Chapter 430: I Will Take Responsibility for Your Life

It was already past lamp‑lighting time, yet inside and outside the princess residence everyone was in a frantic hurry.

No one expected their young marquis to risk his life, charging straight into the palace, preferring to lose his title and face execution rather than not bring home the Lin family's eldest daughter, whose reputation had been damaged.

Moreover, they were marrying right now, with none of the wedding paraphernalia prepared—not even the red silk happiness characters for the roof decorations, which were temporarily hired from embroiderers in Jing Cheng.

Fortunately, the princess residence was also a wealthy household; earlier, the Grand Princess had been worried over her son's illness.

After Gu Jiu Ling cured her son's illness, she saw that he was no longer young and thought it was time for him to marry.

The betrothal gifts had long been ready, and she added some jade treasures from the palace that the Grand Princess herself had brought years earlier, making the gifts appear very valuable.

The Grand Princess directly ordered the betrothal gifts sent to the Lin family, and the Lin side acted swiftly.

Not to mention the young marquis's deep affection for his own daughter, his daring appearance tonight was nothing less than saving her life.

As for the Lin family's dowry, preparations had begun as soon as Lin Ru Jun was born, by Old Madam Lin and Madam Lin.

The whole family doted on this pearl‑like girl, expecting their scholarly household to raise a proper lady, but the girl grew increasingly wayward.

Now she finally married off, and under these circumstances her dowry was naturally abundant.

Just as the Lin family's dowry was being moved into the princess residence, Ling Feng, commander of Rui Wang Fu, personally brought two ox carts to add to the bride's dowry.

A full set of ruby headpieces, four large chests of silver ingots, one chest of gold ingots, the silk chosen was priceless Shu brocade, and the precious coral trees were almost as tall as a person…

Old Madam Lin stared in disbelief—who adds a dowry like this? It was almost more extravagant than the Lin family itself.

Old Madam Lin wanted to refuse, but Ling Feng forced it onto the Lin family's dowry, adding that it was compensation from Prince Rui, and if they didn't accept, Prince Rui would personally deliver it.

Upon hearing that Xiao Yin would personally deliver it, the Lin family dared not refuse; they finally realized this was likely a trap set by Xiao Yin.

They were unhappy that Xiao Yin used their Lin family daughter as a raft, yet they dared not speak up.

Soon the princess residence's wedding procession arrived at the Lin household; after all, today's affairs had become chaotic, so both families omitted unnecessary rites.

Especially since Cheng Ming had previously forced his way into the palace, although the guards showed mercy and did not take his life, his injuries were still serious.

Originally the Grand Princess had Cheng Ming rest at home, sending a respected elder from the residence to Lin's to fetch the bride for him.

Unexpectedly, Cheng Ming, despite his wounds, insisted on personally going to Lin's to marry, saying that even though many wedding rites had already been omitted, skipping this one too would make a mockery of the marriage—wasn't that looking down on them?

The Grand Princess, feeling sorry for her son and not wanting him to flatly refuse her kindness, could only grit her teeth and order people to help Cheng Ming onto the wedding carriage.

Cheng Ming, although he did not want to ride in the carriage, wished to wear red and green and marry on horseback.

Unfortunately, his wounds were too severe; as he struggled, cursing, to mount the horse he fell with a thud, over and over, making the Grand Princess so anxious she almost knelt for her son.

Cheng Ming then gave up and obediently boarded the carriage adorned with the red happiness character.

The bridal sedan sat before the carriage, looking quite imposing.

Cheng Ming's carriage had just stopped at the gate of An Guo Gong Fu, when the Lin family were already waiting at the entrance.

Cheng Ming gritted his teeth, descended from the carriage, and step by step moved toward the Lin gate; Lin Jing Yuan, standing at the door, seeing his state, dared not block him outside.

The Southern Qi custom of blocking the door was thus set aside; he stepped forward, supported Cheng Ming, and said: "Wait in the carriage, I will carry my sister out and deliver her to you."

Cheng Ming hurriedly replied: "I will carry my own wife out; no need to trouble you, elder brother."

Lin Jing Yuan could not help but laugh angrily; he was this young man's elder sister's husband, and said softly: "You could carry her, but you're wounded; if you stumbled while carrying my sister…"

"If you hurt my sister, bruising her skin, would you not feel sorry?"

Cheng Ming froze on the spot.

Lin Jing Yuan helped him back into the carriage.

Afterwards Lin Jing Yuan's gaze turned solemn, his expression unprecedentedly heavy and calm.

He stared at Cheng Ming ahead and said softly: "I know I am entrusting my sister to you; this is surely her good fortune. Though you have a temper, you are not unreasonable."

"I also see that you have feelings for my sister; here we need not go through those tedious rites—I will say only one thing."

"If one day my sister fails to win favor in your princess residence, please send her back; my Lin family can support her."

As Lin Jing Yuan's words fell, Cheng Ming nodded and no longer insisted on personally fetching her.

Soon Lin Jing Yuan lifted Lin Ru Jun onto his back; she wore a red veil, and her brother carried her to the bridal sedan.

Just as the matchmaker sent by the princess residence shouted loudly, preparing to lift the sedan and depart, a voice came from the following carriage—the young marquis.

"Wait a moment; I have something to say to my wife."

Others stepped aside, only to see the princess residence's young marquis, now dressed in a new bright red wedding robe, lift the carriage curtain with the help of his attendants and slowly alight.

Cheng Ming lifted the sedan's curtain, half‑entered, raised his hand and seized the hand of Lin Ru Jun, who wore a red veil.

Lin Jun's body trembled slightly, but she did not pull her hand from Cheng Ming's grasp, merely whispering: "What are you trying to do now?"

Cheng Ming said slowly: "I don't intend to do anything; I just want to tell you, don't be afraid—from now on I will take responsibility for your life."

The tender hand Cheng Ming held stiffened, then a soft laugh came from beneath the red veil: "I will bear my own life; who needs you to manage it?"

Those words were half‑true, half‑false, tinged with petulance, making Cheng Ming feel his chest burn hotter and hotter.

He clenched Lin Jun's hand tightly; before, he had only dared to look at her from afar, or invite her to sword‑dance in the woods.

The two words "like" he had never spoken before; now he could no longer hold back and said them all at once.

Cheng Ming then whispered a few more words, turned back to his carriage, and escorted Lin Jun's sedan together to the princess residence.

After all, tonight's wedding was far from ordinary.

The Grand Princess also did not invite many people, only asking General Cheng's former friends and her usual close female companions.

As for the Princess Consort of Rui, she thought it over and still decided to let it be; after all, now true and false are tangled and confusing, she herself can't make sense of it.