The night was as dark as ink. Yan Chi’s pitch-black battle armor shimmered with a sinister and arrogant hue under the firelight. He galloped close, reining in sharply at the marquis’s gate, his blade drawn. The horse let out a fierce neigh, rearing up on its hind legs, and in that instant, the entire estate fell so silent one could hear a pin drop.
This was no bridal procession—it was an elite force that shook the heavens with its presence!
Whose soldiers were these? And who was this domineering young leader?
“Yan… Chi? Xiao Qi? Is that Xiao Qi?!”
Amid the deathly silence, the Grand Princess’s voice, tinged with joy and excitement, rang out. She rose to her feet, her steps trembling slightly as she moved toward the hall’s entrance. Seeing this, Jiang Shi and the Anyang Marquis immediately supported her.
Outside the gate, Yan Chi, seated high on his horse, arched a sword-like brow.
A faint smile curved his thin lips as he tossed his whip and spear to a subordinate, dismounted, and strode straight into the estate.
Under the bright glow of celebratory lanterns, everyone instinctively narrowed their eyes.
His obsidian battle armor exuded a chilling gleam, and his crimson cloak billowed fiercely. Yan Chi, clad in boots with dragon design, strode forward with long, powerful legs, his imposing presence overwhelming as he stepped before the crowd.
His aura was commanding, but what drew even more attention was his strikingly handsome face!
The relentless bloodshed of the battlefield had not roughened or aged him. Instead, his nose was sharp and straight, his brows like finely carved swords, his lips as if chiseled. The contours of his cheeks blended refinement with the rugged sharpness of a blade’s edge. Though clad in heavy armor, his agile and steady strides alone hinted at the formidable, awe-inspiring physique beneath.
Yet, beneath this intimidating presence, what truly captivated were his long, phoenix eyes—lashes dark as raven feathers, pupils deep and mesmerizing, as if holding the moonlit vastness of the desert or the fiery glow of battle. They were utterly soul-stirring.
Every guest in attendance, regardless of age or gender, was momentarily spellbound.
None could rival his beauty, none could match his presence—was there truly such a peerlessly proud man in this world?
“Xiao Qi?! Is that Xiao Qi?!”
Seeing Yan Chi enter, the Grand Princess took two more urgent steps forward.
Yan Chi laughed heartily at her voice. “Eight years apart, and Grand Aunt still recognizes Xiao Qi?!”
With that, he strode to her in a few steps, swept his battle robe aside, and knelt on one knee, bowing deeply in salute.
“Yan Chi comes by imperial decree to offer congratulations. Yan Chi pays respects to Grand Aunt!”
His movements were crisp, his voice resonant, exuding an air of elite efficiency. Even in salute, his imposing presence remained undiminished. The Grand Princess’s eyes reddened instantly. She stepped forward and pulled him up. “Xiao Qi… it really is Xiao Qi. The Emperor sent you? Rise quickly—it’s been eight years since I last saw you!”
As Yan Chi stood, his phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, his face alight with a relaxed, faint smile, his gaze shimmering with unmistakable delight. “The Emperor commanded Xiao Qi to come. For the heir’s wedding, His Majesty ordered me to deliver gifts!”
Then, he turned to Yue Jia. “Congratulations, Brother Jia!”
Yue Jia stared at Yan Chi, his expression slightly dazed, as if struggling to recall who he was.
The Grand Princess chuckled at his reaction. “Jia’er, have you forgotten? This is Chi’er, from your Uncle Rui’s household!”Yue Jia suddenly realized and quickly clasped his hands in greeting, "So it's Brother Chi! Back in the capital, you had already been sent to the military by your royal uncle, and soon after, I came to Jinzhou. It's been over ten years since we last met as brothers. For you to travel all this way, and me failing to welcome you properly—my apologies!"
At these words, the surrounding guests who hadn't recognized Yan Chi now understood.
This Yan Chi was actually Prince Rui's Heir!
The surname Yan was the imperial family name of the Great Zhou. Prince Rui, Yan Lin, was the current emperor's own brother, and with his outstanding military achievements, he had guarded the Northwest Frontier for many years, making him one of the kingdom's foremost heroes. His son, Yan Chi, had been sent to train in the Northwest Frontier Army from a young age, which explained his imposing military bearing. For the emperor to dispatch Prince Rui's Heir to congratulate the Anyang Marquis's heir on his wedding showed just how highly the emperor regarded Marquis Anyang Manor!
