The Wedding Wine

Night fell, and the shadows of candle flames swayed across the window paper.

Fu Wutian strode steadily into the inner chamber and immediately saw An Ziran sitting at the edge of the wedding bed. The young man's hands were clasped on his lap, his composed face flushed a captivating red beneath the candlelight. Fu Wutian's heart stirred, and he walked over.

Sensing someone enter, An Ziran looked up. Seeing the handsome, upright Fu Wutian approaching, he unconsciously tightened his hands. Even he could not explain it. Though this was merely an act, he truly felt a trace of nervousness. That feeling had appeared as early as when Fu Wutian carried him down from the bridal sedan chair.

An Ziran did not want to admit that he had genuinely developed the feeling of a bride awaiting her marriage, yet his racing heart told him unmistakably that it was true.

"Princess Consort." Fu Wutian stopped before him and called him that.

An Ziran glared at him. The first time had been in front of everyone, so he had not wanted to embarrass him. But he actually dared call him that a second time? They were alone now. Even if they were putting on an act, there was no need to keep this up every moment.

"Prince, although I married you, don't forget our agreement."

Fu Wutian nodded with utter seriousness. "Princess Consort, I have not forgotten."

An Ziran: "..."

Fu Wutian extended his hand to him and added, "Come outside with me. I'll introduce you to some people."

Thinking of the uproar he had heard outside earlier, An Ziran guessed that a group of people had come to tease the newlyweds. Hearing this, he understood Fu Wutian's intention and raised a brow in surprise.

Yet Fu Wutian did not wait for an answer. He took hold of one of An Ziran's arms and gently pulled him to his feet without hurting him, then led him outside.

The soldiers were shoving one another around, none of them willing to take the lead. The young man who had started the commotion was in the most miserable position, because he was the youngest of them all and was naturally suppressed by the others. On such a joyous day, he wore a mournful face and kept complaining that everyone was ungrateful, only for Guan Su to tease him that he had not even grown all his feathers yet!

The moment Fu Wutian and An Ziran appeared, they fell silent. As if by reflex from their days in the army, they stood ramrod straight, though every pair of eyes had already darted toward An Ziran, their gazes flickering.

It was not as though they had never seen An Ziran before. When An Ziran first came to Prince Fu's Manor, they had all met him once. But back then, he had merely been an unrelated stranger. Now, however, this young man would become the general's Princess Consort and spend the rest of his life with him.

"They are all my subordinates. They will often come by in the future, so get acquainted. That way, you won't be unable to call them by name when you see them again," Fu Wutian explained, causing An Ziran to glance at him again.

It was only an act. Did he need to take it this seriously?

Though puzzled, An Ziran did not show it.

Everyone else was surprised as well. Only now did they realize that the general intended to introduce them to the Princess Consort. Such seriousness and formality had been beyond their expectations, and they immediately began weighing things in their minds. It seemed the prince might truly be serious. They had assumed there must be some hidden reason behind this, such as the old prince forcing him into it, but apparently they had been mistaken.

The impatient young man immediately stepped forward with careless boldness. "I'm Shao Fei. It's an honor to meet you, Princess Consort. Please guide me in the future!" His formal words were made thoroughly unserious by his toothy grin.

With him taking the lead, the others introduced themselves one by one. Aside from two who had not come, all of Fu Wutian's subordinates and trusted confidants were here. Of course, there were also some who had been unable to attend the wedding.

Though An Ziran still had doubts, he committed all of them to memory.

Afterward, Fu Wutian drove out the people who had intended to tease the newlyweds. In the end, they accomplished nothing; they had merely made themselves familiar to the future Princess Consort.

Although disappointed, they had expected as much. It would have been truly unbelievable if the general had actually let them tease the newlyweds.

Watching the door close before them, Shao Fei looked deeply disappointed. He had thought they could really tease the newlyweds. He truly was naive. The others knew what he was thinking at a glance and could not help finding it amusing. Still, the military camp needed simple-minded jokers like him. They did not like people with overly complicated thoughts.

"By the way, why haven't I seen Zhong Yue?"

Shao Fei finally realized someone was missing. The moment he spoke, he noticed that everyone had fallen silent. He could not help feeling puzzled. "Why aren't any of you talking?"

Guan Su leaned against a corridor pillar with his arms folded and smiled with pursed lips. "Little brother Shao Fei, worry about yourself before you qualify to ask about other people's affairs."

Shao Fei felt aggrieved. "I only asked casually. Was that necessary?"

"Enough, enough. Stop talking nonsense. If the general comes out later and sees us still here, he'll remember it. Hurry up and leave!" An older general hastily pushed him outward. Thoroughly confused, Shao Fei was shoved away amid his doubts.

At last, only the two of them remained in the wedding chamber.

Fu Wutian led An Ziran to the table. The wedding table was covered with a layer of red cloth embroidered with mandarin ducks playing in water. A pair of dragon-and-phoenix candles sat atop it, already nearly half-burned. Beside them were a jug of wine and two small, exquisite crystal cups. He picked up the jug, poured two cups, and handed one to An Ziran.

"Princess Consort, it is time to drink the wedding wine."

An Ziran did not take it immediately. Without blinking, he stared at Fu Wutian and frowned slightly. "We are not truly husband and wife. There's no need to drink the wedding wine, is there?"

Fu Wutian took hold of his hand and personally placed the cup in it. Calmly, he said, "Although I gave you my promise, since we have married and bowed in ceremony, we are truly husband and wife. We should still drink the wedding wine."

An Ziran stared at the cup in his hand, unable to keep himself from feeling somewhat dejected.

It seemed that from the moment he arrived in Gentlemen City, everything had gradually gone off course. By now, it had completely strayed from the path he had planned. It seemed he could only resign himself to fate.

Fu Wutian picked up the other cup and took the initiative to link their arms. Gazing at him, he said, "Princess Consort."

An Ziran was conflicted beyond measure. Since there was no escaping it anyway, he might as well let go. Drink it, then. Fu Wutian could not do anything to him regardless. So he drained the wine in his cup first.

A flicker of pleasure passed through Fu Wutian's eyes. Lowering his head, he prepared to drink the wedding wine. Just as the cup reached his lips, his movement suddenly paused. Then, without betraying anything, he drank the wine.

Though they stood close together, An Ziran did not notice that movement.