Grand Wedding
When Wei Qiao saw Jiang Jiao running towards him, he quickly withdrew his hand from Xi Chun's. Jiang Jiao, however, saw the whole scene and blinked her big eyes, asking Wei Qiao, "Uncle Wei, do you like my mother?" She knew that only someone who liked her would touch her like that, just like her aunt and Uncle Xing.
Wei Qiao nodded firmly at her and said gently, "I love your mother the most in this world."
Xi Chun woke up when Wei Qiao's hand touched her face, but feeling a little embarrassed, she pretended to be asleep. Unexpectedly, she overheard Wei Qiao's confession. Taking advantage of her daughter's conversation with Wei Qiao, Xi Chun quickly pretended to wake up and got up to leave the room. Seeing Xi Chun's hasty retreat, Jiang Jiao smiled and said to Wei Qiao, "Uncle Wei, my mother seems shy."
Wei Qiao watched her departing figure, a sweet smile appearing on his lips.
Wei Qiao lived in Xi Chun's room, so Xi Chun moved in with Jiang Jiao. Xi Chun hired an aunt and temporarily stopped going to the steamed bun shop to take care of Wei Qiao at home.
After finishing the herbal medicine, Wei Qiao saw Xi Chun turn to leave, grabbed her wrist, and told her about his divorce from Ming Chu Qing and how he was assassinated by the monk Shi Xin at the birthday banquet.
“The monk Shixin, disguised as a musician, assassinated me while performing. I wasn’t seriously injured, but his dagger was poisoned with a deadly poison called Soul-Stealing Powder, which he bought from a wandering monk in the Western Regions. That’s why I felt like I was dead all of a sudden. My uncle discovered that a new faction in the court had been secretly stirring up trouble in the past two years. So my uncle and I discussed using my death to expose this mastermind. That’s why my death was announced to the world.”
He held her hand and said, "Don't worry, this is just a setup. I promised to marry you, so I won't die so easily."
"You lied to me again!" Xi Chun thought about how she had been heartbroken and sleepless all night because of his death, and now it all seemed like a joke. She pushed Wei Qiao's hand away and started to walk out; she didn't want to stay with this liar.
Wei Qiao pulled her into his arms, cupped her face, and kissed those long-lost red lips. Her taste was still as sweet as he remembered. He gently nibbled at them, etching her flavor into his heart little by little. Xi Chun initially tried to resist, but later she too succumbed to his kisses.
The snow outside continued to fall relentlessly, while inside, a loving couple shared a passionate kiss, as if they had already crossed the cold winter and entered the bright sunshine of spring.
A few days later, A-Gui Zhao Yu and a group of guards from the Prince Zhao's mansion arrived at Tangli Lane.
Ah Gui brought an imperial edict:
"I have heard that Lady Jiang is gentle and virtuous, with a beautiful appearance. She was once a concubine of Prince Zhao, but was separated from him for some reason and raised her young daughter alone. I am moved by her deep affection for Prince Zhao, so I hereby bestow upon her the title of Princess Zhao, and we shall be married on a chosen date. I have also heard that Lady Jiang is lovely and charming, so I hereby bestow upon her the title of Princess Lingyun, granting her a fief of a thousand acres and ten chests of various jewels. This is my decree."
After listening to A-Gui read out the imperial decree, Xi-Chun stood up and looked up blankly at Wei-Qiao beside her.
Wei Qiao cupped Xi Chun's face in his hands, gazing tenderly into her bright eyes. "Xi Chun, I love you."
Looking at his face, which had become more mature than when they first met, Xichun's mind flashed back to all the moments they had shared over the years. She had hated him, but she loved him even more deeply. Time flies, and she still wanted to spend her life with him.
"Wei Qiao, I love you too." After saying that, Xi Chun tiptoed and kissed him on the lips.
Xi Chun confessed her relationship with Wei Qiao to Chu Wei and Xiao Peng, and received their heartfelt blessings. However, Xi Chun hadn't figured out how to explain things to Jiang Jiao, since Jiang Jiao had previously stated with certainty that her father had passed away.
On the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, the steamed bun shop had already closed for the New Year period. Chu Wei, along with Xiao Peng, A Gui, and others, were in the kitchen making fried crispy pork, meatballs, and other New Year's treats. Xi Chun was in the room talking to Wei Qiao. The toxins in his body had not been completely eliminated, and he was still very weak. He spent most of his time lying in bed following Yue Mei's medical advice.
