Zong Jun couldn't help but caress her small face. Seeing her adorable, mischievous expression, he felt a feather tickle his heart. Tonight was their wedding night, and he had already tasted the sweetness of her lips. He tightened his grip on her slender waist. “Now that we’ve exchanged names, shouldn’t we attend to the matter at hand?”

Attend to the matter at hand?

Seeing her confusion, he raised a brow. “Little one, you know what we’re supposed to do tonight, don’t you?”

Yao Ji’s face flushed crimson. Of course she knew. The er0tic illustrations meant to educate the princess on matters of intimacy were still tucked away in her dowry chest, though she had only glanced at them. Knowing was one thing; accepting was another. Telling herself that the man before her was Fei Guang, she still felt shy and embarrassed.

“N-no, I don’t know,” she mumbled, biting her lip and avoiding his gaze.

Zong Jun knew she was lying. His large hand pulled at her sash, his fingers already teasing open her robe. “Then I’ll teach you.”

In an instant, Yao Ji’s outer garments were shed, leaving only a crimson bodice covering her delicate form. Her rounded shoulders, bare before him, quickened Zong Jun’s breath. The servants had long since retreated. Zong Jun didn't untie the bodice, but instead stepped back slightly to better admire his new bride’s exquisite body.

Yao Ji burned under his heated gaze, her face so hot she felt faint. Her hands fluttered nervously, unsure where to go. She instinctively moved to cover herself, but Zong Jun caught her wrists and pulled her close, his lips descending upon her bare shoulder.

“Mmm…” she whimpered softly, trembling against his chest. His rough tongue lavished attention on her delicate skin, tracing a path from her shoulder to the hollow of her throat and back again.

They said Han women were made of water. Zong Jun hadn't believed it before, but now, kissing his young wife, he felt as if her delicate form would melt beneath his touch. His hand reached for the knot at the back of her neck, ready to remove the last barrier between them, when he felt a wetness on his shoulder. He looked up and saw that Yao Ji was crying.

The young woman gazed at him with tear-filled eyes, her face flushed. Zong Jun’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. He gently wiped away her tears. “Why are you crying, Yaoyao?”

“I,” Yao Ji sobbed, “I’m scared…”

“Scared I’ll hurt you?” The man’s lips curved into a smile. “Don’t worry, my love, I’ll be gentle.”

“N-no… that’s not it.” In truth, Yao Ji was completely innocent and had no idea if the first time would be painful. She simply couldn't accept such intimacy with Zong Jun yet. Although he was Fei Guang, still… still… For the first time, Yao Ji realized that while she loved Fei Guang, she couldn't bear the thought of giving herself to him physically.

No, that wasn't right. This man was merely Fei Guang’s reincarnation, without his memories. He wasn't truly Fei Guang. This thought brought her some comfort.

Zong Jun waited for her reply. Biting her lip, she offered an excuse, her voice a mixture of fear and vulnerability. “I’m scared… scared you’ll eat me. Everyone in the palace says… Man men eat people.”

Zong Jun burst out laughing, his earlier impatience vanishing. He found her naive fear endearing. “Yaoyao, it’s true that Man men eat people.” Seeing her flinch like a frightened rabbit, his smile deepened. “But this ‘eat’ isn’t that kind of ‘eat’.”

“Then…” Yao Ji was truly confused. “Which kind of ‘eat’?”

Seeing her bewilderment, Zong Jun was tempted to tease her further, but a low voice interrupted from outside the tent. “Forgive the intrusion, Great Lord, but I have an urgent matter to report.”

Recognizing the voice of his trusted general, Muhe, Zong Jun’s irritation faded. “Speak.”

“The young lord of the Tijia Tribe has injured the guards, stolen a horse, and fled east.”

Zong Jun’s face hardened. “He escaped?”

The Tijia Tribe was the last of the nine Man tribes to resist the Youjin. Yao Ji had nearly spent her wedding night alone because Zong Jun had personally led the campaign to subdue them. He had finally slain the Tijia chieftain and captured his son, but the boy had now escaped.

“Moroha is unruly. If we don’t recapture him, it will be like letting a tiger return to the mountain.” Zong Jun rose to his feet, releasing his bride from his embrace. “Muhe, prepare my horse. I will pursue him myself.”