The remaining night in the imperial palace was punctuated only by the sound of rain, pattering and rustling, weeping and lamenting.

After Hua Zhuyu finished her evening meal, Nongyu instructed the palace maids to clear away the dishes and brewed her a cup of tea before withdrawing. Ji Fengli didn’t come tonight. Usually, no matter how busy he was, he would come to dine with her in the evening.

She reclined on the sleeping couch, holding a tea cup in her hands, sipping slowly. Faintly, melodious flute music drifted over, mixed in with the rain sounds, so ethereal and illusory, extremely unclear. Hua Zhuyu listened intently, but then it seemed to disappear. She suspected she had heard wrong, tightened her grip on the tea cup, and a vague smile played at the corner of her lips.

She rose and set down the tea cup, about to blow out the candle when the flute sound faintly rose again outside the window. Her heart trembled slightly, and she quickly walked to the window and opened it. The flute music mixed with sparse wind and cold rain rushed in, raindrops floating to her shoulders with a penetrating coolness.

The flute music, thread by thread, continuous and unending, wound around her body and drilled into her heart.

“Weak Water,” the piece Ji Fengli had composed.

All things in heaven and earth, the sound of wind and rain, seemed to fall silent in this flute music.

Outside, rain threads were hazy. Through the light flowing out from the window, Hua Zhuyu saw a figure standing quietly under a peach tree not far away, holding a flute with both hands.

Through the hazy rain threads and misty rain fog, although she couldn’t see his features clearly, she seemed to be able to feel his obsessive gaze. She closed the window and quickly walked to the door, opening the wooden door. Forgetting to take an umbrella, she hurried outside.

When she ran to the peach tree, the person who had been standing there was now curled up against the trunk, seemingly trembling in extreme pain.

Hua Zhuyu’s heart felt as if struck by a heavy hammer. In alarm, she lifted her skirt and rushed toward him. The jade hairpin fell from her hair to the ground, her long hair scattered like clouds, but she was unaware.

“Fengli, what’s wrong with you?” she asked in shock, bending down. She extended her finger to touch his cheek. Rainwater slid down his jawline onto her fingertip, wet and ice-cold.

“Bao’er, I’m so cold!” Ji Fengli said quietly, hugging his shoulders and shivering.

A heart-wrenching pain arose in Hua Zhuyu’s heart. She wrapped her arms around his waist, helped him up from the ground, and supported him as they slowly walked toward the house. She settled him on the bed, turned back to close the door, shutting out all the bitter wind and cold rain.

Inside the house, by the bright candlelight, Hua Zhuyu discovered that Ji Fengli’s face was completely bloodless, even his lip color was extremely pale.

“How long were you standing in the rain? How did you get soaked like this?” She grasped his hand tightly, but felt his hand trembling even more violently, terribly cold.

Hua Zhuyu sensed something was wrong. How could he become so cold just from being rained on? She touched his forehead – it wasn’t hot. But he was trembling all over, as if enduring great pain.

“Are you having an attack?” When she first entered the palace, Ji Fengli’s eight extraordinary meridians were damaged, and during his unconsciousness he had also trembled from pain. The last time he had an attack, she had cared for him. Knowing the cause, her heart relaxed slightly. She took dry cloth from the cabinet and dried his wet hair, then stripped off his soaked outer robe and threw it on the ground.

Ji Fengli seemed to have lost consciousness from the cold, eyes closed, only knowing to shiver. She took out a men’s outer robe from the cabinet – she had bought this casually from a clothing shop when she left the palace last time. At the time she didn’t know why, but as if possessed by ghosts and spirits, she had bought a men’s shirt. She looked at him lying on the bed, momentarily unsure how to proceed.

“Cold… cold…” Ji Fengli murmured quietly, his refined eyebrows painfully knitted together.

Hua Zhuyu’s heart instantly felt as if it were being twisted. At a time like this, how could she still care about being shy? Her fingers trembled as she undid the fastenings on his clothing, removed his moon-white inner shirt, and quickly draped a clean inner shirt over him. But he took the opportunity to extend both arms and pull Hua Zhuyu tightly into his embrace, holding her so tight, as if wanting to absorb warmth from her body.

