My enemies became my companions

Chapter 680 Bowing to Heaven and Earth (Part 2 Combined)

Before dawn this morning, large red lanterns were already hung on the gates of every house along Longweicheng Avenue. They were all made by the Prince's Palace. Back then, more than ten years ago, when the Prince of Annam married his principal wife, he also distributed large red lanterns in this way and asked them to be hung along the street. Afterwards, each household was generously rewarded with silks, satins, money and grain.

Although it was not a marriage to the principal wife, as the king of the Southern Frontier, the ceremony for taking a concubine was extremely grand and far exceeded the norm. So although it was not as grand as it was ten years ago, it was only slightly less grand. No one knew the background of this concubine, but the pomp and circumstance were extraordinary and could rival that of the principal wife.

As a result, pairs of eyes and heads peeked out from the buildings along the street and in the ordinary alleys. Peddlers, scholars, merchants and eccentrics were all talking about it and looking forward to it.

Who wouldn't be curious to meet this concubine who is on par with the principal wife?

A long wedding procession snaked its way in from afar, accompanied by the sounds of music. The eight-bearer sedan chair was at the very center of the procession, slowly making its way down the street, flanked by maids and servants carrying flowers in vibrant colors, their fragrance exquisite.

A cacophony of shouts and gasps erupted, disrupting the peace of the entire street.

Amidst gasps of amazement, the King of Annam, dressed in royal attire, emerged from the palace gates to personally greet them, followed by a large, scarlet sedan chair with a gold roof that slowly approached.

When the auspicious time arrived, the drumming and music suddenly changed, becoming more solemn and enthusiastic.

Although the east gate of the Prince's Mansion is not the main gate, it is also decorated with red and colorful decorations. A large silk flower hangs high above the lintel, and two rows of armored soldiers in full armor stand on either side like the wings of a goose. Their armor gleams coldly in the light of lanterns and torches, making them solemn and majestic. Dozens of stewards and servants dressed in brand-new blue clothes with red silk belts stand respectfully with their hands at their sides, holding their breath in anticipation.

The road in front of the Prince's Mansion was blocked by carriages and horses. Civil and military officials from the southern border, heads of prominent families within the territory, and representatives of various sects all arrived in their finest attire, exchanging pleasantries and offering congratulations.

The gifts were collected by a special master of ceremonies who called out the names of the gifts one after another, amidst the deafening sounds of gongs, drums, and string and wind instruments.

Guided by an honor guard, the eight-bearer sedan chair came to a steady stop in front of the east gate. The chair was embroidered with phoenix and phoenix patterns, and gilded incense balls were hung at the four corners.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the concubine finally stepped down from the sedan chair.

The first to step out of the door curtain was a bright red wedding dress, decorated with phoenix patterns instead of the phoenix pattern of the principal wife. The concubine, wearing a red veil, stepped out of the sedan chair. Her figure was upright and elegant. Although her face was not visible, she looked even more extraordinary in her gorgeous dress, immediately attracting many curious, inquisitive, or envious glances.

For a bride, it's too high.

But when everyone saw the King of Annam slowly approaching to greet them, they were all immediately relieved.

Just now, I thought that this concubine was much taller than a woman, but when compared with the figure of the Prince of Annam, she seemed petite and delicate, which is not surprising.

After the two met briefly, the concubine returned to her sedan chair, and the King of Annam immediately mounted his horse. Even though he was dressed in auspicious robes, he exuded an aura of natural majesty and menacing power under the sunlight.

The ceremony was held in the main hall of the Prince's Mansion, where a red carpet was laid out, celebratory candles were lit, and ancestral tablets for Heaven and Earth were enshrined.

The act of marrying a concubine with such a ceremony is beyond the bounds of propriety. What was even more excessive was that Prince Qin Qingluo did not sit in the main seat to receive the ceremony as is customary, but instead went out to wait for him.

