Chapter 351 - 227: The Four Beauties Gather [Change the Update Time]
The wedding bed was large, so even with three people, it didn't feel cramped.
Li Nuo lay in the middle, his wife on the left and Anning on the right.
He didn't know what Anning had said to his wife just now, but she had actually agreed to the three of them sleeping in one bed.
Li Nuo felt that it was mostly due to the effect of the Yuqing Heart Technique.
This cultivation technique made her less likely to get angry.
And of course, less likely to feel too shy.
It was natural that the three of them couldn't do anything.
At least not now.
If he consummated the marriage with his wife at this time, her journey on the Martial Path would be completely ruined.
Nor could he consummate the marriage with Anning while his wife watched.
Li Nuo held his wife's hand with one hand and hugged Anning with the other, Anning resting on his chest, and whispered, "Husband."
Li Nuo responded, "Hmm?"
Li Anning, looking blissful, said, "Nothing, I just wanted to call you."
Though she had called him "husband" countless times before, this time was different from all the others.
Jiaren Song fell silent for a while before suddenly saying, "Husband."
Li Nuo turned his head to look at her and asked, "What's wrong?"
Jiaren Song whispered, "You, you go and consummate the marriage."
She couldn't fulfill her duties as a wife now and didn't want Anning's wedding to be flawed because of her.
Li Anning pouted and said, "Didn't we agree that today's husband would belong to both of us, and starting tomorrow, on odd-numbered days you'll accompany her, and on even-numbered days, you'll accompany me..."
For her and for sister Jiaren, today was the most meaningful day.
She had already shared her husband with herself, how could she selfishly monopolize him on such a day?
Li Nuo now realized that in his absence, they had already arranged everything between them.
Naturally, nothing more could happen tonight, and Li Nuo extinguished any other thoughts.
In order to ensure the wedding went without a hitch, he had personally overseen almost every part, stayed up almost all night yesterday, and had gone out early in the morning to greet the bridal procession. Now that everything had finally settled and he lay in bed, flanked by gentle warmth on both sides, he completely relaxed and soon felt drowsiness set in...
When Li Nuo awoke the next morning, there was no one beside him.
He glanced out the window, and it was already late.
Li Nuo dressed and walked outside.
His wife was exercising in the morning, and Anning walked in carrying breakfast, glanced at Li Nuo, and said, "If you hadn't gotten up, I was about to flip your blanket..."
After quickly washing up, Li Nuo finished his breakfast at the stone table in the yard.
According to tradition, the morning after the wedding, the couple should serve tea to the in-laws.
Li Nuo had no mother, and his father never cared much for these rituals, having gone to the Ministry of Justice early in the morning; naturally, that part was skipped.
After breakfast, Li Anning, holding his arm, said, "Let's go grocery shopping with sister Jiaren later, we'll cook lunch ourselves, I want to eat the food you cook..."
Li Nuo naturally agreed to her request.
Grocery shopping and cooking were just small matters; what mattered was who he was doing it with.
After his wife finished her morning exercise, the three of them went out to buy groceries.
When they had paraded through the streets, many of Chang'an's citizens had recognized them, and after buying lots of groceries, Li Nuo didn't even spend a single cent.
"May the top scholar and his two wives live a hundred years in harmony and have sons early."
"These vegetables aren't worth much; consider them a gift to the top scholar to share in the joy."
"Please don't pay, it's an honor for an old man like me to brag that the Princess and the Prince Consort have shopped here..."
...
Others congratulated them, so Li Nuo did not insist anymore.
After taking the groceries home, Li Nuo found Phoenix was also at home.
She hadn't just arrived; it seemed she had stayed overnight.
After asking, he found out she had gotten a bit drunk last night and slept with Yiren.
Li Nuo greatly admired one thing about Phoenix: she could become friends with any woman.
Whether it was his wife, whose marriage was rumored to be troubled because of her, or Anning, who had initially not seen eye to eye with her, now both had become very good friends with her.
Previously, Phoenix had hardly spoken a few words to Yiren, yet just because they sat at the same table during last night's feast, they had become close friends who could sleep together.
Seeing Li Nuo and the others busy in the kitchen, Phoenix also volunteered to help.
Although her culinary skills were mediocre, they were still far better than those of Jiaren, Yiren, and Anning.
After some busy preparations, the five people successfully made six dishes and one soup.
Though the flavor of the food couldn't compare to that of professional chefs, it was still their own handiwork, and every dish was polished off without a trace remaining.
After eating, Phoenix took the initiative to wash the dishes.
Li Nuo walked into the room and said, "Let me do that..."
Since the groceries were bought, prepared, and cooked by them, washing the dishes himself would bring everything full circle.
Phoenix smiled and said, "Let me do it."
Li Nuo took the plate from her hand and said, "You girls have delicate hands, better saved for fine activities like flower arranging and painting, leave the heavy work to me."
His casual remark made Phoenix think of something; a blush involuntarily crept up her face.
