In just a few months, he had already adjusted his mindset, preparing to marry a foreign princess and secure a powerful ally for his homeland.
Yun Ya leaned back slightly and spoke in a voice only Feng Miao Jun could hear clearly: “After the wedding, Miao Feng Xian will undergo the State Preceptor’s trial. Upon passing, he will inherit the position of State Preceptor.”
Feng Miao Jun suddenly understood.
No wonder Miao Feng Xian had transformed so much. From now on, he would be a husband and the State Preceptor of the Kingdom. The responsibilities of both family and state would weigh upon his shoulders.
Responsibility and pressure were the sharpest tools to accelerate a man’s growth.
As Feng Miao Jun contemplated this, she also felt happy for her friend. Princess Hanyu was marrying a much better husband than other nobles or royals. Although it was a political marriage, the King of Jin had still done his utmost to select a good husband for his beloved daughter.
The great hall was built on a hillside, extending outward to form a massive platform. Below it was an enormous square, now packed with citizens who had come to witness the ceremony.
It was almost time.
Miao Feng Xian turned around, facing the platform and gazing directly eastward.
On this cloudless day, the first ray of golden light was breaking over the distant mountain peaks.
The sun was rising.
Rising with the sun was a tiny black speck. Initially inconspicuous, it grew larger in everyone’s vision, clearly drawing closer.
With her excellent eyesight, Feng Miao Jun—and the commoners even earlier—could make out that this was a magnificent multicolored bird. Its body was crimson gold, with longer tail feathers of beautiful bright blue. Every wing beat created flowing, shimmering colors, a sight too beautiful to describe.
Feng Miao Jun, having thoroughly studied the wedding protocol, couldn’t help but murmur: “The phoenix carriage.”
This colorful phoenix was the Kingdom’s divine guardian beast, normally hibernating in the Western Mountains. Only for the most important national ceremonies would it be invited to assist. This showed how much importance the King of the Kingdom placed on this alliance marriage.
For the royal wedding, the colorful phoenix would carry the bride from the Moon Lake Temple, rising simultaneously with the eastern sun, and deliver the bride to this circular altar to marry the King (Prince) when sunlight covered the land.
This was the highest standard of the Kingdom’s wedding customs.
With the phoenix’s speed, it could arrive in an instant. But it circled the entire Yin Zi City nine complete times, its clear cry reaching the clouds. It emanated its aura of light which, with the sun’s reflection, illuminated nearly the entire ancient city of Yin Zi with three-colored radiance.
The royal family of the Kingdom received exclamations of wonder from all citizens and guests.
Feng Miao Jun looked toward the main seat where the King of the Kingdom, over sixty years old, sat. From his physique alone, Feng Miao Jun understood whom Miao Feng Xian had inherited his build from. Unfortunately, his hair had already turned gray-white, his face showed age spots, his eyelids drooped, and even the light in his eyes no longer held the vigor of his prime years. Looking at him, Feng Miao Jun saw a weakened old tiger—the ruler of a nation, finally in his twilight years.
Seated beside him was Crown Prince Miao Feng Yuan. Born of the same mother as Miao Feng Xian, they shared similar contours and features, though his frame was not as robust as his younger brother’s, and his countenance appeared gentler. Feng Miao Jun knew that the Crown Prince was renowned for his gentle and compliant nature. He treated his brother with sincerity and did not fear him taking on the important role of State Preceptor—knowing that once a royal family member becomes State Preceptor, they could easily create pressure to divide or seize power from the sovereign.
Seated to the left and below the King was the Kingdom’s State Preceptor, even older than the King. His hair and beard were pure white, and his back was somewhat hunched, precisely matching Feng Miao Jun’s initial image of a State Preceptor: an old man with a white beard.
The colorful phoenix finally completed its nine circles above Yin Zi City, folded its wings, and slowly descended onto the platform of the temple. Its form was so massive that the platform could not fully contain it; its long tail feathers hung over the edge, giving the citizens below an extraordinarily magnificent view of its back.
Then, it lowered its body, bowing its shoulders before the King. Only then did people notice a small red jade palanquin on its back—compact yet exquisitely ornate.
The ceremonial official announced in a loud voice: “Request the bride to exit the palanquin!” He employed a mystical technique that allowed even those in the square below to hear.
Simultaneously, the phoenix touched the ground with its wing, forming a feathered bridge so the bride could walk from its back to the ground.
These steps could not be assisted by others; the bride must walk them herself to demonstrate strength and responsibility. The Kingdom had always had a tradition of women being as capable as men, especially since the founding Queen had removed her wedding attire to don armor and fought alongside her husband for sixteen years—a beautiful tale. When she married, she wore her wedding dress and jumped down from the phoenix’s back herself, thus starting this custom for later kings’ weddings.
The feathered back was soft and slippery, but Princess Hanyu had martial skills and was not like typical delicate women. Feng Miao Jun wasn’t too worried she would embarrass herself. Nevertheless, she held her breath in anticipation like everyone else.
A phoenix carrying a golden palanquin, with all eyes watching—this was the dream wedding of every unmarried girl. Feng Miao Jun also spotted Mo Tizhun, representing the King of Jin in the main seat, his expression solemn yet emotional.
As everyone waited expectantly, the red curtain of the jade palanquin moved slightly.
It wasn’t someone walking out, but rather the mid-mountain breeze stirring it.
Then, it settled down, resting quietly on the phoenix’s back.
Was the bride shy, afraid to come out?
The ceremonial official called again, but this time in a lower voice that only those within two or three hundred yards could hear.
The jade palanquin remained silent, with no one emerging.
Even the most obtuse person sensed something was wrong. Murmuring voices began to rise from the guest seats. From Feng Miao Jun’s angle, Miao Feng Xian’s back remained ramrod straight, but the fist hanging at his side was now tightly clenched.
He turned to look at the King, who nodded.
So Miao Feng Xian took three steps as two, leaped to the front of the phoenix, and yanked open the palanquin curtain!
His figure did not completely block the palanquin. The ceremonial seats were arranged in a circle, and some guests could see inside through the gaps.
As luck would have it, this included Yun Ya and his companions.
Feng Miao Jun glanced over and was stunned the next second:
The jade palanquin was empty!
Where was Princess Hanyu? Where had the bride gone?
Amid the crowd’s exclamations, Miao Feng Xian suddenly bent down and picked something up from the couch.
When he unfolded it, Feng Miao Jun saw it was a letter.
An ominous presentiment suddenly flashed through her mind.
Miao Feng Xian turned his head and first spoke to the phoenix, which shook its head and responded in a grand voice: “No one has entered or exited.”
Only then did Miao Feng Xian unfold the paper and quickly read it.
If his expression when pulling open the palanquin curtain was gloomy, now it was as black as the bottom of a pot.
Seeing this, the King could no longer sit still and called out: “What is happening here!”
The phoenix twisted its long neck, picked up the jade palanquin with its beak, and placed it on the ground. Miao Feng Xian strode toward the main seat and presented the letter to the King: “Father, please look.”
The King read for a few moments, then suddenly struck the back of his chair forcefully, shouting angrily: “This is outrageous!” He snatched the letter and slapped it down in front of Mo Tizhun, “State Preceptor Mo, what is the meaning of this!”