Chapter 524: The Successor

When Harry hadn't realized what major changes would happen in the future, his heart was full of joy blended with various emotions. He stood under the arch made of small golden roses, beside him was Ron, who had combed his fiery red hair neatly. Both of their bodies were more or less uncomfortable, but their faces were hung with bright smiles.

Harry's eyes swept over the guests one by one, he slowly adjusted his breathing, trying hard to make himself not so nervous. Immediately after, when he was a bit anxious, the music played. It was a gentle melody, like a summer stream. Perhaps it was some Eastern tune, Harry thought unconstrainedly, while focusing his eyes on the other end of the carpet with everyone else.

Qiu wore an ivory white dress with a simple and elegant style. On the collar, cuffs, and hem, patterns were embroidered with gold and silver threads, which was the work of the Chinese etiquette officer, embroidering a mysterious and hard-to-understand beauty. He smiled and looked at Qiu's face again. Today, Qiu was wearing a complicated bun, without extra small accessories, just wearing an exquisite gemstone hair accessory, which was very different from her usual appearance of letting down her hair, presenting a different kind of brightness.

Mr. Snake, who had not been very proper before, now revealed a decent smile, holding his daughter's arm and walking slowly, then steadily handed her to Harry. When he and Zhang Qiu held hands, Harry felt her hand was a bit wet. Of course, he knew his hand must also be hot and wet. Both of them couldn't help laughing at the same time.

The person presiding over the ceremony was still Doge, who was dressed more formally than ever before. When Harry was recalling the beautiful past and thinking about it, Doge used his loud and clear voice to finish all the testimonies required by the ceremony. Then, they kissed each other earnestly amidst the colorful paper scraps in the sky and the applause and cheers of the guests.

Qiu handed her bouquet to Hannah, who looked more like a girl who would consider getting married next. Harry didn't put forward other opinions, he just looked at her with a smile and doting, watching her give a new understanding to this custom that was originally dispensable in her own way.

After photos, hugs, and tidal blessings, the venue began to change. Dance floors, scattered seats, and long tables full of food appeared, and the music became more melodious. Harry and Qiu began to walk through the crowd, enjoying all this at their own pace, until the setting sun plated everything with gold, until the night got deeper and deeper, the dance party turned into a carnival, and people enjoyed this fleeting beautiful moment.

When the wedding was nearing its end, a huge, crisp sound of Apparition sounded in a corner of the venue. Immediately after, whispering and some messy movements began to spread from there, and guests left one by one, or strode away, or Apparated directly.

"Oh, what is this." Zhang Qiu said with some amusement. "The inertia of fate? Or, from the perspective of our wedding that broke fate, it is its small revenge!"

Harry remembered that in the fate trajectory mentioned by Donald, 【the wedding is interrupted】, this is a thing that will eventually be fulfilled even if it is delayed. He didn't expect this to be fulfilled at his own wedding—but it doesn't matter, the wedding has basically come to an end here.

Harry spent some effort to appease the chaotic crowd. He needed an accurate source of information to tell him what happened. Soon, the crowd made way for an open space, revealing the middle-aged man with an Oriental face. He was wearing a dark-colored classic formal dress, with an ivory small plaque hanging from his waist, and holding a purple sandalwood box in his hand.

"The wedding ceremony is over, please Princess Successor accept the old ancestor's last order," he paused here, revealing a solemn expression, "return to the palace to preside over the overall situation."

Zhang Qiu was stunned for the first time, and then Harry also understood what the word "last order" meant—Xuanjun seemed to be no longer in the world.

"What overall situation?" After Qiu came back to her senses, she immediately asked a series of questions. "What happened to Master? When did I become a princess? Return to what palace?"

"Two, this matter is somewhat unbelievable." Lin Shuanghe rushed out from the side, saying with a terrified expression. "Xuanjun took the entire Great Ming and left this world, and Qiu, and the lunar base as her fief... are the only remaining, few Chinese people left in this world."

"What do you mean by 'left this world'?"

"That is, it's gone. The place that originally belonged to the Chinese territory is now a huge, uneven deep pit, as if someone had dug it out of the earth with a huge spoon... If I had learned this news directly, I would have been at a loss." Lin Shuanghe swallowed a mouthful of saliva. "But according to the news brought by this gentleman, it seems that this was planned by Xuanjun. He called this 'Ascension'."

