After the Cold and Aloof Husband's Mask Falls - Chapter 35

Due to the sudden torrential rain, a bridge along the route had collapsed. By the time Cui Jue finally hurried back to the Western Capital, it was already the day of the grand wedding.

At that moment, Cui Qiong was still tucked away in his warm blankets, dreaming of his brother’s wedding being canceled. But the moment news arrived from the Autumn Mountain Villa, Cui Qiong bolted upright. Without even dressing properly, he grabbed a physician in each hand and raced toward the villa.

Cui Qiong’s mind was a mess of panic. He knew that, partly because of him, his elder brother’s body had always been frail and prone to illness. There had been bad winters before, but never had a relapse been so severe that it required summoning three imperial physicians at once!

Cui Qiong didn’t dare think further. He only felt a crushing wave of regret—if only he were more capable, if only he had stopped his brother from leaving—

Unable to contain his remorse, Cui Qiong burst into the courtyard with reddened eyes, screaming, “Brother! Don’t die! As long as you live, I’ll even kowtow to that woman Gu Wanlan—”

His high-pitched wail took a sharp turn and died in his throat the moment he saw the scene in the courtyard. Cui Qiong blinked stupidly at Cui Jue, who was already dressed in his crimson groom’s robes and preparing to leave.

“Brother… you’re okay?”

Cui Jue’s expression was far from pleasant. The moment he looked up, his eyes held a trace of gloom. “Were you hoping I wouldn’t be?”

On any other day, Cui Qiong would have noticed his brother’s odd mood. But today, reeling from the emotional whiplash of grief and joy, his brain wasn’t quite firing on all cylinders. He gestured hesitantly toward the physicians still inside the house. “But I heard you called for doctors the moment you arrived. Did you get hurt on your trip?”

The cold wind in the courtyard seemed to sharpen.

Before Cui Qiong could ask more, the guard Shi Yi felt his scalp go numb. Ignoring all protocol, he covered Cui Qiong’s mouth and dragged him aside, whispering urgently, “My young lord, stop asking! Master’s hand was injured on the road and he can’t move it. He’s in a foul mood.”

“It’s just a hand injury, why the fuss—”

Cui Qiong cut himself off as his eyes drifted to the vibrant red robes on his brother’s back. Enlightenment struck. Looking at Cui Jue’s dark face, Cui Qiong actually wanted to burst out laughing.

He never imagined that his brother—the man who always held the world in his palm—would have a day where he felt so utterly defeated. And at such an important moment, in front of the person who mattered most.

So, Brother is just an ordinary man who worries about his performance on his wedding night because of a hand injury.

Pfft— Well, not exactly ordinary. Ordinary people don’t summon three imperial physicians for a numb arm.

“Is… it… funny?”

The words seemed to be ground out from between Cui Jue’s teeth as he watched the grin spread across Cui Qiong’s face.

“No! Not at all! I’m not laughing! I promise!”

“Get out! If you have this much free time, go supervise the wedding preparations!”

“Brother, wait! I took a special leave today for your wedding! I have to see you and your ‘Lady’ finish the ceremony.”

“What did you call her?” Cui Jue stopped in his tracks and looked back.

Cui Qiong looked confused. “…Your Lady? After today, isn’t Gu Wanlan your wife and my sister-in-law?”

My Lady. Cui Jue repeated the title silently in his heart. A common term, yet when it rolled off his tongue, it felt as though it were coated in honey and thick powdered sugar. Suddenly, he felt he could disregard everything else. Even if tonight’s wedding night became a bit of a farce, what did it matter?

They had a long time ahead of them.

The Ceremony

Gu Wanlan was blissfully unaware of Cui Qiong’s internal conflict. She was currently fretting over a different matter.

After her frantic journey, she had barely managed to return to the manor before the ceremony began. Once the weight was off her shoulders, her only desire was to sleep. She hadn’t closed her eyes for nearly five days.

When her maid Tianxuan saw her climb through the window, she nearly cried. Gu Wanlan looked like she had been fished out of a swamp; muddy water dripped from her hair and left streaks across her pale neck.

“My horse gave out on the road, it’s fine. At least I’m back,” Gu Wanlan rasped, her voice hoarse from travel. “More importantly, Tianxuan, I haven’t slept in days. I can’t hold on anymore. I’ll have to leave the rest to you…”

With that, she let herself fall into Tianxuan’s arms and drifted into a heavy stupor.

During her sleep, she vaguely sensed people entering, a draft of cold air, and someone whispering about “applying medicine” before scurrying away. Then, total darkness.

The wedding hall was boisterous, filled with the roar of guests. She woke up once, dazed. All she could see was red. Looking down, she saw two round pearls on her wedding shoes. Someone was supporting her as she walked into the hall.

Gu Wanlan froze. What? The ceremony has started? Why didn’t Tianxuan wake me?!

The person beside her seemed to notice her tension. A crisp, cool scent drew near, and the surrounding noise seemed to vanish as a smiling voice whispered in her ear.

“The ceremony isn’t over yet. My Lady can sleep a bit longer.”

No matter how thick-skinned Gu Wanlan was, her face turned bright red. She truly wanted to dig a hole and bury herself on the spot.

