Chapter 1224: The Night of the Wedding Candles

Liu Zheng returned to his room, and at this moment, Xie Chan was inside packing her luggage.

"Are we leaving so soon?"

Liu Zheng actually still wanted to wander around the Li Dynasty for a while.

Bringing Xie Chan along would count as a trip; after all, he couldn't come here for nothing.

Now that the situation in the country had stabilized once again, he had the time.

"What happened to you two just now? One was angry and the other was crying..."

Liu Zheng walked over, hugged Xie Chan from behind, smelled the delicate fragrance on her, and asked with a chuckle.

Xie Chan really wanted to be angry.

But as soon as she thought of the miserable look on Li Xuanya's face just now, her heart softened again.

She didn't even turn her head, and chuckled: "I want to go wander around by myself, is that okay?"

"What?"

Liu Zheng couldn't help but be stunned.

Xie Chan composed her emotions, then turned her head with a smile as bright as a flower: "Look, I've been following you for so long, and listening to you talk about politics and the Great Trend every day, I'm getting a bit annoyed... Have you forgotten what you said before, that we should also have personal space? Give me some personal space this time, let me go out and wander around, okay?"

Oh, this?

Liu Zheng was left dumbfounded by what she said.

These two beauties chatted for a while, and then started considering personal space?

"But your safety..."

Liu Zheng could understand, though.

Human nature is just like that; no matter how breathtakingly beautiful a woman is, if you are stuck together every day, you will get bored and tired of it.

But this is the Li Dynasty...

Although the social atmosphere in the current Li Dynasty is relatively open, the safety of the common people...

"Wouldn't it be fine if Pei Qianyun followed me? You stay here and help Li Xuanya more, how about that?"

Xie Chan turned back to hug Liu Zheng, her tone becoming coquettish.

In reality, her eyes were already flickering with misery.

Liu Zheng could not see it.

"Alright."

Xie Chan rarely made requests of her own, and Liu Zheng felt it wasn't excessive.

It was just a pity that the two of them couldn't go sightseeing together anymore.

"Then you must be careful!"

"Okay, I won't be gone for long. Seven days later, I will wait for you on the ship!"

Xie Chan stated her plan.

There wasn't really anything to do in the interior of the Li Dynasty. So, she would take a ship and circle the Li Dynasty; this way, she could also ensure her own safety to the greatest extent.

Liu Zheng had no objections; he called for Pei Qianyun and gave instructions for this matter.

With not only Pei Qianyun's protection but also some soldiers, Liu Zheng finally felt at ease.

"Help Li Xuanya well..."

Xie Chan gave a bitter smile and said meaningfully.

Liu Zheng nodded quickly; since his wife had ordered it, there was naturally no problem.

It was just that he felt he had already said everything he needed to say.

How to proceed would depend on Li Xuanya's grasp of the details.

Liu Zheng decided to see Xie Chan off to the ship anyway.

Looking over here.

While Liu Zheng was seeing Xie Chan off, Li Xuanya had already brought people to get busy in her Prime Minister's Mansion.

"Quick, quick, quick, over here!"

"Over here! Hang the lanterns here, why are you so clumsy!"

She directed them, having already begun to decorate the Prime Minister's Mansion.

At this moment, Li Xuanya was no longer the Prime Minister who could confront two major factions in the imperial court, but an exceptionally excited young girl.

Although Liu Zheng didn't know it yet...

But for her, this was a once-in-a-lifetime wedding!

Today, she didn't want to think about whether she was throwing herself at him, or whether she only had this one day...

It was enough.

Thinking of Liu Zheng, she felt it was enough.

"Grand Princess, whose wedding is it anyway?"

"Yeah, Grand Princess, we haven't heard anything about it..."

These workers were busy, and of course, they couldn't help but voice their confusion.

Because they were all former royal staff, their form of address for her was still Grand Princess.

Li Xuanya said with shy anger: "Why ask so much? Hurry up for me, remember, it must all be finished by dusk!"

"Got it!"

The group laughed out loud and continued to get busy.

"Hey, you hung that lantern too low... the 'double happiness' character is crooked!"

"Why are you so clumsy? Get down, I'll do it."

Li Xuanya supervised the work while unable to resist getting her own hands involved.

This was, after all, the first time in her life...

It absolutely could not be done so sloppily.

Very quickly.

The entire Prime Minister's Mansion was decked out in festive decorations. There were lanterns everywhere, and everything was red.

When Liu Zheng returned, he was instantly bewildered.

"Is there a happy occasion?"

Seeing Liu Zheng return, Li Xuanya blushed, but she also said joyfully, "Yes, a pair of newlyweds are to be wed here in the Prime Minister's Mansion. This is a major event concerning the rise and fall of our Li Dynasty, so it cannot be handled carelessly."

