“I’ve come to marry you, Shen Jiaojiao.”

His tone was casual, but the gesture of extending his hand from horseback was exceedingly earnest. So dashing and unrestrained, disregarding propriety, yet it made people feel as if the world had fallen silent, with only this man’s image deeply etched in their hearts, unforgettable at first sight.

The surrounding crowd grew quiet.

Shen Miao, veiled by her bridal cover, could see nothing, only hearing the voice from before her. She instinctively lifted her head, and in the next moment, felt her hand being held as something was placed on her fingertip.

The touch was cool and gentle, leaving her somewhat bewildered.

The surrounding crowd gasped in astonishment.

Throughout history, each Prince of the First Rank had his own archer’s ring. The ring wasn’t merely a decoration, but more importantly, a symbol of status. With this ring, one could command subordinates at will. Of course, ordinarily, royal nobility were recognized wherever they went, so the ring wasn’t necessary, but no one had ever seen someone give away the ring symbolizing a Prince’s authority.

This wasn’t just giving away a ring—it meant that the Prince of Rui had handed over his power to command his subordinates to Shen Miao. With this ring, people would view Shen Miao as they would the Prince himself.

This was surrendering one’s power into another’s hands, and he was giving it to a woman.

People had seen husbands who cherished their wives, but never to this extent. The young ladies around them were consumed with envy and jealousy. Although the Prince of Rui wore a mask, his manner was extraordinary. He was naturally of noble status and also generous. The only way they could console themselves was by thinking that since the Prince was so outstanding, he must have many beauties surrounding him. Shen Miao wasn’t particularly stunning, so surely she would soon fall out of the Prince’s favor.

Who would have thought the groom would directly prove them wrong with his actions? In this world, this was probably the first time anyone had seen a man cherish his wife so much.

How could Shen Miao, the Fifth Miss of the Shen family, be so fortunate? What blessing had she cultivated in her previous life?

Yet in this world, misfortune lurks behind fortune, and fortune behind misfortune. The crowd could never have imagined what Shen Miao had experienced in her previous life.

After placing the ring on Shen Miao’s finger, the Prince of Rui’s thin lips curved upward as he leaned down slightly, planting a kiss on the back of her hand.

The tingling sensation on the back of her hand made Shen Miao naturally guess what it was, causing her face to redden. Fortunately, the bridal veil covered her, and others couldn’t see her embarrassment.

The Prince straightened, and Mistress Mei promptly sang happily: “Bring in the betrothal gifts and the dowry!”

After bringing in the dowry, it was time for the mother to personally feed the new bride a sesame ball.

The sesame balls were made small, mixed with peanuts, lotus seeds, and sesame, symbolizing the wish for early conception of children. Luo Xueyan scooped one with a small spoon. Shen Miao slightly lifted a corner of her veil and swallowed the sesame ball fed by Luo Xueyan. Luo Xueyan’s eyes grew moist: “Jiaojiao, after marriage, never let yourself be wronged.”

Shen Miao’s heart stirred, and she replied, “I understand, Mother.”

Shen Xin turned away, secretly wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. As a grown man and a commander who had led countless soldiers, it wouldn’t be appropriate to cry in front of others. Yet he felt deeply sorrowful. Regarding Shen Miao, Shen Xin always felt he owed her greatly, especially after that conversation with Xie Jingxing, when he realized that while they thought they had raised Shen Miao in a greenhouse, they hadn’t known that the greenhouse was full of snakes, rats, and ants. During those years when no one noticed, she had gradually grown up.

Before he could make amends, before he could do anything, Shen Miao was getting married. From a crying infant to a babbling little girl, to the graceful bride she was now, Shen Xin was filled with emotion.

Shen Qiu approached; the bride’s brother was responsible for carrying her to the bridal sedan.

Shen Miao lay on Shen Qiu’s back, who walked particularly slowly, whispering, “Sister, you’re too thin. If after marrying into Great Liang, when I see you again, you’re even a tiny bit thinner than today, I’m going to settle accounts with the Prince of Rui.”

