Chapter 230: Celebrating with the People, Shaking Hands
When Xiao Qinggu woke up, Xiao Tong was no longer in prison.
Poisonous Granny was watching over her beside the straw bed. When she saw she had woken up, she said, "Go."
Xiao Qinggu slowly sat up, "Where is she?"
Poisonous Granny was silent for a moment, then said, "Now that she's gone, you can go do what you want to do."
"She's your mother. This time... you should be 60% sure."
Xiao Qinggu touched the bandaged wound and did not ask why Poison Granny was in the Dali Temple prison. Instead, he asked something else: "What are they doing?"
"They are heading towards Dengwengu with a corpse. If you want to join them, you must hurry."
Xiao Qinggu thanked him and stood up to leave.
She walked in a hurry and did not notice the deep gaze cast by the poisonous mother-in-law behind her.
To this day, recalling the day when she broke into the palace to rescue the emperor, Xiao Qingji killed Emperor Chengming, Xiao Tong killed Xiao Qingji, she paved the way for her, and the words she said to her, Xiao Qinggu did not feel without any regrets in her heart, but she did not regret it.
Just as Xiao Tong had expected, Xiao Qinggu prioritized the greater good and didn't reveal the full truth. If all the facts were revealed, Dayu and its people would have to endure another wave of turmoil.
Xiao Qinggu opened the book of thanks, and the words in the book were reflected in his eyes.
She is no longer the child who was bullied and unable to resist in her childhood, nor is she the princess who used to cry helplessly.
She is the new emperor of Dayu.
Xiao Qinggu put down the letter of thanks and his eyes fell on the double carp jade pendant.
He is also the king that Shang Yuwan treats sincerely.
Xiao Qinggu hid the other two brocade boxes, picked up the brocade box containing the dagger, and called out softly, "Qiao Ai."
Qiao Pei, dressed in a black night suit, appeared in response, knelt on one knee, bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty."
What Xiao Qinggu had done in the past two months had impressed Qiao Ai and other secret guards. Sometimes they even saw the shadow of the young and high-spirited Emperor Chengming in Xiao Qinggu.
Xiao Qinggu threw the brocade box to him and said, "Destroy it."
Since you have made up your mind, there is no need to keep this thought.
Xiao Tong was right. To be an emperor, one must have a hard heart.
Joe took it and said, "Yes."
He was about to leave when Xiao Qinggu suddenly called out to him, "Wait."
Qiao Ai walked back again, "Does His Majesty have any other instructions?"
Xiao Qinggu looked at the peace treaty sent by Youkouguo and the documents sent by Quqiguo on the table and stroked his chin. "The Prince Regent and Prince Qi are getting married... What gift do you think I should give?"
Qiao Ai: "...I don't know."
How could he, a man in his thirties who had never married and had never even drunk a wedding banquet, know this?
Xiao Qinggu waved his hand, "Forget it."
"I'll just look for it in my private vault."
——
Seven days later, Shang Yuwan and Xiao Qingxu got married again.
The morning light streamed over the mountains, illuminating the vermilion gates of Prince Qi's mansion. The columns on either side were entwined with bright yellow and crimson silk, stretching from the gate all the way to the inner courtyard. The copper bells on the eaves were also tied with red ribbons. The crisp chimes mingled with the clatter of drums and music, while the silk ribbons fluttered in the wind. The mere sight of them filled one with joy.
The sound of gongs and drums shook the ground, and many children couldn't help but cover their ears. Xiao Qingxu's face was unusually rosy today, and the wedding clothes he wore were as warm as the heart in his chest. As he rode on horseback, he no longer looked frail and sickly. Instead, some people saw the same high spirits he had before his disfigurement, like a soldier returning triumphantly from a battle.
Behind him followed a wedding sedan inlaid with gilded rivets and with curtains made of golden silk. Behind the sedan came the procession delivering the dowry, which consisted of more than a hundred loads of boxes, cabinets, utensils, and other items, each tied with a red ribbon.
The fluttering silk ribbon was like Xiao Qingxu's heart, and had already flown to the Shang family.
The people on both sides of the street were cheering - because some people were scattering copper coins on both sides of the street, which meant "celebrating with the people."
"The second wedding of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent and His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi seems to be even more grand and magnificent than their first wedding!"
"Yeah, yeah, this time we scattered more copper coins than the first time!"
"Shouldn't we be unable to scatter the coins the second time?"
