The moon rose above the willow's head, the courtyard was still filled with noise, and inside the room, the fragrance of incense lingered. Ran Yan's legs had gone numb from kneeling so long, but she did not want to move.
Ran Yan had remained especially composed while preparing for marriage, without giving much thought to anything else. However, now on the bedchamber's couch, she acutely became aware of what was about to transpire. Once indifferent to such matters, her heart was now pounding like a drum; she even felt a bit dry-mouthed and thirsty...
Dry-mouthed and thirsty... Her body felt unusually hot... Ran Yan sensed that something was amiss, her gaze landed on the incense burner, and upon taking a light whiff, her expression changed slightly. She was about to get off the bed to extinguish the incense when the door creaked open.
