Chapter 119 – Black-Bellied Regent VS Loyal Shadow Guard (23)
Hearing his words, the man across from him broke into a wide smile. Wen Renhong pulled Mu Jin into his arms and let out a contented sigh. Laughing, he said, “It’s okay if you’re not a good shadow guard. I believe you’ll be the best consort and queen.”
“Besides, it’s not just you who wants me all to yourself. I don’t want to share you with anyone either, not even our children. I can’t stand the thought of anyone stealing even a moment of your gaze from me.”
The sweet words melted between their lips as the two lovers embraced tightly, eager to be close to each other. As passion rose, Mu Jin began to step back, and Wen Renhong followed, step by step.
It wasn’t until they both fell onto the bed behind them that Wen Renhong realized they were still in the simple room where the shadow guards usually rested.
Not wanting to let his beloved stay in such a simple place, Wen Renhong quickly picked up Mu Jin, opened the door, and used his lightness skill to swiftly return to his own room.
Mu Jin secretly chuckled at how eagerly his lover used his skill for such a reason. Yet he couldn’t help but feel a surge of happiness in his heart.
Wen Renhong quickly brought his beloved back to his room, and they fell onto the large bed together. Filled with love for each other, they couldn’t help but kiss passionately.
Despite the overwhelming desire Wen Renhong felt for Mu Jin, he restrained himself. After all, their wedding was in just three days, and he wanted to save the best for their most important moment.
But just as he was about to get up, Mu Jin reached out and wrapped his arms around his neck, pulling him back.
Wen Renhong looked at Mu Jin’s tear-filled eyes and was surprised by the allure of his beloved.
With his cheeks blushing, Mu Jin had a gentle smile on his lips, his dimples making him even more irresistible. Wen Renhong could see the deep affection in Mu Jin’s eyes.
Swallowing hard, Wen Renhong said, “Xiao Jin, our wedding is in three days. We can—”
Warm lips pressed against his, stopping his words. The softness and tenderness of the kiss filled Wen Renhong with a sense of satisfaction.
Seeing the determination in Mu Jin’s eyes, Wen Renhong felt moved. His beloved was willing to give himself entirely, not because of his role as a shadow guard, but because of his genuine feelings.
This absolute temptation was almost too much for Wen Renhong to resist. As their clothes became disheveled and they embraced tightly, he couldn’t bring himself to take it further. This was the person he held dear, and he wanted to give him a proper title, to let him know he was truly loved and respected.
Even without crossing that line, the intimate closeness still made Wen Renhong incredibly happy, eagerly looking forward to their wedding in three days.
The following two days, the entire prince’s mansion became unusually busy. To prepare for the wedding, Wen Renhong took special care in arranging everything. The mansion was filled with decorations, with red silk everywhere, creating a festive atmosphere.
Mu Jin didn’t have to worry about the trivial details, but even just choosing clothing and accessories was overwhelming. Although he wasn’t interested in these things, seeing Wen Renhong so enthusiastic, he couldn’t refuse his lover’s kind intentions.
Time flew by, and the wedding day quickly arrived.
On the wedding day, according to royal customs, Mu Jin, being a man, was supposed to sit in the bridal sedan chair. However, Wen Renhong didn’t agree to this. To him, Mu Jin, despite lacking a formal title, was his equal.
He didn’t care about the conventions; he was more concerned about treating Mu Jin with respect. Especially since he heard rumors suggesting that Mu Jin used his looks to seduce the prince, gaining favor through charm. This made him furious, and he secretly dealt with those spreading such slander.
To ensure Mu Jin wasn’t belittled, Wen Renhong arranged for him not to sit in the bridal sedan chair. Instead, both grooms wore red ceremonial robes and rode tall horses, shoulder to shoulder, as they paraded through the city.
Wen Renhong, now known as the virtuous prince, and Mu Jin, recognized as a skilled healer for his role in curing the plague, were well-received by the people as they rode through the city. The streets were bustling with activity, with the citizens offering blessings and cheers.
