My Darling, Coax Me.

CHAPTER 88: If Line 1 - Wedding Night.

　　A voice, filled with urgency, reached her ears, “Miss, Miss, wake up! The Crown Prince has arrived to escort you!” 

　　Yun Ling was disturbed from her sleep by the voice and mumbled in a daze, “Muyun, don't disturb your mother's sleep, be good.” 

　　Muyun was her daughter with Xie Jue. Still small, she was a mischievous little imp. 

　　A real little devil. 

　　The second year after she married Xie Jue, they had a pair of adorable twins, a boy and a girl. The two children were noisy and mischievous, often sneaking out of the Palace when she wasn't paying attention, giving her a constant headache.

　　Fortunately, he had quite a few methods for dealing with the two little troublemakers, always managing to bring them into line. At such times, the two children would come to her looking pitiful, begging for forgiveness and acting cute, leaving Yun Ling both amused and exasperated. Such days are sometimes annoying, but sweet and warm… 

　　“Miss, Miss, wake up! The auspicious time is almost here! Why are you still asleep? Muyun? Who's Muyun...?” 

　　The voice beside her ear was a little sharp because of anxiety. Yun Ling, disturbed from her sleep, fluttered her eyelashes and slowly opened her eyes, waking from her dreams. 

　　Then, she saw Lǜshuǐ's delighted face. “Wonderful, Miss! You're finally awake. The Crown Prince will be arriving at the gate soon to escort you. Miss, we should get up!” 

　　The Crown Prince… escorting her to the wedding? 

　　Miss…?

　　Just a few short sentences plunged Yun Ling into confusion. Lǜshuǐ had changed her form of address the second day after entering the Palace. Why was she calling her ‘Miss’ again? 

　　“Miss, let's get up quickly. We can't be late for the auspicious time.” 

　　Auspicious time. 

　　Yun Ling's pupils dilated. Slowly lowering her gaze to her clothing, her body suddenly stiffened. 

　　These were clearly the robes of a Crown Princess. 

　　She was… back to the time she married Xie Jue? The thought sprang into her mind. 

　　Unbelieving, she stared blankly at the heavy, ornate embroidery on the wedding dress. How could this be? Her mind was a tangled mess.

　　Was this a dream or something else? 

　　At that moment, a heavy jeweled phoenix crown was placed on Yun Ling's head, interrupting her thoughts. 

　　Just as she lifted her eyes, at the edge of her vision, a figure walked in, clad in a crimson robe embroidered with purple phoenixes and magpies, and a lake-blue skirt adorned with phoenixes and peonies. 

　　A gentle voice reached Yun Ling's ears, “What's wrong?” 

　　The maidservants around them all bowed, “Madam.” 

　　Yun Ling's gaze was fixed on the newcomer's face. 

　　Arched willow eyebrows, smooth corners of her eyes with only faint lines, her eyes smiling at her. Though aged, one could still see traces of her youthful beauty.

　　It wasn't Lady Liu. 

　　She was… 

　　“My Ah Ling has grown up so fast. Today, you're getting married,” Lady Lin walked over, gently taking her hand and patting it softly. “Mother is truly reluctant to let you go…” 

　　She was her birth mother, Lin Ling. 

　　Yun Ling stared intently at her mother's moving lips, listening carefully as she gave instructions on how to be a wife and what to expect after entering the Palace. 

　　Every word was filled with Lin Ling's reluctance and concern for Yun Ling. 

　　But Yun Ling seemed to hear nothing, her eyes only on her mother's face. As if she wanted to deeply engrave this face—a face she hadn't seen since she was four years old, a face she had gradually forgotten as she grew older—into her memory.

　　Whether it's a dream or not, what does it matter? 

　　Tears welled up uncontrollably in her eyes. Yun Ling, looked at her, and suddenly threw herself into the woman's arms. 

　　Her throat felt heavy, and after a long moment of choking back sobs, she finally managed to utter a word of longing, a word of joy, “Mother…” 

　　It was her mother. 

　　Lin Ling was unprepared for her daughter's sudden embrace. Fearing her hair might be messed up, she quickly protected it with her hand, unable to help but smile. “What's wrong with this child? You're so grown up, yet you're still acting cute with your mother. If your brother and sister-in-law knew, they'd probably laugh at you.” 

　　Lǜshuǐ also chimed in with a smile, “Miss is getting married, and she can't bear to leave Madam.” 

　　Lin Ling gently patted Yun Ling's back. “Mother can't bear to leave Ah Ling either…” 

　　A servant boy rushed in from outside, “The Crown Prince has arrived at the gate!” 

　　Lin Ling secretly wiped away a tear. “Alright, come back in ¹three days. Mother will be waiting for you at home.”

　　“The East Palace is not like home. In the palace, you must be careful and don't argue with the Crown Prince.” 

