Chapter 97: Shocking Change at the Wedding Banquet (2)

Dan Yulan was relatively familiar with Zhuo Qing and admired the woman's wisdom. Bowing slightly, Dan Yulan asked: "Is there anything else, Madam?"

Walking with slow but steady steps, Zhuo Qing walked between Su Ling and Dan Yulan, raised her voice, and asked sternly: "General Su, Lord Dan, there is still one final bow left, and this marriage will be considered complete! Qing Ling dares to ask the two of you to grant a half-quarter of an hour. Is that possible?"

Su Ling and Dan Yulan looked at each other. They didn't expect this woman to have such a request. The crime for which Lou Xiyan was imprisoned was rebellion, which was a capital crime that would implicate the nine clans! If they hadn't married, she might still have a chance to escape. Once the ceremony was completed today, she would have no way out! This was simply seeking her own death!

But facing Zhuo Qing's firm and cold eyes, they really had nothing to say. Coming to arrest people at this time was truly not what they wished. If they didn't even agree to this request, it would be truly unreasonable.

The two turned their heads away at the same time and nodded lightly.

They acquiesced. Zhuo Qing walked toward Lou Xiyan, who was staring at her with slightly furrowed brows, and slowly reached out her hand, interlocking her fingers with his. In the past, it was always him reaching out to her; today, she wanted to hold his hand and walk the most important part of the road!

"Qing'er..." Her slender fingers tightly clasped his hand, and the warm palm continuously transmitted warmth. Lou Xiyan's emotions, which had not fluctuated because of his imprisonment, were surging at this moment.

Before he could finish speaking, Zhuo Qing raised the corners of her lips, the resolute and persistent light in her eyes even a bit piercing. Her clear voice rang out loudly enough for everyone present to hear clearly: "I want to become your wife today, regardless of whether you are the high-ranking Prime Minister or a prisoner!"

Everyone stared blankly at the woman in the red dress with a plain face. Perhaps many people felt her approach was very stupid, but more people were filled with admiration and emotion for such a woman. After all, it was easy to share wealth, but difficult to share adversity! Even Lou Muhai, who had never given Zhuo Qing a good look, finally revealed a trace of a smile at this moment. This woman, in terms of courage and loyalty, could be considered worthy of his son.

"Ritual official!" Zhuo Qing called out loudly.

The ritual official finally came back to his senses and shouted loudly: "Husband and wife bow to each other!"

The newlyweds, in red clothes as bright as blood, with their sleeves fluttering, looked at each other, and there was no one else in their eyes—no guests, no Imperial Decree, no red veil, no silk ribbon. The two just looked at each other, fingers tightly clasped!

They bowed deeply. As the ritual official shouted "Ceremony complete!", the marriage was considered concluded.

The crowd in the main hall, which had been silent, let out the first cheer since hearing the Imperial Decree!

Walking to the ritual table, Zhuo Qing took out two empty cups, filled them with wine, handed one to Lou Xiyan, and held one in her hand. Hooking her arm around Lou Xiyan's, Zhuo Qing leaned forward slightly and whispered in his ear: "After drinking this cup of wedding wine, we will share honor and disgrace, and never leave each other in this life!"

Share honor and disgrace, never leave each other!

The light voice, without the deliberate declaration as before, fell heavily into Lou Xiyan's heart with every word. He knew that the person he chose wouldn't disappoint him, but he didn't know she could do this much for him!

Their eyes met, their wrists crossed, and the wine went down their throats. This was the vow of a lifetime.

Slowly tightening her hands, holding her hand tightly in his palm, Lou Xiyan's gentle voice whispered: "Wait for me to come home."

"Mm!" Nodding forcefully, this was his promise to her. He would come home.

The two released their tightly clasped hands at the same time. Lou Xiyan walked toward Dan Yulan and Su Ling and smiled lightly: "General Su, Lord Dan, please." It was as natural and casual as if the three had met by chance on the way to court on ordinary days. This man, embarrassment seemed to never be able to get close to him.

The group left the main hall, which was crowded but exceptionally quiet. Xue Xianxin chased out all the way: "Old Master, Old Master!"

