Despite the playful banter, Yanxiao began helping prepare for Ji Bozai’s grand wedding in the palace. Ji Bozai was truly willing to spare no expense. The auspicious red characters were gilded with gold leaf, lining the palace corridors to the main hall. Palace servants bustled about carrying red silk and brocade. Skilled craftsmen rushed to renovate the main hall, while artists meticulously repainted the intricate patterns on the beams and lintels.
The gifts Ji Bozai prepared for Mingyi were piled in the hall. Though he claimed not to follow common betrothal customs, he still prepared sixty-six trays of items. In other households, such an abundance might include some empty displays, but as Yanxiao lifted the red silk coverings to inspect, he suspected Ji Bozai had emptied his entire private treasury. There were fifty gold items alone, each one substantial.
After cataloging these items with a complex expression, Yanxiao made a trip to the Chaoyang inner court.
The inner court was also bustling with preparations. Embroiderers rushed to complete the wedding attire made of dragon and phoenix-patterned silk. Mingyi happened to be trying it on.
In the bronze mirror, she appeared with jet-black hair, delicate features, and a slender waist.
Yanxiao entered, paid his respects, and glanced at her wedding attire, raising an eyebrow slightly: “In the rush, there seems to be a mistake. Why was a dragon pattern chosen?”
Traditionally, the dragon symbolized the groom and the phoenix the bride.
Mingyi smiled as she sat down and poured him tea: “As the esteemed City Lord, am I not worthy of the dragon pattern?”
“You certainly are worthy, but when you stand together with Bozai, it might look less like a wedding ceremony and more like a ceremony of sworn brotherhood,” he laughed.
Mingyi smiled gracefully, averting her gaze from him, and said, “The campaign begins the day after tomorrow. Will you be going as well, sir?”
“Of course,” Yanxiao nodded, then added, “The military campaign is being kept secret, and we have no choice but to use the City Lord’s wedding as a cover. I wonder if you feel any discomfort about this? His Majesty said that if you have even the slightest displeasure, we can make changes.”
“It’s too late to change anything now,” Mingyi waved her hand. “I was born for battle, so using war as a wedding gift is fitting.”
Yanxiao felt relieved that she could think this way.
However, for some reason, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t quite right.
Had Mingyi truly forgiven Ji Bozai?
***
Ji Bozai looked at himself in the bronze mirror, dressed in dragon-patterned wedding attire, and said disapprovingly, “It seems a bit rushed, the clothes aren’t luxurious enough.”
Despite his words, the corners of his mouth were turning upwards, his eyes brimming with joy.
Nanny Xun couldn’t help but smile: “Your Majesty’s demeanor is such that even if the attire were less luxurious, you’d still be the most splendid in the world.”
That was exactly what he wanted to hear.
Ji Bozai nodded with satisfaction, then meticulously examined every part of his attire.
“This old servant has already checked everything, there are no issues,” Nanny Xun said.
He pursed his lips, and remained silent for a while, fingering the hem of his clothes. After a long moment, he said softly, “Nanny, I’m nervous.”
A man who wouldn’t flinch even if a mountain collapsed before him was now saying he was nervous. Nanny Xun didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She combed his hair again, noticing his tightly clenched fists, and could already imagine his expression during the ceremony.
Today was the grand wedding. The inner court had set the rules: Mingyi would first tour in the bridal carriage, then alight at the palace gate, where His Majesty would receive her and escort her to the ceremony.
It was agreed that he would wait at the palace gate at 5:15 PM, but Ji Bozai had risen early today, dressed in his wedding attire, and had been restlessly pacing the palace hall since morning.
Nanny Xun couldn’t bear to watch anymore. Seeing it was already 3 PM, she suggested he go to the palace gate.
The City Lord of Chaoyang’s wedding had the streets bustling with excitement.
Mingyi was not only a woman but also a beloved City Lord who had served them wholeheartedly. Many citizens voluntarily took to the streets to scatter red paper, while others chased the bridal procession to offer copper coins.
This gesture was not disrespectful, but rather the highest form of blessing. Ji Bozai watched the approaching bridal carriage from afar, marveling at how remarkable his lady was, to have earned such adoration from so many people.
However, in the next moment, he sensed something was amiss.
It was only 3 PM, an hour earlier than agreed. Why was the bridal carriage already at the palace gate?
The procession escorting the bridal carriage had been playing music and celebrating, but upon seeing someone already standing at the palace gate, they abruptly stopped, their gongs and drums falling silent.
As both parties drew closer, Ji Bozai came to his senses and approached the carriage with a smile: “Fortunately, I couldn’t wait and came out early. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to receive you, arriving so early.”
There was a moment of silence from within the carriage, then the window was pushed open.
Mingyi looked up at him, noticing that today, Ji Bozai truly looked magnificent. His eyebrows were like carved blades, his lips slightly crimson, and his eyes held the scattered stars of the Muxing night sky, filled with sparkling brilliance.
She rested her chin on her hand and smiled: “Early or late, it’s all the same. I promised Your Majesty I would wear this dragon and phoenix silk robe together, and today I have fulfilled that promise.”
Ji Bozai’s smile froze slightly, and he felt bewildered.
Why was there not a hint of shyness on her face, but rather an expression he knew all too well?
It was an expression he often saw in the mirror.
Yes, it was the mockery and resignation he displayed every time he tricked someone and watched them fall for it.
Ji Bozai felt his blood run cold: “What do you mean?”
Waving her sleeve, Mingyi said, “We’ve worn them together, so I’ve fulfilled my promise. Please step aside, Your Majesty. I’m in a hurry to return to the inner court for my wedding.”
His heart sank sharply, and Ji Bozai was stunned by the wrenching pain in his chest.
“You…” his Adam’s apple bobbed, “Returning to the inner court for your wedding?”
“Yes,” Mingyi shifted slightly, allowing him to see the other person seated in the carriage.
Zhou Zihong was dressed in a phoenix-patterned silk robe, its hem intertwined with hers. He sat quietly beside her with downcast eyes. The two, one dragon and one phoenix, made a perfect match.
Ji Bozai laughed bitterly: “Your grand wedding… is with him?”
“Zhou Zihong has always been gentle and considerate towards me. Why can’t it be him?”
Anger belatedly surged within Ji Bozai, and his eyes darkened: “So these past few days, you’ve been toying with me.”
“Your Majesty’s words are too harsh. How could it be called toying?” Her smile was full of satisfaction. “You simply misunderstood. I never agreed to marry you.”
“…”
Looking at the expression on the face before him, Ji Bozai suddenly understood.
Mingyi was just like him, someone who would always seek revenge. He had once given her false hope, so she had to return the favor to feel it was fair.
“I wronged you first,” his voice was hoarse. “If I let you take your revenge, will you forgive me?”
“I might be able to let it go,” Mingyi pondered. “The entanglement between Your Majesty and me isn’t that deep. After today, let’s call it even.”
If this could truly erase the resentment in her heart, Ji Bozai thought it might be for the best, even though he felt like he was dying inside. He deserved this punishment.
However, if she were to marry Zhou Zihong, she wouldn’t dispose of him as easily as Ji Bozai would. They might spend their days together, sharing meals, sleeping together, and sharing joys and sorrows.