TL: Hua
Due to the little prince’s early birth, Yin Yanjun and Xu Yanqing’s wedding date wasn’t delayed for too long.
About half a month before their wedding, it was time for Yin Yuancheng and Miss Chu’s big day. So, early in the morning, Xu Yanqing was pulled out of his warm covers by Mu Yu.
Since the young master was still unmarried, Young Marquis Yin dragged him along as extra help to accompany the groom to the Chu residence for the bridal procession.
Ever since the little cub was born, the salted fish young master’s figure had become even more refined and handsome. Dressed in light yellow brocade, he was undoubtedly a noble and languid young gentleman.
So, when Xu Yanqing arrived at the Grand Princess’s mansion, Prince Huai immediately pulled him aside, shaking his head and sighing in admiration: “Tsk, tsk, tsk, His Majesty truly is an old ox eating tender grass.”
Xu Yanqing shrugged indifferently: “Who told the tender grass to like being nibbled by an old ox!”
“In my opinion, only Young Master Xu has a face as thick as a city wall.” Today was her elder brother’s and friend’s big day. Yin Yuanshuang was incredibly busy, her feet barely touching the ground. As she directed a group of maids passing through the front courtyard, she happened to hear Xu Yanqing’s remark and couldn’t help but interject.
Xu Yanqing, who was teased about his thick skin, merely raised an eyebrow nonchalantly: “So, has this young master made Princess Jing’an bow down in defeat?”
“Naturally.” Yin Yuanshuang exchanged a few playful words and then hurried with the maids to the back courtyard.
It wasn’t yet time for the bridal pick-up, so Xu Yanqing helped with various other miscellaneous tasks. When he finally had a moment to rest, an unfamiliar young man slowly walked towards him.
“I didn’t expect Yuancheng to invite Young Master Xu to help too.” The other man, dressed in a round-collared robe, appeared handsome and spirited.
Xu Yanqing slightly looked up. It was the unfamiliar gentleman from the palace banquet who had given him a faint smile. They were not well-acquainted.
Therefore, the young master only offered a friendly smile: “Young Marquis Yin and I are good friends. Today is Young Marquis Yin’s big day; it’s only right that I come to help.”
“Young Master Xu is right; it was Shaoqing who spoke out of turn first.” Chen Shaoqing gracefully took half a step back and bowed slightly to Xu Yanqing.
The other party didn’t seem to dwell on the previous issue. Instead, he continued to chat with Xu Yanqing warmly but politely: “Young Master Xu may not know me, but I’m the eldest son of Marquis Xuanping. I grew up in the capital when I was young, which is why I became friends with Yuancheng.”
Marquis Xuanping, Chen Chunsong, and Marquis Wu’an held equivalent positions and were both among Daliang’s top generals. They had also been good friends who fought side by side.
When Yin Yanjun was still the weak crown prince, Chen Chunsong, in order to gain the late emperor’s trust, sent his infant eldest son to the capital as a hostage. He then garrisoned the border for many years before he had the military strength to support the emperor’s ascension.
Therefore, Chen Shaoqing was a close friend who grew up with Yin Yuancheng. Their bond was naturally self-evident. However, after the emperor ascended the throne, Chen Shaoqing was brought back to the border by Marquis Xuanping.
This time, Chen Shaoqing returned to the capital at Yin Yuancheng’s invitation, and coincidentally, it coincided with the little prince’s full-month banquet.
The two chatted and laughed together, a harmonious back-and-forth between them. Chen Shaoqing’s unrestrained nature was evident in both his speech and demeanor. They were just talking about amusing anecdotes from the groom’s past when they heard a flurry of footsteps outside, followed by a string of crackling firecrackers.
The two gentlemen who were to assist the groom in fetching the bride were led to the front courtyard by servants. Yin Yuancheng, in high spirits, sat atop a tall horse, and with music and fanfare, they arrived at the Chu residence.
As it was a well-matched marriage, the bride’s side simply went through a few perfunctory steps to block the groom, then allowed the groom to carry the bride into the sedan chair.
The crowd was bustling and noisy. Tuoba Jinshu had already tidied herself up early and rushed over to help her friend. Now, finally resting, she almost got knocked over by accident.
