and welcomed everyone, so the father and son clinked glasses.

"Second son, now that you're married, you're an adult. You need to be more mature and responsible in your actions from now on," Zhu Yuanzhang rarely lectured.

"I know, but when it's time to chop someone up, you still have to chop them up." Zhu Li nodded, picked up a piece of braised pork and stuffed it into his mouth, mumbling.

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed loudly, "That's right! Those who deserve to be beheaded should still be beheaded!"

The banquet lasted until 7 PM.

The guests gradually dispersed, and Zhu Li saw off the last group before turning to walk back.

The night wind blew against my face, carrying the smell of alcohol and a chill.

He looked up at the sky and saw a bright moon hanging high in the sky. The red lanterns inside and outside the mansion swayed gently in the wind, turning the night into a warm orange-red.

He walked to the door of the new house, paused, and then pushed the door open and went inside.

Guanyin Nu was still sitting on the edge of the bed in her wedding dress. She had already lifted her veil herself and was eating a plate of pastries in small bites.

Seeing him come in, she hurriedly put down the plate and sat up straight.

"Are you full?" Zhu Hui asked.

"Hmm..." Guanyin Nu responded softly.

Zhu Hui walked to the table, poured the nuptial wine, and handed her a cup.

The two intertwined their arms and drank the wine.

The wine was very spicy, and Guanyin Nu coughed from the spiciness.

Zhu Hui patted her back, the movement clumsy but gentle.

After finishing your drinks, it's time to rest.

Guanyin Nu's fingers turned white with nervousness.

Zhu Hui walked to the window, opened it, and pointed to the night sky outside, saying, "Look, the moon is especially round tonight."

Guanyin Nu looked up blankly.

Moonlight streamed in and fell upon the two of them.

"In my hometown in the mountains, when the moon is full, the wolves howl. When I was little, I was afraid of the dark, so my dad would hold me and say that the wolves howled because they missed home."

Zhu Li leaned against the window, her voice slightly ethereal.

Guanyin Nu listened quietly.

"Later I wasn't afraid anymore because I had an axe. Now you don't need to be afraid either, because I have an axe too." Zhu Hui turned to look at her and said with a simple smile.

These words seemed nonsensical, but Guanyin Nu understood them.

Looking at his profile in the moonlight, she suddenly felt that this person might really be able to give her a home.

"Go to sleep!" Zhu Li closed the window, walked to the bedside, and naturally began to take off her outer robe.

Guanyin Nu blushed again and turned her back.

The candle was blown out.

In the darkness, Zhu Li lay down, and then, a pair of hands wrapped around her body.

Immediately afterwards, Guanyin Nu's delicate body trembled violently, and then she felt a unique masculine aura rushing towards her.

She gently closed her eyes, listening to the increasingly close breathing, and Guanyin Nu felt her heart race with panic.

Outside the window, the night watchman walked by, striking his clapper.

"The weather is dry, be careful with fire..."

The sound gradually faded into the distance.

On a winter night in Yingtian Prefecture, red lanterns burned all night long.

...................

Zhu Hui woke up just as dawn was breaking.

When he opened his eyes, Guanyin Nu had been curled up in his arms all night, sleeping like a frightened little animal.

He carefully withdrew his arm, his movements as light as if he were doing something wrong, but the moment he moved, the person in his arms woke up with a start.

Guanyin Nu suddenly opened her eyes and saw Zhu Hui's face so close to hers. She froze for two seconds, then her face flushed red.

"You...I..." she stammered incoherently.

"Good morning." Zhu Li grinned, looking rather simple-minded, completely oblivious to anything amiss.

Guanyin Nu shrank back a little. Although the two had already consummated their marriage, she was still a little shy.

Zhu Hui had already sat up, stretched, and the muscle lines on her body were particularly clear in the morning light.

Guanyin Nu blushed even more and quickly looked away.

"Um... according to your rules, should I offer tea to my father and mother?" she asked softly.

Zhu Hui scratched his head and thought for a moment before saying, "Oh, it seems there is such a rule."

"Then we need to get up. You...you get up first," Guanyin Nu said somewhat nervously.

Zhu Hui nodded and said, "Okay."

After saying that, Zhu Li stood up, put on his clothes, and walked outside.

Zhu Hui pushed open the door and went out. Qingmei and Qingzhu, who were waiting outside, quickly curtsied and said, "Your Highness, Your Highness, this servant will assist you with your toilette."