After dismounting in front of the hall, her gaze fell on Chen Yi as he entered, her calm demeanor revealing an indescribable solemnity.

The master of ceremonies announced the ceremony:
"Worship the heavens and the earth-"

"Second bow to our ancestors—"

"Husband and wife pay homage——"

Chen Yi and Qin Qingluo stood facing each other, bowing deeply to one another.

At this moment, the powerful prince and his concubine bowed to each other, and all the guests in the hall held their breath, witnessing this picturesque scene...

...............

The grand ceremony has been completed.

The moment the ceremony concluded, firecrackers went off outside the hall, drums and music played, and cheers and congratulations surged like a tide.

Immediately afterwards, the grand wedding banquet officially began.

The royal palace had prepared countless delicacies, and maids were as attentive as butterflies flitting among flowers, serving wine. Guests toasted each other, laughing and chatting, with words of congratulations ringing out. The entire royal palace and even half of Dragon Tail City were immersed in the atmosphere.

After the wedding ceremony, Chen Yi, led by a maid, walked through the still noisy banquet corridor, which was no longer relevant to him for the time being, and headed towards the bridal chamber that had already been prepared. Qin Qingluo, on the other hand, had to stay in front of the hall to entertain the guests.

Although the marriage was nominally to take a concubine, the entire process was complicated and cumbersome, requiring some time to manage.

Pushing open the door and lifting the curtain, stepping into the room, the fragrance of burning red candles immediately wafts towards you.

Chen Yi looked around. The furnishings inside the room were extremely exquisite, but they were not just about piling up gold and silver; they also emphasized elegant symbolism.

The bed is adorned with a canopy depicting a hundred sons and a thousand grandsons, embroidered with images of children at play. A brocade quilt is laid on the bed, covered with red dates, peanuts, longans, and lotus seeds, symbolizing the wish for many sons. At the corner of the bed, a pair of lifelike jade dragon and phoenix carvings gleam warmly in the candlelight.

On the round rosewood table by the window, there were several plates of delicate pastries and seasonal fruits, next to a wine warmer and two crystal-clear nuptial cups.

Chen Yi looked around at the furnishings and understood that the placement of each item was a thoughtful gesture by Zhu E, and each had a symbolic meaning.

The red candles burned brightly, casting his long, solitary shadow on the wall.

Chen Yi sat alone, muttering to himself, "We've finally come this far."

After several years apart, I often miss you, but sometimes I dare not miss you too much, so I leave only a few words in my letters.

That prophecy constantly lingers in my mind: the Sun in the Spouse Palace is afflicted by a negative influence, indicating a marriage in name only.
Chen Yi's gaze swept over the empty nuptial cups.

He knew this process all too well. The nuptial wine was to be drunk by each of them, with their wrists intertwined, symbolizing that they would become one and share joys and sorrows.

People often only get married once a year, and Chen Yi wanted everything to be as perfect as possible, even if it couldn't be perfect. He would be as gentle as possible on their wedding night, like he would treat a little fox, or even more gently, to ensure the wedding would end smoothly.

Now, all we have to do is wait.

Just wait quietly.

That prophecy will then vanish like smoke.

...............

At the same time, a figure darted through the streets and alleys, passing over the uneven rooftops of Dragon Tail City.

The figure was dressed in a tight-fitting outfit, with a long sword strapped to her back and a knife at her waist. Her face was angry and her brows were furious. She moved like lightning. In the afterglow of the setting sun, as the lights gradually came on, the brightly lit palace cast her shadow longer and longer.

Before long, Min Ning had rushed to a narrow alley outside the Prince's Mansion. The bustling Prince's Mansion was right in front of her, but she suddenly stopped. A figure silently blocked the entrance to the alley.

Without saying a word, Min Ning thrust out his sword.

The sword wind was fierce, aiming straight for the opponent's throat, but the figure did not take it head-on. Instead, the figure moved like water, using soft force to barely neutralize the attack. The light veil on the face was torn by the sword energy and fell gracefully to the ground.

