Chapter 3

    The First Challenge

    The Zhengyang Palace was located within the same complex as the royal palace. Its entrance was guarded by a pair of massive, imposing lions and a signboard with the palace's name written in the Emperor’s own calligraphy. The atmosphere was solemn and mysterious, reminiscent of a temple in the midst of a forest. Chen Hua gracefully alighted from the bridal palanquin, trying to maintain a dignified and elegant demeanor to overshadow the man who had just dismounted his horse. However, to the onlookers, she seemed more comical than majestic. Traditionally, the groom is supposed to carry the bride over the threshold. Chen Hua stiffened as he approached.

    "Can't we skip the carrying part?"

    "No."

    "I won’t let you carry me." Chen Hua turned to flee, but suddenly, her stance became unstable due to the weight of her bridal crown. She slipped, and one of her bejeweled shoes went flying. Luckily, Zhao Yicheng caught the collar of her dress just in time, preventing her from tumbling down in a rather undignified manner. And with that, the young man carried the bride into Zhengyang Palace just like that. Chen Hua was so embarrassed that her face turned beet red.

    "I'm not a puppy or a kitten, you know."

    "It doesn't make much difference. You’re baring your teeth at me here."

    "Hmph!" In accordance with royal tradition, each prince had servant eunuchs, maids, a wardrobe keeper, a water bearer, a fire keeper, and cooks, totaling sixty individuals. All sixty witnessed Taizi Fei being hauled away in such a manner.

    "Let me go. I can walk on my own."

    "As you wish." He walked ahead with long strides, quickly disappearing from sight, while Chen Hua, burdened by her heavy bridal attire, followed slowly to the bridal chamber, where the veil-lifting ceremony would take place.

    Left alone on the bed in the chamber, surrounded by wedding gifts piled high, including jewelry, black and white fox pelts, Nanyang pearls, jade coins, Gui jade plates, gold ingots, exquisite porcelain vases, large branches of red coral, and a tea set made of green jade. However, Chen Hua had no interest in any of it.

    The chamber’s walls were plastered with mud mixed with flowers, providing not only a warm, fragrant aroma but also signifying fertility. The pillows stuffed with dried tea leaves were meant to ensure a restful sleep. Chen Hua's eyes grew heavy, and just as she was about to drift off, the bridal veil was lifted. She looked up to see who it was, sighed heavily, and prepared to sleep in earnest.

    "You can’t sleep yet. The ceremony isn’t over." A strong hand fed her some of the ceremonial food. She chewed sleepily; eyes still closed. "Eat and sleep, and you’ll turn into a pig."

    Words that slipped from his slender, but deserving-of-a-hit, lips made Chen Hua snap her eyes open. Tired from the long journey and the bewildering rush of the wedding, her beautiful face soured completely. So displeased, Chen Hua glared silently as he helped remove her heavily cumbersome crown. Zhao Yicheng realized she was genuinely annoyed.

    "What’s important in a marriage?"

    Chen Hua repeatedly pondered for a moment, then replied, “People.”

    Zhao Yicheng massaged his forehead. "Let’s pretend I didn’t ask."

    "Why ask something like that now? I want to sleep!" Once freed from the heavy dress, Chen Hua sprawled out, ready for sleep. "I'm done. I'm tired... Let it be..."

    "Then just go to sleep. Move over a bit, don’t sprawl all over my space." The tall figure casually took off his outer garment without a second thought. Chen Hua immediately shook her head.

    "I’m not sleeping with you, you Outie-Belly Button."

    "I don’t want to either, but that's my bed."

    "I got here first. From now on, it’s my bed." She flopped down, sprawling her arms and legs across the bed to claim her territory, unaware of the distrustful wolfish gaze he was giving her. "Come on in. Otherwise, I’ll kick you off the bed like in the old days."

    "So, you admit it was you who kicked me off the bed back then, and then had the nerve to tell the adults I rolled off myself?"

