TIGR Chapter 117

The Imperial Guard’s Revenge

Chapter 117 Returning to the Mansion

Almost a month later, Wang Yanqing wore her wedding dress again. It was the same dress, in the same place, yet her feelings were completely different.

When she entered the Lu Mansion on the day of her wedding, wearing the phoenix crown and bridal gown, she only felt dizzy and disoriented. She had trusted Lu Heng so much, seeing him as her only family, her lifelong companion, but Lu Heng was deceiving her. All the feelings she had for him were built on the foundation of a “Second Brother,” and with that lowest beam removed, the entire structure collapsed.

The blow was too strong, and Wang Yanqing lost all trust in Lu Heng. The only thought in her mind was to escape. However, during the most impulsive and angry period of her life, Lu Heng forcibly held onto her. He slowly wore her down like a frog in boiling water, crumbling her defenses bit by bit. She needed space and Lu Heng gave her space. She needed respect and Lu Heng never disturbed her. Through his actions, Lu Heng showed her that even though their story had begun with deceit, his feelings for her were still genuine.

In this month of separation, Wang Yanqing also pondered, was it “Second Brother” or Lu Heng that she truly liked? Did she actually love him, or was it because someone had been kind to her that she was willing to marry?

If that person had been any other man and not Lu Heng, would she have agreed to marry them?

She struggled with these questions for an entire month. It wasn’t until the emperor told her what Lu Heng said that Wang Yanqing was suddenly enlightened. What she liked was the “Second Brother” she saw when she woke up. She noticed his appearance, his temperament, and his morally questionable actions, and she was willing to accept them all. When she agreed to the marriage proposal, the person she wanted to marry was Lu Heng, not her adoptive brother.

The curiosity and admiration she once had for the opposite sex in her youth, as well as her gratitude for the care given by the Old Fu Marquis, had already been buried beneath the cliff along with the snow in the eleventh year of Jiajing.

Now that she regained her memories, even though Fu Tingzhou stood before her, she could face him calmly.

Today, as Wang Yanqing donned the phoenix crown and bridal robes, she was truly willing to wear the wedding gown. Unfortunately, the phoenix crown was too heavy, and she couldn’t wear it properly by herself. As Wang Yanqing sat in front of the dressing mirror, adjusting her hair, Lu Heng slowly walked up from behind and took a lock of her black hair, saying sincerely: “Truly beautiful.”

Wang Yanqing was accustomed to the attention others paid to her appearance since she was young, but her cheeks still flushed with embarrassment at his words: “My hairpin hasn’t been arranged yet.”

“These are just outward appearances, there’s no need to be overly particular.” Lu Heng said as he brought over a plate of nuptial wine, “Once we drink from the same cup, we are one, never to be separated.”

The nuptial wine was one of the most important symbols of a wedding. Wang Yanqing looked around hesitantly: “Here?”

Lu Heng already picked up one of the cups, completely unconcerned with the unconventional venue: “It’s only the two of us. Why should we care about those empty formalities?”

Wang Yanqing thought about it. Her phoenix crown wasn’t on yet, so there was no need to be too particular about drinking the marriage wine. She took the other cup, circled her arm around Lu Heng’s, and drank it down solemnly.

Wang Yanqing rarely drank, and after a cup of strong liquor, her face quickly flushed, and her head started to feel dizzy. For Lu Heng, the cup of wine was like water, and his face showed no reaction. He supported Wang Yanqing and asked: “How is it? Was it uncomfortable?”

Wang Yanqing shook her head, struggling to focus her gaze, and said: “I’m fine, just a little dizzy.”

Just dizzy. He helped Wang Yanqing loosen half of her hairpin, carefully cut a strand of her hair, and placed it alongside his own. He said: “A married couple binds their hair together, so there is no doubt of their love. After drinking the nuptial wine and binding our hair, the wedding is complete.”

Lu Heng tied the two strands of hair together and placed them in an exquisite wooden box. Usually, he was always humming and smiling faintly, but as he looked down at the box, his expression was neutral, yet somehow it allowed a sense of peace. He carefully stored the wooden box, then supported Wang Yanqing and said: “After the nuptial wine, it’s time for the next step.”

Wang Yanqing was still thinking about what came after the nuptial wine, was it scattering the tent or the fertility dumplings? After drinking the wine, her thoughts seemed especially slow. Before she could figure it out, her body suddenly felt light, as Lu Heng lifted her up and placed her on the dressing table.

Wang Yanqing instinctively grabbed Lu Heng’s arm and asked: “Brother, what’s happening?”

