Shangguan Liqian shot her a glance but remained silent.
She truly couldn’t bring herself to say the word “continue.” If this girl insisted on waiting until her legs healed, then she would simply have to accept it.
Luo Wushuang swallowed hard, a fierce battle raging in her mind. Ultimately, the lustful little demon in her heart triumphed over her facade of propriety.
Luo Wushuang leaned down, pressing her lips close to Shangguan Liqian’s ear, and whispered, “Then… shall we move to the bed first?”
Shangguan Liqian gave a slight nod, knowing Wushuang was making concessions for her sake.
Her legs were currently inconvenient. If they stayed in the bath, she feared she would…
Before her wandering thoughts could conclude, she felt the other woman gently wiping her body dry. Realizing what was about to happen, a faint pink hue bloomed across Liqian’s skin.
Suddenly, a soft chuckle sounded in her ear.
“Is Sister shy?”
Shangguan Liqian’s body stiffened. She buried her face against the other woman’s chest, hiding her crimson features from Luo Wushuang’s view.
Ever mindful of her Sister’s condition, Luo Wushuang was the soul of gentleness during their wedding night.
She was so gentle, in fact…
That even a woman as dignified and refined as Shangguan Liqian couldn’t help but voice a soft plea for more.
Hearing those breathless, melodic entreaties growing louder, Luo Wushuang gave a mischievous smirk and increased the pressure of her touch.
“Didn’t Sister ask me to be gentle?”
Hearing that teasing voice by her ear, Shangguan Liqian gripped the bedsheets tightly, her eyes lost in a daze as she stared at the phoenix woven into the bed curtains with gold and silver thread.
The phoenix was lifelike, as if it were about to spread its wings and fly, or perhaps lift its head and sing in a long, high-pitched cry!
She sang with the phoenix, soaring together above the clouds…
Luo Wushuang stared at the woman before her with obsessive adoration, wishing she could…
…………………………The Pure Dividing Line…………………………
After a second bath, Luo Wushuang held the woman in her arms. Her eyes were brimming with joy, and her mouth moved like a little trumpet, chirping away incessantly as she shared her happiness.
Shangguan Liqian listened quietly, but eventually, exhaustion claimed her, and she drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, after Luo Wushuang rose, she began making arrangements to leave the capital.
Prince An, Luo Wuyan, was appointed Regent, assisted by Chancellor Yang Qing and the Ministers of the various departments.
If any matter remained undecided, it would be handed over to the Secret Guards for Luo Wushuang to personally review and approve.
As for her reason for leaving the capital, she claimed it was an incognito inspection tour to observe the people’s lives—and, conveniently, to pray for the Empress Dowager, who was “bedridden” due to her overwhelming grief for the Late Emperor.
The date of return was… indefinite.
As the “ailing” Empress Dowager, Feng Qingcheng not only had to play along by feigning illness but also had to assist Luo Wuyan in stabilizing the court. She was going to be very busy for the foreseeable future.
Once Luo Wushuang had settled most of the affairs and Shangguan Liqian had awakened, the two were led by officials from the Ministry of Rites to the Ancestral Temple to pay their respects.
Afterward, another banquet was held in the palace for the civil and military officials, where the Empress and her Consort together accepted the homage of the court.
With that, the post-wedding rituals were essentially complete.
The following day marked the Grand Wedding of Luo Wuyan and Shen Youran. As the Imperial Sister, Luo Wushuang had to help manage the preparations, whether she wanted to or not.
Once Prince An’s wedding was handled, there were still the nuptials of Lou Yanhui and Luo Yunjin.
As their Imperial Sister, she couldn’t show favoritism. Besides, she still expected Lou Yanhui to keep working herself to the bone for her; it wouldn’t do to deny her this much face.
Once the weddings of these two couples were finished, Luo Wushuang couldn’t wait any longer and led her party out of the Imperial Capital.
While Prince An began attending court on crutches to toil for her black-hearted Imperial Sister…
The disguised party of Luo Wushuang arrived at their first stop outside the palace: Qinghe Town.
Qinghe Town was near the capital and was quite prosperous.
Word was that the town was holding a lantern festival tonight and tomorrow to celebrate the Imperial Wedding. Luo Wushuang consulted with Shangguan Liqian, deciding they would enjoy the festival tonight and continue their journey tomorrow.
Shangguan Liqian had no objections.
The two took a good rest at an inn for the afternoon.
When evening fell and the first lanterns were lit, the starlight above mirrored the festive lights below. The streets grew lively.
Under the covert protection of the Secret Guards, Luo Wushuang pushed Shangguan Liqian through the crowd, admiring the various lanterns hanging from the pavilions.
Catching the faint smile on her Sister’s lips, Luo Wushuang felt a weight lift from her heart.
Ever since she suspected that Liqian was unfit to walk because of her, a gloom had been suppressed in her chest.
Seeing that her Sister seemed to be in a good mood, she managed to push those emotions down, though a lingering sense of guilt remained tucked away in her heart.
As her spouse, how could Shangguan Liqian not know what she was thinking?
But she had already coaxed and persuaded her; the girl was simply stubborn. There wasn’t much else she could do.
When Wushuang mentioned wanting to see the lanterns, Liqian guessed it was because she feared Liqian would be bored sitting in the carriage all day and wanted her to get some fresh air.
She didn’t actually feel bored, but since it was Wushuang’s sincere wish, she naturally couldn’t bear to let her down.
The two possessed striking looks, and given their unique pairing, they attracted many curious glances even in the bustling festival crowd.
Seeing their hands were empty, a clever vendor soon squeezed through the crowd, pushing his lanterns with a smile.
“Would the two young misses like a lantern? We have every kind here. I guarantee that if you release one, your heart’s desires will come true…”
Hearing “heart’s desires come true,” Luo Wushuang’s interest was piqued. Though she knew it was just a superstition, since they were out to have fun, she might as well seek a bit of good luck.
With that thought, Luo Wushuang looked down at Shangguan Liqian.
Shangguan Liqian smiled and said softly, “If you like them, choose one.”
Luo Wushuang shook her head. “We’ll choose two. One for Sister, and one for… I—it… it’s truly beautiful! I want one too.”
T/N: Luo Wushuang almost referred to herself as “Zhen” (the imperial “I”) but quickly pivoted to “Zhen” meaning “Truly/Really” to hide her identity.
Hearing her almost expose her identity, Shangguan Liqian looked down with a soft, doting laugh. “Fine, we shall have two.”
Hearing that they were buying, the vendor’s face practically split with a grin. He gestured toward his stall.
“Then please, young misses, come and take your pick. These lanterns aren’t just for seeking a good marriage; you can pray for peace, for health, for…”
At the mention of “seeking a good marriage,” the two looked at each other and shared a knowing smile.
They were already married; they didn’t need to pray for that.
However, peace and health were certainly worth a prayer.
Luo Wushuang pushed Shangguan Liqian behind the vendor to the lantern stall.
The stall was filled with lanterns of every shape and size: little rabbits, big tigers, phoenixes, little birds… the variety was staggering and dazzling to the eye.
Shangguan Liqian’s gaze swept over the lanterns one by one. When she saw a lantern in the shape of a lotus, her expression paused. She then looked up at Luo Wushuang, who was watching her with a smile, and asked softly:
“Well? See anything you like?”
