Warning: Sexual Content
Back at the inn, inside Guo Longtong's room, the drunk Guo Longtong was still raging about Fang Yaoting's wedding. He refused to stay in bed and continued standing up, wanting to duel with Fang Yaoting.
After two tiresome hours trying to put Guo Longtong to bed, Huang Hongse finally gave up. She closed the door to prevent Guo Longtong from leaving the room and sat at the table, enjoying her tea, listening to Guo Longtong's drunken nonsense.
After several failed attempts to open the door, Guo Longtong slumped down at the table. "Hongse, help me kill Fang Yaoting," he whined, his voice thick with wine and despair.
"You are drunk," Huang Hongse stated coldly, unamused.
"I'm not drunk, I can still drink more, give me more wine!" Guo Longtong insisted, trying to grab an imaginary bottle.
"You go to bed now!" Huang Hongse demanded coldly, her patience wearing thin.
Guo Longtong suddenly broke down, sobbing, his bravado crumbling. "Do you know? Dachin... he always does this kind of thing for others. No one treats him nicely. I know him best. I know what he is thinking. He doesn't want Fang Yaoting to become another Baiyu who has a home but could never return." He whimpered hard, tears streaming down his face.
Huang Hongse sighed, and her patience slowly dropped. "Calm down, your cry is too loud, and it disturbs others," she said, trying to be firm.
Guo Longtong's sobbing voice grew louder and louder. "Dachin! I will have Peizhi hide Dachin! That lying, two-faced Fang Yaoting will never find him again!" He stood up, fists clenched. "I want to duel him! I want to duel him!"
Huang Hongse dragged Guo Longtong onto the bed. Guo Longtong was drunk; he was not making sense at all. Huang Hongse put him on the bed, but he kept getting up, wanting to fight Fang Yaoting. Huang Hongse became impatient and hit him fiercely on the back of the neck, and he fell out cold on the bed. Huang Hongse didn't regret hitting him; it was the only way to get him to sleep.
Lim Peizhi and Huang Yueliang were sitting at a table in their room.
"You should rest," Huang Yueliang said gently to Lim Peizhi.
"I'm a little drunk," Lim Peizhi admitted, a faint flush on his cheeks.
"You are drunk and can't walk straight anymore," Huang Yueliang chuckled. "Let me get you to bed." She helped Lim Peizhi to the bed.
As Lim Peizhi sat down on the bed, he put his arm around Huang Yueliang's neck and gently dragged her down to the bed with him. Huang Yueliang and Lim Peizhi faced each other, their eyes meeting.
"Yueliang, marry me," Lim Peizhi whispered, his voice soft but sincere. He raised his head and kissed Huang Yueliang on her lips. Then he passed out, overcome by alcohol and emotion.
Huang Yueliang, a soft smile on her face, gently put Lim Peizhi's legs on the bed and covered him with a blanket.
Huang Yueliang smiled and said softly, "Ask me again when you are sober."
Just as she was about to get up from Lim Peizhi, he held both of her upper arms tightly, his eyes still closed. Then, he opened his eyes and stared straight at Huang Yueliang, his gaze clear.
"Marry me?" Lim Peizhi repeated, his voice sobers now, filled with earnestness. "I'm tired of chasing after you."
Huang Yueliang blushed, a faint flush spreading across her cheeks. "Will you regret marrying me?"
Lim Peizhi shook his head, his grip firm. "No regrets. I will regret letting you slip away."
Huang Yueliang smiled, a genuine, joyful smile. "When you are ready to give the dowry. The door of the Huang family is always open."
"Is that a, yes?" Lim Peizhi asked, his heart soaring.
Huang Yueliang smiled and nodded, confirming her acceptance.
Zhao Renshu sat on the edge of the bed, half-drunk. "Baiyu, pour some water for me," he mumbled.
Guo Baiyu closed the book he was reading, poured a cup of water, and walked to the bed. He handed Zhao Renshu the cup of water.
Zhao Renshu took the cup and took a sip, then handed the empty cup back to Guo Baiyu. Guo Baiyu went back and sat at the table.
"You can sleep now," Guo Baiyu advised.
"I am waiting for Ping'an," Zhao Renshu replied.
"She is with Dachin and won't be back tonight," Guo Baiyu informed him gently.
