Peach Blossom Decree Chapter 44

Chapter 44: Fengtai County (2)

Lin Zikui gently blew on his ear for a while, and Xiao Fu maintained that half-squatting, slightly bent posture, his breath turning a bit uneven.

He actually hadn’t slept in two and a half days, yet now, just when he could’ve finally rested, he found himself unable to sleep.

Lin Zikui had never had his ear pulled before, but he imagined it must’ve hurt. Probably not too badly, though—so he reached out and gave it a gentle rub.

That rub almost made Xiao Fu lose control. He held his breath and turned his head slightly to look at him.

Lin Zikui was still speaking: “Teacher pulled your ear so naturally. Have you had it pulled often before?”

“Yeah…” Xiao Fu fixed his gaze on him, his eyes darkening.

Lin Zikui lowered his gaze as well, still looking shy and clear-eyed: “Back at the academy, my classmates would often get their ears pulled or their palms smacked when they couldn’t memorize the Book of Songs. Was that why it happened to you too?”

“Mhm. I got angry and refused to study anymore after that.” Xiao Fu saw his shoulder right in front of him, and without hesitation, rested his chin there and wrapped his arms around him.

Lin Zikui’s eyes widened. His hands hovered in the air, unsure where to go, and he tilted his head a bit to make room so Xiao Fu could rest more comfortably. “I heard from Teacher that he felt he couldn’t teach you, so he drove you away.”

“How many bad things has he said about me already?” Xiao Fu closed his eyes, wanting to fall asleep in this position. He shifted his weight slightly—he was heavy. So heavy that Lin Zikui could barely breathe, yet he didn’t feel uncomfortable. Only that his heart was pounding too fast.

“He didn’t say that much. He always seemed like he wanted to say more but held back. So… all I know is that you liked to hang upside down from trees and blow on bamboo leaves instead of practicing calligraphy. You’d fold your copybooks into paper cranes, but your folding wasn’t very good, and your bamboo tunes weren’t nice either.” To Lin Zikui, none of that sounded bad. In fact, it made Xiao Zhaoling all the more endearing in his heart.

Xiao Fu’s voice turned sluggish, but there was a trace of laughter in it. “That’s not little. After hearing all that, you still like me?”

Lin Zikui let out a barely audible “Mm.”

“Say it louder. Say you like me. Say you missed me.”

Lin Zikui’s ears turned red. Slowly, he said, “If I trade my heart for yours, then I’ll know how deep our longing runs.”

Xiao Fu sighed and rubbed his face into the crook of Lin Zikui’s neck. His stubble grazed the skin, making Lin Zikui stiffen. He then heard that weary voice say, “Scholar… I rode for two and a half days to get here, and you’re reciting poetry to me. Shouldn’t you carry me to bed?”

“Huh? …Oh.” Lin Zikui did as he was told. It was their bridal chamber, and letting the bride sleep in it early wasn’t too strange. He helped Xiao Fu onto the bed with its red wedding quilt. Xiao Fu quickly kicked off his shoes and held onto Lin Zikui’s hand, not letting him go.

“Lin Lang.”

Lin Zikui sat by the bedside and tucked him in. “I’m here.”

“You’ve exchanged your heart for mine, so now you know. Know how deeply, how immensely I love you,” Xiao Fu said softly with his eyes closed, lying under the wedding quilt. “Your dowry’s still coming. And—tomorrow is your birthday. I remembered. I was afraid I’d be late and miss celebrating it with you. You’d blame me.”

Lin Zikui was silent for a moment before speaking: “I do blame you. I blame you for riding here without sleep just for a birthday. What if something had happened to you along the way? There are so many birthdays in the future.”

“I know Lin Lang cares for me and worries for me. I want to be with you on your eighteenth birthday, your nineteenth, your twentieth—and even when we’re seventy or eighty.” Xiao Fu pulled his hand to rest against his chest, gradually falling asleep. Lin Zikui sat there, gazing down at the travel-worn Zhao Ling. His heart was soft—always softer when it came to Xiao Zhaoling. Even the scruffy stubble on his face that he’d forgotten to shave didn’t seem quite so unpleasant anymore.

Well… maybe a little.

Lin Zikui tried not to think about it.

The next morning, when Xiao Fu woke, Lin Zikui wasn’t in the bridal room. He pushed the door open and saw that, sure enough, Lin Zikui was sleeping in the side room—with the attendant.

Because it was hot, the master and servant slept back-to-back in separate spots. Still, Xiao Fu couldn’t tolerate it. He pulled Mo Liu out of bed.

“X-Xiao… Miss Xiao?” Mo Liu woke with a jolt.

Xiao Fu said, “Mo Liu, you’re so short and skinny—how could you ever protect your Young Master? Go train with Jinzun.”

“Ah? But I don’t do martial arts, I’m an attendant…”

“Nope, you’re training.”

