She could vaguely see the other hand holding the sash, fair-skinned, slender, with distinct knuckles, and the same-colored wedding robe cuff hanging from his wrist.
It was Duan Ling’s hand.
Lin Ting involuntarily released the sash, then clenched it again, continuing to walk with him.
Duan Ling noticed Lin Ting’s small movement.
The moment she let go of the sash, a strange, dark emotion welled up inside him, but it dissipated the instant she clutched it again.
They stopped at the entrance of the Lin residence, standing temporarily on the steps.
Servants came forward with wedding candies and money, which were customary to scatter during the wedding to share the joy with everyone.
Seeing Lin Ting in a daze, a servant softly called out to her, “Seventh Young Lady.”
Lin Ting slowly raised her free hand, grabbed a handful of wedding money, and threw it out with force.
She had never dreamed that one day she would scatter so much wedding money.
After Lin Ting had thrown the money once, Duan Ling leisurely picked up the wedding money and scattered it as well.
The scattering of wedding money wasn’t a one-time affair; it had to be done several times.
As Lin Ting reached into the basket filled with wedding money and candies, she accidentally touched Duan Ling’s hand, which had just reached in to grab some money.
In that moment, their hands overlapped.
She didn’t know whether she was reaching for the wedding money or his hand.
The eloquent wedding matchmaker, noticing this, immediately declared that they had great chemistry, even managing to grab each other’s hands while reaching for the wedding money, and that they would surely be loving and inseparable in the future.
Lin Ting’s heart trembled, and she quickly released Duan Ling’s hand, grabbing the wedding money again and scattering it.
People who caught the wedding money congratulated them, and the surroundings were filled with joyful noise.
After the wedding money was scattered, Lin Ting was led by Duan Ling into the bridal sedan chair.
As Duan Ling stepped out of the sedan chair, his hand seemed to brush against her red veil unintentionally, his fingertips barely touching and then pulling the red tassels that hung down, causing them to sway and lift slightly, revealing half of her made-up face.
Lin Ting couldn’t help but glance at him.
However, Duan Ling promptly stepped out and lowered the curtain, preventing her from catching a glimpse of his current expression, which left her feeling a sense of anticipation.
With drums and music playing, the long procession of the wedding entourage made its way through bustling streets, heading towards the Duan residence.
The sedan bearers carried the chair more steadily than a horse-drawn carriage; Lin Ting couldn’t feel the slightest bit of shaking.
After what felt like an eternity, the sedan chair came to a halt, and the curtain was once again lifted from the outside.
Although covered by the red veil, Lin Ting instinctively raised her head.
In a moment, Duan Ling took her hand, his voice clear and soothing:
“We’re here, come out now.”
Lin Ting stood up and stepped out.
It was already evening, yet the front of the Duan residence was brightly lit with countless lanterns hanging high in the air, casting a light that seemed to suppress the darkness.
Once Lin Ting exited the sedan chair, Duan Ling returned the red sash to her hand.
Outside the Duan residence, red cloth was spread on the ground, and they walked on it, ascending the steps, crossing over the fire basin and the saddle with apples placed in front of the main gate, and proceeded inside.
At that very moment, the sound of firecrackers began.
The bright red firecrackers burst open one after another, covering the ground in red and causing people to cover their ears and laugh.
It was amidst this laughter that Lin Ting stepped into the main hall.
The red sash she held in her palm was slightly damp, darkened by the sweat that had soaked it.
Madam Feng and Duan’s father sat at the front of the hall.
She, who usually preferred simplicity and elegance, had donned a rare piece of gold hairpin and wore a bright set of clothes.
Her eyes were filled with a tender smile as she watched the couple enter.
Duan Xinning stood nearby, staring intently at Lin Ting ever since she entered.
She felt a whirlwind of emotions.
Their relationship had not been good in the past, yet here they were, about to become in-laws through marriage.
They stopped in the middle of the hall.
The wedding matchmaker, with a beaming smile, walked to the front and announced in a loud voice:
“Bow to heaven and earth.”
