Phi-Fic Chapter 173 The Bridal Sedan Chair Lands
Chapter 173 The Bridal Sedan Chair Lands
The wedding procession started from the Yongning Marquis's residence and headed towards the East Palace.
With gongs and drums leading the way and suonas resounding, red silk ribbons stretched from one end of the street to the other, a ten-mile-long red bridal procession.
The crowd of onlookers filled the entire long street. Some climbed trees, some stood on rooftops, and even the teahouses and taverns along the roadside were packed with people.
"My goodness, how many loads of dowry will that take?"
"I heard it was a full 188 loads! General Su, the Marquis of Yongning, has brought out his entire fortune for his sister!"
"More than that! I heard that Grand Tutor Jiang added all his most treasured possessions, as well as gifts from the Prime Minister's residence, the Duke of Zhenguo's residence, the Northern Desert, and the Western Liang..."
Gasps of astonishment rose and fell from the crowd.
But the one who really catches your eye is the person riding at the very front.
Xiao Chenyuan rode on his horse, dressed in a bright red wedding robe and with his hair tied up in a golden crown, which made his usually aloof face appear even more radiant.
He gazed ahead, his expression still indifferent, but every now and then, he couldn't help but turn back to look at the bridal sedan chair behind him.
Those eyes were so tender they could melt your heart.
The barely suppressed smile on his lips stunned the noble ladies who were watching along the way.
"The Crown Prince smiled!"
"My God! A Buddhist monk has renounced his vows!"
"Wasn't the Crown Prince supposed to be aloof, abstinent, and uninterested in women? This...this look in his eyes..."
Someone muttered under their breath, "If I had known the Crown Prince would laugh, I should have been squatting outside the East Palace..."
The person next to her rolled their eyes at her: "Squatting won't help. Didn't you see that look? Was she looking at someone else? She was looking at her own wife!"
Ling Feng stood to the side, looking utterly dejected.
He, a dignified first-rank bodyguard with a sword, now carried a basket in his left hand and held candy in his right, scattering it into the crowd as he walked.
"Make way, make way, make way—wedding candy, wedding candy, everyone who sees this gets a share—"
A group of children surrounded him, jumping and skipping.
"My lord! Give me another one!"
The people around them burst into laughter.
"This guard is really interesting!"
"Where did Your Highness find such a clown?"
Ling Feng: "..."
He looked up at Xiao Chenyuan riding a tall horse in front of him, and silently shed tears.
Your Highness did more than just laugh.
I was so excited last night that I couldn't sleep. I dragged him through the wedding procession eight times.
Eight times!
He even knows which foot His Highness the Crown Prince should step with first today!
Oh well! Never mind.
As long as Your Highness is happy.
"Hey—!" he suddenly shouted, "Hey kid! Don't pull my pants!"
---
The murmurs continued in the crowd.
"Oh, I heard that this Miss Su was formerly the Second Prince's fiancée?"
"That's right! Later, for some reason, the Second Prince married her half-sister, and she got engaged to the Crown Prince."
"Tsk tsk, what do you call this? It's called 'a blessing in disguise'!"
Those around him echoed his sentiments.
"Yes, yes, yes! That blind Second Prince is probably kicking himself now!"
"What's the use of regretting it? She's the Crown Princess now!"
Upon hearing the words "annulment of the engagement," Xiao Chenyuan's eyes turned slightly cold for a moment.
He gripped the reins tightly and glanced back at the red bridal sedan chair.
After today, the whole world will know that she is alone.
Those past events will never be mentioned again.
He looked away, the smile on his lips deepening.
---
In a teahouse on the street corner, Xiao Qiming stood by the window, staring intently at the wedding procession.
His hands gripped the window frame.
The red bridal sedan chair passed by slowly, the golden phoenix embroidered on the curtains gleaming in the sunlight.
The person sitting inside should have been his.
Su Yun'er stood behind him, lowering her voice.
"Your Highness, rest assured, just wait and see the show."