“No, I won’t—oh wait, today’s my Young Master’s birthday, I need to cook longevity noodles!”

“Fine, go make noodles.” As long as he got off the bed.

A spring rain had fallen the night before, scattering peach blossoms across the small courtyard. Xiao Fu grabbed a broom to sweep them up. Prime Minister Xue watched him from behind the window, listened to the birds chirping as he worked, then took off his Ai Dai veil, wiped it clean, and put it back on.

—Without a doubt, the same Xiao Fu that Duke Chang had once tried (and failed) to reform had now come to Lin Zikui’s place to sweep the floor, water the flowers, and wipe the tables.

Lin Zikui had woken up, and Xiao Fu went to fetch water for him to wash up.

Xiao Fu said he wanted to take a walk around Fengtai County. Lin Zikui was slurping up longevity noodles and agreed, but added, “You’re the bride, and you’re dressed in men’s clothes. Maybe you should…”

He wanted Xiao Fu to wear a mi li veil to hide his face—he didn’t like people gossiping about Zhao Ling behind his back.

Xiao Fu nodded and cut him off. “Alright, I’ll go put on a dress.”

Prime Minister Xue once again took off his Ai Dai veil, wiped it, and put it back on.

Xiao Fu got dressed, but his hair was still tied up in a topknot. When Lin Zikui looked up and noticed, Xiao Fu said, “Jinzun and the others don’t know how to do hair buns. And I don’t either.”

“I know a little. Let me do it.” Lin Zikui had him sit down, then went inside to fetch the hairpins and comb he had bought earlier. He gently combed and styled his hair. Xiao Fu’s hair was sleek and black, smooth as silk slipping between his fingers.

Xiao Fu found it curious and tilted his head slightly to look at him. “How do you know how to do this?”

Lin Zikui reached out and pressed his head down. “Lower your head. When I was little, I often watched my father comb my mother’s hair. After seeing it once or twice, I picked it up.”

The Lin family wasn’t poor, but they couldn’t afford maids or servants. Everything had to be done by his parents themselves. A few years ago, when Lin Zikui first began feeling the stirrings of affection, he used to imagine the Second Young Miss of the Xiao family weaving by his side while he studied.

But now, that was clearly not going to happen. There was no way Xiao Zhaoling would ever weave clothes.

He looked like the type who would kick a spinning wheel to pieces in a single blow.

Xiao Fu tilted his head again. “I saw a mountain over there. Let’s go climb it and enjoy the spring.”

“Alright.” Lin Zikui pushed his head back down again as he fixed his hair. “I’ll go call Teacher later.”

Xiao Fu tilted his head back up. “Wait, why are you calling him? Can he even climb a mountain?”

Lin Zikui remained patient and poked the top of his head. “Head down. Of course we’re calling him. He’s Teacher.”

Xiao Fu said, “If you bring him, I’m not getting my hair done!”

Lin Zikui: “You need to. Half-done hair doesn’t look good.”

Xiao Fu: “Then don’t bring him. I’ll go talk to him.” Xiao Fu suddenly shouted, “Prime Minister! Just stay home and lie down, will you?”

Elder Xue’s beard practically twisted from anger. He shouted back, “I wouldn’t go even if you begged me! I can’t walk!”

Xiao Fu wore women’s clothing without the slightest discomfort. When they ran into old neighbors from Lin Zikui’s street, he even took the initiative to say, “I’m the Lin family’s daughter-in-law.”

An elderly woman looked up at him, stunned. “Uh… uh… such a handsome little daughter-in-law.”

Xiao Fu held a handkerchief and replied, “You flatter me, Auntie. But don’t forget to come drink the wedding wine with Lin Lang and me!”

As Xiao Fu and Lin Zikui walked away, they could still hear the whispers behind them.

“So good-looking. Just a bit tall and solidly built—must be a blessed one, looks like she’ll have healthy babies.”

Lin Zikui felt embarrassed and said, “Zhao Ling, that’s just how they talk. They don’t mean anything bad by it.”

“I know. Your neighbors aren’t bad people. It’s a small town, and you’re a local prodigy—who else would they care about if not you? By the way, is your ancestral grave also on that mountain?”

“Yes, I’ll take you to see my parents. They’re buried in the same tomb—together in life and in death.”

In the small county of Fengtai, it took just a few days for everyone to hear that Graduate Lin was getting married.

The bride was from Yunnan and said to be of stunning beauty—graceful and radiant.

Many came hoping to catch a glimpse, but no one had seen her yet.

Before the wedding, Lin Zikui still had many things to take care of—writing invitations, hiring performers. It was too much for one person, and he wasn’t familiar with many of the marriage customs. Fortunately, Prime Minister Xue summoned a dozen or so maids and older women from his hometown to help.

On the fifteenth day of the month, at the break of dawn, maids from the Xue residence came to help the bride “open her face”—which meant shaving off the fine hairs on the face. Not just the face, though—they also shaved leg hair and armpits. One maid said, “Miss, please remove your clothes. I’ll shave for you?”

