Qin Lang was dashing and unrestrained, exuding a carefree charm.
Shen Ruojin watched him stride through the crowd with a hearty laugh, thinking that if her brothers were still alive, they would likely have looked just like this on their wedding days.
"What are you spacing out for?" Qin Lang scooped her up in his arms and gave her a playful jostle, his thin lips curling into a smirk. "Shen Ruojin, the way you're looking at me makes me suspect that the last-minute bride swap today was a scheme you deliberately set up."
Shen Ruojin’s lips lifted slightly. "Indeed. I was so captivated by your good looks, Young Lord, that I schemed tirelessly to get my way. What do you intend to do about it?"
She said it with such conviction that it sounded like the truth.
When dealing with someone like Qin Lang, one had to take the opposite approach.
"Good, very good. In this world, the only one who could ever scheme against me, Qin Lang, is you, Shen Ruojin. Naturally, I must marry you and take you home, so I can thoroughly understand you—inside and out, down to your very bones."
With his right arm holding Shen Ruojin, Qin Lang gently stroked down her back with his left hand, pausing to press lightly at the small of her back.
A tingling sensation shot straight to the crown of her head. Shen Ruojin nearly jolted upright like a carp leaping from water but restrained herself due to the crowd. She reached up to straighten Qin Lang’s collar, shooting him a warning glance not to go too far.
Qin Lang laughed even more heartily.
Soon, they arrived at the entrance of the Houfu. Onlookers had gathered in layers, three deep inside and three deep outside.
Qin Lang carried Shen Ruojin into the bridal sedan, took the red veil from a maid, and placed it over her head, declaring with a flourish, "On such an auspicious day, we must seek good fortune."
Inside the sedan, Shen Ruojin’s vision was obscured by the red veil. All she could hear were the continuous sounds of congratulations outside and the festive music playing as they passed through the bustling streets.
Half an hour later, at Zhenbei Wangfu.
With the red veil covering her face, Shen Ruojin was led into the mansion by Qin Lang, who held a red silk ribbon. As soon as they stepped into the front hall, an angry shout erupted: "You scoundrel! How dare you use a battering ram to break down the Houfu’s gates? Were you fetching a bride or robbing one?"
At the same time, a vase came flying toward them.
Without a second thought, Qin Lang stepped forward, shielding Shen Ruojin behind him.
Shen Ruojin wrapped one arm around Young Lord Qin’s waist, pulling him slightly aside, while with her other hand, she gave a light flick, sending the vase flying back along its original trajectory. It landed on the table beside Zhenbeiwang and, under the wide-eyed stares of the crowd, wobbled twice before settling steadily upright.
Zhenbeiwang and his consort watched the exceptionally skilled bride and thought in unison: With Linyang Houfu in chaos, Qin Lang had truly managed to exchange a fish eye for a pearl.
"Impressive aim," Qin Lang praised, his voice tinged with laughter.
He seemed completely unfazed that the vase had been aimed at him in the first place.
Or perhaps he was simply used to it.
Though her vision was blocked by the red veil, Shen Ruojin relied on her hearing to gauge the surroundings and could already sense Zhenbeiwang’s fury reaching its peak.
As a military commander, Zhenbeiwang inevitably drew the emperor’s suspicion and had to tread carefully in all matters.
Yet he had fathered a son who was his complete opposite.
Qin Lang was famously dissolute and unrestrained, a carefree playboy.
While the father led troops guarding the borders, the son was raised in luxury and comfort. They rarely saw each other, and whenever they did, it was either an argument or a fight.
Qin Lang leaned down slightly and whispered into Shen Ruojin’s ear, "My father has a somewhat fiery temper. Please excuse the spectacle, my lady."
Shen Ruojin was momentarily speechless. "…"
"Do you think I’m deaf?"
Zhenbeiwang’s voice grew even more agitated.
Qin Lang’s smile remained unchanged. "Father, your hearing is sharp and your eyes are clear—how could you be deaf? Don’t curse yourself like that."
Zhenbeiwang roared angrily, "You unfilial son, stop your glib talk here! Using siege weapons like battering rams within the imperial city is a capital crime punishable by extermination of nine generations. Hurry and enter the palace to plead guilty—do you think the lives of Zhenbei Wangfu are too long?"
Shen Ruojin said calmly, "That wasn’t a battering ram."
When she was carried out by Qin Lang, she had glanced casually. Although Young Lord Qin acted flamboyantly, he wouldn’t openly use such heavy military equipment in the imperial city.
The gatekeeper of Linyang Houfu had never seen a real battering ram. Seeing the massive object ramming the gate looked somewhat similar and the gate was indeed broken open, he hurried to report it.
