Wedding
The next morning, the injured little ghost stumbled into the Wen Mansion, its soul almost disintegrating into mist. Ruan Yunsheng hurriedly supported it, and his fingertips touched a burning Taoist scar, and the edge of the wound was actually glowing with golden Sanskrit!
"An Yue!" She called to the maid urgently, "Bring me the soul-condensing incense!"
The woman in red made hand seals to attract the ghost's power. A faint blue light enveloped the little ghost, and the scars gradually healed, but the spider-web-like golden mark could not be removed and was firmly imprinted on it.
"It's a Taoist technique, the nemesis of ghost power." An Yue said solemnly, "The opponent is not simple."
With the help of An Yue's ghost power, the little ghost finally woke up and told everyone what had happened: "I originally followed Xuan Hong into the secret room of Prince Yong's Mansion and heard them say that they would put the 'Pulling Silk Gu' in the wedding banquet wine."
Suddenly, it cowered in fear. "Just as I was about to leave, a man in Buddhist robes suddenly attacked. A golden light flashed, and I..."
"Buddha's robe?"
Memories of the past suddenly surfaced, and Ruan Yunsheng thought of something, "Could it be Liang Ran from Qinglong Temple? But wasn't his cultivation crippled by Ming Chen?"
Wen Ciyuan's eyes suddenly turned cold: "It seems that he has surrendered to Prince Yong and recovered his Taoism."
Ruan Yunsheng immediately wrote a letter and asked An Yue to hand it over to Qinglong Temple personally.
Taoism is naturally able to defeat evil spirits. If they truly understood it, ordinary people and little ghosts like them would definitely not be their match.
The little ghost added, "Xuan Hong said that he would wait until he left the capital to remotely activate the Gu, causing the ministers to go crazy and kill each other, thus clearing the Southern Kingdom of suspicion!"
"What a vicious plan!" Mo Yu was furious. "I will immediately send in three more guards. They will not be allowed to kneel at your wedding banquet."
"It's impossible to prevent it." Wen Ciyuan shook his head. "The poisonous insects can penetrate anywhere."
It’s just like the poisonous insect hidden in the door of the inn that day. If it wasn’t so close, it would be impossible to detect it with the naked eye.
Ruan Yunsheng suddenly chuckled and pulled out a bronze bell from his sleeve: "What are you afraid of? Don't you still have this?"
"But none of them work."
"Who said I only have one?"
Ruan Yunsheng raised her eyebrows and took out a series of bells from the space. Soon the ground was filled with a whole mountain of bells. Mo Yu widened his eyes, his eyes full of admiration for her.
Soon the one-month deadline was up. At three quarters past three in the morning, the palace lanterns were still on, and Ruan Yunsheng was already sitting in front of the Luan mirror. Famous palace maids entered one after another holding a gilded tray. The phoenix coronet and bridal bridal gown given by the empress herself was gleaming on the tray, and the pearls and jade glowed like a starry sky under the candlelight.
Now everyone in the world knows that Ruan Yunsheng has broken with the Ruan family, and the royal family has specially approved her to marry out of the palace and enjoy the treatment of a royal bride.
"You are so lucky, young lady." The old maid's voice trembled as she tied her hair. "I have served three princesses on their wedding bridal rites, but this is the first time I have seen such an expensive headdress."
When the pearl crown of "A Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" pressed down her hair, Ruan Yunsheng looked at the strange and gorgeous self in the mirror and suddenly felt a little dazed.
Three months ago, she was an orphan in the countryside of Chuzhou who was ignored by everyone, but now she was going to marry out of the main hall of the imperial palace and become the wife of the prime minister.
"Shengsheng."
Wen Ciyuan's voice cut through the clamor. She looked up and saw him standing outside the palace in a crimson wedding gown, its golden embroidered coiled dragon pattern gleaming in the morning light. It was even more elegant and majestic than his usual court attire.
He walked towards her step by step. All the officials and palace maids knelt to congratulate him, but he only looked at her. When he took her hand, his palm was slightly hot: "I'm here to welcome you."