　　Yun Ling didn't have time to say anything else before she was escorted out by several maids and elderly women. 

　　As soon as she stepped outside, she saw Xie Jue hurrying towards her in his wedding attire. The magnificent wedding clothes made him appear even more noble and cold. They only met briefly; she didn't even have time to speak a word before she was urged by the Ministry of Rites officials to leave, lest they miss the auspicious time. 

　　From then on, Yun Ling had no time to think further. After bidding farewell to her parents and grandparents, she was sent out of the Xiao manor. 

　　In a flash, she saw Xie Jinjia's face, waving to her with a cheerful smile. 

　　This caused Yun Ling a moment of bewilderment. Xie Jinjia was here? At this time, hadn't she already divorced her brother? 

　　Could it be that in this dream, or perhaps in this life, the incident with Yu Fei never happened? There was no separation between Xie Jinjia and her brother because of Yu Fei's death? Everything is fine between them? 

　　What in the world is going on?

　　Before she could think further, the elderly woman helped her into the bridal sedan chair, and they proceeded towards the Imperial Palace. 

　　It seemed to be the same as her previous wedding. 

　　Once they arrived at the East Palace, even more elaborate ceremonies awaited – ancestral worship, prostrations to Heaven, and so on. 

　　By the time night fell, Yun Ling was finally led to her bedchamber. 

　　After the Crown Prince sent her in, he then went out to the banquet with the officials, almost exactly the same as her previous wedding. 

　　The heavy jeweled phoenix crown was pressing down on Yun Ling's neck, making her feel as if it would break. Perhaps because she had experienced this once before, she didn't attach as much importance to it as before and instructed Lǜshuǐ to remove it. 

　　Lǜshuǐ hesitated, “But… His Highness the Crown Prince hasn't returned…” 

　　Removing the crown at this time was probably against etiquette. 

　　Yun Ling said, “It's alright, just take it off for me.” 

　　Lǜyī and Lǜshuǐ always obeyed their young Lady. Seeing this, they stepped forward and gently removed the phoenix crown from Yun Ling's head. 

　　The palace servants in the hall immediately lowered their heads, secretly thinking that this Crown Princess was incredibly bold, daring to remove her phoenix crown without waiting for the Crown Prince.

　　They were worried about what punishment the Crown Prince might inflict when he returned. 

　　Yun Ling rubbed her aching forehead and leaned back on the chaise lounge. After a busy day, she was tired, and her mind was a jumble, unable to make sense of anything. 

　　Was this a dream or reality? 

　　If it were a dream, why were all these emotions and experiences so real? But if it were reality, she seemed to have returned to six years ago. Except for the wedding being the same, many things were different. 

　　Her mother was still alive, and her brother and sister-in-law hadn't divorced. 

　　But could life really start over? 

　　Just as she was pondering this, footsteps sounded outside the hall, followed by a palace servant's respectful greeting, “Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”

　　He was back. 

　　Yun Ling immediately raised her head. 

　　Yes, many things have changed. But what hadn't changed was that she was still married to him. 

　　She clearly remembered that before she fell asleep, he had kissed her and asked if she wanted to go to the summer palace to escape the heat. 

　　Yet, when she opened her eyes again, she was back on their wedding night.

　　In a short while, he was standing before her, his dark phoenix eyes looking down at her. 

　　The hall was brightly lit by candles, and he was backlit, so Yun Ling couldn't see the emotions in his eyes. 

　　His magnificent wedding attire made him even more stunningly handsome. His skin was as cold and white as jade, and his narrow eyes added a touch of danger to his appearance.

　　Before he could speak, a Matron stepped forward and said, “Your Highness, the Crown Princess insisted on taking off the phoenix crown herself; we servants dared not stop her.”

　　The Crown Prince hadn't returned; the wedding wine hadn't been drunk, yet Yun Ling had removed the phoenix crown—a clear breach of etiquette. 

　　Fearing that she would be punished by the Crown Prince, the Matron took the lead in complaining. 

　　Even Lǜyī and Lǜshuǐ couldn't help but feel nervous, worried about Yun Ling. If the Crown Princess were punished on her wedding night, how would she manage to gain a foothold in the East Palace and manage the inner court? 

　　They regretted not having stopped their young Lady earlier. 

　　Xie Jue's gaze fell on the phoenix crown. The jade and jewels were exquisitely luxurious. 

　　This showed the importance placed on the Crown Princess. 

　　As everyone held their breath, they heard the Crown Prince say, “It's alright.” His voice was calm and even, without a hint of anger. He clearly didn't care about the Crown Princess's transgression. 

　　He showed no anger at all. 

　　The palace servants present immediately understood the Crown Prince's high regard for his wife. 

　　Lǜyī and Lǜshuǐ both secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

　　It seemed the Crown Prince would allow their young Lady some leeway. 

　　“All of you, withdraw.” 

　　The Crown Prince commanded. 

