Chapter 66: Wedding Banquet

Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Wedding Banquet

Over the next few days, news that the culprit behind the recent deaths in the city had finally been captured spread throughout Xuánshuāng City.

According to the announcement released by the City Lord’s Mansion, after extensive interrogation, the truth had finally been uncovered. The temple was indeed behind the deaths, having secretly colluded with demons and used the bodies of the deceased for their own experiments. The exact details of those experiments were not disclosed, and the matter of corpse oil was naturally kept hidden from the public.

With the culprits arrested and justice finally served, the heavy atmosphere that had shrouded the city for so long gradually lifted. The families of the deceased could finally put their loved ones to rest properly, while the people no longer had to live under the fear that another person might disappear.

As compensation for the tragedy, the City Lord provided aid to the families of the victims and publicly admitted that the incident had been caused in part by his own oversight. Although the compensation could never make up for the lives that had been lost, his gesture eased some of the resentment that had lingered among the people.

According to an old tradition of Xuánshuāng City, whenever a great tragedy occurred, a joyous occasion should be held afterward to dispel the lingering gloom and drive away the bad energy left behind by the misfortune.

Taking this opportunity, the City Lord announced that his wedding would proceed as originally planned. The celebration would also be open to everyone in the city, allowing the people to share in the festivities.

The announcement immediately sent waves of excitement through Xuánshuāng City. The streets that had once been filled with an oppressive silence were soon adorned with red lanterns and colorful decorations. Shopkeepers hung festive ornaments outside their doors, while the people eagerly discussed the upcoming wedding.

For the first time in days, the city once again looked as though nothing terrible had ever happened.

After several days of preparation, the nearest auspicious day was selected.

The wedding was set and the auspicious day arrived soon after.

From early that morning, Xuánshuāng City was already immersed in a festive atmosphere. Red lanterns hung from the eaves of every street, colorful silk banners fluttered in the wind, and the sound of drums and gongs could be heard from one end of the city to the other.

A long procession slowly made its way through the streets.

At the center was a beautifully decorated red sedan chair, its wooden frame covered in intricate carvings and bright red silk. Seated inside was the bride.

Compared to her last appearance, her complexion now appeared much more vibrant. The pallor and weakness she had once carried had disappeared, replaced by a healthy glow. Dressed in elaborate wedding attire, she sat quietly inside the sedan chair, her hands resting neatly in her lap as she listened to the lively sounds outside.

The wedding procession of Xuánshuāng City had its own particular custom. Rather than taking the bride directly to the groom’s residence, the wedding procession would first circle through the main streets of the city.

This was known as receiving the blessings of the people. The bride and groom would pass through the city together, allowing everyone to offer their congratulations and share in their happiness before the bride was finally escorted to the groom’s home.

Outside the sedan chair, the groom rode at the front of the procession on a tall horse. He sat upright, his back straight and his bearing dignified, dressed in an elegant red wedding robe. From behind the veil covering the sedan chair, The bride could occasionally catch glimpses of him through the gaps in the curtains.

Along the streets, people crowded around to watch the procession.

"Congratulations, City Lord!"

"Congratulations to the bride and groom!"

"May the two of you grow old together!"

Laughter and cheers filled the streets as red petals were scattered along the procession’s path. Even those who had lost loved ones in the recent tragedy came out to witness the occasion. Perhaps there was no better way to dispel the lingering gloom than to see the entire city celebrating together, it was no use wallowing in mourning.

After circling the main streets, the procession finally arrived at the City Lord’s Mansion.

The groom dismounted and walked toward the sedan chair. After the curtain was lifted, he extended his hand toward the bride.

"Careful."

The bride placed her hand in his and slowly stepped out.

She had barely taken a step when her foot wobbled slightly. She was not accustomed to the high heels beneath her wedding dress, and she nearly lost her balance. The groom immediately steadied her by the arm, preventing her from stumbling.

"Are you alright?" The groom said

The Bride nodded, a faint blush appearing on her face.

"I’m fine." she said in a barely audible voice that only the groom could hear

With the groom’s support, she steadied herself before the two of them walked side by side into the mansion.

The wedding hall had already been prepared.

Red silk covered the walls, candles burned brightly on either side of the hall, and a large red character for double happiness hung above the wedding altar. Family members, close friends, and several distinguished guests had gathered to witness the ceremony.

Once the bride and groom took their places before the altar, the lively sounds outside gradually quieted.

The wedding ceremony was about to begin.

The officiant raised his voice.

"First bow—to Heaven and Earth!"

The bride and groom turned toward the altar and bowed deeply.

"Second bow—to the parents!"

They then turned toward the seats prepared for their parents.

The Bride bowed toward her family, while the City Lord’s parents had long since passed away. In their place stood two carefully prepared paper figures representing his deceased parents. The groom turned toward them and bowed solemnly.

