Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 697 - 695

Chapter 697: 695

After putting on makeup, it was finally time to wear the heavy ceremonial robe.

Looking at the princess’s robe, which represented royalty and glory, Xiao’er couldn’t help but protest desperately: "Aunt Rong, it’s still early. What about we wait for the flower bridge to arrive before changing clothes?"

"No way! If we do that, we won’t have enough time! What if we miss the auspicious time?" Waiting for the flower bridge to change clothes? She couldn’t believe Xiao’er even suggested it! This time, Aunt Rong was no longer indulging Xiao’er.

"Isn’t there a phase where the sisters ask for the red packet to open the door? It wouldn’t be too late to change clothes at that time, right?" This set of clothes was indeed too heavy, coupled with the phoenix crown on her head, which weighed about ten pounds. She would rather put it on later if she could!

"You underestimate Sixth Prince too much. How long can those ladies actually delay him?" Aunt Rong personally helped Xiao’er put on the ceremonial robe.

Resigned to her fate, Xiao’er began to wear her costume.

Aunt Rong was right. Nobody could hold up Shangguan Xuanyi for long. He quickly broke through all barriers and vanquished his opponents.

Shangguan Xuanyi and Xiao’er paid their respects to their parents, and Jingrui carried Xiao’er onto the flower bridge.

With the sound of drums and music, Shangguan Xuanyi rode a big white horse, followed by a grand canopy carried by eight people. Majestically, he made a tour around the Imperial City and then headed towards the magnificent Imperial Palace.

It was not yet dawn, but the people in the Imperial City were already awake.

As the flower bridge passed, the people knelt down to give their blessings, wishing the couple a hundred years of marital bliss and endless love.

At the same time, a loud "boom" sounded in the distant sky, and a brilliant firework burst beautifully into the night sky, just before the dawn.

Immediately followed by "boom, boom, boom..."

The words "A hundred years of marital bliss, endless love" formed from fireworks lit up the night sky.

These fireworks were prepared collectively by the people of the Imperial City, who funded them together, to be set off by the Huai River when the Sixth Prince married the county mistress of Rui’an.

The purpose was to show gratitude to the county mistress of Rui’an and the Sixth Prince for risking their lives to save the townspeople from the smallpox epidemic, their efforts in building bridges, establishing free schools, setting up porridge stalls during winter...

The townspeople felt indebted to them but had no means to repay, so they thought of this way to express their gratitude.

Finally, they reached the palace gate just as the first dazzling streak of dawn lit up the eastern sky.

The royal wedding ceremony was grand and luxurious, needless to say. Going through the series of rituals, Xiao’er had to change into several sets of costumes, each heavier than the last.

By the time all the ceremonies were completed and she was sent into the bridal chamber, it was already dusk. But as it was early summer, the day was longer, and it was not completely dark yet.

Even with her strong stamina, Xiao’er was exhausted. She wondered how Ruan Weizhen and the others, who were so delicate, had managed to endure it.

She was incredibly tired and hungry! In her life, she would never want to experience another wedding again!

Xiao’er wished she could quickly take off this set of phoenix crown and ceremonial dress, hoping that Shangguan Xuanyi would come in and lift her red veil as soon as possible, so she could be freed from these shackles.

"Would you like to drink some water, Miss?" Yang Liu asked.

Just as Xiao’er was about to say yes, Fifth Princess, Fu Ranhui, Princess An, several other princess consorts, and some county princesses of the imperial clan came to chat with her.

In her heart, Xiao’er wailed, begging them to spare her and let her rest for a while.

Even though she was suffering internally, Xiao’er still sat upright by the bed, stayed alert, and conversed with them patiently and cheerfully without showing any signs of fatigue.

Thankfully, Shangguan Xuanyi didn’t make Xiao’er wait for long and came in soon.

"Sixth cousin seems to be so impatient. I haven’t had a proper conversation with Sixth cousin’s bride yet!" Fu Ranhui joked.

Shangguan Xuanyi, who had been waiting for many years and finally got his wish today, had been smiling all day, something everyone was not used to seeing.

If it were any other day, Fu Ranhui wouldn’t dare joke around with Shangguan Xuanyi. But today, seeing him like this, she couldn’t help it.

Shangguan Xuanyi also had a rare response: "Knowing that I’m eager, hurry up and go out."

Everyone chuckled and left accordingly.

Yang Liu and Yang Mei also withdrew, furthermore closing the door on their way out.

Shangguan Xuanyi walked over to Xiaoer, looking down at the girl dressed in her big red wedding dress for his sake, remembering from their first meeting to their mutual love...

Xiaoer, covered by a red veil embroidered with Mandarin ducks playing in the water, could only see below Shangguan Xuanyi’s knees. Seeing him standing before her, not moving for quite a while, she got angry: What on earth is he up to! She still had this whopping 10 pounds thing on her head! Was he trying to break her neck?

"Shangguan Xuanyi, are you lifting the veil or not! If not, I’ll do it myself!"

Hearing Xiaoer angrily calling out his name, Shangguan Xuanyi chuckled lightly.

He picked up the marriage ritual hook made of jade on the table and gently lifted the red veil on Xiaoer’s head.

What caught his eye was Xiaoer’s stunning face; her lips slightly puckered, she glared at him discontentedly. Even while angry, she still looked so beautiful that it made Shangguan Xuanyi’s breath hitch.

He couldn’t help but lower his head and peck her lips, then he helped her to take off the phoenix crown from her head, "Sorry, madam was kept waiting."

"This thing is so heavy, it nearly broke my neck."

"Let me rub it for you." Hearing this, Shangguan Xuanyi quickly sat beside her and reached out to rub her neck.

"My shoulders are sore, too." Xiaoer slightly inclined her body.

Shangguan Xuanyi, with a smile, began to massage her shoulders.

With his adorable wife whining to him, Shangguan Xuanyi loved this feeling.

A while later.

"My feet hurt, too!" Xiaoer turned her body around, simply placing both legs on Shangguan Xuanyi’s thighs.

Shangguan Xuanyi helped her take off her shoes and began to massage her feet.

At that moment, there was a knock on the door from outside. It was probably a female officer coming in to proceed with the next part of the ceremony.

"Come in." Shangguan Xuanyi continued his actions without stopping.

However, Xiaoer felt a bit embarrassed and was about to retract her feet.

But Shangguan Xuanyi didn’t let her, he securely held Xiaoer’s feet, not allowing her to withdraw: "Don’t move or your legs will ache more tomorrow."

A group of about ten female officers entered, carrying trays.

Everyone was startled by the scene on the bed: what was happening?

Receiving those surprised gazes, even a thick-skinned Xiaoer couldn’t help but blush.

"That’s enough!" She eventually withdrew her feet.

"Put on your shoes first." Under the gaze of everyone, an unflustered Shangguan Xuanyi picked up the shoes from the floor and put them on Xiaoer.

Everyone: "!!!"

The Sixth Prince massaging the Sixth Princess’s legs and even personally putting on her shoes. Good Lord! This was spoiling her with no boundaries!

After Shangguan Xuanyi had put on Xiaoer’s shoes, he looked at the dumbfounded female officers and with a furrowed brow, he coldly said: "Well, get started!"

Don’t they know how precious every second of their wedding night is? They had delayed him so long, how much money it had cost him!