Eternal Night - Chapter 122
He knew what he should and shouldn't do. He wouldn't give up the throne or start a war for her. And what did he want? Yongye thought of Yuepo again. All she wanted was someone who would truly love her, never lie to her, never harm her, and love her for a lifetime.
Power and wealth are merely icing on the cake. Given her past experiences, how could she possibly be destined for poverty in this life?
Her voice trembled as she lowered her head: "Yongye respectfully sees Your Majesty off!"
Tianyou sighed deeply, "I don't even have the courage to turn around and look at you again. I thought I could bring you into the palace, and you would be willing..."
Fine, if you don't want to, you can't refuse... I can't even see what you look like in women's clothing.
Thinking of Yuepo, Yongye smiled gently: "Alright, Yongye will marry in men's clothing!"
Tianyou was startled, his hands clenching into fists. She was going to marry in men's clothing for him. His eyes seemed to well up with tears. Tianyou restrained himself and replied in a trembling voice, "...Okay!" He then left quickly without looking back.
Yongye watched him leave with a smile, then pouted and said, "For you? I wouldn't even let my father and mother see you!" She covered her mouth, chuckled, and turned back to her room.
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One month later, Yongye was married off to the State of Qi with the rites due to a princess.
The princess sat with Prince Duan in the main hall, eagerly awaiting Yongye's farewell in his bright red wedding robes. Her cheeks flushed with excitement. "I wonder how beautiful Yongye will look in women's clothing!"
Prince Duan smiled and whispered in her ear, "No one is more beautiful than you. Back then..."
The princess suddenly jumped up, staring dumbfounded at Yongye as he walked in: "This..."
"Yongye bids farewell to Father and Mother!" Yongye wore a golden cicada crown and a moon-white silk robe embroidered with gold, looking incredibly elegant. She obediently kowtowed three times, then turned and stood up.
"The journey to Qi is long and arduous. Mother, can you bear to see Yongye wearing such a heavy jeweled crown?"
“But…” The princess’s tongue trembled, and she could not speak.
Prince Duan frowned, about to speak, but Yongye interrupted him with a smile: "His Majesty was overjoyed to hear that Yongye is getting married in such a state. She can change her clothes when she arrives in Qi."
"Very well!" Prince Duan laughed in exasperation. He walked towards Yongye with his hands behind his back, circled her once, and whispered in her ear, "Who are you thinking of wearing this moon-white outfit? Don't forget you promised me you wouldn't associate with that brat named Yuepo!"
Yongye pouted, waved her sleeve, and was extremely satisfied with the moon-white dress. She blinked and said, "A woman should obey her husband, not her father! Or should I not get married?"
Prince Duan thought for a moment and said, "You should wear your usual purple robe! Otherwise, wear your bright red wedding dress! Otherwise, don't blame your father for being heartless."
Yongye smiled and turned around: "I also feel that I'm used to wearing purple, and this moon white doesn't suit me!" She saw that Prince Duan's smiling face concealed a cold glint in his eyes. She knew she was in trouble if she angered this cunning old man. Knowing when to stop, Yongye was pragmatic.
A moment later, she changed her clothes and went out for a stroll as usual. Before leaving, she didn't forget to say to Prince Duan and his wife, "I'm going to Qi for a visit. I'll come back to see you if I miss you."
The princess was still in utter shock, watching helplessly as Yongye left the mansion. The maidservant Xi Niang, who was waiting to serve him, didn't even have the courage to step forward to help him. Seeing Yongye walk away, she followed him blankly. At the door, Yongye held out his hand: "Give it to me!"
Yin'er carefully took out a large red wedding handkerchief and handed it over.
Yongye covered his head with a sneer and said, "Red and purple together, it's terribly ugly!"
Yin'er chuckled, then held it back.
Outside the mansion, gongs and drums thundered, and a massive wedding procession stretched down the entire street. It abruptly stopped as Yongye, her bridal veil draped over her head, stepped out. Never in her wildest dreams had a bride wearing purple! Yongye ignored it, got into the bridal sedan chair, and ordered, "Continue! What are you stopping for! Keep the gongs beating!"
The sounds of silk and bamboo instruments and suona horns rose again, and firecrackers exploded. Yongye lifted her veil and lay down in the sedan chair to catch up on her sleep.
A hint of worry flickered in Prince Duan's eyes, but it dissipated after a moment's thought.
"Your Highness! Will this frighten the Qi Kingdom..." The princess's eyes reddened.
Prince Duan patted her hand and laughed, "Our Yongye is extraordinary. It's only right that we marry her! As for the Crown Prince of Qi, he shouldn't be able to scare us."
"But……"
"Finally, I've married off this troublesome daughter. I can finally live a peaceful life. Tomorrow, I'll go to the palace to hand over my military power and affairs, and become a carefree prince." Prince Duan ignored his wife's words and was extremely happy.
The July sun was scorching, and the group stopped for a rest after leaving the capital.
Yongye was married with the regalia of a princess. The head guard was Wang Da, the deputy commander of the Imperial Guard. The envoy was Vice Minister Ma of the Ministry of Rites. Wang Da was a former official of Li Tianyou in Prince You's residence, and having received Tianyou's instructions, he treated Yongye with utmost respect. He understood the Emperor's thoughts to some extent, and seeing the princess dressed as a man for her wedding, he felt sorry for the ill-fated couple.
Vice Minister Ma was the deputy envoy from Anguo who negotiated with Chen on the day Yongye met. He admired Yongye greatly and followed his orders without question the entire way.
Yongye, feeling unbearably hot in the spacious carriage, instructed, "From now on, depart at dawn, rest at noon, and continue at dusk!"
The wedding procession, which should have been a proper affair, turned into a clandestine affair, with people hiding during the day and traveling at night. Vice Minister Ma was powerless to stop it and only regretted taking on this task.
Seeing his extremely troubled expression, Yongye rebuked him sternly, "The sun is scorching hot, and so many guards are still fully armored. I'm already half-dead before I even arrive in Qi. What's the point of those mundane formalities?"
Vice Minister Ma dared not utter another word and relayed the order. The soldiers, however, felt that the princess was understanding and treated Yongye with exceptional respect. It was the prefectural governments along the way who suffered, having to hold banquets in the middle of the night.
Upon reaching Qin Chuan, the group needed to change boats to cross the Qin River. Yongye ordered the group to rest.
He stepped out of the carriage, ignoring Minister Ma's hesitant expression, and went up to the top of Qin Chuan City.
The bright moon shone, and in the long, desolate night, she turned back. Anguo... the capital... the Prince Duan's mansion lay far behind her. She took a deep breath. A new environment, a new life; eighteen years of rebirth brought yet another twist.
Seeing that Vice Minister Ma and Wang Da were inseparable, he smiled calmly and said, "Once we cross the Qin River, we will enter Qi. What do you have to say, Lord Ma? If you keep it to yourselves, you won't feel uncomfortable, but I will be annoyed."
Minister Ma said with a forced smile, "Princess, this... once we cross the Qin River, the Qi envoy will come to greet you. Is your attire appropriate...?"
"Since the Emperor hasn't said anything, Lord Ma doesn't need to worry." Yongye remembered Yuepo's words; he would definitely be the first to see her in women's clothing.
But what awaits her on the other side of the Qin River?
Qidu Shengjing
The next day, the fleet set sail and arrived at the opposite bank of the Qin River.
The State of Qi had prepared a massive wedding procession at the dock. Drums and music filled the air, and banners fluttered in the breeze. Under the summer sun, the guards' weapons gleamed.