At this moment, outside the Taizi Fu!
Xuan Yuan Beichen sat in his wheelchair, dressed in wedding attire.
His eyes remained fixed in the direction of the Chengxiangfu!
Beside him, Shen Zhi couldn’t help but feel heartache for him. The once lofty Crown Prince had fallen from grace, and now even the daughter of a mere prime minister could treat him with such disrespect. The auspicious hour was about to pass, yet there was no sign of the bridal sedan.
It seemed Mu Anran might have fled the wedding.
Once again, Shen Zhi reminded him, “Your Highness, let’s go inside! Miss Mu probably won’t come!”
This was already the third time he had reminded him!
Xuan Yuan Beichen felt a pang of disappointment. Deep down, he had guessed she would flee the wedding. With him being a cripple, how many noble ladies in the capital would be willing to marry him?
Moreover, she had always been fond of Xuan Yuan Haoyu. It was likely that her escape this time was related to him!
Yet, he still clung to a sliver of hope, wishing she would appear. “Let’s wait a little longer.”
Just as Xuan Yuan Beichen’s heart was sinking bit by bit, a figure in red came rushing toward them.
She even used qinggong to fly twice along the way.
When she finally stood before him, Xuan Yuan Beichen could hardly believe his eyes.
Mu Anran was panting heavily, many of the hair ornaments on her head were missing, her wedding dress was disheveled, and she wasn’t even wearing her bridal veil.
Shen Zhi was also puzzled. What was going on with Miss Mu in this state? “Miss Mu, you…”
Mu Anran waved her hand, still catching her breath. “You, why are you just standing there? Hurry and push the Crown Prince inside for the ceremony.”
With that, she walked toward the Taizi Fu. She would have liked to push Xuan Yuan Beichen herself, but she was utterly exhausted from running all the way.
Shen Zhi looked at Xuan Yuan Beichen. “Your Highness, this…”
Xuan Yuan Beichen didn’t know why she had appeared in such a state or what she intended to do. However, since she had already stepped into the Taizi Fu on her own—even though the fire in the brazier had gone out, she still lifted her foot and stepped over it—he said, “Push me inside…”
Upon hearing this, Shen Zhi pushed the wheelchair, guiding Xuan Yuan Beichen into the residence.
Mu Anran looked at the festive decorations inside the residence, but there were no guests, only a few guards. Of course, that made sense. With Xuan Yuan Beichen’s legs crippled, how could someone sitting on the throne be a cripple?
The officials had all gone to curry favor with the favored Third Prince, Xuan Yuan Haoyu. Who would come to the Taizi Fu?
Earlier, she had been truly afraid that Xuan Yuan Beichen would ask her to leave, so she had no choice but to enter the residence directly. Seeing him follow her inside, Mu Anran stopped in her tracks.
When his wheelchair reached her side, she reached out and took his hand.
“Beichen, let’s hold the ceremony first. I’ll explain everything to you later, alright?”
Xuan Yuan Beichen looked at her, his expression serious.
“Mu Anran, if you had left today, I would have let it go. But since you’ve come, I won’t let you leave in the future!”
Hearing this, Mu Anran quickly replied, “No, I won’t leave. Beichen, in this lifetime, I will not betray you. The auspicious hour is almost over. Let’s hold the ceremony first! We can talk about everything else later!”
Upon hearing her words, Xuan Yuan Beichen’s dormant heart began to beat again. “Mu Anran, you must remember the choice you made today.”
Mu Anran tightened her grip on his hand. “I will remember it forever.”
Shen Zhi pushed Xuan Yuan Beichen toward the main hall.
Mu Anran looked at the empty hall and couldn’t help but frown. Xuan Yuan Beichen was merely injured—had the imperial family not even arranged for an official to preside over the ceremony? Indeed, the imperial family was the most heartless of all!
