Chapter 169: Wedding Gift (6)

The crowd turned to look, only to see Su Ling and Dan Yulan arriving together, holding a bright, gleaming Imperial Decree in their hands. Everyone assumed that since the Emperor could not attend in person, he had issued a decree to congratulate the Prime Minister on his wedding. The crowd parted to clear a path, allowing the two to enter the front hall smoothly.

Gu Yun exchanged a glance with Su Yu behind her. Su Yu hurriedly shook her head and whispered in her ear, "Stay calm, let's watch and see first!"

Su Ling also saw Gu Yun in the crowd. Gu Yun glared at him coldly. Su Ling sighed inwardly; he did not want to cause trouble at someone else's wedding either, but the Emperor...

The days of peace he and she had finally achieved, he feared, would no longer exist after today!

Lou Muhai laughed heartily and said, "General Su, Official Dan, I thought you two wouldn't make it in time for this wedding wine!" He had always admired the Su Family Army, and having fought side-by-side with them during this recent suppression of rebels, he had found it incredibly satisfying, and his impression of Su Ling was even better than before.

The expressions of Su Ling and Dan Yulan were somewhat stiff. They chuckled softly, "Old General, you are too kind!" They feared they would not be able to drink this wedding wine!

With a light cough, Dan Yulan said in a clear voice, "Prime Minister, receive the decree."

The entire group knelt down, the sound of bells and drums ceased, and the crowded main hall became exceptionally quiet in an instant.

Dan Yulan held the Imperial Decree for a long time before reading aloud, "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The rebels in the Northwest have been completely suppressed. The rebel leaders have confessed to colluding with the Lou Family father and son, stealing from the national treasury, and plotting treason. It is now ordered that Criminal Justice Official Dan Yulan and General of the State Su Ling jointly preside over this case. The Lou Family father and son are to be taken into custody and imprisoned. There must be no errors. Respect this!"

Taken into custody and imprisoned!

How could this be?!

The noisy main hall fell into silence once again. Who would have thought that the once-illustrious Lou Xiyan would be imprisoned just like that?

Gu Yun's heart beat rapidly. What kind of evidence had the other side produced to make Yan Hongtian issue a decree to imprison Lou Xiyan?!

Lou Muhai regained his senses and immediately roared in fury, "Absurd! This is absolutely a frame-up! I will go with you immediately to confront those rebels face-to-face! The Lou Family has been loyal for generations; how can we allow anyone to slander us?"

Lou Xiyan remained silent throughout. Dan Yulan could only step forward, gesturing for them to follow, and said, "Prime Minister, the Emperor's will is hard to defy. My apologies!"

"Wait!" Zhuo Qing raised her delicate hand, and the red veil drifted to the ground. She walked with slow but steady steps to stand between Su Ling and Dan Yulan, and said in a solemn, raised voice, "General Su, Official Dan, there is still one final bow left; this marriage will be considered complete! Qing Ling dares to ask you both for a grace period of half a quarter of an hour."

Su Ling and Dan Yulan looked at each other. They had not expected this woman to make such a request. The charge for which Lou Xiyan was being imprisoned was treason, which carried the penalty of extermination of the nine clans! However, facing Zhuo Qing's firm and cold gaze, they really had nothing to say. Coming to make an arrest at this time was not their wish, and if they could not even grant this small request, it would be truly unreasonable.

Both men turned their heads away simultaneously and nodded slightly.

They had tacitly agreed. Zhuo Qing walked toward Lou Xiyan, who was staring at her with slightly furrowed brows. She slowly reached out her hand and interlaced her fingers with his. Her slender fingers gripped his hand tightly, and warmth flowed continuously from her palms. Even though Lou Xiyan had remained calm upon being imprisoned, his emotions surged at this moment.

Zhuo Qing raised the corners of her lips, the resolute light in her eyes somewhat dazzling. Her clear voice was loud enough for everyone present to hear distinctly, "Today, I am going to become your wife, regardless of whether you are the high and mighty Prime Minister or a prisoner!"

The crowd stared blankly at the woman in the red dress with a plain face. Perhaps many felt her actions were foolish, but many more were filled with respect and emotion for such a woman. After all, it is easy to share wealth, but difficult to share adversity!

Gu Yun's heart was also struck heavily at this moment. While feeling heartache for Zhuo Qing, she was also relieved that she had found a man willing to share adversity with her.

"Ceremonial Officer!" Zhuo Qing called out loudly.