Qin Lang said, "Listen, even my wife says it wasn’t. What battering ram? Where is there a battering ram? That was just a large wooden log slightly modified. The gate of the Houfu was shoddily built and collapsed at a single impact—how can you blame me?"
Zhenbeiwang fell silent.
Princess Consort of Zhenbei stepped in to smooth things over, gently persuading, "Alright, alright, as long as military equipment wasn’t misused. The wedding gate-blocking went a bit too far. Erlang must have accidentally dismantled the Houfu’s gate. We can just send someone to reinstall it. The bride has just arrived, and you, as her father-in-law, scold her husband in front of her—doesn’t that make our rules seem too strict and your temper too poor?"
Qin Lang, the second son in the family, was called "Erlang" by those close to him.
Zhenbeiwang laughed in anger, "The gate of Linyang Houfu is cast from Xuantie. You say he dismantled it accidentally—who would believe that?"
Princess Consort of Zhenbei’s temper also began to flare, "Then what does Your Highness want to do? It was Linyanghou’s illegitimate daughter who fled the wedding first. If Fuguang hadn’t broken through the gate today, not only would there be no bride, but he would also become a laughingstock in the capital! Instead of helping him, you picked up a vase and threw it—what kind of father are you?! In my opinion, whether this bride was received or snatched, he brought her back by his own ability!"
Zhenbeiwang couldn’t argue with her and his anger slightly subsided. He said resentfully, "Qin Lang has become so absurd today—all because you spoiled him!"
The Princess Consort snorted and ignored him.
"Mother is absolutely right," Qin Lang said with a smile. "Even if Father wants to punish me severely, please do it another day. It’s almost dark, and I’m in a hurry to enter the bridal chamber."
"You!" Zhenbeiwang was so angry he wanted to flip the table. But seeing the bride standing quietly beside him, he remembered she was the last remaining bloodline of the Shen family, whom he respected most.
Zhenbeiwang sighed inwardly and said with a heavy expression, "Ruojin, my son is unruly and unworthy, truly not a good match for you. I know you came back with him today out of helplessness. How about this: I’ll adopt you as my goddaughter. You can stay in the Wangfu from now on and wait for another opportunity to choose a better husband in the future. What do you think?"
Qin Lang sneered, "Now that’s a real father for you."
"Not a good idea," Shen Ruojin stood gracefully, not only directly refusing but also countering, "Your Highness is not me, so how can you conclude that Qin Lang is not a good match for me?"
She needed to use Zhenbeiwang’s power and the wealth of the Princess Consort’s maternal family to avenge the Shen family. The status of a Wangfu goddaughter was far from enough.
Zhenbeiwang was stumped by the question. Matters between men and women were always a matter of mutual consent, and the notion of a "good match" was never set in stone.
Moreover, Shen Ruojin had just had her husband stolen by her illegitimate sister. Zhenbeiwang assumed she had encountered such a wretched situation suddenly, and her thoughts were inevitably biased. He didn’t feel it appropriate to persuade her further.
"Father, you'd better take those words back. If even I am not worthy of Shen Ruojin, then who in this world could be?" Qin Lang stood side by side with Shen Ruojin, like a perfect pair.
Before Zhenbeiwang could speak this time, the Princess Consort clapped her hands and exclaimed, "A match, truly a perfect match! You are shamelessly bold, she is fearless and unyielding—you two are made for each other!"
The Princess Consort had never wanted Qin Lang to marry a concubine-born daughter from Linyang Houfu. Who would have thought that little concubine-born girl would elope with Pei Jing, leaving Shen Ruojin, the legitimate daughter, to marry into their family instead.
Shen Ruojin was raised by the Shen family, so her character was naturally excellent. It was said her martial arts skills were even more remarkable, and the display she gave upon entering the door was quite impressive. The key was her discerning eye—she actually saw the potential in Qin Lang to become a good husband. She didn’t mind his frivolous and unrestrained ways, and instead of becoming an adopted daughter of the palace, she insisted on marrying him as his wife.
If this wasn’t a match made in heaven, what was?
The more the Princess Consort looked at Shen Ruojin, the more pleased she felt. "Where are the wedding attendants? What are you standing around for? Announce the ceremony! It’s almost dark, we mustn’t miss the auspicious hour. Quickly, let the wedding begin!"
A gentle breeze swept through the wedding hall as everyone busied themselves. Someone placed a soft red silk ribbon into Shen Ruojin’s hand, while the other end was held by Qin Lang.
The sounds of celebratory music and congratulations filled the air as Shen Ruojin and Qin Lang bowed in unison.
"First bow to heaven and earth!"
"Second bow to the parents!"
"Husband and wife bow to each other—now escort them to the bridal chamber!"