“Regardless of whatever misunderstandings and grudges existed in the past, Qing Xia is now a person of our Qin royal family. We of Great Qin don’t have so many strict rules. This child has lived a life of hardship, experiencing many trials and tribulations. Emperor Chu did have some entanglement with her in the past, and furthermore, her father was Emperor Chu’s teacher and also a minister of Southern Chu. After thinking it over, for this wedding officiant role, it truly must be none other than Emperor Chu.”
The King of Qin spoke gently, his voice mellow, but his eyes faintly revealed a glimmer of shrewd light.
Qing Xia stood behind Empress Chunyu with an unchanged expression, wearing a modest smile on her face, though turbulent waves surged in her heart.
The King of Qin was indeed deeply cunning and calculating. Her marrying into the Qin royal family under the identity of Zhuang Qingxia had only one obstacle—she had once been a consort of Southern Chu and had never been formally expelled from Chu Li’s palace. So even though her defection from Southern Chu was known throughout the world, bearing the title of Chu’s dissolute consort, she was still Chu Li’s woman. If the name wasn’t legitimate, then the words wouldn’t flow smoothly. Even though Northern Qin had open customs where brothers could marry sisters-in-law and sons could take stepmothers, when it involved diplomatic relations between two countries, it would inevitably invite criticism and affect the reputation of Great Qin and Qin Zhiyan.
But if Chu Li personally officiated the wedding, it would be equivalent to presenting Qing Xia to Qin Zhiyan before the entire world, and the Qin royal family wouldn’t have to bear the infamy of stealing another man’s wife.
Killing two birds with one stone—preserving Great Qin’s dignity while gaining the allegiance of the Qingpeng Seven Tribes under Qing Xia’s name. It couldn’t be called anything but brilliant.
Qing Xia clearly understood that without the nominal title of the Qingpeng Seven Tribes, without the allegiance of Penglai Immortal Valley, without the advanced technology she possessed, she never could have married so smoothly into Great Qin’s household.
The corners of Chu Li’s mouth lifted in a faint smile as he said in a deep voice: “Being valued by the King of Qin is Li’s honor.”
“Then it’s decided,” the King of Qin said with hearty laughter. “Someone, escort Princess Minrui down first. In another two hours, it will be Zhiyan’s wedding. Emperor Chu, it’s rare for you to visit once—tonight you absolutely must not return until drunk.”
Chu Li glanced at Qing Xia and smiled faintly with pointed meaning, saying: “Certainly.”
Four court ladies stepped forward, flanking Qing Xia’s sides. Qing Xia bowed to the King of Qin and Empress Chunyu, then walked before Chu Li and curtsied gracefully, her voice clear and light as she said: “I trouble Emperor Chu.”
Chu Li didn’t speak, his eyes narrowed into a straight line, the corners lowered as he looked at her indifferently.
Qing Xia slowly stood up bit by bit, her eyes downcast, slowly sweeping over his attire. Embroidered black brocade boots, a robe of the same color, a pure white translucent jade pendant hanging at his waist, an ink-colored belt embroidered with bright black silk dragon patterns, collar trimmed with cloud patterns extending to the waist, crossed front panels, and beneath the ink-black outer robe was a pure white inner garment. The northern weather was so cold, yet he wore so little. Qing Xia pressed her lips together and slowly stood up, her gaze slightly lifting upward but ultimately not raising her head, stopping only at his neck and shoulders before slowly turning around and following the four Fengfei Hall palace maids toward Zixia Pavilion where she would await her wedding.
Chu Li stood in the great hall, his posture upright, his expression indifferent. He didn’t even glance in her direction, merely standing straight and responding to the King of Qin and Empress Chunyu opposite him with gentle courtesy.
The two stood with their backs to each other, but neither looked back. The distance between them grew ever greater—one zhang, two zhang, walking out of Fengfei Hall’s gates, onto the straight imperial corridor, past two wide archways, a row of low trees, then large orchid gardens. Finally reaching a turning artificial mountain, finally, no longer visible to each other.
Even if they turned back, they could no longer see one another.
Just after turning past the artificial mountain, Qing Xia’s steps suddenly faltered. She stepped on her hem and nearly fell to the ground. Several palace maids quickly reached out, wanting to support her. Qing Xia shook her head, pushed away their hands, slowly stood up, straightened her back, and continued walking forward.
The fiery red sunset shone upon her, creating a burning texture. Her entire body felt as if it were falling into a furnace, yet her heart was desperately emanating cold air. Her face was pale as paper. Walking faster and faster, she finally arrived at Zixia Pavilion. Two rows of palace maids saw her enter and all bowed respectfully, kneeling before her. Qing Xia nodded regally and was led by someone all the way to the great hall.
Eight-treasure brocade cushions were arranged neatly on the ground. In the center sat a massive benevolent Buddha statue, with incense burners on both sides burning the finest sandalwood. Qing Xia knew this was the final blessing for her natal family before marriage, the last act of filial piety toward her parents, representing that from now on the woman would become part of another family, with only her husband in her heart. Although she had long been without family, the King of Qin still prepared this ceremony for her, showing his regard for this new bride.
