Chapter 103A: A starved wedding night

Seated in the marriage room, Luo Qing Luan rested for a bit before finally recovering.

It was just too embarrassing earlier, which caused her unable to recover her senses after they went through the rituals to heaven and earth. But she knew from a long time ago that Nalan Ye’s parents were long deceased and there was no demanding parents-in-law to deal with. Nalan Ye was the highest authority in the entire Prince Chu’s Residence, and she was the next in line.

The bridal veil had long been removed by her and the Phoenix crown was also placed on the bedside. Luo Qing Luan was bored to tears so she took the opportunity to size up the elaborately decorated joyous marriage room.

Behind her was a high quality brocade quilt with an embroidered peacock and peony motif on it which felt silky to the touch. Luo Qing Luan was a little tired and she conveniently laid down but suddenly felt something pressing against her back.

There was something under the quilt? Luo Qing Luan flipped over and removed the quilt but didn’t discover anything at all. She thought for a moment and pulled the red coloured bedsheet apart to find a whole pile of dried fruits resting on the mattress. Peanuts, chestnuts, dates, dried longans which had practically been piled up on the entire bed, amounting to at least four to five catties.

“Whoever did this, how boring can that person get, to really think that these items could really ensure one gave birth to a son quickly?” Luo Qing Luan’s lips tugged as she conveniently picked up a peanut, peeling off its shell and popping the nut into her mouth. Earlier it was bustling for quite a while. Luckily she didn’t need to entertain the guests otherwise she would probably be even hungrier.

After devouring a handful of peanuts, Luo Qing Luan started to feel the dried longans and took a bite of two red dates. Although it was big and plump, but she didn’t like eating it. The chestnuts were not bad though but it was raw. She preferred eating baked chestnut chicken though. These kinds of raw chestnuts just had to make do in such a situation.

The more she ate, the hungrier she got so Luo Qing Luan might as well get off the bed to search for food. She left a pile of peanut shells on the table and only saw a flask of wine on the black coloured red sandalwood table with two wine cups. As for good wine and delicacies, it was nowhere in sight.

The entire marriage room was silent with only a pair of thick Dragon Phoenix red candles lighting its warmth to brighten up the room. Each and every ornament were exquisite, apparently placed with utmost care however it seemed a little too unfrequented. Luo Qing Luan pushed apart the red beaded curtain as she walked outside which was still desolated, without even a maid in sight whom she could command.

“Dai Yue! Dai Yue!” Luo Qing Luan cried out but she didn’t hear any response, not knowing where Dai Yue had been summoned to.

She couldn’t take it any longer as her tummy started rumbling so she pushed open the door to the outside, prepared to search for food.

She didn’t care if today was her newly wed night. Nalan Ye obviously knew that she was hungry but he actually didn’t prepare any food in the room, was he intending to starve her intentionally? She would head to the kitchen to look for room now. As for later if Nalan Ye couldn’t find her, that’s none of her business. Anyway their marriage was bestowed and there was no feeling involved.

Knowing that she would be easily discovered by wearing the wedding gown, Luo Qing Luan kept hiding and avoiding all the busy maids and servants in the mansion and very quickly, she made her way to the kitchen.

“There’s so much good food!” Standing outside the window to the kitchen as she peered in, Luo Qing Luan’s eyes shone.

Many of today’s guests were esteemed and respectable high officials and regional lords. Furthermore the Emperor and Empress had also graced their presence hence Prince Chu’s Mansion’s chefs and a few Imperial Chefs culinary skills had already piled up the entire kitchen with various food, with fragrance emitting from the entire kitchen. Although many cuisines had already been served out to the main hall to the guests, but to prevent the possibility of not having enough food, they had prepared a lot of reserves, which was enough to serve another two to three tables.

Steamed Garlic Prawns, Crispy Duck, Braised Dragon Pearls, Treasure Trio Fish Lips, Coral Flower Abalone, Scallop Yam Cake…. And many other kinds of delicious pastries like osmanthus flaky pastry, Thousand layer almond cake, Red bean paste cake, Five coloured glutinous dumplings and more, filling the entire kitchen with a deliciously sweet fragrance which made Luo Qing Luan showing off her gluttony look.

On one look, all the chefs had disappeared. Probably they had been busy for the entire day and had gone off for a rest leaving just four servants to dish out the soup. Likely, they were already serving up the last dish of dessert outside. After these four servants brought out the dessert and fruits, Luo Qing Luan looked left and right, and on seeing no one around, she lifted the hem of her wedding dress and slipped inside.

“What shall I start eating first……” Luo Qing Luan looked joyously around. There was just too much food and she actually didn’t know where to start. Seeing a plate full of crispy roasted chicken wings, an aroma mixed with honey made her unable to stop herself from picking up a piece as she opened her mouth and started eating.

The skin was deliciously crispy and the meat was tender as it melted the minute it entered her mouth. As she bit on it, the juices started to slow out, filling her entire mouth with fragrance. Luo Qing Luan originally was starved so why would she even bother with her image? Within two to three mouthfuls, she had already devoured a chicken wing and conveniently grabbed another two more with one in each hand. She was just about to savour it properly when she suddenly heard footsteps.

It was too late for her to run out so she took a look around the kitchen and directly ran towards a large wicker basket which was filled with vegetables. This wicker basket was half her height. For today’s wedding feast, there were four to five wicker baskets piled up and all of it was filled with fruits and vegetables so hiding behind it totally hid her from the view of anyone else.

Those people who entered had not discovered anything amiss and they quickly served the food out again. Luo Qing Luan was too lazy to move hence she just simply sat behind the wicker baskets as she enjoyed her food scrumptiously. After she finished eating, she realised that there wasn’t anyone hence she walked out to dish a bowl of sweet fermented sticky rice balls with refreshing sweet wine paired with red wolfberries, just looking at it made her appetite grow. She took two bowls consecutively before she put down the bowl and feeling just half full, she continued to carefully select the other items which she wanted to try.

With no bride in the marriage room, after Nalan Ye had entertained all the guests in the main hall, his entire body was filled with the odour of alcohol but with clear bright eyes, he pushed open the door with a beaming smile. But on seeing the empty room, where had the bride gone to?