Shen Miao: “…”

“Hurry up and give me a niece, or a nephew is fine too.” Shen Qiu’s voice was simple and honest, showing none of his iron-blooded bravery from the battlefield. He said, “I will come to see you.”

Shen Miao buried her head against Shen Qiu’s neck, whining like she did as a child: “You must.”

The Prince of Rui, sitting on horseback, watched this scene, his brow furrowing severely.

After Shen Qiu carried Shen Miao to the sedan and the curtain was lowered, Mistress Mei began to sing.

“The greatest blessing in the world is the joy of marriage.

Have you not heard of the sage, who with a simple meal and drink in a humble alley, though others could not bear his worry, never changed his joy, and for three months did not stray from benevolence? The lord is just so.

Oh, how beautiful is the Fifth Miss of the Shen family! At the beginning of Nüwa’s creation, she refined ten thousand stones to repair the sky, fashioning the brilliant outside, transforming the luxuriant inside, truly a fair and virtuous maiden.

Heaven created the multitude of people, each with their attributes. The lord’s bearing is dignified, his manner like the Wild Goose Pagoda, maintaining his true self even among countless others. The Fifth Miss of the Shen family, from Ming Qi’s Dingcheng, with thoughtful emotions, gentle virtue, extraordinary distinction from the vulgar, and bewitching elegance. Her appearance is divine and dignified, her manner restrained and measured. Even the beauty of Xishi could not match hers.

Today they form a bond of Qin and Jin, united as husband and wife, their love never to part.

The first yang stirs, two families harmonize, celebrating the Three Abundances, possessing the Four Beauties, the Five Generations will flourish with the phoenix omen.

The Six Rites completed, the Seven Virtuous gathered, joining the Eight Elements, singing the Nine Harmonies, the Ten Completions without flaw, envying the harmony of the male and female phoenix.

A pair of jade figures leaves a small impression, an unmatched statesman forms a good match.”

“Raise the sedan, the marriage is complete!”

Mistress Mei’s voice was naturally joyful and clear, and the lyrics beautiful. When she finished singing, the crowd applauded and cheered. Outside, servants prepared to toss gold-foiled copper coins, throwing them outward handfuls at a time, making a splendid sight. The crowd surged forward, saying auspicious words while scrambling for the wedding money and sweets.

It was truly a bustling scene.

Shen Miao sat in the bridal sedan. Although she couldn’t see the scene outside, she could hear everything around her. The lively atmosphere made her heart flutter anxiously.

She comforted herself, thinking it wasn’t the first time she’d been in a bridal sedan, so why be nervous? Yet going through it again, her hands still trembled uncontrollably. Looking down, she saw the white jade archer’s ring on her fingertip, gleaming with a lustrous, clean shine. She couldn’t help but touch it.

Outside, the sedan bearers began to lift the bridal sedan. The bearers that Xie Jingxing found were naturally excellent, carrying the sedan very steadily without any swaying.

The Prince of Rui sat on his tall horse, leading at the front. His horse was adorned with large flowers made of red silk, looking very spirited. His posture was relaxed yet elegant, and wherever he went, the common people cheered and celebrated.

This was truly precious, for the Prince of Rui was not a Ming Qi native, and the relationship between Great Liang and Ming Qi was currently very delicate. Yet despite this, the commoners seemed to hold much respect for the Prince of Rui, perhaps because of his generosity, or perhaps because some people naturally make others feel comfortable. In any case, the Prince’s marriage could be considered a celebration for all.

Behind the Prince of Rui was the bridal sedan carried by the bearers. On both sides, the Prince’s carriage team continuously tossed out wedding money. It was said that today the Prince would circle the entire Dingcheng city for his wedding, tossing money all the way—truly too generous.

Further back was the Shen family’s dowry procession. The Shen family was not as ostentatious as the Prince of Rui; their boxes were properly arranged. People counted a total of fifty carts, exactly half of what the Prince had sent as betrothal gifts. Though the dowry couldn’t compare to the Prince’s betrothal gifts, it was not small. It’s worth noting that even when the Crown Prince married, the Crown Princess’s dowry was only forty-two carts, while the Shen family had a full eight more. Most importantly, the Shen family wasn’t a wealthy merchant family; although comfortable, they were certainly not overflowing with riches.

