The second day of the fifth month was deemed auspicious for marriage, a day of great fortune.
The Prince of Zhenxi's Manor had not sent out invitations far and wide, yet Ma Bojun of White Horse Manor and Duan Zhengshan of Pingliang Fort—the two pillars of Anxi Circuit—both arrived in person.
Having caught wind of the news, Fang Shaobai had also come along to share in the celebratory wine. Even the Great Vajra Monastery, despite the ongoing friction between the two sides, had dispatched envoys bearing congratulatory gifts, displaying more than enough courtesy to keep up appearances.
"Is there still no word from Qianqian?" Li Yunxiu asked.
"None," Wang Yu replied, shaking his head.
Half a month had already passed between the battle on the steppe shaking the world and the wedding day. As long as Qianqian was not too far away, she should have received word by all rights.
If she had the time, she certainly would have made time to return. After all, she had known a full year ago that Wang Yu would wed once his period of mourning ended.
Wang Yu said with conviction, "She must have been held up by something, or else she would definitely have returned."
Li Yunxiu gave him a sidelong glance. "You certainly have plenty of confidence in yourself. How do you know she didn't just decide she doesn't want to marry you?"
Wang Yu threw his head back and planted his hands on his hips, not mincing words in the slightest. "At merely twenty years of age, I sit in possession of the Prince of Zhenxi's Manor, have attained the Xiantian realm in martial skill, annihilated the Black Qiang in a single battle, and made my name shake the entire realm!
"Let me ask you: aside from me, is there a second man in all the world who could accomplish what I have at this age?"
Li Yunxiu fell silent.
Without those last two feats, he would merely be a profligate heir coasting on his ancestors' glory. His fifty-thousand-strong army would have been nothing more than dry bones rotting in a tomb; aside from the neighboring Great Vajra Monastery wary of him going mad, no one else would have feared him.
Yet with those two achievements, everything changed.
A twenty-year-old Xiantian expert—though the news had not yet spread far and wide, anyone who knew would rank his natural talent at the absolute highest tier, second only to Fang Shaobai and comparable to the foremost disciples of the Seven Great Sword Sects, such as Liu Wuchen and Leng Jiangzhu.
And crushing the Black Qiang in a single campaign elevated his leadership to the very pinnacle. It proved that he could truly command the fifty thousand troops of the Prince of Zhenxi's Manor and pull off such a magnificent war of annihilation on the steppe.
Naturally, her own standing had risen along with his. Those in the know were well aware that she had been managing the Northwestern administrative affairs and had accompanied the army on the expedition. In fact, many believed that while Wang Yu stood in the open, Li Yunxiu was the true mastermind behind him.
The female top scholar had proven her true worth.
Even so, just as Wang Yu had said, being a twenty-year-old Xiantian, commanding fifty thousand troops, ruling three Northwestern prefectures, and annihilating the Black Qiang in one blow—any single one of these was already dazzling. Brought together, they were staggering.
"Don't forget, she cultivates the Mysterious Maiden Classic and cannot lose her chastity," Li Yunxiu reminded him.
Wang Yu waved his hand dismissively. "I'm different."
Li Yunxiu was left speechless.
In truth, Li Yunxiu had misunderstood. When Wang Yu said, "I'm different," he did not mean he was different from other men, but that he possessed the means to mend Qianqian's cultivation method.
Although the wedding banquet at the Prince of Zhenxi's Manor lacked the traditional bridal procession through the streets, it was still held in the evening according to custom.
Over a hundred round tables were laid out across the square in front of the manor's main hall. Officials from the Three Northwestern Prefectures, generals currently off duty, prominent merchants from Longshan Prefecture, and the heads of scholarly lineages and martial clans were all present.
Zhao Rong sat as the elder for the groom's side. With no family attending from Li Yunxiu's side, Yan Xiangxue took her seat as her elder, while Asuri sat as the elder for Ardai. Positioned one on the left and two on the right, they took their places in the grand hall.