Qing Xia lifted her head slightly, showing no sign of anything amiss. The palace maids arranged for her to kneel on the cushions, then someone slowly began chanting scriptures and striking wooden fish drums.
The palace maids and attendants withdrew. The chanting monks were in the inner hall, separated by a corridor and two layers of gauze curtains, unable to see what was happening here.
The great door closed with a heavy thud. Qing Xia’s straight back suddenly trembled, her brows furrowed, and a trace of dark red seeped from the corner of her mouth. She reached out to gently wipe away the scattered drops of blood, preventing them from staining her palace makeup.
Those distant chanting voices seemed to come from another world. She pulled over a soft cushion from beside her and slowly lowered her head, eyes wide. A tear finally fell with a soft sound—not sliding down her cheek but dropping directly onto her pale hand.
The Buddha above smiled compassionately, eyes gentle as water. Qing Xia’s body gradually began trembling, her hands supporting her on the ground, both slightly shaking. Today she was getting married, but this blessing ceremony felt like a tremendous mockery to her. For whom should she pray? Her deceased parents? Tang Yu still in the modern world? Zhuang Dianru who had committed suicide? Or… him?
Heaven seemed to always be toying with them again and again. Everything was like a silent pantomime—though no one spoke, the plot was so ironic.
Chu Li, I only hope you find peace and joy, only hope you break free from fate’s entanglement and obtain what you desire, only hope you can forget me, even if only hatred remains in your memory.
If possible, I truly wish I had never known you, never brought you so much harm.
If possible, I truly wish I had died on the streets of Tokyo that day, never coming to this chaotic troubled world, with you still that proud and fierce king, without a trace of weakness.
If possible, I truly wish everything could start over. I wouldn’t hurt you again, wouldn’t misunderstand you again. I even wish I could have come here when you were very, very young, to protect you from being bullied or schemed against by others.
However, there are no “ifs” after all, so I must face you, wearing phoenix crown and ceremonial robes while marrying another. You and I met when we shouldn’t have met, shared a bed when we suspected each other, parted amid heavy misunderstandings, and reunited when we understood everything but were powerless to change it.
The bond between us was always shallow, destined never to stand side by side.
I only wish for your complete wellbeing, only wish for you to ascend to supreme power, only wish for you to achieve your desires.
Tears fell drop by drop onto the back of her hand. The great hall filled with swirling incense and the sound of wooden fish drums—everything seemed to be purifying her soul. The sun set in the west, sunset dyeing the azure sky red, flowing clouds like fire, drifting and swaying. The elegant fragrance of orchids outside the hall was clear and refined—everything was so beautiful it seemed unreal.
After today, as long as she got through today.
“Princess.” A palace maid’s voice slowly sounded. The girl was only fourteen or fifteen years old, still at an innocent age that didn’t understand worldly sorrows. She was obviously very happy to be assigned to serve Qing Xia, calling out loudly: “Prince Xuan’s advance wedding procession has already entered the imperial city!”
Qing Xia was startled, then stood up, her eyes gazing toward the eastern direction, murmuring: “Zhiyan, have you come?”
The great door opened. The ceremonial nannies flanked Qing Xia’s sides, respectfully saying: “Princess, His Majesty and Her Majesty are waiting for you in the Forbidden Palace.”
Qing Xia nodded and followed behind the nannies, step by step walking toward the main hall of the Forbidden Palace. The sunset followed behind her, the ethereal red light stretching her shadow very long—slender and fragile, appearing so desolate and indifferent.
Qin people liked to hold wedding processions in the evening, representing that after tonight, it would be a new kind of life.
Qing Xia took small steps, following behind the ceremonial nannies, slowly walking forward. Indeed, after today, it would be a new kind of life.
The main gates of Taihe Palace stood wide open. The King of Qin and Empress Chunyu sat high in the seats of honor. On both sides were numerous princes and imperial sons of the Qin court. Except for the three who had died, the eighth who was still in the northern frontier, the eleventh who had gone mad, and the seventeenth guarding the western winds, basically all the rest were present. The youngest, the twenty-eighth prince, was only four years old this year. Wearing brocade silk finery, he sat properly in the last seat. Seeing Qing Xia enter, he grinned, looking very adorable.
On the outer side was a long row of high brocade seats occupied by dignitaries from various countries, led by Qi’an and Yan Hui, arranged in order. Everyone wore brocade robes and jade belts with python patterns, their expressions leisurely. Qing Xia’s eyes swept slightly—she saw Qi’an with his head lowered drinking wine, not conversing with others. Yan Hui’s sharp eyes met hers and he happily waved at her, but she didn’t see Chu Li present.
As soon as Qing Xia entered, low murmurs of admiration immediately arose from the crowd. They saw a woman in black robes with snow-white skin, bright brows and white teeth, noble and graceful bearing, sharp and beautiful eyes—possessing exceptional, peerless elegance.
The King of Qin laughed heartily and said: “Since she is a princess of our Great Qin, she is my daughter. Today I both marry off a daughter and welcome a daughter-in-law. Child, come here.”
Qing Xia slowly walked forward and stood before the imperial pathway. The King of Qin beckoned: “Come up.”