After Marrying The Paranoid God of War (Rebirth) - Chapter 22.3
On the day of the grand wedding, the official road in Chang’an was adorned with red decorations for ten miles. Such a grand scene naturally attracted countless onlookers.
Many people were gossiping, and only a person with the power and influence of the Marquis of Dingbei could still hold a wedding openly under such circumstances. No one dared to talk nonsense in front of him. It was just a pity for those girls who had once admired him.
Ruan An had learned some etiquette at the Duke of Pei’s mansion and had also gathered information about Fang Ran’s past experiences, personality, and usual preferences from Concubine Fang.
Fang Ran had an outgoing and cheerful personality, and she also liked to study medicine. However, due to gender constraints, she specialized in treating women’s ailments.
If she were still alive, Ruan An would surely have many common interests with her.
From now on, she would live in the Marquis’s residence in the identity of Fang Ran. To play the role convincingly in front of outsiders, she would also need to address Huo Pingxiao as “cousin.”
In fact, as a healer, Ruan An was somewhat opposed to marriages between relatives. Even Master Sun, when he was alive, felt that Li Kingdom should add a law prohibiting marriages within five degrees of kinship. Beyond five degrees, any blood relationship should be forbidden for marriage.
She sat in the bridal sedan chair lost in thought. Throughout the journey, her expression seemed dazed and even somewhat doubtful, wondering if all of this might just be a dream.
Would she still be the horrifying old woman with an ugly appearance, spending her days washing clothes in the palace once she woke up from this dream?
***
After nightfall, the bridal chamber was brightly lit, as if it were broad daylight.
Having paid her respects to the elders and the in-laws, she was then assisted by maids to sit at the bridal bed.
Ruan An didn’t know how long she had been sitting there. Due to extreme nervousness, her slender body trembled incessantly.
Her two fair and delicate hands were tightly clasped together, with beads of sweat oozing out from the palms.
Just as she was about to inquire about Huo Xi’s condition from Fu Ling, she heard laughter and banter from several men outside the room.
Most of Huo Pingxiao’s subordinates were martial officers. Judging by their tone, it was clear that they were somewhat intoxicated, and their language was coarse and brutish when they started making a fuss.
Ruan An was not an inexperienced woman, and during her dedicated study of medical principles, she gained more knowledge about matters in the bedroom than an ordinary girl. Naturally, she could discern the meaning behind the words spoken by those military officers outside.
As the noise outside grew louder, Ruan An’s fair face became even more flushed. Even the maids were finding it difficult to bear and were thinking of stepping out to stop the rough behavior of those military men.
“Everyone, step back.”
A man’s cold and firm voice suddenly rang out, and he continued in a deep tone, “If you’re drunk, find a place to sober up quickly. Don’t disturb my wife here.”
“Yes!”
Even though those military commanders were still somewhat intoxicated, they still feared the authority of Huo Pingxiao. After making awkward apologies to him, they hastily left the bridal chamber.
Hearing that they had finally left, Ruan An became even more nervous than before.
Because this meant that Huo Pingxiao would be coming in soon.
Sure enough, a moment later, the maids inside the bridal chamber all called out in unison, “Lord Marquis, auspicious congratulations on your new spring.”
The beautiful woman held her breath, the densely packed heartbeat, beating like a drum incessantly.
Through the veil, she felt that Huo Pingxiao had walked up to her.
The extremely vivid red in front of her gradually faded, and the soft fabric brushed over her cheeks from bottom to top, then to the tip of her nose, hairpin, and phoenix crown.
The veil embroidered with mandarin ducks was finally lifted by the man using a jade ruyi and slid down to the ground.
But Ruan An dared not lift her eyes to look at him. Once those accumulated emotions of many years sprouted, they became difficult to restrain.
She was, of course, joyful, but also excessively nervous.
“Raise your eyes.”
Huo Pingxiao’s deep voice came from above her temples. Ruan An lowered her eyelashes and, following his words, lifted her small face. The man’s warm fingertips naturally pressed down on her chin.
“Husband…”
Ruan An thought she should call him ‘husband,’ but she didn’t expect her voice to be so soft and even a bit tender.
After calling out ‘husband,’ Huo Pingxiao’s gaze also changed slightly.
Due to embarrassment, Ruan An averted her eyes from Huo Pingxiao, and the man instructed the maid to help her remove the phoenix crown.
As the maid withdrew, there were only the two of them left in the inner room.
The bright red wedding candles were carved with golden dragons and phoenixes symbolizing auspiciousness. Suddenly, the candle flame made a “crackling” sound, and the spring breeze, carrying moisture, gradually filled the room.
Ruan An exhaled a sweet breath.
Just as she was about to say something to him again, she felt an itch on her earlobe.
It turned out that the man reached out with his index finger and flicked it.
“What are you afraid of?”
The man’s cold brows and eyes drooped slightly, revealing a casual indifference.
As his low voice fell, Huo Pingxiao’s strong and powerful arm suddenly embraced Ruan An’s delicate and soft waist.
Holding her bent legs, Huo Pingxiao lifted Ruan An onto him, only to see her immediately shrink her slender and white neck.
The man sneered at this and stared at her tender eyes, then asked in a low voice, “Can I still eat you?”
“I’m not afraid,” Ruan An replied softly, refuting. She didn’t want to appear too weak in front of Huo Pingxiao.
Huo Pingxiao continued to gaze at her face, his eyes clear, but the deep black pupils harbored a faint hint of invasion, as if he was about to devour his prey.
Ruan An didn’t see the man’s sharp and captivating gaze, only feeling that the earlobe he had played with was still itching. She wanted to scratch it.
Just as she was about to lift her delicate wrist, Huo Pingxiao’s strong hand pressed down on her small hand, gradually enveloping it in his rough palm.
The girl trembled her feather-like eyelashes slowly.
She smelled the deep and cold amber scent emanating from him, with a faint warmth, and his familiar body temperature surrounded her, as if basking in the sun.
Ruan An suddenly felt that those countless cracks in the depths of her heart were being illuminated by warm light, continuously filling and even healing them.
This familiar yet strange feeling made Ruan An’s nose suddenly sour.
Yes, in the dark and lightless days of her past life, he and Huo Xi were the suns in her heart.
Tears welled up in Ruan An’s eyes again and flowed out.
Seeing the girl in his arms resembling a weak and pitiful young rabbit, Huo Pingxiao suddenly leaned over, getting close to her, and sighed helplessly.
The man then approached Ruan An’s small face again, carrying a hint of possessiveness, pressing his forehead against her soft forehead.
The tall figure on the brocade quilt suddenly enveloped her.
His eyelashes gently brushed across Ruan An’s delicate eyelids, causing a tingling sensation, gradually intertwining with her touch.
“Do you still remember?”
The words were clearly only half of the question. However, Huo Pingxiao suddenly kissed her forehead. He released her hand but then grasped her wrist, and the cold touch of his thin lips moved to the side of her neck.
This time, the force was obviously stronger.
Ruan An couldn’t see his expression clearly again. She only felt the man’s deep and sensual voice, full of restrained desire, sounding hoarse. He asked again, “The first time, how did I treat you?”
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