Mei's wedding arrived sooner than anyone expected.
From the first light of morning, the Palace of Lianhua was no longer the same.
Silver and red silk banners hung from the palace pillars, moving gently in the breeze. Golden lanterns lined the walkways, casting a warm glow over the marble floor, while the scent of jasmine and peony filled the air as fresh flowers decorated the hall.
The entire palace looked like it had been reborn.
Inside her chamber, Mei stood in layers of delicate bridal silk, her hair crowned with jade and the phoenix headpiece of a future queen. She gently touch i as the maids finished dressing her.
Her mother stood beside her, unable to stop the tears that slipped down her face.
"My daughter…" she whispered, holding Mei's hands tightly.
"You have grown so beautifully."
Mei smiled through her own tears and hugged her.
"I will always be your child, Mother."
Nearby, her father watched them, pride and emotion shining in his eyes. He stepped forward, placing his hands on Mei's shoulders.
"Today," he said softly, "you are no longer just my little girl… but a woman who the future of this great kingdom lays in her hand.
Wherever you go, or what ever you becomes you will always be my daughter."
Mei's voice trembled.
"Father…"
He pulled her into his arms and held her for a long moment before finally letting her go.
"Is time to go my daughter, he said and he gently takes her hand walking her into the throne room where the wedding is to take place.
Inside, the grand hall was already filled. Leng Yue stood at the front, calm but clearly restless. When Mei appeared at the entrance of the hall, his breath caught.
She walked forward, her family following behind her.
Her father escorted her down the long path. With each step, the hall fell into deeper silence.
When they reached the front, her father placed Mei's hand into Leng Yue's.
"Take care of her," he said quietly.
Leng Yue nodded with rare solemnity.
"With my life."
They stood before the Emperor and Empress, with Yuyan, , Grandma, and the rest of her family watching with hearts full.
The Emperor's voice echoed through the hall.
"Leng Yue, do you take Mei as your wife, to walk with her through light and darkness, peace and war, this life and all that follow?"
"I do," Leng Yue said without hesitation. Staring at her sweetly.
Then, the emperor turned to mei.
"Mei, do you take Leng Yue as your husband, to trust him, protect him, and stand beside him against fate itself?"
Mei looked at him, her eyes shining with love.
"I do."
"Heaven bears witness," the Emperor declared.
"From this moment, your souls are bound."
Leng Yue took Mei's hands in his, firm but warmly.
Petals rained from above. Music filled the hall. The palace erupted with joy.
Mei leaned closer and whispered,
"Did you ever imagine this day?"
Leng Yue smiled softly.
"I saw many futures. This one is my favorite."
Her family watched them — her mother crying openly.
The baby she lost when she was just three years ago, the next thing she knows is that she is the queen to be. What more could one asked for. She thought staring at her.
The wedding feast was going to an end when the bride and the groom disappeared from the venue.
Leng Yue quickly led Mei into the bridal room, specially prepared for the night.
Immediately they entered, Leng Yue shut the door behind them.
"The visitors are not even ready to go home," he said with a grin. "Do they not know that I have a very serious duty to perform tonight?"
Mei raised a brow, playing along. "What duty is so important that the Prince of Lianhua abandons his guests?"
"Do you really want to know?" he asked, stepping closer until the distance between them vanished.
Mei felt her legs weaken and her breath turn heavy. Seeing her like this only fed the fire burning inside him.
"Mei," he whispered, his voice low, "today, you became my wife… after waiting for so long."
His breath brushed her skin, carrying the clean scent of soap and oil, something warm and familiar that sent her heart racing in a way she could not explain. He placed gentle kisses along her neck while his hand traced her back, slow and deliberate, making every part of her feel awake.
Who taught this man how to flirt? Mei wondered, curling her fingers into a fist, completely unsure how she was meant to respond.
He kissed every corner of her neck before lifting his face to capture her lips. The kiss was slow, gentle at first, then deeper — his tongue moving softly against hers.
Without warning, he lifted her in his arms, in bridal style, and carried her to the bed.
He laid her down as though she was the most fragile thing in the world, then leaned over her, kissing her again with growing hunger — from her lips, to her neck, tracing the line of her collarbone, leaving the quiet marks of their first night.
Mei let out a soft groan, completely wet and needed.
"I promised," he whispered, brushing his forehead against hers, "to make tonight a night you will never forget." he said making
her entire body shivered.
"Look at what you have done to me," he said guiding her small hand to his length that was already hard. Standing straight like a rod.
Moans excaped her mouth, that was just enough to make him lost control.
He returned to her lips, the kiss now filled with the longing of all the days they had waited, and holding back. Kissing her fiercely while she kissed back with the same hunger.
As he was kissing her, his hand moved to her back, unzipping her dress, with a shift the dress was gone. Laying on the floor.
Then her two nipples came into view, hard and erect with arousal, her boobs perky and beautiful, inviting him as he completely undressed her.
That was all it took for him to finally snap. He gripped her tightly, parting her leg as he positioned himself between her legs.
Mei gasped as she felt him slowly slide into her wet entrance. She could feel him stretch her walls, almost like he would tear her apart.
Her fingers dug into his back as his length entered deeper into her. "It hurt," she murmured, tears slide down her cheeks.
He kissed her, licking the tears away
, hoping his kiss would suit the pain.
Kissing her softly...his tongue slid into her mouth as he explored, letting her taste him.
By this time, he was already completely inside her, and the feeling was almost driving him insane. She was so tight, clutching against his length and pulsing with a pleasurable rhythm.
Once he was sure she no longer felt the pain, he began thrusting inside her, slowly at first. Later the speed gradually increased and soon...he was pounding hard against her, the sound of their skin slapping echoing inside the room.
and in the quiet of the room, beneath the lantern glow and the drifting echoes of the feast outside, they finally gave themselves to each other.
While Mei and Leng Yue was having their passionate night. Somewhere, something different was happening in a place far away.