Ji Wushang almost burst out laughing. "You, haha! Cong, what happened to you?" He had taken off his mask and put on a lot of stubble and eyebrows. His once smooth hair was now curly and draped over his shoulders. This look made him look wild and sunny!
“Everyone in Qingzhao knows that I wear a golden mask, but others are not allowed to wear it. So, if I go out wearing a golden mask, everyone will know it's me. But if I take off the mask, the people around me will still recognize me. So, I have no choice but to dress like this. Wushang, you shouldn't mind?” Tuoba Heyan explained.
Ji Wushang nodded, "How could that be? As long as it's you, and your heart remains unchanged, anything is possible."
"Wu Shang..." Tuoba Heyan pulled her into his arms. "Thank you for always being by my side, Wu Shang. I am truly grateful to you!"
Ji Wushang gently pushed him away, "I know, I know everything."
Tuoba Heyan took her hand and led her out of the secret passage.
Under the cover of night, Qingzhao City was as prosperous as the imperial city of the Great Xia Zhou Dynasty.
It was late May, early summer. The night was alluring, with a bright moon, and flowers blooming all around. Amidst the bustling crowd, the sounds of laughter and whispered sweet nothings could be heard.
There might be opera performances at night, or flute players showcasing their talents; or on the river, there might be musicians playing instruments, dancers, men and women coming and going, laughing and chatting, their sleeves adorned with subtle fragrance.
Ji Wushang's hand was held by Tuoba Heyan. He held her hand the whole time, giving her warmth and also afraid that she would leave him.
Ji Wushang turned to look at him. It was wonderful. She really wished things could stay like this forever. There were no worries. He could be a king, do what he liked, but he would only love her, only cherish and care for her. And she would be by his side, sewing robes for him, taking Huangfu Jun'an with her, and if possible, bearing him more children. Then, slowly, they would have a house full of children and grandchildren, and grow old together.
"What are you thinking about?" Tuoba Heyan turned to look at her. The two were walking on the streets of the night market, with many vendors on both sides selling fun and delicious things.
"I'm thinking about our future," Ji Wushang said with a smile.
"Shouldn't I be the one saying that?" Tuoba Heyan smiled.
"Let me say something too." He even remembered what he said more than three years ago! Ji Wushang was very happy.
"Cong, I'm so happy, so happy!" Ji Wushang looked at him, then wrapped his arms around his neck. "I'm so happy! Cong, you remember everything! I prayed every day for you to come back to me, and finally, my prayers have come true!"
"It is your sincerity that moved Heaven," Tuoba Heyan said. "Come, look at this."
"Ah! Lotus lanterns!" Ji Wushang exclaimed in surprise, "They sell lotus lanterns here too?" As he spoke, Ji Wushang immediately looked around, but there wasn't a single lotus lantern in sight! There were only small animal lanterns.
"I made it myself." Tuoba Heyan smiled. "While you were changing your clothes, I quickly tied one up. How is it? Doesn't it look decent?"
"It looks just like it." Ji Wushang was filled with excitement. He grabbed the lotus lantern and examined it closely. "It's so beautiful and exquisite. Cong, you're really amazing!"
Tuoba Heyan smiled and said, "There's a stream over there, shall we go over there?"
"Mm." Ji Wushang nodded, holding the lotus lantern in her left hand and reaching out to take her left hand with her right, but he slightly dodged her hand and walked to her left, extending his right hand. "I like holding your left hand."
Ji Wushang was taken aback. Was there a difference? But just now, he had also used his right hand to hold his left...
No, Ji Wushang immediately turned her head and looked at Tuoba Heyan, "Cong, you!" She quickly grabbed his left hand. He was not on guard against her and naturally did not react so quickly. Instantly, Ji Wushang saw a deep scratch on his left palm, with blood congealed inside. It looked like it had been simply treated with medicine.
Ji Wushang was stunned. "Cong..." She looked up at Tuoba Heyan, who pulled his hand away, then stroked her face and wiped away her tears. "Don't cry, be good, I'm here."
"Does it hurt? Why were you so foolish as to make this lotus lantern!" Ji Wushang looked at him and wiped away her own tears.
“It doesn’t hurt at all,” Tuoba Heyan said. “It’s just a minor injury, Wushang, don’t worry about me.”
"How silly!" Ji Wushang pouted.
