Chapter 135: The General's Wedding
After Qi Wuhan went out to court that day, Jiang Lan felt bored and asked Guier to go to the bookstore to buy some storybooks. Then Guier bought all the most popular storybooks in the bookstore.
When Qi Wuhan came back, Jiang Lan was telling Qing'er and Gui'er the story in the book about a heroic scholar who saved a beautiful lady who fell into the water. He happened to hear it and walked over quietly so that the three of them didn't notice him.
"After Zhang Lang rescued the person and brought her to shore, he was stunned when he saw the girl's appearance clearly. What a beauty, so beautiful that she could make fish sink to the bottom of their waters, geese drop to the ground, and the moon hide in shame."
Hearing this, Qi Wuhan chuckled.
The three of them then realized that there was an extra person in the room. Qing'er and Gui'er hurriedly saluted him, their faces blushing with embarrassment. He let them go down first.
Jiang Lan was also a little embarrassed. Seeing him glance at the book in front of her, she immediately closed it and hid it behind her. He looked behind her again, stretched out his hand to her and said, "Show me how Zhang Lang captured the heart of this beautiful woman. I want to learn from him."
Jiang Lan hugged his lean and strong waist, looked up at him and said, "You don't need to learn, we have already done it~"
Qi Wuhan tapped her forehead lovingly, then gently lifted her onto his lap. He held her with one hand and picked up the storybook with the other, glancing at the title. He deliberately dragged out his words and said, "Amorous Scholar and Pretty Lady."
Jiang Lan blushed when she heard it, knowing that it was a title he made up. She gave him a sly look. Qi Wuhan grinned and said, "I don't think the lady in this book is as pretty as you~"
Jiang Lan blushed and scolded him for being immoral. Qi Wuhan added with a wicked smile, "Not as pretty as you." Jiang Lan turned her head away and ignored him. He kept her in suspense again, "I have an interesting story. Do you want to hear it, Xiaolan?"
Jiang Lan turned her head, glanced at him, and turned her head back.
Qi Wuhan's eyes were full of doting, and he thought his little Lan'er was so cute~
"Did you know that Princess Fu secretly bought a house outside to hide her lover?"
Jiang Lan immediately turned her head around, and her pair of watery eyes looked at him curiously, making him want to be a beast and hold her in his arms and do this and that.
He tilted his gaze slightly to suppress the deepness in his eyes. After a moment of restraint, he continued, "Do you remember the zither player that Princess Fu kept in the mansion?"
Jiang Lan nodded and just kept looking at him with a tender gaze.
Qi Wuhan slightly shifted his gaze and said, "The person hiding in the golden room is the zither master's younger brother."
Jiang Lan was a little surprised, but also a little curious and asked, "Where did the zither player go?"
Qi Wuhan pinched her cheek lightly and asked, "What do you think? Will the princess keep the zither player?"
Jiang Lan immediately understood that Princess Pingyang would never keep the zither player alive to ruin Cui Jingshu's reputation. She must have secretly dealt with him long ago. However, she didn't expect that the other party had a younger brother. She must have thought that the two brothers looked alike and were the type that Cui Jingshu liked.
Could it be that he found a substitute based on Prince An's appearance...
"Is his brother also from Xueyue Pavilion?" Jiang Lan asked curiously again.
Qi Wuhan said playfully, "Xiao Lan'er, do you also want to go to Xueyue Pavilion to broaden your horizons?" Jiang Lan shook her head and praised, "You are the most beautiful. Just looking at you is enough for me~"
"Slippery tongue~" Qi Wuhan said in a doting tone, kissing her with deep eyes. He lingered for a long time before letting her go. He raised his hand and gently stroked her bright red lips. His eyes became deeper and deeper. Jiang Lan felt that he was having a hard time restraining himself. With a blushing face, she whispered, "Be gentle... I can do it..."
Qi Wuhan's eyes were startled, and his throat tightened unconsciously. A heat like fire rose up, but when he saw her calf still wrapped in bandages, he immediately restrained himself. He gently held her in his arms and pecked her hair. His gentle voice was a little hoarse, like a dark fire lit in the underworld, bewitching people, "When you get better, I will get it back..." Jiang Lan shyly arched into his arms, her face flushed and almost steaming.
Since the defeat of King Rui, the Black Lotus Cult has disappeared.
The group of rebels that had been causing chaos in Jinzhou before were actually members of the Black Lotus Sect in disguise. After being wiped out by Cui Hai's army, the Black Lotus Sect was probably severely damaged and would not be able to show up again in the short term.
In order to help King Rui succeed, the Black Lotus Sect made a move, but none of the four Dharma protectors showed up, so the move was still reserved.
In this auspicious season with calm weather and blooming flowers, the palace welcomed another grand happy event.
On the day of Changle's wedding, the red carpet was laid out from the imperial palace to the general's mansion. The sedan chair she took was made of pure gold and inlaid with countless gems. The door of the sedan chair was a curtain carved from jade. It was extremely gorgeous and exquisite. Palace maids scattered flowers along the way, the fragrance spread for miles, and the sound of flutes and pipes and drums were deafening. No other noble lady's wedding could compare with such pomp and grandeur.