Xiao Fu thought for a moment and asked, “How do you usually do it? Teach me—I’ll do it myself.”

Later, a maid came in to apply powder. But the more makeup she put on, the more wrong it felt. The bride looked far too much like a man. A beautiful one, sure, but still—

This didn’t feel right. Could Young Master Lin have been tricked?

An older maid stared at Xiao Fu and suddenly found him familiar. He looked like someone from over a decade ago who had once studied at the Xue residence… likely a young master from Duke Chang Residence.

That young master had been so beautiful that the old maid remembered him to this day.

She thought to herself, “He’s surnamed Xiao too—could she be a young lady from Duke Chang’s family? No wonder. She is a princess from Prince Yunnan. So tall and strong—definitely not inferior to any man.”

Xiao Fu had never worn powder before. When he looked into the bronze mirror, he thought it looked too pale and wiped some off. “No need for it to be this heavy.”

The maid asked, “Miss, would you like a little lipstick?”

Xiao Fu glanced at the bright red lip stain and nodded. “Just a little.”

The lanterns glowed red, and the sky was tinged with sunset. Xiao Fu put on the bridal robe and red veil, bowed slightly, and sat inside the wedding sedan.

The shoulders of the four sedan carriers sank. In unison, they thought: Damn, this bride is heavy.

And the bride was in a hurry. Slender fingers reached out from his wide sleeves, lifting the curtain as he urged, “Go on, hurry up.”

Hearing the bride’s rather unladylike voice, the bearers chuckled. “No need to rush, Miss. It’s a ten-li journey.”

“Walk faster.” The bride fished out a few gold beans and stuffed them into their hands. “These are for you. Get four more people to help carry me. I’m heavy, and if you go too slow, I’ll make you pick up the pace. I don’t want my husband waiting too long.”

The bearers had carried many brides in their careers, but this was the first time they saw one this eager.

As twilight descended and the appointed hour arrived, the wedding procession set off.

Lin Zikui paced nervously in front of the freshly repaired Lin residence. It was nearly dusk, and the guests had already filled the courtyard. Onlookers crowded around, eager to catch a glimpse.

According to custom, the bride should arrive at dusk and the wedding rites should take place at the hour of the rooster. Once the bride entered, and the wine was shared, they could consummate the marriage as night fell.

The sounds of drums and gongs drew closer. Lin Zikui was dressed in a bright red robe embroidered with dragons and phoenixes, the sleeves and shoulders flowing elegantly. On his head, he wore a black gauze hat with long wings, and a golden flower pinned to each side. With his elegant appearance, he looked just like a top scholar. He anxiously paced back and forth, gazing toward the end of the street and softly murmuring, “My bride…”

Prime Minister Xue stood with his hands tucked into his sleeves, muttering to himself, Xiao Fu can’t really be entering the Lin household dressed as a bride… right? No way… right?

But when the wedding sedan landed and the maid helped the bride out, even with the red veil covering the face, one look at the figure was enough to know—it was Xiao Fu. The way he hiked up the skirt and stepped over the fire basin was not something any ordinary bride could do.

Prime Minister Xue covered his eyes, his face twitching. “What is this? Ridiculous. Utterly absurd. And even more absurd—I have to officiate this madness!”

The bride entered from the right side of the wedding hall. The matron of ceremonies handed a red silk ribbon to both the bride and groom, tying them together with a length of red silk. She shouted, “The auspicious hour has arrived! Let’s begin the ceremony! Strike up the music!”

Firecrackers popped and festive tunes played. Lin Zikui’s hand trembled slightly as he held the red silk ribbon and faced Xiao Zhaoling.

Through the red veil, Xiao Fu could only see Lin Zikui’s boots.

The matron shouted, “Master of Ceremony, kneel at the incense table! Everyone, kneel! First incense! Second incense! Third incense!”

Then came the calls: “Bow! Bow again! Third bow!”

The couple knelt to honor the elders, lit incense, and bowed to the ancestral tablets.

Three kneels, nine bows, six ceremonial salutes—every step was elaborate, and all the kneeling left their knees sore.

The matron: “Bride and groom, bow to each other—!”

The crowd was rowdy, and the hall was packed. Lin Zikui looked at Xiao Fu, his eyes hot with emotion. He bent at the waist in a solemn bow. His hat gently knocked against Xiao Zhaoling’s phoenix crown, making a soft sound. Lin Zikui bent even lower, as if he could hear the sound of his breathing.

The guests burst into applause and cheers.

“Ceremony complete! Retreat! Escort them to the bridal chamber!”

If you’re loving the tangled fates and slow-burning tension in Peach Blossom Decree, help Ciacia keep the petals falling by buying her a Kofi.

Can’t bear the suspense? Join the Duo-a-cia Tier to unlock up to 5 chapters early—and get ahead of the drama before the next decree drops.