Xiao Qiming didn't speak, but stared at the bridal sedan chair, his eyes churning with obsession and madness.
"Su Yaoyao..." he murmured, his voice so low it was almost inaudible, "You're mine. You should have been mine..."
Just as Su Yun'er was about to say something, a waiter carrying a tea tray passed by and bumped into her, causing the tea tray to tilt—
"Ah!" Su Yun'er exclaimed in surprise, her skirt was soaked.
She stomped her feet in anger.
"You're blind as a bat!"
The waiter was so frightened that he apologized repeatedly.
"It's all your fault! I need to go back and change my clothes!"
Xiao Qiming waved his hand impatiently.
"Change what? It's just a little wet! I have to rush to see the play, I don't have time to wait for you!"
Su Yun'er was so startled by his shout that she dared not say anything more. She could only glare at the waiter resentfully before following Xiao Qiming downstairs.
Behind them, the waiter straightened up, looked at their backs, and a strange smile flashed in his eyes.
He turned and disappeared into the crowd.
---
Inside the bridal sedan chair, Su Yaoyao sat gracefully.
The red veil obscured her vision, and she could only hear the noise outside.
The sounds of gongs and drums, suonas, cheers from the crowd, and occasionally, children's laughter filled the air.
She couldn't help but laugh.
Looking down, I saw the emerald green bracelet on my wrist.
Yesterday she gave the bracelet to Ling Feng and asked him to take it and investigate.
It was returned shortly afterward, along with a message from Xiao Chenyuan:
"It's all taken care of. It's my mother's keepsake; it'll look great on Yaoyao."
Su Yaoyao looked at the bracelet, a smile appearing on her lips.
Su Yun'er, oh Su Yun'er...
You really are something, offering yourself up for me to embarrass.
She touched the porcelain bottle in her sleeve—the antidote given to her by He Qing.
Having these two items close to my body makes me feel very secure.
A slight commotion suddenly arose outside.
Then, a familiar voice was carried into the sedan chair by the wind; it was very soft, yet very clear.
"Graceful".
Su Yaoyao's heart skipped a beat.
The voice paused, then said:
"I'll be waiting for you up ahead."
Just these few words.
Su Yaoyao felt that her whole heart was filled.
She softly hummed in response through the veil.
I don't know if he heard me or not.
---
The bridal sedan chair landed steadily in front of the main gate of the East Palace.
The drumming stopped, and the surroundings became quiet.
Xiao Chenyuan dismounted and walked to the sedan chair.
The master of ceremonies announced loudly: "The groom kicks down the sedan chair door—"
Xiao Chenyuan raised his foot and kicked it three times lightly.
It was very light, as if it were afraid of frightening the people inside.
The onlookers couldn't help but laugh.
"Your Highness, are you kicking the sedan chair door or knocking on it?"
"Because I feel sorry for my wife!"
Xiao Chenyuan seemed not to hear, and reached out to lift the sedan curtain.
A slender hand reached out from the sedan chair and gently rested on his palm.
Warm, soft, and trembling slightly.
Xiao Chenyuan gripped that hand tightly, as if he were holding the whole world in his grasp.
He helped her out of the bridal sedan chair.
The red veil covered her face, but he could imagine what she looked like underneath.
He must be smiling.
It will definitely look great.
The two stood side by side, their fingers intertwined.
A long red carpet stretched out in front of them, all the way to the main hall.
The two sides were lined with guests, and all eyes were on them.
But Xiao Chenyuan didn't look at anyone.
He simply looked down at her.
"Yaoyao," he whispered.
Su Yaoyao tilted her head slightly and looked at him through the red veil.
"Um?"
Xiao Chenyuan didn't say anything.
He simply took her hand and led her down the red carpet.
At the end of the red carpet, the doors of the main hall were wide open.
Inside, the high-ranking officials sat solemnly, while the master of ceremonies waited patiently.
All that's left is for them to step through this door.
From that moment on, they were husband and wife.