"Fine, then I will go to bed," Zhao Renshu sighed. "Why are you still not sleeping?"
"I'll finish this first," Guo Baiyu said, gesturing to his book.
Zhao Renshu sighed, a contemplative looks on his face. "How long have we known each other?"
"Ten years," Guo Baiyu replied.
Zhao Renshu looked at the burning candlelight, his gaze distant. "Do you think?" He sighed. "Do you think our Ping'an deserves to have a wedding too?"
"I haven't thought about it yet," Guo Baiyu admitted.
Zhao Renshu adjusted his body, lying on the bed with his hands behind his head. "Tonight, I saw Fang Yaoting's wedding, and I realized that even if we have our wedding, who would be there, because we are outcasts." Looking at the ceiling, Zhao Renshu frowned sadly, the weight of their unconventional life settling upon him.
"We will ask her if she wants a wedding or not," Guo Baiyu said, offering a practical solution.
"Baiyu, if the northern fortress fails, what will you do?" Zhao Renshu asked, his tone suddenly serious.
"How about you?" Guo Baiyu countered.
"I thought about it a lot," Zhao Renshu confessed. "If the northern fortress fails... I will use the annihilation talisman and destroy them to kingdom come."
"You will die," Guo Baiyu stated, the grim reality.
"But she'll live, so no regrets," Zhao Renshu replied, his resolve firm.
"Let's talk about it when we cross that bridge," Guo Baiyu concluded, acknowledging the dark possibility.
In the bedroom, the red wedding decorations were beautiful, a stark contrast to the quiet tension within. Sitting on the bed, Wang Shuchun waited nervously for Fang Yaoting. As soon as the door opened, she clutched her hands tightly. She saw from the knees down that the two servants had carefully put Fang Yaoting, who was utterly drunk, onto a chair by the table. She heard the two servants closing the door behind them, leaving her alone with her new husband. She was waiting for Fang Yaoting to walk to the bed.
Fang Yaoting sat slumped at the table, staring at Wang Shuchun. He felt sorry for her, and for himself. He poured more wine and drank it all in one go, desperate for oblivion. He kept telling himself that he needed to be drunk. Maybe if he was drunk, he could forget Lee Dachin and be able to sleep with Wang Shuchun. But the more he drank, the clearer Lee Dachin appeared in his mind, and the harder it was to forget him.
Fang Yaoting finally walked to the bed and lifted the veil on Wang Shuchun's head. Wang Shuchun herself was even more beautiful than her portrait. Fang Yaoting, still hesitant, walked back to the table.
"Just eat something, you must be hungry," Fang Yaoting said, his voice flat.
Wang Shuchun walked to the table and sat nervously across from Fang Yaoting, her hands clasped.
Fang Yaoting looked at the nervous seventeen-year-old Wang Shuchun. "Go on and eat. Don't be nervous," he said, trying to reassure her.
Wang Shuchun picked up a biscuit and slowly bit it down, avoiding Fang Yaoting's gaze. Fang Yaoting did not make eye contact with her either. He continued to drink, seeking to numb himself. Fang Yaoting turned around and stared at Wang Shuchun. Wang Shuchun was a decent, good-looking lady, certainly.
"Were you forced into this marriage?" Fang Yaoting asked, his voice low.
"No," Wang Shuchun replied softly. "A few years ago, I saw you at General Tang's birthday and admired you."
"If I tell you this is not the marriage I want, would you still marry me?" Fang Yaoting pressed, looking for a way out, or perhaps just honesty.
"We have finished the wedding, and I am now a member of the Fang family," Wang Shuchun stated, her voice firm despite her nervousness.
"I will marry again when you give birth to a son, do you still want to marry me?" Fang Yaoting asked, laying out the difficult condition.
Wang Shuchun's complexion changed, a flicker of pain, but she was still calm. "Yes," she said, her resolve unwavering.
"You can still walk out of here," Fang Yaoting offered one last chance.
"What do you take me for?" Wang Shuchun retorted, a flash of pride in her eyes. "If I walk out of here, how will I face anyone in the future? I choose you. I married you. I am a member of the Fang family, dead or alive. No regrets."
Fang Yaoting drank all the remaining wine on the table, emptying the bottle. He picked up Wang Shuchun and put her on the bed. He began to undress her, slowly taking off her wedding clothes. He started kissing her on the neck, and then touched her down below. Then he knelt between her legs and slowly inserted his member into her. Then he thrust slowly, initiating their marital act.
