Ch 99: Reborn to Raise My Husband

Though the wedding ceremony would not begin until dusk, preparations started before dawn.

Even without being called, Xiao Yuanbao woke early on his own.

The night before, he had gone to bed as soon as it grew dark, reminding himself that the next day was important and that he must rise early.

But though he went to bed early, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

When sleep would not come, his thoughts wandered—first wondering what kind of day it would be tomorrow. Would it rain or shine?

After today, all his bright and pretty clothes would be tucked away in chests. From now on, he would no longer be a “little young master” but a married man—he would have to dress with calm dignity.

It felt like such a pity. Those clothes were made of fine material, and he regretted not wearing them more often when he could. Now, he thought, they would likely never see the light again.

Then, inevitably, his thoughts turned to Qi Beinan. He wondered if, in the new house, Beinan was spending the night before the wedding reading as usual—or if he was already asleep.

He hoped he was sleeping well and resting enough to greet the guests tomorrow.

As for himself, all he had to do was sit in the sedan chair, wear the red veil, and complete the ceremony. Beinan would be the one to host and drink with guests.

Time drifted slowly. He began to think about the future—how many children would they have?

He didn’t know if Beinan liked children, but he himself did. Babies, soft and plump, were so adorable, and when they grew a little older, toddling around and calling him “Little Father,” the thought filled him with quiet happiness.

He smiled at the idea, rolling over contentedly—only to realize the moon outside had already sunk behind the hills.

Startled, he squeezed his eyes shut, forcing himself to sleep.

He didn’t know when he finally drifted off, but he slept lightly. At the first crow of the rooster, he was awake, alert, and out of bed without hesitation.

The first thing he did was bathe, sinking into the warm tub until all drowsiness vanished.

Fortunately, spring had already warmed the air; otherwise, he would have frozen.

Jiang Fulang helped him change into his wedding robes. Standing close, he caught a faint orchid fragrance from Yuanbao’s skin and chuckled.

“That scented soap is truly worth the price. It leaves such a clean, soft scent. No wonder it costs more—it’s far better than soap pods.”

Xiao Yuanbao sniffed his own sleeve. “I don’t smell anything.”

“How could you? You’ve been soaking in it for so long,” Jiang Fulang said, tying the belt around his waist.

That slender waist needed no extra cinching to show its shape—just a light pull of the sash, and his bearing was already elegant.

The older man smiled with quiet pride. His apprentice truly was well raised—fair, clear-skinned, with bright, lively eyes, just as charming as when he was a boy.

No wonder, he thought, even someone like Qi Beinan had fallen for him.

Lowering his voice, he teased, “Tonight, let Lord Qi smell for himself. See if he can tell.”

Xiao Yuanbao blushed crimson. “Teacher, even you’re teasing me now.”

“How is it teasing? You’re marrying today—if you still blush this easily, how will you manage?”

Before Yuanbao could respond, the door opened.

“Yuanbao! Guess who’s here!”

He turned his head—and froze. Standing at the doorway was Bai Qiaogui.

He blinked in surprise, at first speechless. “You—why are you here!?”

“What, do you sound unhappy to see me?” Bai Qiaogui said with a grin, stepping inside. “I only came from nearby—just a few days’ journey. Much faster than coming from Linzhou. How could I not drop by?”

Yuanbao’s face lit with delight. “Of course I wanted you to come! I just thought, since you only recently followed Lord Luo to his new post, you wouldn’t be able to leave yet.”

“It’s been long enough to settle in,” she said, taking his hand. “I actually meant to arrive yesterday, but the carriage broke down on the road. Still, I made it before you left for the ceremony.”

Yuanbao’s heart softened at her words, deeply moved.

“Enough chatting,” Jiang Fulang said. “Qiaogui, come help tidy him up—if the auspicious hour comes and we’re still not ready, we’ll be the laughingstock.”

Bai Qiaogui rolled up her sleeves playfully. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he’s perfect. I’ve got experience now.”

Yuanbao sat before the dressing table, smiling. “All right!”

As they worked on his hair and accessories, he asked her about life in the new post, while Jiang Fulang adjusted his robes with steady hands.

Meanwhile, at the new residence, Qi Beinan was already prepared.