“Fengli, Fengli, how are you? Are you feeling better?” Hua Zhuyu called anxiously, but he wouldn’t let go, as if he had found a furnace.

Ice-cold lips suddenly pressed against her lips. Though they were ice-cold lips, they made her feel like blazing flames.

She carefully tried to push him away. He suddenly released her body and lay on the bed, trembling in pain. She rushed up and held him in her arms. The icy coldness from his body seemed able to penetrate through clothing into her skin.

Her heart became somewhat panicked. She got up wanting to go out and call for an imperial physician, but Ji Fengli murmured quietly, “Wine… wine…”

Hua Zhuyu suddenly remembered that last time the imperial physician had him drink some wine to warm his body. She hurriedly brought over a pot of wine, poured it into a wine cup, pinched his chin, and poured the wine into his mouth. But Ji Fengli coughed several times in succession, spitting out all the wine he had just swallowed.

Hua Zhuyu had no choice but to take a large mouthful of wine, hold it in her mouth, and bend down to kiss his lips. Last time in Xuanzhou she had fed him medicine this way; this time it was wine.

Only this time Ji Fengli wasn’t as well-behaved as before. He took every opportunity to kiss her, and in the end, she wasn’t clear whether the wine had gone into his mouth or into hers. In any case, she felt slightly intoxicated, as if countless flowers were spreading in the night before her eyes.

“Li, are you still cold?” She set down the wine pot, got into bed and held Ji Fengli, pressing her body tightly against his to warm him.

Ji Fengli turned over and pressed down on her, his breathing gradually becoming rapid. His slightly narrowed eyes looked into Hua Zhuyu’s eyes, various emotions rolling within them like a trapped beast seeking escape but unable to find the method, his voice mixed with a trace of pain.

“Bao’er, marry me?” he asked.

“Yes!” she said without hesitation. Not because she had drunk some wine and was somewhat hazily intoxicated, but because she truly was willing to marry him.

“Bao’er, what you said – is it true? You’re not allowed to go back on it… because I’ll take it seriously!” As soon as he finished speaking, his lips had already descended, sweeping away her breath, devouring her, drowning her…

In the room filled with flower fragrance and wine scent, the atmosphere suddenly changed.

“Bao’er, I want you!” He breathed slightly as he whispered, looking down at her. The depths of his phoenix eyes were burningly black, yet seemed to have fire blazing fiercely within. Though the world might have a thousand kinds of charm and ten thousand varieties of splendor, the only one who could move his heart was her alone. Of the three thousand weak waters, he would only take this one ladleful to drink.

Hua Zhuyu felt momentarily dazed. She didn’t understand how things had developed to this point. He was only cold, and she only wanted to warm him. But now he said he wanted her.

Dark eyes black as ink focused intently on her. All of this made a kind of trembling and timidity rise in her heart. She remembered that one time, and felt even more uneasy.

Hua Zhuyu’s long silence made a trace of dimness flash through Ji Fengli’s eyes.

“Fengli, I…” Just as she began to speak, his kiss fell down. “Bao’er, don’t refuse me!” he murmured.

“Mm!” Hua Zhuyu agreed quietly.

He had planned this for a long time, so he acted with practiced ease, not allowing her any resistance.

His rich, hoarse voice said quietly in her ear, “Bao’er, I love you.”

In her ear was his voice, calling her name, one call after another, hoarse, cherishing, urgent…

Outside the window was bitter wind and cold rain; inside the room were warm red silk curtains.

This night, she forgot all pain and unhappiness in passionate entanglement.

This night, her world contained only one person’s existence – that person was Ji Fengli.

Clear bird songs awakened Hua Zhuyu from her dreams. She opened her eyes to see the sky outside the window a brilliant blue – the rain had long since stopped. Sunlight shone through the window gauze, warmly spilling onto the bed curtains, making her heart brighten as well.

She wanted to get up but felt aching all over her body, so she couldn’t help lying back down. Scenes from last night flashed through her mind like lightning, and her jade face immediately flushed red. She had actually been intimate with him all night.

