Chapter 4, The Wedding Night

Let's do it this way for now. Ye Zhao shook his sleeves, slid out a delicate short dagger, and took out a few gold coins from his belt. He sighed and placed them under his pillow, preparing to sleep. He lifted the red curtain and gestured with his fingers from a distance.

"Impudent! This is under the emperor's feet, and all you know is to shout for bloodshed. Quickly rein in your reckless temper and do not speak carelessly to trouble the general!" Qiu Shui swiftly stopped her sister's impulsiveness and then sneered, "I have a packet of sedative powder here. Later, we will put it into the prince's tea and then bring him over. I guarantee it will be effective immediately."

Her voice is somewhat low, and during battles, she often has to shout orders, which has damaged her throat, leaving it somewhat hoarse and rough. This is in stark contrast to the soft Wu dialect that is highly regarded in the capital, and it carries a cold and commanding tone, as if she does not regard the man roaring in front of her at all

The legitimate master feels so aggrieved that he resembles a son-in-law who has been married into the family against his will

Especially being forced to marry such a living Yama that no one dares to touch

How to make one's wife dislike oneself

General! He is too despicable!

The most lethal tactic is to indulge the concubine on the wedding night, thoroughly humiliating the bride

Xia Yujin awkwardly touched his nose, recalling how he had been aimlessly wandering outside for these past years, not paying much attention to the women at home. Occasionally, when his mother nagged him to the point of annoyance, he would spend a couple of nights away, and he rarely stayed overnight at the ordinary-looking Yang's place. Now, facing some troubles, he felt a pang of guilt for seeking her out first, so he chuckled twice and turned to find Mei Niang.

Ye Zhao slowly descended, her figure upright, with little movement in her chest. The fiery red veil obscured her expression, and apart from a priceless exquisite ruby on her waist belt, there were no other embellishments on her wedding gown. As she glanced around amidst the murmurs, she gracefully walked towards the wedding hall, her movements elegant, akin to a dragon's stride or a tiger's march

Fate brings together resentful couples

Xia Yujin waved his hand impatiently and said: "I don't care."

The voice of Qiu Hua Qiu Shui was filled with sorrow

Xia Yuque possesses remarkable foresight

She slowly rose and instructed softly to the outside of the house, "Go to sleep, no need to wait."

Xia Yujin has always been audacious and decisive, immediately rushing to the Qingxin Courtyard where his concubine resides. The guards stationed outside the marital chamber, lacking orders from the general, dared not obstruct him. The other servants and maids quietly went to report to the Dowager An and Prince An. The Dowager An, feeling pity for her son and harboring disdain for her daughter-in-law, chose to ignore the situation. Xia Yuque had long been disheartened by his reckless younger brother and could only hope that the general's wife would take action, employing fierce measures to make him suffer greatly, thus he paid no mind to the matter.

Two similar voices sounded simultaneously, and stepping forward to speak were a pair of twin sisters. They had thick eyebrows and big eyes, with slightly darker skin, yet they also possessed a certain delicacy. Both were dressed in military uniforms, with curved sabers at their waists. Their expressions were fierce due to anger, as if they were ready to attack at any moment

Once the preparations were complete, after the newcomer was escorted into the bridal chamber, the skilled guard watching over Xia Yujin finally released the acupoints on his body, respectfully withdrew, and quickly went to receive his reward

Xia Yujin relaxed her muscles and bones, observing the so-called bride sitting before her. Although her posture was somewhat restrained, more refined than during military campaigns, it still exuded a bold and unrestrained aura, akin to a resting tiger, indifferent and lacking any semblance of femininity. The rhythmic tapping of her index finger against the bedpost seemed to convey a profound impatience with this farce.

"You despicable person who kicks someone when they are down! In the past, you spoke of deep sisterly affection, but it turns out you have harmed me like this!" Xuan'er, who lived next door, heard the commotion and rushed over without even combing her hair. She first pointed at Mei Niang and scolded her a few times, then quickly knelt down before Xia Yujin with a loud 'thud', crying with tears and snot, her kowtows resounding: "Your Highness, please spare my life. I beg you, considering the years Xuan'er has served you since childhood, grant me a chance to live! Let me serve in peace under the ancient Buddha for the rest of my life..."

Ye Zhao merely replied softly, "Oh."

Is this a daughter-in-law? It must be a man!

The martial arts expert he had prepared in advance swiftly pulled him down the moment Xia Yujin climbed over the wall, sealing several vital acupoints on his body, rendering him unable to speak or move, while controlling his actions to prevent any further mishaps

Xia Yujin smoothly rushed to the front of the Yang family gate

Two beautiful young ladies, one feigning madness and the other crying like a hideous creature, caused their handsome and charming master to appear as if he were forcing them into prostitution

Upon seeing him arrive, Meiniang recalled the news about the wolf-toothed club that the maidservants had inquired about, and her face turned pale with fear. She decisively said: "I am unclean today and cannot attend to your bedchamber."

The dragon and phoenix red candles, symbols of good fortune, suddenly extinguished

Royal arranged marriages, in a certain sense, can also be considered as coercive marriages

Friends and companions have a wealth of experience to draw upon

The more Xia Yujin thought about it, the angrier she became. With a surge of defiance, she disregarded everything and expressed her innermost feelings to her: "You are my wife, and that is all you are. Do not expect to influence my actions!"