“I… I was just dizzy, so I leaned on you. I wasn’t asleep! I’m very energetic!” she scrambled to explain.

“Is that so? That’s good then.” Cui Jue’s smile was meaningful.

“It’s nothing. Watch your step.”

The Banquet

Gu Wanlan didn’t dare fall back asleep. She focused all her energy on finishing the rituals. Cui Jue was a “prize” she had won through trickery and schemes; if she messed up the wedding and let people mock him, she would be a terrible person.

Fortunately, the rest went smoothly. Cui Jue didn’t mention her nap again.

Tradition dictated that Gu Wanlan should go out to entertain the guests, but her cousin Qi Rong had heard she was unwell. She insisted that Cui Jue go out to represent them while Gu Wanlan rested, postponing the lifting of the veil and the ceremonial wine until later.

Cui Jue had expected to be hounded by the Gu clan elders. Instead, they were surprisingly kind. They didn’t push him to drink, but they did drop several hints about “taking care of his health” so the Gu line could continue, and reminded him that “favor based on beauty alone does not last.”

Beside him, Cui Qiong’s eyes were as wide as saucers. He couldn’t believe his brother—the man who held the highest power among the elite scholar-officials—was being told he was essentially a “pretty face” and that his greatest contribution would be to produce an heir.

Cui Qiong feared his cold, proud brother would draw a blade and turn the banquet into a bloodbath. Instead, Cui Jue was incredibly good-tempered. He smiled, accepted the advice, and even obediently promised to “work hard” to expand the Gu family tree.

Everyone was satisfied. Cui Jue was soon allowed to return to the bridal chamber.

The Encounter

As Cui Jue hurried back, he was intercepted at a corner by Gu Lehuan.

“Did you find the Gu clan very friendly just now?” she asked coldly.

Cui Jue stopped. Gu Lehuan stepped out from the shadows, her face devoid of smiles. “Know this: you weren’t harassed today only because my sister’s reputation intimidates them. You were thoughtful enough to let her sleep through the ceremony, but if you want to survive here long-term, beauty and kindness won’t be enough.”

Having seen Cui Jue’s “true face” during the forest ambush, Lehuan saw no need to keep up the act of the gentle younger sister. Cui Jue also dropped his warm facade.

“I know.”

Lehuan was surprised. “You know?”

Cui Jue paused, then met her eyes with a sovereign gaze. “I know everything about her far better than you do.”

Lehuan choked. Why was this man suddenly acting like the “head wife” of the household? She huffed. “Fine. I came to remind you: you are husband and wife now. She went into danger alone to save you once; she clearly has feelings for you. If you have any dark secrets, you’d better tell her sooner rather than later. If you break her heart, I won’t let you off.”

As she walked away, Lehuan recalled the momentary daze on Cui Jue’s face. Her heart sank. It seemed her new brother-in-law really was hiding a massive secret.

The Window

Lehuan’s words were like a bucket of cold water on Cui Jue’s heart. He realized he had been carried away by his success today.

He knew perfectly well why she chose a live-in husband. It was to protect her family title. She chose him 30% for his face, 40% to spite Cui Qiong, and the remaining 30% for the “gentle scholar” persona he wore.

Except for the face, everything else was a lie. If she found out…

“Oh? Why are you back so soon?”

The voice he dreamed of snapped him back to reality. He realized he had unconsciously walked to the veranda of the bridal chamber.

Gu Wanlan had removed her heavy jewelry and tried to nap, but she couldn’t stop tossing and turning. She had opened the window for some fresh air, only to find Cui Jue standing there.

He carried the scent of wine from the banquet, mixed with that faint, crisp cold fragrance that was uniquely his. Dressed in red, he looked somewhat lonely standing in the shadows.

“Did someone bully you just now?” she asked softly.

“No, they were very kind. Why aren’t you sleeping?”

Gu Wanlan shook her head. “I was going to, but then I remembered we haven’t drunk the ceremonial wine yet. So I decided to wait for you.”

Wait… for me? Cui Jue’s pupils dilated. He knew her well; she was someone who followed her own whims and cared little for tradition. He never expected her to wait.

Gu Wanlan thought he must be drunk. Usually so sharp, today he seemed half a beat behind. She picked up the red veil from the table and winked at him. “Or perhaps you’d like to finish the ceremony through the window? I wouldn’t mind.”

Cui Jue’s heart felt as though it were being squeezed. He looked at the empty bridal chamber and said, almost self-destructively, “There are no outsiders here. You don’t have to—”

“But you like it, don’t you?”

The girl’s voice, perhaps still heavy with sleep, was soft and sweet. To Cui Jue, it sounded like a war drum.

“What?”

The girl in the red dress, her dark hair falling loose, looked a bit embarrassed. She rubbed her nose. “When you went out with Qi Rong, you seemed to be enjoying yourself. I thought you liked the fanfare. Did I guess wrong?”

His heart thundered. His blood burned. Cui Jue could hear nothing but the sound of his own pulse.

The moonlight was bright, and the beauty was like a flower.

“I like it,” he said, as if his soul were floating out of his body. “I… I like it very much.”

He thought: If she likes this face and this version of me… then I will cut my feet to fit the shoes. I will gladly play the part.

I only pray she will always look at me this way.