Wei Qiao pulled Xi Chun's hand as if to pull her into his arms, and amidst their laughter, Jiang Jiao entered the room with two oranges. The two immediately let go of each other's hands. Xi Chun straightened her clothes and tried to go forward to take her daughter's hand, but Jiang Jiao ran past her to Wei Qiao, her big eyes scanning his entire face. Then, smiling, she gave him one of the oranges in her hand, saying, "Daddy, have an orange."
Xi Chun and Wei Qiao were both stunned. Wei Qiao's eyes immediately reddened, and he bent down to hug the little girl in front of him, "Tuan Tuan, Daddy's good daughter."
When they went to bed that night, Xichun asked Jiang Jiao how he knew Wei Qiao was his father.
Jiang Jiao sat on her mother's lap, hugged her neck, and laughed, "I guessed it. Tuan Tuan looks like both Mom and Dad. Mom, I'm so happy, Uncle Wei really is my dad."
As winter passed and spring arrived, Wei Qiao's health gradually recovered under Xi Chun's meticulous care.
On the ninth day of the fourth lunar month, Xi Chun and the others attended Chu Wei and Xing Kuan's wedding. Chu Wei, dressed in a red wedding gown, wore a blush and sweetness never before seen on her face. On the way home, Wei Qiao held Xi Chun's hand, with Jiang Jiao perched on his neck. Hearing Xi Chun talk about Chu Wei and Xing Kuan's wedding, Wei Qiao leaned close to her and asked, "I'm so envious of Young Master Xing for marrying such a beauty. I wonder when my princess plans to marry me?"
Xi Chun, hands on her hips, tilted her head and smiled, "I don't want to embroider my wedding dress yet, so please wait a little longer, Your Highness."
After the Dragon Boat Festival, Xi Chun took Wei Qiao to Xing Chun Tang to have Yue Mei examine his pulse. After taking the herbal medicine for several months, Wei Qiao's complexion was getting better and better.
After taking your pulse, Yue Mei smiled and said, "You can stop taking the medicine now. The toxins in your body have been completely cleared."
After Chu Wei got married, she moved to the Xing Mansion, and Xi Chun moved into Chu Wei's former room. After bathing, Xi Chun dried her hair and was about to go to bed when she heard a knock on the door. She put on her clothes and opened the door, only to find that it was Wei Qiao who had come.
"What are you doing here? I'm going to sleep." Xichun said and tried to close the door.
Wei Qiao found Xi Chun's feigned anger extremely cute, slipped into the house, and closed the door behind him.
Seeing his actions, Xichun knew exactly what he wanted to do. She pushed away Wei Qiao's hand that was around her waist and said embarrassedly, "Our daughter is in the room next door."
Wei Qiao leaned down and kissed her blushing cheek, saying softly, "Let's be quiet, no one will hear us."
While Xichun was still hesitating, Wei Qiao had already picked her up and placed her on the bed. He removed her thin undergarment, revealing her alabaster skin. Wei Qiao lovingly roamed over every inch of her body, leaving countless rosy red marks after the night.
The next morning, Xichun woke up in Wei Qiao's arms. Wei Qiao, who was already awake, saw her sleepy eyes and placed a light kiss on her forehead.
Good morning, my queen.
Seeing the smile on Wei Qiao's face, the memories of their passionate encounter last night flooded back. Xi Chun turned her face away shyly, still stubbornly saying, "We're not married yet, so I'm not your queen."
Wei Qiao bent down and hugged her, gently inhaling the scent of her hair. This was the scent he missed most during countless sleepless nights.
Xi Chun felt a little itchy from the hot breath on his nose. She tried to push him away and get up, but he held her tightly in his arms.
Xichun thought he still wanted to do that, so she quickly said, "What are you going to do? Our daughter will be getting up soon."
Wei Qiao placed a kiss on her smooth shoulder. "Xi Chun, marry me. The wedding dress... I've prepared it."
May 20th is an auspicious day for marriage.
Once again, Xichun donned a red wedding gown, a gown commissioned by Wei Qiao from the most famous embroidery workshop in the capital, Jinxiufang, at a cost of a fortune. The gown was adorned with countless blooming flowers, and a thin layer of translucent gauze over it further enhanced its extraordinary appearance. Xichun's already beautiful face, enhanced by this gown, was simply breathtaking.
Wang Dasao's mother-in-law, being a person of complete fortune, came to comb Xichun's hair.
