Mei Wanying was taking a live-in husband, so she didn’t need to go out to greet the bridal procession. She only had to wait in the main hall.

The Mei family had already sent out the welcoming party. When the hour arrived, Gu Xun would be led through the doors by a young boy and girl.

After they bowed to Heaven and Earth, the ceremony would be considered complete.

Dressed in her wedding attire with a red veil over her head, Mei Wanying waited quietly in the main hall.

Footsteps sounded from the direction of the main entrance as if many people were entering. The guests suddenly grew restless, and a wave of gasps went through the crowd.

Mei Wanying’s vision was obscured by the veil. She couldn’t see, but she could feel the atmosphere suddenly grow tense.

This was Mei Wanying’s first time taking a live-in husband, and she had never witnessed a scene like this before. The guests might be surprised, they might jeer playfully, but the atmosphere shouldn’t feel like this.

’Did something go wrong?’

Mei Wanying hesitated, wondering if she should lift the veil to see what was happening.

In the small space visible beneath the hem of her veil, a pair of men’s boots embroidered with auspicious patterns in gold thread suddenly appeared.

The wedding matron stammered, "The groom has arrived. Quick, begin the ceremony. Don’t miss the auspicious hour."

A few moments later, Mei Wanying heard her mother’s voice. "The auspicious hour has arrived..."

Mei Wanying dismissed the thought of lifting her veil.

She didn’t know if it was her imagination, but she felt the man’s gaze was scorching hot, fixed on her without blinking.

It was as if it would burn through the veil and set her aflame.

Mei Wanying’s hand, holding the red silk ribbon, tightened. Her heart began to race, and she grew inexplicably nervous.

The person on the other end of the ribbon gave it a gentle tug and seemed to let out a faint, almost inaudible laugh.

He was very happy.

The kind of happiness he couldn’t hide.

Mei Wanying’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. ’Today’s Gu Xun feels a little strange.’

’This sort of despicable behavior is more like his scoundrel of a cousin.’

As her thoughts ran wild, the master of ceremonies shouted, "First bow, to Heaven and Earth!"

The red ribbon was tugged gently again, as if urging her to bow.

Mei Wanying composed herself and, under the guidance of the master of ceremonies, completed the wedding bows.

"Escort them to the bridal chamber!"

The newlyweds were led by the wedding matron toward the decorated bridal chamber.

Mrs. Mei’s tense body suddenly went slack. Her voice trembled. "Give Ling back to me!"

The guests, who had been intimidated by guards armed with swords, all let out a collective breath of relief.

They had heard of wedding scams, but never one where the groom was switched so brazenly and openly.

Someone with sharp eyes recognized the newcomer’s identity. The sound of whispering rose and fell, punctuated by gasps of surprise.

Some covered their mouths, too shocked to recover.

The murmuring almost drowned out Mrs. Mei’s voice.

She stared intently at Ling, afraid that if she blinked, her granddaughter would be snatched away.

Perhaps sensing that something was wrong, Ling’s mouth turned down, and she began to wail.

As she cried, she flailed her little arms and legs as if trying to break free.

Mei Wanying faintly heard a child crying.

’Is Ling hungry?’

Anxious, she just wanted to get through the formalities quickly so she could have someone bring her daughter back to her.

She quickened her pace, and the man chuckled softly again.

After laughing, he seemed to grind his teeth.

’So fickle and unpredictable.’

Mei Wanying wasn’t sure if she had heard correctly. All her attention was focused on her daughter.

The bridal chamber had been meticulously decorated with red silk hangings and "double happiness" characters. On the table was a fruit platter for "bearing a son soon."

The fruit platter also had a "double happiness" character on it.

Beside it was the nuptial wine, and next to that, the ceremonial weighing rod used to lift the veil.

Large red dragon and phoenix candles were burning.

Everywhere she looked was a festive red. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Mei Wanying sat primly on the wedding bed, the man seated beside her.

The air was unnaturally quiet.

Even the normally chatty wedding matron said nothing.

’Has the auspicious hour not yet arrived?’

After a long moment, the man reached out to take her hand.

Mei Wanying’s fingers curled instinctively.