The Ceremonial Officer finally regained his senses and shouted, "Bow to each other!"

The pair of newlyweds, in red robes as vibrant as blood, their sleeves fluttering, saw no one else in each other's eyes. There were no guests, no Imperial Decree, no red veil, no silk ribbon leading them; the two just looked at each other like this, fingers tightly locked!

They bowed deeply. As the Ceremonial Officer shouted, "The ceremony is complete," the marriage was officially concluded!

The crowd in the living room, previously silent, let out the first cheer since hearing the Imperial Decree!

Lou Xiyan slowly released Zhuo Qing's hand and walked toward Dan Yulan and Su Ling, saying with a faint smile, "General Su, Official Dan, please lead the way." It was as natural and casual as when the three of them met at court; it seemed that misery could never touch this man.

The group left the crowded yet exceptionally quiet main hall. Zhuo Qing stood straight in the center of the hall, bowed slightly to the guests who were either at a loss or waiting to watch the spectacle, and said in a graceful yet unquestionable tone, "The Lou Family has encountered a sudden change today, so the wedding banquet ends here. If there is an opportunity in the future, the Lou Family will surely entertain friends and family again! Everyone, please return! Jing Sa, see the guests out!"

Jing Sa, acting as the steward, immediately stepped forward and replied in a low voice, "Yes, Madam."

"Everyone, please!"

The Xiangfu was worthy of being the Xiangfu; despite suffering such a great change, it remained steady and orderly. The servants were all calm, ushering everyone out in an orderly fashion.

The guests retreated silently. Gu Yun whispered to Su Yu behind her, "You go back to the General's Mansion first."

Seeing her as immovable as a mountain, Su Yu asked anxiously, "Then what about you?"

"I have something to say to her." For a wedding to end like this, although Qing had remained calm throughout, she must be hurting inside!

The crowd had mostly dispersed. Su Yu knew she couldn't persuade her, and it wasn't appropriate for her to stay, so she could only whisper a reminder, "Alright, take care of yourself."

The main hall, which had been bustling just moments ago, was now left with only a few servants tidying up items overturned by the departing crowd. The room full of red looked so piercingly bright now. Zhuo Qing walked toward a wooden chair, her movements so slow as if she would collapse if she moved any faster. After finally sitting down, her eyes appeared somewhat vacant. Although her hands were already gripping the armrests tightly, Gu Yun could still see them trembling.

Squatting beside her, Gu Yun asked softly, "Qing, are you alright?" The scene of the wedding ceremony just now made even her heart ache. So, Qing's love for Lou Xiyan was this deep! Holding Zhuo Qing's icy fingers, Gu Yun wanted to comfort her, but didn't know what to say!

After a long while, Gu Yun finally sighed in a low voice, "I... will find a way to investigate what evidence the rebels produced that is so fatal to Lou Xiyan. Don't worry too much, it will be fine!" This sentence was truly empty and useless; clearing Lou Xiyan's name was the only way to help Qing!

General's Mansion, Yitian Courtyard.

Su Ling, you deserve to die! Damn you!

Gu Yun stood in the courtyard, cursing Su Ling fiercely in her heart. After returning from the wedding banquet, she had immediately gone to the Ministry of Justice. Dan Yulan was not there, and Cheng Hang told her that the main interrogation records for Lou Xiyan's case were currently kept at the General's Mansion, and they didn't even know the specific details.

She had searched Su Ling's study for an entire night to no avail, and in the end, she was discovered by him. She never expected that to stop her from investigating this case, he would actually place her under house arrest and even assign a squad of soldiers to watch her outside the Yitian Courtyard.

Crossing her arms over her chest, Gu Yun sneered. Did he really think that the time she spent in the General's Mansion over the past six months was used for chasing butterflies and embroidery! Su Ling, for me, Gu Yun, walking out of the General's Mansion is as simple as walking into the vegetable market next to my house! Glancing at the moon gradually slanting to the west, Gu Yun raised a cunning smile; the time had come!

Retreating to the corner of the Yitian Courtyard wall, Gu Yun leaped lightly, grabbed the tree branch above her head, and skillfully climbed to the treetop. Five o'clock in the morning was the moment when a person was most tired and most likely to relax. Hiding among the dense branches and leaves, Gu Yun observed the soldiers stationed around.