So this was what it meant to love someone – the giving of body and heart, so natural, so beautiful.

Hua Zhuyu lay for a while, then supported her aching body, dressed, and got out of bed. Her gaze swept over the embroidered silk quilt, and her heart sank slightly. Last night had not been her first time – there were no traces of blood on the bedding. Ji Fengli didn’t know that she was the one from that night in the military camp. What would he think seeing this clean bedding?

Nongyu brought up breakfast, smiling mischievously at her. “His Lordship instructed before leaving that the Princess Consort should sleep a bit more. Why did you get up so early?”

“What Princess Consort? Don’t address me that way!” Hua Zhuyu corrected gently. Obviously this girl knew everything.

Nongyu smiled broadly. “Fine, I won’t call you that. It doesn’t matter anyway – it’s only three more days!”

“Three days? What do you mean?” Hua Zhuyu was slightly stunned and asked.

Nongyu pursed her lips and smiled. “Miss doesn’t know yet? His Lordship has already instructed the Ministry of Rites to prepare for the grand wedding. In three days, even if you don’t let this servant call you Princess Consort, it won’t work.”

“Grand wedding? Nongyu, are you telling the truth?” Hua Zhuyu suddenly remembered that last night, she seemed to have agreed to marry him. But she hadn’t expected he would go prepare for the wedding so quickly.

“How would this servant dare deceive Miss? The female officials from the Inner Palace Department are waiting outside, ready to take Miss’s measurements and select jewels to rush the wedding dress and make the phoenix hairpin. Though this grand wedding is urgent, His Lordship has strictly ordered that there be no oversights, fearing you might be wronged.” Nongyu said with a smile.

Hua Zhuyu was still too shocked to react when Nongyu had already instructed a young palace maid to summon the female officials inside. This day, Hua Zhuyu spent in a daze selecting fabrics and jewels.

It wasn’t until nightfall that Taoyuan Residence finally became quiet. Nongyu instructed the young palace maids to prepare hot water in the bathing pool to serve Hua Zhuyu’s bath.

Hua Zhuyu wasn’t accustomed to being served while bathing. Especially today, when the traces of lovemaking on her body hadn’t yet faded, she didn’t want them to see. She smiled lightly and said, “Nongyu, you needn’t serve me. Go rest early.”

Nongyu hesitated for a moment, but having served Hua Zhuyu for so many days, she knew that once Hua Zhuyu made up her mind about something, she wouldn’t easily change it. So she led the young palace maids in bowing and withdrawing.

In the bathing pool, the room was filled with steamy vapor. Magnolia petals floated on the water surface, their elegant fragrance mixed with faint medicinal scent. Hua Zhuyu stepped down the jade stone shallow steps and buried herself in the water. The hot water surrounded her body heavily, as soft and smooth as silk.

The hot water swirled around, the warmth intoxicating, and the aching throughout her body seemed to find relief. Only the marks Ji Fengli had left on her body – even scrubbing hard, they didn’t seem to fade.

“Soak a bit longer and it’ll be fine. I had them add medicinal herbs to this water early this morning.” A gentle, rich voice came from behind.

Hua Zhuyu was greatly alarmed and hurriedly turned around, only to see Ji Fengli had somehow entered. He stood quietly not far behind her, silently gazing at her, his dark eyes carrying some indescribable intensity.

Having not seen him all day, Hua Zhuyu had thought he wouldn’t come tonight. Suddenly seeing him now, her face instantly flushed red. She buried her body in the water and asked nervously, “You… how did you come in?”

Ji Fengli slowly walked to the poolside, sat sideways on the jade steps, braced his hands on the pool edge, leaned down to look at her, his lips slightly raised, a trace of wicked smile spreading at the corner of his mouth. “What? I can’t come?” His voice was low, carrying a trace of heavy huskiness.

“No… you can’t!” Hua Zhuyu said nervously. Being looked at by him made her very uncomfortable.

“Why?” he asked quietly, his lips holding a lazy smile.

Hua Zhuyu felt even her earlobes flush red. How had she never noticed before that Ji Fengli was such a rogue? Wasn’t this asking the obvious? When bathing, who would want to be watched by others?

