Chapter 163: The Dagger Revealed

Fan Xian stood stubbornly before the Prime Minister's residence for a long time.

During this period, the group members hid in the Mirror Space, winking and making faces at him.

Fan Xian felt both angry and amused, but could not show it, so he could only pretend not to see them.

But then again, thanks to the group members, Fan Xian's attention was diverted significantly, allowing him to finally endure this vulgar ritual and meet the wife he had been longing for.

After a burst of ceremonial music, the main gates of the Prime Minister's residence slowly opened again.

Two matchmakers led the bride, Lin Waner'er, out.

Today, Lin Waner'er wore a full set of bright red; the layers of sleeves and skirt hem cascaded like evening crimson clouds, beautiful and festive. As she walked, the jade pendants on her body chimed softly, and the jade belt at her waist hung down, accentuating her willow-like figure, gentle and spirited.

Seeing this scene, the group members stopped their antics and watched the two with smiles on their faces.

However, the common people of the capital watching the spectacle were suddenly dazzled and began to shout enthusiastically.

Some young men even shouted loudly, urging the bride to lift the red veil so everyone could have a look.

If it were just rowdy teasing, it would be fine; on such a joyous day, no one would care. But some reckless fools spoke without a filter, causing Lin Yu to frown slightly and glance at them indifferently.

In an instant, invisible power surged into their bodies, blocking certain acupoints and rendering them unable to make a sound.

Of course, mere reckless words were not enough to make them permanently mute for the rest of their lives.

Lin Yu acted with precise control, silencing them for only three days as a small punishment.

Fan Xian noticed the disappearance of those few voices in the crowd and immediately looked at Lin Yu with gratitude.

Lin Yu smiled and gestured for him to go forward and welcome the bride.

But unfortunately, the Qing Kingdom had its own set of routine procedures for welcoming a bride.

Only after this set of procedures concluded did Lin Waner'er, dressed entirely in red, gently shift her steps and board the wedding sedan chair.

Throughout the entire process, Fan Xian could not exchange a single word or even a glance with her, nor did they have any skin-to-skin contact, which truly left the group members watching the show greatly disappointed.

Back at the Fan residence, guests had already arrived, music and drums rang out, and the atmosphere was wonderfully lively.

The bride was first welcomed to the bridal chamber to sit temporarily, while the groom, Fan Xian, stood in the main hall, smiling and chatting with the guests.

This was the proper procedure for a great family's wedding. Lin Yu did not go up to disturb them; instead, he led the group members to sit at the premium tables, ignoring the surrounding high officials and princes, and focused on toasting and chatting among themselves.

Under the effect of the New York Temple's identical Concealment Spell, the people around them were completely unaware of their existence.

Yet, whenever they passed by, the crowd would naturally detour around them without feeling the slightest bit that such behavior was strange.

Seeing this scene, Fan Fan Ruoruo, who had been specifically excluded from Lin Yu's influence range by Lin Yu, was secretly shocked.

After a moment of thought, she decisively stood up and sat at the table where Lin Yu and the other six were seated.

Sure enough, the moment she sat down, the Wang Shizi of Jing Wang, who had been stealing glances at her, immediately looked confused, as if unable to find her figure, and scanned back and forth across the bustling Fan residence.

Fan Fan Ruoruo exclaimed, "How is this done?"

Lin Yu said casually, "Just a little bit of magic, nothing extraordinary."

"I see..."

Fan Fan Ruoruo nodded instinctively, then suddenly realized what he had said. With a face full of shock, she looked at him and said:

"What?!"

"Magic?!"

Although she had long suspected the identities of Lin Yu and the others, this was the first time she had received confirmation directly from their mouths!

Lin Yu smiled, did not answer directly, but instead glanced at the Wang Shizi of Jing Wang not far away and asked, "Do you not like him?"

