"Really?" Chen Mo showed a bit of interest and said.
Zhao Jiangning nodded.
"Alright then, letâs switch clothes," Chen Mo said.
Zhao Jiangningâs brows and eyes curved with a smile, and she immediately started to take off her wedding dress. Chen Mo said, "Shouldnât we go through the process before swapping?"
"Swap first, then process." Zhao Jiangning seemed very excited, and the cumbersome wedding dress was swiftly shed in no time, revealing the boldness beneath her inner clothing...
"Come, come, my lord, let me help you. No, my lady, your husband will help you." Zhao Jiangning immediately slipped into her current role, actively helping Chen Mo undress.
Then the two of them swapped clothes.
"My lady, quickly sit by the bed, cover yourself with the red veil, your husband wants to lift the veil." Zhao Jiangning held back a laugh and gave Chen Mo a playful slap on his backside, saying.
"Wow, very bold." Seeing Zhao Jiangning dare to slap his butt, Chen Mo chuckled pleasantly.
Since they had changed, he didnât hesitate any longer and obediently sat by the bed, placing Zhao Jiangningâs red veil over his head.
"My lady, your husband is here." Zhao Jiangning took a deep breath, took the golden weighing rod from the side, approached Chen Mo, and gently lifted the red veil, revealing his unparalleled handsome face, with a pair of sword eyebrows exuding an aura of valor, full of majesty.
Zhao Jiangningâs gaze grew entranced.
Approaching, she hooked Chen Moâs chin and said, "Ah, demoness, daring to steal my heart, watch me capture you."
Zhao Jiangning mimicked how Chen Mo usually teased her with such words, and then leaned down to kiss Chen Mo on the lips.
After she finished kissing, Chen Mo pulled her onto his lap, lightly biting her lip, and laughed, "Had enough fun yet? Now itâs my turn."
"Not yet," Zhao Jiangning pushed Chen Mo, then got up to fetch the cross-cupped wine, handing it to Chen Mo, saying, "Donât move, this time Iâll feed you."
Zhao Jiangning took a sip of wine, holding it in her mouth, and leaned in to kiss Chen Mo.
Chen Mo couldnât help but let Zhao Jiangning have her way.
After they finished the cross-cupped wine, Chen Mo didnât make a move but smiled at her, waiting to see what else she wanted to play.
Seeing a sparkle in her eyes, she paced around the bridal chamber a few times before saying, "Tonight, Iâll play the all-powerful Regent King of the court, and you play the poor Empress caught by me after losing her husband."
Upon hearing this, Chen Moâs expression froze for a moment, "Play our true selves?"
"No, it should be a role reversal of our true selves..."
He shook his head, "I canât play someone whoâs bullied, letâs swap our roles instead."
"Swap roles? How many times have you bullied me? No way, keep it as is." Zhao Jiangning said sternly.
"Alright, alright, Iâm the pitiful Empress, and youâre the Regent King, so how should we play?"
"When I pounce on you in a moment, you should say ânoâ and loudly reprimand me, declaring yourself as the Empress of the current dynasty, and I, as a mere official, dare to treat you this way?"
"..."
Chen Mo didnât finish acting out the scene with Zhao Jiangning because he broke character halfway through, grasping Zhao Jiangningâs hands and saying, "Jiang Ning, call me Father Emperor..."
"..." Zhao Jiangning was stunned for several seconds, then looked at Chen Mo in shock, "You...you..."
"Whatâs wrong? Didnât you promise me earlier that you would do whatever I wanted?"
"But...but...Father Emperor..."
"Hey."
...
After the absurdity, it was already midnight. Chen Mo changed his clothes again, tidied up a bit, and headed towards Luo Zhenâs bridal chamber.
Luo Zhen was the first woman in both of Chen Moâs lifetimes.
She held significant meaning to Chen Mo.
But when he pushed open the bridal chamber door, he found two brides sitting properly by the bed.
With the Ancient Heavy Pupils activated, he discovered Miaozhen was actually with Luo Zhen.
This surprised Chen Mo, yet made him a bit excited.
He closed the chamber door, looking relaxed without a trace of fatigue, and said, "ZhenâEr, Miaozhen, did you wait long?"
Xu Miaozhen didnât speak, while Luo Zhen replied softly, "No rush, I know, today the actual wedding is for Sister XinâEr. We just took advantage of the moment."
Luo Zhen knew that from the moment Wu XinâEr entered the door, in the absence of a Chief Consort, she was the mistress of the inner quarters.
Chen Mo, however, detected a hint of inferiority in her words. At that moment, he noticed that both womenâs wedding dresses were not as luxurious as XinâEr, QingâEr, or Jiang Ningâs.
He didnât realize the dresses were handmade by them, thinking it was intentional since the household wasnât short of money, and it was not difficult to make a few opulent wedding dresses.
Their reluctance to do so was likely because they didnât want to compete with XinâEr and the others for attention.
"I apologize for your grievances."
Filled with pity, Chen Mo approached and carefully lifted the womenâs red veils using the weighing rod.
Luo Zhen raised her eyes, catching sight of Chen Mo with his wedding robe full of creases, blushing slightly, and said, "Hus...husband, would you like to rest first..."
Though she didnât finish her sentence, the meaning was clear.
"No need, you are well aware of my stamina." Chen Mo smiled and took the cross-cupped wine from the table, sequentially handing it to Luo Zhen and Xu Miaozhen, then sat between the two, holding a wine cup in each hand, drinking through their crossed arms.
Afterward, Luo Zhen and Xu Miaozhen exchanged a glance, seemingly having planned something, and simultaneously pushed lightly on Chen Moâs shoulders, saying, "Husband, donât move, tonight Miaozhen and I will serve you..."
...
Then it was Yi Yaoâs turn.
To Chen Moâs surprise, Ruoqing was actually in Yaoyaoâs bridal chamber.
This baffled him, as Luo Zhen and Xu Miaozhen being together was one thing, considering they shared the best relationship among the women, having followed him from Nanyang to now.
But Ruoqing and Yaoyao were master and disciple.
Just a few days ago, Ruoqing was crying about how she didnât want to share a husband with her master Yi Yao.
Now in the bridal chamber, wouldnât this be akin to metaphorically digging up the tomb of the master?
Despite this, Chen Mo wasnât foolish enough to ask, and pretended nothing was out of the ordinary. As per the process, he lifted the red veil, drank the cross-cupped wine, and enjoyed the affection between husband and wife.
...
After Chen Mo left, the sky was starting to lighten.
He quickened his steps and headed to Wanqiuâs bridal chamber.
In Ye Wanqiuâs room, Ye Wanqiu, Chun Lan, Qiu Lan, Xia Lan, Dong Lan, and even Zhang Ru were there, all dressed in wedding gowns, waiting to perform the ceremony with Chen Mo.
Indeed, it was a small private wedding ceremony without a witness or elder, just a simple process for peace of mind.
Skipping the lengthy blessings from the formal ceremony, they immediately began the wedding ritual.
"First bow to the heavens and the earth!"
"Second bow to the ancestors!"
"Husband and wife bow to each other!"
...
"My lady."
"Husband..."