“It’s not fair!” Hua Zhuyu glared at him fiercely, meeting his burning gaze. There, undisguised deep desire diffused – just one glance was enough to make one’s heart race and spirit waver.

“How is it unfair?” He looked at her from top to bottom, laughing quietly. “Would it be fair if I also took off my clothes?”

Hua Zhuyu’s cheeks immediately burned hot, almost wanting to dive completely underwater. She reached out and knocked away his arm, burying her entire body in the water.

Ji Fengli laughed lazily. “What are you hiding from? Being afraid of me looking now – isn’t it a bit late? Bao’er, you’re already my person.”

Hua Zhuyu’s face reddened again, this time not from embarrassment but from anger. She discovered that in front of him, she seemed to be losing more and more of her battlefield heroism, becoming increasingly feminine.

“Who said I’m afraid of you looking!” she said resentfully.

Her chin tightened as he lightly hooked it up with his finger. Hua Zhuyu raised her eyes and looked into a pair of clear, handsome eyes where her reflection appeared so clearly at that moment. He gazed at her quietly and kissed the corner of her lips. The rich fragrance of strong wine immediately assaulted her. Hua Zhuyu lightly frowned. “Fengli, you’ve been drinking?”

The flower and medicinal scents in the bathhouse were strong, so she hadn’t noticed his wine smell. Hearing her question, Ji Fengli’s ink-wash black pupils slightly narrowed, the depths seeming to be wrapped in hazy mist. “I drank, but I’m not drunk – not at all!” His voice was rich and bewitching, extremely magnetic, stirring the heart.

People who are drunk generally say they’re not drunk. This made Hua Zhuyu even more certain that Ji Fengli was truly drunk, and quite heavily so.

She was somewhat worried and wanted to get out of the bathing pool. But her clothes hung on the clothing rack behind him. If she wanted to get them, she would have to come out of the water and go around him. But he sat there looking down at her, his phoenix eyes frighteningly dark in their depths. “You… go out for a moment!” Hua Zhuyu bit her lip and said.

Not only did Ji Fengli not leave, he actually leaned toward the poolside. Hua Zhuyu instinctively backed away, slipped, and fell into the pool water. Perhaps from nervousness, or perhaps because the medicinal smell in the water was too strong, she actually choked. Her body suddenly lightened as she was lifted by the waist. He wrapped her in his cloak and carried her toward the inner room. She buried her head against his chest, her nose filled with rich wine fragrance and his refined masculine scent.

“Bao’er, no matter who was in your heart before, from now on, you can only have me in your heart.” He emphasized each word, and though the words were simple, they deeply buried an unavoidable sharpness. Then he placed her on the bed and unceremoniously leaned down to kiss her fiercely.

The flame on the candle stand flickered violently, causing light and shadow throughout the room to scatter chaotically in ambiguous entanglement.

“Bao’er, call my name!” He was truly drunk, demanding forcefully in her ear.

This night, he knew no satisfaction, as if wanting to extend this rare sweetness longer and longer…

The next day, when Hua Zhuyu awoke, the space beside her was empty, only the silk brocade quilt embroidered with gold thread was wrinkled into a ball. Hua Zhuyu felt somewhat disappointed. How she wished that when she woke in the morning, he would be beside her.

The surroundings were completely silent without a single sound, only her breathing clearly audible in this desolate morning. For the following two days, Hua Zhuyu didn’t see Ji Fengli again, and their wedding day finally arrived.

Perhaps because the wedding was so rushed, even on the day of the grand wedding, Hua Zhuyu still found it somewhat unbelievable, thinking she must be dreaming.

On the bed lay a fire-red flowing silk brocade wedding dress. The lamplight shining on the wedding dress was like steaming clouds and rosy mist, blazingly dazzling. This wedding dress must have been rushed by countless people.

“Miss, the auspicious hour is approaching. You should prepare your makeup,” Nongyu gently reminded.

“Miss, a young eunuch from Xuancheng Palace brings an oral decree from the Grand Emperor, summoning Miss to Xuancheng Palace for a matter,” a young palace maid announced quietly outside the door.

