Chapter 82: Will You Let Me See the Bridal Chamber or Not?

After helping the old lady into the inner flower hall, Qin Wanru finally stepped outside again. Standing at the entrance, she took a deep breath—so many guests had arrived today, and with the old lady’s frail health, Qin Wanru worried she might not endure the commotion. Fortunately, noon was approaching, the wedding banquet would soon begin, and after the festivities, most guests would depart.

In Jiangzhou, customs differed slightly from elsewhere; the wedding banquet was held at midday, with only close friends and family staying into the evening—a much smaller crowd.

“Second Miss, Second Miss.” Someone tugged at her sleeve, the voice thin and sharp. Qin Wanru turned in surprise, her gaze falling upon a young servant behind her.

Dressed in the livery of the General’s Residence, the servants today wore an extra red jacket, marking them apart from those brought by other guests. The servant before her seemed vaguely familiar.

“Second Miss, our master wishes to see you.” The servant spoke in a hushed tone, gesturing toward the right. Qin Wanru spotted another servant in that direction.

And when she saw the proud, handsome youth whose features seemed to step from a landscape painting, her watery eyes narrowed instantly. What was he wearing?

“Second Miss, please hurry, or our master will be angry!” Xiao Xuanzi whispered urgently, nodding toward the prince whose cheeks were slightly puffed in irritation.

Qin Wanru looked to either side, then turned helplessly.

Chu Liuchen stood beneath the covered walkway, his figure half-shrouded by a small rockery. Clad in the attire of a General’s Residence servant, he blended into the busy flow between inner courtyards; with Xiao Xuanzi’s clever responses, neither he nor Chu Liuchen had been noticed as outsiders.

“Your Highness, why have you come?” Qin Wanru approached him, lowering her voice.

“What, am I not allowed? Is there something in the General’s Residence you’re hiding from me?” Chu Liuchen impatiently pulled her to sit beside him.

The veranda railing was indeed a tranquil spot.

Qin Wanru hadn’t expected his sudden gesture, nearly stumbling as she was dragged down. Sitting too quickly, she bumped herself painfully, her elegant brows knitting together.

“What, are you upset now? Daring to show me a sour face?” Chu Liuchen snorted coldly, raising his handsome face to look at her with evident displeasure.

“Your Highness, I can’t accompany you right now. Only Grandmother and I are receiving guests in the rear courtyard!” Qin Wanru forced patience, speaking softly.

“Am I not a guest?” Chu Liuchen’s expression darkened.

Her mouth fell silent; she glanced at his servant’s garb, sincerely doubting that someone sneaking into the residence disguised as a servant counted as a proper guest.

“Your Highness, where did you get those clothes?” Qin Wanru realized she wouldn't be able to leave anytime soon.

“I had Xiao Xuanzi fetch them!” Chu Liuchen replied as if it were obvious, tugging at the outfit with distaste. His rough handling made the servant’s jacket even more disheveled, so he looked less like a proper servant than ever.

“If you came to watch the festivities, why not tell Father? Surely he wouldn’t forbid you from seeing anything?” Qin Wanru asked, puzzled.

Although Chu Liuchen’s arrival in Jiangzhou was a secret, her father must have known. And as for watching the spectacle—every time, this prince chose a vantage point early to observe the commotion; this time was surely no different.

“I wanted to sneak in myself.” Chu Liuchen leaned back lazily, the servant’s attire lending him a surprising elegance.

How had he entered the courtyard unnoticed? Qin Wanru found it odd—he hardly resembled a servant.

“So what does Your Highness wish to do next?” Qin Wanru bit her pink lips, asking cautiously. Since he was here, the problem was how to send him away once he’d seen his fill.

“I want to see the bridal chamber.” Chu Liuchen replied matter-of-factly, flicking his sleeve and casting her a sidelong glance, his smile gentle and courteous.

But the meaning behind his words was anything but gentle or courteous.

Xiao Xuanzi’s eyes widened in shock. “Master, that’s improper, you can’t go!”

“Proper? Then when will it ever be proper for me to see the bridal chamber?” Chu Liuchen laughed, his tone light and mocking.

Qin Wanru didn’t know how to respond—was this prince so obsessed with watching wedding festivities that he felt wronged otherwise?

“Will you take me or not? You promised before to show me Jiangzhou!” Chu Liuchen’s beautiful eyes blinked reproachfully. “Are you going to break your word?”

