“First bow to Heaven and Earth.” The matchmaker gave the groom a gentle, trembling push.

On any ordinary day, she would never have dared to touch a prince of the Di family.

Today, she had not only gotten to see him up close but had even touched him — the young matchmaker no longer cared whether she’d receive her red envelope of tip money.

At that moment, the groom had eyes only for the bride, and the bride had eyes only for the groom; naturally, neither of them noticed such small details.

Hand in hand, the two faced the hall’s entrance.

Everyone in the hall, including Feng Li, stepped back to clear the space.

“Now, will the newlyweds please bow to Heaven and Earth. Bow!” the matchmaker called out.

Di Wu Ya and Feng Jiu’er turned to look at each other at the same moment, then bent down together, their hands — one large, one small — still tightly clasped.

“Second bow to the parents.” the matchmaker continued.

Di Wu Ya, holding Feng Jiu’er’s hand, stood back up together with her, and they turned around.

Feng Li sat on a wooden chair draped with a red cloth, smiling as he watched the couple.

Di Wu Ya and Feng Jiu’er extended their hands forward and bent to kneel, their foreheads both touching the red carpet.

“Good, good, good, get up.” Feng Li waved his hand, his eyes reddening, and stood to help them up.

Today was his daughter’s happiest day — if only her mother could have been here to see it.

“Thank you, Father.” Feng Jiu’er hugged Feng Li’s hand back.

“Thank you, Father.” A faint blush of bashfulness rose on Di Wu Ya’s face.

“Congratulations to the newlyweds. May you enjoy a hundred years of happiness together.” The matchmaker’s voice grew hoarse with excitement.

“And finally, will the husband and wife please bow to each other. After this bow, you will truly be husband and wife.”

“My lord, please. Young Mistress, please.”

Feng Jiu’er supported Feng Li as he settled back onto the wooden chair, then turned around.

Di Wu Ya took her hand, and together they stepped back and knelt facing each other.

“Husband and wife, bow to each other!” the matchmaker announced loudly.

As Feng Jiu’er watched the man bow before her, she lowered her head, and two lines of tears slid down her cheeks.

Mother, can you see this? Your daughter is so happy today!

Mother, don’t worry. From now on, he and I will take care of Father together.

“The ceremony is complete! Congratulations to the Young Mistress, congratulations to the Young Master!” The matchmaker turned to face the crowd and raised her hands.

“Congratulations to the Young Mistress! Congratulations to the Young Master!” everyone shouted in unison.

The matchmaker lowered her hands, and the crowd quieted down.

“Now, please, let the newlyweds take their seats, and let us all enjoy the wonderful performances together.” the matchmaker said.

Feng Li stood, and the wooden chair was immediately carried away.

“Lord Ye, Young Mistress, Young Master, this way please.” Yu Jingfeng said with a bow, gesturing the way.

Feng Li, Feng Jiu’er, and Di Wu Ya were led to the seats of honor, and everyone else took their seats in order of rank.

Seated to the left of the honored seats were Yue Jianfei and Tang Xiaohua; to the right sat the Feng Jiang family of three.

Little Xiaojiang, seeming to sense something himself, blinked his small eyes now and then, utterly adorable.

Once everyone was seated, the first performance began.

It was a short-blade dance performed by eight women of Heaven’s Mechanism Hall, choreographed by Xiao Yingtao and refined under Feng Jiu’er’s guidance.

Calling it a dance almost undersold it — it was really a form of martial arts meant to build strength and vigor.

The short-blade dance blended feminine strength and grace, and it was a performance that could stand proudly before anyone.

When the dance concluded, it earned thunderous applause from the whole hall.

“Next, will the two commanders of the Dragon Martial Army please step forward to demonstrate their swordsmanship.” Yu Jingfeng waved his arm.

“The Prince has said that whichever side wins will receive a generous reward.”

“May I offer a suggestion?” Feng Jiu’er stood up. “It’s no fun having the Dragon Martial Army fight itself. It should be Heaven’s Mechanism Hall against the Dragon Martial Army.”

“For our side, I propose Jian Yi. What do you say?”