"Huh? How come I haven't heard of this?"

Watching Li Xuanya's serious demeanor, Liu Zheng also rolled up his sleeves, intending to help.

"Is it for real? Can the marriage of a pair of newlyweds determine the rise and fall of your Li Dynasty? It wouldn't be your father, the King, taking a new concubine, would it?"

Liu Zheng helped out, still feeling a bit strange.

But even if it were Li Tun, it should be at the Wanggong; how could it be at the Prime Minister's Mansion?

Could it be the servants?

That was somewhat possible; he knew Li Xuanya's personality, as she had always been an approachable girl.

"Go away with you, don't make trouble if you aren't going to help."

Li Xuanya wanted to laugh, and she gave Liu Zheng a charming, sidelong glance.

"There isn't really anything here that needs my help, is there?"

Liu Zheng scratched his head and asked.

What on earth...

He, a dignified Chief Councilor of Longyan, had come here to do manual labor for others?

"Hey, don't go; there really is something you need to help with. Your build is similar to the groom's, so try on the wedding attire in a moment. If there are no issues, we'll finalize it. Tonight is an auspicious time, so we cannot delay."

A flash of craftiness crossed Li Xuanya's eyes.

"Huh?"

Liu Zheng was somewhat puzzled; when trying on clothes, shouldn't the person themselves come?

But seeing Li Xuanya say so, he nodded and agreed.

Yet he was still puzzled; although Liu Zheng did not understand Astronomy and calendars, what kind of auspicious day was tonight? It was a very ordinary day...

Perhaps there was some discrepancy between the Li Dynasty and Longyan?

"Quick, quick, quick, take Chief Councilor Liu to try on the wedding attire!"

Li Xuanya laughed like a fool.

Following that, a group of middle-aged women in charge of the wedding festivities took Liu Zheng away.

Liu Zheng didn't think much of it and chuckled.

"Come quickly, come quickly, everyone help out!"

Who would have thought that as soon as he walked into the room, a group of wedding matrons rushed over and, in a flurry of movement, unfastened his clothes.

"What is this for?"

"Huh?"

Liu Zheng was startled.

"The groom, you must be washed clean!"

"On such a joyous day, you must wash away all the grime!"

"Oh my, this groom is truly handsome enough!"

The wedding matrons were all giggling.

Liu Zheng was completely stunned.

Ah, this...

No, he had only come over to help someone try on clothes!

And, with so many women...

But he had no room to resist; his clothes had already been stripped away completely.

"Fine, fine..."

He closed his eyes and simply started to enjoy it.

Having drifted on the sea for a month, taking a bath was quite comfortable.

He also listened to the chatter of these middle-aged women.

Awkward...

It was finally finished.

It was also strange; the several sets of groom's attire prepared in advance all fit Liu Zheng's build perfectly, as if they had been tailor-made.

"Not bad..."

Liu Zheng looked and smiled.

Thinking about it, he and Xie Chan had not yet married, and he was getting a preview of it here.

"Truly wonderful!"

"I think that, apart from this Chief Councilor of Longyan, no one else could be worthy of our Princess!"

"That's right, how tall and sturdy he is!"

The wedding matrons started chattering again.

Liu Zheng could barely take it anymore: "I've tried them all on, can I take them off now?"

"That won't do!"

"You still have to try them on!"

"Hurry, hurry, hurry!"

Liu Zheng felt somewhat helpless; why had he ever agreed to this errand? But since he had promised, he could only continue to persevere.

"Oh no, oh no!"

"The groom won't be able to make it by the auspicious hour!"

"Ah? What are we to do?"

"If we miss the auspicious hour..."

Just then, the mansion suddenly descended into chaos.

A group of matchmakers was frantic.

"What the heck?"

Liu Zheng looked bewildered.

And then...

This group of matchmakers stared at Liu Zheng with eyes that swept over him.

Liu Zheng was so startled he jumped up: "No way!"

He immediately knew what they wanted to do...

He could stand in for trying on the clothes!

But the wedding ceremony and the bridal chamber were out of the question!

He was still an unmarried man!

"Young man..."

"We can only rely on you now..."

"This is a major matter..."

"Yes, no matter what, you must help us out!"

"No, absolutely not!"

Liu Zheng wanted to escape.

Unfortunately, this group of matchmakers was simply too fierce; the four of them grabbed Liu Zheng's arms and legs completely.

"Don't!"

With Pei Qianyun not by his side, how could Liu Zheng be a match for these harridans?

He roared...

"We're going to miss the auspicious hour!"