As expected, the guards at the courtyard gate were the most rigorous, and there was someone guarding the courtyard wall every ten meters or so. There was a soldier right below the tree where she was hiding. Gu Yun seized the opportunity and leaped down from the tree. The Small General was startled, and before he could react, he had already been struck on the back of the neck by Gu Yun and knocked unconscious.

Going out through the front gate was impossible. Gu Yun planned to go around through the Back Mountain. She had surveyed the terrain there when she was training soldiers. Crossing the Back Mountain led to the official road; although there were soldiers guarding it there too, it was definitely not as tight as inside the General's Mansion.

There was still an hour before dawn. Gu Yun sneaked toward the Back Mountain, not daring to take the gate by the Drill Ground because that required passing through Lingyun Pavilion. Gu Yun could only go out through the backyard where she used to live. Although it was a bit messy, fortunately, she managed to enter the forest as she wished.

Beyond that was the Back Mountain. Gu Yun's speed increased. When passing the stone wall where she had trained soldiers last time, Gu Yun suddenly felt a gust of wind. In the blink of an eye, that figure she hated so much appeared before her.

And Su Ling's expression could only be described as thunder and lightning.

Under a vigorous century-old Wutong Tree, a black shadow looked up at the treetop for a long time before finally calling out in a low voice, "Senior Brother? Senior Brother, are you there?"

The answer to him was the rustling sound of wind blowing through the leaves.

Not there? Qian Jing supported the tree trunk with one hand and watched for a while longer. Thinking of Ao Tian's cold personality, he finally decided to go up and take a look. Qian Jing, with mediocre martial arts but excellent Lightness Skill, reached the treetop in a few leaps.

Sure enough, that aloof black shadow was lying leisurely on the treetop, closing his eyes to rest.

After calling for so long, he didn't even react. Qian Jing was annoyed. He leaped onto the branch where Ao Tian was lying and stomped on it twice. The branch shook violently. He stomped with all his might, but Ao Tian seemed to be glued to the branch, lying steadily. Instead, Qian Jing himself swayed a few times and almost fell off.

Having asked for a snub, Qian Jing curled his lips and sat on the branch opposite Ao Tian, saying anxiously, "Senior Brother, I finally found you. How can you still be in the mood to sleep here! Senior Sister and I are worried to death!"

Ao Tian still lay there unmoved. Just when Qian Jing thought he wouldn't pay him any mind, a cold voice replied calmly, "Worried about what?"

Thinking that Ao Tian still didn't know the severity of the situation, Qian Jing explained, "There have been five or six cases in Jingcheng in a row, all involving rape and plunder. The culprit is extremely arrogant, and his silver hair has become his greatest feature." After finishing, Qian Jing glanced at the silver strands that were exceptionally dazzling in the night, and said anxiously, "If this is not a coincidence, then it is a frame-up targeting you. How can you still be indifferent!"

A flash of sinister and disdainful light crossed his cold face. Ao Tian slowly stood up, half-leaning against the thick trunk behind him, and hummed lightly, "Then what do you think I should do?"

Although he had guessed that he would scoff at it, Qian Jing still advised, "At the very least, you should investigate the background of that culprit! If it's a coincidence, catching him will definitely bring a lot of reward money. If it's targeting you, you must be even more on guard! The celebration starts in half a month, and the imperial court is extremely sensitive at this time. You cannot afford not to be on guard!"

Aren't they just trying to force him to make a move? He absolutely would not give in! Ao Tian's already cold and arrogant face looked even more defiant, and that indifferent expression made Qian Jing curse under his breath, "Senior Brother!"

He was doing this for his own good! What did it matter if his martial arts were high? If he didn't prepare as soon as possible, he would end up as a target for Bounty Hunters to capture. Not to mention how many people in the underworld Senior Brother had offended; beating a drowning dog was what they were best at. Senior Brother was forcing himself into a dead end!

"Senior Brother..." Qian Jing still wanted to persuade him, but he discovered that Ao Tian's attention was no longer on him; a strange light he had never seen before flickered in those deep, cold black eyes.

Following his line of sight, he saw a black figure running in their direction; judging by the posture and appearance, it looked like a woman! Just as the woman crossed the open lawn and was about to run into the woods where they were, an extremely fast figure chased up from behind her, leaped, and landed in front of the woman, blocking her path.

Qian Jing clearly felt Ao Tian's whole body stiffen, his cold eyes staring icily at the two people below—or to be more precise, glaring at that man.

Qian Jing secretly wondered, who were the two people below?

(End of chapter)