“…”
The Old General and Old Madam were astonished.
Xiao Lingzhao was also astonished.
He looked at the identity document presented before him.
Register marriage directly? Hold the wedding ceremony tonight?
Wasn’t this too simple and rushed?
Old Madam felt both delighted and distressed. She said affectionately, “Miss Shen, you have no elders at home, so you don’t understand. For our family to marry you, we must first choose an auspicious day to present the three letters and six etiquettes. Only after completing these can we register the marriage at the government office. We can’t be so hasty – directly registering would be taking advantage of you—”
Xiao Lingzhao also solemnly told Shen Yuanwei, “Yes, without presenting the betrothal gifts, how could I so rashly hold the wedding ceremony and take advantage of you? If I want to marry you, it must be done with great fanfare, feasting guests. We must let the entire city know that the woman I, Xiao Lingzhao, married is called Shen Yuanwei.”
Shen Yuanwei didn’t care at all.
Going through the three letters and six etiquettes process slowly – how long would that take?
Would she have to live in the General’s Residence without proper status during this time?
Better to handle things simply, then she would be legitimate from now on.
Shen Yuanwei said to Xiao Lingzhao, “No need for such trouble. I’m a simple person and prefer to handle things simply. Just consider me as your luck bringer. What’s so particular about being a luck bringer?”
Xiao Lingzhao fell silent for a moment. Looking at Shen Yuanwei’s beautiful face and recalling the comfort of being close to her, he felt tempted.
Should they really hold the wedding ceremony tonight?
If they held the ceremony tonight, wouldn’t that mean they could consummate the marriage tonight?
Suppressing the impulse in his heart, he confirmed again, “If the wedding is handled so simply and hastily, won’t you truly feel wronged?”
Shen Yuanwei said freely, “If you betray me, deceive me, or hurt me in the future – that would be what wrongs me. My grievance doesn’t lie in whether there’s a grand wedding, but only in how you treat me afterwards. Don’t you think so?”
After a moment of surprise, Xiao Lingzhao’s eyes sparkled with faint laughter.
He liked Yuan Wei’s free-spirited and genuine nature.
He raised his hand and swore to heaven.
“I, Xiao Lingzhao, swear to heaven that in this lifetime I will never betray Shen Yuanwei. After marriage, I will never take concubines, have no intimate servants, and never get into bed with another woman. If I break this oath, may heaven strike me dead.”
He gazed into Shen Yuanwei’s eyes, speaking word by word.
“Believe me, I won’t betray you. Never.”
Shen Yuanwei thought to herself, whether he betrays her or not – they would know in the future.
It’s still too early to say these things now.
She smiled and pretended to agree, “Alright, I believe you.”
Xiao Lingzhao tightened his grip on her fingers and turned to look at the Old General and Old Madam. “Father, Mother, let’s treat Yuan Wei and my marriage as a luck-bringing ceremony. No need to feast guests. We’ll hold the wedding ceremony tonight.”
The Old General and Old Madam looked at each other.
Tonight?
The young lady arrived at noon, and the wedding ceremony would be held in the evening – this was so rushed it was unbelievable!
The elderly couple kept glancing at their son.
Thinking of their son’s clingy behavior of not being able to leave the young lady, after remaining silent, they suddenly felt they could understand.
He’s already twenty-one years old – wanting to have a wife, children, and warm bed sooner is normal, perfectly normal.
Since both their son and daughter-in-law had no objections, then they would just follow through!
They also wanted to hold grandchildren sooner!
The Old General stood up and laughed heartily.
“Good! Anyway, our family doesn’t care about those superficial formalities. Whatever you young couple say, your father and mother will arrange! I’ll have the servants in the residence get moving immediately, tidy up the residence and hang red silks and double happiness characters, waiting for the wedding ceremony at dusk!”
The Old General looked at Old Madam.”Madam, I will go to the government office to register our son and daughter-in-law’s marriage. You go to Brocade Pavilion to buy the finest wedding attire. Though the wedding is rushed, we cannot compromise on these things—only the best will do!”
