Qing Xia nodded and curtsied, then with small steps, slowly walked up the imperial platform step by step and knelt beside the King of Qin. The King of Qin smiled slightly, took out a jade ruyi scepter of pure emerald green from a brocade box beside him, and handed it to Qing Xia saying: “I hope you will assist Yan’er well in the future. May husband and wife be of one heart, and may all things go as you wish.”

Qing Xia spread both hands flat, kowtowed to the ground, and said solemnly: “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

The King of Qin laughed heartily and said: “Are you still calling me Your Majesty?”

Qing Xia was startled, bit her lip, and said: “Thank you, Imperial Father.”

“Haha, good! From now on, you are my daughter-in-law, you are Princess Xuan of our Great Qin royal family!”

Empress Chunyu smiled: “I’ve seen so many children get married, but I’ve never seen Your Majesty this happy.”

Everyone quickly spoke pleasing words, chattering all at once, and the entire great hall immediately became noisy.

A bell suddenly rang, and the ceremonial official loudly called: “The new bride Princess Xuan serves tea to the Sacred Emperor and Empress, to all uncles and elders, to dear friends and noble guests, and to honored visitors from afar!”

Two rows of serving girls knelt and came forward. Qing Xia picked up a cup of clear tea, lowered her head and presented it, saying: “Imperial Father, please drink tea.”

The King of Qin smiled and accepted it. An attendant beside him handed Qing Xia a small red booklet. Qing Xia knew this was the so-called red envelope, but since the royal family was wealthy and powerful, this was merely a list of the gifts.

After serving tea to the King of Qin, next was Empress Chunyu. The kind empress smiled as she accepted the teacup and took a sip, then removed a jade bracelet from her wrist and placed it on Qing Xia’s hand. Qing Xia thanked her and stepped down from the imperial platform. Starting with the Crown Prince, she served tea all the way down. The King of Qin indeed had many sons. By the time she finished the round, the little serving girl behind her was already holding a full box of gift lists. Among them, except for the Seventh Prince and Ninth Prince who looked somewhat displeased, everyone was fairly respectful and courteous. Even Prince Yan was smiling warmly, very gentle.

Finally it was the turn of the foreign dignitaries. Qing Xia came before Qi’an, picked up a teacup, handed it to Qi’an, and said courteously: “Thank you, Prince Qi, for coming to attend my wedding. Please drink tea, Your Highness.”

Qi’an looked at Qing Xia, his eyes pitch black, carrying a trace that Qing Xia couldn’t understand. Unusually, he said nothing, picked up the teacup, and like drinking wine, tilted his head back and drained it. An attendant behind him brought forward a massive brocade box that looked quite heavy—it actually required four people together to lift it.

The Qin royal family members were greatly surprised. The King of Qin asked: “I wonder what the Prince has given my daughter-in-law that is so heavy?”

Qi’an’s eyes were dark and deep. After pondering silently for a long while, he suddenly stood up and lifted the lid of the brocade box. Everyone looked and were immediately shocked, voices buzzing all at once.

Inside were undulating hills, winding waterways, houses and city walls—everything was there. It was actually a miniature map of a city.

Qi’an said in a deep voice: “Qing Xia grew up in our Eastern Qi from childhood, just like, just like she was my younger sister. Master Zhuang was also my enlightenment teacher. Today at her wedding, I should naturally show my regard. Here is the title deed of Shuofang City, the garrison command, and the aerial map. Today I present them all to her.”

He then turned around, staring intently into Qing Xia’s eyes, and said solemnly: “Xia’er, you and I have known each other for many years. Master Zhuang is no longer here. This Shuofang City shall be your natal home from now on—you can return anytime. I have removed it from Eastern Qi’s territory and designated it as a free city. There are five thousand troops stationed in the city, all refugees from the seas. Their families and children are all in the city, so you need not worry about their loyalty. From now on, you are the City Lord of Shuofang. After all, I was your big brother for so many years—this is the only thing I can do for you.”

Qing Xia’s eyes became slightly moist, with a bitter-sweet feeling rising in her heart. If the real Zhuang Qingxia could see this scene, perhaps she too would rest in peace with a smile. She raised her head, slowly curved her lips, and said with a smile: “Thank you, Big Brother.”

Qi’an’s eyes immediately tightened, showing indiscernible emotions. He nodded and said nothing more, slowly sitting back down.

Yan Hui took the teacup and said sourly: “Truly, one misstep becomes an eternal regret. Today I can only watch an old friend in new attire, marrying as another man’s wife. What can be done? What can be done? Never mind—a gentleman helps others achieve their happiness. I wish the young lady a happy marriage and lifelong happiness.”

Qing Xia smiled and nodded, accepted Yan Hui’s congratulatory gift, and continued serving tea all the way down.

Afterward, the astrologers from the Imperial Observatory brought forward their divination results to present to the great hall—all were auspicious words of wealth, honor, peace, and joy.

As the sky gradually darkened, tremendous sounds of silk and bamboo instruments roared, lights flickered throughout the sky, rows of palace lanterns looked like clusters of flowers, beautiful as brocade. Palace maids in bright red attire shuttled between the palace halls, colorful silk covered the plaza, brilliant fireworks exploded in the sky, filling the heavens with clusters of flowers and overflowing light. The entire Qin Palace was nearly boiling with excitement.