Sensing her emotions, Xuan Yuan Beichen grew uneasy. "I'm sorry…"
But Mu Anran pulled the hairpin from her hair, tore off a piece of red silk nearby, and draped it over her head. She said directly, "Shen Zhi, you call it out!"
Shen Zhi naturally understood what she meant to call out!
He immediately stepped aside and shouted loudly, "First bow to heaven and earth!"
Mu Anran stood while Xuan Yuan Beichen sat, both bowing toward the heavens and earth outside!
Xuan Yuan Beichen turned his wheelchair around himself!
"Second bow to parents!"
The two bowed toward the empty seats above!
"Husband and wife bow to each other!"
Mu Anran reached out and helped Xuan Yuan Beichen turn his wheelchair!
Just as they were about to bow,
Xuan Yuan Beichen spoke up, "Wait!"
"Shen Zhi, help me up…"
Shen Zhi exclaimed, "Your Highness, your legs cannot stand!"
But Xuan Yuan Beichen insisted, "Hurry, don't waste time!"
Upon hearing this, Mu Anran's tears immediately fell. That he would go this far for her was truly unimaginable. How heartbroken he must have been in their previous life when he waited at the door and she never came!
"Beichen, there's no need for this, we…"
Xuan Yuan Beichen tightly grasped her hand. "Mu Anran, I don't care why you didn't leave. For this husband-and-wife bow, I want to stand up!"
Shen Zhi, standing nearby, had no choice but to step forward and help Xuan Yuan Beichen up!
Beads of sweat densely covered Xuan Yuan Beichen's forehead!
He relied on sheer willpower to hold himself up. "Shen Zhi, let go of me. Call it out…"
Shen Zhi slowly released him. "Husband and wife bow to each other…"
Mu Anran and Xuan Yuan Beichen both bowed toward each other.
As soon as the gesture was completed, Xuan Yuan Beichen collapsed back into his chair.
Mu Anran hurriedly supported him. "Beichen!"
Xuan Yuan Beichen said nothing, signaling Shen Zhi to continue.
Shen Zhi, suppressing his distress, shouted loudly, "Escort to the bridal chamber!"
"The ceremony is complete…"
Shen Zhi stepped forward to push Xuan Yuan Beichen's wheelchair, while Mu Anran took the initiative to place her hand in Xuan Yuan Beichen's, and together they walked toward the bridal chamber.
In the bridal chamber, the table was set with some dishes and a pot of wine.
Mu Anran, peeking through the gap in her red veil, located the bed and walked over to sit down. Seeing that Xuan Yuan Beichen remained motionless for a long time, she said,
"Xuan Yuan Beichen, aren't you going to lift my veil?"
Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuan Beichen narrowed his eyes, knowing exactly what she intended. After all, she had always pursued the Third Prince in the past and held nothing but contempt for him!
Sensing the silence in the room, Mu Anran dared not speak too directly, as it would seem unnatural. After a moment's thought, she spoke up.
"Xuan Yuan Beichen, there have been many misunderstandings between us in the past. Of course, it was also my fault for mistaking a fish eye for a pearl and doing things that brought shame upon you. But today, since I have married you, I am your wife!"
Xuan Yuan Beichen sneered, "Miss Mu, when I was once covered in military glory, you looked down on me. Now that I am crippled and the position of Crown Prince is precarious, you instead enter Taizi Fu. What? Is the Third Prince uneasy about me and sent you to keep an eye on me?"
His suspicion was not unfounded, after all, in their previous life, she had done plenty of foolish things. Mu Anran fell silent for a moment before speaking.
"Beichen, I know you won't believe me now. If I were in your place, I wouldn't believe me either. In the future, I will prove to you that marrying you was my own choice, Mu Anran's heartfelt decision. No matter what status you hold from now on, I will never abandon you."
"Beichen, if you won't lift my veil, I'll do it myself. But since ancient times, it has always been the husband who lifts the veil. If you don't, our wedding will be incomplete."