Under the light, a gentle face was revealed.

Zhu E raised her hand and gently touched her cheek to make sure there were no injuries before looking up at Min Ning and sighing, "Miss Min, it really is you. No wonder some unsavory rumors have been circulating in Dragon Tail City these past few days, saying that the prince forcibly took a woman from the people and stole someone's love... I was wondering who has such ability and audacity."

Min Ning sheathed his sword and stood there. Upon seeing who it was, he sneered, "The princess actually came to block the way to greet me personally. How very polite."

Zhu E ignored her sarcasm and asked, "Miss Min, since you had decided to let go and wander the world, why have you returned? What is your purpose in coming back at this moment?"

“I want to see him,” Min Ning said, enunciating each word clearly. “I want to ask him a question myself.”

"Ask him what?" Zhu E asked softly, "Ask him why he didn't choose you? Ask him why he married someone else?"

Min Ning's anger intensified, and he placed his right hand on the hilt of his knife.

Zhu E stepped forward, her voice still calm: "Since you chose to leave, you should have known this day would come. The Prince has not wronged you; it was your own choice to leave."

These words seemed to strike a nerve with Min Ning, and the anger in her eyes intensified. "Let go? I want to let go myself, not have someone force me to let go!"

The deafening sounds of gongs, drums, and cheers outside the alley only served to accentuate the deathly silence within. Min Ning suddenly laughed—a mocking laugh—and asked, "Where's the other princess? How far along are we? Have they finished the wedding ceremony? Have they drunk the nuptial wine?"

Zhu E lowered her gaze slightly, remained silent for a moment, and then said only, "Miss Min, please go back."

What if I don't reply?

"Then I cannot let you pass."

With a resounding clang, Min Ningzheng drew his longsword completely, its tip pointing directly at Zhu E, its cold light gleaming.

"Then please, Your Highness, try it yourself."

.....................

Business as usual.

Chen Yi had been waiting in the bridal chamber for quite some time, but according to etiquette, it wasn't considered too long.

Qin Qingluo said she would reduce the formalities by half, but in the end she still held a huge wedding banquet, with ten miles of red bridal procession and an eight-bearer sedan chair. She really treated him as a rightful princess and welcomed him into the family. She seemed to really not want him to have any regrets. Perhaps she was also making up for her own regrets by doing this.

After waiting for a long time, Chen Yi's mind returned to calm. Thinking it over carefully, there was really nothing to be afraid of. Gongsun Guan had not made any moves yet, and the Demonic Sect had also been silent for a while after the heresy was destroyed. Da Yin, Xiao Niang, and Ben Guniang were also unable to oppose this marriage. Although Guan Jiang's puppet had not been found, he still had himself. She was also about to enter the third rank, and... Min Ning had left, so the last variable was gone.

Although Chen Yi didn't want to do the thing of opening champagne halfway through the game, it seemed that he had no choice but to do so in this situation.

Squeak.

The sound of the door being pushed open rang out.

In most cases, only the bride is in the bridal chamber. In ordinary middle-class families, the bride often has to wait until she is drowsy before the drunken groom enters the door. But Chen Yi was not sleepy at all when that tall figure pushed open the door and entered.

Despite smelling of alcohol, the Queen was radiant. She carried a scale rod in her hand and walked slowly in.

Chen Yi took a deep breath and waited quietly for her to lift the red veil with the scale rod, which symbolized that everything would go as he wished.

However, Qin Qingluo paused in front of him.

He gently lowered the scale beam in his hand, then placed it in his palm.

Chen Yi was slightly surprised. Before he could react, the red veil on his face was lifted from the top of his head. Qin Qingluo's snake-like eyes stared at him. She quickly released the red veil from the top of her head. When the red veil fell down, the curve of her cheeks could still be seen.

"...Stunned?"

