Chapter 244: The Grand Wedding and the Assassin

September 23.

Jinkui Huangdao, great auspiciousness, suitable for weddings.

Chen Yan rode a snow‑white White Horse, his scarlet round‑collared silk robe highlighting his handsome, vigorous bearing, a gold‑fish pouch hanging from the swaying belt at his waist, and the long side‑flaps of his black gauze hat swaying lightly with the horse.

Behind him followed eight servants wielding golden‑gourd axes, and further back were twenty‑four vermilion lacquered flower sedan chairs, the bodies of which were carved with the pattern "Luan and Feng in harmonious song."

Atop the sedan, a gilt phoenix gleamed in the morning sun; the sedan curtains were made of double‑layered red silk, through which the inner lining of mandarin‑duck brocade could be faintly seen.

After receiving the bride, the musicians at the front of the procession changed the tune, the sound of the bìlì becoming the melodious "Rainbow Dress Melody," with transverse flutes and war drums joining in, the rhythm light and festive.

The young servants carrying the bridal gifts formed two rows, dozens of gilded boxes and cages sparkling in the sunlight.

Some box lids were lifted at a corner, revealing neatly stacked Shu brocade silks inside; other boxes let the gleam of gold and silver vessels seep through the seams, faintly showing engraved entwined‑branch lotus patterns.

The most eye‑catching were several vermilion lacquered food boxes, filled with celebratory pastries bearing "Five Sons Passing the Exams" and "Dragon and Phoenix Bringing Auspice," their fragrance drifting toward the street as the procession moved.

Along the way, townsfolk crowded the two sides of the street; children brandished freshly obtained candy, hopping and chasing each other, while elders twirled their beards, laughing and commenting on the abundant bridal gifts.

"Such a grand display—whose family is marrying off a daughter and whose is taking a bride?"

In the crowd on the right side of the street, a fifteen‑ or sixteen‑year‑old boy dressed as a beggar stood on tiptoe, peering out.

"You don't even know?"

The nearest Laoren, hearing this, pinched his beard and laughed, "It's Lord Chen Yan, the Director of the Mingjing Office, marrying the legitimate daughter of the Hedong Pei Clan!"

"What a pair made by heaven and earth!"

"Are you talking about that Great Zhou Poet Immortal?" the beggar boy froze for a moment, exclaiming in surprise.

He had never heard of who the legitimate daughter of the Hedong Pei Clan was…

But the Poet Immortal Chen Yan, famed for his drunken duels with Duel King Xie, was a name that rang like thunder.

"Hey, you little beggar, you're quite insightful, even knowing…," the Laoren said, surprised and somewhat taken aback.

"It is indeed the Poet Immortal!"

The stall owner watching from the side, smiling, said, "Little beggar, don't just stand here…"

"Go over there quickly!"

Saying so, he raised his hand, pointing toward the northwest of Chengxi.

"Why?" the beggar boy asked, puzzled.

But looking at the uncle's demeanor, it didn't seem like he was driving people away…

Lord Chen Yan is kind‑hearted; on this wedding day he's distributing porridge!

The stall owner lifted his head, full of admiration, and laughed, "We'll let all the people of Chang'an share in the joy!"

Obviously, this is Chen Yan deliberately copying the homework…

Despising Dugu Zhao and Zhao Qian is one side of it.

The other side is to benefit the people, continue building his own reputation, and lay a solid foundation for mobilizing the masses later.

After all, no one knows better than he that the power of the populace is boundless…

"Any more porridge?"

The beggar boy scratched his head, his eyebrows instantly lifting with joy, "Lord Chen Yan really is a great person!"

Having said that, he hurried toward the northwest, to the place where the porridge was being distributed.

Among the street crowd, besides the onlookers soaking in the merriment, there were dozens of fierce eyes watching intently…

"Did you see it?"

"The one riding a White Horse, dressed in a bright red robe, looking triumphant as the spring breeze, is Chen Yan!"

The tall man in a blue shirt nudged his lips toward the distance, lowered his voice, and spoke to his left and right.

On his back he carried a long strip tightly wrapped in coarse cloth, which was actually concealed Weapons.

"Hmm."

The man in the blue robe beside him answered, staring straight at Chen Yan, and in a deep voice asked, "The opposite side of the street is already in position; when shall we act?"

Those who came to assassinate were far more than just the two of them…

Across the street, there were also forces whose purpose was to prevent Chen Yan from looking left or right, greatly increasing the chance of success.

The tall man with the blue shirt, extremely patient, said calmly, "No rush; wait for Chen Yan to get closer, then strike a fatal blow… hmm!"

But before he could finish, his voice abruptly cut off, leaving only a stammer.