He wore his red wedding robes—simple, refined, and perfectly fitted. Translated on hololo novels. Without any extra ornament, he looked every bit the graceful scholar from a painted scroll.

Still, he walked to the bronze mirror and glanced at his reflection.

A handsome face looked back at him, calm eyes softened by a faint smile.

He had always known he wasn’t plain, but he was not one to care about appearances.

Yet ever since learning how much Xiao Yuanbao liked well-kept, good-looking men, he had found himself taking more care with his appearance—if only a little.

Today was a day of great joy, and Qi Beinan hoped to leave the best impression in Xiao Yuanbao’s heart.

With the anticipation and happiness filling him, even the endless formalities of the wedding day became things he handled with patient ease.

By the time he mounted his horse, it was already late afternoon. The procession set off down the main street, drums beating and gongs ringing. Normally lively crowds paused to watch as the man in crimson robes rode by, the festive noise and color dimmed beside the sight of the groom.

When the wedding sedan arrived at the Xiao residence, Qi Beinan entered first to perform the formal bows and farewells with Yuanbao.

What should have been a moment of tears and reluctance turned light-hearted. Their situation differed from most families—before long, even Yuanbao’s father joined the guests headed to the new home for the banquet.

All the rituals were more ceremony than sentiment.

Xiao Yuanbao sat beneath the long red veil, able to see only his own feet; everything else was a blur of red silk.

He heard the noisy shouts outside—“The groom has arrived!”—and soon the supporting hand of Bai Qiaogui slipped away. Just as a trace of unease rose at not knowing which way to walk, a familiar warm hand caught his.

That hand he knew at once, and his heart settled.

Through the narrow opening beneath his veil, he glimpsed the red of Qi Beinan’s robe beside him, and a quiet thrill rippled through his chest.

Half-dazed, he was guided outside, then lifted into the bridal sedan.

At the call of “The auspicious hour is here! Lift the sedan!”, the bearers hoisted it up, and it swayed into motion.

Inside, Yuanbao was tempted to lift his veil for a breath of air. But Jiang Fulang had warned him earlier—if he lifted it now and a gust blew open the curtains, people outside might see the new groom’s face.

It wasn’t considered unlucky, but it would spoil the tradition that only the groom should see his spouse’s face first.

So he held back, contenting himself with listening.

Outside, laughter and chatter abounded; some praised how handsome the groom looked. Yuanbao couldn’t help a quiet smile of pride.

When they reached the new house, Qi Beinan helped him down from the sedan. At the step with the brazier, he lifted Yuanbao into his arms and carried him over, earning a cheer from the crowd.

“Who would’ve thought? That serious, steady Lord Qi from the ministry turns out to be quite the affectionate man.”

Ren Heng, standing nearby with Lin Qingyu, clicked his tongue twice. “Lord Lin, you’ve yet to marry—coming today wasn’t in vain. You can learn a thing or two about winning a spouse.”

Lin Qingyu gave him a sidelong look. “And you, Lord Ren, are hardly married yourself.”

Ren Heng laughed, tapping his folding fan against Lin’s chest. “Then I’ll be sure to remember what I’ve seen today.”

Lin Qingyu only smiled faintly.

The ceremony went on—bows, offerings, the final rites—and at last the couple was sent into the bridal chamber.

With the formalities done, the house filled again with cheerful chaos, firecrackers snapping in bursts.

Inside the chamber, all was quiet. Yuanbao lifted a corner of his veil and peeked around. Seeing no one else present, he finally took it off completely.

The room was just as he’d seen before, only now decked out in red paper cuttings, red candles, red lanterns—every corner alive with festive color.

Sitting at the edge of the bed, he couldn’t help swinging his feet slightly, his heart full of warmth and ease.

He remembered how, back in the village, brides and husbands who had married far away always grew homesick around the holidays. They would sigh, saying life had been simpler before marriage.

He had once thought the same—that leaving one’s family, entering a strange household, and spending a lifetime with someone not yet deeply known must be unsettling.

But now, looking back on everything that had led to this day, he felt none of those fears.

His thoughts drifted idly as he peeled and ate a few longans from a dish on the table.

