The Red Bridal Robe
It was the weekend, and Liu Qianxiu did not have to work.
The Liu residence rarely had its master home, so after Mu Wan and Liu Qianxiu stayed there overnight, the entire estate seemed to come alive the following morning.
Whenever Liu Qianxiu had a day off, Mu Wan gave herself one too.
That morning, Liu Qianxiu went to do his morning cultivation. By the time he returned to their room, Mu Wan had only just rolled over and awakened.
People were always especially sensitive and tender in the morning. When they held each other and lingered in bed, the affection and sweetness between them seemed to double.
In the end, Liu Qianxiu lifted Mu Wan from the bed. After she put on her shoes and changed clothes, he took her hand and led her to breakfast.
The Liu residence was built in the style of an ancient Chinese garden.
Apart from the three-story detached pavilion where they stayed, most of the buildings were either two stories or single-story structures. Covered corridors connected them, with greenery and occasional pavilions along the way.
An autumn rain had fallen after the engagement banquet the previous night.
The plants throughout the estate now looked fresh and vividly green, almost dripping with color. Walking along the corridors, Mu Wan felt as though she had stepped into a scene from ancient times.
Places with abundant greenery always seemed to have fresher air.
After breakfast, Liu Qianxiu took her for a walk around the estate. The Liu residence was enormous, and it took them more than an hour to finish exploring it.
By the time they returned, the designer had arrived with the wedding dresses.
Mu Wan went back to the pavilion and began trying them on.
There was more than one outfit.
Some were traditional Chinese wedding garments, while others were Western-style gowns.
Mu Wan tried them on one by one.
In the end, she chose a simple red bridal robe.
Her features were naturally striking and alluring, making bright red particularly flattering on her. The long red garment spread across the floor, giving her the appearance of a Hong Kong film star from the 1980s—both heroic and captivating.
Mu Wan had never been particularly demanding about her wedding attire. As long as it looked beautiful on her, she was satisfied.
But when she actually stood before the mirror in the bridal robe, everything suddenly felt solemn and sacred.
A staff member reached for the door.
Liu Qianxiu was waiting outside.
Mu Wan's heart tightened slightly.
She quickly raised a hand.
"Wait."
Most brides felt a little shy when trying on their wedding attire, so the staff member smiled understandingly.
Mu Wan studied herself in the mirror a few more times.
Then she smiled.
"All right."
The staff member opened the door.
Mu Wan stepped outside.
Liu Qianxiu stood at the entrance, and a flash of brilliant red reflected in his dark eyes.
Mu Wan looked up at him.
She resembled a flower petal floating on the surface of water. When she smiled, it was as though ripples spread across the surface.
She could not quite tell whether she felt shy or nervous.
She lightly flicked her sleeves, spread her arms, and asked with a smile,
"Well? What do you think?"
"Mm."
Liu Qianxiu's expression shifted almost imperceptibly.
Quietly, he reached out and smoothed the collar at her neck. A faint smile appeared on his lips as he answered in his deep voice.
"Beautiful."
Mu Wan laughed and jumped into his arms.
Liu Qianxiu caught her.
He was tall, and when Mu Wan stood normally, she only reached his chin.
She rose onto her toes and leaned forward. Understanding what she intended, Liu Qianxiu placed both hands around her waist.
A wide red sash was tied around it.
Her pregnancy was still in its early stages, so her waist remained slender and delicate.
Liu Qianxiu steadied her, allowing her to stand on tiptoe and bring her lips close to his ear.
She wore red rouge, and a faint fragrance of cosmetics lingered around her. Her breath was slightly warm as it brushed against his earlobe, seeming to wind its way straight into his heart.
"Then compared with last night?" she whispered.
Her voice was almost inaudible, yet it carried unmistakable temptation.
The moment she finished speaking, Liu Qianxiu's hands paused against her waist.
Mu Wan lowered herself back onto her feet.
The instant her feet touched the ground, heat seemed to shoot upward from her soles and spread throughout her entire body.
Her red lips curved into a smile, and her cheeks began to flush.
She tilted her head, revealing a slender stretch of pale neck above the red fabric, and waited for his answer.
Liu Qianxiu lowered his gaze toward her.
His dark eyes looked as though they had been stained with cinnabar.
He lifted a hand and threaded his fingers into her hair. Without changing his expression, he lightly pinched her earlobe.
Mu Wan's cheeks grew even redder.
"Naturally, you looked more beautiful last night."
The more restrained and ascetic a man appeared, the more devastating it became when he said something suggestive in that calm, immortal-like manner.
Mu Wan laughed softly.
She poked him with one finger and whispered,
"Daoist Liu truly has excellent taste."
After Mu Wan finished trying on the wedding dresses, she and the designer discussed and finalized the remaining details.
Liu Qianxiu sat nearby.
Occasionally, he offered a suggestion. His comments were simple but always useful.
When it came to aesthetics, Daoist Liu was clearly better than she was.
With the wedding attire settled, the next task was choosing the wedding date and planning the ceremony.
Naturally, the elders needed to be involved, especially Old Madam Mei.
In the end, the wedding was scheduled for mid-October.
The arrangements for the ceremony itself were handed over to Mei Yaozhi.
He had spent years moving through wealthy social circles and attended countless weddings, so he was particularly well informed about these things.
As a result, the bride and groom suddenly found themselves with very little to do.
Before the wedding, Liu Qianxiu took two days off and brought Mu Wan to Qingyuan Temple.
By October, even Xia City carried a slight autumn chill. Qingyuan Mountain was cooler still, its air crisp and refreshing.
Standing outside the Taoist temple, Mu Wan looked back toward the mountains and valleys.
The sweeping scenery made her feel as though her mind had opened along with it.
They arrived in the afternoon.
Liu Qianxiu knocked on the door.
Little Qingchan hurried over to open it, his face bright with excitement.
"Junior Brother! Big Sister~"
Before coming, Liu Qianxiu had already spoken with Master Xuanqingzi on the phone.
Qingchan knew they were coming and had been excited all day.
Ever since becoming pregnant, Mu Wan had grown even more affectionate toward children.
During her previous visit, she had not known that Liu Qianxiu's "senior brother" was actually a seven- or eight-year-old little Taoist boy.
This time, she had come prepared.
She had brought Qingchan a present.
"Thank you, Big Sister~"
Qingchan was naturally delighted. His cheeks even turned slightly red from excitement.
Holding his gift, he led them inside.
"Master is cultivating right now. He said you should rest first."
Liu Qianxiu carried their luggage, and the two went to the same room Mu Wan had stayed in during her previous visit.
The room was perfectly tidy and looked almost exactly as it had when she left.
Qingchan told them to rest, then stood and left, carefully closing the door behind him.
— To be continued in Part 2 —
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