Chapter 145
On the day of Duke Ding's wedding, red clothes fluttered throughout the streets. The commoners all tied red clothes in the doors of their shops and houses to celebrate Duke Ding's wedding.
The bride welcoming group was rowdy and they were beating drums all the way. The sound of firecrackers was continuous.
Duke Ding Xie Heng was wearing bright red groom clothes, riding a horse at the front. The hard lines on his handsome face softened and his lips curved up. Even though the ominous energy still surround him, it could not cover the happiness emanating from him.
The group that beat the drums followed behind, powerful and dynamic, making not a small amount of young masters and young ladies feel admiration. Perhaps, even the crown prince marrying did not make the commoners tie red clothes in celebration.
The position of Duke Ding in the eyes of the commoners could be seen.
The commoners on both sides of the streets all wore smiles, feeling excitement. Perhaps the happy atmosphere dispersed Duke Ding's ominous energy, so the commoners on the sides of the streets did not feel unwell.
Changing Count Residence.
Time went by slowly. When the auspicious hour came, Jiang Ningbao finally heard the drum sounds from far away. Her beautiful face could not contain her tender and beautiful smile.
"Lady, the male master has arrived." Chun Xi said with excitement.
"That's right, he finally arrived."
Jiang Ningbao's heartbeat strangely beat faster and her face felt hot.
"Cover with the red veil."
The wedding servant smiled as she put on the red veil on Jiang Ningbao's head. The aunts did not want to part as they grabbed Jiang Ningbao's hand. Her cousins also surrounded her.
The noise outside became clearer and the duke had obviously arrived in the main yard. Jiang Ningbao suddenly felt nervous and her heartbeat accelerated, as if her heart wanted to jump out of her chest.
Normally, the bride had to ride on her brother's or father's back to go to the sedan. At this time, Jiang Ningbao's older brother, Jiang Jin, who kept waiting by the door came in with a joyous air.
The people in the room made a way.
"Ningbao, brother will carry you out."
Jiang Jin strode to the bed and squatted with Jiang Ningbao at his back.
Under the veil, Jiang Ningbao's lips rose to a smile and spoke with a sonorous voice, "I'll be troubling big brother." Then, under the wedding servant's help, she lied on Jiang Jin's back, letting Jiang Jin carry her out of her room.
Jiang Ningbao, who wore a big bright red wedding dress, lay on her older brother's sturdy back and heard her older brother's steady breaths. Her heart was filled with happiness, nervousness, excitement, and a slight hate to part.
Coming out of her room, the sound of firecrackers was heard again.
Jiang Jin carried his little sister out of the main courtyard and greeted Old Madam Jiang, Madam Zhang, and Count Changning.
At the side, Duke Ding Xie Heng stared at the little lady who wore a big bright red wedding dress and a red veil with a soft gaze. A faint smile rose on his cold face.
After this day, the little lady would be his little wife.
Below, the group that was the closest was Jiang Ningbao's cousins and uncles.
When they saw Jiang Ningbao bowing toward the county residence's old madam and the first branch relatives, their eyes suddenly darkened and the smiles on their faces disappeared.
There was fury that flashed in the eyes of the uncles. If it weren't because their sister and brother-in-law met with mishap, their niece won't suffer the grievance of bowing to these heartless and ungrateful people of the first branch.
The guests looked on with a smile.
"The hour has come, please carry the bride to the flower sedan."
Under the urge of the wedding official, Madam Zhang saw Jiang Jin carrying his little sister to the flower sedan with a stiff smile. It was because the pressure and trauma Duke Ding Xie Heng gave her was too big so she just wanted Duke Ding to get out of the count residence immediately.
"Brother, I felt that when our oldest aunt spoke to us, her voice seemed to tremble." Jiang Ningbao laid on Jiang Jin's back comfortably and spoke in a small voice that held a trace of laughter.
"Brother-in-law was beside her." Jiang Jin laughed.
He suspected that his brother-in-law stood near his oldest aunt on purpose.
When Ningbao bowed to her, he noticed that his brother-in-law glanced at their oldest aunt with a cold gaze.
Their oldest aunt spoke a few sentences in a hurry and ended the session of the elders' 'teaching' with a fast speed.
Jiang Ningbao recalled her oldest aunt opening the Buddhist book in a manner that seeked death, and she could not help laughing.
Jiang Jin: "....."
Walking to the front of the flower sedan, Jiang Jin sent his little sister into the flower sedan gently. He looked at the bride in the sedan puting the veil down to block the views from others with a gaze that did not want to separate.
After entering the sedan, sounds of firecrackers filled the eras.
Jiang Ningbao sat alone in the flower sedan with a veil covering her face and glanced at the red apple her oldest aunt gave her. A smile appeared.
The people lifting the sedan were Duke Ding's personal guards so the sedan was lifted stably without any bumps. At the back of the sedan were Jiang Ningbao's servants and her one hundred and twenty eight chests of dowry.
