The Xie family brothers dared to speak loudly to Qiao Ci, but they did not dare to challenge the majesty of a prince.
Xie family’s third son cupped his hands to Li Su and said, “Second Prince, my cousin Jiu Ge is your concubine, and we hope you will give her the respect she deserves. After all, she is a woman. If she were to have a momentary lapse in judgment, what would happen then?”
“I only have one wife, and that is Princess Qiao Ci of Teng Long Kingdom. As for your cousin, her life or death is of no concern to me.” Li Su realized they simply didn’t understand plain speech, so he was extremely blunt.
The third son of the Xie family, with his smiling peach blossom eyes, narrowed them slightly. “Second Prince, please watch your words. My cousin was granted marriage by imperial decree. The decree states she is your concubine, and she is your concubine.”
“Why waste words talking to him? Go and rest with a cup of tea.” Qiao Ci raised an eyebrow at Li Su and walked directly to his side, sitting down with a composed demeanor that infuriated everyone present.
Although the marriage decree was issued by the Emperor, having a concubine enter the residence on the same day as the principal wife was a sensitive matter. If the news spread, Teng Long Kingdom would only laugh at the Feng Ming Kingdom’s royal family for disregarding propriety.
They had thought that once the imperial decree was issued, it was a done deal. No matter how angry Qiao Ci, a princess from another country, might be, she could only endure it. They hadn’t expected her to be so defiant, and that the Second Prince would also act out with her.
The Emperor, who was preparing to appear at the wedding ceremony, learned of the situation. After scolding the Empress, the instigator, he turned and returned directly to the palace.
He blamed himself for listening to the Empress’s suggestion to give the Princess of Teng Long Kingdom a show of force. Now they had lost face! It turned out the princess was not one to suffer in silence. The entire royal family had been disgraced!
Upon receiving the Emperor’s command to resolve the matter themselves, the Xie brothers exchanged glances. They decided that no matter what, they had to get their cousin into the mansion first. Thus, the eldest Xie brother had Yun Shen, her biological brother, carry Yun Jiu Ge. The twelve of them formed a human wall with their bodies to escort her into the Second Prince’s mansion.
As for what would happen later, with the Yun family and the Xie family supporting her, they would never let her suffer too much.
Qiao Ci was amused by their overwhelming self-confidence.
Damn it, did none of them have brains?
Even a pampered sister needed to know her limits.
When it was obvious she was an unwelcome nuisance, they still insisted on forcing their way, truly… asking for a beating!
Feeling the weight of her elaborate clothes, Qiao Ci wanted to remove the outermost layer to display her skills. The feeling of fist against flesh was supposed to be exhilarating, but Li Su stopped her.
Qiao Ci: …
Fine, she would behave. It was, after all, her wedding day.
So, she sat up straight and coldly watched Yun Shen prepare to carry Yun Jiu Ge from the sedan chair.
However, Yun Jiu Ge, wearing her red veil with only her head exposed, was met with a sudden gust of wind and a downpour. In an instant, torrential rain soaked Yun Jiu Ge, who had just emerged from the sedan chair, to the bone.
It was already late autumn, and she was so cold that she quickly retreated back into the sedan chair. At that moment, thunder rumbled in the sky, and a bolt of lightning struck her sedan chair directly, splitting it in half. Yun Jiu Ge screamed in terror.
The onlookers, who had already dispersed to seek shelter from the rain, stopped in their tracks upon hearing the thunder and screams. They pointed and gossiped about Yun Jiu Ge, now exposed to everyone’s view like a drenched chicken.
“Indeed, there are gods three feet above one’s head. To cause trouble when the rightful wife is entering, she’s getting her comeuppance!”
“But this is an imperial decree, it’s not Miss Yun’s fault.”
“Tsk, the legitimate daughter of the Grand Tutor, the granddaughter of the Great General. If she didn’t want to marry, who could force her? And she’s not even the principal wife. She probably just has eyes for the Second Prince and is willing.”
