Chapter 107 The Grand Wedding
The young man wore a wide-sleeved robe, his long, ink-black hair cascading down to his waist and hips. He was even more tall and imposing than when they parted. Broad-shouldered and long-legged, he loomed like a small mountain in the doorway, casting a deep shadow. His face, a blend of masculine and feminine beauty, possessed sharp, distinct features and an aggressive allure.
He had become a fully grown young man, a towering and majestic emperor who looked down upon everything.
Qingqing never imagined that their reunion would be like this.
Reason told her that it was all just a mission. Time would heal all wounds; with his extraordinary status, how could he lack beautiful women? Perhaps he had long forgotten her.
She shrank her neck, her flannel coat looking out of place in the environment.
He must... think it looks awful.
Qingqing, clinging to the cracks in the wall, tried to slowly move out of the chilling pile of bones. The ubiquitous skeletons made a clattering sound beneath her feet, particularly jarring in the deathly silence of the courtyard.
She hadn't walked more than a few steps when she stopped, embarrassed.
Yan Dibai's deep phoenix eyes were fixed on him from beginning to end, his gaze so tangible that no one could hide from him.
However, Qingqing couldn't bring herself to speak first.
She stared intently at her own furry ankle boots amidst the skeletons, frozen in silence.
The suffocating atmosphere was only broken when Yi Fu rushed over with his men.
"Your Majesty! I heard there were thieves trespassing. Are you alright?" Yi Fu, his hand on his sword, caught sight of the trickling blood on the threshold and exclaimed in alarm, "Your Majesty, your hand!"
"Shut up."
The young man then spat out two chilling words through gritted teeth, his gaze fixed on the girl who was pretending to be dead against the wall.
Yi Fu fell silent instantly, then followed Yan Dibai's gaze and spotted Qingqing, strangely dressed and huddled against the wall. He froze in astonishment, repeatedly trying to recognize her from memory before exclaiming in disbelief, "Qing... Your Highness?"
Although only her profile could be seen, Yi Fu had worked with this girl for a year and would never mistake her for someone else.
The celestial maiden who was the subject of wild rumors among the novice monks was actually her!
They're really back?!
Yi Fu cautiously cast a glance at Yan Dibai.
He stared intently with a cold gaze, showing none of the ecstatic joy that Yi Fu had imagined.
I've been searching for five years, longing for five years, why now...
The girl by the wall seemed to be stung by the gaze as well. She glanced at Yi Fu quietly, and after sensing Yan Dibai's gaze, she turned her head sharply to face the wall as if startled, leaving him with only a glimpse of the back of her head with her hair tied in a bun.
Yan Dibai's thick eyelashes trembled suddenly, and she abruptly turned her back.
"Prepare the carriage," he said in an extremely cold and hard voice, "to return to the palace."
Yongning Temple was built in the center of a newly approved exclusive market area in Shangjing, about 20 to 30 li away from the imperial palace.
The houses along the way were neat and orderly. When the people saw the emperor's canopy passing by, they all raised their heads with joy and knelt down sincerely. Even when the guards tried to stop them, they refused to get up and kept shouting "Long live the emperor!" and "Long live the empress!"
Qingqing sat anxiously in the car, looking at the thriving people and scenery along the way. Everything was unfamiliar and unlike anything she remembered.
Even more unfamiliar was the man beside her, who had been reviewing memorials since getting into the car, without even glancing at her.
He must be about 1.9 meters tall now; his long legs looked cramped in the limited space, and his broad shoulders took up most of the room. His arm holding the pen moved from time to time, so Qingqing could only shrink herself further and further until she had nowhere left to retreat but pressed herself against the cold car wall.
As the mountain of memorials gradually reached the bottom, the newly rebuilt, magnificent palace came into view.
Qingqing clenched her fingers until Yan Dibai put down the last memorial and the carriage stopped.
He put down his brush, leaving a striking mark of vermilion ink. The fabric rubbed together. A large sleeve, carrying the rich scent of ambergris, swept by, and Qingqing instinctively flinched, her hand hovering over the carriage curtain.
Yan Dibai snorted.
...Even the voice sounded completely like a man's.
Qingqing was embarrassed by her own petty thoughts. The curtain was pulled back, and a warm tongue suddenly darted in and licked her face.
"Little Grey?!"