This gesture sufficiently demonstrated Shen Miao’s position in the hearts of Shen Xin and his wife.

At the back of the crowd, Luo Xueyan, riding horseback alongside the dowry procession, secretly turned to Shen Xin and asked, “Is this alright?”

Shen Xin replied, “If he dares to give, we dare to accept. Besides, he sent ninety-nine carts, and our family can’t afford that much dowry. If we give less, we’ll be laughed at.”

Luo Xueyan said nothing more.

Of Shen Miao’s fifty-cart dowry, twenty carts were provided by the Prince of Rui. That day when the Prince came to deliver the dowry, a slip of paper fell from the dowry chest. Luo Xueyan saw clearly that it was the dowry list for Shen Miao.

The Prince also knew that his betrothal gifts were too extravagant, and the Shen family couldn’t possibly provide a matching dowry, so he simply resolved the dowry himself. Although it was only twenty carts, these twenty were solid and full. So in this way, the Prince sent one hundred and nineteen carts of dowry to the Shen family.

It was precisely because of this that Shen Qiu’s impression of the Prince of Rui improved somewhat later, as the other party was not stingy with money for Shen Miao’s marriage, proving to be a very straightforward person.

The streets were filled with gongs, drums, and joy. Fu Xiuyi, blending into the crowd, didn’t continue following. He found this scene particularly striking and turned away coldly, walking away with his back to the bridal sedan.

Equally aggrieved was Emperor Wenhui. Emperor Wenhui had long heard from his subordinates that the Prince of Rui’s marriage was grander than his imperial wedding. This was slapping his face—the more splendid the Prince made it, the more it highlighted the Ming Qi royal family’s decline.

Of course, what most displeased Emperor Wenhui was not this, but rather that he had never wanted this marriage in the first place. If not for the Prince of Rui threatening him with several cities at the border, he would never have made such a move. Though he didn’t want Shen Miao’s marriage, he still had to issue an imperial decree and give it to the Prince of Rui. The excellent chess piece of the Shen family was wasted just like that.

 Of the Prince’s marriage today, the scene of the Prince threatening him in the imperial study to grant the marriage flashed in his mind, filling his chest with suppressed anger. He wouldn’t deliberately seek out this displeasure. So he had a eunuch accept the wedding gifts sent by the Prince of Rui, closed the palace gates, and returned to Yangxin Hall to rest, forbidding anyone to disturb him.

This marriage was to be completed in Ming Qi, and the bridal sedan was to be carried around Dingcheng city, but a wedding involves two parties. The Prince of Rui’s family was in Great Liang, so ordinarily after circling the city gates, the sedan would directly leave the city, but the Prince insisted on completing all rituals in Dingcheng.

So the ritual of paying respects to parents was held at the altar in Dingcheng.

The Dingcheng altar was where the emperor established his empress; needless to say, this was another extra reward that the Prince of Rui had asked from Emperor Wenhui. No matter how unwilling Emperor Wenhui was in his heart, he could only agree.

At the altar, Mistress Mei carefully helped Shen Miao down from the bridal sedan, while Luo Xueyan and Shen Xin, who had accompanied them, sat on the other side of the altar.

Bowing to heaven and earth, bowing to parents, husband and wife bowing to each other.

This was in Ming Qi, so naturally Luo Xueyan and Shen Xin received the bows from Shen Miao and her husband, but the Prince of Rui’s imperial father and mother had passed away years ago. The couple could only pour wine on the ground, as a form of worship.

Finally, husband and wife bowed to each other, completing the ceremony. At this point, it was announced that from now on, Shen Miao was the Princess of Rui. Where the chicken goes, the hen follows; where the dog goes, the bitch follows—she was now a person of Great Liang.

Amidst the crowd’s cheers and laughter, far from the crowd, Ji Yushu was speaking with someone beside him.

