After Transmigrating, I Was Kidnapped By A Scheming Beauty Into The Bridal Chamber - Chapter 3

The crowd downstairs hadn’t fully dispersed, many still craning their necks to watch. Just then, the matchmaker approached. “Has everything been settled, Miss Jiang?” she asked. “Can we proceed with the wedding ceremony?”

“Of course,” Jiang Chenyu replied calmly, her voice soft. “Immediately.”

“The wedding ceremony?” Shen Hetang’s eyes widened in shock.

“Yes, why wait?” Jiang Chenyu said with a sly smile. “Let’s get everything done as quickly as possible.” She glanced at the dazed Shen Hetang, thinking, Now that we’re on this pirate ship, there’s no turning back.

Having received confirmation, the matchmaker immediately began the wedding preparations. Old Woman Wu restrained Shen Hetang, forcing her into a bright red wedding robe. Before she knew it, Shen Hetang had become the groom, utterly bewildered.

“Miss Jiang is truly blessed to have chosen such a handsome husband!” Matchmaker Wang exclaimed, beaming at the newly dressed groom. “The other young ladies will be green with envy!”

In her twenty years as a matchmaker, Wang had never seen such a perfectly matched pair. The man was like a jade tree, naturally elegant, while the woman was like a peach blossom, radiant and vibrant. They were truly the finest couple she had ever encountered in her career.

The matchmaker’s praise never ceased, almost convincing the already bewildered Shen Hetang that she was actually playing the part of the groom.

Looking at the bride across from her, also dressed in wedding robes, Jiang Chenyu felt like she was acting in a drama. She sighed inwardly; Ancient women truly blossom early. This girl, barely seventeen, perfectly embodies both youthful innocence and natural allure. It’s a good thing her face is hidden behind a fan, or she might have been snatched right off the street.

“First bow to heaven and earth, second bow to the ancestors, and husband and wife bow to each other.” Under Matchmaker Wang’s guidance, the couple completed the wedding ceremony amidst the cheers of the crowd. In Jiang Chenyu’s heart, her mother was the only true elder she had. To hell with that so-called father and stepfather! She tugged Shen Hetang’s sleeve, and they made a symbolic bow toward the distant horizon.

Now just one step remained to seal their fate. With so many witnesses to their wedding ceremony, even if that man returned tomorrow, he would be powerless to undo it. What’s done is done. Even the gods themselves would have to accept it.

A sense of clarity washed over Jiang Chenyu, like the sun breaking through the clouds. After three years of cautious restraint and feigned compliance, she finally had a way to express her pent-up emotions. I won’t hold back any longer.

Shen Hetang, however, felt a pang of guilt. With no other options, she had taken advantage of Jiang Chenyu’s vulnerability to secure a place for herself. While it could be argued as mutually beneficial, she had ultimately concealed the truth about her gender.

They could never be together now. Miss Jiang’s reputation was doomed. Sigh, I’ll just have to take things one step at a time. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll take all the blame myself to protect her reputation as much as possible.

After returning to Jiang Manor with Miss Jiang, Chuntao followed her mistress’s instructions and arranged a banquet and bath for Shen Hetang. Finally, dressed in proper attire, she returned to the bridal chamber.

Ironically, Old Woman Wu, upon hearing that Miss Jiang had thrown the embroidered ball at the Golden Encounter and chosen a live-in son-in-law, began banging frantically on Jiang Chenyu’s door like a madwoman.

“Miss, have you lost your mind?” the old woman roared outside, her voice like a pig being slaughtered. “How dare you bring a wild man home? If the master finds out, he’ll give you a proper thrashing!”

Shen Hetang was about to open the door when Jiang Chenyu grabbed her arm.

“Ignore her,” Jiang Chenyu said. “Tonight is our wedding night, a momentous occasion. Even if she breaks down the door, she can’t stop what’s meant to be.” With their plans so close to fruition, nothing could interrupt her now.

“But Miss Jiang, this is all fake! Tonight…” Shen Hetang wanted to say that their wedding night would be a complete waste of time, like trying to draw water with a bamboo basket. Whether anyone was outside or not made no difference.

Jiang Chenyu didn’t let him finish. She pressed her soft, delicate palm against her own crimson lips.

“Shh! If you don’t say anything, no one will know it’s fake. Chuntao will take the old woman away soon.” Right now, Shen Hetang was her lifeline. She couldn’t care less about propriety between men and women. Seeing his red lips and white teeth under the candlelight, his face so alluring it could make moths fly into the flame, she wouldn’t mind if their pretense became reality.

It wasn’t that she was fickle or suddenly lustful. She was terrified of losing what a woman values most, of one day being taken advantage of by that scoundrel. If that were to happen, she’d rather give herself to someone else from the start.

Even with her cleverness, she was still just a helpless young woman confined to her chambers, her entire life controlled by another. If he truly turned against her, she would have no choice but to endure it.

But even if the worst came to pass, she would never take her own life. This house belonged to the Jiang Family, and everything in it was hers. Why should she die? If anyone should die, it would be that scoundrel, and she’d drag him down with her. Now that she’d found Young Master Shen to marry into the Jiang Family, it seemed like fate.

Seeing the beauty suddenly approach, Shen Hetang straightened her posture, standing stiffly and not daring to move closer. Retreating would have been too obvious, so she stood as straight as a sword in its sheath, her gaze fixed on the doorway.

Sure enough, moments later, the sounds of Chuntao and Nanny Wu tearing at each other filled the air, the battle clearly fierce.

“Is this… alright?” Shen Hetang asked, her phoenix eyes widening and her dark eyebrows furrowing.

