Chapter 48
The wedding of the Commandant had been the talk of Chang’an for several days. Rumors buzzed about how the handsome and haughty So Dongbaek had “kidnapped” a young lady. Some claimed that the Emperor himself had been moved by this love story.
The women of Luoyang sighed and fluttered, their hearts racing with the romantic story. Their collective sighs could supposedly sweep away even Mount Tai, the greatest mountain under heaven. Many of these women, captivated by the romantic narrative, dreamt of finding a prince like Dongbaek, their hearts filled with hope that their own lives might mirror the beauty of such a painted love story. The young men, eager to seize their opportunities, filled Luoyang with a rosy, romantic atmosphere.
The soldier standing at the front of the group was of an age to pursue such youthful adventures, but his stern expression seemed at odds with such delicate sentiments. Though small in stature, his presence radiated an intensity far beyond his physical size. The soldier shook his head.
“I took leave because of my sister’s marriage… I knew the leadership had changed, but I didn’t realize he was of marriageable age. I heard he was still young.”
“Well… hmm… he’s not quite of marriageable age yet…”
Indeed, So Dongbaek and her bride were both quite young. Particularly the bride—it was widely known she was barely ten years old. That the seemingly proper military governor had fallen for such a young child seemed utterly incomprehensible.
“So Dongbaek is what, fifteen? Sixteen?”
“They say he’s thirteen.”
“His age feels so strange. What kind of behavior is that for a thirteen-year-old? Even if he were well over twenty, I’d find it hard to believe.”
The men exchanged knowing glances and chuckled. From the beginning, she had shown nothing childlike, which paradoxically made her more credible. Stories circulated about how decisively she stamped documents, with Jin Jin reportedly moved to tears by her contrast to his previous, indecisive commander.
At that moment, someone approached the group of men. A commanding figure wearing armor more resplendent than the others caught everyone’s attention. It was the seventh unit captain, who strode confidently towards them with a smile and raised his hand in greeting.
“Hey, Yue Jin! Just arrived? Perfect timing!”
Except for Yue Jin, the other men quietly dispersed. The seventh unit captain was known for his volatile temperament—jovial one moment, suddenly turning harsh and critical the next. No one wanted to get entangled with him.
Unconcerned with the others’ retreat, the commander tossed a chunk of meat to Yue Jin, who deftly caught it mid-arc. The captain grinned.
“Take plenty. High-quality meat isn’t common for people like us. For us, our bodies are our greatest asset.”
“Thank you.”
“Did you see the commander’s wedding?”
Yue Jin heavily shook his head. He had just arrived the previous day, weary from travel, and was returning to duty. Living far from the bustling city center, he hadn’t seen the procession and wasn’t particularly interested.
But regardless of Yue Jin’s interest, the captain continued chattering.
“Man, it was spectacular! Even the princess’s wedding I once saw wasn’t this grand.”
“Was it really that impressive?”
As a seventh-unit member speaking to his direct superior, Yue Jin felt compelled to respond minimally. The captain, energized by even this slight engagement, continued enthusiastically.
“They say the Emperor filled several carriage loads of treasures and precious metals to send as gifts. He must truly favor our Commander.”
“This Commander seems quite impressive. Your expression suggests as much.”
The captain gave a meaningful smile in response to Yue Jin’s comment.
“Young in age but possessing strength and capability. The work he completes daily is no small feat—enough to make previous commanders look incompetent. See that stable? The military equipment? All brought in since he took office. Many have underestimated him because of his youth and paid the price. Not you, of course…”
A derisive laugh accompanied his mention of those who had died, seemingly mocking their foolishness.
Yue Jin stared at him steadily. This man, a decade his senior, usually seemed frivolous but occasionally revealed such a cynical perspective.
Scratching his roughly grown beard, the commander gazed into the distance—towards the direction of So Dongbaek’s office.
“Honestly, I quite like this governor. Especially his razor-sharp decisiveness.”
“…..”
“You’ll like him too, Yue Jin.”