A blackened fine needle suddenly plunged straight into his neck.

The black part was soaked in high‑concentration anesthetic, dyed…

The man in the blue robe saw this and thought, "Big brother… hmm!"

But just as he was about to act, another black fine needle also entered his neck.

"Huh—huh—huh!"

The assassins who had come along, disguised as civilians, were almost simultaneously killed by the black needles.

At the same time, on the street Chen Yan was passing through for the wedding, the same thing kept playing out, performed by embroidered‑clad envoys.

"You still want to assassinate the Director?"

Yuanzhou curled his lip, propping up the corpse of the blue‑robed man, sneering with a contemptuous smile, "Don't even consider whether you're worthy?"

His words were full of contempt.

"Don't be careless!"

"Clean up quickly, then rush back…"

Even though they had successfully dealt with those assassins, Wu Mingche still showed no slack, saying in a deep voice.

"Understood."

Yuanzhou nodded, composed his expression, and replied, "The Director's safety and the wedding are of utmost importance!"

Immediately, they supported the corpse, pretending it was still alive, and carried it to an empty alley to dispose of it with corpse‑dissolving powder.

After these embroidered‑clad envoys left, hidden in the attic above, Zhang Sui, who had witnessed the whole process, couldn't help but curse: "A bunch of idiots!"

"Not only the ones who were killed, but also those who hired them, are utterly foolish idiots!"

Yan Qingwu curled his lip and sneered: "What kind of person, what status is Chen Yan?"

"His bodyguards are countless masters, and the route would be tightly guarded; how could it be so easy to get him..."

It was obvious that Zhang Sui and Yan Qingwu were also ordered to come and assassinate...

Yet they did not act rashly.

Because they knew clearly that the new Director of the Mingjing Office's abilities, and they understood that what just happened was only the tip of his iceberg of tactics!

"But however tightly he defends, there will always be a slip in a hundred safeguards..."

Zhang Sui smiled wryly, teasing: "Having observed the whole way, he never noticed that loophole!"

"Let's go..."

Yan Qingwu closed the folding fan in his hand and smiled meaningfully: "Give this Chen, the great Director who seems without any flaw, a huge surprise!"

In front of the Director's residence.

The vermilion lacquered wall has been covered with bright red silk, and the double‑happiness character embroidered with gold thread on the wall is a full human height, sparkling in the early morning sun.

Two majestic stone lions have red‑silk flower balls tied around their necks, red‑silk ribbons hanging from their mouths down to the steps, and every three steps along both sides of the steps are placed vermilion lacquer lanterns, creating a charming contrast.

A group of friends, brothers, and subordinates had long been waiting outside the gate.

"Finally, they've been brought back..."

Li Tan, from afar, saw the wedding procession and sighed: "Pei Suiwan, the top talented woman of Chang'an, her looks truly a sinking fish and falling goose; big brother is so fortunate!"

"The Xue lady that Duke Zhao arranged for you, though her talent doesn't match the sister‑in‑law, her looks are still top‑notch..." Yuwen Ze said upon hearing it.

"Nothing compares to Du Gu Mi Luo, whom Your Majesty betrothed to the Crown Prince!" Li Tan wiggled his eyebrows, nudged with his elbow, and teased.

Yuwen Ze rolled his eyes in his mind, gritted his teeth and said: "Li Tan, mocking me is fun, huh?"

Having said that, he forced himself not to kick the scoundrel.

Indeed, it's the pot that won't open when you bring it up.

"I wouldn't dare!"

Li Tan, seeing the moment was over, immediately changed the subject: "Let's discuss how to make a ruckus at big brother's bridal chamber later."

The moment he said that, it instantly sparked the interest of Wang Xiong, Tao Yunshi and the others...

"Press the sedan!"

"Please have the lady get out of the sedan!"

After the vermilion lacquered flower sedan, carried on twenty‑four bearers, came to a stop, Wen Run shouted loudly.

"Now... kill!"

The sedan curtain lifted slightly; Zhang Sui, hidden among the crowd, keenly sensed the moment, and a hidden weapon flew from his sleeve, hurling straight at Chen Yan.

"Assassin!"

"Quick, protect the Director!"

Zhu Yi stepped forward, easily deflecting the hidden weapon, and the group of embroidered‑clad envoys shielded Chen Yan.

But Zhang Sui and Yan Qingwu's assault target was not Chen Yan...

"No, the two assassins' target is the lady?!" Zhu Yi suddenly realized.

Zhang Sui and Yan Qingwu, one on the left and one on the right, drew swords toward the flower sedan.

Wen Run reacted, sprinted forward, but was seven or eight steps behind: "It's over, too late..."