After a long pause, she asked a question that seemed rather vague.

Chen Yi snapped out of his daze, his face filled with undisguised surprise, and said, "Your Highness, you..."

"No need to say more."

Before Chen Yi could even ask the question, she coldly interrupted him.

Chen Yi composed himself, but couldn't suppress the slight movement in his eyes. It was extremely rare for this fiercely independent queen to lower her stance, yet she was now willing to do so.

Has their once precarious little home actually become so stable?

The red candle burned quietly, its tears layering on the candlestick.

The pair of exquisite nuptial cups still stand side by side, awaiting good news.

Chen Yi slowly came back to his senses, his fingertips still lingering on the cool scale bar, and the slight itch from when she quickly lifted the veil and her fingertips inadvertently brushed against his hair.

Qin Qinglu seemed a little uncomfortable under his gaze. Her snake-like eyes shifted away for a moment, then she immediately forced herself to turn back, meeting his gaze through the red silk.

“The formalities performed outside are for show.” She paused, then slowly said, “…Here, let us bow to heaven and earth once more.”

The Queen's tone left no room for argument.

“This time,” she said, looking into his eyes, each word clear and distinct, “you are the husband, and I am the wife.”

Chen Yi hesitated for a moment, then hurriedly agreed, "Okay."

He immediately stood up, his hasty movement even stirring a breeze and flickering the candlelight. He stood before Qin Qingluo, his gaze intense, all his cynicism and scheming vanished, leaving only utter seriousness.

Seeing his reaction, the last trace of doubt in Qin Qingluo's eyes quietly disappeared.

She nodded slightly, turned around first, and faced the pair of burning dragon and phoenix wedding candles inside the room. At this moment, they were the witnesses of heaven and earth and the elders.

There were no master of ceremonies, no noisy guests, only the room filled with red glow and the clearly audible sound of each other's breathing.

Chen Yi stood side by side with her, and the two bowed at the same time with perfect understanding.

Bowing to Heaven and Earth...

Second bow to the parents...

couple……

The two slowly turned around, about to bow to each other as they descended.

"No worshiping!"

A sword aura shot straight into the bridal chamber, and in an instant, its immense force shoved the solid bridal chamber open.

The sword energy pierced straight in for more than ten feet, and the candlelight was extinguished like withered grass.

Changes occurred suddenly.

Chen Yi turned his head abruptly, and a figure he never expected suddenly appeared before him. The once heroic-looking man's brows were now furrowed with anger, and when he frowned, he looked extremely worried.

"Min Ning?!"

boom!
With a loud bang, the sword energy was clamped down by Qin Qingluo's hands, trembling and swinging wildly until the Queen used her true energy to annihilate it. The red veil flew up halfway before slowly falling back down.

Her serpentine eyes had narrowed dangerously.
"Min Yuechi... what are you doing here? Didn't you leave?"

Min Ning slowly stepped forward, her face expressionless, and did not answer Qin Qingluo's question. She faced Chen Yi directly.

Chen Yi also came to his senses, his heart pounding like a drum despite the sudden change.

He remained calm, a slight smile curving his lips as he said, "Min Yuechi? Why... are you back? Did you... come to see me?"

Min Ning stopped a few feet away. Her aura was icy, and her body was as red as blood, which was still particularly glaring against the red ground.

She stared at Chen Yi and calmly replied, "That's right. I was looking for you."

Chen Yi's heart sank, and he followed her words, asking, "What...do you want with me?"

Min Ning suddenly raised his right hand, not to draw his sword, but to grab the nuptial cup, splashing wine everywhere.

Her gaze was fixed on Chen Yi, and she spoke each word with deliberation.
"Chen Zunming, aren't you a Yin official?"
Today I will beat the drum to appeal for justice and accuse Prince Qin Qinglu of Annam of stealing my beloved and forcibly taking my fiancée!
"Will you take this case or not?!"

(End of this chapter)