The cool winds of October have dispelled the heat and restlessness left by the summer.
Ling Rui, staying in the capital’s imperial palace, has been forbidden from leaving.
The day of the wedding is approaching fast, and the palace is bustling with preparations.
The wedding ceremony is complicated, and Ling Rui must be taught and remember every step.
Ah Wu was not here; he had returned to Great Qing.
For this wedding, Ah Wu brought the betrothal gifts from Great Qing to Qi Dynasty, where the wedding will take place in the Qi Dynasty palace.
Though it’s said he’s bringing betrothal gifts, Ling Rui isn’t exactly becoming a bride.
Ling Chen had the Ministry of Rites amend the blessings, and issued a decree allowing men to marry like regular couples, with a wedding ceremony.
Knowing that his brother made these reforms, Ling Rui struggled to shake off the palace attendants and went to find his brother.
He stuffed the joyful fruits their mother had prepared for him into his brother’s hands.
“Big brother, have some. It’s really sweet.”
Ling Chen took a bite of the fruit—it was indeed sweet.
Ling Rui was munching on one too as he sat down, facing his brother.
The two brothers chatted while eating fruit.
Ling Rui glanced at his brother and, after a few bites, asked, “Big brother, did you revise this law because you want to marry my little uncle?”
Ling Chen: “…”
Ling Chen almost choked on his fruit.
He put the fruit down and immediately ordered Ling Rui out.
“Go, go, I’m busy, stop bothering me.”
But Ling Rui didn’t leave, laughing as he leaned against Ling Chen.
“Big brother, you’re angry because you’re embarrassed! I’m right, aren’t I?”
Ling Chen scowled and said nothing.
Ling Rui kept pestering him, “Come on, tell me. Do you want to marry my little uncle?”
“Ling Little Seven, are you leaving or not?”
Ling Chen turned his head and pinched his brother’s soft cheek.
The brothers played around for a while, and finally, Ling Chen, in his rare and sparse words, said, “The matter of making someone empress cannot be taken lightly. We’ll talk about it later.”
Ling Rui: “Wow.”
Ling Rui: “So my little uncle is going to be the empress!”
Ling Chen, not wanting to continue this topic, picked up a memorial and tapped it against Ling Rui’s head.
“Alright, stop bothering me. Your wedding is approaching. Go take care of your own business.”
“Sigh, that’s exactly why I came to you for a break.”
The entire palace was busy, and Ling Rui himself had a lot of rituals and procedures to familiarize himself with.
Being tied up with all of this, he felt a bit stifled.
“If you’re bored, let Pingping and Anan keep you company.”
“They’re busy having fun by themselves.”
Ling Rui said, “They’re picking out red clothes and comparing whose looks better.”
On the wedding day, Pingping and Anan were also going to participate as ceremonial children, helping welcome the guests.
So even the little ones were preparing busily.
With everyone working on the preparations, the wedding day soon arrived.
The Emperor of Great Qing came personally to marry Ling Rui, and the gifts he brought were enough to circle the city three times.
The capital was adorned with double happiness symbols, and amidst the festive atmosphere, the people got a good look at the Emperor of Great Qing, seated on his grand horse.
“He’s quite handsome, and he seems to match well with our little Wangye.”
“Handsome, yes, but he doesn’t seem very approachable. I wonder if our Young Wangye will be treated kindly.”
“Of course he will! Just look at all these gifts—clearly, he cares a lot!”
The people of the capital were familiar with the Young Wangye, and they liked him.
The Young Wangye was always easygoing, never putting on airs.
Even though he was marrying the famous Emperor of Great Qing, known for being formidable, the people still felt that the Emperor wasn’t quite good enough for their Young Wangye.
After all, no matter how powerful the Emperor was, he couldn’t give the Young Wangye a child!
The Young Wangye was so good-looking, yet the Emperor of Great Qing couldn’t even leave him a heir.
Ah Wu, riding on his horse, couldn’t hear the people’s gossip.
His mind was filled only with thoughts of seeing his beloved.
The opinions of others were of no concern to him.
After some time, the procession reached the palace. Ah Wu led the way on horseback.
From the moment they entered the imperial palace, Ah Wu knew the entire procedure by heart.
Emperor Ling and Noble Consort Yi had already explained everything to him in advance.
The wedding process was complex.
Ah Wu wasn’t known for his patience, but this time, he bore with it and cooperated, completing each step.
Finally, after countless procedures, Ah Wu saw Ling Rui.
Ling Rui, dressed in red, stood before him, smiling.
Since they were both men, there was no red veil.
“Ah Wu—”
Ling Rui wanted to call out to Ah Wu, but before he could, he was gently nudged from the side.
He closed his mouth, remembering that it wasn’t time to speak yet.
Ah Wu approached and, after bowing to the elders, finally took Ling Rui’s hand.
Fingers intertwined, they walked together to complete the remaining rituals.
Pingping, Anan, and the other little ones were also dressed in festive red, with small red dots on their foreheads, looking utterly adorable.
As Ling Rui and Ah Wu walked hand in hand down the red carpet, the children accompanied them on either side.
The sight was both heartwarming and joyful.
“Time flies. In the blink of an eye, Little Seven has grown up and is now getting married.”
Watching the young man stand beside Ah Wu, Emperor Ling couldn’t help but sigh softly.
The little one who once stumbled around is now all grown up.
As the cub grew up, he himself had grown old.
Noble Consort Yi heard the Emperor’s murmur and pursed her lips before extending her hand to hold his.
“It’s a day of joy. What’s there to be melancholic about?”
She whispered, “As long as Little Seven is happy, we can be at peace.”
Besides, it’s not as if Little Seven won’t come back after getting married.
She would still see him often.
Time passed little by little.
From dawn to dusk, the grand wedding finally came to an end.
Everyone had witnessed the union of the Young Wangye of Qi Dynasty and the Emperor of Great Qing.
After sunset, a lively banquet followed.
Ling Rui didn’t drink, but Ah Wu was made to drink quite a bit.
The adults drank and made merry, while the children happily clinked their cups too—though the children’s cups were filled with milk instead of wine.
Laughter and joy filled the air, creating a scene that one wished could last forever.
Finally, the revelry faded, and silence returned.
In the room adorned with joyful decorations, Ling Rui sat on the bed, holding out his hand to the slightly tipsy Ah Wu.
“Ah Wu, hold me.”
Ah Wu bent down and embraced him.
“Kiss me again.”
A gentle kiss landed on his brow, then moved from his brow to his eyes, and finally, to his lips.
The kisses grew deeper, and the flickering flame of the candles crackled softly.
Ling Rui smelled the lingering scent of wine. Though he hadn’t drunk any, he felt as if he were intoxicated too.
“Ah Wu, I love you so much.”
He confessed, his arms around Ah Wu’s neck, his flushed face filled with sincerity.
Ah Wu lowered his gaze, his husky voice carrying undisguised affection.
“Zai Zai, I love you very much too.”
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