Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 207 - 205: Isn’t the Bed There?

The wedding banquet at the Lai Mansion was quite a tense affair due to the presence of the emperor. Mr. Lai was quite on edge.

He wanted the emperor to sit in the main seat, but the emperor, not acknowledging his own status, refused to sit.

With the emperor not taking the main seat, Mr. Lai did not dare to sit comfortably either. Instead, he sat on half of his buttocks, not really daring to sit down completely, basically doing a half squat!

His old bones were so tired they felt like they were about to fall apart! He would rather not eat this meal.

Luckily, he had only seen the emperor after the ritual of worshipping Heaven and Earth and when the tea ceremony with his granddaughter-in-law was completed. Otherwise, he was afraid he might not be able to hold the tea cup steadily.

In the bridal chamber

A few people were in the bridal chamber. Lai Ruoqing was accompanying Mrs. Tan, her sisters-in-law and nieces, Mrs. Liu, Yun’er, and Xi’er. They were all sitting on the sofa, chatting and snacking on fruits, dried fruits, wedding candies and pastries.

When Xiao’er entered, Mrs. Liu hurriedly called her to take the empty seat next to Yun’er.

Considering that Jingshu hadn’t eaten or drunk anything since she had woken up, Xiao’er asked, "Cousin, do you want to eat some pastries to fill your stomach first?"

"No need, I’m not hungry. Ruoqing just asked me earlier." Jingshu genuinely wasn’t hungry. All her attention was focused on her neck, which felt like it was going to break due to the heavy phoenix crown she was wearing.

At that moment, Lai Zhewei came in carrying a bowl of sugar water with lotus seeds and lilies.

"Jingshu, you must be hungry and thirsty. Eat this bowl of sugar water first," Zhewei entered, handing her a warm bowl of sugar water.

"So, only cousin gets the sugar water? We are all hungry and thirsty too. Brother-in-law, you are really biased!"

"My apologies for my oversight. I will arrange for some to be brought here." Zhewei hastily admitted his mistake.

"However, brother-in-law, you’re not attentive to my cousin at all! You bring her sugar water to drink, but aren’t you aware of how awkward it is for her to use the restroom while wearing this wedding dress?"

"No, I just thought since she hasn’t eaten or drunk anything all day, the sugar water might alleviate both hunger and thirst. I didn’t consider the restroom issue. I’ll go get something else... right away!" Zhewei explained hurriedly, worried that Jingshu would misunderstand him. He reached out to take the bowl of sugar water from her.

Jingshu moved aside: "It’s okay, I actually want to drink some sugar water."

"Hey, when we all asked earlier, she said she didn’t want to eat anything. The person is the problem, isn’t it?" Mrs. Zhu, Mrs. Tan’s sister-in-law, joined in on the teasing.

"Aunt, you just love teasing me! I felt a bit thirsty and it’s brought in by Young Master Lai."

"Just after marrying off and you’re already defending your husband. As they say; ’A married daughter is like water poured out of a jug.’"

At these words, Zhewei blushed to his ears.

"Aunt!" Jingshu stamped her foot.

Everyone in the room laughed, but Lai Ruoqing, unable to bear the sight of her brother, Zhewei, looking helpless, stepped in to help him: "Brother, they are just teasing you! Dinner in the front yard must be about to start! Go and eat quickly!"

"Then I’ll go first!" On hearing those words, Zhewei beat a hasty retreat.

"Brother-in-law, remember not to drink too much wine, or you won’t be able to consummate the marriage if you’re drunk!" Xiao’er still didn’t let him go.

Upon hearing this, Zhewei stumbled on the threshold and nearly fell over.

The people in the room laughed again.

Mrs. Liu gently scolded Xiao’er: "Don’t you have any manners left? What do you know about consummating a marriage! You should watch your words!"

Xiao’er stuck out her tongue. She was from the 21st century—she might not have eaten pork, but she had certainly seen pigs run! Of course, she knew what consummating a marriage meant! But she wisely chose to remain silent.

However, her words did remind Zhewei. He didn’t drink often, and he wasn’t sure about his alcohol tolerance. He knew he had only drank three cups at most and hadn’t gotten drunk then.

His cousin and his grandfather were both lightweights who would be drunk after just four cups. He wondered if he had inherited this trait.

Then, during the meal, after having two cups of wine, he tried all kinds of excuses to not drink more. Finally, after the third cup, he pretended to be utterly drunk!

He was afraid, terribly afraid that he was a lightweight too, and if he was, how could he consummate the marriage!

Much later, he discovered was the family’s exception—an unfazed drinker, even after thousands of drinks!

Perhaps it was a case of the extreme leading to its opposite!

But by then, he had already been the butt of many a joke for being a ’three-cups-and-out’ drinker. No regrets though, he was content with the way things had turned out.

Lai Zhewei was assisted back to the bridal chamber.

The maids prepared a basin of hot water, asserting "Young Madam, if you need to use hot water, simply call for us."

"Alright." Liu Jingshu responded.

The maids then paid their respects and retired, closing the door behind them on their way out.

Smelling Lai Zhewei’s strong alcohol breath, Jingshu thought he was really drunk. She felt relieved but also a bit disappointed.

Even under the red veil, Liu Jingshu, with her head lowered, could see Lai Zhewei.

She quietly regarded this man who had now become her husband.

It wasn’t until the noise outside ceased that Lai Zhewei opened his eyes only to meet a pair of lively and emotional eyes.

Lai Zhewei was captivated.

Very beautiful, a woman as quiet as a maiden, as lively as a rabbit, was very beautiful.

Jingshu blinked her eyes, her long eyelashes fanning like a small fan: "Are you not drunk? Would you like to wash your face?"

Lai Zhewei came back to his senses and sat up.

"There’s no rush, you sit still."

Lai Zhewei gently propped up Liu Jingshu.

He then picked up the jade talisman from the table and lifted Liu Jingshu’s red veil, with a reverence paralleled by his careful attention to each ritual step for their marriage ceremony.

As they sipped from the wedding cup, he silently reminded himself not to get drunk and blunder, not to get drunk and blunder...

"Jingshu, would you like something to eat?"

Liu Jingshu shook her head and then nodded.

Initially, she didn’t want to eat, but she was anxious about what was going to happen next, so she nodded.

"Then let’s eat together. I haven’t eaten much today." Lai Zhewei guided her to sit at the table.

They both ate quietly, and Lai Zhewei soon put down his chopsticks.

He just sat there, quietly watching Liu Jingshu eat.

He knew she was nervous, and he was initially very nervous too. But once he noticed her being nervous, he strangely became less anxious.

With someone watching her like this, Liu Jingshu could no longer eat, she put down her chopsticks.

"Finished eating?"

Jingshu nodded, her face was hot, it must have been very red, she didn’t dare to lift her head.

"Then let’s rest early." Lai Zhewei gently took Liu Jingshu’s hand, and then in one swoop lifted her and headed towards the other door in the room.

Liu Jingshu gasped, quickly wrapping her arms around Lai Zhewei’s neck.

When Liu Jingshu regained her senses and saw Lai Zhewei heading towards the other direction, she wondered, weren’t they supposed to rest?

She pointed towards the bed: "Isn’t the bed over there?"

"Let’s wash up first."

Liu Jingshu’s face became even redder at that. She couldn’t help but bury her head into Lai Zhewei’s chest.

How embarrassing!

"Isn’t the bed over there?" Good heavens! How could she say such thing? It made her seem so impatient.

Seeing her reaction, Lai Zhewei lightly laughed: So cute.