    "Um... not sure. Someone said the same thing, that I toss and turn in my sleep. Haha, Hehe!"

    "Don’t try to cover it up with laughter. Move over, I’m going to sleep."

    "No."

    They glared at each other, an electric tension crackling between them. Chen Hua had obeyed orders from others more than enough. From now on, she wouldn’t yield anymore, especially regarding the matter of the bed!

    "Just sleep on your sides. Don’t make a fuss."

    "I refuse! If we end up touching, I’ll get pregnant!"

    As an unworldly innocent, silly naivety was plastered across her forehead. Chen Hua believed that mere body contact could result in pregnancy, guarding the bed as if it were her chastity at stake. Zhao Yicheng struggled not to burst into laughter; though his broad shoulders shook, his handsome, stern face trying to remain composed. She was as naive as ever, if not more so. He grabbed an art book from the headboard, rolled it up, and began to tap it against his hand.

    "Let’s settle this, so we won’t waste time arguing."

    "A duel, then? Fine! I’ve been waiting for this, Outie Navel. State your rules."

    Chen Hua stood defiantly on the bed, arms crossed. The tall figure paced back and forth with a contemplative expression. In this moment, a horseback archery duel was inappropriate, as was a physical strength contest through wrestling. Playing riddles was out of the question since this lady with a little brain wouldn’t stand for it. Servants from the palace were outside the bridal chamber, observing as per tradition. If he did anything to make her scream even once, he’d be in trouble with the elders.

    He finally had an idea.

    "Each of us will touch the other. If you don’t scream, you win."

    "Men and women have different tolerances. If I scream, I lose. What about you?" She challenged him fiercely, both stuck in a standoff. Chen Hua hesitated, unsure where to rest her gaze, before pointing at the most tense part of the man.

    "If it swells, you lose!"

    It was a terrible decision. She inwardly groaned. He was already too stunning as a man, but now as her husband, and worse, half-undressed, his waistband scandalously low just above his hip, his muscular body seemed to be made of steel only an arm’s reach away. As Zhao Yicheng twisted to toss his shirt aside, his well-defined muscles moved impressively. The perfection of his physique was proportioned with exquisite beauty akin to a masterpiece sculpture. Caught staring, Chen Hua didn’t realize until too late that he had already discarded his shirt.

    "Are you going to stare any longer?" he asked, his sharp eyes devoid of smiles. Chen Hua blushed deeply, her mouth agape as she gasped for air.

    "Who... who will start first?"

    "Let's decide with this," Zhao Yicheng held up a coin. "Heads… you start. Tails… I start."

    "Agreed."

    He flipped the coin into the air, letting it tumble onto his sturdy hand. It landed on tails.

    "The loser must follow the winner's command. No resistance allowed," his hand rested on the bed next to her, while the other, surprisingly large and firm, touched her slender arm. Chen Hua gasped, holding her breath for several moments as Zhao Yicheng pulled her closer. His broad shoulders and muscular chest made her feel diminutive, his face coming so close, his gaze intense.

    "Don't bite."

    He held her like that for a while, warmth radiating from his hand as it touched her slender arm, oddly delicate. It enveloped her entire body, his light scent stimulating Chen Hua to wakefulness. They both stared at each other’s lips with flushed faces, and hearts racing. "I'm starting now."

    Then his gaze lowered to her modestly ample chest. His hand trembled slightly, veiled with hesitant desire. Meanwhile, Chen Hua bit her lip firmly, her breathing rapid and shallow escaping subtly from her flushed, red lips.

    "Don't tremble."

    "Just touch wherever you're going to, can you stop talking?" Chen Hua closed her eyes tightly, wanting to call off this absurd duel, but doing so would mean admitting defeat. She, resolved to fight to the end, inhaled deeply, focusing on thoughts of wind and sunlight, trying not to look at the large man hovering over her, trying not to...

    Then the tip of her nipples was touched lightly.