Li Nuo glanced at her and asked in surprise, "Why is your face so red?"
Phoenix raised her palm and fanned her face, saying, "It's a bit hot…"
Li Nuo said, "Then you should go outside, the kitchen is indeed hot; it's cooler outside…"
After Phoenix hurriedly left, Anning and Jiaren wanted to come in and help him, but Li Nuo refused them for the same reason.
He naturally had to cherish his own wife.
Anning's hands were so delicate, using them to wash dishes would be an utter waste.
After Li Nuo finished the dishes and walked back to the courtyard, he saw this scene:
Phoenix was sitting at the table arranging flowers, Anning sat opposite her, reading a book on Legalism, his wife was practicing swordplay in the courtyard, and Yiren was swinging under the tree…
Li Nuo felt inexplicably that this scene was particularly harmonious.
He didn't disturb them and went back to his room, capturing this scene on paper.
He had previously drawn a painting of "Three Beauties."
Compared to last time, his painting skills had greatly improved.
These days, Li Nuo didn't have to go to the Ministry of Rites; officials had a whole month of marriage leave, and since Li Nuo had just started his job a month ago, he could take another month off, which was perfect for spending time at home with them.
In the courtyard.
After swinging for a while, Yiren felt a bit bored, so she jumped down from the swing and walked over to watch Phoenix arrange flowers.
Actually, she hadn't liked Phoenix before.
Phoenix had a voluptuous figure and was also beautiful; Yiren didn't like women with bigger breasts than hers.
But after spending a short time together last night, she thought Phoenix was a very good person, good enough to completely overlook her physical flaws.
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She didn't have many friends in Chang'an and really needed someone she could talk to about her feelings.
She looked at Phoenix and said, "Phoenix, why don't you just move in here?"
Phoenix was momentarily stunned, then shook her head and said, "How could I do that? I'm not even part of the Li Family…"
Li Anning, who was reading, looked up at those words, grabbed Phoenix's hand, and said, "Come on, whether you are at Jade Sound Pavilion or not doesn't matter; you being here could at least give me someone to talk to. We have plenty of rooms in the house; you can pick any one you like…"
Phoenix had taken a huge risk to shelter her when she ran away.
Over the past two months, Phoenix had also created opportunities for them to meet.
Anning no longer felt the animosity she had before toward Phoenix.
Instead, they had become friends who talked about everything.
Phoenix, looking into Anning's hopeful eyes, continued to shake her head, saying, "I really can't…"
Jiaren put away her sword and slowly walked over, saying, "Pick any room you like, and I'll have it prepared for you…"
Phoenix was her only friend; she had hardly had any friends since childhood, and being with Phoenix, she could learn a lot. Naturally, it would be best if she could live with them.
Looking at all three of them, Phoenix could only nod and say, "Well, alright then…"
When Li Nuo walked out of the room to get some fresh air, Yiren was already accompanying Phoenix to collect her things from the Jade Sound Pavilion.
As for Phoenix moving into the Li Family, he, of course, had no objections.
Yiren and Anning didn't get along, and she also had issues with Jiaren.
But she got along very well with Phoenix.
Jiaren, Yiren, Anning—all got along well with her.
Phoenix was like Li Nuo's anchor; when his marriage leave ended and he had to go to the government office during the day, having Phoenix at home meant he didn't have to worry about domestic issues.
By the time Li Nuo finished the painting, it was evening.
He walked out of the study and went to his wife's room. When he pushed the door, he found it was locked from the inside.
Although to him, a locked door was no different from an unlocked one, today was an even-numbered day, and according to their previous arrangement, he was supposed to stay with Anning.
Actually, it was better this way; they had agreed among themselves, so Li Nuo didn't have to feel awkward.
Alternate days kept it fair and balanced.
"I'm going to Anning's place then…"
Li Nuo spoke at the door, heard a soft response from inside the room, and then walked to the room across.
The door to Anning's room was open; Li Nuo walked in and had just closed the door when he was suddenly pinned against it.
That kiss spanned the entire room, from the doorway to the desk, and from the desk to the bed.
Clothes were strewn all over the floor beside the bed, and soon all that remained on her were a thin layer covering her chest and barely-there panties covering her rear.
When Li Nuo's hand reached the tie around her waist, although she was flushed and her eyes were watery, she still held his hand, her voice trembling as she said, "Wait, wait a moment…"
Li Nuo faltered; with the arrow on the bow, poised to be released, how could he wait at such a moment?
Anning blushed, one hand reaching behind her.
As the ties at her back came undone.
The next moment, Li Nuo saw the moon in the sky.
[PS: Update time change—I used to update every noon, writing in the morning was always stressful, and I wanted to update as early as possible in the evening, but I was always in a hurry. Starting tomorrow, I will switch the updates to the evening, writing everything in a day and posting around 11 PM. It might be earlier, and if you go to bed early you can read it the next day.]