Little Grey howled happily and pounced into Qingqing's arms, nuzzling around excitedly.
A sudden lightness appeared beside her; Qingqing, holding the dog, realized that Yan Dibai had disappeared.
The scenery outside had changed. The rebuilt imperial city layout was different from before, and Qingqing was led into a palace. Unfamiliar palace maids filed out and "invited" her into the palace gate.
After being forced to take a bath, Qingqing, with her slightly damp hair, sat in the bedroom and finally had time to observe.
It's not very big here. The decor isn't particularly luxurious either, and... the layout is even copied from the master bedroom of Yunshui Courtyard and Liangzhou government office?
She sat back on the couch, and the bronze mirror on the dressing table reflected her face, which was full of sorrow.
Little Grey had gotten quite plump, rubbing against her legs and emitting a strong dog smell. Qingqing petted it occasionally, but seemed distracted.
Yan Dibai restored the place to its former state, but neither spoke nor appeared.
Yi Fu is here too; I haven't seen him in a long time. Where are the others?
No one answered her question.
That night, Qingqing couldn't stay awake any longer and fell asleep. Little Gray, who was lying by her shoes, grumbled softly. Suddenly, she felt a warm sensation on her back. When she woke up again early the next morning, before Qingqing could even ask a question, she was surrounded by palace servants and dressed in a heavy black and red dress.
It all happened so fast. She was like a puppet, being led around to do her hair, dress, and get on the palanquin. The roadside was lined with kneeling officials and palace servants, their gazes filled with curiosity or awe, but not one of them expressed any objection to her, the empress who had suddenly appeared.
The master of ceremonies announced, and Qingqing alighted from the carriage, a bowl of instant noodles tucked into her hand. A tall, imposing figure in a dark red auspicious robe walked gracefully forward, recited a poem whose meaning was unknown, and then snatched the instant noodles from her hand.
The master of ceremonies quickly announced, "The fan-removal ceremony is complete; now it is time to drink the nuptial wine!"
Little Grey, with a red flower tied to its back, ran around her and Yan Dibai three times with a merriment, then lay on the wedding cushion with its tongue sticking out.
Only then did Qingqing dare to confirm that this was a wedding ceremony!
She stared in shock at the palace adorned with red silk ribbons and the character for "double happiness," as a wine cup made from a split gourd was brought to her. Qingqing felt a sharp pain in her hand; it was Yan Dibai holding her. He tilted his head slightly and drank it down in one gulp, the twelve-tasseled crown making a melodious sound.
Yan Dibai lowered his eyes and stared intently at Qingqing.
The people around seemed completely oblivious to the strangeness of the wedding ceremony, clapping and cheering enthusiastically. Musicians played, and distant bells tolled incessantly.
Under Yan Dibai's intense gaze, Qingqing took a small sip.
The phoenix crown was too heavy for her to move freely. Yan Dibai, however, was not satisfied. He held the crown with one hand and forced her to drink it all.
"The ceremony is complete! The Emperor and Empress's wedding is a cause for celebration throughout the land!"
The master of ceremonies shouted impatiently, and the courtiers hurriedly recited their blessings. The simplified wedding ceremony, which consisted only of the opening of the fan and the exchange of cups, came to a close. When they came to their senses, they were already sitting in the fragrant East Hall.
The phoenix crown on her head was removed, and the heavy formal dress was taken off. Qingqing was only wearing a thin nightgown, her face bare. There seemed to be peanuts and lotus seeds scattered under the brocade quilt beneath her, making her uncomfortable.
This place isn't what I remember it to be like.
The furnishings were familiar, yet the layout exuded an unfamiliar majesty, much like Yan Dibai himself—his outline was discernible, but his inner self had long been reshaped by time.
The door suddenly opened.
The hall was brightly lit by candles, which made the dark patterns on the young man's robes shimmer and glow.
Even after the twelve-tasseled jade beaded curtain was removed, it still cast a swaying shadow on the side of her alluring face.
He sat at a table not too far away, poured himself a cup of wine, his slender fingers holding the jade cup steadily, and tilted his head back to drink it all.
The sound of swallowing was exceptionally clear in the silent hall.
The calm before the storm made Qingqing feel suffocated. She clenched her slightly damp palms, wanting to speak, but her throat felt like it was blocked by something.