At this point, there was no room for hesitation.
Ignoring the rapid beating of her heart, Lin Ting turned around, facing the outside of the hall, which also represented the world beyond, and bowed.
When it came to “bowing to the parents,” she turned back to face Madam Feng and Duan’s father.
“Couple bow to each other!” The matchmaker’s voice grew even louder, as if to ensure that everyone present could hear.
Upon hearing the word “couple,” Lin Ting paused momentarily.
At that moment, the other end of the red sash moved ever so slightly, tugging at hers and, in turn, at her heartstrings.
Almost in a trance, Lin Ting bowed down, severing the last chance for a wedding cancellation with her own hands.
After the wedding ceremony, Lin Ting left the hall and was temporarily separated from Duan Ling.
She was escorted by the maids into the beautifully decorated bridal chamber.
Tao Zhu followed her in, asked the other maids to leave, and inquired if she was thirsty.
Having only eaten a bit of vegetarian food in the morning, Lin Ting was now both hungry and thirsty:
“I want to eat something.”
Generally, the bride is not allowed to eat before the groom lifts her veil.
However, Tao Zhu, feeling pity for Lin Ting, first gave her a cup of water to drink and then tried to sneakily bring her some pastries.
Just as Tao Zhu reached for the pastries on the table, there was a knock on the door.
She had to withdraw her hand and go to open it, only to see the maids from the Duan residence carrying steaming hot meals, entering one after another.
“What is this…” Tao Zhu was puzzled.
Duan Ling would still be gone for a while; if they brought the meals now, wouldn’t they get cold?
Lin Ting had a keen sense of smell and caught the aroma of the food, causing her stomach to growl involuntarily.
“The second young master asked you to have your meal first,” the maid said respectfully, conveying Duan Ling’s message before closing the door and leaving.
Tao Zhu immediately helped Lin Ting sit at the table and fed her some food.
The red veil on the wedding night must be lifted by the groom himself; otherwise, it would be considered unlucky.
So, instead of letting Lin Ting lift the veil, Tao Zhu fed her by reaching inside it.
Lin Ting found eating this way quite troublesome and slow.
There were several times she wanted to lift the veil, not caring about any so-called luck, but she always restrained herself and obediently opened her mouth to eat the food Tao Zhu fed her.
As she ate, she suddenly realized that the person feeding her had changed—it was now Duan Ling.
Lin Ting slowly closed her mouth.
Duan Ling’s hand, holding the spoon, paused for a moment, then placed it back on the table.
He looked at her, still covered by the red veil, his voice seemingly laced with amusement:
“Not hungry anymore?”
Lin Ting swallowed the food in her mouth:
“When did you come in?”
She hadn’t heard the door open.
Was she too focused on eating?
No, that wasn’t right.
Why would Duan Ling return to the bridal chamber at this time?
Shouldn’t he be in the front yard entertaining guests?
Duan Ling got up to fetch a jade ruyi:
“I came in when you were on your second bowl.”
Tao Zhu had left after he entered.
The second bowl?
Lin Ting was now on her third bowl, which meant he had fed her nearly two bowls.
But that wasn’t the point.
The real issue was that Lin Ting didn’t know how to face Duan Ling, knowing that tonight was their wedding night:
“What about the guests?”
Holding a jade ruyi, he returned to her side, “When the time comes, they will leave. I don’t necessarily have to entertain them the whole time.”
With that, the jade ruyi was placed below the red veil, hooking it and slowly lifting it up.
As the veil was gradually lifted, Lin Ting first saw the hem of Duan Ling’s wedding robe, then the body-belt around his waist, followed by his chest, shoulders, the Adam’s apple on his neck, and finally, his face.
The veil was completely lifted.
Lin Ting had also adjusted to the room’s lighting and could see Duan Ling more clearly.
Under the candlelight, Duan Ling’s features were exquisite, his eyes carrying a captivating charm.
Looking down, he had a narrow waist and long legs.
The bright red wedding robe, like a blazing fire, set off his pale complexion, making him appear more enchanting than any spirit.
