It was early in the morning, and the sun's rays were slowly seeping into the room through the windows.
Feeling the rays fall on his face, Yi Chen tried to cover his face with his hand, only to realise he couldn't move it as freely as he intended.
"Mhmm" A delicate groan also entered his ears as his hand felt something soft.
The next moment, he opened his eyes and saw Feng Yu's innocent figure wrapped around his chest.
Feeling the sun rays on her face, she subconsciously buried her face deeper in his chest.
A warm feeling rose in his heart when he saw this. The intense moments he had shared with her last night were quite vivid in his mind.
And thanks to that, he had finally accepted her fully. The drug's effect had long gone, but Yi Chen's feelings for Feng had only strengthened.
'I don't think I'll be needing those pills anymore,' Yi Chen thought to himself as he gently caressed her bare back with his thumb.
'However, now that I think about it…I was a little too excessive last night…'
Yi Chen thought with an awkward expression.
'…I shouldn't have watched all those reference videos back on earth…under the pill's influence, I ended up acting on those impulses without control.'
He sighed and shook those thoughts away. What's done is done. Thinking over it would not make things any less awkward in the future.
Meanwhile, Feng Yu was sleeping contentedly in his arms as her warm rhythmic breaths continued to fondle Yi Chen's chest, making him feel a sense of delight.
Not wanting to wake her up, he just remained in his position while staring outside the window.
'So, this is how it feels to have a wife, huh…'
A smile formed on his lips as he let his thoughts wander.
It was not even a month ago when he was all fired up to get admission into his desired university.
He had thought of making new friends on campus and even making a girlfriend if luck permitted. Marriage was something that never entered his consciousness at that time.
'Who gets married in their early adulthood anyway?'
Just like all the other adults his age, he shared the same thinking.
However, not even a month had passed since then, and here he was, in a completely different world and smiling contentedly while being embraced by his wife.
It was then that he was suddenly reminded of Elder Gu's words, and a sudden frown appeared on his face.
'Just what sort of crisis is ab-'
Before Yi Chen could complete his thought, he felt a change in Feng Yu's breath, and when he looked down towards her, their eyes met.
"Good morning, beautiful," Yi Chen took the initiative to greet.
Hearing his gentle words, the first thing in the morning, a bright smile formed on Feng Yu's face as the little shyness she was feeling was completely erased.
"Good morning…" her hands tightly wrapped around his neck, and while pressing her delicate face to his, she said with a content smile, "…my husband,"
A little surprised by her proactiveness, Yi Chen couldn't help but hold his breath.
However, the next moment, his hands were tightly wrapped around her back, and the two shared a soul-enriching embrace.
Knock! Knock!
"Young Master! Young Miss! It's time to get ready!"
The maid's voice came from outside the door as she continued on with another set of knocks.
"Yes, wait a few minutes!" Feng Yu exclaimed from inside and haphazardly put on the robes lying on the ground.
Yi Chen, too, did the same, and the door was finally opened.
"Let us help you freshen up quickly, Young Miss, otherwise you'll be late for the morning greeting ritual." The two maids quickly took Feng Yu away with them after telling Yi Chen that his personal servant was waiting for him outside.
When Yi Chen came out of Feng Yu's quarter, he found his manservant waiting just like the maids had said.
"I've prepared your bath, Young Master," he said with a bow.
"Thank you, let's go then," since Feng Yu's quarter had only one bathhouse, he was guided to the bathhouse he had used earlier.
After a nice warm bath, he soon changed into fresh robes and waited on the path leading from Feng Yu's quarter to the main building.
After a few minutes, Feng Yu made her appearance while dressed elegantly in plain white robes.
Her hair was styled into a married woman's bun, which increased her charm to another level.
Yi Chen couldn't help but smile brightly seeing her and said, "Let's go then, Father would be waiting."
Feng Yu nodded, and the two of them soon entered the main hall. Master Ru was seated at the end of the hall, waiting for them.
Seeing him, the two started walking towards him. Yi Chen walked half a step ahead of Feng Yu as per the customs, and the two of them soon stopped just a few steps before the main seat.
The next moment, both of them knelt together on the mat and bowed one after another respectfully until their foreheads touched the floor.
"Father-in-law, Yi Chen offers morning greetings."
"Father, your daughter greets you."
A maid brings forward a tray with two teacups the next moment.
Seeing this, Yi Chen rises to his knees, grabs a cup and offers it to Master Ru.
"Please accept your son-in-law's tea," he said sincerely.
Master Ru nods and, after taking a sip from the cup, gives his blessing.
"From today onwards, you are a son of this household. Treat my daughter well," he pats his arm while saying that.
Yi Chen couldn't help but feel a warm sensation rising in his chest at this gesture, as a smile appeared on his face.
The next moment, Feng Yu offered her cup, and Master Ru gave his blessing to her in the same manner.
"Have a wonderful married life," he smiles happily.
With this, all the rituals were completed, and everyone stood up.
Yi Chen stood up on his own, while Feng Yu was helped by her maid attendants.
"Let's have breakfast then. The two of you must be starving," Master Ru said delightfully.
"Yes, Father,"
Both of them nodded and followed after him in anticipation apparent on their faces. They've been craving food for a while now.
Meanwhile, several kilometres away in the outskirts of the town, Elder Jing was calmly sitting cross-legged near the pond.
Suddenly, her eyes opened up as a red glint appeared in them.
"I've finally recovered all my Qi!" she exclaimed in delight and took out a jade chest from her pendant the very next moment.
She carefully opened it up, and a reddish orb with moving flames inside it appeared in front of her.
"The Divine Phoenix Orb…" she muttered with relief and excitement while holding the orb in her hand.
"Our Empress…I'm coming," Elder Jing said with a firm gaze and, without wasting any more time, poured three-fourths of her entire Qi inside the orb.
The very next moment, the entire surrounding got enveloped in dense red light, and when the light died down…Elder Jing's figure disappeared.