Xuancheng Palace housed Grand Emperor Yan, so obviously Emperor Yan wanted to see her. Hua Zhuyu pondered for a moment, removed the phoenix crown from her head, and hurried there with Nongyu. She also happened to have many things she wanted to ask him.

When the two arrived at Xuancheng Palace, Eunuch Chang hurried forward to greet them, bowing and saying, “The Grand Emperor has private matters to discuss with the Princess Consort. Please have others wait outside.”

Hua Zhuyu quickly walked into the hall. The air floated with intoxicating medicinal fragrance. Behind layers of hanging bright yellow gauze, the once mighty Emperor Yan lay sickly on a soft couch. Eunuch Chang hurried over and helped him sit up against the soft couch.

Emperor Yan turned to see Hua Zhuyu and gestured for all attending palace maids and eunuchs to withdraw.

“So you are Hua Mu’s daughter?” Emperor Yan asked with narrowed eyes, a sharp gleam flashing in them.

“Correct. I am indeed Hua Mu’s daughter Hua Zhuyu, whom you once ordered to go to Northern Dynasty for marriage alliance, and whom you once wanted to poison into madness,” Hua Zhuyu said slowly, word by word.

Emperor Yan said coldly, “Correct. If he had actually poisoned you into madness back then, many things would have been different. Since he told you even these things, it shows his sincerity toward you.”

Hua Zhuyu smiled coldly and asked lightly, “Has the Grand Emperor ever been sincere in his life?” She drew out Empress Xie’s portrait from her sleeve and asked slowly, “Was she the Grand Emperor’s sincerity?”

Emperor Yan’s expression changed dramatically. His eyes gazed at Empress Xie in the portrait as if entranced, saying hoarsely, “Bring it here!”

Hua Zhuyu placed the portrait before him and watched coldly as Emperor Yan extended his fingers to carefully caress the person in the painting, remaining silent for a long while. She had more than once wanted to personally kill Emperor Yan, but now she gazed at him with compassion. Though he had lived a life of military campaigns and gained the world, he had lost the beloved who had shared his glory and shame. This regret, this pain, would surely entangle him for life – for him, this was more painful than death.

“Why must the Grand Emperor be so sorrowful? If you hadn’t personally killed Empress Xie back then, why would Fengli have hidden his identity for so many years? Even after gaining this world through palace coup, he still refuses to acknowledge you as his father emperor,” Hua Zhuyu said quietly. Ever since hearing Nalan Xue speak of Empress Xie’s affairs, she had guessed that Empress Xie was very likely killed personally by Emperor Yan. Otherwise, Ji Fengli wouldn’t have refused to acknowledge this father emperor for so many years.

Hearing this, Emperor Yan suddenly raised his head, his gaze sharply focused on Hua Zhuyu, appearing almost mad as he said hoarsely, “How do you know?” Then he laughed miserably, “Ah yes, you are Hua Mu’s daughter.”

“So this matter is also known to my father Hua Mu. Therefore, no matter how great his achievements over the years, you wouldn’t allow him to return to the capital? Once the Western frontier is stabilized, you plan to design the elimination of the entire Hua family?” Hua Zhuyu asked.

“You’re wrong. The reason for wanting to eliminate him isn’t because of this matter. There are some things Wuxiang hasn’t told you, so I’m not convenient to tell you either, but this doesn’t mean we don’t know. If you truly like Wuxiang, I hope you won’t work for Hua Mu anymore. I lost my beloved woman in this life – I don’t want Wuxiang to lose as well.”

Hua Zhuyu could hear from Emperor Yan’s tone that he deeply despised her father Hua Mu and had no favorable feelings toward her either. However, he obviously loved Ji Fengli dearly, so he didn’t prevent her marriage to Ji Fengli.

Hua Zhuyu smiled lightly, “I’m not working for him.”

Emperor Yan stared intently at Hua Zhuyu, as if discerning the truth or falsehood in her words. After a long while, he slowly said, “That’s good then. You may go. I need to rest.”

Hua Zhuyu watched him treasure the portrait like a precious gem, his gaze infatuated. Her heart filled with mixed feelings as she slowly retreated toward the hall entrance.