A large hand firmly wrapped around her slender waist. Tuoba Jinshu lost her footing and stumbled entirely into the man’s embrace, met with the faint scent of his sweat.
“Princess Jinshu, please forgive me.” The maid who had bumped into Tuoba Jinshu quickly stepped forward to apologize. She was carrying a large pile of miscellaneous items that obscured half of her body, which was why she had collided with Tuoba Jinshu due to her obstructed view.
Tuoba Jinshu was gently pushed away by the man. As soon as she stood steady, she softly told the kneeling maid to go back to her duties.
Once the maid had retreated, Tuoba Jinshu turned to Xu Xianzhi, who was in thin and slightly disheveled clothing, and curtsied: “Jinshu thanks the prince.”
There was a clamor from the main hall; the groom had brought the bride back, and then firecrackers exploded, presumably for the ancestral worship ceremony.
“Princess is too polite.” Facing the delicate Princess Jinshu, Xu Xianzhi’s handsome face wasn’t as stern as usual. He softened his tone slightly: “Today, there are many servants coming and going for Young Marquis Yin’s wedding. Princess, you are of noble birth, so it is best to be careful.”
After all, there were many eyes and ears. Xu Xianzhi did not linger here for too long. He had been dragged here by Prince Huai to help Young Marquis Yin with the drinking, estimating that the banquet would begin as soon as the ancestral worship was over. Xu Xianzhi’s gaze fell on the delicate Tuoba Jinshu, then he raised his hand and summoned a maid: “The Grand Princess’s mansion is too large, and Princess Jinshu has momentarily lost her way. Please take Princess Jinshu to Princess Jing’an.”
The maid assented and led Tuoba Jinshu forward.
Xu Xianzhi stood rooted to the spot, silently watching Princess Jinshu’s back disappear from his sight before striding towards the front courtyard.
The banquet had just begun, and as soon as Xu Xianzhi appeared, he was pulled over by Prince Huai and immediately had a cup of wine thrust into his hand.
At this moment, Young Master Xu was not seated at the banquet outside but had been invited by Wen Jing to a secluded small courtyard.
The salted fish young master raised an eyebrow, then immediately remembered that when he had attended Princess Qingzhu’s daughter’s full month ceremony at the Su residence, he had also met the Taoist master playing chess alone in a secluded courtyard.
Inside the room, excellent gold-thread charcoal was burning. Yin Yanjun sat upright before the writing desk, sipping tea. Beside him, a cup of steaming pear tea was placed.
His salted fish young master was having so much fun outside the palace that he had forgotten all about home. Yin Yanjun, feeling that he and the little cub were about to be forgotten, naturally had to seek him out under the guise of his nephew’s wedding.
As Xu Yanqing slowly sat down, a playful smile appeared on his face. Yin Yanjun instead sighed indulgently and affectionately stroked the young master’s soft black hair: “Did you get tired from fetching the bride at the Chu residence today?”
Xu Yanqing picked up the pear tea from the writing desk and took a sip. The pear tea was at the perfect temperature, with a crisp sweetness and not a hint of stickiness.
Comfortably propping his chin with his hand, the salted fish young master reached out and tugged at the Taoist master’s robe: “We were naturally busy and tired outside, unlike the Taoist master, who is so leisurely. Coming to someone’s wedding banquet and being placed in such a quiet courtyard!”
The young master’s teasing was overtly obvious. Yin Yanjun’s expression remained unchanged; he simply looked up and lightly tapped the young master’s forehead: “Qingqing is getting more and more mischievous now.”
Seeing the Taoist master’s reaction, Xu Yanqing’s delicate, refined eyes curved slightly. He had always been a salted fish, and after sitting properly for only half a cup of tea, he leaned crookedly against the Taoist master.
Then, as if remembering something, Xu Yanqing folded his hands and rested his head on the Taoist master’s shoulder, staring intently at his profile: “But, Taoist master, why did you call me over when you came to the wedding banquet? Young Marquis Yin had already arranged a seat for me in the front courtyard early on.”