Although this wedding was mixed with too many forces, at this moment he just wanted to hold her hand, grow old with her, and stay with her forever. How lucky it is to meet someone like her in one's lifetime.
The wedding procession marched through Zhuque Street in a grand manner, with the imperial guards leading the way and red silk covering the ground. People crowded on both sides of the street, cheering and rejoicing, and children scrambled to pick up the scattered wedding money and flower petals.
Wen Ciyuan rode his horse at the head of the team, wearing a crimson wedding gown embroidered with golden dragons, his black hair tied high in a red jade crown, and his usually stern brows were now bathed in a smile as warm as the sun.
The pearl curtain of the sedan chair swayed gently, and Ruan Yunsheng saw his back through the gauze curtain. The tassels hanging from the saddle brushed against his black hooves. Whenever he turned around to look for her, the rouge-red headband on his forehead would rise, making his smiling eyes look even deeper.
The procession arrived in front of the Prime Minister's Mansion. The nine-story red gates opened one after another, and the bridesmaid's voice pierced the clouds and cracked the stone: "The bride is stepping on the golden bricks."
Hundreds of maids scattered golden osmanthus, and a red carpet was laid from the front of the sedan chair to the wedding hall. Every golden brick was engraved with the blessing of "longevity of mountains and rivers".
Wen Ciyuan dismounted and walked to the front of the sedan chair, personally lifting the curtain. When he reached out his hand to her, a warm Hetian jade was lying in his palm, carved into the shape of her favorite apricot blossom.
"Don't be afraid."
He whispered, "I'll lead you away."
Firecrackers were blasting in front of the Prime Minister's Mansion. The bridesmaid sang auspicious words and helped Ruan Yunsheng get out of the sedan chair. She stepped over the fire basin, crossed the saddle, and stepped on the brocade bag. Every ceremony was accompanied by deafening cheers.
At the last moment of the three-bow ceremony, hundreds of red candles were lit in the wedding hall, and the smoke rising from the gilded incense burner wrapped around the robes of the guests in the hall.
Before the ceremonial officer finished singing the last note of "Husband and Wife Bow to Each Other" Wen Ciyuan suddenly took a step forward.
The wide sleeves of his crimson wedding gown brushed against the green jade bricks. In front of the emperor, empress, officials, and guests, he gently took Ruan Yunsheng's hand, which was covered with a phoenix veil.
There was a sudden silence all around, and even the ceremonial officer forgot his words.
He leaned forward and, through the thin red veil made of silk as thin as clouds, accurately kissed her lips.
The warmth penetrated the silk, and Ruan Yunsheng's fingertips trembled in surprise. Her cheeks felt like they were burning under the veil. The whole room gasped like a tide, and then burst into thunderous applause!
The old ministers stroked their beards and laughed, the ladies covered their faces and exclaimed in surprise, and even the emperor clapped his hands and coughed and laughed: "This Wen Qing... is really..."
The Queen smiled and pinched his arm: "Your Majesty was not so courageous back then!"
When Wen Ciyuan stood up, there was a flicker in his eyes, as if the frozen lake had finally cracked and spring had begun to appear. He still held her hand, his fingertips lightly stroking her palm.
The ceremonial officer finally came to his senses and shouted in a trembling voice, "The ceremony is over—!"
The pearl curtain of the Phoenix Crown swayed gently in front of her eyes, and the broken light swayed like a falling starry river.
Under the veil, Ruan Yunsheng could feel Wen Ciyuan's gaze penetrating the silk gauze and burning on her lips. She couldn't help but raise her eyes slightly, and through the hazy red gauze, she met his smiling eyes. His always frozen black pupils melted into spring water, reflecting the flowing gold of her phoenix crown and spreading delicate tenderness.
Inside and outside the hall, under the eaves and corridors, there were ancient bronze bells hanging everywhere. When the evening breeze passed through the hall, thousands of bells trembled together, making ethereal and clear sounds, like the music of the gods from the nine heavens descending to the mortal world.