Duan Ling calmly put the jade ruyi away, picked up the wine pot, poured two cups of wine, and handed one to her:
“The union wine.”
The wine that the couple was supposed to drink together.
Lin Ting stared intently at the union wine.
Duan Ling leaned over and drank from the cup Lin Ting was holding, his eyes on her the whole time.
His lips, now glistening with the wine, added a layer of captivating moisture.
He then brought the cup from his hand to her lips, his warm fingers and the cool porcelain cup touching her skin.
Lin Ting met Duan Ling’s gaze, her pursed lips relaxed, and she drank the wine he offered.
The taste of the wine lingered on her lips and teeth, pleasant and long-lasting.
The red candles in the bridal chamber were still burning, casting an ambiguous red glow.
She glanced at the table full of dishes.
“Have you had your evening meal? If not, would you like to eat something? If you don’t like what’s here, you can ask for something else to be prepared,” Lin Ting, when nervous, had a habit of making small talk.
“I had something outside. I’m not hungry.”
Duan Ling’s eyes curved slightly as he looked at her.
Lin Ting, with her light makeup, still had smooth skin.
The pearl-encrusted phoenix crown on her head had slight sways of tassels that added a touch of liveliness.
Her wide-sleeved wedding dress was layered, with the skirt belt embroidered with a pattern of mandarin ducks playing in water, hanging down along the hem.
After glancing at her for a moment, Duan Ling helped Lin Ting remove the heavy phoenix crown:
“It’s getting late. Would you like to have someone bring water for a bath?”
Bath?
What comes after the bath?
Lin Ting’s eyes wandered, her mind preoccupied: “Sure.”
The servants were efficient and quickly prepared the bathwater.
They didn’t linger in the bridal chamber and left with the buckets of water.
Lin Ting bathed first while Duan Ling waited outside the screen.
She thought about hurrying up to finish the bath since Duan Ling was nearby, but then she reconsidered.
If she finished too quickly, there would be nothing left to do.
So, Lin Ting slowed down her movements.
The room was very quiet, and the sound of the bathwater was clear, reaching Duan Ling’s ears through the screen.
He lowered his eyes, and his grip on the book tightened.
Lin Ting didn’t take too long, so as not to arouse suspicion.
She estimated the time, dried herself, got dressed, and stepped out from behind the screen:
“I-I’m done.”
Duan Ling responded indifferently, walked past her, and went into the screen area to bathe.
Lin Ting’s mind was in turmoil.
Should she take advantage of his bath time, strip, lie on the bed, and then get dressed before he finished bathing?
No, what if he came out in less than a quarter of an hour?
Moreover, the system mentioned “presence,” which meant he needed to know she was lying in bed naked.
If she stripped and waited in bed tonight, it would seem like she was actively inviting Duan Ling to consummate the marriage.
It definitely couldn’t be tonight for the mission.
Although Lin Ting was now able to accept marrying Duan Ling, it was a kind of quid pro quo, but she wasn’t ready to consummate the marriage with him.
Lin Ting walked over to the bed and sat down, suddenly remembering that there was only one bathtub behind the screen, filled with the bathwater she had used.
Duan Ling hadn’t called for anyone to change the water before he bathed!
Judging by the sound, Duan Ling had already entered the tub.
It seemed too late to remind him now.
Besides, he probably already knew.
Never mind, she would just pretend not to know.
Lin Ting brushed away the red dates and longans that had spilled on the bedding, lifted the covers, and rolled into the bed, burying her head under the covers as well, contemplating the feasibility of pretending to be asleep.
Before she could come to a conclusion, Duan Ling finished his bath, still damp with moisture, and sat on the bed, lifting the covers:
“Are you asleep?”
Lin Ting remained silent.
Yes, yes, she was asleep.
Duan Ling leaned down and gently took Lin Ting’s hand, which was lying by her side, into his mouth, tenderly sucking and nibbling on it.
Her whole body felt electrified, and she jolted.
Yet, he didn’t stop.