Fan Fan Ruoruo calmed down. Looking at the group members at the table, whose faces varied but who were all wearing smiles and showing kindness, she said softly, "The Wang Shizi of Jing Wang is a hero of the capital. It is I, Fan Ruoruo, who is shallow in talent and learning, and thus unworthy of him."

Xiang Yunye nodded and said, "Understood. You just don't like him!"

Su Su Haoming, sitting nearby, grinned and said, "Sister Fan Ruoruo, no need to be so reserved. With Lin Dage here, they cannot hear what you say. If you don't like him, just say it straight. You are Old Fan's own sister; the brothers will definitely stand up for you!"

"..."

Hearing these words, Fan Fan Ruoruo's heart stirred.

After a moment of contemplation, she said in a low tone, "But I heard the Emperor intends to arrange a marriage for me. I..."

"So what?" Su Su Haoming said carelessly. "As long as you, sister, say the word, your brother will immediately go to the Imperial Palace and have a good talk with that Qing Emperor!"

Fan Fan Ruoruo was startled upon hearing this and quickly said, "This cannot be done!"

She only wanted to ask her brother and these mysterious friends if they had any way to escape the Emperor's arranged marriage; she never thought of instigating them to risk breaking into the Imperial Palace to confront the Emperor directly!

Lin Yu exchanged a glance with the group members and said with a smile, "Alright, Little Su, stop teasing her!"

"Sister Fan Ruoruo, you don't need to worry either. On this matter, Fan Xian already has a plan. You just need to decline; leave the rest to your brother!"

Fan Fan Ruoruo was slightly stunned and nodded as if understanding but not quite.

Afterwards, Fan Fan Ruoruo hid at the group members' table, avoiding the crowd and their gazes, truly enjoying a moment of tranquility.

After toasting and drinking with the guests for a while, Fan Xian also ran over and plopped down beside his sister.

Su Su Haoming, Xiang Yunye, and others smiled and raised their wine cups, letting him know that as the groom, unlike his younger sister, he had nowhere to run.

Fan Xian did not mind drinking; what he minded was the people he was drinking with.

Facing the toasts from the group members, he accepted them all without refusal. After all, with his magical power, he only needed to circulate his Zhou Tian to easily digest all the alcohol.

After going around the circle, Fan Xian frowned and looked at the wine cup with disdain, saying:

"What kind of terrible wine is this? Does it even match the status of my Lin Dage?"

"..."

Lin Yu was slightly stunned, then said impatiently, "If you want to drink something, just say it straight; don't beat around the bush!"

"Big Brother understands me!" Fan Xian gave a thumbs-up and said with full expectation, "Is there any Sakura Wine from the Moonlight Window left? Preferably the kind brewed with Ice Pillar Cherries. I want to take a bottle to use for the cross-cupped wine ceremony!"

"You are quite picky..."

"Hehe, I tasted it at the Moonlight Window a couple of days ago; the taste was indeed quite good."

As if you really cared about the taste!

Lin Yu grumbled inwardly, and at the same time flipped his right hand, producing four glass bottles the size of oil drums out of thin air, and set them on the table.

The instant the stoppers were pulled, a faint, slightly chilly fragrance immediately spread through the air.

Fan Xian's eyes lit up. He immediately raised a hand, used his magic power to draw over a portion of the pale-blue liquor, stored it in a small bottle he had taken out, and carefully tucked it away into his storage pouch.

"Brother, you too—"

Fan Fan Ruoruo's eyes went wide as she stared at her brother in disbelief.

Fan Xian glanced at her, reached out to ruffle her head, and said gently:

"I was going to tell you sooner or later. Today is as good a day as any!"

Saying so, he poured a cup of wine for his sister and said with a smile, "Have a taste. This is something you could never find in the Qing Kingdom. After drinking it, I guarantee your skin will be fair and delicate, dewy, smooth, and bouncy, as translucent and lustrous as jade!"

Oh?

