Chapter 138 Tenth Anniversary: A Belated Grand Wedding
The winter solstice of the thirteenth year of the Xuanhe reign.
This day is a day for ordinary people to eat dumplings, but for the Regent's Palace, it is a special day.
Ten years ago today, Jiang Mianmian sat in that jarring bridal sedan chair, wearing that phoenix crown that almost broke her neck, and grumbled as she married into the Regent's Palace.
Ten years later.
As soon as Jiang Mianmian got up, she felt that the atmosphere in the mansion was a bit... eerie.
"Your Highness, you're awake?"
Xiao Tao walked in with a happy face, holding a set of... a bright red wedding dress?
"What are you doing?"
Jiang Mianmian rubbed her eyes, looking completely bewildered. "What day is it today? Are we going to perform in the palace again? Or is it a relative's wedding?"
"Neither."
Xiao Tao smiled mysteriously, "His Highness said that today... is an auspicious day. Please, Your Highness, change your clothes."
Jiang Mianmian touched the wedding dress suspiciously.
[This material... is it made of silkworm silk?]
[And the embroidery... the gold thread is pure gold? How much would this piece cost?]
What is Shen Jin trying to do? Does he think I'm not extravagant enough and wants to drag me down with him?
Despite her many doubts, Jiang Mianmian obediently changed into the extremely gorgeous wedding dress after being coaxed and pleaded with by Xiao Tao and several maids.
Unlike the heavy and restrictive dress she wore ten years ago, this one has clearly been carefully modified.
The waist was loose and comfortable, the phoenix crown was gorgeous but extremely light, and even the embroidered shoes on her feet had thick, soft soles.
Wow, that attention to detail! Thumbs up!
[Looks like this scoundrel... oh no, this good husband really put his heart into it.]
After tidying up, Jiang Mianmian walked out of the room.
Outside the gate, there was no familiar carriage, but a sedan chair carried by eight men, a sight only seen in myths and legends.
The sedan chair was made entirely of sandalwood and inlaid with countless gemstones, which shimmered in the sunlight.
"Your Highness, please get into the sedan chair."
Yingyi, dressed in a festive red outfit, stood beside the sedan chair, grinning from ear to ear.
Where to?
"You'll know when you get there."
...
The sedan chair did not head towards the palace, nor did it head out of the city. Instead, it circled around the most bustling Zhuque Avenue in the capital.
The streets were already lined with red lanterns and red carpets.
Tens of thousands of people lined the streets and cheered, waving colorful flags.
"Congratulations, Regent! Congratulations, Princess!"
Happy 10th Anniversary! May you have a long and happy marriage!
Sitting in the sedan chair, listening to the cheers outside, Jiang Mianmian finally realized what was happening.
[Tenth Anniversary?]
Oh my god...it's our wedding anniversary today?!
I was so busy I completely forgot, and he actually remembered? And... he made such a big fuss about it?
The sedan chair finally stopped at the main gate of the Regent's Palace.
However, the Prince's mansion had completely changed by then.
The solemn black lacquered gate was replaced with a festive vermilion one, and the stone lions at the entrance were adorned with large red flowers.
The sedan curtain was lifted.
A long, warm, and incredibly familiar hand reached in.
Jiang Mianmian looked up.
Shen Jin was dressed in a bright red wedding gown, his posture upright and his handsome features unparalleled. Time had not left many marks on his face; instead, it had endowed him with a more mature and charming allure.
He stood there, his eyes so gentle they seemed to melt the winter snow, just like that night ten years ago when he stood in the bridal chamber.
This time, however, his eyes showed no coldness, no defensiveness.
Only overflowing affection.
"lady."
Shen Jin called softly, his voice deep and pleasant, "Get out of the sedan chair."
Jiang Mianmian placed her hand in his palm.
"Shen Jin, what's wrong with you...?"
“Back then at that wedding,” Shen Jin gripped her hand and helped her out of the sedan chair, “you were cursing in your heart, complaining about being tired, and thinking about running away.”
Jiang Mianmian blushed: [Ahem, those memories are too painful to recall...]
"That was my fault."
Shen Jin looked at her and said earnestly, "I owe you a wedding... one that you are willing to have and that makes you happy."
"Therefore, today, I, the King, will make it up to you."
"Jiang Mianmian, would you... marry me again?"
Jiang Mianmian was stunned.
She looked at the man in front of her, at the pairs of eyes around her offering their blessings, and at her son Tuantuan, who was perched on the wall, happily scattering flower petals.
Tears welled up without warning.
【fool……】
Who asked you to fix it? I've already latched onto you, do you think I'm going to run away?
However... this wedding was truly beautiful.
It's even more beautiful than I imagined.
"I do!"
Jiang Mianmian shouted, "As long as you provide meals, as long as you pay me, as long as you... always love me, I'm willing to marry you a thousand times! Ten thousand times!"
Thunderous applause and cheers erupted from the surrounding area.
Shen Jin smiled.
He scooped her up in his arms, just like ten years ago, and strode across the brazier, over the threshold, and toward their home.
"Provides meals, money, and love."
He whispered in her ear, "This life, the next life, and the life after that, I'll take care of you."
This time.
There was no humiliating kneeling, no cumbersome etiquette.
Only the two of them held hands as they walked down the long red carpet, bowed to heaven and earth, and to their parents (in front of Jiang Zhan's portrait; the old man was unwell and resting in the backyard), and finally... the couple bowed to each other.
"The ceremony is complete!"
With a loud announcement from the master of ceremonies, fireworks exploded across the sky above the capital.
Those were fireworks specially developed by Shen Jin, which would not produce toxic smoke and would only bloom into the most beautiful patterns.
The brilliant firelight shone on their faces.
Jiang Mianmian looked at Shen Jin and silently made a new wish in her heart:
I used to dream of getting rich and thin overnight, and of wandering the world.
Now... all I want is to be with you, year after year, day and night.
Shen Jin heard it.
He lowered his head and kissed her lips amidst the fireworks.
"As you wish."
“My…Goddess.”
This grand wedding, which was ten years overdue, finally came to a perfect end in the presence of the entire city.
It is more than just a ritual.
It is a commemoration of the past decade of weathering storms together, and also the most heartfelt promise for countless decades to come...
That night, the wedding night began.
Tuantuan, that clueless brat, wanted to cause trouble in the bridal chamber, but Yingyi forcibly lured him away with "two gold bricks."
Only two people remained inside.
Shen Jin lifted the veil and looked at the face that was even more beautiful than it had been ten years ago.
Are you tired?
"I'm not tired," Jiang Mianmian said, rubbing her stomach. "I'm just hungry."
As if by magic, Shen Jin produced a steaming plate of glistening red chili oil from under the table—
Husband and Wife Lung Slices.
"It was prepared long ago."
Jiang Mianmian screamed with delight and rushed over to hug him:
"Chen Jin! You're simply my god!"
"Eat."
Shen Jin looked at her with doting eyes, "You're full...we still have 'important business' to attend to."
"What important matter?" Jiang Mianmian pretended to be clueless.
What do you think?
Shen Jin blew out the red candle.
In the darkness, only the sound of their intertwined breaths and the overflowing tenderness between them remained.
These past ten years have been worthwhile.
Looking forward to the next decade, Your Majesty.
【Hmm. Please guide me, my... spendthrift princess.】
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