Little Gray seemed to sense the unusual atmosphere, and stopped running around. It obediently lay on the footrest, its black eyes glancing at Green Green and then at its silent, cheap father.
In the end, Qingqing was the first to give in.
She stared at her hands, which were folded across her knees, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible:
"...Yan Dibai."
The wine glass, suspended in mid-air, paused for a moment before slowly being lowered. It touched the table with a soft "tap."
He neither turned around nor answered.
But that majestic, mountain-like body silently awaited her next words.
Waiting for an explanation that's five years overdue.
Qingqing said softly, "Why do it this way?"
"bite!"
The jade cup shattered on the black bricks with a crash. Yan Dibai strode over, his figure easily enveloping her, his voice deep and resonant.
He tried his best to suppress his words: "What did you say?"
Qingqing pursed her lips and said stubbornly, "Isn't it better to live a peaceful life?"
Her head drooped lower and lower. "You have your empire, I'll return to my ordinary life. We were never meant to be that kind of relationship, and what does this whole thing mean..." She paused, "...so what?"
It's like some kind of melodramatic, sadomasochistic romance novel.
The girl twisted her hands together, saying, "I don't understand."
There was only suppressed breathing on the other side, like muffled thunder before a storm. Qingqing decided to go all out.
"I've already hinted to you that I came to your side for other reasons. Once you pacify the world, my mission will be complete, and I can return home in glory!"
She became increasingly distressed as she spoke, her voice unusually nasal, and she struggled to hold back her tears.
"We could have been even."
She let out the words she had been holding back in a low voice:
"Since you've already chosen Choi Shin-soo, why bother with this now?"
"I wanted to go home from the very beginning!"
The girl seemed drained of all her strength, sniffling repeatedly in a suppressed manner. Yan Dibai, no matter how much he wanted to say, found it all rendered meaningless.
He listened to her sobbing, and it felt as if a dull knife was cutting into his chest.
After a long while, he let out a long sigh.
"How could you be so heartless, not missing me at all?"
The young man held her slender arm and knelt down without any imperial demeanor.
Qingqing pouted, and large tears pattered onto the back of her hand. The tiny puddle, just the size of a fingernail, was wiped away by a large, slender hand.
She angrily tried to pull away, but Yan Dibai grabbed her in his palm and used his auspicious robe embroidered with a five-clawed golden dragon as a handkerchief, roughly wiping her red eyes.
The girl's eyes were brimming with tears as her face was forcibly lifted. That captivating face was only a finger's width away from hers. At this moment, the gloom had vanished, the listlessness had lessened, and the coldness had been completely swept away.
He frowned slightly, his fingertips gently rubbing around her eyes.
Half forced and half willing, Qingqing stopped crying.
But her lips were pouting even more.
Yan Dibai touched the tip of her pink nose, then suddenly grabbed her arm and made her sit on his lap in this face-to-face position.
Qingqing instinctively twisted twice. "You clearly know that I," the young man grabbed her waist, paused slightly, and shifted his gaze slightly, "that there is no one else in my heart but you."
His legs, beneath his buttocks, were all muscle, incredibly firm. Qingqing, annoyed by the discomfort, wrinkled her nose and glared at him.
"So what!"
Yan Dibai was taken aback by the shout; she certainly had a bad temper.
Qingqing grew angrier the more she thought about it, and punched Yan Dibai in the chest.
"Who told you to ignore me on purpose! Neither the military nor the people like me, they all like Choi Sin-soo."
She choked up again, "Besides, he's definitely much better than me. He also has that kind of relationship with you, so it's more legitimate than mine."
The force of the punch was nothing more than a tickle to Yan Dibai now. He seized that hand, easily enveloping it in his palm. He wrapped his arms around her slender waist, his chin resting against her shoulder.
“When I interrogated her that day, I knew it was nonsense as soon as I heard those exaggerated words, but you actually took them to heart! Have you forgotten how many real things you have done along the way? She just relied on the Cui family’s wealth and power to win over some short-sighted people, and naturally she rose to the top.”
Her body was still trembling slightly. Yan Dibai held her and, unusually, coaxed her, his tone hard but soft.