Fan Fan Ruoruo's eyes lit up. She actually forgot the question from earlier and hurriedly picked up her wine cup.

"Your little sister toasts all of you, brothers!"

"Haha!"

The group members couldn't help but laugh and one after another raised their cups.

Lin Lie, who was beside him, tugged at Fan Xian, winked and asked: "When's the wedding ceremony?"

The smile on Fan Xian's face stiffened. He groaned: "Still a while to go. From what they say, we have to wait at least until the afternoon."

It's only just past noon, meaning there's still at least two or three hours to go!

He He Jingfeng and Lin Lie exchanged a glance, both unable to help showing sympathy on their faces.

……

……

After three rounds of wine, the group members had a proper chance to relax for once, basking in Fan Xian's good fortune.

During the feast, Fan Fan Ruoruo, having drunk quite a lot of the wine brewed from Ice Pillar Cherries, collapsed drunk onto the table, nearly missing the most important wedding ceremony because of it.

Fortunately, Lin Yu stepped in and dispelled the alcohol from her, allowing her to witness her brother's wedding with her own eyes.

When the hour of the wedding ceremony finally arrived, Fan Xian and Lin Waner'er each held one end of the red silk cord, gazing at each other tenderly through the red veil.

Such a mushy scene made the group members' hair stand on end, and they couldn't help but furiously roast him in the group chat.

Fan Fan Ruoruo, however, was deeply moved, unable to stop her eyes from reddening, tears welling up……

Because quite a few officials and dignitaries had come to attend the ceremony, the group members only roasted him in the chat; on the surface they caused no trouble, simply quietly watching Fan Xian and Lin Waner'er bow to Heaven and Earth, and bow to their parents.

Once this segment ended, congratulatory gifts from all sides arrived one after another.

Among them were not only gifts from the various consorts in the palace, but also a large batch of treasures bestowed upon the couple by the Emperor of Qing, along with four large characters personally written by imperial brush: 'A Hundred Years of Harmonious Union.'

Such an honor, like a heavy bomb, made the gazes of the officials of the Six Ministries grow increasingly grim.

But Fan Xian himself, the recipient of these gifts, showed no interest in any of them.

Even the Emperor's personally written calligraphy did not cause the slightest ripple of emotion.

Finally, amid a burst of joyful ceremonial music, the marriage alliance between the Fan and Lin families was settled.

The newlyweds were sent into the bridal chamber under the smiling gaze of Earl Sinan Fan Jian, and the guests began to gradually take their leave.

Fan Xian shooed away his father and his aunt, dismissed the maids and servants, and casually dragged his younger brother Fan Sichue, who had been hiding under the bed, out by the scruff of his neck. Only then did he close the great doors of the bridal chamber and walk over to stand before his bride.

Sensing the shadow before her, Lin Waner'er's hands resting on her knees involuntarily clenched.

Beneath the red veil, her pink lips were lightly bitten, her lashes trembled slightly, as though she felt nervous yet expectant about what was about to happen.

But strangely, after Fan Xian walked up to her, he did nothing. Instead, he simply stood there quietly for a long while, until she was on the verge of unable to resist making a move herself, and only then did he finally reach out and lift the red veil.

Accompanied by the rustling of silk, Lin Waner'er held her breath and nervously opened her eyes—only to see Fan Xian and the six strange youths with odd expressions standing behind him.

"Ah—"

Before the scream could escape, Fan Xian clamped a hand over her red lips and said with a wry smile:

"Shh, Lin Waner, don't get worked up. Remember the Lin Dage I mentioned to you?"

"……"

Lin Waner'er gave a slight start, then her face flushed completely red as she asked in a small voice: "It's them?"

"That's right!"

Fan Xian embraced his new bride and said with a beaming smile: "Trust me, the real gift-giving segment is only now. The tacky formalities outside, we can do without, but the gifts from my six friends here—those truly cannot be left out!"

(End of this chapter)