"Brother!" Lou Xiwu also followed to the door. Only Zhuo Qing, who had insisted on marrying Lou Xiyan and had officially become the mistress of the Lou family, stood straight in the center of the main hall, bowed slightly to the guests who were either at a loss or waiting to watch the fun, and said generously but unquestioningly: "Today, the Lou family has encountered a change, and the wedding banquet ends here. If there is a chance in the future, the Lou family will definitely entertain relatives and friends again! Everyone, please return! Jing Sa, see the guests out!"

Jing Sa, who served as the steward, immediately stepped forward and replied in a deep voice: "Yes, Madam."

"Everyone, please!"

The Prime Minister's mansion was worthy of being the Prime Minister's mansion. Although it had suffered such a huge change, the servants were still calm, and they asked the crowd to leave in an orderly manner.

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

Looking at her immovable appearance, Su Yu said anxiously: "What about you?"

"I have something to say to her." Getting married like this, although Qing had always been calm, she must be feeling bad in her heart!

Su Yu pulled her sleeve lightly and persuaded in a low voice: "The lead investigator of this case is Big Brother, and the rebels were brought back by Second Brother. I'm afraid the people in the Prime Minister's mansion won't welcome you. You'd better leave first." She was now a person from the General's Mansion. If she was thrown out later, it would be ugly!

Pulling back her sleeve, Gu Yun replied impatiently: "They won't. You go back first."

The people in the hall were getting fewer and fewer. Su Yu couldn't continue to stay, so he whispered a reminder: "Alright, take care of yourself." Qing Ling didn't look like someone who didn't understand reason either. He had better return to the General's Mansion first.

Bai Yi stared at Zhuo Qing, who was standing in the center of the main hall in silence, watching for a long time. The burly man behind him asked in a low voice: "Master?" In the current situation, it seemed that the Master was no longer suitable to continue staying at the Lou family.

Suppressing the brilliance in his eyes, Bai Yi nodded lightly and followed the crowd out of the main hall.

The originally bustling main hall was now left with only a few servants cleaning up the items knocked over by the crowd. The room was full of red, which looked so glaringly ironic at this moment. Xue Xianxin, with a worried face, walked into the main hall and finally couldn't help but cry low: "How could such a thing happen! The Old Master and Xiyan have both been imprisoned, what should we do now!"

Lou Xiwu walked behind Zhuo Qing and said anxiously: "Sister-in-law, what should we do next?!" With Dad and Brother not at home, she and the Second Madam were both panicked. Now it seemed that only Sister-in-law was still calm, and she could only pin her hopes on her.

Zhuo Qing stood blankly in the main hall, her cold eyes staring straight at the scorching sun and dazzling red silk outside the courtyard, not saying a word. Xue Xianxin was already panicked, and seeing Zhuo Qing standing there in a daze, she scolded: "What's the use of asking her! What does she know! No background, no connections, at a time like this, what ideas can she come up with!"

Hurriedly wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes, Xue Xianxin walked around the living room, muttering to herself: "I think, we should go to the palace immediately and beg the Western Empress Dowager for help!"

Lou Xiwu waved her hand and replied: "Brother is not at home, you don't have the palace token, how can you ask to see the Empress Dowager?" Without the palace token, they could only wait to be summoned.

"Then..." After circling around in a panic again, Xue Xianxin shouted: "Then hurry up and contact the Old Master's former subordinates, and the students Xiyan has trained over the years!" The Lou family should still have some influence in the court.

"Jing Sa, Mo Bai! Hurry, hurry, hurry! Go and invite all those officials to the mansion!" Xue Xianxin greeted the two to move reinforcements. The two looked at each other, their eyes all looking at Zhuo Qing. They seemed to be waiting for her order.

Both remained motionless. Xue Xianxin's sharp voice shouted: "Hurry up! What are you still standing there for!" These servants, usually spoiled by Xiyan, couldn't even see who the master was at a time like this!

Both remained silent. Xue Xianxin still wanted to explode, but Gu Yun finally couldn't help but say: "It's useless to go. Among the guests just now, weren't there the Old Master's former subordinates and Lou Xiyan's students? If they were willing to come to the Prime Minister's mansion, why would they have left just now? Lou Xiyan's crime is rebellion. At this time, even if they have the heart to help, they would definitely not dare to gather in the Prime Minister's mansion openly."

