Chapter 63: The Wedding Night

Yan’er was silent for a while before she looked resolutely at Pan Yueyang.

“I will marry him.”

“You’re out of your mind!” Pan Yueyang’s anger flared instantly. He had been enduring the pressure, determined not to let Yan’er leave him again, but he never expected his own daughter would agree so readily.

“Yueyang, I’m not mad. I noticed something was wrong with you these past few days. I will marry him.” I love you too much; as long as you live well, I am happy. The last part Yan’er only confessed silently in her heart.

“There’s nothing more to say about this. I will not compromise!” Pan Yueyang pulled the quilt over Yan’er with force.

“Whether you compromise or not, the outcome will be the same. Why make things harder for the one I love?” Yan’er lay down, turning her back to Pan Yueyang. Two hot tears slid quietly down her cheeks.

Pan Yueyang stared blankly at her back. He moved his lips, but in the end said nothing. He switched off the lamp and lay down silently beside her.

Even if Yan’er hadn't agreed that night, perhaps the situation would not have been as good as Pan Yueyang imagined—perhaps only worse. With the imperial edict, Yan’er’s fate was rewritten once again.

Yan’er hadn't expected the edict to arrive so quickly. Not long after dawn the next day, Xiao Yuan was already urging her to wash and prepare to receive the decree.

“My lady…” Xiao Yuan’s voice was anxious.

“It’s all right. Everything is predestined.” Yan’er took a deep breath. What must come will come. Euroran’s long wait was likely for this very day.

Yan’er knelt on the ground, her expression dull, eyes closed as she listened to the eunuch recite the imperial edict, a sneer in her heart.

Pan Yueyang looked at Yan’er, his emotions indescribable. She was only a concubine—he told himself he shouldn't care. But to let his woman marry another, even if the man was a eunuch, filled him with bitterness and resentment.

Yan’er avoided everyone’s gaze, accepted the edict, and returned to her room to pack. The palace sedan and the eunuch who read the decree had arrived together. She packed a few clothes at random, glanced around, and thought, Fate—all is fate.

“My lady, please come with this old servant.” High Steward Gao’s shrill voice was laced with mockery. He waved his horsetail whisk and left the room first.

Euroran watched everything with satisfaction but said little. Now was not the time for her to gloat. She only smiled inwardly, her tone full of feigned sympathy: “Husband, go keep Yan’er company.” With that, she turned and left.

Pan Yueyang entered the room. “Yan’er, listen to me. Don’t go. I can handle everything.”

She let out a faint laugh. “Why make everyone suffer for my sake, Yueyang? I don’t ask for a lifetime, only that you never forget me.” Tears slid down Yan’er’s face.

Pan Yueyang clenched his fists tightly.

Xiao Yuan quickly finished packing. “My lady.”

“What are you doing? Go back!” Yan’er’s face turned cold. She ignored Xiao Yuan and walked out the door alone.

Night—

Yan’er, dressed in a bright red wedding gown, knelt in the center of the hall. Changshun reclined languidly on his soft couch, an orchid-shaped hand raised as he plucked a grape and tasted its sweetness. At this season, it was no small feat to enjoy such plump grapes.

“Raise your head and let me have a look,” Changshun said with a coquettish smile, gazing at the woman on the floor.

Yan’er lifted her head. The vivid red of her wedding dress was reflected by the brilliant red candles, making her bare, delicate face glow with a crimson hue. She wore no bridal veil.

“My, what a beauty you are,” Changshun laughed behind a painted hand.

The laughter sent a shiver down Yan’er’s spine. That a man could be so affected, so artificial—she couldn’t help but feel sorry for Changshun. With such a physical defect, he lingered in pleasure, completely unashamed.

“What’s wrong? Not happy the Emperor bestowed you upon me?” Changshun had caught the disdain in Yan’er’s eyes.

“I would not dare,” Yan’er replied, lowering her gaze, unwilling to look at him.

“I know I’m not worthy of such a beauty,” Changshun replied in a strange, mocking tone, his eyes roaming over her.

“Crawl over here,” he suddenly snapped, his voice full of resentment.

Yan’er’s head jerked up, her eyes wet. She closed them, swallowing hard, then bowed and crawled towards his couch, humiliation nearly killing her.