“One more thing – originally, having you go to Northern Dynasty for marriage alliance wasn’t Wuxiang’s idea, but… Wushuang’s idea,” Emperor Yan’s deep voice came from behind.

Hua Zhuyu paused in her steps, a bitter smile tugging at the corner of her lips. This matter, she had actually guessed long ago.

Returning to Taoyuan Residence, Ji Fengli’s wedding sedan had already arrived. Palace maids hurriedly helped her change into the bright red wide-sleeved ceremonial robe, put on the magnificent and elaborate phoenix crown, and finally carefully arranged her makeup once more before supporting her toward the door.

Hua Zhuyu’s heart was in a daze as she let them support her and walk out.

Outside, drums and music filled the sky with tremendous celebration.

In less than half an hour, the flower sedan had already arrived at Qianqing Hall. The phoenix sedan touched ground and the drums and music temporarily stopped. In the silence, the sedan curtain was lifted, and a pair of slender hands reached toward her.

After a moment’s daze, she heard Ji Fengli say quietly, “Bao’er, from now on, you are my wife. Hereafter, whether in life or death, fortune or misfortune, danger or peril, I will use my life to protect you. For this life and the next, never to part, never to abandon, never to lose, never to forget…”

Hua Zhuyu tremblingly extended her hand. The moment their fingers touched, her heart raced chaotically. When their ten fingers interlocked, her heart finally calmed.

Her head was covered with a bright red wedding veil – she couldn’t see anything before her clearly. She let him hold her hand, walking step by step along the magnificent extending red carpet into Qing’an Hall. In the ceremonial official’s chanting, they knelt and bowed.

“Stop!” Just as the two were about to bow, a cold voice leisurely came.

Hua Zhuyu’s heart stopped. Though she couldn’t see the newcomer’s appearance, she knew from the voice it was Northern Emperor Xiao Yin.

Ji Fengli calmly stepped forward and gently embraced Hua Zhuyu, saying with a smile, “Northern Emperor has come to observe the ceremony – this king is deeply honored. Someone, please offer Northern Emperor a cup of celebratory wine!”

“Your Lordship, I didn’t come today to drink celebratory wine. I came to find my wife!” Xiao Yin declared loudly.

Instantly, Hua Zhuyu felt countless meaningful gazes burning down on her from within the great hall. The noisy hall immediately quieted.

Ji Fengli laughed quietly and calmly repeated, “Find your wife?”

“Correct. Your Lordship couldn’t be so forgetful. Hua Mu’s daughter Hua Zhuyu was already divorced by you on the wedding night, was conferred the title of Princess Muyun by Grand Emperor Yan, and came to my dynasty for marriage alliance. I heard that Eunuch Bao was actually Hua Zhuyu in male disguise. Since she is my wife, she cannot marry Your Lordship again!” Xiao Yin said with his sword-like eyebrows flying wildly, imposingly domineering.

Ji Fengli’s expression changed slightly, his phoenix eyes instantly becoming as deep as a cold pool, but the smile at the corner of his lips didn’t diminish as he said calmly, “Northern Emperor speaks incorrectly. Princess Muyun was indeed Miss Hua, but the wedding procession was attacked and killed at Lianyun Mountain that day, so she never performed the ceremony with you and cannot be considered your wife!”

Xiao Yin was silent for a moment, then declared loudly, “Regardless, since she was that day’s marriage alliance princess, she shouldn’t marry Your Lordship again!”

Hua Zhuyu never expected Xiao Yin would appear at the wedding. Could it be that he had already remembered her?

“The marriage alliance was unsuccessful. Now Bao’er is willing to marry and this king is willing to wed – what’s inappropriate about that?” Ji Fengli smiled warmly, but his arms holding Hua Zhuyu grew tighter and tighter.

“Is she really willing to marry? I want to ask her personally,” Xiao Yin declared loudly.

Hua Zhuyu only heard steady footsteps drawing closer and closer. Looking down under the bright red wedding veil, she saw a pair of leather boots suddenly appear. She stared at his feet, her heart in complete confusion, not knowing what he wanted to say to her.