"I kept her here because Cui Xun took the blame for everything for the Cui family, severing their ties with the crime of usurpation and treason. Moreover, at that time, a large amount of money and support from the gentry were still needed. The Cui family kept Cui Shenxiu here to place a bet and also to keep an eye on her. Cui Shu falsely accused Cui Shenxiu of infiltrating our army, but I deliberately did not reveal this and slowly tricked her."
Some things can only be known to a few.
Yan Dibai had considered explaining things to Qingqing, but being a young man, he was preoccupied with the Jin Sheng matter and feared losing face in her eyes. He also had to secretly plot against the Cui family, and since she was content to live a quiet life in the city with her personal guards, Yan Dibai only wanted to quickly seize Yongzhou and decisively defeat Wang Du and Cui Yan. Then he could proudly present the betrothal gifts.
They had already exchanged pleasantries, and Yan Dibai knew that she wouldn't believe what he had gleaned from Cui Shenxiu. If she had any doubts, she would definitely come and ask him herself.
If it weren't for the eunuchs around Cui Yan secretly releasing Xue Ying'er, things would have taken a completely different turn.
He was trapped in his obsession, pacing back and forth. At first, he often flew into rages, but then he slowly closed his heart, turning into a cold indifference to everything.
Aside from fulfilling Yang Liuqing's wish to become a good emperor for the people and the country, Yan Dibai had no other thoughts.
The body in his arms gradually calmed down, and Yan Dibai sighed as he pressed his ear against her slender white neck.
"I prepared this set of six wedding rites five years ago."
Qingqing was surprised. His arms tightened around her waist like snakes, and he breathed into her ear, "According to custom, we cannot see each other before marriage. I... played a not-so-good-looking gold coin."
He paused, a rare hint of embarrassment in his voice, "I didn't play well, my style was clumsy, I'm afraid you'll laugh at me."
The emperor lowered his proud head, revealing a hint of grievance and regret.
"If I had known, I would have just given it to you back then."
Qingqing's throat tightened, "Just because of this?"
Yan Dibai gave a muffled "hmm".
For the first time, even the most arrogant and unruly husband will hesitate and ponder the situation several times, fearing that he might lose his composure.
A single wrong decision, and five years have passed.
Qingqing's body stiffened. Was this fate playing tricks on her?
Five years.
What are five months in the present world are five whole years for Yan Dibai.
Her eyes began to burn again, and Yan Dibai said softly:
"Don't leave me behind in the future."
Qingqing's tears suddenly burst forth. For the first time, she could cry freely without any restraint.
"Actually, I figured it out a long time ago. I don't blame you. I just..."
When Qingqing realized she had been arrested, she understood that Cui Shenxiu's statement was almost certainly a psychological trap.
Wang Du and Feng An's scheme is not hard to guess. Wang Du's children and family business were all ruined by Yan Dibai, and he is the one who most wants Yan Dibai to suffer.
She nestled in his strong arms, sobbing, her face flushed: "The water that day was so cold..."
However, isn't this also a perfect opportunity?
If she were to say goodbye in person, she feared she wouldn't be able to utter a single word.
Yan Dibai held the person she had finally regained, and all her pent-up emotions were washed away by her tears.
The red candles crackled in the hall, casting double shadows. With everything out in the open, Qingqing sat up wearily and decided to reveal the final secret.
She looked into Yan Dibai's eyes. "I am not a person of this world, you know that, right?"
Yan Dibai raised an eyebrow, not surprised at all. "Before, I could only see things vaguely, but later, from your drunken ramblings, I guessed seven or eight parts of it."
"Then why don't you expose it?" Qingqing said angrily.
Yan Dibai curled his lips, revealing a hint of youthful exuberance. "Since you're not telling the truth, why should I press you?"
"Stop." Qingqing quickly changed the subject. "Do you... know how I got back?" she asked worriedly. "I still have a lot of things to take care of."
“…I don’t know.” Yan Dibai pulled her closer to his chest, his chin resting on the top of her head. “All I know is that you’re not getting away this time.”
Qingqing's heart skipped a beat, and she looked up at him. Suddenly, she cleared her throat and sat up straight solemnly.
"Then, let's get to know each other formally."
Yan Dibai snorted, his gaze immediately becoming focused with great interest.
Under his deep gaze, Qingqing took a deep breath and said earnestly:
"My name is Yang Liuqing. Yang Liuqing as in Yang Liuqingqing."