Seeing his beloved becoming so respected and feeling the energy around them, Mu Jin smiled gently, showing his genuine joy.
Wen Renhong’s gaze never left Mu Jin. Seeing his beloved’s genuine smile made his heart surge with excitement.
All he could think about was that Xiao Jin was smiling because he was with him. It wasn’t a forced or suppressed smile, but a relaxed and natural one. Though it was a subtle smile, it made Wen Renhong feel as if his tongue had tasted honey, filling his heart with sweetness.
Because Mu Jin didn’t have a family in the usual sense, having been raised in the prince’s mansion, he didn’t follow the traditional process of welcoming the bride. Mu Jin didn’t mind, and after their horseback tour around the city, they returned to the entrance of the mansion.
Today, the place was filled with honored guests, even the Emperor Wen Renda attended the Prince Zhong’s Mansion. Since he had only this one younger brother left, it was natural for him to participate, especially since Wen Renhong was marrying his rightful bride.
Mu Jin and Wen Renhong held hands as they entered the ceremonial hall following the instructions of the master of ceremonies. Everyone marveled at the two handsome grooms.
Though Mu Jin was shorter and smaller compared to Wen Renhong, his posture was straight, and he carried himself with confidence. He was no less charismatic than the man beside him. The two of them, one refined and adorable, the other bold and graceful, made a stunning pair.
“First bow to heaven and earth, second bow to the elders…”
As the master of ceremonies called out, the two of them completed their rites. From that moment on, they became true spouses, sharing honor and disgrace, promising to stay together for life.
After the ceremony, they stayed to greet the guests. Because Wen Renhong had been gaining momentum in the capital and was known for his friendly demeanor, the guests came to congratulate him, offering him drinks.
Wen Renhong, worried about Mu Jin’s recent recovery, didn’t allow him to drink. Every drink offered to Mu Jin, Wen Renhong drank in his place.
Table by table, Wen Renhong was soon intoxicated. Seeing him stumbling as he walked, the guests took pity on the newlyweds and allowed Mu Jin to help him back to their room.
However, once they entered the bridal chamber, the man who had been leaning on Mu Jin suddenly stood upright. He was only mildly tipsy, hardly as drunk as he had seemed.
Mu Jin, surprised, raised an eyebrow, about to ask a question when he was pushed against the door. The man kissed him fervently, expressing the joy in his heart.
After kissing Mu Jin thoroughly, Wen Renhong looked at his slightly swollen lips and smiled, “I took a sobering pill beforehand. On such an important day, how could I allow myself to get drunk?”
The warm breath on his face made Mu Jin blush. Wen Renhong led him to the table where food had been prepared, still warm.
After they ate a bit to settle their stomachs, Wen Renhong took two cups and poured a little wine into each, saying to Mu Jin, “The thought is what counts; you still need to recover.”
He raised his cup, looking at Mu Jin with deep affection.
Mu Jin blushed but picked up his cup. They crossed their arms and drank their wedding wine while looking lovingly at each other.
Seeing Mu Jin’s reaction, Wen Renhong felt a surge of heat in his heart, unsure if it was the wine or his beloved.
Then Wen Renhong stood up, took a pair of scissors from the cabinet, and cut off a lock of his own hair. He came to Mu Jin and did the same, carefully intertwining their locks and tying them with red silk, placing them in a sachet.
After completing the ritual, he looked at Mu Jin, kissed his lips, and softly said, “Xiao Jin, from now on, we are hair-bound husbands.”
Seeing his lover’s solemn expression, Mu Jin’s eyes welled up with tears. He nodded forcefully, realizing that even though they had been married across multiple worlds, every time Wen Renhong expressed his love so sincerely, he couldn’t help but be moved to tears.
The red candles on the table flickered as Mu Jin turned to Wen Renhong and gently held his hand, softly saying, “Wen Renhong, I, Mu Jin, am in love with you.”
Wen Renhong was stunned for a moment. It was the first time he’d heard Mu Jin call him by name, understanding the significance. His beloved’s words showed that it wasn’t about roles, ranks, or anything else—they were together simply because of love.