The runes engraved on the bell body flow with pale golden magic power under the candlelight, like a net woven by fireflies, enveloping the joyful atmosphere in the room in a quiet and peaceful atmosphere.
The banquet was held at ninety-nine tables, with a constant stream of delicacies being presented: blood-red bird's nests from the South China Sea, roasted whole lamb from the Northern Frontier, dragon and phoenix wedding cakes made by the imperial chef...
The sounds of stringed instruments and orchestras were endless, and officials took turns to come forward to toast Wen Ciyuan. Wen Ciyuan accepted all the toasts. The more drunken his eyes became, the more upright he remained, as if standing as tall as a pine tree.
Arriving in front of the Southern Kingdom's envoys' table, Xuan Hong stood up, cup in hand, his expression impeccable: "Congratulations to the Prime Minister on your wedding."
When the golden cups collided, his fingertips trembled slightly. From the moment he stepped into the Wen Mansion, all the poisonous insects he had planted in the mansion disappeared like a stone in the sea, and not even the slightest sensation was lost!
Even the King of Ten Thousand Gu in his body was restless, as if he had encountered something terrible. Could it be that the Wen Mansion was hiding some treasure?
Wen Ciyuan chuckled: "Your Highness has come from afar, I offer you three cups."
He took the cup and drank continuously, the amber wine reflected the candlelight, and his Adam's apple rolled, showing his elegance. After drinking three cups, he turned the golden cup upside down to show that it was empty. With a smile on the corner of his lips, he turned around and walked to the next table, his crimson robe fluttering in the breeze.
Xuan Ji, who was standing beside him, stared at Wen Ciyuan's departing back, her eyes glued to his tall spine, her lips unconsciously parted slightly, as if her soul had been hooked away.
An old minister from the Southern Kingdom frowned and looked sideways. Xuan Hong suddenly grabbed her sleeve and scolded her, "Take away that look! Do you want to embarrass yourself again?"
Arriving at Prince Yong's table, Wen Ciyuan filled both cups with his jug: "I never thought Your Highness would honor me with your presence. I am deeply grateful."
Prince Yong, Murong Yun, sat in a wheelchair, smiling and raising his glass, his pale knuckles clasping the jade cup. "It's so rare to see the Prime Minister shed his official robes and wear the colors of everyday life. How could this prince miss it?"
As the two drank, Wen Ciyuan's eyes seemed to accidentally glance at the guard behind Prince Yong: "Your Highness, this attendant... looks like he has muscles and bones tempered on the battlefield."
Murong Yun's smile did not diminish: "I just happened to rescue a wolf cub in the mountains. It was fate."
The two men raised their glasses to each other, their eyes met and then separated as the wine entered their throats. Wen Ciyuan brushed the table with his crimson sleeves and turned to greet the next guest with a smile.
The guards beside Murong Yun also retreated at some point without anyone noticing.
Taking advantage of the guard change, he walked to the east corridor of the ancestral hall and suddenly felt the poison bottle in his arms tremble violently.
He looked up at the beams. Hundreds of bronze bells hung like stars, and pale golden magic power rippled like waves, weaving into an invisible giant net.
"No wonder the poisonous insects are so effective." His eyes flashed with blood. "So there's such a magical tool to protect the house!"
He leaped onto the beam, and black mist condensed from his fingertips, about to hit the main bell.
"Junior Brother Liaoran."
A soft call sounded like thunder!
Liaoran was shocked all over. The name was like a poisoned needle piercing his heart. He didn't know how long it had been since he heard someone call him like that.
He suddenly turned around and saw a Taoist priest in a green robe standing at the gate of the moon cave. His pine-patterned robe was bathed in the cool moonlight, and his features were still as handsome as a banished immortal.
"Long time no see." Ming Chen's voice was like jade washed by snow water. "So many years have passed, why are you still so unrepentant?"
Liao Ran pulled off the black cloth covering his face, revealing the crisscross pattern of scars. "Brother, what do you think I can do in this state?"
He laughed hoarsely, "My cultivation has been crippled, my tendons and veins are broken, even the poisonous insects find my body rotten. I went through untold hardships to rebuild my magic power, all because of you!"