“Girl…” A quiet call. This single word contained endless despair and bone-piercing pain. Even through the red veil, she could still feel Xiao Yin’s burning gaze, which seemed to hide heart-piercing pain.

He had already remembered her.

Hua Zhuyu’s eyes instantly misted with tears. Why didn’t he completely forget her? Why did he have to remember?

In this life, she was destined to disappoint him, to disappoint his whole-hearted deep affection.

“Big Brother!” she called quietly, completely unaware that her voice was already somewhat choked.

“Girl, come with me!” Xiao Yin said in a trembling voice, his gaze blazingly bright and pressing, containing deep expectation.

Hua Zhuyu’s eyes grew slightly warm as she said quietly, “Big Brother, thank you, but I cannot go!”

Deep despair flashed through Xiao Yin’s purple eyes. He had already anticipated her answer, but truly hearing it still caused pain in his heart – an almost suffocating pain.

“Girl, no matter when, I welcome you to come. I’ll be waiting for you!” Xiao Yin said word by word. Actually, what he wanted to say more was that his embrace would always be waiting for you.

Ji Fengli’s expression was so deep it was hard to fathom, but emotions surged in his black eyes. After Xiao Yin finished speaking, he glanced at Xiao Yin lightly and said coldly, “That day will never come.”

Xiao Yin narrowed his eyes, a bitter cold smile floating on his face. “Ji Fengli, if not for you, she would have married me.”

Ji Fengli’s expression paused slightly, the smile on his face gradually fading as he said coldly, “That’s not necessarily so.”

Xiao Yin said quietly, “Ji Fengli, though you can marry her today, someday I will make her willingly leave you.” After saying this, without waiting for Ji Fengli’s response, he gazed deeply at Hua Zhuyu for a moment, then turned and left.

The joyous hall full of guests was actually silent as crows and sparrows. Ji Fengli emanated an aura that made people tremble and not dare to be too presumptuous.

Hua Zhuyu’s heart was filled with mixed feelings. Just as she was about to speak, Ji Fengli’s lips curved upward, a trace of seemingly present, seemingly absent proud smile rippling from the corner of his lips. “Continue the ceremony.”

“Your Lordship, Prince Rui of Eastern Yan has come to congratulate Your Lordship’s grand wedding,” an attendant came to report, his voice slightly trembling.

Ji Fengli’s brow slightly furrowed, a sharp gleam flashing through his deep eyes as he commanded lightly, “Invite him in!” The low voice clearly carried a trace of coldness.

“How could this prince not come for Prince Regent’s wedding!” Presumptuous laughter came from outside the hall. In an instant, a red figure slowly approached.

The deepest red robe was worn by the newcomer, complemented by a golden crown with brilliant tassels that dazzled the eyes almost blindingly.

“Prince Rui has come from afar – this king is deeply honored!” Ji Fengli glanced lightly at Dou Qianjin and said unhurriedly.

“This prince had no choice but to come. This prince heard that the princess consort Your Lordship is marrying was once this prince’s princess consort, so I specially rushed over,” Dou Qianjin walked all the way to Hua Zhuyu’s front, stopped to examine her, and finally smiled with curved lips, “This prince was truly blind that day, never thinking that Commander Bao was this prince’s princess consort!”

“Your princess consort?” Ji Fengli’s whole body shook as he asked hoarsely, the air instantly surging with dark currents and tense atmosphere.

“Yes, that day she disguised herself as Northern Dynasty’s Princess Zhuo Ya. This prince had a marriage alliance with Northern Dynasty and married her,” Dou Qianjin’s pair of intoxicated yet not intoxicated glazed peach blossom eyes rippled with waves.

Hua Zhuyu never expected Dou Qianjin would appear here and immediately claim she was his princess consort upon arrival. Actually, speaking of it, she had used Dou Qianjin that day. She had never intended to marry him originally, only wanting to use the grand wedding to escape from Northern Dynasty. This matter was somewhat unfair to Dou Qianjin. And Northern Dynasty had indeed received considerable betrothal gifts from Dou Qianjin. She hadn’t expected that after hiding for so long, he had finally found her and discovered she was the one who had impersonated Zhuo Ya that day.