She called him “Brother” again, and Lu Heng was just relieved she didn’t call him “Second Brother.” Gently, he parted her knees and coaxed: “Qing Qing, you’re being naughty again. What should you call me?”

“Brother?”

“No, the other one.”

Wang Yanqing blinked her big, watery eyes, looking at him in confusion. Lu Heng wasn’t in a hurry, he calmly but resolutely let her think. Wang Yanqing pondered for a long time, and finally, tentatively asked: “Husband?”

“Qing Qing is really good.” Lu Heng was completely satisfied. He lovingly stroked the edge of the hair he had just cut, his voice low as he murmured, “Say it again.”

“Husband…” Wang Yanqing’s mind was still fuzzy, and she subconsciously spoke following Lu Heng’s lead. A gust of cold wind blew across her body, and she suddenly realized that her slip had disappeared, leaving only a layer of formal, luxurious, but exceptionally large, brocaded skirt covering her legs.

Wang Yanqing instantly remembered something, and the effects of the alcohol seemed to lift slightly. She hurriedly asked: “Wait a minute, why are you here…”

But before she could finish her sentence, she bit her lip and angrily struck Lu Heng’s shoulder: “Let go, this is my wedding dress! Let me down!”

Lu Heng felt the force of her fists against his shoulder and smiled with satisfaction: “It seems you have plenty of energy. That’s even better.”

In the glow of the bright red shadows, a man stood before a dressing table, his attire neat and dignified, his tall figure elegant and poised. The edges of the dressing table were piled with the grand skirts of a woman’s dress, black and red fabric draped over the table’s edge, folded in layers, dignified and magnificent. Suddenly, a restrained voice sounded abruptly, the sleeve brushing over the table, and the room filled with the sharp, clinking sounds of metal and jewels falling to the floor.

At the same time, amidst a crowd’s teasing, Fu Tingzhou lifted Hong Wanqing’s bridal veil and drank the nuptial wine. The bitter wine slid down his throat, leaving a sharp, painful sting in its wake. Laughter filled the air, and the woman before him lowered her head shyly. For a brief moment, Fu Tingzhou thought he was drunk, his vision blurred, and he saw a shadow of someone who should never have been there.

The moon shone over the land, and people went their separate ways. Sorrow and joy return to different places, the spring wind stirs the willows along the river for thousands of miles.

She said she would leave the capital, and this farewell would be final. She even claimed their childhood promise no longer held any weight, calling it a mere joke of youth. It was Fu Tingzhou who broke their promise first. He had no face to ask her to stay. Since she was determined to leave this land full of rumors, not disturbing her was perhaps the last thing Fu Tingzhou could do for her.

Fu Tingzhou thought, in this vast world, no one truly depended on another to survive. She would have a new life, a new family, and he would get used to it.

But then why did he feel such emptiness in his heart?

·

When Wang Yanqing woke up the next morning, it was still early. She lay for a while, confused, why did the bed curtains look so strange? She glanced to the side, and through the gap in the curtains, she suddenly saw the pile of red bridal attire on the floor.

Wang Yanqing instantly became alert, and last night’s memories rushed back to her. She turned to look at the calm and handsome side profile of the person sleeping next to her, and an overwhelming sense of anger surged within her.

Wang Yanqing, ignoring the discomfort in her body, randomly grabbed a middle garment from the bedside cabinet and threw it over herself. She lifted the blanket and hurried out of bed, hoping to tidy up the clothes before the maid came in. Not only were the clothes scattered on the floor, but the dressing table, the screen…

It was almost unbearable to look at.

Although Wang Yanqing was angry at Lu Heng’s recklessness, she didn’t want to wake him up. She planned to quietly slip past him. However, just as Wang Yanqing climbed halfway out, a pair of hands suddenly reached out from beside her and wrapped around her waist, pulling her back into his arms.

Caught off guard, she lost her balance and Wang Yanqing tumbled straight into Lu Heng’s embrace. His eyes remained closed, a smile lingering on his lips. His chest vibrated gently as he asked: “Where are you going?”

Wang Yanqing fell asleep in the midst of the chaos last night. When she woke up just now, she wasn’t even wearing an undergarment. Though she had thrown on a middle garment, the ties were loosely fastened, and when he tugged at it, the collar almost slipped off. Her delicate, snow-like skin was half-covered as she leaned against Lu Heng. Wang Yanqing didn’t dare move too much, but quietly tried to pry his arm off her: “It’s nothing, I’m just going to tidy up the clothes.”