He was pleased again, a laugh escaping his throat.

Mei Wanying grew annoyed. ’Gu Xun must be laughing at me.’

She secretly wondered if she had just escaped a wolf’s den only to fall into a tiger’s pit.

Gu Xun was Pei Yan’s cousin. They even looked somewhat alike; could they really be so different in other ways?

At this thought, Mei Wanying began to panic.

She suddenly felt restless and uneasy.

She said, "Let’s get through the rest of the ceremony quickly. Ling must be crying nonstop since she can’t see me."

Hearing this, the wedding matron brought over a tray with the ceremonial rod.

Putting on a cheerful tone, she said with a smile, "A happy union is tied today! Once this veil is lifted, a hundred years of bliss shall follow!"

’A hundred years of bliss?’

The man’s lips curled up uncontrollably. ’He and his Ah Yin were destined for this!’

His large, well-defined hand gripped the ceremonial rod and gently lifted the red veil embroidered with mandarin ducks and lotus flowers.

Her vision blurred for a moment. With the obstruction gone, Mei Wanying could see clearly again.

She slowly raised her eyes.

The faint smile she had just formed froze. Her pupils trembled, her beautiful eyes widening in an instant.

It was as if she couldn’t believe who was standing before her.

While she was still in a daze, Pei Yan sat back down beside Mei Wanying and forcefully grabbed her soft, fair hand.

"Ah Yin, it’s time to drink the nuptial wine."

He smiled at her, the ice on his face melting away, his eyes full of anticipation.

As if he were truly the groom.

Mei Wanying’s senses returned. She tried to pull her hand back, but the man only held it tighter.

Her composure crumbling bit by bit, Mei Wanying suppressed her fury. "Pei Yan, what in the world are you trying to do?"

As if not detecting her anger, Pei Yan had the wedding matron bring over the nuptial wine.

He mused to himself, "You can’t handle alcohol, not even fruit wine. You got drunk that one time at the restaurant. I wonder if they swapped it for honey water..."

Mei Wanying’s chest heaved. She cut him off, "Get out!"

She was speaking to Pei Yan, but the wedding matron put down the tray and fled the bridal chamber without a moment’s hesitation.

Only Mei Wanying and Pei Yan remained in the room.

The former wore a furious expression; the latter, a smile in his eyes.

The man leaned over and picked up a jade cup. He sniffed it—a sweet fragrance, with no scent of alcohol.

His long fingers holding the cup, Pei Yan gazed greedily at her enchanting, beautiful face.

"Will you drink it yourself, or should I feed it to you?"

Rage ignited in Mei Wanying’s heart. ’He’s always like this, forcing people to do things with such a casual air.’

’He’s a bastard!’

’This is outrageous!’

Forcing back her tears, Mei Wanying reminded him, "The one I married is Gu Xun."

Pei Yan raised an eyebrow. "You recoiled from his touch. How could you possibly be married?"

’When the veil was still on, Ah Yin thought I was Gu Xun and wouldn’t let me hold her hand.’

A wave of pleasure washed over Pei Yan.

’What is Gu Xun even worth? Ah Yin doesn’t like him at all!’

Mei Wanying said, word by word, "Cousin, please conduct yourself with dignity."

Cousin.

This was what Gu Xun called Pei Yan.

By doing this, Mei Wanying was undoubtedly telling Pei Yan that she and Gu Xun were the real husband and wife!

Pei Yan’s eyelashes trembled. "Don’t provoke me on purpose. You used to love calling me Ah Yan. I won’t object anymore. You can call me that from now on."

Mei Wanying’s expression turned pleading. "Brother, please let me go."

The corners of the man’s eyes instantly turned crimson, a thin layer of moisture welling up.

’He didn’t want to be Mei Wanying’s brother!’

He forcefully shoved the jade cup into Mei Wanying’s hand. The nuptial wine had to be drunk.

Mei Wanying refused to take it, trying to let go.

She also tried to leave the bridal chamber.

Pei Yan wrapped an arm around her waist, his large hand covering hers, preventing her from dropping the nuptial cup.

"Mei Wanying, I am your husband!"