He’d gone to bed late last night and risen early; after a full day of rituals, fatigue crept over him.

The light filtering through the window was still bright, so he pulled the veil back over himself and leaned against the bed, planning only to rest his eyes for a moment.

Before he knew it, he had drifted off to sleep.

By the time the sky dimmed and the banquet had run its rounds, Qi Beinan finally excused himself from the guests.

He hurried toward the bridal room but paused before the door, his heart unexpectedly quickened.

Turning to Qin Jiang, he asked, “Are my robes all right?”

Qin Jiang glanced him over. “They’re fine.”

Qi Beinan still fussed with his sleeves and collar, then lifted one arm to check his scent. “Do I smell of anything?”

Qin Jiang sniffed and answered, “Wine—and food.”

Qi Beinan chuckled. “At least you’re honest.” Then he added, “The little one probably hasn’t eaten much today. Go to the kitchen and bring something for him.”

After Qin Jiang left, Qi Beinan drew a slow breath and stepped inside.

He hadn’t seen Yuanbao in several days—it was against custom before the wedding—and he felt an odd twinge of nervousness.

When he entered the room and looked toward the bed, he stopped short for a moment, then smiled.

There, fast asleep on his side, one leg dangling off the edge of the bed, was Xiao Yuanbao.

The sight made Qi Beinan quietly laugh.

Qi Beinan sat quietly on the edge of the bed and, with careful fingers, lifted the red veil just a little.

Xiao Yuanbao’s chin was pale and smooth, his face untouched by any powder. Only his lips seemed tinted with a faint red paper stain, deeper in color than usual, perfectly matching the red of his wedding robe.

Qi Beinan’s smile deepened. He didn’t lift the veil all the way, afraid the light might fall across Yuanbao’s eyes and wake him.

He guessed that Yuanbao must have tossed and turned the night before, unable to sleep, and was now worn out.

Watching him sleep so soundly, Qi Beinan felt a quiet happiness rise in his chest.

When they had married years ago, things had been different. They had not yet known each other well then. Qi Beinan had entered the bridal room with a restless heart, finding Yuanbao sitting stiffly on the edge of the bed, his back straight and hands folded, nervous and cautious.

When Qi Beinan lifted the veil and offered him the ceremonial wine, Yuanbao’s hands had trembled so much that he almost spilled it.

He had sat rigidly in the same posture the entire time, not daring to move an inch.

Qi Beinan had found it both funny and tender—Yuanbao, so cautious and afraid of displeasing him.

Now, stepping once more into a bridal chamber, facing the same person, everything felt utterly different.

How many people, he thought, could fall asleep so peacefully before the groom even arrived?

He found it endearing—proof of complete trust.

All the patience, all the gentle guidance of these years, had not been wasted.

Qi Beinan leaned closer, intending to quietly remove Yuanbao’s shoes. But just as he touched his foot, Yuanbao suddenly jerked awake.

Startled, the veil slipped from his head and fell to the bed.

Their eyes met—and for a moment, the air seemed to still.

Realizing what had happened, Yuanbao hurriedly reached for the veil, but Qi Beinan caught his hand first.

Yuanbao looked at him apologetically. “I thought it was still early, so I closed my eyes for a bit. I didn’t mean to fall asleep. You must have waited—”

“You’re beautiful.”

“…What?”

“I said,” Qi Beinan repeated softly, “you’re beautiful.”

He reached up to smooth the strands of hair that had come loose from the long hours under the veil.

“I’m very happy,” he said, “that I get to marry you.”

Yuanbao’s breath caught. He pressed his lips together and lowered his gaze, a little shy. “It was my teacher and Qiaogui who helped me dress.”

Then he looked up again. “Did you see Qiaogui? She came all this way just to be here.”

“I did,” said Qi Beinan. “We met during the banquet. She asked after Lord Luo as well.”

Yuanbao smiled faintly and nodded. He brushed his fingers against Qi Beinan’s hand and murmured, “You look handsome today too—just like when you rode through the streets as the top scholar.”

Qi Beinan’s smile curved higher. He simply looked at Yuanbao, quiet and intent.

Yuanbao shifted nervously under his gaze. “Why—why are you staring at me like that? Is there something on my face?”

