Chapter 59: A Universal Celebration
When Qi Xiao and the others returned to the capital, they saw that it was a sea of red, very festive. Although the wedding was still three days away, the tree branches and shops along the streets were hung with red silk ribbons and lanterns. The court continuously distributed wedding cakes printed with the words “A Hundred Years of Harmonious Union” to celebrate with the common folk. And with the hundred flowers blooming in spring, it was truly a grand wedding for the Son of Heaven, a universal celebration!
The Son of Heaven’s wedding was a national celebration, so the common folk also happily cleaned their homes, put up festive decorations, and wore red for good luck. The steamed bun and pastry shops even dyed all their food red.
The owner of the pleasure boats had a good idea and had thousands of flower lanterns made. So, on the day before the wedding, the common folk all went to the river to release flower lanterns, praying for the Emperor and Empress to have a harmonious marriage and to work together to protect the peace of the world.
Under the night sky, the colorful flower lanterns illuminated the entire river, as if flowers were blooming on it, a beautiful sight. So, Rong Feijun simply designated this day as the Flower Lantern Festival.
That night, the riverbank was packed with people. And what they didn’t know was that the main characters of the event had also disguised themselves and were mingling among them, joining in the fun.
Wulanbaer and Rong Feijun released a flower lantern together. Watching it slowly drift away with the current, Wulanbaer smiled. “We must be happy and harmonious until we are old. Otherwise, we will have failed the common folk and these flower lanterns.”
After a moment of thought, he added, “Although I have a bad temper, but… well, I’ll try my best. We’re not allowed to argue in the future.”
“It’s fine. I have a good temper,” Rong Feijun smiled and, like a dragonfly skimming the water, planted a kiss on his forehead.
Wulanbaer was overwhelmed by the favor and stood frozen by the riverbank, at a loss for a moment.
“Are you silly?”
“…Mm.”
“The night is late, let’s go back,” Rong Feijun smiled. “We still have to be busy tomorrow.”
“Shall I carry you on my back?”
“Alright.” Rong Feijun beamed, a picture of warmth.
The next day was the wedding. In the daytime, Rong Feijun and Wulanbaer went to the temple to worship the heavens and pray to the gods. There were also many tedious ceremonies for bestowing titles, taking oaths, and so on. And when night fell, the two of them had no chance to rest. Just the toasting alone was enough to make one’s head spin. This minister would toast a cup, that king would toast a cup, and they also had to listen to a long string of blessings from the envoys.
The whole country celebrated, and all nations came to congratulate them. The banquet in the imperial palace lasted from sunset to sunrise the next day. The open feast also stretched from the palace to a street away.
Qi Xiao and Fu Yunzhi sat at the head table, but they didn’t stay late. Fu Yunzhi’s health was getting worse day by day, and Qi Xiao didn’t want him to overexert himself. Besides, they had already accompanied Rong Feijun for a day two days ago. He probably wouldn’t mind if they left early tonight.
The two of them walked hand in hand, heading in the opposite direction of the crowd.
The deeper they went into the palace, the quieter it became. They came to the lotus pond and rested against a rockery.
Qi Xiao took off his outer robe and draped it over Fu Yunzhi.
“It’s very beautiful here. You can sleep if you’re tired.”
Fu Yunzhi leaned against his shoulder and said drowsily, “Here… do you still remember this place?”
“Of course I remember,” Qi Xiao smiled.
After seeing Fu Yunzhi play the zither in the Fu manor at the age of seven, the two of them had not met again until two years later…
That year, Old General Qi had brought him into the palace. He didn’t want to remember the tedious rules of having an audience with the Emperor, so he had slipped away while his father was chatting with the other ministers and had come to this lotus pond.
“At that time, the Emperor and I were being bullied here by the crown prince of that time,” Fu Yunzhi smiled. “It was you who saved us.”
“Mm,” Qi Xiao also smiled. “Since then, the three of us have always been together. Now the Emperor is also married, and we…”
The rest of the words didn’t need to be said. Everything was understood.
“Cult Leader Mu sent a letter,” Qi Xiao said. “Young Master Xiao finally chose to risk it all, and Zhuo Fang’s blood exchange was a success.”
“I know. I read the letter last night, and you’ve told me many times today.”
The two looked at each other and couldn’t help but kiss.
Happy, very happy, overjoyed! No matter how many times they said it, they were just as happy. Zhuo Fang had successfully survived and was now gradually recovering into a normal person, which proved that Mu Linglong was indeed, as he had said, more skilled after trying it once on Gu Sanqiu’s wolf, and the possibility of success was also greater.
“After we get married,” Qi Xiao said, “we’ll have Cult Leader Mu do a blood exchange for me.”
Yes, the two of them had only learned last night that if they were to use the blood exchange method to save Fu Yunzhi, the one undergoing the exchange would not be him, but Qi Xiao.
There was no cure for Fu Yunzhi’s Gu poison, no way to save him. Since it couldn’t be taken out, then they might as well just let Qi Xiao become a Miao person. By removing his original blood and replacing it with that of a Miao person, he would not be affected by the side effects of the master Gu, and Fu Yunzhi would also receive the complete master Gu from him. Both of them could live a long life.
Everything seemed to be heading in a good direction.
Looking at the bright full moon in the sky, Fu Yunzhi sighed. “I wonder how the Emperor and the King of Shahan are doing…”
“Why don’t we go and crash their bridal chamber?”
“Do you want to be beheaded?”
“Hahahahaha…”
Inside the palace, Wulanbaer pressed Rong Feijun down beneath him and said faintly, “I seem to have seen you go out alone with Mo Yan and talk for a long time just now.”
“Then why didn’t you charge out and snatch me back?” Rong Feijun teased.
Wulanbaer paused for a moment, then said, “Mo Yan’s good points, I also want to learn them. I said last night that I would change my temper. I will definitely become a better person, more worthy of your love.”
A warmth spread through Rong Feijun’s heart. He wrapped his arms around Wulanbaer’s waist and smiled. “You’re already good enough. You don’t have to be too good. As long as I like you, it’s fine.”
“Tonight is our wedding night…” Wulanbaer lowered his head, his voice hoarse. “Is it alright?”
Rong Feijun didn’t answer.
“Tataliya secretly told me that if we do it tonight, we can have a child.”
Rong Feijun’s face turned slightly red, and he turned his head away.
“You’re talking nonsense again…”
Wulanbaer let out a low laugh. It has to be alright, even if it’s not. Tonight was their wedding night. If he held back any longer, he would really become impotent!
The two of them held each other tightly.
The night was as cool as water, and a moment of spring night was worth a thousand gold.
Wulanbaer’s stamina was very, very abundant, and the two of them played around like this until dawn. For the first time, Rong Feijun experienced what despair was…
Bastard, there will absolutely be no next time!
The next day, Rong Feijun, his throat so hoarse he couldn’t speak, said so.
“Absolutely, absolutely no next time!” Three days later, he said so.
“Alright,” Wulanbaer nodded with a smile.
“Absolutely… I said… mmm…” Seven days later, he said so.
Their sexual… happy life was ongoing.