Qing should already be thinking of a countermeasure. If this old hen keeps shouting, she will definitely explode!

Gu Yun was naturally telling the truth. Xue Xianxin wasn't stupid either; she was just panicked just now. After listening to her analysis, she knew it was impossible, but being refuted by a young girl, she always felt she was losing face. Pointing at Gu Yun, Xue Xianxin cursed loudly: "You are from the General's Mansion, why are you still staying here, watching our jokes? Those rebels were all caught by the General's Mansion. I think it was you who colluded with the rebels to frame Xiyan and the Old Master, and now you are here crying crocodile tears! Get out! Get out!"

The sharp screaming challenged Zhuo Qing's nerves. Finally, Zhuo Qing, who had been silent, roared: "Enough!"

Xue Xianxin was slightly startled and finally closed her mouth.

Taking a few deep breaths, Zhuo Qing said coldly and calmly: "You have been tired all day, go back and rest first."

"Rest?" As soon as she finished speaking, Xue Xianxin screamed again: "You still have the mood to rest now? I should have seen long ago that you are not a good thing! You..."

"Jing Sa." Rubbing her temples lightly, Zhuo Qing let her clamor and scold, only saying coldly to Jing Sa: "Throw this noisy woman to where she should be, don't let me hear her voice again!"

"Yes!" Jing Sa nodded slightly, walked to Xue Xianxin's side, grabbed her arm, and easily carried her out of the main hall.

"You, you are rebelling! Let go, let go, Qing Ling, don't think you can cover the sky with one hand! Let go..." The roaring sound went further and further away, but Zhuo Qing's complexion did not improve at all. Lou Xiwu said carefully: "Sister-in-law, then I will go back first too."

"Mm." Nodding lightly.

Lou Xiwu ran out of the main hall, not daring to bother her anymore.

Putting down the hand that was rubbing her eyebrows, her complexion had returned to normal. Zhuo Qing whispered: "Mo Bai, go and organize a relationship chart of court officials for me. Mark the positions of officials above the fifth rank, their factions, and their interests with the Lou family, and hand it to me early tomorrow morning. Also, mobilize all the manpower that can be deployed in the Prime Minister's mansion."

"Yes." Glancing at Zhuo Qing, Mo Bai didn't say anything and retreated quietly.

Finally, only Zhuo Qing and Gu Yun were left in the huge main hall.

Zhuo Qing walked toward the wooden chair nearby, her movements so slow that it seemed she would soften to the ground if she were any faster. After finally sitting on the wooden chair, her eyes looked a bit blank, and although her hands were already tightly gripping the armrest of the wooden chair, Gu Yun could still see them trembling.

Squatting beside her, Gu Yun asked softly: "Qing, are you okay?" The scene of bowing just now made even her heart ache. It turned out that Qing's love for Lou Xiyan was so deep! This was originally the most joyful day of her life, but it turned out like this!

Holding Zhuo Qing's cold fingers, Gu Yun wanted to comfort her, but didn't know what to say.

After a long time, Gu Yun finally sighed low: "I will find a way to investigate what evidence the Northwest rebels produced that was fatal to Lou Xiyan. Don't worry too much, it will be fine!" This sentence was truly a bit hollow and useless. Being able to clear Lou Xiyan's name was the only way to help Qing!

Zhuo Qing sat silently on the wooden chair. The sunlight outside was dazzling, and the heat waves were rolling, but she felt her hands and feet were cold. Coming to this strange world for half a year, she had basically been doing what she liked, acting according to her own temperament and style. For her, it was just changing a place to live.

She could live so freely and comfortably because Xiyan was accommodating her and protecting her. She also seemed to have become accustomed to his silent giving and protection. The moment he was about to be taken away, she was truly afraid. That kind of fear was something she hadn't experienced in more than twenty years. She was afraid of losing him, so she wanted to marry him!

She didn't know if this could be considered love. She only knew that she was willing to live and die with him, and never leave him.

She had always been unwilling to face the importance and tyranny of power under this feudal system. Even when she was almost drowned, she didn't face it. But at this moment, she understood and needed its power more than ever!

Xiyan, this battle, I will fight with you!

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 98 =====