Ji Fengli was obviously very shocked to hear Dou Qianjin’s words, but he quickly regained his composure and smiled lightly, “Bao’er, is what Prince Rui says the truth?”

“Hey, you can’t renege on the debt – you received many betrothal gifts from me,” Dou Qianjin’s lips curved upward with a wicked smile as he spoke to Hua Zhuyu.

Hua Zhuyu said to Dou Qianjin, “Your Lordship, our marriage that day doesn’t count. You wanted to marry a Northern Dynasty princess, and I am not a Northern Dynasty princess. Moreover, we never performed the ceremony.”

“So she didn’t marry Prince Rui after all. Since that’s the case, ceremonial official, continue the ceremony!” Ji Fengli commanded coldly. Today, even if the heavenly king himself came, he couldn’t prevent them from performing the ceremony.

“Husband and wife bow to each other!” Just as the ceremonial official’s final chant rang out, suddenly thick bell sounds rang from outside the hall, “Dong dong dong dong…” completely disrupting the ceremonial official’s chanting.

Eight tolls – this was the funeral bell.

The specification for national mourning.

Hua Zhuyu was shocked to her core.

National mourning! Except for Grand Emperor Yan, there was no one else. She had just seen Emperor Yan before getting into the sedan. Could it be that in less than half an hour, he had already passed away?

The ceremonial official’s voice had long been drowned out by the funeral bells, no longer audible. The great hall instantly became chaotic, with many eunuchs and palace maids already flying out without their feet touching the ground.

Today’s grand wedding was truly full of twists and turns! This time, there was probably no way to perform the ceremony no matter what.

It was amid this chaos that Ji Fengli’s voice overcame all other sounds, leisurely carrying over.

“Continue the ceremony!” he said, his tone low and devoid of emotion, making it difficult to discern his feelings.

In this instant, everyone was stunned.

The ceremonial official only reacted after a long while, shouting in a shrill voice, “Husband and wife bow to each other!” The final drawn-out tone actually carried uncontrollable trembling.

“Your Lordship, you cannot continue the ceremony! The Grand Emperor has died – he was assassinated! She might be the murderer! The last person to see the Grand Emperor was her!” Someone collapsed onto the red carpet in the hall, continuously kowtowing. Hua Zhuyu could tell from the voice that this was Eunuch Chang, who was by Grand Emperor Yan’s side.

Hua Zhuyu reached up and removed the bright red wedding veil from her head. Her slender figure stood resolutely upright, her gaze proudly and distantly sweeping over the assembled ministers before finally settling on Ji Fengli who was so close yet so far.

In his auspicious robes, brilliant as fire lotus, burning her heart and chest, burning until all things in the world scattered like smoke and ash, burning until only he remained in her eyes.

Those deep ink-colored phoenix eyes still maintained their usual calm composure, but in their depths, a trace of despair was faintly visible.

This last meeting was still that intimate entanglement after he had gotten drunk. In just two short days of not seeing each other, she had already begun to miss him. She had thought their next meeting would be on their wedding night, never expecting it would be at this moment.

“Ji Fengli, I didn’t kill him!” She gazed into his eyes and said quietly.

Ji Fengli’s expression was darker than ever before. Without saying a word, he pulled the bright red wedding veil from Hua Zhuyu’s hands, his fingers trembling as he covered her head with it.

“Continue the ceremony,” he said word by word as if squeezing them from between his teeth, as if using all the strength of his lifetime.

“Ceremony complete – escort to the bridal chamber—” the ceremonial official shouted hoarsely in a trembling voice.

“Your Lordship, you cannot shield this suspect who murdered the Grand Emperor! Your Lordship, you are disregarding our dynasty’s laws!” came Physician Wen’s heartbroken voice.

“Even if she’s a suspect, can’t this king marry her? Did this king say I would shield her? Someone, escort the princess consort to prison!” The cold voice seemed to contain ice and fire, giving people an inexplicable sense of cold solemnity.

Qianqing Hall suddenly seemed to become very spacious, so spacious that not a single sound could be heard.