This was a "lifting into the sedan" custom during the wedding ceremony, where the bride is carried to the main gate by her own brother and personally handed over to the escort official before being sent off halfway.
Yun Xiao lowered her veil and, through the misty fabric, handed her hand to Yun Zhen, saying softly and gently, "Thank you, Brother."
The white wedding gown trailed to the floor. Wan Wan and Qiao'er quickly stepped forward to hold up the hem of the gown, following the figure in front.
Everyone walked out together. A red carpet was laid from the entrance of Yuxuan all the way to the main gate of the Yun Prince's mansion. Inside the vast mansion, all the servants, except for their wedding party, knelt down silently, their heads bowed towards the ground.
At the main gate of the Yun Prince's mansion, led by Prince Yun and Princess Yun, a crowd knelt on the ground. Seated in the magnificent and grand imperial carriage was a figure in a bright yellow dragon robe, hair tied with a golden crown, his face of unparalleled beauty shrouded in clear light. As he watched the person approaching from afar, his heart skipped a beat.
The tall figure alighted from the carriage, bypassed everyone, and walked into the Yun Prince's mansion, stopping before Yun Zhen.
"Xiao'er."
Through the white veil, Yun Xiao looked up at him, a captivating smile gracing her lips. Their gazes locked in the air, lost in each other.
The shock and excitement remained in their hearts. From this day on, they were intimate lovers who would face storms and hardships together, sharing both adversity and sweetness in the future.
Shangguan Yin reached out and took Yun Xiao, turned, and walked towards the back of the carriage.
Yun Zhen followed closely, then the ceremonial official from the Ministry of Rites, the eunuchs from the palace, the female officials, the wet nurses, and finally Qiao'er and Wan Wan. Everyone followed the figure in front out of the main gate of the Yun Prince's mansion.
The ceremonial official called out, "Bow to His Majesty, may he live for ten thousand, ten thousand, ten thousand years; bow to Her Majesty the Empress, may she live for a thousand, a thousand, a thousand years."
At the main gate of the Yun Prince's mansion, everyone immediately knelt down. The grand procession echoed to the heavens.
"Second bow, third bow."
After three bows, the ceremonial official called out, "Please, Your Majesty and the Empress, board the imperial carriage."
Shangguan Yin, holding Yun Xiao, ignored the attendants and directly leaped onto the imperial carriage. He seated her beside him, a captivating smile gracing his lips. He held her hands tightly and said softly, "We are married."
Outside the carriage, the ceremonial official called out again, "Rise, play the music, and depart."
Everyone at the Yun Prince's mansion stood up simultaneously. The imperial guard band immediately began playing festive music. The five hundred iron-clad cavalry in front and the five hundred in the rear mounted their horses, and the grand procession headed back to the imperial palace.
At the mansion's gate, Prince Yun stared at the receding wedding procession, filled with mixed emotions, his eyes moist. Princess Yun reached out and held him, saying softly, "Your Highness, we must now entertain our guests."
Prince Yun snapped back to attention, turned, and began greeting the guests, inviting them in for the banquet.
Yun Zhen escorted the welcoming party all the way to the imperial palace.
In the imperial carriage, Shangguan Yin's already peerless features were enhanced by the joy of the wedding, his face glowing with a radiant light, making him look even more ethereal. His narrow eyebrows were slightly raised, with a hint of proud defiance.
His dark pupils twinkled with two fiery sparks, and his sensual lips curled upwards, his smile flowing like water. The entire carriage was filled with a warm, spring-like atmosphere.
Yun Xiao's small hand was held firmly in his large palm. A hot current flowed from their fingertips, merging their hearts.
On the street, crowds surged, people craning their necks to get a glimpse. Shangguan Yin and Yun Xiao exchanged a fleeting cold glance. Yun Xiao spoke softly,
"I fear Ye Jingyi will show up."
"If he dares to appear, I will ensure he perishes without a burial place. I will not let anyone harm you, Xiao'er."
"Murong."
Yun Xiao murmured. Sometimes, she still preferred to call him Murong, feeling closer and more herself.
Shangguan Yin tightened his grip on her hand as the imperial carriage moved forward smoothly.
As they approached Jiuhua Street, Yun Xiao couldn't help but wonder if she and Murong had guessed wrong and these people wouldn't appear.
But as soon as the thought crossed her mind, she felt an overwhelming surge of killing intent in the air, thick like silk, coming from all directions. Shangguan Yin's resolute features darkened, and he said coldly, "It seems there are quite a few of them."
As soon as he finished speaking, he glanced towards the ground. At the same time, he extended his hand, scooped up Yun Xiao, and leaped into the air.
The bright yellow dragon robe and the white wedding veil cascaded down, dazzling and brilliant, fluttering like colorful fireworks, enchanting to behold. They spun in the air, then seemed to freeze, motionless.
The imperial carriage they had been sitting in exploded with a loud bang, its iron pillars, wooden railings, and screens scattering in all directions, striking those in front and behind. People were injured in an instant.
At this moment, a thousand iron-clad Imperial Guards brandished their red cherry spears, thrusting them towards the ground.
A figure shot up from the ground, followed by several more figures emerging from beneath.
These individuals were all dressed in black night-gowns and wore masks, revealing only their fierce and murderous eyes. They were indeed the Western Mountain Skull Blood Bandits.
Shangguan Yin, suspended in mid-air, calmly waved his hand, "Kill them all."
At his command, several figures leaped from the crowd on both sides, led by the commander of the Imperial Guard, Xiao Yao, and Lan Qinglun, followed by a dense mass of Imperial Guards.
On the roadside, the crowded commoners began to scream in panic, scattering in all directions. The errant soldiers immediately dispersed the crowd, their movements swift and precise, calm and orderly, ensuring the commoners retreated to safety before fleeing.
In an instant, Jiuhua Street was devoid of people. Only a few daring individuals remained in private rooms on the second floor, observing the unfolding events.
Yun Xiao leaned into Shangguan Yin's embrace, seeing how well the situation was being controlled. She couldn't help but smile sweetly, her clear voice ringing out, "It seems you were well prepared."
"Yes, I knew these people would appear. It was as expected."
Shangguan Yin's sensual lips curled lazily, his eyebrows raised, a deep cold light in his eyes. Yun Xiao gently tapped his chest and said calmly, "Let me down. I can take care of myself. Go deal with those people."
"No, no matter when or where, I will never leave you to anyone else."
Because he couldn't trust others, he felt at ease only when he was with her himself.
Yun Xiao's sweet features turned into a smiling face. She said no more, then slowly spoke, "Then let's cooperate and fight together."
"Good." As they spoke, their bodies descended simultaneously. The fluttering dragon robe and the white flowing veil stirred up powerful internal energy from the ground, drifting outwards.
Shangguan Yin then unleashed a palm strike. Yun Xiao's silver knife was thrown into the air. Borrowing Shangguan Yin's palm force, the silver knife was so fast that its body was invisible, only a flash of white light was seen as it spun, leaving no trace of life, instantly felling several people.