Looking at Xichun with her makeup on, Sister-in-law Wang exclaimed, "When you moved to Tangli Lane that year, I said a fairy had come to Tangli Lane. Today, dressed up, you really are no different from a fairy."
Wang Dasao's mother-in-law laughed and said, "That's right, Xichun is the most beautiful bride I've ever seen. You and Prince Zhao have been through so much together. I wish you both a sweet and happy life together from now on."
Jiang Jiao, dressed in a new red dress and with her hair in two buns, ran into the house. She took Xi Chun's hand, looked up at her, and said, "Mother, you look so beautiful today, like a fairy in a painting."
Xichun reached out and touched the red pearl hair ribbon in her daughter's hair bun, and smiled, "My Tuantuan looks beautiful today too."
In the west wing, Wei Qiao, dressed in his wedding attire with the help of A Gui and Zhao Yu, had originally intended to return to the capital for a grand wedding with Xi Chun. However, Xi Chun wanted a simple ceremony in this small courtyard, so he complied with her wishes. As long as he could be with her, Wei Qiao had no other desires.
The sound of firecrackers signaled the auspicious time.
Red silk ribbons fluttered everywhere in the courtyard, and the double happiness lanterns shone brightly with candlelight. Wei Qiao smiled as he watched Xi Chun, her head covered by a large red veil, walk towards him step by step, supported by Wang Da Sao and Chu Wei. Jiang Jiao took one end of a red silk ribbon tied with a large red flower from the tray carried by Zhao Xiaopeng and handed it to her father, and the other end to her mother.
"Mother, Father, I wish you a long and happy marriage."
Wei Qiao touched his daughter's smiling face and said "good," and Xi Chun also smiled and nodded to her daughter.
Yue Mei pulled Jiang Jiao aside and smiled at the two people in the center of the hall, saying, "Alright, the bride and groom, come and pay your respects to heaven and earth."
Miao Wendao, acting as the master of ceremonies, stood at the upper right of the wedding hall, loudly announcing the wedding ceremony. Aunt Feng sat on the high seat, smiling as she watched the perfect couple in the hall.
"First bow to Heaven and Earth."
"Bowing to the parents twice."
"Husband and wife bow to each other."
"Send them into the bridal chamber."
With the witness of their friends and neighbors in Tangli Lane, Xichun and Weiqiao completed a simple wedding ceremony. Amidst a shower of flower petals scattered by their daughter and friends, Xichun, holding a red silk ribbon, entered the bridal chamber with Weiqiao.
The front yard was filled with joy as relatives and friends raised their glasses to celebrate their wedding. Xi Chun sat in the bridal chamber with a sweet smile that never faded. She and Wei Qiao had finally made it to the end.
With a creak, the door to the bridal chamber opened from the outside, and a small figure ran up to Xichun. "Mother, Father asked me to bring you this."
Xi Chun lifted her veil and saw that Jiang Jiao had brought her two rose-flavored red bean paste wedding cakes. She took a small bite, and the sweet taste spread from the tip of her tongue all the way to her heart.
As the commotion in the courtyard gradually subsided around midnight, Wei Qiao, his face flushed with wine, opened the door to the bridal chamber. He stood at the doorway, gazing at Xi Chun, who sat regally inside, for a long time before slowly walking up to her. Wei Qiao used a pole to lift Xi Chun's veil, revealing her more radiant beauty than usual, thanks to her makeup.
"Xichun, you look so beautiful in your wedding dress," Wei Qiao said with a smile, holding her hand.
Xi Chun blushed and lowered her head, then, remembering they were an old married couple and didn't need to be so shy, she looked up at Wei Qiao again. Wei Qiao rarely wore red except in official robes, and the bright red wedding attire made his already handsome features even more alluring. She had previously thought Wei Qiao was the most handsome man in the world, and seeing him today, she was still right.
Xi Chun looked at him with deep affection and said, "My husband, you are handsome too. You are the one I love most in this world."
Wei Qiao blushed even more deeply after being confessed to by Xi Chun. He picked up the nuptial wine prepared on the table and handed it to Xi Chun, and the two drank it down in one gulp.
The sweet aftertaste of the nuptial wine lingered in his throat. Wei Qiao took Xi Chun's hand and pressed it close to his heart. "My wife, from now on, my heart will never change."
Xichun smiled and nodded at him, then lowered her head shyly. He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Xichun, I will love you forever, until death do us part."
End of article
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