"What? The bride still hasn't arrived?"
Yan Chi was surprised. With night fully fallen, he had assumed the ceremony would be long over!
Yue Jia sighed bitterly, "Who knows what's delayed them on the road, but they should be here soon."
Yan Chi smiled. "Good things take time. Brother Jia, no need to worry."
The Grand Princess clung to Yan Chi's hand, unwilling to let go. The older she grew, the more she doted on the younger generation. Glancing toward the manor gates, she asked, "Are those soldiers outside yours? Just three months ago, I heard you won a great victory in the west. What brings you back to the capital so suddenly?"
Yan Chi gave a wry smile. "That's a long story, Grand Aunt. If you'd like to hear it, I'll tell you after the wedding. In short, Xiao Qi* barely had time to sit down in the capital before His Majesty ordered him to rush to Jinzhou."
(*Xiao Qi: "Little Seven," likely Yan Chi's childhood nickname or rank among siblings/cousins)
Mentioning the capital made the Grand Princess frown slightly. "With all the chaos there, it's a wonder he remembered at all."
A faint glimmer flashed in Yan Chi's eyes. "Don't worry, Grand Aunt. Matters in the capital have been settled. Though His Majesty is busy, he wouldn't dare forget such an important occasion for you."
The Grand Princess laughed. "You certainly know how to speak well for him!"
With so many eyes watching in such a public setting, Yan Chi deftly changed the subject. "His Majesty remembers not just you, but also the Marquess, her ladyship, and their two sons. Xiao Qi has brought many gifts this time—they'll be brought in shortly!"
The Grand Princess shook her head with a smile. "As if I'd covet his gifts..."
Though the hall was spacious, every guest listened intently, ears pricked. Qin Guan had just emerged from a side passage into the crowd, taking some effort to reach the front. Watching Yan Chi enter and learning his identity, she couldn't help feeling astonished.
While most in Jinzhou didn't know Yan Chi, having spent years in the capital, she was all too familiar with his reputation.
This prince's heir held incomparably noble status, second only to the imperial princes themselves. Yet at ten, he'd been sent to the military camps, where he trained for twelve years. Starting seven years ago, in every annual military merit report, Prince Rui's Heir consistently ranked first in achievements. Though rarely in the capital, countless rumors swirled about him there.
Some said he was possessed by a war god, single-handedly slaying a million barbarians. Others claimed he acted recklessly in the army, flouting all rules. Still others whispered he suffered from a strange affliction—possessing immense strength but doomed to an early death...
Even his military moniker, the "Demon King," had spread back to the capital, where it was said to be so fearsome it could silence crying children at night.The origin of this title was said to stem from his invention of 108 unspeakably cruel tortures while interrogating enemy prisoners in the military camp. The Rongdi barbarians, known for their ruthless bloodlust, were like demons to the borderland civilians. Yet these very demons became utterly obedient and dared not act recklessly in the hands of this "Demon King," a testament to how terrifying Yan Chi truly was.
However, Qin Guan had never seen the Demon King in person before—until her rebirth brought her face-to-face with the man himself.
As Qin Guan marveled at the unpredictability of fate, someone lightly bumped into her side. She turned to see a young gentleman squeezing past her. Glancing around, she assumed she was blocking the way and stepped aside.
Just then, another soldier's report rang out!
"Report—My Lord! The wedding procession from Duke Song's residence has arrived!"
After a slight pause, he added, "This time it's real. Please make haste with the preparations..."
Even a misunderstanding couldn't happen twice. Instantly, the wedding hall buzzed back to life.
Guests who had been frightened away by Yan Chi now pressed forward again, jostling Qin Guan toward the entrance. As she brushed past the young gentleman, she felt something vaguely odd but didn't dwell on it, her gaze instead drawn to the torchlit street outside the marquis' estate.
At the far end of the long street, crimson ceremonial banners and processional canopies, illuminated by festive lanterns, drifted forward like rosy clouds.
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