“It’s nothing. They’re old rivals. They’ve been fighting like this for years,” Jiang Chenyu replied, walking to the candlestick and blowing out the flame. She turned back, took Shen Hetang’s hand, and led her toward the carved rosewood canopy bed in the inner chamber.

This was Shen Hetang’s first glimpse into the bedroom of an aristocratic woman from ancient times. The room was spacious and tidy, though the dim candlelight made it hard to see clearly. Yet the large, intricately carved rosewood bed in the center stood out, its exquisite craftsmanship and smooth, polished frame visible even in the shadows.

After removing her shoes, Shen Hetang stepped across the low threshold and into the bed’s inner chamber. As Jiang Chenyu lifted the layers of silk curtains, Shen Hetang felt like a scholar whose soul had been stolen by a demoness, a silent prey submitting to its captor before suddenly snapping back to reality.

It was lucky the windows were closed. If a cool breeze had been blowing through the antique room while this woman, who looked like a fairy, held her captive, the thrill would have been unbearable. Even if this prey wasn’t her type, it would still quench her thirst.

“Um… Miss… perhaps we should sleep separately?” Shen Hetang blurted out as they reached the bed.

“Miss? Shouldn’t you call me ‘Madam’? Besides, there’s nowhere else to sleep here. Do you want to sleep on the floor? And once you’ve entered this room, my innocence is lost. Young Master Shen, you shouldn’t deceive yourself.” She released Shen Hetang’s hand and casually sat on the bed.

Beside the shallow corridor of the canopy bed stood a dressing table, lit by two red dragon-phoenix candles that Chuntao had lit before they entered. Through the double layers of gauze curtains, Shen Hetang watched her gently remove her outer robe and slowly take off the jeweled hair ornaments. Her smooth black hair cascaded down to her hips like a waterfall, loose strands scattering around her face, looking exceptionally beautiful in the dim candlelight.

Shen Hetang wasn’t a man, so she wasn’t used to avoiding such situations. As a woman, she couldn’t help but admire the other woman’s curves, feeling a pang of envy. This original body of hers was almost identical to her own figure in reality.

Standing at 175 centimeters, Shen Hetang lacked flexibility in her waist and legs but possessed ample strength. To put it kindly, her figure was tall and straight; to be blunt, she looked like a telephone pole, her appearance saved only by her face.

Having practiced martial arts since childhood, she retained a faint aura of righteousness. She felt an almost instinctive protectiveness toward delicate, petite women like Jiang Chenyu, who exuded a captivating grace.

Though her eyes seemed glued to Jiang Chenyu, Shen Hetang was certain she wasn’t attracted to women. It was simply an appreciation for beauty, a universal human trait.

Sensing the persistent gaze behind her, Jiang Chenyu forced herself to continue her subtle seduction, but she was starting to crack. Her cheeks, ears, and snow-white neck flushed crimson, though the dim candlelight obscured the blush.

Shen Hetang hadn’t realized there was anything wrong with a man watching a woman remove her makeup and change clothes.

Only when Jiang Chenyu walked past her with the makeup box did Shen Hetang remember she was currently posing as a man. Staring like this would definitely make her look like a pervert.

“Um… that… don’t misunderstand! I just… I’ve never seen this before, so I was… I was…!” She trailed off, unable to finish the sentence. What did she mean by “never seen this before”?

Seeing her stumble over her explanation, Jiang Chenyu couldn’t help but smirk. She had already burned her bridges by luring Shen Hetang back, determined to face whatever came that night, whether they became true or false spouses.

“It’s getting late, Husband. Hurry and change for bed!” Jiang Chenyu said, sliding under the red quilt. Normally, sharing a bed with a pretty girl wouldn’t be a big deal, but now that she was a man—a man!—she had no choice but to lie down fully clothed and alone.

Seeing that he made no further moves, Jiang Chenyu, who had been holding her breath, secretly let out a sigh of relief. Though she had prepared for anything, having more time to get to know each other would be better.

After days of wandering and the unsettling feeling of being alone in a strange world, Shen Hetang slept deeply that night, without a hint of insomnia. The soft bed and the faint floral scent in the air acted as calming agents, allowing her to pass a peaceful night.

The next morning, when she opened her eyes, the sky was already bright. Turning her head, she saw the spot beside her was empty.

“Son-in-law, you’re awake? Let me help you wash up,” Chuntao said, entering with a basin of water.

“No need, thank you. I can manage myself,” Shen Hetang said casually.

“Son-in-law, Miss Jiang asked me to bring you these new clothes. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave now,” Chuntao said, turning to leave.

“Um… where is Miss Jiang?” Shen Hetang asked, feeling embarrassed for having slept in on her first day.

“She’s in the small garden,” Chuntao replied, blushing. The truth was, Miss Jiang had deliberately given her a bloodstained wedding handkerchief, instructing her to pretend to look for her makeup box while making sure half the women in Jiang Manor saw the handkerchief.

Nanny Wu’s face turned pale with fury. She had already informed the master yesterday, she declared, and Miss Jiang would certainly face the consequences today.

True to her word, when Wu Daoyuan heard that Jiang Chenyu had chosen her own husband and married him yesterday, and even more infuriatingly, that he was a live-in groom, his blood boiled. He hitched up his carriage before dawn and raced back to Qingyuan Town.

After changing into the new clothes and washing up, Shen Hetang decided to greet Miss Jiang in the garden.

But as soon as she stepped into the small garden, the scene before her made her catch her breath. An old man, who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, was grabbing the young peach blossom by the collar, his hand raised high, ready to strike her across the face.

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