Unintentional Surprise (GL) - Chapter 23

Wen Dinglan didn’t come out from behind the beaded curtain empty-handed—she was holding a set of men’s wedding attire.

Her gown was red, the wedding outfit in her hand was red, and for a moment, the vivid colors dazzled Jiang Shunyao’s drunken and hazy eyes.

Che Kuiyuan forgot the speech he had prepared to challenge Jiang Shunyao. Upon seeing Wen Dinglan’s movements, he pouted and complained, “W-What are you holding?”

“As you all can see, a wedding robe.” Wen Dinglan acted as if the surrounding clamor didn’t exist—her eyes were only on Jiang Shunyao.

Lovers’ eyes are always filled with lingering tenderness.

Che Kuiyuan still tried to intervene.

The moment he stepped forward, Wen Dinglan’s embroidered shoe struck him square in the chest and sent him flying backward.

The golden qin let out a clanging sound—not to mourn for its master, but to sing praises for Wen Dinglan’s swift kick.

Of course, a qin neither mourns nor praises.

It was Jiang Shunyao, thoroughly drunk, who imbued it with meaning.

“Can you still stand, my langguan?” (a respectful or flirtatious way of saying “gentleman”)

That one word, langguan, tickled many hearts with envy, but only Jiang Shunyao had the fortune to hear it directed at him.

Blushing red, Jiang Shunyao obediently nodded and rose from the bench.

Wen Dinglan could hide her intentions, but not her joy and satisfaction.

She began to untie Jiang Shunyao’s belt, slipping off the plain dark robe.

Jiang Shunyao wasn’t afraid of being stared at—left in his inner garments, he knew Wen Dinglan wouldn’t strip him further.

Red suited Jiang Shunyao best.

The top scholar’s robe was red; so was the wedding attire.

Wen Dinglan couldn’t wait. She wished they could hold the wedding right then and there—to declare to the world that the newly crowned Zhuangyuan (Top Scholar) belonged to her, the Master Qin Player of Fuxian Linyin Pavilion.

The wedding robe was slightly oversized and loose-fitting, but it did nothing to hide Jiang Shunyao’s good looks.

Especially drunk—he looked even more charming.

“Still able to walk, langguan?”

Whether he could walk or not, Jiang Shunyao had to. Not just walk—he had to shake off all the troublemakers and run.

Before Jiang Shunyao could answer, Wen Dinglan pulled him forward and headed out of the pavilion.

Good things must be hurried.

Hurry to seize beauty and joy; hurry to catch the auspicious hour.

A bridal sedan chair was already parked outside the Fuxian Linyin Pavilion.

Servants stood ready to lift it, and ahead of the chair, a tall, strong horse awaited eagerly.

“Still able to ride a horse, langguan?”

Even if Jiang Shunyao said he could, Wen Dinglan wouldn’t let him.

After all, whether it was her or him in the bridal chair—it didn’t matter.

Jiang Shunyao tried to resist, to at least negotiate his position—but the next moment, Wen Dinglan had already pushed him into the sedan.

By the time he came to his senses, Wen Dinglan was already on horseback, leading the procession ahead.

“Where are we going, Master Wen?” Drunk in body and speech, Jiang Shunyao still clung to formalities.

“Still calling me ‘Master Wen’?”

“…” It was Jiang Shunyao’s first time riding in a bridal sedan. Groggy, he corrected himself: “Dinglan, where are we going?”

Wen Dinglan didn’t stop the horse. Half turning in the saddle, she looked back at the sedan and smiled brightly.

The curtains of the sedan were long and flowing, and in a sudden gust of wind, they billowed and lifted.

Through that opening, Jiang Shunyao caught a glimpse of Wen Dinglan—so carefree, so full of joy.

In a burst of boldness, he changed how he addressed her again:
“Niangzi… where are we going?” (Niangzi = wife, a term of endearment)

Was he truly drunk, or just pretending?

Wearing wedding robes, riding in a bridal sedan—naturally, they were headed to Jiang Shunyao’s Zhuangyuan residence.

“To your home. To our home.”

The echo of her reply lingered—a vow carried on the wind. But whose ears did it settle into?

The swaying bridal sedan moved forward—on this joyous occasion, whose cheeks were flushed in bashful delight?