Chapter Twenty-Four: The Night of the Bridal Chamber

The northern features in Lady Li, the second young mistress, had faded considerably; only her skin remained less smooth and tender than that of southern women, tending toward redness and coarseness. When Yu Youwei, whose skin was as fair as snow and frost, caught sight of her, she couldn't help but feel a trace of envy. Seizing the opportunity, she interjected, "Fourth Young Master, Grandmother and Mother are still waiting for you with anxious hearts. You can introduce your wife to the sisters-in-law later. For now, let them help you both freshen up a bit, or how will you be presentable to others?"

The women all laughed, the mockery in their voices unmistakable.

Casting a warning glance at his wife, Ning Zhongwu half-joked, "You really do have too much time on your hands. Even if Fourth Brother returned home looking like a mud-caked pig, Grandmother and the others would still be pleased. Fourth Sister-in-law has done a great deed in saving him—she holds more honor before Grandmother than any of you. You should learn from Eldest Sister-in-law and speak less."

Lady Li's face turned as red as a cooked prawn, but she dared not utter another word.

"You’re the pig," Ning Mofei retorted loudly.

"Second Brother is only making a comparison; he didn’t mean you’re actually a pig," Yu Youwei replied coolly, her deep eyes sweeping over Ning Zhongwu, a little surprised that this seemingly frivolous man would come to her defense.

At that moment, Ning Baixia accompanied Zhou Yusong as they disembarked from the airship, calling, "Eldest Brother, let’s be on our way."

Ning Bowen, after giving Liu some instructions, pulled Ning Mofei away. The brothers gathered to accompany Zhou Yusong.

Liu approached Yu Youwei with a smile, taking her hand. "Fourth Sister-in-law, the auspicious hour is approaching. Please enter the bridal sedan. Second Brother is right; the elders will be happy just to see you both a little early. There’s no need to fuss over ceremony."

Yu Youwei nodded and smiled, her expression now more genuine. She followed Liu to the sedan by the pavilion, noticing that the phoenix coronet and crimson veil inside were far more exquisite than those prepared by her own family. She let Liu place the coronet and veil upon her. As soon as Liu stepped out, Yu Youwei resumed her cultivation, undisturbed by the clamor of gongs and drums outside.

Most cultivators required quiet and seclusion for their practice, needing a tranquil heart and a meditative state. Yu Youwei, however, was an exception—she could cultivate while walking or even sleeping, slipping in and out of meditation at will. When the sedan finally stopped, she ended her cultivation immediately.

The sedan door was kicked open, and an unblemished hand reached inside. Yu Youwei realized that it was Ning Mofei himself who would perform the ceremony, not his third brother standing in for him. Relief washed over her. She placed her hand in his, stepped over the brazier and saddle, and for an instant, the thought flickered through her mind that growing old together with him might not be so bad after all.

After the ceremony, in the bridal chamber, Yu Youwei sat at the edge of the bed, recalling how on the boat she had lifted her veil herself, which had annoyed Ning Mofei. She couldn’t help but laugh silently. At that moment, he lifted her veil, and the candlelight illuminated her breathtaking beauty. Even in his innocence, Ning Mofei was stunned. The brothers and companions who had come in to tease the newlyweds were all filled with envy.

"Youwei, you’re so beautiful!" Ning Mofei exclaimed in wonder. She shot him a flirtatious glance, lowering her head, but he scratched his head with an innocent smile and asked, "Third Brother, is it time for the nuptial cup?" The room erupted in laughter.

A mischievous Ning family cousin called out, "Third Brother, after they drink the nuptial cup, what happens next?"

Ning San, leaning against the doorframe with folded arms, merely cast a glance in response but didn’t join the revelry. It was Second Brother Ning Zhongwu who kicked the cousin and scolded him with a laugh, "Go ask your mother what your father did after their nuptial cup!"

Amidst the uproar, Ning Zhongwu chased everyone out like a flock of ducks.

Ning Mofei was still perplexed: "Is it really funny to drink nuptial wine?"

"You silly man!" Yu Youwei flicked his forehead with her finger, then dismissed the attendants. Once alone, she laughed lightly, "You’re the groom. If you think you should drink the nuptial cup, then just do it. Why ask anyone else?"

"Since I’m the groom, does that mean I have the final say?" Ning Mofei’s eyes brightened as he grinned slyly, moving closer. "The sixth brother said that in the bridal chamber, I’m supposed to undress the bride and give her a kiss. I want to kiss you now."

Yu Youwei’s spiritual power was strong, her senses acute. She could tell that the crowd who had just left were still lurking nearby, eavesdropping. She quickly caught Ning Mofei’s hand and pleaded softly, "Mofei, I’m still injured and need to heal. Will you stand guard for me?"

Mofei readily agreed, greatly disappointing those listening outside.

In the courtyard, Ning Baixia exchanged a smile with Second Brother before they parted ways.

Night deepened; stars spilled across the boundless sky, weaving a luminous net that draped a silvery veil between heaven and earth. The once noisy Ning household grew peaceful, most guests drifting into dreams. Yu Youwei, dressed in a simple robe, sat cross-legged on the wedding bed cultivating. When she opened her eyes, she was surprised to find Ning Mofei standing at the foot of the bed like a flagpole. "Mofei, why aren’t you sleeping?"

"I’m watching over you," Ning Mofei replied, hands clasped behind his back, visibly awkward, his long, phoenix-shaped eyes shining with a strange light.

"Be honest, what mischief are you up to?" Yu Youwei noticed something in his hand, smiled knowingly, and reached out. "What are you holding? Let me see."

"Sixth Brother said I should take a peek," Ning Mofei protested, but Yu Youwei snatched it away.

It was a spring painting on fine silk—an erotic album, exquisitely rendered, the figures vivid and lifelike. The explicit scenes made Yu Youwei blush and her heart race. With a spark of blue flame and white core at her fingertip, she set the album alight. "Sixth Brother is incorrigible. Don’t spend time with him anymore."

Ning Mofei watched the painting burn to ash with regret, mumbling, "But the way those spirits wrestled looked kind of fun."

"No more of this nonsense. And remember, what happens in this room is between us. Don’t ask others, and don’t tell anyone, or I’ll ignore you." Yu Youwei tossed the ashes out the window, then lay back on the bed, facing away.

Ning Mofei, like a puppy, crawled onto the bed and nuzzled her cheek with his chin. When she didn’t respond, he grew anxious and began to cry.

"Oh, you silly thing, why are you crying? You’re a grown man!" Yu Youwei’s heart softened. She turned to embrace him. Through their clothes, she felt something hard pressing against her abdomen, making her shiver involuntarily.

Biting his lip, Ning Mofei whispered hoarsely, "After looking at that book, I feel terrible. Am I sick?"

His eyes, aggrieved and moist like a newborn fawn’s, and his hoarse, teary voice almost undid Yu Youwei’s composure. Cursing him silently as a little devil, she soothed him gently, "You’re just tired. Go to sleep and you’ll feel better."

Perhaps he truly was exhausted, for Ning Mofei soon drifted off. Yu Youwei, however, lay awake until dawn before finally falling into a light sleep. Before that, she bit her finger and let a few drops of blood fall onto the snow-white kerchief beneath her.