Break her word? Qin Wanru dared not—she wouldn’t even admit such a thing.

Secretly cursing her luck, she was busy enough already, and now he was here to cause trouble. She couldn’t coax him away; now that he’d dragged her over, she knew he wouldn’t let her go unless she complied.

She’d much rather entertain her grandmother than accompany this proud, beautiful youth—he seemed frail and harmless, but who knew when he might suddenly stir up trouble and ruin her father’s banquet!

“Well, since you won’t, I’ll just go myself!” Chu Liuchen seemed unsurprised by her reaction, standing up and straightening his crooked servant’s attire, as if about to plunge into the busy crowd ahead.

Qin Wanru was startled, instinctively grabbing his sleeve.

“Your Highness, wait!”

“What, you won’t let me go?” Chu Liuchen gave her a lazy sidelong glance.

“I’ll accompany you.” Qin Wanru gritted her teeth, determined. Better to keep an eye on him than let him wander the residence and risk real trouble.

Having her there was safer than not.

Resolving herself, Qin Wanru stood and tugged Chu Liuchen’s sleeve toward a quieter path. “Let’s go this way—fewer people, and it leads to the bridal chamber.”

“Fine!” Chu Liuchen replied with a smile, suddenly obedient, like a well-behaved youth.

Of course, Qin Wanru knew this was only a facade; he was hardly a docile, gentle soul.

No matter what charming, gentle expression he wore, it was nothing but a beguiling mask; anyone foolish enough to cross him would find his venom deadly.

Dragging Chu Liuchen behind the covered walkway, they found a spot where even those outside might not notice them.

“Your Highness, you may take a look, but once you’ve seen enough, you must leave immediately, agreed?” Qin Wanru, still uneasy, laid down her conditions.

“Agreed, I’ll do as you say!” Chu Liuchen, unusually easygoing, kept smiling, seeming quite pleased.

“Your Highness, could you look from behind the house? It isn’t proper for a servant to enter the bridal chamber directly!” Qin Wanru scrutinized him, adding carefully.

Normally, servants weren’t allowed in the rear courtyard; even under special circumstances, only at the master’s command. Of course, Qin Wanru herself was excluded, being young and inexperienced.

Whenever she needed to send Wang Feng, Yu Mama’s son, she’d have to ask Yu Mama or Qingyue to relay the message outside.

“Behind the house? What’s the point of that?” Chu Liuchen grew annoyed, tugging his sleeve away.

Qin Wanru hurriedly held his sleeve tighter. “If Your Highness wore a maid’s gown, I could take you through the front door to see the bridal chamber.”

“What, you want me to wear women’s clothing?” Chu Liuchen’s exquisite face darkened.

Qin Wanru suddenly pictured him dressed as a woman—he’d surely be a peerless beauty, his pale lips lending him a fragile allure. Unconsciously, she smiled and let out a soft laugh.

With his looks, he would make a very convincing maiden.

“So, you want to see me in women’s clothes?” Chu Liuchen’s smile was gentle, carrying his own refined elegance.

“No, I wouldn’t dare. I only meant that’s the only way to go through the front—if Father saw you, you’d never get to see the ceremony!” Qin Wanru immediately straightened her face, speaking seriously.

Yet the curve of her lips and the clear joy in her eyes betrayed her amusement. Her long lashes fluttered, her delicate skin tinged with pink, her smile sincere and warm—so different from her usual polite demeanor.

It was a smile that brought comfort.

Xiao Xuanzi watched nervously, afraid his master would lose his temper—when he did, no one could stop him, except perhaps the Empress Dowager in the palace. But this was nowhere near the palace, and the Empress Dowager was unreachable!

He truly feared his master would cause a scene.

“What can you see from behind?” Chu Liuchen smiled, his eyes crinkling with amusement. Surprisingly, he wasn’t angry, so Xiao Xuanzi, on guard, quietly sighed in relief.

“Perhaps quite a lot, and no one will notice. Once Your Highness has seen the bridal chamber, you can even explore other interesting places!” Qin Wanru lifted her face, speaking earnestly—though by “interesting places” she meant nothing in particular.

“Fine, I’ll follow you to see the bridal chamber from behind. As for those other amusements, you must show me ones I haven’t seen before!” Chu Liuchen smiled, leaning close and whispering in her ear, “Promise me they’ll all be new to me!”

Suddenly, Qin Wanru lost all desire to show him the bridal chamber...