At the captain’s presumptuous suggestion, Yue Jin’s thick eyebrows twitched. The eyes beneath them, sharp and intense, reflected his stubborn nature. Looking up at the commander, he spoke decisively.
“Whether I like him or not is for me to decide.”
“So you’ll definitely like him! I’ll bet on it!”
“Betting is against military regulations.”
“Always so strict…”
The captain pouted. Yue Jin pretended not to notice and moved his feet.
Yet, given how confidently his long-time acquaintance spoke, a seed of curiosity about So Dongbaek began to sprout in Yue Jin’s mind.
He shook his head, dispelling these thoughts. Judging someone before meeting them was unwise.
Unconsciously excited, Yue Jin forcibly suppressed his emotions. Like a rock pressing down, his face returned to its usual impassive state.
-ˋˏ ༻❁✿❀༺ ˎˊ-
So Dongbaek and Lily’s wedding ceremony concluded magnificently.
Lily sat quietly on Dongbaek’s bed, dressed in beautiful attire, her youthful face adorned with elaborate makeup that seemed incongruous with her age. Dongbaek had promised not to touch Lily, but spending their wedding night in separate rooms would have been fodder for gossip. To avoid rumors, they needed to spend the night together. The fact that even this simple action required consideration of others’ opinions made Dongbaek sigh softly.
Yet, there was also a sense of relief after overcoming a great hurdle.
Dongbaek smiled gently at Lily, who sat motionless, her elaborate hairstyle still perfectly in place. Facing Lily’s vacant expression, as if her soul had departed, Dongbaek’s melancholy seemed to dissipate slightly.
Removing her official headdress, Dongbaek asked,
“Isn’t the hair ornament heavy? Shall I help you remove it?”
“Uh, ah… I…”
Dongbaek’s slightly husky voice, sweet as honey, stirred Lily’s mind. Lily immediately wanted to bang her own head for such a foolish response.
Flustered, Lily quickly shook her head and exclaimed loudly.
“No! I’ll do it myself!”
With trembling hands, she began removing the hairpins and decorative accessories. Butterfly-shaped hair ornaments cascaded smoothly over her shoulders.
Dongbaek approached, removing her official robes. Precious clothing fell carelessly to the floor. She sat beside Lily, dressed in pristine white silk undergarments so bright they were almost blinding.
A single lamp illuminated the bridal chamber, its reddish glow like a sunset, tinting the white silk.
Even the way Dongbaek removed her black wooden shoes and wiggled her toes looked elegant and beautiful. Lily, feeling completely overwhelmed, stared blankly.
Noticing Lily frozen in place, Dongbaek chuckled and gestured at her outfit.
“Are you planning to stay like that?”
Only then did Lily examine her attire—extravagant accessories hanging everywhere, a wedding dress so sophisticated she feared even a wrinkle, multiple layers of clothing she hardly dared to remove. Suddenly realizing her state, she stammered.
“I’ll, I’ll change! Just a moment!”
“Take your time. I’ll wait.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, Dongbaek rolled over to the back of the bed. Unlike her refined speech, her actions were typically childlike.
Lying down, she propped herself up on her elbow and watched Lily intently. Under Dongbaek’s gaze, Lily’s hands trembled. After laboriously removing her multiple layers of clothing, she turned back, thoroughly embarrassed.
There lay Dongbaek, supporting herself on her arm, a smile playing on her lips, watching Lily tenderly. Her softly curved eyes radiated gentleness, and her curved lips conveyed affection.
‘If I live with Young Master So, my heart might not survive this….’
Her heart racing so intensely she could barely breathe, Lily lay rigidly beside Dongbaek like a corpse.
Dongbaek sat up to extinguish the bedside lamp. With a light breath, darkness instantly filled the room.
Each time Dongbaek’s silhouette moved in the dim light, Lily’s heart pounded so hard she feared for her life.
“Sweet dreams.”
Dongbaek whispered softly.
Ah, even Young Master So’s voice is so sweet, so sweet…
With those words, Lily’s consciousness drifted away. This was her final memory of her wedding night.
-ˋˏ ༻❁✿❀༺ ˎˊ-
Thank you for reading! ♡
