Five days had passed since the wedding.
Since then, Lei Fang had barely gotten a moment of peace inside their chamber. Guan Yu seemed determined to keep his newlywed wife close, and every time she attempted to escape his watchful eyes, her plans somehow ended in failure.
The next morning arrived with birds chirping outside and warm sunlight streaming through the open window.
Not sensing the presence of the tyrant beside her, Lei Fang slowly opened her tired eyes.
The moment she realized Guan Yu was gone, irritation flashed across her face.
Just thinking about how he had stopped every one of her escape attempts made her blood boil. The most embarrassing incident had happened on the third day after their wedding, when she had tried sneaking out through the window. Unfortunately, Guan Yu caught her before she could even climb outside.
Remembering her humiliating defeat, Lei Fang's face immediately turned red.
Then came a knock at the door.
Xi Ting's soft voice sounded from the other side.
"Wangfei... this servant will come in and prepare your bath. His Highness has already left to speak with your parents regarding Second Miss's wedding to Young Master Mu."
Lei Fang abruptly sat upright.
She still felt strange whenever Xi Ting called her Wangfei, and judging from the slight hesitation in the maid's voice, Xi Ting was still getting used to it too.
But the moment Lei Fang heard about her cousin's wedding, her embarrassment disappeared.
Her eyes lit up.
She still had a mission to complete!
As for getting revenge on Guan Yu... that could wait.
"Aiya! Xi Ting, why didn't you wake me earlier? I want to see how that bit—" Lei Fang abruptly coughed. "Ahem! I mean, that dear cousin of mine is doing. Naturally, as her loving cousin, I must support her in every possible way! Hurry! Hurry! Come inside and prepare my bath!"
Xi Ting pushed open the door.
The moment she stepped inside, she froze.
Her face immediately turned bright red.
The chamber was an absolute disaster.
A shattered vase lay on the floor, pillows had somehow ended up on the table, blankets were scattered everywhere, and several unfamiliar objects remained hanging around the chamber from the newlyweds' private time together.
Xi Ting stared at one particularly strange contraption hanging from the ceiling.
She tilted her head.
Then she tilted it the other way.
Lei Fang watched her maid studying it with increasing curiosity and immediately felt her embarrassment returning.
"Ahem! Xi Ting!"
Xi Ting jumped.
She hurried over to Lei Fang, but curiosity continued sparkling in her innocent eyes.
"Wangfei... um... that strange swing hanging from the ceiling... what is it?"
Lei Fang's expression stiffened.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she lazily waved her hand.
"It's an indoor swing. I was too tired to go outside, so Wangye had someone make a cheap version for me."
Xi Ting blinked.
Cheap?
She glanced back at it.
The thing appeared to be made from fine leather, with soft cushioning and extremely durable ropes attached securely to the ceiling.
Wangfei said this is cheap?
Xi Ting shook her head.
She had long known her mistress had expensive tastes, so perhaps it was better not to question her.
Instead, she quickly helped Lei Fang bathe, dress, and prepare herself for the family meeting.
By the time Lei Fang reached the entrance of the gathering hall, she heard her father's booming laughter from inside.
"Hahaha! Wangye certainly knows how to care for my precious daughter. This old man no longer needs to worry now that she is in good hands."
"Father-in-law praises me too much," Guan Yu replied calmly. "Being able to marry your daughter is my blessing. She is one of a kind—the only woman I would seek even if it took me thousands of years to find her."
Standing outside the hall, Lei Fang rolled her eyes.
Thousands of years? This shameless man certainly knows how to speak beautifully in front of my parents!
"But enough about us," Guan Yu continued. "I was hoping Young Lord Mu and his bride-to-be could hold their wedding tomorrow. The Emperor learned of my marriage and has ordered me to return within three days. He wishes to meet his new sister-in-law so badly that if I refuse to return, he may come here himself."
Yi Yang sighed.
"Wangye, I am happy to hear that His Majesty cares for you so deeply. Knowing this also eases my worries about Fang Fang entering the capital and becoming involved in palace politics. If the Emperor welcomes my daughter, then this father can rest easier."
His expression then became troubled.
"However, holding Young Lord Mu and Mei Mei's wedding tomorrow may be impossible. There are arrangements to make, decorations to prepare, and most importantly, the wedding dress. Such preparations normally require several days."
Guan Yu remained silent for a moment.
Then he suddenly turned toward the entrance.
"I wonder what my lovely Wangfei thinks?"
Lei Fang froze.
He knew I was standing here?!
Embarrassed at being caught eavesdropping, she cleared her throat and entered the hall with complete confidence, pretending nothing had happened.
She greeted her parents before sitting beside Guan Yu.
Lei Fang quickly shot him a glare.
Guan Yu merely looked amused.
She turned toward her parents with a sweet smile.
"Fuqin, Muqin, I agree with Wangye. Let's hold the wedding tomorrow."
Madame Yu stared at her daughter in surprise.
Lei Fang continued, "Since Wangye and I must leave soon, I don't want to miss Second Cousin's wedding. She can use the decorations from my wedding. We can change a few things here and there so she doesn't feel as though we're treating her unfairly."
She paused.
"And she can wear my wedding dress!"
Madame Yu's palms immediately became sweaty.
"Fang'er, the decorations can certainly be reused, but your wedding dress was specifically designed for a Wangfei. It would be inappropriate for another woman to wear it."
Lei Fang fell silent.
That was true.
Suddenly, her eyes sparkled.
She slapped her thigh excitedly.
"Muqin! We can change the phoenixes into mandarin ducks!"
Madame Yu considered the idea.
After several moments, she finally waved her hand in approval.
"Very well."
Servants were immediately summoned into the gathering hall and ordered to begin preparations for the wedding the following day.
Yi Yang also sent two servants to inform Young Lord Mu and Yi Mei.
Seeing that everything was settled, Lei Fang stood and bowed toward her mother.
"Muqin, since the meeting is finished, would you accompany me back to my chamber? We can examine my wedding dress together and decide what needs to be altered."
Madame Yu nodded.
"Of course."
The two women left the hall together.
Xi Ting followed behind them.
As they walked, Lei Fang noticed something strange.
Her little maid was nervously picking at her fingers and fidgeting with her dress.
Lei Fang narrowed her eyes.
"Ting'er, what's wrong with you?"
Xi Ting quickly rushed closer and whispered into Lei Fang's ear.
"Wangfei... the chamber hasn't been cleaned yet!"
Lei Fang stopped walking.
Her eyes widened.
The destroyed vase.
The scattered pillows.
The strange objects.
Her mother was about to see everything!
"Ting'er!"
Lei Fang grabbed her maid's shoulders.
"Hurry! Take several servants and clean the chamber immediately. Put my wedding dress on the table and come find me when everything is finished. I'll distract Muqin!"
Xi Ting nodded rapidly like a woodpecker.
"Yes, Wangfei!"
She turned and hurried away.
Lei Fang watched her disappear down the corridor before slowly turning toward Madame Yang.
A suspicious smile appeared on her mother's face.
Lei Fang swallowed.
This is bad.
Now she simply needed to figure out how to keep her mother occupied long enough for Xi Ting to erase every piece of evidence from that disastrous chamber.