Candles were lit, incense burned, music played, and the newlyweds made their entrance.
When the assembly turned to look, every eye brightened. The men were consumed with envy, while the women felt humbled by their own plainness.
The groom possessed sword-like brows and starry eyes, carrying himself with dashing grace.
He held a bride with each hand. The one on his left was dignified and graceful, radiating poise and elegance, while the one on his right possessed an alluring silhouette and a glance overflowing with charm and wit. Both were equally breathtaking in their beauty, exquisitely refined and noble.
"Truly a match made in—a pair made in—cough, cough, cough!"
"May you grow old together in harmony!"
"Congratulations!"
"May you soon be blessed with fine sons!"
Aside from a clumsy few who tripped over their words, everyone rose to cup their hands in greeting, offering warm congratulations with beaming smiles.
"Many thanks, everyone!" Holding both women by the hand, Wang Yu nodded in gratitude.
Li Yunxiu and Ardai wore phoenix coronets and embroidered robes. Though beaded veils veiled their faces, their sight remained unobstructed, and both offered gentle smiles as they passed.
Basking in the blessings, the three made their way through the crowd into the manor's main hall.
Gathered within were the core figures of the Prince of Zhenxi's Manor as well as close friends and kin. The Zhenxi Army's five generals, several commandants, and Commandant Zhao Defang of the Iron Eagle Cavalry filled three tables. The prefectural governors, vice governors, and defense commanders of the Three Northwestern Prefectures took up two tables. Ma Bojun, Duan Zhengshan, and Fang Shaobai shared a table, while the delegates who had accompanied Asuri from the White Qiang Royal Court occupied another.
Guided by the master of ceremonies, the three offered incense, made prayers, performed the rites, and conducted the formal bows.
"First bow to Heaven and Earth!"
"Second bow to the parents!"
"Husband and wives bow to each other!"
Under Fang Shaobai's amused gaze, Wang Yu had Li Yunxiu and Ardai stand side by side while he stood opposite them, managing to complete the bow in one go.
"Escort the newlyweds to the bridal chambers!"
Though Wang Yu would have loved nothing more than to share a single large bed, the day's proprieties had to be observed. Accommodations were made by having both women led to separate side chambers in the main courtyard, where Wang Yu would visit them in turn.
Li Yunxiu sat quietly in her chamber, waiting.
*Creak.*
The door swung open, and Wang Yu stepped inside.
Looking up, Li Yunxiu saw Wang Yu gazing at her with a mischievous, teasing grin. "Wife?"
The room was decked in festive red silks and glowing with candlelight. Dressed in his wedding attire, Wang Yu looked dashing with his sharp brows and bright eyes. Li Yunxiu felt her cheeks burn, her heart pounding wildly against her ribs—a sensation she had never experienced in her life.
"Hus... Husband," Li Yunxiu managed, struggling to keep her composure.
Wang Yu looked at Li Yunxiu. Her bright, starry eyes seemed veiled with a soft sheen, her snow-white skin flushed rosy under the glow of the red candles, and the gentle curve of her figure was captivating.
She was truly as radiant as fine jade, breathtaking in every glance.
Taking a deep breath, Wang Yu walked over to the table and poured two cups of wine from the flagon. "Once we drink the nuptial wine, we will be officially wed."
Li Yunxiu nodded and rose to her feet, joining Wang Yu at the table to pick up a cup.
Intertwining their arms, they brought the winecups to their lips, their eyes locked on one another.
Li Yunxiu saw the awe and ardent heat in Wang Yu's gaze.
Wang Yu saw the hesitation and fluster in hers.
The wine slipped down their throats as they drained their cups in one draw.
Wang Yu suddenly quipped, "I once said that once I became strong enough to beat you, I would come sleep with you."
Li Yunxiu's heart skipped a beat, but she feigned indifference. "And so? You have stepped into the Xiantian realm now, and I am no longer a match for you."