"Third bow—to each other!"

The two turned to face one another.

Their gazes met for a brief moment, before they bowed deeply to each other, sealing their vows as husband and wife.

Next came the most anticipated part of the wedding—the wedding night.

The bride was escorted by the maids into the bridal chamber, where every corner of the room had been decorated in red. Red silk curtains hung around the bed, candles flickered warmly beside the windows, and a large double-happiness character was displayed above the headboard.

Once the bride had been settled on the bed, the maids helped arrange her dress before stepping aside. The bride sat quietly beneath her red veil, her hands clasped together in her lap. Although she had remained composed throughout the wedding ceremony, her fingers were now unconsciously twisting the edge of her sleeve.

She could hear her own heartbeat.

She had known this day would come, yet now that she was actually sitting alone in the bridal chamber, waiting for her husband, an unfamiliar nervousness began to creep into her heart.

Soon, a guard’s voice sounded from outside.

"His Lordship has arrived!"

The maids immediately lowered their heads and withdrew from the room.

The door closed behind them.

For a moment, the chamber became completely quiet.

Then came the sound of footsteps.

The bride’s fingers tightened around her sleeve.

The footsteps gradually approached, each one making her heart beat a little faster. Through the thin red veil covering her face, she could vaguely make out a pair of boots stopping directly in front of her.

She instinctively lowered her gaze.

A hand reached toward the side of the table and picked up the ceremonial rod used to lift the bride’s veil.

The bride’s breathing became slightly shallow.

The red veil was slowly lifted.

Her eyes met those of the man standing before her.

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.

The bride’s cheeks quickly turned red. She hurriedly lowered her gaze, unable to maintain eye contact for more than a few minute. Her hands fidgeted nervously in her lap, and even the tips of her ears had turned faintly crimson.

Perhaps it was embarrassment.

Perhaps it was anticipation.

Or perhaps it was simply the strange feeling of finally seeing the man who was now her husband after waiting for this day for so long.

"Bring over the nuptial wine."

The groom’s voice suddenly sounded.

However, unlike his usual warm and gentle tone, there was an unmistakable coldness in his voice.

Before long, Shi Yan, the bride’s personal maid, entered carrying two cups of nuptial wine.

She quietly placed them on the table before giving the two of them a respectful bow.

"Then I shall take my leave." Shi Yan turned to gave a glance at the two before turning around and leaving, closing the door behind her.

The groom picked up one of the wine cups and turned toward his bride, a faint hint of amusement hidden beneath his otherwise composed expression.

"Dear wife, shall we exchange the nuptial wine?"

The bride’s cheeks were still flushed. She glanced at the cup in his hand before quickly lowering her eyes again, after a moment, she gave a small nod. "Mm."

The groom took her hand, and the two of them interlaced their arms before drinking the wine together.

The moment their lips left the cups, the bride placed hers down and lowered her gaze again, her face still burning slightly.

The wedding ceremony was finally complete.

Now, they were husband and wife.

The two sat beside each other on the edge of the bed, and for a brief moment, the room fell silent.

Yet before either of them could say or do anything, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over them.

The bride’s vision blurred and her body went limp, at almost the exact same moment, the groom’s body also swayed before he collapsed onto the bed.

The two of them fell unconscious.

The room fell completely silent.

For several minutes, neither the bride nor the groom moved. Their bodies lay motionless on the bed, appearing to have completely succumbed to the effects of the wine.

Then—

A faint gust of wind slipped through the room.

The curtains swayed gently, and almost immediately, the sound of light footsteps could be heard approaching from outside.

Step by step, the figure entered the bridal chamber.

They moved quietly, their presence almost impossible to detect as they approached the bed. After reaching the bedside, the figure paused for a moment before bypassing the bride and turning toward the groom.

Their hands slowly rose holding something, suddenly a faint ringing suddenly echoed through the room.

Ding.

The sound of the bell had barely faded when—

The groom’s eyes suddenly snapped open!

At the same instant, a sword materialized in his hand and slashed toward the intruder.

Clang!

A loud collision shook the bridal chamber as the intruder hurriedly raised their weapon to block the incoming strike.

The sudden attack shattered the silence.

At almost the same moment, the bride, who had also been pretending to be unconscious, sprang up from the bed and swiftly dodged to the side.

"Senior Brother, now!"

The voice that came from beneath the bride’s wedding attire was unmistakably male.

The intruder froze for a moment.

The truth was finally revealed.

The person sitting in the bridal chamber was not Shan Shuqin at all.

It was Sui Sui.

He had disguised himself as the bride from the very beginning, while Yizhou had taken the place of the groom. The two had deliberately allowed themselves to appear vulnerable, even drinking the drugged wine, all so they could lure the culprit into revealing themselves.

They had been waiting for this moment.

And now, their prey had finally walked straight into their trap.