On the way, there were pouches filled with flower petals, candies on weddings, and bronze coins being given out. The commoners were shouting and jumping in joy as they spoke their good wishes. The whole capital was in a joyous atmosphere.
Chapter 146
Inside a great gathering of eminent guests, Yang Shuqing who wore a balck veil head-gear coldly looked at the vast and loud bride welcoming group. Her handkerchief was squeezed into another chest and her chest heaved up and down.
Five and a half kilometers of red dowry, a grand wedding.
The commoners of the capital gave their well wishes.
Based on what Yang Shuqing knew, throughout the Dayue Dynasty, the commoners would tie a red cloth on this day to celebrate Duke Ding's marriage. Being the bride of Duke Ding, Jiang Ningbao also had the well wishes of all of the commoners of the Dayue Dynasty.
How could it not let her be envious?
In the previous life, she was happy and content and in this life, she was unbearably grand. Even though Duke Ding would die two years later, Jiang Ningbao still had the things that made other noble ladies envious of her.
The vast and loud bride-welcoming group carried the bright red flower sedan and walked around the capital once before going to Duke Ding Residence.
Duke Ding Residence was basked in a joyous atmosphere. Bright red lanterns were hung high and red silks tied into flower balls clung on every corner of the residence. Auspicious atmosphere covered the residence.
The seats were full of guests and it was very crowded.
The decorated main courtyard was filled with a joyous atmosphere. Old Madam Xie sat at the highest seat and saw her son wearing the groom's clothing, looking even more handsome, and the gentle and graceful bride who sat beside him. She was grinning from ear to ear.
After this day, E'Heng would live until a hundred, wealthy and noble, with a lot of children.
The wedding was mainly officiated by a Board of Rites official.
Xie Jingyi was seated below. He stared at his former fiance who was wearing a bright red wedding dress and bowing at the wedding altar with his adopted father. Once he thought that Jiang fourth miss would be his adopted mother, Xie Jingyi's eyes flashed with some melancholic and complicated emotions.
After bowing at the altar, Jiang Ningbao was sent to the new room in the main courtyard. Sitting on the bright red wedding bed, at once she thought that tonight, on this big bed, they would have their wedding night.
Jiang Ningbao's heart thudded hard and her face could not contain the redness that flushed upward, making her look very delicate and charming.
It was very quiet in the wedding chamber, only the red candles were making a sound.
Chun Xi and Chun Le followed inside. Chun Xi saw the red pot of tea on the table and immediately poured a cup for her lady.
"Lady, drink some tea to moisturize the throat."
Under the veil, Jiang Ningbao nodded, "Okay." She had not drank anything for the whole day so her mouth was dry and uncomfortable.
After drinking one small cup of tea, Old Servant Huang personally served a bowl of bird nest porridge and a small plate of snacks inside. She smiled, "Madam, this is the bird nest porridge the old madam asked the kitchen to cook. Madam drink some to fill your stomach."
"Thanking old madam." Jiang Ningbao was happy in her heart. Old Madam Xie was indeed considerate. She ate the bird nest porridge while wearing the red veil and ate a few jujube paste and chinese yam cake. She felt that her stomach was no long empty, making her feel comfortable.
Old Servant Huang glanced at Jiang Ningbao who was wearing a bright red wedding dress and sitting on the wedding bed. Her eyes were filled with happiness, "Madam, please wait a moment. The duke will come a while later."
Jiang Ningbao nodded slightly and thought in her heart that there probably wouldn't be anyone who dared to propose a toast.
Old Servant Huang smiled and left to bustle about.
Outside the window, it was almost night and the evening glow was all over the sky.
Inside of the wedding room, the red candles were burning high, as if day time.
Around half an hour passed and Duke Ding, who was wearing the groom's clothes, entered the wedding chamber. There was no trace of wine on his body, only freshness and coolness. Perhaps it was because of the ominous energy on him, but no one dared to escort him rowdily to the chambers and slipped the step of drinking wine.
"All of you, retreat back." A low and cold voice rang.
Chun Xi and Chun Le immediately left the wedding chamber.
The wedding chamber became silent.
Jiang Ningbao clearly heard the sound of the door being closed. Then, she heard Duke Ding's erratic breathing. She thought of something and her ears flushed. Her cheeks, and even her chest became hotter.
Duke Ding Xie Heng glanced at the girl sitting on the wedding bed and his gaze fell on her intersected fair hands on the wedding dress for a moment. So his little wife who was usually daring could also be nervous.
Duke Ding's eyes flashed with a trace of smile and he strode forward and lifted her red veil.
The red veil fell on the floor.
Duke Ding saw an intricate, bright, and colorful face, as if the peach blossom flower that bloomed on march. She was so beautiful that it shocked his mind and his eyes darkened slowly.
