Since Mingyi moved into the Palace City, Situ Ling had rarely seen her. Every time he came to Sunspire City, he happened to have cases to handle and couldn't meet her. Even on her last birthday, he was held up and couldn't personally deliver his gift.
But he thought this was just as well. He wouldn't have to witness her closeness with Ji Bozhai firsthand, nor would he harbor illusions like Zhou Zihong did.
He considered his life as if he'd already married. The days ahead would be spent with these cases.
However, Ji Bozhai was truly insufferable. Situ Ling had just solved a major case and submitted a memorial for Bozhai to handle several officials he'd personally promoted. And what did Bozhai do? He simply replied with one word: "Approved," followed by pages of nonsense.
Getting married—one would think he was ascending the throne again from how he carried on.
The flames had already consumed half the memorial before Situ Ling's anger subsided enough to fish it out with a stick.
The charred document still faintly showed Bozhai's flamboyant handwriting: "This sovereign is overjoyed to wed Yi'er."
It was hard to believe this was the same man who once adamantly refused marriage, deceiving Mingyi back then. Now he behaved like an overexcited youth who'd found his treasure, seizing every opportunity to proclaim his joy to everyone.
Situ Ling refused to acknowledge that Ji Bozhai genuinely loved his Mingyi now, nor did he wish to attend their wedding.
He stored the half-burned memorial away, calmly instructed Fu Yue to prepare congratulatory gifts, then buried himself in the case files on his desk.
Yet after a long while, he still lifted his head, gazed at the memorials on the antique shelf, and sighed deeply.
Mingyi had imagined the wedding would be tedious. After all, Bozhai was now the emperor, bound by elaborate rituals and ancestral rules. She'd considered it fortunate if they could simply bow to each other after the ceremony and retire to the bridal chamber.
But she hadn't expected Bozhai to spend half a year meticulously planning every detail—from the carpets on the ground to her wedding dress, inspecting everything personally. On the wedding day, Azure Cloud witnessed unprecedented festivities.
The Mystic Dragon and white cat strutted proudly at the head of the procession with red silk ribbons around their necks, drawing gasps and crowds. One hundred eight palace officials and guards escorted ninety-nine maids who scattered shell coins wrapped in red paper along the way.
Amid deafening gongs, drums, and firecrackers, Bozhai rode his horse in the procession's center, grinning from ear to ear.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty!" a bold commoner shouted.
People nearby hurried to cover the speaker's mouth in panic—this was a tyrant who wouldn't tolerate such impertinence!
Yet when they stole glances, the emperor astride his tall steed didn't seem angered. Instead, he cheerfully cupped his hands toward the well-wisher: "My thanks."
The crowd erupted, then grew bolder with their congratulations.
As cheers followed them, Bozhai thanked each one, unabashedly displaying his joy over the marriage.
Originally, the Ministry of Rites had proposed having ceremonial officers escort Mingyi directly into the palace for the investiture ceremony, citing ancestral traditions. Bozhai coldly sneered: "I'm Azure Cloud's first emperor in millennia." When you speak of ancestors, whose ancestors do you mean?"
The terrified ministry officials dared say no more, allowing him to fetch his bride using folk customs.
Yet even the clever emperor hadn't anticipated another folk tradition: the gate-blocking ritual.Zhou Zihong stood outside the gate of the old city mansion, offering a forced smile as he said, "We've prepared twenty questions. Your Majesty must answer them before entering."
Ji Bozhai's lips twitched.
Of all people to block the door, it had to be those from Mingyi's former harem. Each one looked at him with piercing eyes, clearly not planning to let him pass easily.
Lowering his eyelids, he smiled. "Very well."
But behind his back, he subtly waved his hand at Buxiu.
Luo Jiaoyang understood immediately and led a group to circle around the side gate.
The thirty or so men had the main gate blocked tightly from inside out—even forcing their way through would be difficult. While Ji Bozhai answered questions at the front, Luo Jiaoyang and his men sneaked in from the side, quietly dragging the blockers away one by one.
By the time Ji Bozhai reached the fifth question, the gate's defenses had weakened. Fan Yao shouted, "Charge!" and dozens of brothers behind him surged forward in a clamor.
Zhou Zihong had prepared even harder questions for later. Seeing them force their way in, he angrily flicked his sleeve. "Barbarians!"
"Weddings aren't about reasoning," Chu He patted his shoulder. "Brother, it's clear you didn't put your heart into your own wedding."
An impatient groom had no time for questions—all he wanted was to hold his beloved sooner.
Zhou Zihong froze at his words.
What had his own wedding been like?
He only remembered being held up outside the women's quarters for a long time, but he hadn't been in a hurry. He'd leisurely exchanged verses with them until those inside could no longer wait and opened the door to welcome him in.
Madam Xu had smiled and called him honest back then, but he hadn't paid it much mind.
Now, Zhou Zihong suddenly realized—Madam Xu hadn't been praising him. She had known his heart wasn't with her and had forced a smile to give him an out.
Now, Madam Xu had already divorced him.
It was almost laughable. Back when she wanted to be with him, Madam Xu had visited his mansion daily. Later, when she sought divorce, she'd still come to him every day, pulling at him to sign the Divorce Agreement.
He'd tried every trick to avoid it, dragging it out for three months before finally signing in a fit of pique.
Madam Xu had loved him—he knew that. Even after the divorce, she hadn't immediately sought another husband. Her tantrums had only been to win a little more care from him.
Zhou Zihong understood now. He had come to personally see Mingyi off to her new life, to bid farewell to the past. After this, he would return to welcome Madam Xu and make up for what he'd owed her these seven years.
Firecrackers exploded, snapping him out of his thoughts. Smiling, he stepped inside and told those within not to let the bride out too easily.
Mingyi, adorned in her phoenix crown, peered through the beaded curtain and saw Situ Ling standing before her.
Surprised, she said, "Didn't your letter say you wouldn't come?"
Situ Ling smiled, turning to crouch with his back to her. "Uncle Ming's back isn't well—someone had to do this. I call you sister; it's only right I carry you out."
Mingyi noticed he'd grown taller—now half a head taller than Zhou Zihong—and his crouched back looked broad and sturdy.
She chuckled as she leaned onto him. "I'm not heavy, but these ornaments are no light burden."
Situ Ling grunted under the weight, his brows knitting together. "His Majesty did this on purpose! Knowing I'd carry you, he piled a mountain of gold and silver on you!"
Mingyi's eyes crinkled with laughter.
She felt Situ Ling trembling and knew his lack of Essence Power made it hard for him to bear the weight. Secretly, she used her own Essence Power to help support the phoenix crown and ceremonial robes.Yet, despite the weight being lifted, he continued to tremble, his spine quivering section by section like a bird drenched in rain.
OpenNovel