Chapter 401: The Wedding Ceremony, Part 2

Chapter 401: Chapter 401: The Wedding Ceremony, Part 2

The grounds outside Black Ming Star Prison had been completely transformed.

The once imposing and gloomy prison was now adorned with beautiful, colorful gossamer and balloons. Drones flew overhead, continuously scattering fresh red rose petals that dotted the vibrant green lawn with specks of crimson, filling the air with a peaceful, dreamlike atmosphere.

The heavens were smiling on them; Black Star was blessed with a rare day of beautiful weather. A warm breeze drifted by as wedding guests mingled and chatted animatedly, their glasses clinking in celebration.

The former weaponized robots had long been replaced by various domestic models. They bustled through the crowd, ready to offer a special "Lover’s Drink" to any guest with an empty hand.

In a corner, a specially hired band played cheerful tunes, while an array of photography bots and other equipment stood at the ready, waiting for the stars of the wedding to make their entrance.

Shi Lan was still in her room getting her makeup done, and the grooms were nowhere to be seen yet. However, their families and friends had already arrived, dressed in new, tasteful, and festive attire.

The interstellar era had done away with many old customs. Weddings were now all about the couple and having a lively celebration, free from complex rituals like the groom’s procession to fetch the bride or the boisterous games in the wedding chamber.

When He Hanshi and the other four grooms still hadn’t appeared after a long while, some guests grew curious and started asking those around them.

The family and friends of the five men all just smiled mysteriously when asked, saying only, "You’ll find out soon enough."

"Alright, alright."

The guests who couldn’t get an answer had no choice but to give up.

In truth, most of the guests at their wedding were family and friends. However, a number of business partners and relatives with whom they had good relations had to be invited as well. For example, since Ye Ming was a Monarch, council members from numerous planets had come of their own accord to offer their congratulations. Lai Yilian was one such guest, having come with her mother.

In short, it was a large and lively affair.

The crowd waited for nearly an hour, but fortunately, the time wasn’t spent in boredom.

He Hanshi and the other four grooms were all men of extraordinary status, so the guests were almost exclusively wealthy or noble. Long accustomed to such events, they passed the hour-long wait with ease by chatting, eating, listening to the music, and registering their gifts.

「In the bedroom.」

Shi Lan and the others were all ready.

Jiang Yan and Lai Yilian stared at Shi Lan, now that she was ready, and both gasped in admiration. "So beautiful! You’re absolutely stunning!!!"

"Lanlan, you truly are my muse. Every time I see you, I get a flood of new ideas for styling."

Jiang Yan cupped her face in her hands, her eyes practically sparkling with stars.

Shi Lan gazed at her reflection in the mirror, her expression a little dazed.

Her reflection had cheeks that were still youthfully plump, dusted with a beautiful, shimmering blush. Her lips were a glossy red, and the pearlescent, rose-gold eyeshadow was the masterstroke, making her eyes shine with a radiant light, as if holding the bashful secrets of a young maiden’s heart.

Shi Lan blinked, and the eyelids of her reflection moved in tandem. ’It’s been a long time since I’ve truly looked at myself like this.’ The woman before her had eyes brimming with happiness, completely free of the fatigue and weariness from her old life of work. She was like a rose nourished by a gentle rain, now blossoming in splendor.

’It’s true. Being surrounded by love really does change a person.’

She had felt their fervent love, and it had brought her vividly to life.

’But this love didn’t just come from my partners, children, and friends,’ she thought. ’It also came from within—from my spirit body and from me.’

Shi Lan smiled at her reflection, then said, "Let’s go. We shouldn’t keep our guests waiting."

Jiang Yan and Lai Yilian slowly snapped out of the daze her beauty had put them in and nodded.

Jiang Yan turned and called to the cubs. She handed each of them a small flower basket woven from the lightest of twigs and filled with flowers whose stems had been trimmed short, so they weren’t too heavy for the little ones to carry.

Then she had them line up in order.

The little cubs knew the procedure; their fathers had run them through a rehearsal the day before, worried that the children might ruin their wedding.

Liu Liu, having just woken from a groggy nap, was still a little unsteady on his feet. He swayed from side to side at the end of the line, and Jiang Yan worried he might suddenly take a tumble.

She gently patted his head. "Liu Liu, wake up a little. Your mother’s wedding is about to start, so you can’t be dozing off."

Liu Liu opened his sleepy green eyes and nodded obediently. "I know, Aunt Yan. I’m not dozing off. My eyes are just a little itchy. I’ll be fine if I just blink a few times."

"Haha, Liu Liu, you’re so cute."

Jiang Yan couldn’t resist pinching his little cheek again, then turned his face toward Shi Lan. "Look at your mommy. Isn’t she beautiful?"

At her words, Liu Liu’s half-lidded eyes opened a little wider. He tilted his small head back, his gaze landing on Shi Lan’s face. His eyes lit up instantly. "Wow! Is Mommy a fairy from heaven?"

Come to think of it, the little ones only knew what fairies were from the bedtime stories Shi Lan told them.

After all, they lived in a scientific society. Whenever He Hanshi and the others told stories, they were about the Insect Clan, Beastmen, or scientific experiments. Only Shi Lan told them beautiful myths and fairy tales.

The little ones loved listening, and they had become her faithful audience.

Sometimes, to make things easier, Shi Lan would put all six cribs in one room and tell them a story together. In front of her would be six little cubs, lying obediently with ears perked to listen, while behind her, crouched outside the door, her five Beast Husbands would be eavesdropping.

It sometimes made Shi Lan think that her Beast Husbands could be quite childish, but in a cute way.

Hearing Liu Liu’s compliment now, the corners of Shi Lan’s mouth curled up a little higher.

The other children couldn’t take their eyes off her either. Er Er’s blue eyes flickered. He pursed his small, rosy lips and walked toward Shi Lan. "Mommy, this is the wedding gift Daddy and I made for you."

As he spoke, he opened his tightly clenched little fist. Lying in his palm was a white crystal necklace. In the center of the necklace was a small, amber-like charm, and inside it rested a tiny blue flower.

Shi Lan glanced at it in surprise. "Is that a Xia Donghua inside?"

Er Er nodded his small head shyly, and a single cowlick sticking out from his neatly combed silver hair bobbed with the motion. "Daddy said the Xia Donghua is the flower that witnessed your love for each other, so it was the best one to use."

Shi Lan immediately fastened the necklace around her wrist. Moved, she bent down and kissed Er Er’s little cheek. "You’re so sweet, Er Er. Mommy loves this gift very much."

Er Er’s soft, pale cheeks flushed slightly. He shyly clenched his fists and whispered, "I’m happy as long as Mommy likes it."

The little one was very well-behaved, returning to his place in line after presenting his gift.

Yi Yi gave him a surprised look and a thumbs-up, his eyes filled with a surprising amount of pride.

’He’d always worried that his little brother, Er Er, wouldn’t know how to win their mother’s affection. It seemed he had nothing to worry about after all.’

Of course, all the little ones knew that their mother would never favor one of them over the others.

She often told them that they were all her most beloved babies, that she had eagerly awaited each of their births. If she were to choose just one of them, the others would be heartbroken. For that reason, they would never ask her to make such a choice.