“I lost my father at a young age and lived with my grandmother. She was over seventy years old, and in order to help me fit in with my classmates, she would still sell roasted sweet potatoes on the street in the dead of winter to earn a few dollars for me.”
“There weren’t many teachers who could truly be role models when I was young. I knew my family was struggling financially, and some teachers would ask for money from me privately, so I would secretly unplug the phone line and pretend no one was home. I was often beaten and scolded for this, and the classmates and teachers passing by in the corridor would all laugh at me.”
“From the very beginning, I knew that life was hard. I wanted to make money, I dreamed of making money. So… I took on a mission, a mission to bring peace and prosperity to the world through your efforts.” Qingqing paused slightly, then quickly mustered her courage and continued, “I’m not saying this to play the victim, it’s just… I feel I should tell you the truth.”
Qingqing's eyelashes fluttered. "You see, I'm just that kind of person who looks up at trees and down at flowers, timid and boring, and only dares to follow the crowd."
Do you still like me like this?
As soon as he finished speaking, the bedchamber fell silent, with only the occasional soft crackling of the burning red candles.
Qingqing lowered her eyelids, and the palm of his hand, which was being held, gradually became sweaty.
The haphazard scrutiny or hesitation did not materialize.
In response, she received a deep, almost suffocating hug.
The young man leaned closer, his nose brushing against hers. Through the thin nightgown, she could clearly hear the strong, rapid beating of his heart, each beat striking her eardrums.
Yan Dibai pressed his forehead hard against hers: "You're so stupid."
"If you are cowardly, who in the world is brave?"
Qingqing opened her mouth, and she heard the string that had been taut for many years in the depths of her heart snap open.
She stared blankly at Yan Dibai.
Yan Dibai remained silent, his palms cupping her waist as he held her tightly in his arms.
Qingqing also lowered her head and nestled in his arms.
Their heartbeats gradually synchronized, and their breathing blended together... a moment of tranquility.
Suddenly, the person beneath her moved, and Yan Dibai let out a low moan as if in pain.
Qingqing, her eyes still wet with tears, looked down. Her gaze widened.
The young man's formal attire spread open on both sides with frequent swaying. He was only wearing an undergarment underneath. A giant python sat in the center, ready to strike at any moment.
Qingqing's eyes darted around as she tried to stand up. "Um, it's getting late, you should go to sleep. You should get some rest..."
"Ah!" But Yan Dibai forcefully pressed her down, and the bed curtains were pulled open. Qingqing stretched out her arms, only to be grabbed by a large hand.
He stared at her menacingly, then bit her hard with his red lips, saying each word distinctly, "Don't even think about running away."
He seized her eyes, which she was still trying to dodge, and with a couple of quick movements, his clothes, crumpled into a piece of dried salted vegetable, flew straight to the palace gate. Peanuts and lotus seeds rolled all over the ground in a flurry.
When they were truly honest with each other, Qingqing stopped resisting. After all, she was a modern person! She had seen adult videos! After a brief moment of shyness, Qingqing succumbed to the temptation and stared directly at Yan Dibai's well-defined chest and abdominal muscles.
The young man's body was completely different from that of a boy. Broad and lean, every inch of his muscles contained a power ready to be unleashed. And that sense of aggression, stemming from masculine instinct, was now blatantly pressing against her, burning her heart with unease.
The red candle flickered incessantly, one tear barely fading before another rose. Yan Dibai sucked on the tears, sweat trickling from her forehead and dripping onto her neck, causing her to flinch.
The young man buried himself in the ground, suddenly felt a sharp pain, groaned several times, and his face flushed crimson. He froze, motionless.
Qingqing thought he had reached that point, so she released her arm, recalling classic lines from novels, and said in a trembling voice despite the pain, "Actually, it's already very good, how about next time—"
Five years have passed, and Yang Liuqing is still such a spoilsport!
Yan Dibai was struggling halfway through when this sentence caused his barely maintained composure to completely collapse.
He bit her soft cheek with hatred, his long arm gripping her drooping head, his waist thrusting forward, following the path he had practiced countless times in his dreams, conquering territory with overwhelming force, like a tyrannical conquest of the world. Qingqing was tossed to the crest of a wave, only to plummet back to the bottom. Even her pleas for mercy were shattered.
Little Gray stretched out his legs outside and yawned contentedly.
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