“Ah, I didn’t expect Third Brother to marry Miss Shen,” he sighed. “Two years ago, I noticed that Third Brother had something unusual for the Shen Fifth Miss, but I didn’t expect her to become my sister-in-law now. But it’s quite good. I originally thought that, given Third Brother’s temperament, ordinary girls might not be able to handle him, but the Shen Fifth Miss is different. With her around, I can rest easy.”

Across from him stood someone dressed as a servant of the Prince of Rui’s household, with ordinary features—it was Pei Lang in disguise.

Pei Lang eventually agreed to follow Shen Miao to Great Liang, just as she had said. He had thoroughly offended Fu Xiuyi, and staying in Ming Qi would not only bring him no good but might also implicate Liu Ying. Pei Lang had many eyes and ears; perhaps one day he would investigate his background. It would be better to take Liu Ying with him to Great Liang, removing the source of the problem, so that even if Pei Lang discovered something, he could do nothing about it.

On one hand, he was considering Liu Ying; on the other hand, it was because Pei Lang himself wanted to do this.

As for knowing that the Prince of Rui’s true identity was Xie Jingxing, that happened just a few days ago. While recovering at the Prince’s manor, he went to the courtyard at night and happened to see the Prince with his back turned. When he approached to greet and pay respects, he saw the Prince’s true face.

The Prince wasn’t wearing his mask.

Pei Lang knew that someone like the Prince of Rui, if he wanted to conceal something, would certainly not be so careless. He had deliberately “accidentally” let Pei Lang see his face. Perhaps he was also using his identity to declare something.

Now Pei Lang understood why the Prince did that.

Pei Lang had always urged Shen Miao to carefully consider her marriage to the Prince of Rui, as her understanding of a Prince of Great Liang was ultimately too shallow. But with the Prince being Xie Jingxing, many things were different. Xie Jingxing and Shen Miao knew each other and seemed to have some connection.

Since Shen Miao already knew that Xie Jingxing’s identity was a Prince of Great Liang, their relationship must be extraordinary.

He looked up at the couple in wedding attire on the altar, a talented man and a beautiful woman, truly a perfect match. An inexplicable feeling of sourness welled up in his heart.

Someone like Shen Miao, though always calculating people’s hearts and using everything around her that could be used, was an extremely stubborn person. Once she decided on something, no one could change it. For instance, she disliked Pei Lang, so she used every means, even risking her life, to break ties with him.

If she hadn’t been willing, no one could have forced her.

His gaze fell on the Prince of Rui again.

Creating such a grand ceremony, forcing the Ming Qi royal family to retreat step by step—who would believe that Great Liang would forever remain in a corner of the world?

She was a golden phoenix about to soar through the nine heavens, and he was a true dragon capable of summoning wind and rain.

Ji Yushu glanced at him, patted his shoulder, and spoke sympathetically: “A beautiful woman is desired by all gentlemen. Master Pei, don’t be too sad. When we return to Great Liang, with Master Pei’s elegance, many young ladies will admire you. At that time, I’ll have Miss Shao Yao introduce her sisters to you.”

Although Ji Yushu still remembered being locked in the pagoda prison because of Pei Lang, seeing Pei Lang so melancholy today, he ultimately didn’t kick him while he was down.

Pei Lang was embarrassed that his thoughts were seen by others, yet stubbornly kept looking at the couple, unwilling to turn away.

Ji Yushu sighed softly to himself.

Gao Yang was also to return to Great Liang today, but as he was nominally Ming Qi’s Imperial Physician, he had certain status and things to pack. If Emperor Wenhui knew that Gao Yang had swept away all the precious medicines from the Imperial Hospital to bring back to Great Liang, one wonders what his expression would be.

After all this was done and the complex, tedious rituals were meticulously completed, it was already afternoon. It was time to leave the city.

Shen Miao marrying the Prince of Rui was called “marrying far away.” Leaving through Dingcheng city gate, from then on, mountains high and waters long, she would be a person of Great Liang.

The Shen family members naturally all followed along.

Luo Tan, however, did not go. She said Shen Miao wouldn’t take her along to Great Liang, so she felt depressed. Today she had followed them to tour Dingcheng during the day, but she refused to witness the scene of parting at the city gate. The others could do nothing about it and had to let it be.