“Why tidy them up?”

Wang Yanqing was caught off guard by his questioning tone. She hesitated for a while before replying: “The room is a mess… If someone sees it, what would they think?”

“We’re married now.”

After hearing this, Wang Yanqing was completely confused and didn’t understand Lu Heng’s meaning: “So what?”

Lu Heng, feeling the soft, almost boneless, and watery texture of her in his arms, flipped her over and laid her down on the bed. His hand unconsciously traced the curve of her alluring waist: “They’ll get used to it.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Yanqing’s face slightly changed. This beast, did he mean to do things like this again in the future? Wang Yanqing didn’t want to get used to it at all. She tried to get up, but Lu Heng’s hand on her waist tightened threateningly: “Dare to move again?”

Wang Yanqing could feel something, and she had no choice but to freeze in place. After the struggle, her middle garment had completely come undone. The pure white fabric draped over her body, faintly revealing her long neck, graceful collarbones, skin as smooth as satin, and the curve of her waist held by a pair of arms. The loose robe folded into layers of wrinkles, and below that, her long, slender legs.

Wang Yanqing tensed up, but then quietly moved her legs and adjusted her waist into a more comfortable angle. She stared at Lu Heng’s face, which was just inches away, and asked: “What did you put in the wine last night?”

Lu Heng’s eyes closed, and his eyelashes appeared particularly long. His eyelids fluttered slightly, and his voice carried a trace of amusement: “You think I am the kind of person who would drug a woman?”

The most striking feature of Lu Heng was his eyes, glittering with light, always carrying a natural smile. Most of the time, Wang Yanqing found herself drawn to his eyes. Now, with his eyes closed, it was as if there were no distractions. She could clearly see his smooth bone structure, his handsome brow, the sharpness of his narrow nose. They said his thin lips were cold-hearted, but they were curved with an almost imperceptible smile, with a certain detached elegance, giving him an air of someone noble and unearthly.

But Wang Yanqing knew this was just an illusion, because his hand had already slipped under her robe and was circling her waist in a suggestive manner. Wang Yanqing unconsciously tensed her legs and clenched her jaw, she said: “Do you dare say you didn’t tamper with the wine last night?”

“Unfair.” Lu Heng smiled, his lips curling slightly. He tightened his arms around her, pulling the soft, impossibly warm body in his embrace even closer, “I only brought you a cup of wine with a rich, warming flavor. How is that tampering?”

“Was it intentional?”

“I did many things yesterday. Which one are you referring to?”

Wang Yanqing’s mind suddenly flashed with the recklessness of last night, and her face immediately turned red. Lu Heng had learned things from somewhere, and there were so many variations. By the latter half of the night, Wang Yanqing had collapsed, only begging him to return to the bed, but he refused, insisting on forcing things in places that were not meant for such actions. Wang Yanqing couldn’t even bear to face her dressing mirror.

Seeing her bite her lip, unable to speak, Lu Heng chuckled lightly. He leaned down, holding her tightly, his chin resting heavy on her collarbone. He said: “Last time, I was so regretful. Such beautiful clothes, yet I didn’t get to take them off myself. Let me fulfill that wish now.”

Wang Yanqing gritted her teeth and said: “I think you’re having a spring dream.”

Lu Heng chuckled softly, finally opening his eyes, his gaze lingering on her with deep meaning: “Then I hope this dream lasts a bit longer.”

Wang Yanqing sensed the dangerous implication and quickly said: “You still have to go to South Fusi later, don’t be foolish.”

At this moment, the benefits of having a high official position became apparent. Lu Heng leisurely responded: “Even if I don’t go, who would dare to say anything to me?”

Hearing this, Wang Yanqing was afraid he might really stay and cause trouble all day long, and she would have no face to see anyone again. Wang Yanqing felt the tension in the air, and not daring to move, she finally bit her lip and softly pleaded: “Husband…”

Her voice was delicate, with a hint of pitiable grievance. Even though Lu Heng really wanted to continue, he couldn’t just ignore her.

He lowered his head and left a mark on her collarbone, his voice rough as he said: “Say it again.”

“Husband…”

Lu Heng finally understood what it meant by the gentle wife is a hero’s tomb. His heart softened like water, and he bit her lip, releasing all his pent-up emotions. Finally, he rested his forehead against hers: “Wait for me to return.”

|| Author’s Note:

Sorrow and joy return to different places, the spring wind stirs the willows along the river for thousands of miles. — 孟郊 Meng Jiao《夷门雪赠主人》Snow from Yimen Presented to Its Owner

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