Chapter 182

In the depths of winter, the weather was dry and cold, dry and cold, and inside and outside Prince Rui's mansion, large red characters meaning happiness were posted everywhere.

Su Wanrou sat in the warm pavilion awaiting marriage; she had originally entered Prince Rui's mansion as an orphan taken in by Xiao Yin, and daily, relying on Prince Rui's favor, she was especially proud and aloof, so even in Shang Jing she had no close friends.

Even sitting in the warm pavilion, she had no female companions; only Gu Jiu Ling came with Jiu Yue to take a look, not even warming the seat in the Explore Spring Pavilion before uttering some grandiose blessings and then rising to leave.

"Gu Jiu Ling!" Su Wanrou slowly lifted her head, flung aside the veil covering her face, looked toward Gu Jiu Ling, and her eyes were icy.

The servant maids attending around were stunned; to directly call the Princess Consort by name to her face was truly disrespectful.

Gu Jiu Ling gave a light smile, not annoyed at all—this woman was about to be kicked out soon, and she didn't want to cause trouble.

"If you have something to say, say it quickly! If you have a fart, let it out quickly!"

Su Wanrou's face darkened, she gritted her teeth and coldly said, "Gu Jiu Ling, as I leave, please take good care of the Prince for me."

"All right," Gu Jiu Ling frowned disgustedly; seeing this woman's weird, sarcastic demeanor made her angry, and she coldly laughed, "You're getting married, not dying—what after‑arrangements do you need to settle?"

"You…" Su Wanrou was so angry she couldn't speak.

Gu Jiu Ling didn't glance at her again and strode out.

Yet in the main courtyard she encountered Zhao Lang, who had just rushed in through the gate—eighteen or nineteen years old, with thick brows, large eyes, handsome and heroic, his whole body exuding a sunny, fresh aura.

This time he took off his battle armor and put on a large red wedding robe; the all‑red outfit made his already outstanding handsome face look even more charming, absolutely a fine color.

"Greetings, sister‑in‑law!" Zhao Lang slammed his knees to the ground before Gu Jiu Ling with a slap, kowtowing once; the surrounding escorting officers burst into laughter.

Gu Jiu Ling quickly laughed and helped him up, feeling inexplicably embarrassed.

Not wanting the observing officers to shout and laugh, they said, "General Zhao, the Princess Consort can bear this bow; you already kowtowed to the Prince earlier—this is just worrying that the Princess Consort will make things difficult for him, so you're rushing to marry a lovely lady!"

Hahaha…

The foul air Gu Jiu Ling had picked up in Su Wanrou's room was instantly swept away by these youthful, lively youths; she laughed and stepped aside.

Soon after, Zhao Lang personally lifted Su Wanrou into his arms, showing a simple, honest smile, while Su Wanrou in his embrace appeared somewhat flustered and stiff.

Zhao Lang was the second man she had encountered besides the Prince, yet in her heart she grew increasingly disgusted—indeed, he was a barbarian who fought on the frontiers!

Zhao Lang carefully carried her into the carriage, for after leaving Prince Rui's mansion they were to go straight to the Zhao Gu Zong Ci in Phoenix Prefecture, so they took a carriage; however the carriage's exterior was wrapped in large‑red silk, making it quite festive.

Before and after the carriage were Zhao Lang's personal guards, each imposing; their armor was wrapped in a layer of red silk, splendid to the extreme.

Although the Zhao family's gate is modest, the wedding procession is in no way lacking; it is absolutely majestic.

Initially Xiao Yin intended to send the betrothal gifts directly to the Zhao residence, but Su Wanrou wished to accompany them to the Zhao Gu Zong Ci in Phoenix Prefecture.

First, to display the might of Rui Wangfu; second, to give her face; and also to give face to the late General An in heaven.

Su Wanrou cannot mention General An; as soon as she brings him up, Xiao Yin has no choice but to yield.

Not long after, the magnificent wedding procession left the outskirts of Jing Cheng and headed toward Phoenix Prefecture.

To go toward Phoenix Prefecture one must pass through a mountain path; on both sides are towering stone cliffs, and in the middle is a forest lane two li long—once you go through, you're in Phoenix Prefecture's territory.

Originally Zhao Lang planned to take the main road, but Su Wanrou began to feel unwell on the way; possibly because she is frail, after riding in the carriage for only several tens of li she had already vomited twice.

The attending maid helped her rinse her mouth; seeing Su Wanrou's discomfort, Zhao Lang felt uneasy.

He blamed himself for not achieving merit early, for not moving the ancestral hall to Jing Cheng, letting this frail woman suffer alongside him.

"Enough! Let's take the shortcut!" Zhao Lang said when Su Wanrou again called for the carriage to stop, feeling sick and wanting to vomit; he could no longer hold back.

The deputy commander beside him whispered, "General, is that forest lane not too safe? We're carrying so much gold, silver, and valuables; places like this easily attract bandits—perhaps we should stick to the official road for safety."

Zhao Lang's handsome brows furrowed; he lifted his head to look at the blood‑red sunset in the distance—there was no way to take the official road again, for if they did his wife would be exhausted to death.

He drew a breath and said, "Take the forest lane—our Southern Qi elite troops still fear bandits? Today, as the general marrying, I'll leave them a life, merely breaking their dog legs."

Soon the troop turned into the forest lane, but the lane was too narrow—only three could walk abreast side by side, and the carriage could barely scrape along the stone wall as it moved forward.

Zhao Lang personally guarded the rear of the carriage, but just after they passed the forest lane, a soft voice came from inside the carriage.

"My lord?"

Zhao Lang startled—although Su Wanrou was already his wife, he had kept to propriety all along the way, never lifting her veil to look at her; he had only seen a strip of her snow‑white neck when she retched.

This time Su Wanrou directly called him, still addressing him as "my lord," leaving him somewhat at a loss; he carefully approached the carriage side and gently lifted the curtain, fearing to startle her.

He appears rough but is actually a very gentle person.

Zhao Lang lifted the carriage curtain and poked half his body inside: "My lady… what are your orders?"

Su Wanrou, head lowered beneath her veil, sat there a long while before saying, "I have something to tell my lord; could you please lift my veil? I feel suffocated."

Zhao Lang startled, feeling even more at a loss; normally one lifts the veil only upon entering the bridal chamber, but this time there was no need to observe those formalities.

After all, they must lift the veil to pay respects at the Zhao Gu Zong Ci, so there's no need to mention those rules.

He raised both hands, gently grasped the corners of the veil, and lifted it carefully.

But the instant the veil was lifted, a sudden puff of pungent powder blew into his face; he gasped in shock and instinctively shoved Su Wanrou away.

Just as he was about to retreat, a clamor of fighting erupted outside.

The poison instantly streamed through Zhao Lang's nose and mouth; it turned out to be a potent toxin.

"Poisonous woman!" Zhao Lang snarled, reaching for his sword, only to realize that on his wedding day he wore no blade at all.

At the same time a whistle pierced the sky; the fighting outside grew fiercer, and more and more clad‑in‑tight, masked men charged toward the carriage.

Su Wanrou's veil had been fully lifted, revealing her cold, beautiful yet twisted visage, which met Zhao Lang's heroic and loyal countenance.

Zhao Lang never expected that Xiao Yin would send his own sister to kill him.

But by then the poison had already spread; he staggered backward and fell, only to be caught and held up by the guards behind him, who then shoved him onto his horse.

"Run! Protect the general, run!"

"Ambush! Ambush!!"