"Then what should we do?"

"Forget the ceremony, go straight to the bridal chamber!"

The group of matchmakers carried Liu Zheng away.

Liu Zheng struggled in every way possible, but it was to no avail.

What the hell was this!

Was there such a thing as standing in for someone in the bridal chamber?

The customs of the Li Dynasty were too strange!

Then, he was sadly carried into the bridal room, which was plastered with "double happiness" characters.

"Groom, go on in, the bride is waiting for you inside."

"An inch of time in the bridal chamber is worth a thousand pieces of gold! Do a good job!"

"Go for it!"

Liu Zheng:???

The matchmakers chuckled encouragingly, then threw Liu Zheng into the room and locked the door from the outside.

Oh, this...

"Hey, you've made a mistake, I'm not the groom, I'm just here to try on clothes!"

Liu Zheng shouted, but no one outside paid him any mind.

This made Liu Zheng feel a bit embarrassed; trying on clothes was one thing, but entering someone

else's bridal chamber... why was this whole affair so suspicious?

Liu Zheng turned his head and saw a bride wearing a red veil sitting on the bed.

"I'm sorry, they made a mistake, the door is locked, and I can't force my way out of your bridal room; when the time comes, you'll have to help me explain."

Liu Zheng scratched his head and gave a bitter smile.

He sat down cautiously on a nearby chair.

Liu Zheng tried to make light conversation, but the bride made no move; she just sat there quietly, motionless.

"Aha, the bride isn't allowed to speak before the veil is lifted, right?"

Liu Zheng suddenly remembered.

He awkwardly gripped his knees tightly, not knowing what to do for a moment to ease the current embarrassment.

But as time passed, he couldn't hear any other sounds outside either.

What the hell is this?

Is no one coming anymore?

He had originally thought that sitting for a while would be enough.

But looking at this situation...

Could it be that there is a traffic jam on the road?

After a while, he felt a bit parched, took a sip of water, and then his gaze could not help but drift toward the bride...

Hmm.

One could tell from her figure that she must be a beauty...

And he could smell that the Perfume she was wearing was his own Jasmine scent...

Honestly, he was quite curious.

Liu Zheng watched for a while, slowly walked toward the bride, and boldly lifted the bride's head covering.

"It's time to lift the head covering!"

"Hurry up, or the auspicious time will pass!"

"Don't hesitate, hurry!"

Just at this moment, the voice of the wedding matron outside rang out once again.

Liu Zheng felt somewhat depressed.

But things had already reached this point...

Might as well help someone to the end, and see the Buddha to the west...

He walked over slowly.

During this process, he was holding his breath.

This was his first time standing in for someone on their wedding night...

What exactly is the procedure anyway!

Is there really nothing else?

His hand was already trembling as he gripped the edge of the head covering.

Fine!

Just this once, and he wouldn't do anything else no matter what!

He lifted it with force.

At the same time, the bride's tightly closed eyes suddenly opened, startling Liu Zheng so much that he stumbled; after steadying himself, he realized that the face beneath the head covering was actually Li Xuanya!

"Xuanya? Why are you... getting married today?"

Liu Zheng exclaimed.

Li Xuanya, meanwhile, looked at Liu Zheng quietly.

At this moment, she was incomparably excited.

She looked at Liu Zheng, who was wearing the groom's attire, smiled sweetly, and said something shocking: "Husband, it is getting late, it is time to rest, do not miss the auspicious time..."

"What did you say?"

Even if Liu Zheng were any slower, he would still understand what was going on.

No wonder Xie Chan left today...

No wonder the two women had an argument...

No wonder...

So this was a trick played by the two women!

"Xuanya, don't mess around, don't mess around with your big brother like this... I can't really handle it..."

Liu Zheng was at a loss; everything was too sudden.

"Brother Liu, are you unwilling?"

Li Xuanya asked with red eyes, lowering her head.

"You are the Prime Minister of the Li Dynasty; the Li Dynasty cannot be without you."

Liu Zheng was flustered and said anxiously.

"I didn't say I wanted to go with you."

Li Xuanya blinked.

"But, I cannot stay."

"I didn't say I wanted you to stay either."

"Then what do you mean..."

"Xuanya wants to be a married couple with her husband for one day; today we are husband and wife, and starting tomorrow, you will be the Envoy of the suzerain state, and today's events will never be mentioned again."

"Xuanya, if you wish to be my wife for a day, then today we are husband and wife; starting tomorrow, you shall be the Envoy of the Upper Kingdom, and today's affairs shall never be mentioned again."

Liu Zheng was instantly dumbfounded. Pop-ups have been severe lately; you may click to download to avoid pop-ups.