xymnovel Chapter 84 The Big Wedding
Chapter 84 The Big Wedding
In a past life, they swore brotherhood in the Peach Garden, sharing life and death.
That resounding cry echoed throughout Changban Slope: I am Zhang Yide of Yan!
The word "Big Brother" that I called out to him my whole life still seems to echo in my ears.
He recalled Zhang Fei's lifelong loyalty and bravery, his numerous battles for him, and his outstanding achievements.
Ultimately, due to his violent temper, he was assassinated by his subordinates, his head severed from his body, and he met a tragic end, which caused a pang of pain in my heart.
In this life, he will never let such a tragedy repeat itself.
He suppressed the turmoil in his heart and said gently to Butcher Zhang, "Please tell your son to practice martial arts diligently and study more."
"When he comes of age, I will personally summon him to my staff, lead him to conquer all directions, achieve great deeds, and live up to his youthful ambitions."
Upon hearing this, Butcher Zhang was overjoyed and immediately knelt down, repeatedly kowtowing in gratitude: "I thank you on behalf of my son, Your Excellency! I will certainly have him hone his martial arts skills and live up to Your Excellency's expectations!"
Liu Bei quickly helped him up and drank a bowl of wine with him, which made him feel much better.
As night deepened, the guests enjoyed themselves to the fullest, and the noise subsided.
The red candles burned brightly, filling the bridal chamber with warmth and coziness.
Liu Bei removed his official robes and entered the inner room, where he saw Hou Yuan sitting upright before the bed, her phoenix coronet and wedding gown still in place. In the candlelight, her eyes were gentle, and she appeared serene and peaceful.
Upon seeing him enter, she quickly rose, curtsied, and softly called out, "My husband!"
Liu Bei stepped forward slowly, took her hand, and felt the warmth and softness of her palm.
In his dream, he fought half his life, experiencing battles, life and death, and finally achieved his hegemony, but ended up entrusting his orphan to Baidi City, all alone.
In terms of achievements, he was successful; in terms of family, he was a failure.
Perhaps this is a tradition in his Liu family; few are devoted to love, and he is no exception.
However, to have such a gentle haven and such a virtuous woman by his side during the early days of this chaotic world is an immense blessing.
"Ah Yuan!"
He spoke gently: "From now on, you and I will be one, husband and wife, sharing both honor and disgrace."
"For the rest of my life, I will protect you and ensure your safety; I will never betray you!"
Hou Yuan looked up at him, her eyes full of tenderness, and nodded gently: "My husband has the world in his heart and is determined to restore the Han Dynasty. Although I am a woman, I also know the greater good of the country."
"From now on, I will manage the household affairs well and serve my mother-in-law well, so that my husband will have no worries."
"Whether the road ahead is smooth or treacherous, I will stay by my husband's side and never leave him."
Liu Bei felt a warmth in his heart and naturally pulled the beauty in front of him into his arms. He felt her softness in his hands and her slender waist that he could easily hold.
Hou Yuan's heart raced, and a blush rose to her cheeks.
The red candles flickered, the candle flames crackled softly, and the night was gentle.
The curtains hung low, shutting out the chill from outside and leaving only the gradually growing warmth in this small space.
Hou Yuan felt the hand on her waist burning hot; even through the thin layer of her inner garment, the heat seemed to be searing into her bones.
She had managed to maintain her composure while saying those words, but now, as she was embraced, the man's cool yet warm breath filled her nostrils.
She could no longer breathe; her body was stiff, and her eyelashes trembled uncontrollably.
Liu Bei did not rush to make a move.
He lowered his head, his gaze sliding from her trembling eyelashes to her slightly pursed lips, and then to the section of her neck that was slightly pink from nervousness.
A beauty seen under the lamplight appears even more radiant than during the day.
She was naturally fair-skinned, and now, bathed in the warm red candlelight, her earlobes appeared translucent and delicately red, like the finest warm jade.
"Afraid?" He asked in a very low voice, his breath brushing against her ear.
Hou Yuan's body trembled slightly. She bit her lip, shook her head, then nodded, and finally whispered, "Yes, some..."
Liu Bei chuckled softly, the vibration of his chest transmitted through the fabric of their close-fitting clothes, and Hou Yuan felt half of her body go numb.
He raised his hand, his fingertips gently tracing her cheek, from her brow bone to her cheekbone, and from her cheekbone to her jaw, as if he were painting a very precious picture.
The fingertips had thin calluses, marks left from years of wielding a sword. The rough touch brushed against the delicate skin, stirring a subtle shiver.
"Ah Yuan!" he called her name, his voice a few decibels deeper than before.
Hou Yuan looked up and met his eyes.
Those eyes, usually so calm and composed, now seemed to hold a deep pool, with something churning beneath the surface, making her heart tremble.
