The royal consummation was obligatory, and before they could arrive at the Phoenix Pavilion, where it had to occur, Liang Chen was already exhausted from the endless teasing. He couldn't wait to dismount the carriage, and when they finally pulled up, he stormed out like a raging volcano.
The servants bowed, and behind him, his groom's steps pounded over the marble floor like war drums as he followed with his veil and hairpin. Ji Mingyuan did not need to care for gossip; his gaze alone was enough.
Liang Chen searched through the dozen servants for that one familiar face, but he was nowhere to be found.
"Where is Shen?" he growled, eyes red with rage.
"My… my prince, Eunuch Shen was held back in your quarters. You leave for Yelan at first light of dawn."
Liang Chen's body stiffened, his breath hitched, and his gaze turned to the demon behind him.
"What did you do?" he roared.
But Ji Mingyuan said nothing. Rather, he walked over and picked the angelic, tiny figure over his shoulders.
"Put me down… I will kill you, Mingyuan!"
"Kill me… wait till you escape tonight. Then I shall lay my life on a golden platter before you."
The servants snickered, their ears turning red in place of their prince. Their eyes cast to the floor, suddenly finding it interesting. No one was going to hear about his anger; rather, the world would know just how much the Prince of Yelan carried his consort over his shoulders like he weighed nothing.
When they say a man carries his responsibility with pride, Ji Mingyuan has taken it to the next level.
The wedding room came into view. Two cups of wine stood on the table, and by it was a pair of golden scissors. Ji Mingyuan tossed the man over his shoulders onto the bed; his tiny body bounced, then settled.
"I won't share a bed with you," Liang Chen hissed, gathering the duvets, but Ji Mingyuan was not going to let him off the hook… not so easily.
"Tonight is ours," his tempting voice rang, and slowly he climbed onto the bed, a step at a time.
Liang Chen crawled backwards, his figure trembling as his mind wandered toward the world's expectation of the said night.
"You… you can't touch me; I refuse," he stammered.
But Ji Mingyuan did not back away. He climbed closer.
"You're my consort… do you really think I need permission?" Ji Mingyuan whispered, his voice hoarse as his fingers slowly caressed the soft cheek of his man.
Liang Chen quickly pulled away, but his body hit the bedframe, trapping him between the wall and the green-eyed devil.
"Don't… don't you dare," he hissed.
Mingyuan's lips curled. He watched his little body tremble beneath him, and he loved it. Ji Mingyuan's hand rested on Liang Chen's leg. Liang Chen thought nothing of it, but then it moved upwards, intentionally slow, flicking through every hair and muscle.
Liang Chen's breath hitched, his body froze, and his heartbeat spiked above the normal rate.
"Ji… Mingyuan," he stammered, unable to make a full sentence.
"What? Don't you like it?"
Liang Chen wanted to scream, to push him away, but he felt compelled by the touch. It made his body tingle in strange ways. Heat rose within him, and his back arched a little forward.
"Come on… tell me you like it."
Liang Chen's lips parted, his dazed eyes settling on the man before him. He bit down on his bottom lip, his chest rising and falling at an alarming rate.
"I… I hate you," he spat bitterly. His free leg kicked Mingyuan in the stomach, and his hands pushed him away.
Liang Chen scrambled out of the bed before Ji Mingyuan could regain himself.
"This is not for love, and I will make sure you regret marrying me."
Mingyuan groaned on the bed.
"My prince," a calm voice called from outside.
"What?" Liang Chen snapped.
"The… the ministers are here to observe the final ritual," the voice stammered.
Liang Chen's eyes widened, and his hands trembled. He had forgotten about it, and now he cursed his land for having such rituals.
"Come… be good," Mingyuan's annoying voice whispered as he pulled him toward the table with the couple's wine.
"Let them in," Ji Mingyuan ordered, and soon the door creaked open, revealing the stone-cold faces of the ministers from both kingdoms.
One look and one could tell they had been arguing. This filled Liang Chen's heart with bliss... at least he was comforted knowing he was not the only one fighting the Yelans.
"Exchange the drink of prosperity, long life, and harmony," the prime minister announced.
The groom and his bride wrapped hands and downed the wine. They forced a smile at each other, and the ministers nodded in satisfaction.
"May this union bring forth many children," one of Yelan's ministers whispered, or better still, mocked.
"And so shall it be," Ji Mingyuan answered.
"Aren't you leaving? We will need space to bring forth as many children as we can," he added.
The ministers hung their heads low in shame and walked out.
As the door slammed behind them, Liang Chen sprang to his feet, but his body swayed to the side. Luckily, Mingyuan caught him before he could hit the hard tile.
"Wh… what's happening?" Liang Chen stammered, his body suddenly heating up.
The system chimed: {Trial Night}.
Liang Chen didn't have time to process the words when his body suddenly hit the soft mattress, and a figure towered above him.
"You look beautiful," Ji Mingyuan murmured.
No… not this. Liang Chen cried from within, but his body was too weak to act on his commands. "Don't touch me," he scolded as Ji Mingyuan's cold fingers caressed his soft lips.
"Perfect," he heard him murmur.
No… anything but this, Liang Chen begged. But his hands acted without the permission of his brain. He held Mingyuan, pulling him closer.
"I'm… hot," he whispered, his voice dripping with need.
Liang Chen's back arched forward, his toes curled, and his hands trembled against Ji Mingyuan's collar.
"Please… make it stop," he cried, his trembling voice cracked. But instead of mercy, he saw a hunger strike within those green, devilish pupils. And worst of all, his body betrayed him; his long legs curled around his enemy's, his eyes gazed at him like his favorite meal, and those thin lips of his… they parted eagerly for his touch.
[SYSTEM UPDATE: Trial Night in Progress. Escape: 0%.]
Liang Chen's eyes widened in horror just as Ji Mingyuan pressed him down.