"You know how much His Majesty favors His Royal Highness the Regent, and His Royal Highness Prince Qi loves His Royal Highness the Regent so much, so naturally, it will be even more lively than before!"
"That's right, His Royal Highness the Regent deserves such a grand ceremony!"
"Hurry up and grab some. If I can grab some, I can buy some cakes from Shihailou for my kids and wife to try."
Someone raised a question: "Although Her Royal Highness the Regent has changed her appearance, she is still a member of the Shang family. Why did she marry twice?"
Someone replied, "I heard she had already prepared the divorce papers before her first marriage to His Royal Highness Prince Qi. Although their previous engagement was arranged by the late Emperor himself, it inevitably attracted suspicion. His Royal Highness the Regent must have been afraid of implicating His Royal Highness Prince Qi, so she prepared them in advance. On the day the Shang family was in trouble, she stuffed the divorce papers into Prince Qi's hands and ran away."
"Prince Qi never said before that he and His Royal Highness the Regent had divorced."
"Maybe... forgot?"
"...I don't think so."
"Speaking of the late emperor, he...sigh..."
"Forget it, forget it. If you don't take back some more copper coins, you won't be able to afford even the meat pies on the street, let alone the cakes at Shihailou!"
"I know, I know."
Shang Yuwan knew nothing about this. At this moment, she had just been carried on Shang Mingqi's back. Feeling the weight on his back, Shang Mingqi couldn't help but feel a pang of pain in his nose.
It’s so light, like a cloud.
Shang Yuwan had a red veil on her head, so she couldn't see the expressions of the people outside, but she still noticed Shang Mingqi's strangeness and patted him on the shoulder gently, "Let's go."
Hearing the increasingly louder sounds of gongs and drums outside, Shang Mingqi hummed softly and carried Shang Yuwan onto the wedding sedan. Although Shang Mingqi was young, he was growing rapidly and gaining a lot of strength.
The Shang family had already been renovated by Xiao Qinggu, even before Shang Yuwan woke up. Previously, the Shang family had fewer servants than the average noble official, but after Xiao Qinggu personally oversaw the renovation, the family, while no longer extravagant, now looked more stable and dignified, less austere.
Twelve followed outside the wedding sedan and walked with the procession.
After picking up Shang Yuwan, the return journey became even more lively. The drum and music band seemed to wish they could pierce the instruments in their hands, making the people around them laugh and cover their ears.
The high spirits on Xiao Qingxu's face faded a little, replaced by obvious nervousness.
Arriving at the gate of Prince Qi's residence, the ceremonial officer saluted and said, "The newlyweds are getting out of the sedan chair—"
The bridesmaid smiled as she lifted the curtain. Xiao Qingxu took a deep breath and reached into the sedan chair. He had originally intended to use the jade ruyi to lift the veil, and then the two of them would enter the mansion holding hands, holding the red silk ribbon. However, Xiao Qingxu didn't want to hold someone's hand through the silk ribbon, nor did he want outsiders to see Shang Yuwan's bridely appearance. Shang Yuwan agreed to his request, and Xiao Qinggu had no objection.
Rules are dead, but people are alive.
After a moment, Shang Yuwan in the sedan chair remained motionless. Seeing this, the drums and music became quieter.
Xiao Qingxu thought something had happened to Shang Yuwan and was about to rush in anxiously when suddenly there was silence around him. He heard Shang Yuwan whisper, "Is that you?"
This cautious question made Xiao Qingxu's eyes tear up.
A smile bloomed on his face, and his long eyes were as gentle as water.
"It's me."
"Wanwan, it's me."
The next second, Shang Yuwan's hand suddenly grabbed Xiao Qingxu's hand.
She bent down and walked out of the sedan chair, and her hand, which was clasped with Xiao Qingxu's, accidentally slipped. They both held each other's hands even tighter at the same time.
The red lips under the red veil couldn't help but let out a chuckle, and the smile in Xiao Qingxu's eyes became even sweeter.
The reason was simple: the palms of both their hands were sweaty.
Xiao Qingxu was nervous, and so was Shang Yuwan.
Whether it was Shang Yuwan in her plain clothes before or Shang Yuwan in her wedding dress now, she would always be the most eye-catching color in Xiao Qingxu's eyes.
The deafening sound of drums and music began again, accompanied by the cheers of the crowd. The two walked hand in hand on the red carpet into the palace. Maids along the way carried flower baskets and gently scattered pink and white petals on them.
The petals fell on the carpet, then were lifted up by the wind, swirling in the air and flying in all directions.
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