In the Princess’s manor in Dingcheng, Princess Rongxin was sitting anxiously inside.

“Your Highness, the Prince of Rui’s bridal sedan is almost at the city gate,” reported the messenger.

Princess Rongxin irritably waved her hand, dismissing the servant. She collapsed in a chair, anxiously biting her lip.

That letter revealed Xie Jingxing’s true identity. She was to send the letter to Emperor Wenhui’s hands in the palace—this was her responsibility as a Ming Qi princess.

Since ancient times, loyalty and righteousness have been difficult to maintain together; between family affection and country, one can only choose one. Although Xie Jingxing and she had an indelible bond even closer than that of mother and son, the distance between the two countries made this relationship ultimately impure.

If Xie Jingxing died because of this, Princess Rongxin would be sad, but if she did nothing and let Xie Jingxing take this secret back to Great Liang, Princess Rongxin would regret it.

So at the final moment, she chose to personally sever this bit of attachment and affection.

Princess Rongxin had an absolute understanding of her royal brother regarding what would happen after Xie Jingxing’s identity was exposed. Perhaps because of Great Liang’s national power, she wouldn’t do anything that would cause Xie Jingxing’s death, but it was possible to ruin a person’s reputation and bring the curse of ten thousand names. Bearing such infamy, even returning to Great Liang, Xie Jingxing’s days would not be good.

Princess Rongxin chose to explain everything by letter rather than personally seeing Emperor Wenhui, seemingly feeling that this way she could ignore her betrayal. As if the one selling out Xie Jingxing wasn’t herself.

But why hasn’t Emperor Wenhui taken action yet?

The wedding procession was already reaching the city gate. Next, Shen Miao would get out of the bridal sedan, into the carriage, and leave Dingcheng with Xie Jingxing for Great Liang. This delay wasn’t her brother’s style.

There was some confusion in her heart, but even more unease. Yet Princess Rongxin couldn’t actively go out to see what had happened.

She ultimately could not face Xie Jingxing, or rather, she had no face to meet him.

“Go check again,” she called another subordinate.

The Princess of Rui’s bridal sedan had reached the city gate. Mistress Mei had completed her duties as the wedding hostess, and Jingzhe and Guyu helped Shen Miao down from the bridal sedan.

Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan carefully instructed Shen Miao: “Great Liang is different from Ming Qi. When you get there, remember to take good care of yourself. Add clothes when it’s cold, and take care of your health. Write letters home often. If you’re wronged, be sure to tell us.”

Shen Xin then turned to Xie Jingxing and said a few words.

They both knew each other’s identities, and since Xie Jingxing had been honest, Shen Xin’s impression of him had improved. He instructed Xie Jingxing that no matter what, he must not let Shen Miao suffer any bullying in Great Liang. Xie Jingxing naturally agreed.

Shen Qiu, meanwhile, fiercely threatened that if the next time he saw Shen Miao, she was thinner or haggard, he would bring the Shen family troops to flatten the Prince of Rui’s manor.

The Prince of Rui merely snorted lightly at this.

If Luo Xueyan hadn’t stopped him, Shen Qiu might have started fighting with Xie Jingxing on the spot.

The time had come, and Shen Miao said a few more words to Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan. She was now leaving Dingcheng, and many affairs in Ming Qi, even if she wanted to manage them, were too far away; she could only give some instructions now.

Luo Xueyan wiped away tears, saying, “Jiaojiao, be sure to write letters home!”

The carriage curtain was lowered, and the long procession of guards moved forward in sequence, carrying the heavy dowry, marching forward with uniform momentum.

At the very front, Xie Jingxing sat upright on his horse, riding alongside the carriage, occasionally speaking to Shen Miao through the carriage curtain.

This made the maids Jingzhe and Guyu giggle constantly.

The journey would naturally be very long, taking several months of carriage travel from Ming Qi to Great Liang. In her previous life, she had also left the Dingcheng city gate to travel far to Qin State. But the carriage she sat in as an empress wasn’t even as comfortable as the current one, and at that time, the servants and palace maids she brought were few. Not to mention having people protect her and talk with her like this.