"Yet I never force anyone," Wang Yu said with another smile. "Least of all you."
Li Yunxiu could not help grinding her teeth. "What on earth do you mean by that?"
Wang Yu replied in all seriousness, "I mean that ours is a partnership. If you don't wish to sleep with me, I will never impose upon you."
Li Yunxiu was struck speechless.
"Alright. The wine is drunk, the rites are complete. Rest well," Wang Yu said, setting his cup down and preparing to turn away. "I'm going to see Ardai."
Li Yunxiu caught his wrist in a firm grip. "You are not allowed to leave!"
Wang Yu turned back, wearing an exasperated expression. "That doesn't seem quite fair, does it? If you won't give yourself to me, you can't very well hold me back and deny me an outlet. Ardai's intentions are clear for all to see; she has no hidden agenda."
Li Yunxiu was about to die of exasperation!
Could he truly not see that she had already fallen for him?
At a moment like this, he actually expected her to take the initiative?
Was he deliberately teasing her? Intentionally stringing her along?
He was clearly quite clever—she refused to believe he couldn't tell!
You... scoundrel!
Staring at Wang Yu, Li Yunxiu finally caught the glimmer of amusement lurking deep beneath his feigned exasperation.
Her entire body caught fire!
Her mind was finally made up!
Locking her grip on Wang Yu's arm, Li Yunxiu swung him clean off his feet and threw him onto the bed, then leaped forward and pounced straight on top of him.
Straddling his waist, she pinned both of his wrists beside his temples.
Throughout it all, Wang Yu acted as though he were an ordinary man devoid of martial arts. Witnessing Li Yunxiu's sudden, fiercely domineering outburst, his face drained of color as he began to tremble, asking in a shaky voice, "Wh-what do you think you're doing?"
Li Yunxiu nearly coughed up a mouthful of blood.
*What do I think I'm doing? I'm going to do you!*
Gritting her teeth, Li Yunxiu began stripping off Wang Yu's clothes. Spurred by surging exasperation, she moved with astonishing speed. Though her hands trembled slightly at the final layer, she did not hesitate for an instant.
Pinning Wang Yu beneath her, she—
A sharp cry suddenly sounded from within the room.
As Li Yunxiu lowered her head, Wang Yu finally leaned in to meet her.
After a deep, breathless embrace, Li Yunxiu could not resist biting lightly into Wang Yu's lip. "You bastard!"
Wang Yu arched an eyebrow, pressing forward with gentle force. "Who's a bastard?"
Li Yunxiu's delicate hands had long since lost the strength to pin his wrists. She clutched his shoulders tightly, feeling completely drained of energy. "You, of course. You're bullying me."
It was rare to see Li Yunxiu show such tender vulnerability, and Wang Yu looked at her as if he could never see enough.
"What are you staring at?"
"You're beautiful."
"Sweet talker." Li Yunxiu stroked Wang Yu's cheek. "I never imagined I would fall for you."
"Do you find me brilliant, valiant, humorous, and charming?"
"No. I find you calculating and deeply cunning."
"That doesn't sound like praise, does it?"
"Of course it isn't praise."
"Then why fall for me?"
"I must have lost my senses."
"If you know that, why not snap out of it?"
"Because I don't want to wake up."
"Could it be that you guessed wrong? What if I'm actually pure of heart, simple and honest?"
"Honest, my—ah!" Li Yunxiu pressed down on him, urging him to be gentler. "If you were simple and honest, there wouldn't be a single scoundrel left in this world."
"Thank you for the compliment, but I still think you misunderstand me."
"If you... say so... then fine..." Li Yunxiu felt herself growing weightless, her words coming only in broken gasps, her mind entirely unable to form coherent thoughts.
A moment later, Li Yunxiu bit down on Wang Yu's shoulder, her body shuddering, though she managed to keep from crying out too loudly.
Chapter 131