Pain welled up in Mingchen's eyes: "Come back to Qinglong Temple with me, maybe there's still room for recovery."
Liang Ran interrupted abruptly, "Are you going to destroy me again?"
He stared into Mingchen's ever-calm eyes and suddenly flew into a rage, "You're always like this! Showing mercy from a high position, as if all living beings are ants in your palm!"
The black mist in his palm surged and rushed towards the bronze bell: "Today I will destroy this broken bell."
"clang!"
Mingchen swept out a golden light from his whisk to block the black mist: "Junior brother, please do not commit murder again!"
"Murderous sin?" Liao Ran laughed bitterly. "When you destroyed my cultivation, why didn't you say it was a murderous sin?"
Nine bloody centipedes shot out from his sleeves and shot towards Mingchen's face like sharp arrows!
Mingchen retreated gracefully, and drew a Tai Chi formation with his whisk. The golden light and the black mist collided and exploded, causing the bells on the eaves to ring wildly.
The two figures intertwined under the moonlight, and the Taoist robes and black clothes left afterimages.
One is a genius from Qinglong Temple who has been with the temple for a hundred years and always leaves room for maneuver;
One is an evil ghost crawling out of purgatory, fighting for his life in every situation.
Liang Ran tore Ming Chen's shoulder sleeve with one claw, and blood splattered on the bronze bell: "Brother, you are still soft-hearted and can't bear to kill me!"
Ming Chen held his pulse point with his backhand, and his spiritual power penetrated like a needle: "It is because I am soft-hearted that I hope you will come back."
"Look back?" Tears of blood rolled down Liang Ran's eyes. "I've already been in hell!"
He suddenly shattered the poison bottle on his chest, and countless poisonous insects drilled into his body. His magic power surged, and black fog engulfed the entire corridor.
The moment Liang Ran shattered the poison bottle on his chest, countless pitch-black poisonous insects drilled into his seven orifices like a tide, and his blood vessels bulged and twisted under his skin, as if there were living things crawling in his flesh and blood.
The magic power around him surged, and the black mist swallowed up the corridor like a substance. The bronze bells exploded one after another, and fragments flew everywhere!
Ming Chen's eyes were stinging from the poisonous mist, and his vision was blurred. He bit his fingertips and used blood as a medium to write in the void. Spiritual power was drawn from his body like a torrent: "The world is clear and bright, the evil is destroyed and the righteousness is revealed - command!"
The blood talisman exploded with a blinding golden light, forcibly tearing a crack in the black fog. The fog gradually dissipated, revealing the hideous figure in the center.
Liao Ran's eyes were bloodshot, blue-black blood vessels covered his face, his mouth was stretched from ear to ear, and he made an inhuman hoarse sound.
"Junior brother..." Ming Chen staggered and leaned against the wall, his lips pale, "If you turn back now, you can still repent."
In response, he was met with sharp claws, carrying a bloody wind! Ming Chen dodged sideways in embarrassment, and a large piece of his Taoist robe was torn off.
He trembled as he took out an exquisite golden pagoda from his arms. It was the one Ruan Yunsheng had given him in advance in case of emergency.
Although Ruan Yunsheng possesses many magical weapons, she is just a mortal and cannot use them. It would be better to hand them over to Mingchen now.
"The ruins are a prison, where all evils hide—"
The golden pagoda spun in response, suddenly transforming into a nine-story tower that enveloped him. The golden light bound Ran's limbs like shackles, and no matter how he screamed and struggled, his skin and flesh were burned by the holy light.
"Mingchen! I'm not wrong!" Liaoran curled up in the golden light, his voice gradually weakening, "I'm not wrong..."
The whispers behind were drowned out by the roar of the tower closing.
The giant tower shrank back to the size of a palm. When Mingchen caught the slightly hot golden tower, he spat out a mouthful of blood on the runes at the base of the tower. He had a hunched back and white hair, and he seemed to have aged ten years in an instant.
He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, held the golden pagoda and staggered into the night, his back blending into the deeper darkness.
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