The King of Qin led everyone to the white jade platform outside the gates of Taihe Hall. They saw fire trees and silver flowers filling the sky, extraordinarily colorful and splendid. The King of Qin and Empress Chunyu each held one of Qing Xia’s hands, standing on the white jade platform. Behind them followed Great Qin’s many princes, envoys from various parties, and layers upon layers of serving girls and palace personnel. Further back were Great Qin’s princesses and consorts from various palaces. Princess Hong Xiao, the King of Qin’s sister, served as the wedding attendant for this occasion, staying by Qing Xia’s side.

Suddenly, a massive bell chimed, heavy and ancient, prolonged and melodious.

Just then, a shooting star suddenly streaked across the distant horizon. Everyone was startled. An astrologer, very alert, immediately shouted loudly: “Prince Xuan’s wedding brings celestial auspiciousness! Great joy, great joy!”

All the servants throughout Qin Palace knelt on the ground in unison, countless voices suddenly shouting together: “Celestial auspiciousness descends, the Qin clan rises again, long live our king, long live, long live!”

With a thunderous sound, a firework suddenly shot into the sky, instantly brilliant and dazzling, colorful and magnificent. The King of Qin was overjoyed, laughing heartily.

Just then, clear sounds of horse hooves suddenly rang out. Everyone focused their gaze and saw a cavalry unit thundering forward. The leader was a man in black robes, with a face like polished jade, eyes like bright stars, sword-like brows extending to his temples. He sat high upon a black horse, handsome and elegant, his sharp presence compelling.

Everyone was startled to see him, but only the King of Qin laughed loudly: “Master Zhuang was once a minister of Southern Chu. Having Emperor Chu serve as the wedding officiant is most appropriate. Emperor Chu, now I must trouble you to lead the ceremonial officials and envoys to personally escort my daughter-in-law to my son’s hands. He is waiting for you all outside the Zijin Gate right now.”

Tremendous clamoring suddenly arose. Qi’an frowned deeply, his eyes gazing intently at Qing Xia. Even Yan Hui was somewhat moved, his usually dissolute peach blossom eyes narrowing slightly, brows raised, quietly contemplating.

Chu Li sat on his horse, looking at the black-robed woman standing high on the platform, as if gazing at a distant lighthouse. Finally he smiled and nodded, saying with heroic bearing: “I will not fail this mission.”

“That’s good,” the King of Qin said meaningfully. “Qing Xia, first go toast Emperor Chu with a cup of wine.”

Qing Xia’s back stiffened slightly, her complexion becoming somewhat pale. She forcibly suppressed her trembling impulses, took a deep breath, extended her pale hands to pick up a jade cup, and slowly walked down the jade platform.

This was a very long journey. The emperor held the position of nine and five supremacy, so these steps numbered exactly forty-five. Qing Xia wore gorgeous palace attire, her cloud-like hair piled high, her brows and eyes like a painting. She straightened her neck and walked toward him step by step.

Countless gazes shot toward them. A long wind swirled, whistling sounds arose, lifting her robes and long hair. Under the black canopy of sky, there was an otherworldly, magnificent beauty. Chu Li watched her, his gaze calm, his eyes like water, his lips tightly pressed together. He said not a word in silence, only staring fixedly at her, watching her approach step by step.

Those were not forty-five steps, but the tumultuous years between them. With each step she took, she would recall those scenes belonging to him—warm or painful or sad or moving. She remembered his forbearance, his hardships, his repeated life-risking rescues, his despairing eyes when repeatedly misunderstood by her.

At this point, who was right and who was wrong no longer mattered. From now on, from now on, there would never again be this person in her life, never again this shadow, never again the right to remember. From now on, they would finally be strangers at the ends of the earth, finally sever their entanglements, finally be forever separated like distant stars.

Chu Li jumped down from his horse and stood facing Qing Xia.

Qing Xia stopped before him, tilting her head up slightly, looking at his pitch-black eyes. Her gaze wavered slightly, but she still pressed her lips together, smiled faintly, raised the wine cup, and said softly: “The future is uncertain, the journey long and far. You must take care of yourself.”

Chu Li looked down at her. She was indeed very beautiful today. Although they had already met, only at this moment could he look at her so earnestly. Her eyes were curved—she was smiling happily, not like when she was by his side, when her brows were always furrowed. She wore gorgeous palace attire, dazzling and eye-catching, not like when she was by his side, always in military uniform, either trying to deceive him or trying to deceive others. She could openly and legitimately marry that man before the entire world, enjoying the worship of all people and the congratulatory blessings of an entire family, not like when she was by his side, sneaking in through the back door, staying coldly and quietly in the palace, even having to live in the cold, dilapidated Cold Palace under the name of dissolute consort.

She should indeed be happy. That man did better than he had.

His gaze was calm, no longer that of the impetuous young prince of the past. His voice was low, carrying an indescribable hoarseness. He looked at her and asked word by word: “You… have decided?”

Qing Xia bit her lower lip slightly, looking at this man before her who held love, hatred, attachment, and sorrow. Finally she nodded heavily and said solemnly: “I have decided.”

A great wind howled forward, shattering their voices. Those who stretched their ears hoping to overhear something all returned empty-handed. Chu Li looked at her face, feeling as if those few words were instantly blown into the high sky by the hurricane, whistling and tumbling in the vast expanse, striking his heart again and again. Those bygone years swirled in his heart like pheasants with wings—though beautiful, they could never fly high.