    Chen Hua's eyes snapped open; her thought process severed. She shook visibly, blushing furiously as she saw him teasing her with focused intensity. When he withdrew his finger, her nipples strained against her thin shirt, starkly outlined. Zhao Yicheng's face suddenly darkened, he said nothing more but stared at the changes, then moved his hand under her shirt to assure himself of their softness. That was all it took for her to scream out loud, followed by a series of cries signaling defeat.

    "You've lost, you plain girl," the muscular figure quickly withdrew, sniffing his hand that had touched her. Chen Hua's cries intensified.

    "Ew!"

    "Stop your wailing, now do as we agreed."

    Above, in the sky, the full moon hung low, as if it were about to descend to visit the newlyweds. Late into the night, past the time when the palace gates were closed, it was time for the servants to carry lanterns for their rounds, calling out 'Watch the fire.' The ceremonial candle in the bridal chamber was extinguished. Chen Hua squirmed under the blanket with the bed's owner trapping another layer of blankets on top. She whimpered softly, fearing pregnancy.

    "Be quiet and go to sleep. We can act foolish again tomorrow," the winner ordered, forcing himself to sleep, uncertain of when his patience would run out. "If you get pregnant, I'll take responsibility, alright?"

    "You, bad-mannered, crazy person!" The muffled voice argued back from within the pile of blankets, which quieted down after a short while. Zhao Yicheng then unwrapped Chen Hua from the blankets to let her sleep soundly, despite her drenched body in sweat and tears on her cheeks. He sighed deeply, enveloping her in his arms, finally attempting to get some rest.

    .................

    Far away, in the city of Mengtian, located about a hundred li from the capital, lies a strategic and fertile city governed by Governor Shen, a hereditary military position. The significance of Mengtian City, besides being a frontier fortress, also serves as a training ground for skilled soldiers. Joyous news from the royal palace quickly reached here as if it had wings.

    Shen Jintao, the son of Governor Shen, gazed out the window towards the valley under the bright full moon, which seemed to welcome the auspicious news. He knew Chen Hua from his several visits to Western City on his father’s errands. He often saw her kneeling, receiving lengthy lectured from Chen Wang.

    She was quite charming. Hearing that she had gotten married, Shen Jintao felt a slight sense of loss, surprised that such a spirited girl had been 'sold off.'

    Suddenly, the door to the reading room burst open, and a young woman rushed in, pouting.

    "Commander Shen! Why has my elder brother hurried his wedding like this!"

    Another was unlikely to be 'sold off' easily... He couldn't help feeling sympathy for her. This young lady was in a position he couldn’t deny, for she was Princess Pingxi, the only daughter of the Emperor of the Zhao Region. She had just returned from visiting the Empress Dowager who had withdrawn from worldly affairs to meditate in the remote Lusan Temple. As for him, he was assigned to escort her back to the capital, and now Princess Pingxi was in a fury.

    "With all due respect, I cannot say why the wedding was rushed, causing us to not make it back in time."

    "I’ve already sent a letter of protest, refusing this wedding. I hurried back early but still didn’t make it. Big Brother can’t do this to me. I won’t accept it."

    "It's very late now. Please rest, and we will depart early tomorrow. Judging the time and distance, we should arrive in three days," Shen Jintao clasped his hands, placing them on his lap, "By now, Taizi must have already entered the bridal chamber. Any objections from the Princess would be in vain. Besides, the daughter of Chen Wang is of no lesser status."

    "Why can’t anyone see that Chen Wang is ambitious? This marriage benefits only the Western City. It’s like selling oneself to clear a debt. How despicable and disgraceful!"

    "Please calm down, Your Highness."

    "I don’t want a country girl as my sister-in-law. I wish my friend Linxiang could marry my brother instead. He must have been forced into this marriage. Once I return to Gaoshan, I’ll drive that country girl out of the royal palace. Just watch!"

    With that, she stormed out, followed closely by a line of silent maids and servants. Shen Jintao could only shake his head, certain that a storm was brewing to hit the capital.