He leaned down and kissed her between the eyebrows.
Extremely light, yet extremely solemn.
Then there are the eyelids.
She could feel her eyelashes brushing against his lips, itching so much that she wanted to dodge, but he held her face in his hands, leaving her nowhere to retreat.
The kiss traveled downwards, past the tip of her nose, across her cheek, and finally stopped at the corner of her lips, lingering and tentative, as if asking her—would you like it?
Hou Yuan's fingers tightened around his clothes, her fingertips turning white, but she finally tilted her head up slightly.
This was the immediate response.
The previously restrained kiss suddenly deepened.
His hand slid from her cheek into her hair, and with a gentle pull, the jade hairpin that bound her hair fell out, and her black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, covering the pillow.
She instinctively tried to turn her head to look at the hairpin, but he grabbed the back of her neck and kissed her even deeper.
As their lips met, she tasted a hint of wine—the osmanthus wine they drank during their wedding ceremony, not strong, but enough to make her slightly tipsy.
At some point, the outer plain garment had been removed, and the ties of the inner garment had come undone, revealing a slender collarbone and a lotus-root-colored strapless bra below.
Candlelight peeked through the gaps in the curtains, casting a warm yellow glow on her shoulders.
Liu Bei stepped back slightly, looking at her with a deep gaze.
Hou Yuan was extremely embarrassed by his gaze and tried to raise her hand to cover herself, but he grabbed her wrist and gently pressed it against the side of the pillow.
His thumb pressed against her wrist, and he could feel the rapid, pulsating pulse, like a bird held in his palm.
"Don't cover it up!" His voice was slightly hoarse.
"nice!"
The two words were spoken so lightly, yet they were more poignant than any sweet nothings.
Hou Yuan felt a surge of heat in her eyes, and somehow she found the courage to stop dodging and simply lay there amidst the pile of black hair, letting him look at her.
The sash came undone completely in silence.
His palm covered mine, burning hot, yet his movements were gentle and almost reverent.
From his shoulders to his waist, and from his waist to his lower abdomen, every inch seemed to be rediscovered by him.
When those calloused fingertips brushed against her waist, Hou Yuan finally couldn't help but let out a very soft moan.
She then buried her face in his shoulder, her ears turning bright red.
Liu Bei's arm around her waist suddenly tightened.
"Ah Yuan!" he called again, his breath unsteady, the last syllable of his voice tinged with suppressed hoarseness.
Hou Yuan buried her face in his shoulder and heard his heartbeat through his chest, pounding like a drum, even more rapid than hers.
The thought that he wasn't as composed as he appeared suddenly surfaced in her mind, and her nervousness inexplicably lessened, replaced by a strange tenderness.
She raised her arms and wrapped them around his neck.
This action is like a switch being pressed.
His restraint finally cracked at this moment, and his kiss landed on her neck, no longer just a light touch, but with a bit of force, leaving faint marks between their lips and teeth.
He grasped her waist with his hand, and her waist was indeed as he had felt earlier, slender and soft as a newly sprouted willow branch in spring.
The candlelight flickered suddenly, as if struck by a gust of wind.
Inside the tent, light and shadow flickered, and two shadows overlapped.
Hou Yuan's hand clung to his shoulder and back, her fingertips sinking slightly into his skin, touching a scar left from an old battle.
Liu Bei leaned down, his forehead touching hers.
Their breaths mingled together, indistinguishable as to whose was more chaotic.
Then he kissed her eyes and whispered a sentence in her ear, so softly it was almost drowned out by the sound of the red candles popping.
Hou Yuan's eyes stung, and she tightened her grip on his neck.
The curtains fell, silencing the soft panting sounds.
Another candle flame burst on the candlestick with a soft pop, which was particularly clear in the quiet night.
The candle wax dripped slowly, layer upon layer, congealing into a warm red on the bronze stand.
Length of night.
A distant drumbeat sounded from somewhere outside the window, but was then carried away by the night wind.
The room was warm and cozy, with dragon and phoenix wedding candles burning quietly, casting two intertwined shadows on the curtains, sometimes moving and sometimes still, like a painting of twin lotus blossoms brought to life.
After a long while, a hand reached out from inside the tent and pulled the hanging curtains together.
Her fingers were long and slender, with a faint blush at the tips. A plain silver bracelet on her wrist swayed gently with her movements, casting a sliver of light in the candlelight.
Low voices drifted from inside the tent, but the words were indistinct. Only a few soft laughs occasionally escaped, then seemed to be muffled by something and disappeared into the gentle night.
As the last candle flame burst open, the two shadows finally quieted down, nestled together, and sank into the warm embrace of the hibiscus-scented bedchamber.
The red candles burned all night, only going out at dawn.