Old Madam agreed with a joyful smile.
She looked at Shen Yuanwei, beaming from ear to ear. “Daughter-in-law, our Xiao family has truly wronged you. But don’t be afraid—whatever we owe you now, we will repay doubly in the future! His father and I are old now. From now on, this household will be yours and Ling Zhao’s to manage. We won’t interfere in anything, just waiting to dote on our grandchildren!”
Shen Yuanwei couldn’t help but laugh.
She bowed again. “I’ve troubled Old General and Old Madam.”
Old Madam waved her hands repeatedly. “What trouble? We’re overjoyed that you’re willing to become our daughter-in-law! It’s no trouble at all!”
She gently patted Shen Yuanwei’s hand. “You and Ling Zhao spend some time together now. His father and I will make the arrangements. Be good.”
Shen Yuanwei nodded. “Alright.”
Xiao Lingzhao stood beside Shen Yuanwei, watching his parents depart joyfully. Seeing the servants in the courtyard jumping with excitement upon hearing his happy news, the entire residence filled with celebration warmed his heart with emotion and gratitude.
He opened his mouth to express his thanks, but before he could speak, he heard Shen Yuanwei whisper to him, “Could you take me to the kitchen? I’m hungry.”
He silently swallowed his words and nodded. “Alright.”
Clasping Shen Yuanwei’s hand tightly, he turned and led her straight to the kitchen.
Having eaten nothing all day, Shen Yuanwei poked Xiao Lingzhao’s back as they stepped outside and whispered, “Let’s run faster.”
A smile touched Xiao Lingzhao’s lips. “Alright.”
Then, obediently holding her hand, he ran with her through the long corridor.
The bustling servants turned to see their always composed and aloof Young General holding his soon-to-be bride, dashing through the corridor like a gust of wind.
Remembering the smile on their Young General’s face, they couldn’t help but laugh heartily.
They liked this Young Madam.
After a year of silence and sorrow, their General’s Residence had finally regained its laughter with the arrival of their Young Madam.
…
Imperial Palace.
After reviewing memorials for several hours, Emperor Xie Junlin felt weary. Setting down his vermilion brush, he massaged his temples and noticed his personal eunuch Chen Hai was absent.
He sipped his tea, and moments later, Chen Hai hurried in.
The moment he entered, Chen Hai exclaimed excitedly, “Your Majesty! Wonderful news! Wonderful news!”
Xie Junlin’s fingers stilled. He lifted his dark eyes to look at the overjoyed Chen Hai.
Wonderful news?
What news?
Could it be that some consort in the rear palace was pregnant, and he would finally become a father?
For over a decade, he had imagined this scene countless times: a consort in his rear palace suddenly discovering a pregnancy, Chen Hai rushing in excitedly to shout, “Your Majesty, wonderful news…”
But he hadn’t visited the rear palace in five months—how could there be such news?
Xie Junlin tightened his grip on the teacup to steady himself.
Lowering his gaze to conceal his disappointment, his well-defined fingers gently skimmed the foam from the tea with the lid. His voice was deep and pleasant. “What wonderful news?”
Chen Hai dropped to his knees with a thud. “Your Majesty, someone can cure the General of Agile Cavalry’s illness! He can remain conscious without losing his martial arts! Your Pillar of the Nation stands firm once more!”
Hearing that Xiao Lingzhao’s illness could be treated, the usually composed and steady emperor couldn’t help but show his delight.
“Who saved Ling Zhao?”Xie Junlin was delighted by Ling Zhao’s recovery, but what pleased him even more was the emergence of a formidable Miracle Doctor.
A spark ignited in the depths of his eyes.
This person was even more skilled than Song Suihuan, the Successor of the Ghost Doctor, capable of curing even Ling Zhao’s peculiar illness. Could this Miracle Doctor then treat his own infertility?
Might this Miracle Doctor enable him, who was destined to be childless, to father a child and experience being a dad?