Tuoba Heyan grabbed her arm, then looked at the lotus lantern and said seriously, "This lotus lantern is of great significance. It doesn't matter if my hands are cut."
"What?" Ji Wushang looked at him in surprise. How could he say such a thing? How could he be so careless with himself?
"May we all live long and prosper." Tuoba Heyan suddenly said, looking at Ji Wushang. "May we all live long and prosper, remember? What I hope for is not just wish, but that we all live long and prosper."
"Mm." Ji Wushang nodded vigorously as he listened.
Tuoba Heyan held her tightly in his arms, saying, "May we all live long and prosper."
The jade bracelet on her wrist was the one that symbolized longevity.
Ji Wushang sobbed softly in his arms. He was a very good man, a man she could entrust her life to.
Tuoba Heyan smiled and quietly held her in his arms. After a long while, seeing that she had calmed down, he said, "Wu Shang, let's go release the lanterns together."
“Okay.” Ji Wushang nodded, and Tuoba Heyan took her left hand with his right hand and led her to the riverbank.
The small boats drifted slowly along the other side of the river, while on this bank stood many men and women, all there to release lanterns.
Tuoba Heyan took Ji Wushang's hand and found a relatively secluded spot. After looking around and confirming that there was no danger, he turned around and let go of her hand. "Wait a moment, I'll get a tinderbox." With that, Tuoba Heyan took out a tinderbox from his bosom. Ji Wushang arranged the lotus lantern and asked Tuoba Heyan to light it.
The candlelight flickered, illuminating the patterns on the lotus lantern!
"My name!" Ji Wushang whispered.
"Keep watching," Tuoba Heyan said with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Ji Wushang flipped the lotus lantern over and discovered that the three characters "Nan Xucong" were not far from his own name!
“Your name!” Ji Wushang looked at him.
“Wu Shang, I think we’ve both died once and you’ve both died once, so we should have cultivated for ten lifetimes.” Tuoba Heyan looked at her. “The God of War and the Demon Lord Blood Lotus, they were ultimately happy together. No matter how many lifetimes they cultivate, they will always be together.”
Ji Wushang covered his mouth, tears falling silently. If everything between them was destined to require so many lifetimes of cultivation before they could be together, then they had already endured so much suffering—couldn't it be possible?
Tuoba Heyan looked at her and said, "We can definitely be happy together."
"Yes." Ji Wushang nodded with tears in his eyes.
Tuoba Heyan wiped away her tears with his hand, "You really cry a lot, it breaks my heart."
"I'm not crying, I'm happy!" Ji Wushang shook her head, looked at him, and immediately wiped away her tears. She didn't want him to worry or be sad!
Tuoba Heyan smiled, but sighed inwardly. He then immediately led her to the shore.
Tuoba Heyan held Ji Wushang's hand steadily, standing side by side beside her, while she held a lotus lantern in her hands.
The two squatted down together. Tuoba Heyan looked at Ji Wushang's every expression, while Ji Wushang carefully placed the lotus lantern into the water. "My lord and I will never be apart, our hearts will be bound together in life and death!" She turned to look at Tuoba Heyan.
"May we live long and prosper, may our love endure forever, may we never be apart, and may love never bring sorrow!" Tuoba Heyan shouted, a smile spreading across his lips.
Ji Wushang smiled, turned his head, and pushed the lotus lantern into the river.
With a forceful pull, Tuoba Heyan immediately drew her into his arms. He looked at her with his dark eyes, and she looked back at him, but she felt a little embarrassed by his gaze and lowered her head.
He lowered his head and kissed her cherry lips, starting lightly and gradually deepening the kiss, slowly prying open her teeth, and then sucking the nectar from her mouth.
Ji Wushang clung to his shoulders and kissed him.
The men and women around them stared at the man, who was ruggedly handsome and tall, and the woman, who was petite and stunningly beautiful...
"What are you looking at? Haven't you ever seen a woman before? She already has a man, what are you looking at! Come back with me!" A woman twisted her husband's ear and dragged him away.
Ji Wushang was startled and only then noticed the occasion. She immediately tried to push Tuoba Heyan away, but Tuoba Heyan just smiled, kissed her hard, and then let her go.
"There are so many people here!" Ji Wushang buried her head in his chest shyly.
