Xiao Rong looked at Imperial Consort Yi, "Rong 'er is not talking nonsense. Rong' er has always liked cousin. I know aunt likes Chen Qiong, but Chen Qiong doesn't like cousin. Since she likes His Highness the Duan Of Silla, why not let me marry cousin? Isn't it the best of both worlds?"
Imperial Concubine Yi was so angry that she couldn't say anything. The Emperor, on the other hand, laughed heartily. "What a good idea! Then this matter is settled."
The Emperor immediately announced the marriage. Singing and dancing resumed, toasting each other, and the atmosphere was joyous and peaceful.
Yi Ling filled his cup to the brim and downed it.
Gu Yan was toasted by two cups of wine. She felt a little dizzy, so she said to Yi Ling, "I'm going out to get some fresh air."
Yi Ling worriedly said, "I'll accompany you."
"No need. A Nuo is enough. General, please enjoy." She smiled and shook her head to refuse.
Yi Ling didn't force her and nodded, "Go quickly and come back quickly."
Gu Yan was helped up by A Nuo and quietly left the hall.
There was a thin layer of snow outside the hall. The cold wind carried the cold air from the lake, waking her up in an instant.
The two of them walked along the corridor until they reached a remote place. A Nuo put the Overcoat in her hand on the corridor and let Gu Yan sit down.
The moonlight seeped through the layers of pine and cypress trees, making the snow look cold.
A Nuo reached out and gently rubbed Gu Yan's temples. The two of them were silent. They could hear intermittent voices coming from the forest.
"Your Highness, do you really want to marry me?" Gu Yan heard Chen Qiong's voice. She knew that Huan Zhuo was also in front of her. Sure enough, she heard him say, "You have to believe me. Even if you weren't the daughter of the Chen family, I would still marry you."
Gu Yan couldn't help but laugh. He didn't know if he was telling the truth, but it wasn't good to eavesdrop, so he got up and left quietly with A Nuo.
The two walked along the corridor. Gu Yan was absent-mindedly thinking about Chen Qiong until the sound of A Nuo saluting pulled her back to reality.
"His Highness Cheng Wang, may you enjoy everlasting joy."
Gu Yan looked up and saw Huan Xuan standing not far away. He raised his hand to A Nuo and said, "You may leave."
A Nuo was stunned and didn't know what to do. He could only look up at Gu Yan.
"His Highness Cheng Wang has ordered you to leave," Gu Yan said softly.
A Nuo bowed and retreated.
Gu Yan then saluted Huan Xuan. "Pingyang greets Your Highness."
Huan Xuan took a few steps forward. When he was close enough, he looked at Gu Yan. "Are you drunk?"
Gu Yan lowered his head and said respectfully, "I drank a few cups too little. I'm just a little dizzy."
"Don't drink if you can't drink."
"Yes." Gu Yan nodded.
Huan Xuan didn't say anything, and Gu Yan didn't say anything either. The two stood quietly, and the atmosphere was stagnant.
After a long time, Huan Xuan sighed. "Pingyang, I regret it."
Gu Yan's heart skipped a beat. He vaguely understood what Huan Xuan meant, but he still didn't say anything.
Huan Xuan said to himself, "I regret giving you to Yi Ling, if …"
"Your Highness." Gu Yan interrupted him. "Your Highness is drunk."
"I'm not drunk. I know what I'm doing." Huan Xuan's tone was calm, but his face was flushed.
Gu Yan looked down and stood quietly.
"Did Yi Ling say anything to you?" He suddenly changed the topic.
Gu Yan's heart skipped a beat. He didn't understand and asked, "What should the General say to me?"
Huan Xuan looked at Gu Yan quietly. After a long time, he sighed. "Nothing."
"Greetings, Your Highness."
Yi Ling's voice came from behind him. Huan Xuan calmly turned around and said, "Why did the General come out?"
"My wife hasn't returned for a long time, so I came to find her." Yi Ling bowed and answered. Then he walked to Gu Yan and hugged her. "Are you okay?"
Gu Yan meekly leaned into his arms. She lowered her head and whispered shyly, "I'm fine."
Huan Xuan's expression didn't change. The palace lanterns left an unfathomable shadow on his face. He turned around and disappeared into the night.
Yi Ling looked down at her. "What's wrong?"
Gu Yan shook her head. "Your Highness is drunk."
Yi Ling didn't ask. He just held her hand and said, "Let's go home."
Gu Yan's hand was naturally held by him. The two of them slowly walked out of the palace gate.
The night was dark. The music in the palace didn't stop. There was no one around. The pungent smell of firecrackers lingered in the air. The cold wind caressed her cheeks, but Gu Yan didn't feel cold. She looked at the man walking beside her and said, "By the way, where's A Nuo?"
"I've already asked them to go back first."
The two of them fell silent again. But strangely, Gu Yan didn't feel awkward. She even liked this feeling. The passageway was deep. Even if there was endless darkness in front of her, she didn't feel the slightest bit afraid. Was it because of him?
She was shocked by her own thoughts and hurriedly suppressed them.
When they reached the palace gate, they got into the General's Estate's carriage. The carriage quickly arrived at the General's Estate. Yi Ling reached out to take her back to her room.
At the door, Yi Ling stopped and looked at her. "You've worked hard on this matter."
Gu Yan shook her head. "Don't forget. This is our deal."
Many years later, when Gu Yan recalled the events of the past, she realized that she had neglected it. At that time, he said, "Let's go home."
— — —
Cheng Wang and the Duan Of Silla got married on the same day. This was a big event for the Hokuin. Gu Yan rushed to the Chen Estate early in the morning.
Chen Qiong was being fiddled with by the mamas. Her eyes were full of joy.
Gu Yan helped her tidy up the phoenix coronet and robes. "Do you want to eat something? You won't have time to eat later."
Chen Qiong wasn't in the mood to eat. She stared at her beautiful reflection in the mirror and looked at the mamas who were combing her hair. "I'm not hungry. I don't want to eat."
Gu Yan saw her staring at the mirror and laughed. "Alright, Miss Chen. You're beautiful enough."
Chen Qiong smiled and winked at her. "Sister, you're the only one who knows how to talk. I still don't think you're good enough."
Gu Yan smiled and didn't say anything. She just walked in front of her and looked at her carefully. Then, she picked up the makeup brush on the dressing table and gently drew a few strokes in between her eyebrows. A red lotus bloomed between her eyebrows. It was charming and moving against the gold ornaments of the wedding dress.
Chen Qiong was very surprised. "Ah, sister also knows how to do this."
Gu Yan replied, "In Nan Hua, women love to put on makeup. I haven't put on makeup for a long time. I'm a bit rusty."
Chen Qiong looked left and right and happily praised her. "Sister, you're too good. Your makeup is really good."
The mamas saw that it was almost time. They urged her to change her clothes and put on the phoenix coronet and veil. Just as she finished tidying up, she heard that the wedding procession had arrived. After a long series of complicated etiquette, Chen Qiong was finally escorted into the wedding sedan chair.
The two princes were getting married at the same time. In order to show his favor, the Emperor celebrated the two princes in the palace. This way, the Emperor didn't have to worry about who to go to first. It also saved the officials from being in a dilemma.
The princes got married through the side gate of the palace. Only the empress could enter through the main gate of Zhaoyang Gate. The side gates on both sides of Zhaoyang Gate were wide open. Chen Qiong and Xiao Rong's carriages set off from the Chen and Xiao Mansions at the same time.
The two wedding carriages entered the palace from the side gate of Zhaoyang Gate at the same time. Then, they went to the palace where the two princes lived before they were separated.
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