Prince An and Prince Fu both came to the general's residence to offer congratulations, and Marquis Changxing and his wife also came.
Madam Gu was pregnant and couldn't come over, so Gu Jincheng stayed at home to accompany her. Gu Xuan'er didn't come either to avoid suspicion because she was discussing marriage.
Jiang Lan was unable to go because her leg injury had not yet fully healed, so Qi Wuhan decided not to join in the fun and asked Butler Shi to send a gift over.
Qi Wuhan wasn't present, and Cui Yan had mixed feelings. He wanted him to be there to witness the wedding, but he also didn't want him to appear in front of Changle. He felt both relieved and frustrated. Although he knew that even if he showed up, nothing would change, he was still worried that Changle would be shaken...
This feeling of anxiety and fear did not settle until he saw the bride come in.
Only after the wedding was completed did Cui Yan feel completely at ease.
After the meal started, Cui Jingshu openly and secretly mocked Zheng Qian'er for her shabby clothes and not even having a decent piece of clothing or jewelry. Zheng Qian'er was not to be outdone and mocked some people for dressing up like wild cats and other animals and walking around in the streets. Then the two of them exchanged glances and then ignored each other.
When the servants came to serve the dishes, Cui Jingshu winked at Qiu Tong. Qiu Tong quietly reached out and pushed the hot soup, spilling it onto Zheng Qianer's dress. Cui Jingshu smiled smugly and then pretended to blame her, "Why are you so careless?"
Zheng Qianer glared at her fiercely, wishing she could rush over and beat her to death.
"Why are you glaring at me?" Cui Jingshu felt a little uneasy. "Look at how dirty your clothes are. Stop embarrassing yourself here."
Zheng Qian'er stood up and was about to rush over but was stopped by her personal maid Amber. Amber advised her to calm down and change into clean clothes first. Zheng Qian'er gave Cui Jingshu a glare and walked away with a cold face.
Afterwards, Amber went to report to Prince An, saying that the princess was not feeling well and had to go back first. Prince An asked Amber to take good care of her, and Amber agreed and took her leave.
"Sixth brother." Prince An was about to return to his seat when Prince Fu called him over. Prince Fu came over but didn't say anything. After standing there for a while, Prince An bowed and said, "If Fifth Brother has nothing else to do, I will go back first."
Prince Fu hurriedly called him back, glanced around, and lowered his voice to ask, "Why do you think Third Brother has suddenly become like this?"
Prince An replied, "I don't know either."
Prince Fu sighed and said with emotion, "We grew up together, and the Crown Prince has always been very kind to us. Why is Third Brother so stubborn?"
Prince An did not answer, his expression was as calm and peaceful as ever, without showing any unusual emotion.
Prince Fu sighed for a while, then suddenly reached out and grabbed Prince An's shoulder. He said to him very seriously, "Sixth brother, we must never do stupid things in the future. We must be good brothers for life."
This last sentence sounded too naive, almost childish, to others.
Prince An's expression was slightly strange, then he bowed and said, "I will remember the teachings of my fifth brother."
Prince Fu quickly helped him up and said, "We are all brothers, don't bow so often. You have been too reserved since childhood, and now you need to change. In a few days, bring your sister-in-law to my garden to stay for a few days, enjoy the flowers, bask in the sun, and relax."
"Thank you, Fifth Brother, for your kindness," Prince Fu said before Prince An had finished speaking. "Then it's settled. I'll come pick you and your sister-in-law up in a couple of days."
"I'm busy recently, so let's wait a few days before talking about it." Prince An declined politely.
Prince Fu was just about to talk about how wonderful his garden was when someone came over, so the two of them went back to their seats.
The night is cool and the red candles are shining brightly.
Cui Yan walked step by step to the door of the new house and stood outside the door for a long time before calming down his excitement. He raised his hand and knocked on the door lightly. After a pause, he knocked again.
After the door opened, Cui Yan walked in cautiously. After the servants left, he stood there stiffly until Changle called him, and then he walked over. His heartbeat quickened with every step he took. When he reached her, the pounding of his heart echoed in his ears. He felt like he was floating in the clouds, unable to tell whether it was reality or a dream...
He stood in front of her in a daze for a long while before he called her "Princess", his voice trembling with excitement.
When Changle put down the round fan that covered her face, Cui Yan was completely stunned and couldn't come back to his senses for a long time.
Changle smiled sweetly, and once again, she stared at Cui Yan, as if he had lost his soul. She pulled him to sit beside her. Cui Yan straightened his body, his face flushed with excitement and nervousness. Changle slowly leaned against his chest and said softly, "Brother Cui, from now on, you will be the closest person to me."
Cui Yan excitedly held her hand, wishing he could reveal his heart to her. "Don't worry, I will treat you very well in the future. No matter what you want, I will give it to you and will never let you suffer any injustice."