　　“Yes.” 

　　The palace servants withdrew one after another, leaving only the two of them in the bedchamber. Yun Ling looked up at him. He didn't immediately approach her but took a wine flask, poured two cups of wine, and handed one to her. 

　　Yun Ling took it and exchanged cups with him, tilting her head to drink. 

　　The fiery wine went down her throat. Perhaps she drank too quickly, because Yun Ling choked slightly, immediately putting down her cup, her arms resting on the table as she coughed. 

　　The burning sensation in her throat was extremely uncomfortable, and her eyes welled up a little. 

　　After her chest calmed down, Yun Ling stopped coughing, and the hall fell silent again. 

　　Xie Jue stood beside her, looking down at her as she leaned on the table. He said without inflection, “I have things to attend to. You should rest; you don't need to wait for me.”

　　The matter of the King of Dingyang hadn't been cleared up yet; he didn't have time to stay here. 

　　With those words, he turned to leave. 

　　“Husband,” Yun Ling quickly reached out to stop him, her slender, soft fingers grasping his hand. 

　　He stopped abruptly, his back to her. 

　　Yun Ling calmed herself, stood up, and went to his side, tightening her grip on his fingers, wanting to hug him. But as soon as she touched the edge of his clothes, he shook her hand off. 

　　She lost her balance and her lower back hit the table's edge hard. 

　　Looking at her hand that he'd brushed away, Yun Ling suddenly raised her eyes and realized that his face was full of coldness.

　　“I've tolerated you for a long time, don't push your luck.” Xie Jue walked over slowly, lowering his head, his phoenix eyes dangerous and cold. “Since you are the Crown Princess I married properly, I will naturally give you the respect you deserve. But that doesn't mean I will always indulge you.” 

　　“Behave yourself. I will give you the status and position.” 

　　Xie Jue looked down at her, his tone cold and merciless. “Why I married you, you know very well, don't you?” 

　　He doesn't recognize her. 

　　This thought flooded Yun Ling's mind. 

　　Her eyes met his dark, indifferent gaze—features she knew so well. The bump on her lower back against the table didn't hurt, but her eyes slowly reddened. 

　　He hadn't been this cold to her in a very long time. 

　　Her husband would have embraced her the moment he entered. He wouldn't have coldly watched her choke on the wine without reacting, nor would he speak to her in such a cold and disgusted tone.

　　They had experienced so much together, and finally understood each other's hearts. After their marriage, they had a son and a daughter, and their love was undeniable. 

　　But now, he didn't recognize her. He married her because of her grandfather's influence in the court. Yun Ling understood this almost instantly. 

　　Indulgence can make a person vulnerable and prone to grievances. 

　　She wasn't this vulnerable before, but for the moment, she couldn't accept his coldness towards her. 

　　Her eyelashes fluttered, her eyes already red. Tilting her head back, a tear slid down her cheek. 

　　She finally realized the fact that she had perhaps been reborn. 

　　She also guessed her current situation. She was reborn with her memories, but in this life, she wasn't lost and grew up well in the Xiao manor. Her mother didn't die young, and perhaps the incident with Yu Fei never happened; her brother and sister-in-law were happily together.

　　And she was the eldest daughter of the Xiao family, the granddaughter of the venerable Grand Tutor Xiao, a pillar of the civil officials. The Crown Prince married her for her grandfather's influence in the court. He had no feelings for her. 

　　When Yun Ling served as his lady-in-waiting, she knew that marriage had been nothing more than a political tool for him. 

　　But she also knew that he hated Emperor Jingning's hypocrisy and callousness towards Empress Zhaohui, his favoring of concubines over his wife. Therefore, even though he had no feelings for her, his properly married Crown Princess, he would give her due respect. For example, in the matter of the phoenix crown, he would defend her in front of the palace servants, not letting her lose face. 

　　The candlelight flickered in the hall. 

　　Illuminating Yun Ling's bright red almond-shaped eyes, the wet lashes beneath them glistened with tears, making her appear pitiable. 

　　Yet, she stubbornly stared at him without blinking. 

　　Xie Jue watched her tears, his handsome brows furrowed. 

　　He considered himself to have been patient with her. Why was she crying?

　　“Well-educated and refined, a lady of a prominent family,” Xie Jue sneered coldly. “But no one told me that the supposedly famous Miss Xiao is a crybaby.” 

　　“I don't like tears,” he said.

　　His tone was indifferent.

________________

Glossary:

¹The Returning Bride in Ancient China.

回门 (huí mén): The act of a newlywed bride returning to her parents' home on the third day after the wedding. This tradition signifies the bride's continued connection to her natal family and ensures her well-being in her new marriage. 

三日回门 (sān rì huí mén): Specifically refers to the return visit on the third day, the most common timeframe. Variations existed depending on local customs.

娘家 (niáng jiā): The bride's maternal family home.

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