Subtly, joy also arose in Shen Miao’s heart.

By evening, it was time to find a place to rest outside. Just as they were considering this, the procession suddenly stopped.

Shen Miao’s heart tightened. Bandits often appeared on roads outside the city. Could it be they had encountered highway robbers? But then she thought, Xie Jingxing’s subordinates were highly skilled in martial arts and numerous; even if they encountered bandits, they could likely defeat them.

Though she wasn’t afraid, she was still suspicious. So she put down her veil and lifted the carriage curtain. Jingzhe and Guyu exclaimed in surprise as Shen Miao jumped down from the carriage.

She saw Xie Jingxing reining in his horse at the front. In the middle of the road, a person wearing a black bamboo hat was holding a horse, blocking the way.

He said, “Hey, as your brother, don’t I deserve a packet of wedding money?”

It was Su Mingfeng’s voice. He probably wore the cape to conceal his identity, making it difficult to see his features. He had either followed from a distance or arrived here early, staying far enough that people couldn’t hear the conversation.

Shen Miao was slightly stunned, but Xie Jingxing had already dismounted and walked to Su Mingfeng. Su Mingfeng took out a letter from his bosom, forcefully smacking it against Xie Jingxing’s chest, saying, “My wedding gift.” Then in a low voice: “The letter sent from the Princess’s manor, I suppressed it.”

“I know,” Xie Jingxing smiled, raising an eyebrow. “But thank you anyway.”

Su Mingfeng was stunned, then his voice turned angry: “You knew, of course. Your eyes and ears are everywhere; the Princess’s manor’s every move probably doesn’t escape your notice. Even if I hadn’t suppressed this letter yesterday, you would have found a way to take it.”

Xie Jingxing neither confirmed nor denied.

“You—” Su Mingfeng grabbed Xie Jingxing’s collar, pretending to be about to hit him. Jingzhe and Guyu were startled, but Tieyi and the others didn’t step forward to stop him.

Su Mingfeng suddenly let go, angrily saying, “Bastard!”

Xie Jingxing raised an eyebrow: “I’m happy you came to see me off.”

Su Mingfeng was silent, then after a moment said, “This is the last time.”

“The last time I came to see you off.” He raised his head: “Loyalty and righteousness cannot both be fulfilled, but this time, I still choose righteousness. After this time, we are no longer brothers. When we meet again, we will be enemies, with no trace of our past friendship.” He earnestly, word by word, said: “However, for now, you are still my brother.”

In this world, some things are inevitably regrettable. By chance and error, fate will turn the closest people into the most estranged. To gain something, one must inevitably give up something else. What is retained is ultimately the most precious.

Shen Miao seemed to see through these two young men to many years ago, childhood friends laughing happily, wandering from the streets to the alleys of Dingcheng, then teasing their teacher together.

Su Mingfeng slowly clenched his fist and extended it in front of Xie Jingxing.

This was a gesture they often made as children. The boys of Dingcheng city often used this gesture as a testament to their brotherly bond. As a child, Su Mingfeng thought this gesture was very cool, so he made Xie Jingxing do it too. Later, as they grew older, they felt the gesture was stupid and sappy, so they rarely did it.

Xie Jingxing looked at him, suddenly smiled, shook his head, and also extended his fist to bump against Su Mingfeng’s.

Su Mingfeng threw back his head and laughed: “Excellent!”

He suddenly mounted his horse and from horseback said to Xie Jingxing: “After today, we two are no longer brothers. But right now, the sun hasn’t set, the moon hasn’t risen, and we are still best friends.” He spurred his horse, which neighed loudly. Su Mingfeng turned his horse around and left.

“Today I congratulate you once more: from now on, may you have plentiful food and clothing, be blessed with children and grandchildren. May your halls be filled with distinguished guests, and may you live a long life!”

The cultured young man who was always smiling spoke in a bold and spirited voice, his last words gradually fading in the evening sun, with only a blurry silhouette visible.

Xie Jingxing’s eyes and lips bore a smile, but his expression gradually turned cold. He also mounted his horse and raised his whip.

He commanded: “Set off!”