The sun’s rays had burst through the windows of the royal bridal chamber; it’s brilliant rays settling on the face of the bride. Shining through her closed eyelids, the light was blinding. Snapping her eyes open, she squinted slightly and groaned. She was still dead tired from all the excitement last night, and wanted to go back to her peaceful sleep. But she couldn’t do that with the rays blazing into her eyes, therefore she needed to get up and pull the curtains down more. She started to do that, but stopped abruptly.
Something was restricting her movement to get up. It was her husband’s arm, wrapped tightly and securely around her waist.
Just my luck she thought. She didn’t want to wake him up, for he looked so peaceful and happy asleep. She decided she would have to slide horizontally towards the end of their bed, and quietly as possible slip away from his hold.
Edging ever so slowly and as quietly as possible, she slid towards the end of the bed. Reaching the end of the mattress, she decided that the best way to free her self was a swift and quick jerk away. She rocked towards her husband, then rocked swiftly and heavily towards the end of the bed.
Unfortunately, she rocked too forcefully, and when she was free of his grasp, she couldn’t stop the rolling movement. She rolled completely over and with nothing to meet her at the end of the mattress, she flopped facedown on the wooden floor.
"Aiyowwww…..!!!!" she groaned loudly. As if on reaction, as soon as she fell down, she quickly pulled herself up on her knees and started to rub her nose vigorously.
Yong Qi started on hearing the painful groans of his wife, got up and looked frantically around.
"Xiao Yian Zi, are you ok? Where are you?" swinging his legs to the end of bed, he tried to stand up, except his feet meet Xiao Yian Zi’s back, driving her back down on the ground. Unsteady from his sudden movement, Yong Qi slipped, and both were sprawled on the floor, one face-up, and the other facedown; both groaning.
Shoving him off her, Xiao Yian Zi jumped up.
"Yong Qi, you moron. You should look around before making any sudden movements." She said while rubbing her nose.
"I did, but I didn’t see you anywhere." He replied.
"I mean look DOWN as well lug-head." She retorted.
"Ok, ok. I should’ve looked thoroughly before making any sudden movements." He said, smiling apologetically. "By the way, why were you down there anyway and what’s wrong with your nose?" he asked.
"Oh and another thing, why did you hold me so tightly? I was trying to get up and close the curtains, but your grip was like a vase. So, I decided to edge and roll to get free. Because of your iron grip, I rolled so hard that I fell on the floor and my nose hit the floor." She answered.
Yong Qi grinned, trying to hold his laughter from bursting.
"Sorry, I didn’t know I was holding you that tight. I only do that to keep you safe and close to me." He said. "Here, let me take a look at your nose." His eyes widened in surprise and he pursed his lips shut. Finally, he couldn’t hold it anymore and burst into a great fit of laughter.
Xiao Yian Zi stared, bewildered. Her faced then darkened, and she slapped him on the shoulder.
"Hey, hey, hey! What’s so funny?" she asked, annoyed.
Yong Qi shook with laughter, unable to talk. He pointed to the mirror, "Look!" he said.
Staring into the mirror, Xiao Yian Zi started, "Oh no!" she cried in horror. There was a bright red mark that covered the tip of her nose, and with the addition to the make-up she was still wearing from last night and her big round eyes, she was given the appearance of a clown. Not even ten thousand layers of make-up can hide this she thought in dismay. Out of the corner of the mirror she caught Yong Qi still laughing, infuriated, she whirled around and faced him.
"Yong Qi!!! It’s NOT funny! It’s because of YOU that this happened to me! How am I to present my self to Huang A Ma and Lao Fu Yai looking like this?" she cried.
Noticing that she was deeply upset, Yong Qi straightened and stopped laughing. "Xiao Yian Zi, you’re right, it is my fault you ended up looking like this. Forgive me, I did not intend for this to happen at all." He said solemnly while taking her hands into his own.
"Come," he said. "we must get out of these wedding dresses and make ourselves presentable to Huang A Ma and Lao Fu Yai. Don’t worry, even if they do notice that mark, we’ll just simply tell them the truth. No pain in doing that." He said reassuringly.
They presently washed up and dressed. When they were ready, the couple exited their chamber and headed towards the reception room of the Emperor.
Xiao Yian Zi approached the Emperor and the Matriarch, with eyes shining and a wide smile. She knelt down.
"Lao Fu Yai, Huang A Ma, please accept this cup of submission." She said.
The emperor and matriarch exchanged glances and grinned. They took the cups and drank.
Yong Qi then knelt down alongside Xiao Yian Zi and said, "Lao Fu Yai, Huang A Ma, thank you. Thank you for all you have done for us, for all those times you have forgiven us for the crimes that weren’t to be forgiven. We know we have done many things that were wrong, and we are sorry beyond imagination. Please let us soothe the dept we owe by giving you three kow-tows." He said soberly.
They kow-towed, and the hearts of the emperor and matriarch softened and touched. When they were done, the emperor got up from his seat and walked over towards them.
"Please get up. There is nothing to thank for; this is what a normal father should act towards their children. To give them punishment when needed, and we they’ve admitted their wrong, to forgive and forget. But most importantly, to love them all the more, for we are only human. Yours Truly is deeply touched by such moving words." He said as he helped Xiao Yian Zi up.
The matriarch grinned; her eyes rested on Xiao Yian Zi’s face as she got up. Noticing the red mark on her nose, she squinted and asked, "Xiao Yian Zi, what’s wrong with your nose? Did you do something to it?"
Xiao Yian Zi blushed, and stammered, "I…I fell out of bed and hit my nose on the ground, Lao Fu Yai."
The matriarch grinned and looked over at the emperor, giving him a queer look. The emperor just chuckled and said, "Oh…is that so? Yours Truly doesn’t even want to know why or how you fell out of bed. Ha ha. Does it hurt? Should the Surgeon General be called into the palace?"
"No no. No need. It only hurts if I touch it. Thank you Huang A Ma and Lao Fu Yai for caring." She said hastily.
"Alright. I now give my blessing to you two. May your days together go on into eternity, forever winding but never breaking, and may your seasons together be full and bountiful." Said the matriarch sincerely.
"Forever and forever will be your happiness, like the sun, daily shining brightly over the land. Not like the moon, constantly waning and waxing, at times disappearing from view." Said the emperor.
"Thank you both Huang A Ma and Lao Fu Yai for your holy blessing." The couple said in unison.
"Go on your way. Yours Truly grants permission for you two to celebrate outside the palace walls tonight. Enjoy but remember to not come home too late."
"Huang A Ma, may you live forever!" cried Xiao Yian Zi happily.
"Then, if we may be excused, your son bids Lao Fu Yai and Huang A Ma farewell." Said Yong Qi.
Xiao Yian Zi regained her pose and said; "Xiao Yian Zi bids both Lao Fu Yai and Huang A Ma farewell."
Both exited the palace hand in hand, and headed towards the Empress’s quarters. When they had paid their respects there, they proceeded to visit the other Feis’ quarters and do the same. With so many concubines the emperor owned, it was evening when they were finally done, having stayed most of the afternoon at Ling Fei Niang Niang’s place.
Returning to their room, the couple dressed in their normal civilian clothes, and entered the carriage. The carriage left the palace through the twin doors, it’s wheels squeaking and rattling in the midst of the tranquil evening atmosphere.

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