Jiang Ning buried her face in Liu Ming'an's shoulder, laughing silently, her body trembling, causing Liu Ming'an's heart to quake.
A gentle hand caressed Jiang Ning's face, fingertips lightly tracing her cheek with infinite tenderness and cherishment.
"Ning'er, can we wait until after we're married to talk about these things?" Liu Ming'an's doting voice sounded in her ear.
Jiang Ning lifted her head to look at him, smiling as she asked, "So when do you plan to marry me?"
His fingers moved to her rosy lips, pressing down ever so slightly. In the next instant, Liu Ming'an leaned in and planted a quick kiss before pulling away.
"After I take the imperial examinations and secure an official position, then I'll propose to the Prime Minister."
Liu Ming'an spoke seriously, but Jiang Ning frowned at his words. "Why bother with him? What right does he have to meddle in my affairs?"
Liu Ming'an was taken aback, confused. "Ning'er, didn't you say before that you wanted to marry me as the Prime Minister's daughter?"
"That was then, this is now," Jiang Ning said with a gentle smile. "I have no connection to the Nangong Family anymore. You don't need to worry about any Prime Minister, understand?"
Liu Ming'an didn't understand, but he nodded anyway.
"In that case, when do you want to marry me?" Jiang Ning continued her earlier question.
"Ning'er, I've always wanted to marry you, but I want to bring you home in a grand wedding procession. I don't want to shortchange you."
Hearing Liu Ming'an say this, Jiang Ning raised an eyebrow slightly. How much longer would that take? And it sounded so troublesome.
Liu Ming'an lowered his head slightly and kissed her again. This time he didn't pull away, but murmured against her soft lips: "I wish to match your virtue, to walk hand in hand as companions. If I cannot soar with you, it will be my undoing."
The hand that had been caressing Jiang Ning's face trailed down her arm and grasped her hand, pressing their intertwined fingers against Liu Ming'an's chest.
"Thump~"
"Thump~"
"Thump~"
The beating of his heart caused vibrations in his chest, transmitted through their palms pressed against his clothes. Jiang Ning felt her own heart resonating in sync.
She gazed into Liu Ming'an's eyes, those bright black orbs reflecting her face, his expression utterly serious and solemn.
In that moment, all of Jiang Ning's playful thoughts vanished without a trace.
Seeing Jiang Ning fall silent, Liu Ming'an worried he had said something wrong. He called out an anxious "Ning'er," only to see her staring straight into his eyes. After a moment, she spoke: "It's too much trouble. Marriage is between the two of us. I don't need a grand procession, elaborate headdress and robes, or all those formal ceremonies and matchmakers. Liu Ming'an, I only need you!"
Liu Ming'an was stunned. Jiang Ning smiled softly and continued, "Since we're going to get married anyway, why not do it sooner? How about today?"
Without waiting for Liu Ming'an to react, Jiang Ning pulled him to kneel in the courtyard. "With heaven and earth as our matchmakers, the stars and moon as our witnesses, Liu Ming'an, I marry you and become your wife. Do you accept?"
Liu Ming'an turned to look at Jiang Ning. The moonlight illuminated her face, making it appear dreamlike and ethereally beautiful.
And all of this felt like an exquisite dream.
Jiang Ning waited a while without hearing Liu Ming'an's answer. She narrowed her eyes and threatened, half-jokingly, "You're not going to say anything at a time like this? Do you want a beating?"
Liu Ming'an suddenly smiled, feeling a burning sensation in his eyes.
This wasn't a dream!
It was real!
The girl he loved was willing to marry him!
"Ning'er, I..." Liu Ming'an's voice was choked with emotion. He took a deep breath, trying hard to calm the turmoil in his heart.
"How could I be so fortunate..."
The cool moonlight poured down upon the world, illuminating the couple kneeling upright in this small courtyard, like a silent companion.
Liu Ming'an and Jiang Ning gazed at each other in silence, their eyes filled with nothing but each other.
By the time they stood up, they had become husband and wife.
"Ning'er..."
Liu Ming'an pulled Jiang Ning close, once again pressing his lips firmly against hers, pouring all his inexpressible emotions into this one kiss.
Jiang Ning closed her eyes and responded, her body pressed tightly against Liu Ming'an's. The cold winter night wind seemed to bypass them; she only felt her entire body burning up, especially the heart in her chest, so hot it felt like it might melt.
After what seemed like an eternity, the two separated, panting. Liu Ming'an's eyebrows and eyes were filled with undisguised joy. He reached out to caress Jiang Ning's face, his eyes brimming with unconcealed love: "Ning'er, you're my wife now."
"Mm." Jiang Ning tilted her head, nuzzling Liu Ming'an's palm with her cheek.
"Then you can sleep with me now."
"...Huh?"
What was that about?
Jiang Ning was dumbfounded, but Liu Ming'an simply scooped her up in his arms and steadily carried her towards the bedroom.
Even as Liu Ming'an laid her on the bed and a flurry of kisses rained down, Jiang Ning was still pondering whether she had really seemed that desperate before.
Surely Liu Ming'an didn't think she had married him tonight just to do this?
Suddenly, her lips were gently bitten, snapping Jiang Ning back to reality. Their clothes were already half removed.
"Ning'er, don't space out..."
Liu Ming'an's somewhat husky voice sounded by her ear, followed by a passionate kiss on Jiang Ning's slender jade-like neck.
In that instant, Jiang Ning felt as if a switch had been flipped inside her. An endless wave of embarrassment washed over her; she could feel her face burning red, and her body seemed to lose all strength, her limbs turning to jelly.
"Liu- Liu- Liu Ming'an, maybe we should... should rest first today..."
For the first time in her life, Jiang Ning couldn't string together a complete sentence due to shyness, and she didn't even know where to look.
Liu Ming'an paused his kisses and propped himself up to look at the person beneath him, who was avoiding his gaze. He seemed to understand something.
"Ning'er, be good, don't call me Liu Ming'an..."
Liu Ming'an kissed Jiang Ning's lips, one hand already caressing the smooth skin of her slender waist.
"Be good, call me... husband..." Liu Ming'an coaxed gently, his voice unlike its usual mellow tone, now carrying an indescribable depth.
Jiang Ning felt not just her face, but her entire body burning as if on fire. Looking at Liu Ming'an's unfamiliar, passionate gaze, her head began to spin.
"Be good, say it once, and I'll do as you say..."
Liu Ming'an lowered his head to kiss Jiang Ning's face again, his voice tinged with impatience.
Jiang Ning opened and closed her mouth several times, her eyes filled with unmistakable embarrassment and annoyance.
Liu Ming'an waited patiently. After a long while, he finally heard a voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz from beneath him:
"Hus... band..."
This was too much!
Only after calling out did Jiang Ning belatedly realize they were already completely unclothed, and judging by Liu Ming'an's state, he had no intention of stopping.
"You lied—mmph!"
Liu Ming'an silenced her with a fierce kiss on those red lips.
"Ning'er, be good, from tomorrow on, I'll do whatever you say..."
...
Outside, a light rain began to fall, wetting the scattered red plum blossoms in the courtyard, making them look a bit bedraggled.
Fallen and ground to mud, yet still fragrant.
This faint plum fragrance spread throughout the small courtyard, a unique warmth of winter. However, in one corner, spring passions were boundless. Amidst the sound of rain, there seemed to be faint human voices.
"...Ning'er, be good, call me that again..."
"Get lost! Mmph—"
"...Ning'er, I love you so much..."
"Shut up! Take your hand away first! Mmph mmph—"
"Ning'er..."
"Ning'er..."