The most ... in history. ... An indescribable wedding has peacefully come to a close

In his entire life, Xia Yujin has only been the one to ignore others; he has never been ignored by anyone. He feels an indescribable discomfort swelling within him.

As he glanced back, his eyes swept over the maidservants beside him, who had a hint of beauty, and they instantly retreated ten feet away. A second glance revealed that even the less attractive maidservants had moved three feet away, while the more refined young servants quietly lowered their heads and shrank back into the shadows

Yang was surprised and looked at him for quite a while before bowing and saying: "So it is my husband? It is all my fault for being so dull and unobservant. It has been more than half a year since we last met at night, and in the dark, I truly could not recognize you at once"

But! The Prince!

Qiu Hua nodded and said: "It is still my younger sister who is thoughtful; if he does not drink, I will force it down his throat."

Enough! Ye Zhao felt a headache coming on as she stopped the two female bandits who were trying to kidnap her husband in her own home. She went to the table, poured herself two cups of tea, contemplated for a moment, and then instructed, "Take the bedding to the study; as for everything else, he can do as he pleases."

Meiniang spoke rapidly like a string of arrows: "I am suffering from a cold, have a stomach ache, my eyes hurt, my limbs are weak, and my heart is also in pain. Moreover, I have not been sleeping well lately, talking in my sleep, and dreaming of hitting and biting people... It is truly unbearable... Please go find Xuan'er."

Their elder sister is named Qiu Hua, and the younger sister is named Qiu Shui. They were originally the daughters of Qiu Lao Hu, the leader of the bandits on Qi Long Mountain. From a young age, they practiced martial arts and possessed remarkable skills. Four years ago, Qi Long Mountain was invaded by the Man Jin, who committed murder and arson, leaving no evil deed undone. Qiu Lao Hu, unwilling to collude with the corrupt, was subsequently attacked by the Man Jin forces. He was rescued by Ye Zhao, who, moved by his chivalry, took him under her wing, and from then on, he served as a general under her command. Qiu Hua and Qiu Shui, having been raised in a martial environment, held Ye Zhao's martial prowess in the highest regard and willingly served as her personal guards, accompanying the general and being among the few who knew her daughter's true identity.

On the other side, upon receiving the news, Ye Zhao removed her red dress and tossed it into the corner of the new house. She turned to look at the silver mirror; the red candle flickered dimly. The person in the mirror had thin lips pressed tightly together and high, arched eyebrows. Even amidst the festive atmosphere, a pair of beautiful, glass-like eyes could not conceal the sharpness honed on the battlefield.

Xia Yujin let out a cold laugh, slammed the door, and ran a few steps. Ignoring the astonished gazes of those around him, he casually picked up a handful of snow, rubbed it on his face, and used the biting cold to quickly calm his heated mind. He was not a fool; he understood very well that the Prince of Nanping was merely a title without real power, a pawn used by the Emperor to win over and control the Grand General. It was impossible for him to divorce his wife. The only way out was to make Ye Zhao thoroughly detest him, to beat him up, and to take the initiative to propose a divorce. He was not a fool; he understood very well that the Prince of Nanping was merely a title without real power, a pawn used by the Emperor to win over and control the Grand General. It was impossible for him to divorce his wife. The only way out was to make Ye Zhao thoroughly detest him, to beat him up, and to take the initiative to propose a divorce.

This statement is filled with resentment

All conscientious men shed a tear of sympathy for Xia Yujin

Xia Yujin was dragged out by two burly men, his figure slender. Although he was considered tall in the Great Qin, he was only half a finger taller than Ye Zhao. Coupled with his unsightly complexion and restricted movements, the contrast between the two was striking, resembling a young bride being forced into marriage by a bully

Xia Yujin's feelings of despair were difficult to describe. It was also not good to knowingly push someone into a fire pit. After much hesitation, he finally ran to the study in frustration and went to sleep. Everyone feared the general's fearsome reputation, and no one dared to approach him. As a result, the tea was cold and the water was lukewarm, and there was not even a blanket. He could only curl up into a ball and sneezed several times.

Qiu Hua angrily said: "I will go and bring that ungrateful brat here! I will whip him fiercely, then put a knife to his neck, make him kneel and kowtow a few times, and then throw him onto your bed! Let's see if he values his life or wants to get into bed! Damn it! No one has yet been born who dares to show our general a disrespectful face!"

The Emperor specifically sent someone to attend the wedding and also bestowed numerous gifts upon the Prince of Nanping as a form of consolation, giving both parties ample face. The Dowager Empress almost completed the entire ceremony in tears; to those unaware of the truth, it seemed less like she was marrying off her daughter-in-law and more like she was attending her son's funeral. The Duke of Zhen Guo, Old Master Ye, was quite pleased and instructed the newlyweds, "You should bear children early, expand your family, and have a son to go to the battlefield and kill his mother’s enemies!" When he said these words, he appeared to be in a clear state of mind, yet his eyes kept glancing at Xia Yujin's belly, which felt rather strange.

Ye Zhao waited for a long time without hearing him speak, and asked: "Are you done speaking?"

The most revered general is humiliated on his wedding night, and the two sisters suffer even more humiliation than he does. The bandits, accustomed to acting on the spot, draw their curved knives and turn to leave.

The auspicious hour has just arrived, the sound of drums and music resounds, and the bridal sedan chair gracefully approaches amidst the gaze of the multitude

Ye Zhao hurriedly asked, "Where are you going?"