“After this ordeal, the Second Prince, who already dislikes her, will definitely not let her enter the mansion. A woman struck by lightning, what kind of good woman can she be?”
Yun Jiu Ge found this outcome difficult to accept. She threw off her red veil, her face streaked with tears, and accused Li Su, “Why? Is it wrong for me to like you? Why must you humiliate me like this?”
Li Su looked at the divine intervention before him, his anxious heart finally at ease. Well, heaven was helping them.
Facing Yun Jiu Ge’s questioning, he replied coldly, “Whether it is wrong or not, heaven has already given the answer, hasn’t it?”
After speaking, he addressed Yun Shen and the Xie family brothers, “Gentlemen, if you are here to attend the wedding, you are welcome to enter the mansion. If not, please leave quickly.”
Hearing this, Yun Jiu Ge broke free from the maid holding an umbrella for her, her face a picture of disbelief. “These are all just coincidences. If you had let me enter the mansion earlier, none of this would have happened. The sky was clear today, and the sudden rain might even mean that heaven doesn’t approve of you and Qiao Ci! I’m not convinced!!”
Qiao Ci raised an eyebrow. Great, she specialized in dealing with the unconvinced.
“The auspicious time is approaching. Please hurry and proceed with the wedding ceremony, both of you.”
The official in charge of the wedding ceremony was sweating profusely.
“No need to trouble yourselves, let’s just perform the ceremony here,” Qiao Ci looked at Li Su. “What do you think?”
Li Su gazed at Qiao Ci with gentle eyes. “Your decision is my decision.”
And so, the two immediately performed the wedding rites in the presence of all the dignitaries and common folk.
“First bow to heaven and earth.”
As soon as the words fell, the rain stopped, the clouds parted, and the sun eagerly leaped out, appearing in everyone’s sight. Warm sunlight bathed everyone.
Li Su bowed deeply, while Qiao Ci merely nodded as a gesture.
“Second bow to the elders.”
The Emperor and Empress, having learned of the conflict, did not come, so there were no elders present.
Qiao Ci’s eyes flickered. She took Li Su’s hand and bowed towards an empty space. That direction was neither towards the palace nor towards Teng Long Kingdom. Although Li Su did not understand, it did not hinder his devotion, and he devoutly followed her in the ritual.
In that spot in the air, the clouds instantly became resplendent. At first glance, images of all things were displayed upon them, but upon closer inspection, it seemed like an illusion. Only the dazzling clouds, more brilliant than the sun, lingered for a long time.
“Escort them to the bridal chamber.”
Li Su held Qiao Ci’s hand tightly, his eyes filled with countless stars.
He had finally married his princess.
The crowd, witnessing these miraculous scenes, couldn’t help but kneel down.
“Heaven has manifested, bestowing auspicious signs.”
“Heaven blesses our Feng Ming, heaven blesses our Feng Ming!”
“The Second Prince and the Grand Princess of Teng Long Kingdom are truly a match made in heaven.”
“Anyone who dares to disrupt the relationship between the Second Prince and the Princess of Teng Long Kingdom, this old woman will be the first to object.”
“A match made in heaven, heaven blesses Feng Ming.”
“A match made in heaven, heaven blesses Feng Ming.”
“A match made in heaven, heaven blesses Feng Ming.”
Let alone the Xie brothers and the Yun family, even Yun Jiu Ge herself was stunned and fearful. Although she still felt unwilling in her heart, she dared not cause any more trouble and left in disarray.
With the unwelcome people gone, everyone joyfully welcomed the newlyweds into the mansion.
The common people, wanting to share in the good fortune, stood at the entrance of the Second Prince’s mansion, reluctant to leave for a long time.
The Emperor, upon returning to the palace, learned of the events and immediately bowed towards the sky, where auspicious signs were still visible.
Thinking that he had missed such a rare spectacle, he glared at the Empress. “Look at what you’ve done!”