“Hahaha, so obedient,” Changshun pressed his shoe to her chin, forcing her to face him. She truly was a beauty, with eyes made to enchant men, a slender neck, and skin that seemed even paler against the red. His foot pinning her jaw, Yan’er bit her lower lip nervously, a gesture so inviting Changshun’s throat moved involuntarily.

With a sudden push, Changshun’s shoe tugged at her clothing, pulling it loose. He grinned, shifting to the side, exposing half of her shoulder.

“Beauty, do you want me to love you?” Changshun’s hand caressed her shoulder, the smoothness making his heart race.

Yan’er closed her eyes, tears of humiliation trailing down to her collarbone.

“What’s this!” Changshun suddenly gripped her throat hard. “Women are all fools! It’s your fortune that I love you—what’s with that face!”

Yan’er opened her eyes in pain. “No… I would not dare.”

“Hmph!” Changshun slapped her hard, clapping his hands twice. Instantly, a eunuch entered.

“Chief Steward,” the young eunuch bowed obsequiously.

“Bring Laifu in,” Changshun ordered, no longer looking at Yan’er.

A sense of dread washed over her. Changshun had not married her to fulfill an imperial command—he meant only to torment her.

“This is our wedding night, how could I let a beauty spend it alone?” Changshun laughed, a sound full of bitterness. As a man unable to perform as one, this was the cruelest fate of all. Nearly every eunuch was twisted inside.

Yan’er clutched her clothes tightly, staring at Changshun in terror. “What are you going to do?”

“What else? Something to make you feel good.” Changshun stroked his smooth chin. Since he couldn't enjoy a woman, he would never let another man have her either—how amusing.

A fetid stench began to fill the room. Yan’er wrinkled her nose, following the odor to its source.

“L-Laifu, kneeling before Chief Steward,” a filthy, reeking man stuttered, prostrating himself. He had begged in the capital for years, never knowing whom he might offend. Suddenly, he’d been seized; he only wanted a meal to survive.

“Chief Steward, this is the man we found as you ordered. What do you think?” the eunuch asked, bowing.

Changshun surveyed the disgusting Laifu: a face hidden beneath grime, yellow teeth, and a body covered in oozing sores—a real specimen. He nodded in satisfaction.

Yan’er glanced at the repulsive man then at Changshun, and in that instant, she understood. “No, I beg you. I will serve you as a beast for life, only please, please don’t.”

“Hahahaha, begging me?” Changshun sneered. If begging worked, would he be a eunuch now?

Laifu dared not speak, trembling by the door. The affairs of these powerful people were deadly—he only wanted to live a little longer.

“Laifu, they say you beg in the capital every day. Today, fortune smiles on you. Who knows what virtue you did in a past life.” Changshun’s gaze fell on the bed. “Tonight is your wedding night. See that beauty there? Do you like her?” With a kick, he sent Yan’er sprawling.

Following Changshun’s gesture, Laifu’s eyes lit up at the sight of Yan’er. Never in his miserable life had he seen such a lovely woman. Even to look at her was a fortune.

Yan’er pressed her lips together under his gaze. “Get away from me!”

Laifu shrank back, lowering his head.

“Laifu, see that bed? Tonight, pay your respects and get on with it. I’ll sit right here and watch. If you don’t try hard enough, you’ll lose your life,” Changshun said, popping another grape into his mouth.

Laifu looked at Changshun, then at the eunuch, who nodded. Emboldened, Laifu dragged Yan’er to the bed. Yan’er struggled, but she was no match for Laifu’s strength. With a rip, her sleeve tore, exposing her arm. Laifu, excited, flung her onto the bed.

“Heh, little beauty, I don’t know what luck brought me this fortune. I’ll cherish you.” He pinned her down, pressing his foul body against her.

The stench was overwhelming. Yan’er gagged, turning aside to vomit, trying desperately to escape his touch. “Don’t… please, don’t come near me!”

“What are you afraid of!” Changshun called from his couch, his tone impatient. Watching Laifu on top of Yan’er, he felt an unspeakable discomfort, yet endured the itchy sensation, gripping his pillow hard.

Changshun’s words spurred Laifu to act. With a lecherous grin, he said, “Beauty, let me love you!” He tore off his rags, his pus-covered body pressing down on her.

“No!” Yan’er closed her eyes in utter despair.