Changle looked up at him and said with a sweet smile, "Then my husband must keep his word in the future~"
Hearing the word "husband", Cui Yan's heart felt like being struck by lightning, and his whole body was numb. He looked at the beautiful face in his arms with obsession, and couldn't help but lower his head. Changle dodged for a moment, then winked at him cunningly. Cui Yan was embarrassed and his whole face was like a fire cloud. She stretched out her hand to hook his neck again. Being teased by her like this, he could no longer restrain himself. He leaned over and pressed her under him. His rapid breathing slowly approached her bright red lips. Changle raised her hand and gently touched his lips, "Can I have the jade pendant back?"
Cui Yan took out the jade pendant from his arms and placed it on her hand. His ten fingers slowly clasped it tightly together. His voice was low and hoarse, with a warm breath, "It has always been yours."
The candlelight is lingering and sad.
…
Since Prince Rui was placed under house arrest, Concubine Rong's health condition has deteriorated rapidly, getting worse day by day. The Emperor asked the imperial physician to do his best to treat her, but he never visited Concubine Rong.
Just two days before Changle's wedding, he passed away quietly in the night.
The emperor ordered the news to be blocked and only began to handle the funeral in a low-key manner after the wedding.
Prince Ning kept vigil in the mourning hall for seven days. The emperor asked the Imperial Observatory to select a place with good feng shui in Jinzhou, Rong Fei's hometown, to build a mausoleum. Prince Ning requested to send his mother's body back to her hometown, and the emperor agreed.
Before leaving, His Majesty graciously allowed Prince Ning to meet Prince Rui.
In the cold room, a few empty wine bottles were scattered on the floor.
When the door was pushed open, the person leaning in the corner raised his hand to block the light coming in.
"What are you doing here?" King Rui mocked. "Are you here to see me laugh at you?"
"My mother is gone." Prince Ning stated this fact calmly, his voice as cold as water.
The door closed again, and the room fell into a cold and dark atmosphere again.
No one spoke for a long time.
"Mother," Prince Rui paused, his voice a little dry, "did she leave any words?" Prince Ning shook his head slowly, "I don't know. Mother left at night, and I wasn't with her."
There was another long silence.
"My father has graciously granted me permission to escort my mother back home. I will depart tomorrow." Prince Ning bowed and said goodbye, "Take care, brother."
Prince Rui smiled, his laughter a bit sad. "I have never considered you my brother. How can a blind man like you help me? You should stay there with mother. It is best if you never come back."
When the door opened and closed again, several sad and sinister laughs were heard in the room.
"Father, can you lock me up forever?"
…
The next day when Prince Ning left, Qi Wuhan came to see Concubine Rong off.
After returning to the Marquis' Mansion, as soon as he entered the yard, he saw Jiang Lan standing at the door waiting for him. He walked over quickly and hugged her in his arms. She patted his back gently, silently comforting him.
"When I was a child studying in the palace, I was also taken care of by Concubine Rong." His voice was slightly hoarse and a little dry.
Jiang Lan comforted him softly: "It's not your fault."
He hugged her tighter and said self-deprecatingly, "Sometimes, I really feel like an executioner."
Jiang Lan hugged him tightly with heartache and comforted him, "In my heart, you will always be a great hero who always saves me from danger. What I am most grateful for is marrying you."
"Thank you, Xiaolan'er." He said softly, "When I'm done with my official duties, let's leave the capital."
"Okay, I'll do as you say." Jiang Lan agreed softly.
…
Pei Qian has not appeared since the Duke's Mansion was ransacked.
Jiang Yao went to Jiang Shen every day and cried for a divorce. Jiang Shen told her to wait until the person was found before talking about the divorce. Jiang Yao didn't want to wait even a day longer and wanted to sever ties with the Duke's Mansion as soon as possible to avoid any trouble being implicated in her.
So she brought her child to the Marquis' Mansion and asked Jiang Lan for help. She cried about how unlucky she was and how pitiful the child was. Jiang Lan agreed to help so that her elder brother could have some peace and quiet.
In the evening, she mentioned this matter to Qi Wuhan. He said that the Imperial City Bureau was already looking for the person, and most likely he had left the capital and hidden himself.
"Ye Rushui said today that it's almost healed. Does it still hurt?"
With just one look from him, Jiang Lan knew what he was thinking. She blushed and whispered, "It doesn't hurt anymore..."
"Does what you promised me before still count?" He turned over and pressed her on top of him, teasing her with a wicked smile.
“…Then you…be more restrained…” Jiang Lan blushed so much that she didn’t dare to look at him and simply closed her eyes.
Looking at her slightly trembling eyelashes, Qi Wuhan wanted to play some evil tricks even more. He lowered his head and whispered in her ear, "Then eight times. Be moderate."
…
It was not until the second half of the night that she fell into a deep sleep leaning on his chest, her body so soft that she had no strength left.
When she opened her eyes, it was already noon and she still felt sore in her back, so she decided to let him sleep in the study starting tonight.
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