The armor was stained with the blood-red hue of the sunset, and their breaths carried the scents of each other and the chilling wind and rust around them.
Even many years later, when Xiao Lin recalled that kiss, he still felt it was unforgettable.
That was the last bit of sweetness before despair arrived.
It carried poison and seeped deep into his flesh and blood.
Yu Tang held this wedding quietly, inviting only a few close friends.
Even the wedding dress was altered by Chen Mei from the red dress Li Wen wore when they got married years ago.
She not only changed Li Wen's, but also Zhao Lin's.
One set was for Xiao Lin, and the other was for Yu Tang.
Despite its simple cut, the two people wearing it still looked stunning.
Yu Tang's gaze was inclusive, gentle, and unrestrained, while Xiao Lin's sharp edge was exposed, and he remained silent and cold.
But when she looks at the man beside her, all her hostility vanishes, leaving only warmth and love etched into her very bones.
Two people with different temperaments stood together, yet they were surprisingly harmonious.
All the usual formalities were eliminated, leaving only the ritual of bowing to heaven and earth.
Inside the general's mansion, under the locust tree, the jar of wine that Xiao Lin had buried was dug up and placed on the prepared offering table.
Above stood the memorial tablets of Yu Tang's parents and the white jade wrapped with gold thread. An incense burner was placed there, and incense was lit, with wisps of smoke drifting in the air.
Zhao Lin, standing to the side, asked, "General, Your Highness, are you ready?"
The two people in front of the offering table smiled at each other and replied, "We're ready."
Chen Mei stood to the side, her eyes red, covering her mouth and lips, her thin shoulders trembling slightly.
She recalled what Yu Tang had said to her alone during the day.
This young general, who had guarded the northern nine cities for more than ten years, ultimately chose the most desperate method to defend the last line of defense in the north.
Just thinking about what Yu Tang was going to do behind Xiao Lin's back made Chen Mei feel a deep sadness, and she couldn't help but choke up despite her efforts to hold back her sobs.
She knew better than anyone the pain of losing a loved one.
Although she understood Li Wen's actions, she also secretly cried in the dead of night, away from her children, every time she lost her lover.
At this moment, she even wanted to stand up and tell Xiao Lin that the man she was going to marry had decided to die alone, and asked if he could stop him.
Can you share his hardships? Don't be kept in the dark; make your own decision based on your own heart.
But when she looked up and saw the way Yu Tang was staring at Xiao Lin, she instantly understood.
Yu Tang's determination.
Protect those you love, and protect all the people of Xiao Kingdom.
I love you, so I hope you can live.
Even if you discover the deception later and hate me, I will still make sure you live so you can witness this eternal splendor for me.
Turning her back, the woman looked up, suppressing her tears, and heard Zhao Lin's voice in her ear.
"First bow—to Heaven and Earth."
Yu Tang withdrew his gaze, stood with Xiao Lin, and bowed down towards the distant sky.
"Second bow—to the parents."
The two turned around to face the memorial tablet and the jade pendant.
Yu Tang tugged at the red silk in his hand, which earned him a smile from Xiao Lin.
Deep, deep emotions, bright, bright eyes, like the sky above the northern border filled with countless dazzling stars.
It disturbed his mind.
As he bowed down, Xiao Lin murmured to himself.
Mother, can you see? I have found my beloved.
He was the most outstanding general in the nine northern cities, the best person I had ever met.
Lin'er earnestly begs you to bless us through this difficult time and grant us blessings and peace.
"Husband and wife—bow to each other!"
When the two faced each other, they could only see each other.
"General..." Xiao Lin suddenly spoke up, saying to Yu Tang, "If you don't want to call me husband, then how about calling me wife?"
Yu Tang was stunned. When she stood up, she met Xiao Lin's expectant gaze, and all her confusion turned into tenderness.
In front of everyone, he finally called Xiao Lin "wife" honestly.
"The ceremony is complete! Send them to the bridal chamber!" Zhao Lin controlled his emotions, making his tone much happier.
The people around her joined in the commotion, while Chen Mei remained silent, hidden in the crowd.
The group didn't make a fuss for long; they only exchanged a few jokes before leaving the rest of the time to Xiao Lin and Yu Tang.
With war raging now, even if we bring out locust flower wine, we can't drink too much of it.
Yu Tang asked Xiao Si to warm the wine. When Xiao Si brought the wine, Yu Tang's mouth was almost flattened into a line and his eyes were bloodshot.