"According to this, we are a bit like being thrown away by him?" Zhang Qiu's tone was a bit dissatisfied. "Did he ever—"

Harry hugged her shoulder, because he heard a thicker panic from this speech, and it was mixed with sadness.

"The desert was originally the abandoned child of the Empire, and the survivors are accustomed to it." The official holding the small box said indifferently. "Please Your Highness return to the palace to ascend the throne and inherit the great unification. If there is no special situation, please also go together, Master Groom."

"First of all, you'd better speak some vernacular." Zhang Qiu seemed to want to vent her anger at Xuanjun on this official. "Secondly, I don't want to get involved in those things for the time being—at least wait until today is over, okay?"

"This ascension matter was not told to anyone in advance. Now it is unknown what reactions others will make. In order to avoid some people making irrational decisions in panic, it is suggested that you and your husband retreat for a while. Our Moon Palace is absolutely safe." The official switched to simple English.

"Go up? Now?" Zhang Qiu looked at the moon. "Our bridal chamber was just arranged, and we haven't lived in it for a moment!"

Before Zhang Qiu started to get really angry, Lin Shuanghe leaned over and whispered: "Perhaps he is right, it is really not very safe here."

"First of all, when we prepared the wedding, it was a big fanfare. Everyone knows that this is the main venue." Lin Shuanghe explained to the two. "And now, the news of Xuanjun taking the whole country to ascend must have caused a sensation in the world—I can't say whether this is benign or malignant for us, but what if, I mean, what if there are lawless people who feel that the moment Xuanjun disappears is a good opportunity for Qiu, then it might be dangerous."

"I think this is eventually a small probability," Harry frowned, his right hand subconsciously pinching the gold watch. "And even if any changes occur, I believe we have enough ability to protect ourselves."

"No, don't involve the guests, you are right to go with him." Sirius, who had been listening for a while, suggested. "If this is really a messy situation, then it is most important for key figures like you to ensure your own safety first. And, I believe Xuanjun has a plan. Perhaps listening to his arrangement first is part of that plan."

That Chinese official slowly pushed open the lid of the purple sandalwood box, revealing a huge seal made of jade.

"It looks like a Portkey." Sirius said softly. "You go quickly, I will greet the remaining guests."

Sirius's intuition was right, it was indeed a Portkey, but it was a very, very powerful one, powerful enough to cross 380,000 kilometers. Harry felt as if he had flown in the chaotic space for nearly a minute before he finally came back to his senses.

Different from what he had imagined before, it was not a transfer station like the Ministry of Magic hall, nor was it a common Chinese room displaying decorations and wooden furniture, but a corridor full of modern atmosphere, a console facing a huge deep pit. Below it were winding corridors layer by layer, and the dense rooms emitted faint fluorescence.

"Please use the Palace Master Seal to activate the Return to Ruins."

Leaving the translation spell at the wedding scene, Harry couldn't understand the Chinese of that official. He could only look around boredly. Immediately after, he saw a big screen not far away, which showed a huge round ball like a blue glass bead. It was a map, or rather, the Earth.

Perhaps this was a live broadcast screen, because Harry could clearly see that the national territory that originally belonged to China on the Eurasian plate now presented a strange dark color, as if shrouded in shadows. If he had known in advance that it had become a huge pit... Harry swallowed a mouthful of saliva. He was still immersed in a sense of unreality.

Some movements attracted his attention. Zhang Qiu had already followed the official's instructions and knocked the seal on the table. Thus, a very sci-fi projection appeared in front of them, it was Xuanjun. And, perhaps with the help of some magical craftsmanship, Harry could clearly see that this projection was lively.

"I am very sorry, you two, I know this matter must have disturbed your beautiful wedding." The projection spoke in English. "But there is no way, I must use a certain 【established node of fate】 to complete the ascension. Unfortunately, in the current situation where the fate trajectory is unrecognizable, only 【the wedding is interrupted】 can be used. For this, I express my deep apologies. Fortunately, the wedding was basically nearing its end, I hope this will not cause too many bad influences."

"Master, you really—"

"Don't be anxious, Qiu." The projection smiled slightly. "What I left here is a complete thought, just like those portrait paintings in the headmaster's office. We have a lot, a lot of time to talk about anything you want to talk about. But the top priority, I think, should be to give Mr. Potter an explanation."