Jiang Ningbao lifted her pupils.
The two of them met eye to eye and the atmosphere inside the wedding room became enchanting and scorching.
Jiang Ningbao's cheeks were red as flame and added some charm on the layer of unnatural make-up.
She actually planned on pushing down Duke Ding in the wedding chamber, surrounded with candles. But seeing Duke Ding's pair of eyes that were turning darker and scorching, as if wanted to scorch her to ashes, Jiang Ningbao lowered her head and shamefully did not have the courage to do so.
The wedding candles burned tall.
Duke Ding's lips curved up and he lifted his big and slender hand to put down the phoenix veil she had on and let her hair down in the process. Her black tresses fell down, adding a few charms.
Seeing the little wife being like that, Duke Ding's throat dried and his pupils burned with fire. His breathing suddenly turned rapid and his body rose in temperature. His clear hands could not refrain from holding Jiang Ningbao's face as he lowered his handsome face and his cool lips kissed the red lips he had longed for so long.
Two pairs of lips touched and their breaths intermingled.
Jiang Ningbao immediately froze and stared at the zoomed up handsome face. A sound resounded in her mind, as if millions of peach blossoms exploded.
So this was how it felt to kiss?
Chapter 147
Inside of the wedding chamber, the red candles swayed and incense curled up.
The flickering red candles covered the entire room with its red color.
The two newlyweds who had no experience only felt that their locking lips was a wonderful sensation, as if they were above clouds.
This was Duke Ding's first kiss and it was as if he was savoring a delicious dish. His breathing quickened and his cool lips did not stop rubbing against Jiang Ningbao's red lips.
This was only a superficial kiss.
Jiang Ningbao's face turned red and her eyes lowered slightly. It was just a kiss yet she fell on Duke Ding as if she was boneless.
A moment later, as if Duke Ding had gotten a hold of it, he let Jiang Ningbao experience what real kiss was like and he felt it was mutual help in humble circumstances.
The clothes were thrown all over the place and the bright red curtain fell down without anyone noticing.
The bright candle illuminated the two interlocking silhouettes inside the curtain and the low breathing of the male and the elated moans of a woman.
Moon hung on the sky and the movements finally stopped.
On the bright red bed, Jiang Ningbao, who was dripping nice smelling sweat, was slumped and her body that seemed boneless lay on Duke Ding.
Duke Ding laid on Jiang Ningbao's side and his pair of strong arms sturdily enveloped Jiang Ningbao in his embrace. He was happy, the little lady finally became his little wife.
Duke Ding tucked in the stray hairs on Jiang Ningbao's face and lowered to gently kiss her face. Thinking back to when she shouted hurt with teary eyes, pity flashed and he asked her nervously.
"Do you still feel hurt?"
"It hurt at first, but it was not painful later on." Jiang Ningbao buried her head on Duke Ding's chest and answered with a red face.
Duke Ding silently sighed in relief.
"Duke, haven't you.....seen those types of pictures?" Jiang Ningbao thought back to the little book her aunt gave her and she lifted her red face as she asked in curiosity.
Duke Ding instantly understood what she meant and avoided her gaze awkwardly. A few seconds later, he said, "Seen it."
Once Jiang Ningbao imagined the serious duke studying those pictures, she could not stop laughing that led her to laugh while lying on Duke Ding.
All embarrassment disappeared.
Duke Ding stared at his little wife who was laughing freely with a helpless gaze. A trace of little pampering and softness appeared across his eyes.
Chun Xi and Chun Le who were guarding the door to the wedding chamber heard the laughter inside the room and could not help widening their eyes. They looked at each other, wondering what was happening inside.
Only Old Servant Huang was calm.
In the wedding chamber, Jiang Ningbao suddenly felt something was not right after laughing.
The thick ominous energy on the duke only had a thin layer left.
Her gaze fell on the red sandalwood Buddhist bracelet. The bracelet had no change and Jiang Ningbao's heart jumped. A daring guess popped up.
She seemed to have found the way to cleanse the ominous energy on Duke Ding.
Once she thought that she might know the way to settle the issue of ominous energy on Duke Ding, Jiang Ningbao immediately turned excited. The softness and hardness of the two chests was even more intimate.
"Duke, I have an important discovery to tell you."
"What important discovery?"
Duke Ding stared at the red face and his eyes flashed with a flame as he hugged her closer. His low voice had a husky undertone. He placed his chin on Jiang Ningbao's soft hair that was like ink.
"Duke, I realized that the ominous energy on you became a lot fainter." Jiang Ningbao softly opened her mouth and her husky voice had a trace of excitement.
Duke Ding was stunned and his eyes flashed with shock.
"Fainter?"
"Yes, it's fainter by a big half. I heard mother say that our life characters are very compatible. It seems that if we consummate, we can terminate the ominous energy on you."