Chapter 93

They went to great lengths for her own good, picking a husband for her, but she refuses him; National Teacher Yang Jianyu, the rebel general Qi Shihuai— which one isn't giving Gu Rongjin, this fugitive, a thorough thrashing?

If she insists on marrying, she can only become Xiao Yichen's concubine!

At this moment, Pei Shangyan, waiting at the Earth Sacrifice Altar, felt heavy-hearted; he was about to perform the wedding ceremony, yet he had no recourse, watching the wedding procession arrive joyfully, he could not bring himself to feel happy.

The bustling Earth Sacrifice Altar was filled everywhere with joyous red, as civil and military officials all came to congratulate.

Today two princesses are marrying, the royal wedding feast is grand in scale, the entire Earth Sacrifice Altar brims with a festive atmosphere.

However, the prince consorts—one is an extremely high-ranking subject, the Senior Grand Secretary; the other is a notoriously infamous royal heir— they cannot be mentioned in the same breath.

"Here they come, the bridal sedan is here!"

Someone shouted, and everyone turned to look, seeing two wedding processions enter the field one after another.

The Xiao Family had been waiting here long in advance to welcome their daughter-in-law; they had hoped for a long time, and finally could see their son marry, taking as his bride the Princess Yunxi who enjoys deep imperial favor, a match their son also likes, so they are pleased as well.

Previously their son had been a reluctant prospective prince consort, but fortunately the engagement later changed to Princess Yunxi, and they also like their well-behaved, sensible daughter-in-law, so they need not worry about getting along.

In contrast, over at the Pingnan Wangfu, there wasn't a soul in sight— neither the Prince of Pingnan nor anyone else— the empty seats left people wondering.

What on earth has happened to the Pingnan Wangfu?

Could the Prince of Pingnan really have been placed under house arrest by the emperor?

"How come we really don't see the Young Master Gu?"

Someone saw Xiao Yichen arrive on horseback, yet Gu Rongjin was nowhere to be seen; at a glance, there was no sign of a second groom.

The wedding ceremony is about to begin, and he still hasn't shown up?

If it weren't for the Pingnan Wangfu's wedding procession also having arrived, they would have thought today was actually Senior Grand Secretary Xiao taking both wife and concubine!

Because the Senior Grand Secretary's wedding procession was blocked for a while by the Pingnan Wangfu's procession, the Pingnan Wangfu's bridal sedan landed first; the wedding matron, frightened of Xiao Yichen, hurried over and warned him: "Senior Grand Secretary Xiao, your bride is behind."

If they accidentally kick the Pingnan Wangfu's bridal sedan, it would be trouble!

"I know," said Xiao Yichen, his words icy as deep winter, making the wedding matron shiver.

This task is really not easy!

You say you know, so why are you just standing in front of their bridal sedan?

The wedding matron dared not speak her anger, wishing someone would rein in Senior Grand Secretary Xiao, but the Fourth Prince, who usually speaks up for his sister, now inexplicably remains indifferent, forcing her to keep a constant watch.

If anything goes wrong in this wedding, she'll have to lose her head to see the emperor!

"Senior Grand Secretary, please come here to kick the bridal sedan." Having no choice, the wedding matron said, steeling herself.

Xiao Yichen made a sound in his throat, but did not move.

At this moment, Pei Shangling came over.

The wedding matron thought, salvation has arrived— it's the Fourth Prince!

"Where is Gu Rongjin?" Pei Shangling shouted, "The bridal sedan has arrived, yet you haven't come out to kick it and fetch the bride?"

His words stirred the crowd into commotion.

Right, why hasn't Young Master Gu come— is he fleeing the marriage?

"Fourth Prince!" came the escort who had brought Mu Yuanzhi's dowry, a woman also from Shuangjiang, saying, "Our young master has been detained by affairs; today he probably cannot attend."

Her words caused an uproar.

"What do you mean, can't attend because of something? Is a wedding a child's game?"

