roccoschili Chapter 220 Universal Celebration (Part 1)
Chapter 220 Universal Celebration (Part 1)
clap clap clap...
A deafening sound of firecrackers came from outside.
Lu Zhiyuan stood up, looked out the window, and said to Han Ting, "The wedding procession has arrived! Han Ting, help me cover myself with the bridal veil and send me off to my wedding!"
"Miss--"
Han Ting held the bridal veil as if it were the heaviest thing in the world. Taking a deep breath, he opened the veil and gently placed it over Lu Zhiyuan's head. Just as the veil was about to cover her face, she told Han Ting about the promise she had made with the Crown Prince. Before Han Ting could even feel a surge of joy, she continued, "The year I was born, the imperial physicians predicted I wouldn't live to adulthood. Over the years, I've constantly improved my medical skills and taken great care of myself. My uncle, mother, you and Lu Yun, and His Highness the Crown Prince have all been sending all sorts of rare medicinal herbs to Ronghua Palace as if they were free. And Imperial Physician Jiang and the others have also gone to great lengths. But Han Ting, I know my body and my condition perfectly well. I... I won't live more than five years."
Han Ting's hand trembled as he grasped the bridal veil, knelt down, and looked into her eyes: "Miss will not die."
Lu Zhiyuan touched his face: "You're not a child anymore, why are you still talking nonsense like a child? Everyone dies. I'm so glad I met you all in this life."
“Miss, Han Ting will take you away from here.” Han Ting’s eyes reddened, and he lowered his head so that Lu Zhiyuan wouldn’t see them: “The world is vast, and we can always find a miracle cure for you.”
Lu Zhiyuan touched his eyes; his eyelashes were long, and they tickled her fingers when she poked them. She cupped Han Ting's face in her hands, making him look into her eyes. The bridal veil was large, reflecting his face as well.
Lu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "I've been trapped in this villa, trapped in this mansion, trapped in this palace. Han Ting, I've been trapped for far too long. I don't want to stay in one place any longer. No matter how much time I have left, I want to do what I truly want to do. Five years is a long time, isn't it?"
Han Ting sniffed, a very subtle movement, almost imperceptible. His smile was even more handsome than Lu Zhiyuan had imagined. Pressing her fingertip against the corner of his lips, Lu Zhiyuan whispered, "You don't want your Qinghe Gang anymore?"
“I managed the Qinghe Gang for you, Miss. It has grown to its full potential. Any stronger and it will become a thorn in the side of the imperial court. The reason I didn’t hand it over to you was because I was worried about implicating the Xie family. All the people in the gang were handpicked and promoted by me. They can manage the gang’s affairs just fine without me. Miss, Han Ting is back. From now on, let Han Ting accompany you.”
Han Ting only speaks so much when he is facing Lu Zhiyuan.
Lu Zhiyuan didn't refuse. She gently flicked his nose with her fingertip and said, "Okay!"
Han Ting lowered his bridal veil and, urged by Liu Ying, came to the door. Lu Yun was somewhat surprised to see him, but quickly understood. It was his young mistress's wedding; he should return. In the years since they last met, she had grown even more handsome than when she was a child.
The young lady likes good-looking people, and he, Prince Xiao, and His Highness the Crown Prince all fall into this category. Han Ting's handsomeness is both righteous and wicked, exuding a cold and aloof aura from the very core. Prince Xiao has a more effeminate quality; even when he's not ill, he seems to have one, evoking pity in those who see him. His Highness the Crown Prince is purely handsome, the kind of handsome that immediately conveys the image of a virtuous gentleman, pure and refined.
They bumped fists, took Han Ting's hand, and bumped shoulders with him. While they were catching up, His Highness the Crown Prince had already arrived outside Fangfei Courtyard.
When the auspicious time arrived, Lu Zhiyuan, supported by Qingzhi, walked out.
