Chapter 572: A Moment of Spring Night

The sky gradually darkened.

In the bridal chamber of Marquis Zhongyong’s Mansion, Ni Manxue sat on the edge of the bed, covered with a red bridal veil.

Her heart was still filled with unease. Every move and every moment of stillness caused her extreme nervousness.

As the day turned to evening, Dong’er approached and lit the pair of thick Dragon and Phoenix Candles.

The room, adorned with the character for happiness and bathed in deep red, suddenly brightened considerably.

Ni Manxue was still tense.

The apple in her hand had been squeezed out of shape.

"Miss—no, that’s not right, I should change how I address you!"

"Madam, are you hungry? Would you like this servant to bring you something to eat?"

Has Miss already become Lady Hou?

A shiver ran through Ni Manxue’s body, and after a pause, she spoke in a low voice.

"I... I’m not hungry!"

Her mind was in complete disarray, a tangle of chaos!

Wetnurse Sister, who had accompanied her in the marriage, then said with a smile, "Madam, it’s best if you eat something. Otherwise, you might find it uncomfortable being hungry later on!"

Ni Manxue felt a bit surprised.

Hungry?

Isn’t it just... going to sleep after it’s over?

Why would that be uncomfortable? If you sleep, you won’t be hungry, right?

Seeing that Madam didn’t speak, Wetnurse Sister just smiled and said no more.

Guessing that the time was almost right, she instructed Dong’er, "Go get something for Madam to eat—anything’s fine, just make sure it’s not too strong in flavor! Serve Madam something to eat first!"

Dong’er quickly agreed.

"Yes!"

With that, she left.

After Dong’er had left, Wetnurse Sister closed the door again and turned to open one of the trousseau boxes, delving into the deepest corner to find a small box.

She used her own key to unlock the box.

She took out a book with a slightly yellowed cover, the title of which was illegible.

She handed the book to Ni Manxue.

"Madam, this is a book on Bedroom Techniques!"

"Madam repeatedly insisted that this servant must give it to you to read!"

"You must read it page by page, without skipping any, without losing it!"

"And you absolutely must not burn or tear it, understand?"

Ni Manxue was somewhat confused.

But she still nodded.

What kind of book is so precious that my mother went to such lengths to lock it away and insisted that I must read it now?

However, it might not be a bad idea. Having a book to read might at least help her relax a little.

With that thought, she eased her breath and said, "Sister, I understand. Give me the book!"

Wetnurse Sister hesitated but eventually, slowly, handed over the book.

She then hurriedly said, "I’ll go out first. Miss, you must read it! You really must!"

This is a secret manual for bearing children!

After a thousand reminders and warnings, Wetnurse Sister finally closed the door and left.

Ni Manxue flipped through the book casually, as she usually did with any book.

However, the next second...

She screamed, throwing the book away.

The bridal veil fell off, her face turned white as a sheet, and her heart pounded erratically.

"What is... what is this?!"

What kind of thing is this that she had never seen before?!

A naked man and a woman...

And their positions were so bizarre.

Also, what is that thing between the man’s legs? So long, so thick.

Like a sharp sword, thrusting straight into the woman’s belly.

Doesn’t it hurt? Why does the woman look so pleased?

Is this... murder?

Or is the woman poisoned?

Ni Manxue thought and thought, but she just couldn’t understand.

And why... why did Sister want her to see this?!

She had said not to skip, not to tear, not to burn.

Right now, she just wanted to destroy this book, okay?!

Ni Manxue felt very wronged and wanted to cry.

It was bad enough being hungry all day, and now she had to look at all this nonsensical stuff.

Getting married was truly a sin and a suffering.

Fortunately, the man she married was the one she loved. Otherwise, she would rather become a nun than endure this ordeal!

Ni Manxue bit her teeth, closed her eyes, and flipped through the pages of the book one by one.

When she reached the last page, she quietly opened her eyes.

Just in time to see the woman, naked, sitting atop the man.

Her legs splayed out, straddling him like riding a horse, a look of enjoyment on her face.

Below her, there was still a stick poking towards her belly.

In bold letters, it read "Guanyin Sitting on Lotus."

Ni Manxue felt like vomiting.

She quickly closed the book, tossed it aside, covered herself with the bridal veil again, and sat down properly.

At that moment, Wetnurse Sister and Dong’er came in together.

Dong’er was carrying food, and Wetnurse Sister was carrying tea.

After entering, Wetnurse Sister discreetly tucked away the book.

Ni Manxue also acted as if nothing had happened, quietly eating her small wontons, as if the incident before had never occurred.

After eating something and clearing away the dishes, it was getting late.

Dong’er then said with a smile, "I hear... the ruckus from the bridal games is about to arrive, but I don’t know how many people there will be, miss..."

Your servant is very worried about you!

Ni Manxue had a headache for a moment. But with something in her stomach, she felt better and not so uncomfortable anymore.

Her complexion improved considerably.

Let them come if they must! What else can be done?

The three of them were all prepared, but instead of the expected crowd for the bridal chamber pranks, they only waited for a drunken Xia Tingfeng!

"Marquis!"

Wetnurse Sister and Dong’er hurriedly got up to wait on him.

Xia Tingfeng was drunk, but thankfully still lucid.

His walk was a bit unsteady, but that didn’t affect anything else.

After being helped to wash his face, he sobered up quite a bit.

Then came lifting the bridal veil, drinking the nuptial wine, tying the knot of unity, and so on.

The Wedding Matron saw it was getting late, so she made it quick and simple. It didn’t take up much time at all.

By the time all the tedious ceremonial rituals were finally completed, it was already Hai Hour.

Xia Tingfeng couldn’t wait to sweep all the Maids and Servants out the door!

Ni Manxue was a bit surprised.

"I..."

"You..."

Xia Tingfeng’s body carried a faint scent of alcohol.

"Madam, is something the matter?"

Ni Manxue’s cheeks turned rosy.

"My lord, we haven’t yet cleaned up!"

Xia Tingfeng’s gaze faltered, feeling a sense of bleakness in his heart as if everything was ready except for the crucial element that just wouldn’t come.

And then, they were busy once more.

The two of them bathed, groomed, changed clothing, and when they finally lay down on the bed again, it was nearly Zi Hour.

This time there was nothing left to do, and it was genuinely time to sleep.

Xia Tingfeng’s excitement had sobered him up.

"Madam, there are no more obstacles now, are there?"

Ni Manxue nodded a bit nervously.

"Yes!"

In truth, she was quite frightened.

Because she had already seen that rod on his body.

Accidentally touching it, she found it to be very hard.

Heavens, were they really going to do... that shameful act as described in the book?

Ni Manxue was deeply conflicted.

But Xia Tingfeng had no time for such hesitations.

He directly picked her up and carried her to the bed.

Then with a sweeping motion, the curtains of the bed fell.

Article by article, clothing flew out from inside the curtain.

The soft light from the thick Dragon and Phoenix Candles was warm and suggestive.

As the shadows of the bamboo swayed, within the Marriage-Bond Tent, a spring night was worth a thousand pieces of gold!