He subtly tapped the wine bowl.
Yu Tang understood and let him leave.
Instead of drinking, Yu Tang reached into his pocket and pulled out a sachet.
The patterns on the sachet were somewhat simple. But from its posture, one could still vaguely discern that it was a dragon riding the clouds.
Within the semicircle formed by the dragon, a soaring character "凛" is embroidered.
"Your Highness, a birthday gift." Yu Tang took Xiao Lin's hand and placed the brocade pouch on it: "I learned it from Chen Mei and prepared it a long time ago. I wanted to give it to you in advance."
He said, "This contains calming spices and herbs, which can be changed every three months to help with sleep."
With only a month left until Chinese New Year's Eve, Yu Tang knew he had no time left.
Therefore, this gift can only be sent ahead of schedule.
Compared to the previous wooden hairpin, Yu Tang put a lot more effort into making this sachet.
During the month or so that Xiao Lin was gone, he would set aside time every day to tinker with this thing, and it took a lot of effort to finally get it to look somewhat decent.
"Again, ahead of schedule..." Xiao Lin thought of something, his pupils contracted, but he didn't ask any further questions. He silently put away the sachet, but he couldn't bear to let go of Yu Tang's hand: "Thank you, General."
Yu Tang did not pull her hand away, but focused on looking into Xiao Lin's eyes and speaking to him.
"Your Highness, I am actually someone who doesn't understand love."
Recalling everything that had happened since he came into this world, Yu Tang continued, "But after meeting Your Highness, I seem to have changed."
"You've touched me so deeply that now, whenever I think of you, this place..."
He pointed to his chest: "It will hurt a lot, feel sore, and be very uncomfortable."
“I’ve never liked anyone, let alone loved anyone, but…” He pointed at Xiao Lin: “If I had to choose someone to spend the rest of my life with, then that person…”
"No one but His Highness is suitable."
Chapter 40
He died for the villain for the fourth time (40)
This was the first time Yu Tang had spoken so clearly.
Xiao Lin was stunned, leaving him only able to stare blankly at the man in front of him.
Yu Tang felt a little embarrassed under his gaze.
She stretched out her finger and gently touched Xiao Lin's forehead, saying, "In short, now that I'm married to Your Highness, I will belong to Your Highness for the rest of my life, whether I live or die."
He joked, "Your Highness doesn't want it, but it's no use."
Suddenly pulled into his arms, Xiao Lin buried her face in his shoulder, her voice trembling violently: "Yes, how could I not want the general?"
No amount of words can express Xiao Lin's feelings at this moment.
He simply fell silent and held Yu Tang tightly to calm himself down.
Under the moonlight, the two embraced quietly.
After a long while, Yu Tang finally moved and said softly, "Your Highness, we haven't drunk our nuptial wine yet."
He pushed Xiao Lin away, picked up a palm-sized wine bowl, handed one bowl to Xiao Lin, took the other bowl for himself, put it around the boy's arm, and winked at him: "Drink up, Your Highness, after you finish drinking we'll go to the bridal chamber."
Xiao Lin's pupils trembled, surprised that Yu Tang would say such a thing. Even his usually thick skin felt a little hot.
My heart was pounding incredibly fast.
He hummed in agreement and followed Yu Tang's lead, drinking the bowl of locust flower wine with him.
Even if the city eventually falls, the ending is that he dies on the battlefield alongside the man before him, and he can hear these words tonight.
Even if it means going to the underworld and crossing the Gate of Helplessness, it will still be worth it.
Setting down his wine bowl, Yu Tang pressed Xiao Lin's hand onto the table and asked, "Your Highness, do you still remember what I said to you on the day the war began?"
“Of course I remember.” Xiao Lin’s eyes crinkled into a smile. “I remember every word the general said.”
Yu Tang took out a jade pendant from his pocket and said, "When the jade shatters, the person dies..."
Xiao Lin picked up where he left off and read, "You will not die as long as the jade remains intact."
"If the general were to disappear one day, I would believe that you are still alive somewhere in this world, watching over this prosperous age, waiting for me to come and find you."
I feel a little dizzy, and my vision is starting to blur.
Xiao Lin suddenly realized that something was wrong with his body.
He gripped Yu Tang's hand tightly, still saying, "No matter where you are, I will find the general..."
"General..." Holding the other's fingers tightly, Xiao Lin's voice trembled with tears, "General, don't go..."
How intelligent he is!