Encouraged by Lu Jingyuan, Lu Huai stepped forward and took Lu Zhiyuan from Qingzhi's arms. The sight of so much red pierced his eyes, and for a moment, it was as if he had returned to the year she was born. The nanny had carried her out of the delivery room; unlike Lu Jinyao who had cried loudly at birth, she had opened her eyes and looked at him curiously. He vaguely remembered that she had smiled at him. Unfortunately, at that time, his heart was only with Ji Wanwan and Lu Jinyao; he ignored Xie Chaoyun, who had just given birth, and paid no attention to Zhiyuan, not even holding her before urging the nanny to take him away.
The more he thought about it, the more guilty he felt. His heart was filled with mixed emotions, and he couldn't help but say, "Yuan'er, I'm sorry for what I did to you. I'm afraid I won't have the chance to make it up to you in this life. If there is an afterlife, I will do my best to protect you, take care of you, and treat you and your mother well."
Lu Zhiyuan remained silent, because the real Lu Zhiyuan was already dead; she could no longer hear his apologies or his remorse. She had no right to forgive him on behalf of the real Lu Zhiyuan.
Lu Huai didn't expect Lu Zhiyuan to forgive him. He was already satisfied that she could get married in the Marquis's mansion and that he, her father, could come back to see her off. At least Yuan'er acknowledged that she was a member of the Lu family.
According to the customs for a woman's marriage, as her father, he still had to give her a few words of advice.
"My daughter is about to become a wife, and I only have one thing to say: Don't wrong yourself!"
Lu Zhiyuan nodded, bid him farewell, and walked to the Crown Prince with Qingzhi's help.
Lu Huai called out to the Crown Prince, his eyes filled with tears, "Your Highness, I implore you to treat my daughter well!"
The Crown Prince returned the greeting: "Please rest assured, Father-in-law, I treat A-Yuan with the utmost care and will never let her suffer the slightest grievance."
They were not the crown prince, nor the marquis; they were the father-in-law and son-in-law.
The bridal sedan chair set off, and the wedding procession, accompanied by the sound of gongs and drums, headed towards the palace in a grand procession.
Lu Huai watched the wedding procession depart, composed himself, and joined the Lu family relatives in entertaining the guests who came to the Marquis's residence to offer their congratulations. Lu Jingyuan, as the eldest son of the Marquis's residence, accompanied Lu Huai.
Seven years had transformed him from a willful child into the well-mannered young man he was today. Even during his years living alone in the Marquis's mansion, Lu Zhiyuan never forgot him. She had the steward take care of his needs, hired tutors for him, and even sent him to the Royal Academy, despite his perceived lack of intelligence. He always remembered his sister's words: there are smart people and there are dull people, capable people and there are less capable people; don't compare yourself to others, because there are some you can never surpass. Rather than becoming obsessed and going to extremes, it's better to understand yourself and do your best within your capabilities.
He wasn't good at studying, nor did he have any talent for martial arts. Under the arrangement of his sister and the steward, he followed Manager Lu to learn how to do business. He believed that in a few years, he would be able to support the entire Marquis's mansion on his own.
The streets were teeming with people, a bustling scene. Commoners craned their necks to catch a glimpse of the grand procession of the Crown Prince welcoming his bride. The wedding procession made a turn midway to reach the General's Mansion. Supported by His Highness the Crown Prince, Lu Zhiyuan alighted from her sedan chair and bid farewell to her mother and maternal grandfather.
The palace was brightly decorated, and a fiery red felt carpet was laid out along the road, winding like a fiery dragon. When the wedding procession arrived at the main gate, eunuchs and palace maids lined the road to welcome them, and applause thundered.
After going through the whole process, Lu Zhiyuan felt dizzy and disoriented, like a puppet being led by the Crown Prince to do all sorts of things. By the time she returned to the East Palace, she had no strength left, yet she still had to sit on the bed waiting for the Crown Prince to lift her veil.
She could wait for the Crown Prince to lift the veil, but she couldn't sit still; she swayed and wanted to lie down on the bed. A hand appeared on her back, steadied her, and gently rubbed her twice: "Tired? If you want to rest, you'll have to take off these clothes first."