Chapter 55
Chapter 55
Many came to curry favor, bringing gifts for the happy occasion. Officials, wealthy merchants, and landlords arrived one after another, making the Ye residence even livelier.
The fact that Ye Xuan was actually marrying Mo Qingxue brought immense joy to her family. Initially, they were worried about Ye Xuan’s intentions towards Qingxue, but now that he was formally marrying her, their concerns were alleviated.
Everyone in the town came to witness the grand marriage, solidifying its legitimacy. Mo’s family moved into a large, red and black tiled house in the town, thanks to Ye Xuan’s help.
“Ye Xuan brother… Are you really marrying another woman…?” In the sky, a figure slowly appeared, gazing down at the wedding below. Tears streamed down her delicate face.
“Why couldn’t you wait for me a little longer, or at least explain to me… Master was right, no man in this world is good. All vows and promises are nothing compared to a moment’s pleasure. This time, I will never come back, Brother Ye Xuan, I hate you–!!!”
———
Yu Ling’er was frustrated with the scene of Jiang Ling’er appearing and disappearing.
“Why did you hide yourself away, making it impossible for Ye Xuan brother to explain? And now, on his wedding day, you don’t even want to clarify things with him? Do you have no sense of justice or law?!!”
At this moment, Yu Ling’er was genuinely exasperated with the person who might have been her in a previous life.
“Even if Jiang Ling’er appears before Ye Xuan, what then?” Elder Qingxue remarked coldly. “Ye Xuan marrying me is a fact. The things he did to me are also facts. Is he going to say he was bewitched?”
“Maybe Ye Xuan brother was indeed bewitched.” Yu Ling’er suggested. “You only know that one can’t judge a person by appearance, but do you understand the helplessness and inevitability of life?”
Hearing this, Elder Qingxue’s eyes narrowed, and her tone grew colder. “You, who have lived a sheltered life on Mount Taihua, are lecturing me about life’s hardships? Have you experienced what I’ve been through? Can you even imagine enduring what I’ve endured?”
Challenged by Elder Qingxue’s words, Yu Ling’er fell silent. Indeed, she couldn’t comprehend the extent of Qingxue’s suffering.
Despite her silence, Yu Ling’er couldn’t help but feel that Ye Xuan’s past actions were out of character, almost as if he was under a spell. She hoped to uncover the truth eventually.
Seeing Yu Ling’er’s unwavering faith in Ye Xuan, Elder Qingxue scoffed, unwilling to argue further. She believed that Yu Ling’er would eventually understand Ye Xuan’s true nature.
———
Inside the bridal chamber, Mo Qingxue was nervously clutching the corner of her dress. The day had finally arrived. Ever since the day Ye Xuan coerced her and took advantage of her, he hadn’t touched her again.
Thinking back to that experience, she felt extremely fearful and apprehensive. But she had already resigned herself to her fate; what use was fear now?
Besides, marrying into a wealthy household like this was a dream many women couldn’t even hope to achieve in their lifetime, and she had attained it so easily. However, the way she was marrying Ye Xuan made her feel ridiculous.
Creak–
As the door opened and Ye Xuan slowly entered the bridal chamber, then closed the door behind him, the sound, although faint, thundered in Mo Qingxue’s ears, causing her to tremble involuntarily.
“What’s wrong, my dear wife? Are you very afraid?” Ye Xuan approached Mo Qingxue, lifted her veil, and brought his face close to hers as he spoke.
Mo Qingxue’s cheeks flushed as she struggled to maintain her composure. But the thought of what was to come made her heart race even more.
———
“You don’t need to watch what happens next,” Elder Qingxue told Ye Xuan and Yu Ling’er.
“Why can’t I watch?” Ye Xuan challenged, “How will I know if you’re accusing me falsely? What if you miss some crucial detail and I die misunderstood?” He looked very serious, as if he was truly a gentleman. However, his eyes shone brightly as he watched the scene unfold before him.
Yu Ling’er, meanwhile, covered her eyes with her hands, leaving only a small gap between her fingers, her face blushing as she said, “Don’t worry, I won’t look.”
Elder Qingxue sighed helplessly… Well, they had already watched it before, anyway. The previous scenes in the Former Dust Mirror weren’t exactly the most appropriate—they tended to skip over the crucial parts and focus in great detail on the ones that were better left unseen.
———
“Wife, you look so scared, I feel like I’m some villain who forced a virtuous maiden into marriage,” Ye Xuan said, looking at Mo Qingxue’s frightened expression.
Mo Qingxue couldn’t help but think silently: Aren’t you?
“Alright, stop looking at me like that, let’s play a game,” Ye Xuan proposed, “Since you’re so afraid of me, let’s play rock-paper-scissors. The loser has to kiss the winner.”
“Uh…” Mo Qingxue tilted her head, puzzled.
“Come on, do you know how to play?” Ye Xuan took off his shoes and sat down in front of Mo Qingxue, “Don’t tell me I have to teach you this too?”
Mo Qingxue puffed her cheeks, “I know how.”
“What do you mean ‘I know’? Call me husband,” Ye Xuan instructed.
“I…” Mo Qingxue’s face turned even redder. Although the man in front of her was her enemy, the person she hated the most, she couldn’t deny that he had been very good to her in recent times.
Moreover, he was now her husband, the person she would depend on for the rest of her life. Most importantly, despite her fear of him, he always managed to say something to make her happy or do something she enjoyed.
She would have to call him that sooner or later. She said in a soft voice, “Husband…”
“Ah? What did you call me? I didn’t hear it,” Ye Xuan said, covering his ears and speaking a bit louder.
“—!!!” Mo Qingxue couldn’t help but give a wry smile at Ye Xuan’s antics. She chuckled and said again, “Husband.”
“Hmm? It sounded like someone was calling me just now, but I didn’t quite catch it,” Ye Xuan teased, looking at Mo Qingxue.
“Pfft…” Mo Qingxue laughed again, raising her voice, “Husband–!!!”
“I heard it, why are you shouting so loudly?” Ye Xuan’s hand had already come down from his ear, and he was looking at her.
Mo Qingxue: “….”
“Alright, my wife, let’s play rock-paper-scissors,” Ye Xuan said to Mo Qingxue.
“Let’s play–!” Mo Qingxue responded.
“Just to be clear, the loser has to remove a piece of clothing,” Ye Xuan stated.
“Ah?!!” Mo Qingxue was confused again. She remembered Ye Xuan saying earlier that the loser had to kiss the winner. Why had the conditions changed now–!
“Ah, what? You should be saying, ‘Yes, husband,\'” Ye Xuan instructed. “It seems you haven’t really learned how to behave with your husband.”
Mo Qingxue rolled her eyes at him. She, a fresh bride, where would she have had the chance to learn how to behave with a husband? This guy was just too much.
“Are you going to say it or not? If you don’t, I’ll tickle you,” Ye Xuan said, his face showing a mischievous expression, as he made a threatening gesture with his hands towards Mo Qingxue.
“Ah, no–!!!” Mo Qingxue screamed in fright, quickly pleading, “Husband, husband… I’ll be obedient, I was wrong, I was wrong, husband, please spare me.”
However, the more Mo Qingxue feared this tactic, the more Ye Xuan seemed to enjoy using it.