The young master was clearly asking knowingly. Yin Yanjun lowered his eyes, his dark, long eyelashes fluttering lightly. Feeling the young master’s warm breath as he leaned close, his usually steady breathing became slightly disheveled. He opened his mouth and finally answered honestly: “I missed Qingqing, so I hoped to see Qingqing at the Grand Princess’s mansion.”
They were an unmarried couple who already had a child, and their wedding was approaching. All their intimate gestures seemed to become more legitimate and natural.
Xu Yanqing’s lips were barely a paper-thin distance from Yin Yanjun’s. Their breaths intertwined, yet the young master said, “It’s a pity there’s no wine here. I’m afraid you won’t be able to keep me.”
“Drinking harms your body,” Yin Yanjun’s eyebrows gradually deepened into a profound obscurity. He gazed steadily into the young master’s eyes: “On the day of our grand wedding, I will naturally let Qingqing drink to your heart’s content.”
Xu Yanqing was unfamiliar with the customs of Daliang wedding banquets. Young Marquis Yin’s wedding was the first wedding banquet he had attended since transmigrating into the book, so he blinked with a slightly bewildered expression.
Yin Yanjun had no intention of explaining, simply slowly pressing his forehead against the young master’s forehead. By the time the young master reacted, he had already kissed the other’s exquisite lips.
After all, it was an imperial wedding, and time was quite pressing. So, recently, the ministers of the Ministry of Rites had been running to the Imperial Study every day, preventing Yin Yanjun from going to Marquis Wu’an’s residence under the guise of a servant, as he had before.
Therefore, after not seeing each other for many days, Yin Yanjun’s gentle kiss once again became like a tempest, particularly intense. After the kiss, the emperor even lingered on the young master’s pearl-like lips for a long time, unwilling to let go.
Finally, when the heat between them had subsided, Yin Yanjun raised his hand to open the window, letting a cool breeze blow in. Xu Yanqing lay comfortably on the Taoist master’s sturdy legs, raising a hand to touch his stomach: “Taoist master, I’m hungry.”
Yin Yanjun dotingly stroked the young master’s much thinner cheek and calmly instructed Wen Jing to prepare a meal.
Perhaps it was due to the young master’s small complaint earlier, but among the food brought in, there was actually a bottle of wine. Xu Yanqing immediately brightened up, raised his hand, and slowly filled two cups with wine.
“I toast you, Taoist master.” The salted fish young master raised his cup with an unconcealed smirk on his face. Both cups were filled to the brim; the Taoist master would surely have no reason to reprimand him.
Staring at the wine that was about to overflow, Yin Yanjun instantly saw through the young master’s little trick, yet he still dotingly accepted the cup and lightly clinked it with Xu Yanqing’s.
After drinking a cup of wine, Xu Yanqing finally understood why the Taoist master was so agreeable today. There was indeed wine in the cup, no mistake.
However, this wine was purely a very low-concentration fruit wine, not even half as potent as the wine at the little cub’s full-month banquet.
The young master sighed helplessly. The Taoist master was indeed still the Taoist master, but as he sipped the fruit wine in his cup, he mused that it was barely satisfactory.
Yin Yanjun pretended not to notice the subtle emotional changes in the young master’s eyes. A slight smile appeared on his clear and detached face as he picked up some of the young master’s favorite dishes.
The meal specially delivered to the small courtyard was not the mass-produced food from the outside banquet. Xu Yanqing drank the slightly sweet fruit wine while being fed by the Taoist master and finally ate until his stomach was bulging.
The writing desk was tidied up meticulously by Wen Jing. Xu Yanqing, full and content, leaned languidly against Yin Yanjun, allowing him to massage his slightly bloated belly. “Yuanchen has been a bit fussy at night the past couple of days.” Just as Xu Yanqing was drifting off to sleep, he suddenly heard Yin Yanjun speak abruptly.
Xu Yanqing didn’t react at first but opened his eyes blankly and said, “Didn’t the little cub usually sleep through the night?” Sometimes even the wet nurse feeding him and changing his diaper wouldn’t wake him up.
“Yes,” Yin Yanjun’s tone sounded like his usual calm demeanor: “Perhaps it’s because he hasn’t seen Qingqing these past few days, which is why he’s become a bit fussy.”
Alright, no need to say more. The salted fish young master already understood what the Taoist master meant.