Wang Shuchun felt a scorching and tingling sensation down below. She clutched the bed sheet tightly with both hands, enduring the initial discomfort. It was painful at first, but as Fang Yaoting continued to speed up his thrusting, Wang Shuchun's pain slowly turned into pleasure, a surprising warmth spreading through her.
With Fang Yaoting's fierce thrusts, Wang Shuchun's moaning became louder, her pleasure growing. Fang Yaoting climaxed inside her. As soon as Fang Yaoting released in Wang Shuchun, he let go of her and lay down beside her, turning onto his back. He felt all his strength drained. It may have been because of the sexual intercourse, or it may have been because of the vast amount of alcohol. He turned to sleep on his left side. He pulled Wang Shuchun into his arms and hugged her tightly, seeking comfort.
Fang Yaoting kissed her right temple, and he murmured softly, "Goodnight, Dachin." He then fell asleep, his heart heavy.
Wang Shuchun's face changed, her eyes widening in confusion. She was puzzled deep in her heart. Who is Dachin? She must find out who Dachin is and the true relationship between Dachin and her new husband.
When Wang Shuchun woke up early the next morning, Fang Yaoting was not in the room with her. She lifted the quilt and found herself still naked. She tried to sit up, but her bottom hurt, a lingering reminder of the night. She went to the bath and changed into fresh clothes.
"Young Mistress, may I come in?" a maid's voice asked from outside the door.
"Come in," Wang Shuchun replied.
The maid went to help Wang Shuchun comb her hair, arranging it neatly.
"Where is young master?" Wang Shuchun inquired.
"Young mistress, young master practices sword every morning," the maid explained. "Young master might be in the back courtyard."
Wang Shuchun got up. "Hurry up and dress me," she commanded, eager to find her husband.
Standing around the corner, Ping'an saw Lee Dachin combing Fang Yaoting's hair in the courtyard, a tender domestic scene. She stepped forward to meet with the lovers.
"Good morning," Ping'an said, sitting opposite Fang Yaoting at a nearby stone table.
"I didn't know you were still here," Fang Yaoting replied, surprised.
"Speak for yourself," Ping'an retorted, a playful glint in her eye. "You said if any of us venture to Capital City, and at the Fang residence, you won't turn us down."
Fang Yaoting scoffed softly, a faint smile. "That's what I said."
"All set," Lee Dachin said, placing the comb on the table, having finished Fang Yaoting's hair.
"I guess no one else wants to see me," Fang Yaoting mused, referring to the absence of the other friends.
"Everything came too fast," Ping'an explained. "You didn't have time to explain to them. Longtong loves Dachin as his brother. Hongse and Renshu are Dachin's friends. If someone hurts Dachin, they will protect Dachin to the best of their abilities."
"How about you?" Fang Yaoting asked, looking at her intently.
"I understand the situation and have experienced it myself," Ping'an said, her voice gentle and understanding. "If I were Dachin, I would do the same. If there is a way for Master Guo to accept Baiyu back, I will do it. Also, it's not like you left Dachin to marry someone else. In that case, I would have taken Dachin to Immortal Valley, and you will never find him."
"For the two people who gave me life, this is the least I can do," Fang Yaoting said, his voice tinged with sadness, "and it's the only way I can openly marry Dachin."
Ping'an smiled at Fang Yaoting, a warm, supportive smile. She said, "I am proud of you, Yaoting." She stretched out her hand and touched his right hand, a gesture of comfort and approval.
Wang Shuchun walked in with two maids, finding her new husband and his friends. Wang Shuchun stood beside Fang Yaoting, observing the scene.
"Husband, breakfast is ready," Wang Shuchun said, her voice polite.
"Let's go have breakfast," Fang Yaoting replied, rising.
"I'm going back to the inn," Ping'an said, excusing herself.
"I am going with Ping'an," Lee Dachin immediately declared, "you go eat with your family."
Fang Yaoting turned to Wang Shuchun. "I will go out with them," he said, surprising her. He turned around and smiled at Dachin, a genuine, loving smile. "It has been a year since we met Longtong, and I have some explaining to do."
Wang Shuchun watched her husband, and his two friends leave, a growing unease in her heart. She wanted to know if this woman was Dachin.