"The Prince of Pingnan isn't here either— who are they looking down on?"

"Utterly absurd, unheard of!"

Among the officials, only a few senior ministers know what's going on with the Pingnan Wangfu, including when the Prince of Pingnan previously brought troops into the capital; they had only heard rumors, thinking it was baseless speculation.

Now it appears it might indeed be true.

But if that's the case, why would the emperor still allow Young Master Gu to marry Princess Mu Yuanzhi? It's truly puzzling.

The wedding matron thought Pei Shangling would fly into a rage upon hearing this, given his temperament, but instead he said: "If that's so, Senior Grand Secretary Xiao, you kick the bridal sedan in Young Master Gu's place."

Wedding matron:?!

Can you even substitute for kicking the bridal sedan?!

"Fourth Prince, this is impossible!" the wedding matron exclaimed, her head aching.

"What's impossible? I've asked the National Teacher— it's allowed." Pei Shangling said, speaking nonsense.

Yang Jianyu accompanied the imperial carriage elsewhere, saying it's so— who would dare question?

As long as Xiao Yichen kicks the bridal sedan, then after they perform the wedding ceremony, the rites will be complete, and Mu Yuanzhi will have no choice but to marry Xiao Yichen!

Xiao Yichen looked at Pei Shangling, his dark eyes flickering with complexity; Pei Shangling nodded at him.

He hadn't told Xiao Yichen beforehand, fearing a mishap; he believed Xiao Yichen still harbored feelings for Mu Yuanzhi, so he was fully confident Xiao Yichen would cooperate.

As expected, Xiao Yichen stepped closer to the bridal sedan where Mu Yuanzhi was.

"No need!" the curtain of the bridal sedan was flung open from within, and Mu Yuanzhi stepped down directly.

The bride, without her red veil, strode out confidently, ignoring all gazes, and walked herself to the center of the altar to bow to heaven and earth.

She didn't know what Xiao Yichen and Pei Shangling were thinking, nor did she care to guess; with no groom to kick the bridal sedan, she simply got down herself— there was no reason to let Xiao Yichen kick it for her.

Pei Shangling felt frustrated, glaring resentfully at Xiao Yichen, his eyes accusing him of dawdling; if he had kicked the bridal sedan a step earlier, there would have been an extra layer of security, but the main event is still to come!

Xiao Yichen watched Mu Yuanzhi's graceful departing back, only the phrase "heroic and spirited" could describe it.

An ordinary woman faced with such a groom's disappearance would already be at a loss, yet she remains remarkably composed.

"Hey Xiao Yichen, go kick the bridal sedan!" Pei Shangling reminded him.

"She's already gone," Xiao Yichen muttered glumly.

"Tsk, I meant my younger sister's bridal sedan!" Pei Shangling snarled, frustrated.

Xiao Yichen's eyes seem to be glued to Mu Yuanzhi; although he wishes Xiao Yichen would also marry Mu Yuanzhi, he cannot allow Xiao Yichen to wrong his younger sister!

In his heart, he must put his younger sister first!

Xiao Yichen only then seemed to react, going to kick Pei Yunxi's bridal sedan; Pei Yunxi, waiting inside, had already learned from Xueer what had just happened, her eyes full of resentment, and only when the sedan was kicked did she hastily compose herself.

No matter what, she will soon be Chen Gege's properly wedded wife; what is Mu Yuanzhi? Just the wife of a fugitive, to be settled together by Father Emperor in the future!

Thinking this, Pei Yunxi felt a bit more balanced.

When Xiao Yichen took her hand to step down from the bridal sedan, her heart couldn't help but race.

Envious voices sounded incessantly; hearing them, Pei Yunxi's earlier resentment mostly dissipated.

She gripped Xiao Yichen's hand tightly, walking forward full of happiness.

Until she saw the other end of the red silk, pulled by one hand and shoved into the hand of another red sleeve.