"Serve the Princess Consort first, I don't need to." Zhu Li waved his hand and strode out.

Guanyin Nu felt a warmth in her heart as she watched his retreating figure. Although he looked simple and honest, he was actually very caring.

Guanyin Nu washed and changed into a formal royal princess's everyday dress. It was no longer the bright red wedding dress from last night, but an apricot-yellow cross-collar ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with a light gold vest over it. Her hair was styled into an elegant peony bun, with only a single jade hairpin inserted.

"Your Highness looks so dignified today," Qingmei said with a smile as she straightened her collar.

Guanyin Nu looked at the person in the mirror and felt somewhat unfamiliar.

In the past, she would either wear military uniform or Mongolian robe, and her hair would be braided for easy riding.

Such elaborate Han-style clothing made her feel somewhat restrained in her movements.

Zhu Hui was much simpler. He changed into a blue casual outfit and tied his hair into a bun. If it weren't for his fairly decent face, he would look no different from a street urchin.

He just went to the outhouse.

"Your Highness, your hair..." Qingzhu whispered a reminder.

"That feels good."

Zhu Hui waved his hand, walked to Guanyin Nu's side, stared at her for a long time, and suddenly grinned and said, "Beautiful."

Guanyin Nu blushed slightly and lowered her head.

At exactly 5:00 AM, the carriage was already waiting outside the mansion gate.

The distance from the Prince of Wu's residence to the Forbidden City was not far, but Guanyin Nu sat in the carriage, her fingers constantly twisting the hem of her clothes.

Seeing her nervousness, Zhu Li took out a pastry wrapped in oil paper from his pocket and asked, "Want some? I picked it up last night."

It's the osmanthus cake from last night's banquet.

Guanyin Nu shook her head and said, "I'm not hungry."

"Then why are you so nervous! Your parents aren't going to eat you." Zhu Li took a bite of the pastry and mumbled.

"No... I am a Northern Yuan person, and I was once a prisoner. Your Majesty and Your Highness, would you..." Guanyin Nu pursed her lips and said.

"You're overthinking it. My father said that once you enter the Zhu family, you're a member of the Zhu family. You saw it when my mother gave you the jade pendant last night; she likes you."

Zhu Hui swallowed her snack and said seriously.

Guanyin Nu felt somewhat relieved when she thought of the pair of dragon and phoenix jade pendants.

The carriage stopped in front of the palace gate, and passengers transferred to sedan chairs inside the palace.

When the sedan chair was carried to the outside of Kunning Palace, it was just dawn.

Candles and lamps have already been lit in the main hall of Kunning Palace.

Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma sat in the main seats, Zhu Biao stood to the side, and Lady Chang held Zhu Xiong Ying and sat at the lower seat.

The little one was still asleep, yawning while leaning against his mother's chest.

Guanyin Nu took a deep breath and followed Zhu Hui inside.

According to custom, on the second day after the wedding, the bride must pay respects to her parents-in-law, offer tea, and address them in a different way; this is called "paying respects to her parents-in-law."

Guanyin Nu had asked the nanny about the procedure before going to bed last night, and although she was nervous at the moment, she still remembered the steps.

She and Zhu Hui knelt down together and performed the grand ceremony of three bows and nine kowtows.

"Daughter-in-law Guanyinnu greets Father Emperor and Mother Empress." Her voice trembled slightly, but her words were clear and distinct.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked her over but didn't say anything.

Empress Ma smiled gently and said, "Good child, get up!"

The two rose, and a palace maid brought a tea tray. Guanyinnu picked up a cup first, walked to Zhu Yuanzhang, and offered it with both hands: "Father, please have some tea."

Zhu Yuanzhang took it, drank a sip, and nodded: "Hmm."

Then came Empress Ma.

Empress Ma accepted the tea but didn't drink it immediately. Instead, she looked at Guanyin Nu and said softly, "From now on, we're family. Don't be too reserved. Li'er is honest and straightforward, so please bear with her."

"Yes, Mother," Guanyin replied.

"This is for you. It was left to me by my mother and has been with me for thirty years. Now I'm passing it on to you." Empress Ma took off a mutton-fat jade bracelet from her wrist and personally put it on Guanyin Nu's hand.

Hmm! The Chang family also had one of these jade bracelets.

The jade bracelet was warm and smooth, still retaining body heat.

Guanyin Nu's eyes welled up with tears, and she couldn't help but say, "Thank you, Mother Empress."