He gently patted her back and smiled, "It's alright." Qingzhao is somewhat similar to the Great Xia Zhou Dynasty, except that the folk customs are more open, and the women are also more open. In contrast, the rules of the Great Xia Zhou Dynasty are restrictive to women. Ji Wushang is a woman from the inner chambers of the Great Xia Zhou Dynasty, so she is naturally reserved and traditional.
Tuoba Heyan smiled and held her in his arms, his gaze drifting towards the river, where their lotus lanterns were floating downstream.
Tuoba Heyan smiled with relief, but the next second, the lotus lantern, which was originally floating downstream with the water, took a different path when it reached the two forks in the water. While all the other lanterns were flowing in the same direction, their lotus lantern took a different path.
Tuoba Heyan's smile froze on his face.
"Shouldn't we go back?" Ji Wushang looked up at Tuoba Heyan as everyone around them seemed to be leaving. Tuoba Heyan lowered his head and smiled, "Wait a moment."
He took her hand and walked away.
Ji Wushang looked at him with a mysterious air and had some questions, but still followed him.
He led her to an open space, but when she wasn't looking, he glanced back at the direction of the lotus lantern. The lotus lantern continued to drift away slowly, following a path unlike any other.
Don't overthink it!
Tuoba Heyan led Ji Wushang to an open space. Pointing to a tree in the distance, Tuoba Heyan asked, "Look what that is?"
"A conjoined tree?" Ji Wushang exclaimed in surprise!
"I had Long Yu arrange for people to plant it, and I also told them that this tree can grant marriage, it's so auspicious," Tuoba Heyan laughed. "I've heard it's really effective."
"Really?" Ji Wushang smiled, and Tuoba Heyan took Ji Wushang's hand and immediately led her to the tree.
"Look, what's this?" Tuoba Heyan pulled out a marriage token from behind him as if by magic. On both sides were written the names of two people: Nan Xuzong and Ji Wushang.
Ji Wushang looked at him, feeling incredibly excited. If there weren't so many people around, she really wouldn't have been able to resist kissing him first!
Tuoba Heyan watched Ji Wushang grinning from ear to ear, and he grinned foolishly back at her. He was originally very wild and manly, but with this silly grin, he looked rather simple-minded.
Ji Wushang looked at him and smiled even more.
For a fleeting moment, the two of them smiled and grinned at each other face to face.
The men and women around them pointed and whispered, covering their mouths and snickering, but still left.
Tuoba Heyan slowly stopped smiling, then placed the marriage token in Ji Wushang's hand, "Wushang, come here."
"Me again?" Ji Wushang was startled. He didn't know if he could throw it up. Last time, he felt lucky, but this time, it seemed he wouldn't be so lucky!
Tuoba Heyan looked at her and said, "It's definitely possible."
"Alright then!" Ji Wushang nodded, placed the marriage plaque in his palm, then clasped his hands together in prayer, "The marriage between Nan Xuzong and Ji Wushang is predestined! It is destined to last forever!" With that, he immediately threw the marriage plaque into the conjoined tree!
With a whoosh, Tuoba Heyan flicked his sleeve into the air, and the marriage plaque was instantly sent to the branch of the conjoined tree!
It hangs there steadily.
Ji Wushang looked on with delight, "Cong, look, I threw it up!"
"That's why I said it's definitely possible." Tuoba Heyan smiled and hugged her.
Just then, a gasp rang out from the people around them, "Look!"
Ji Wushang was startled, but Tuoba Heyan immediately picked her up and moved her to a different angle.
The fireworks were dazzling and brilliant, blooming into a beautiful peony flower. However, the flower was so realistic, and why did it seem so familiar to Ji Wushang?
It looks like... like the flowers on my own bib! No, it's exactly the same!
"Nan Xu Cong!" Ji Wushang gritted his teeth.
"I'm here," Tuoba Heyan said with a grin.
"How could you do this!" Ji Wushang immediately pounded her fist on his chest. "How could you, how could you..."
"How is it?" Tuoba Heyan looked at her amusedly. "The fireworks haven't finished yet, Wushang, keep looking at the sky."
Upon hearing this, Ji Wushang immediately turned to look at the sky. Unexpectedly, the fireworks above changed from peony flowers to two characters: "Wushang".
"Isn't this the name of the queen that His Majesty just appointed?"
"Yes, yes! Queen Wushang!"