He started to raise a hand to wipe it, but Qi Beinan caught it. “Nothing. I just want to look at you properly.”

He drew Yuanbao gently into his arms. “I once dreamed a very long dream,” he said. “In that dream, we were married too.”

Yuanbao rested his chin on Qi Beinan’s shoulder, catching the faint scent of wine on him. “And what was I like in that dream?”

“You were fine,” Qi Beinan said. “But it felt as though you didn’t like me very much.”

Yuanbao blinked, then sat back, indignant. “Truly? Who in their right mind wouldn’t like you?”

“Don’t say that,” Qi Beinan replied with a hint of wounded humor. “That was simply how I felt.”

“Then I’m sure the person in your dream liked you very much,” Yuanbao said, leaning forward to press a quick kiss to his lips. “He just didn’t say it aloud. So let me tell you instead—I like you, A’nan.”

Qi Beinan looked at him, warmth spreading through his chest like a soft breeze.

“Will you like me for the rest of your life?” he asked.

“I will,” Yuanbao answered without hesitation, his tone gentle but steady. “Even if there are hardships or disappointments, even if one day I see your flaws, I’ll still like you. I’ll like you all my life.”

Qi Beinan couldn’t help but laugh quietly. How easily he was moved by such simple words.

“I won’t make you swear, then,” he said.

“I can swear if you want,” Yuanbao replied earnestly.

Qi Beinan shook his head. “Oaths are easy to say and hard to keep. I don’t put much faith in them. What I want to see is sincerity.”

Yuanbao’s eyes flickered. “And how do I show you my sincerity? We’ve got a whole lifetime for that—”

He didn’t finish the sentence.

Qi Beinan had already pressed him down onto the bed.

Yuanbao’s breath caught. Those familiar eyes, usually calm and warm, now glimmered with a heated light. Every breath between them carried a pulse of warmth.

His mind jumped back to that night when Qi Beinan had spoken of teaching him “in person.”

The thought made his face burn.

“W-we haven’t drunk the wedding wine yet,” he stammered.

Qi Beinan nuzzled the curve of his neck, his voice low. “I can’t wait even a moment longer.”

He had waited for this day far too long.

In this moment, Qi Beinan had no desire to pretend at restraint or the airs of a virtuous gentleman.

He had never been one to feign that kind of righteousness anyway. He liked Xiao Yuanbao—and he wanted to be with him, completely and without pretense.

Even if he could maintain an appearance of composure for a day, marriage meant sharing the same bed and rising together each morning. Such feelings could not be hidden forever.

Xiao Yuanbao bit his lip. “I never knew you were… this impatient.”

Qi Beinan chuckled softly. “Didn’t you just say that even if you discovered my flaws one day, you’d still like me?”

“I said I’d like you,” Yuanbao protested quickly, “but I didn’t say I wouldn’t mind your flaws.”

“Mind all you want—it changes nothing,” Qi Beinan said, his voice low and amused. “Because this is who I am.”

He leaned closer, his breath brushing Yuanbao’s ear. “You can’t hide from me.”

Yuanbao’s face flushed a deep shade of red, like peach blossoms in spring. Of course he knew there was no hiding from him.

Further words were useless. So instead, he pleaded for two things: that the red candles be put out, and that the bed curtains be drawn.

Qi Beinan refused one of them.

He whispered close to Yuanbao’s ear, coaxing softly that his figure was worth seeing, not hiding.

After a quiet exchange, they compromised. The candles must remain burning until dawn—it was tradition, and extinguishing them was inauspicious. So only the bed curtains were drawn.

The red silk canopy softened the light but did not shut it out entirely. The chamber glowed like the faint shimmer of moonlight through mist.

Bare-chested, Qi Beinan brought the wedding wine inside and, to honor Yuanbao’s wish, they shared the ceremonial cup within the curtain’s shadow.

The faint scent of wine mingled with the heat between them.

In the dim light, Yuanbao caught a glimpse of Qi Beinan’s uncovered form. His face flamed, and he quickly turned his eyes away.

Yet even then, he saw the silhouettes moving against the curtain—two figures intertwined, their shadows rising and falling—and that was no better.

At last, he raised his hand and covered his eyes.

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