L'hibiscus comme peinture

Chapitre 135

"I do." Jinxuan ignored the noise behind him and said with deep affection and determination. His voice was not loud, but it silenced the entire room. These three words showed how much he loved his bride and how deep his love was. All that was left for everyone was deep emotion and envy.

Zhengxuan suddenly felt a sense of sacredness. This time, he no longer hesitated, but nodded excitedly and said to Aojun, "Jun, are you willing to marry Jindi and become his wife, to grieve for him, respect him, and be faithful to him, whether he is poor, sick, or disabled, to never leave him, until the end? Do you?"

Ao Jun did not answer immediately, but turned her head and looked at Jin Xuan with deep affection. Jin Xuan also smiled and looked at Ao Jun with deep affection. The two of them looked at each other quietly and affectionately.

Apart from the two of them, everyone else clenched their fists, leaned forward, and stared nervously at Ao Jun, waiting for her answer. Even the Empress Dowager was the same, her hands clasped to her chest, repeatedly whispering, "Why haven't you said I'm willing yet?"

Finally, amidst everyone's anticipation, Ao Jun slowly turned her head, faced Zheng Xuan, and nodded firmly, saying, "I am willing."

A thunderous applause erupted throughout the hall. Almost everyone clapped and wiped away tears, nodding repeatedly and murmuring, "So touching..."

"Alright, now please exchange tokens of your love." Zhengxuan nodded, extended his hand, waved it, and solemnly announced.

Jin Xuan turned around to face Ao Jun. Best man Wei Ziqi immediately handed over a brocade tray. Jin Xuan took a jade flute with a bright green body from the tray, took Ao Jun's hand, and placed it in her hand. He said affectionately, "Jun, from today onwards, you are my princess, the strategist princess."

Ao Jun returned a gentle smile. Huang Ying brought over a brocade tray. Ao Jun took a delicate little pistol from the tray, took Jin Xuan's hand, and placed it in Jin Xuan's hand. She said affectionately, "Jin Xuan, this pistol is the only thing my mother left me. From now on, I will no longer be lonely. From now on, we are still two people, but we only have one life."

The audience erupted in even louder applause. Even the Empress Dowager was moved to tears, and Yixuan, needless to say, clapped until his hands were red.

"With the Empress Dowager and everyone present as witnesses, I hereby declare that Prince Jin of the Longxuan Dynasty, Ouyang Jinxuan, and Ling Aojun, the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince, the First Military Advisor of the World, and the Master of the Holy Immortal Sect, are officially married. You will become one, as equal and loyal partners, and spend the rest of your lives together." Zhengxuan announced loudly with great emotion. The last sentence, which he would never have said even if he died, was now spoken with great emotion and full of a sacred sense of mission.

Jinxuan and Aojun beamed with happiness, exchanged a deep look, and amidst everyone's blessings and applause, embraced each other tenderly. From this day forward, they could finally be together forever; they would be one, facing the future together.

Finally, it was time to toss the bouquet. Ao Jun, with her back to everyone, tossed the bouquet behind her. Everyone eagerly awaited its arrival, hoping it would land on them. Although they didn't know its meaning, catching the bouquet from the strategist's wife was an immense honor! By sheer coincidence, it landed in Yi Xuan's arms, who was busy eating. Ao Xue immediately ran over and congratulated him, leaving him looking utterly dejected…

After the wedding, Jinxuan and Aojun served tea to the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager smiled from ear to ear and chatted with Aojun. She was extremely fond of this third daughter-in-law and even pushed Jinxuan aside, monopolizing Aojun by herself. She was more and more satisfied with her.

Finally, with the help of Zhengxuan, Aoxue, and Yixuan, Aojun escaped the Empress Dowager's clutches, but immediately many people surrounded her to offer toasts.

"Your Highness, congratulations! May you and your strategist grow old together in happiness..." General Hong said, raising his wine cup in a toast.

"General Hong is mistaken, it should be the Princess Consort. This humble general wishes the Prince and Princess Consort a long and happy life together..." General Chen also stepped forward with a wine cup to offer his toast.

"It's the strategist's wife, haha... Your Highness, Your Highness, this old minister would like to offer a toast to Your Highness and Your Highness, wishing you a son soon." Xiao Qiyuan said with a hearty laugh as he held up the wine.

"Yes, yes, the Prime Minister is right, it is the strategist and the princess. This humble subject also wishes the prince and princess to give birth to a prince soon..."

"Your Highness, Your Highness, this humble official also wishes to offer you a toast..."

...

With all the civil and military officials and ordinary people coming forward to offer a toast, the scene was truly spectacular. If everyone drank a cup, even if Jinxuan had a high alcohol tolerance, he probably wouldn't be able to get out of bed for several days. Fortunately, they were prepared in advance, and that's how the roles of the four pairs of best men and bridesmaids came into play.

Finally, everyone finished toasting, and the best man and maid of honor were almost drunk. Sheng Lü was completely collapsed in Sheng Lan's arms, Sheng Qing was practically hanging on Sheng Cheng, and Huang Ying was even more so, collapsed in Wei Ziqi's arms, completely unconscious. The three best men were also unsteady on their feet, almost unable to tell which way was which.

The remaining best man and maid of honor were Zhao Zhiyang and Mo Yueying. Mo Yueying was alright; Zhao Zhiyang had blocked all the drinks. Mo Yueying helped Zhao Zhiyang up, shook her head, wiped his face, and said to Ao Jun, "Brother, I'll take Zhiyang to rest first."

"Hmm, do you want someone to help you?" Ao Jun nodded and said with a smile.

Half a year ago, after Ying'er 'died,' she went mad from the unbearable guilt. Zhao Zhiyang left her in the capital and took good care of her, curing her illness. However, she still couldn't let go of her guilt towards him, and her condition fluctuated until she went to find him after he was detoxified, at which point her mind gradually returned to normal.

"I can manage on my own, brother, I'll go down first!" Mo Yueying smiled at Ao Jun, waved, and helped Zhao Zhiyang away. Now she had completely let go, let go of her feelings for her brother. It was Zhiyang who made her truly let go. To receive her brother's forgiveness and continue being his sister was already a great joy for her. However, she was still used to calling him "brother," even though it felt strange to call him that while he was wearing a wedding dress. But what could she do when she was already used to it?

Ao Jun smiled and nestled beside Jin Xuan, watching Yue Ying leave. It was wonderful; they were back to how things were before, and she could enjoy delicious food again.

"Jun..." Just as Ao Jun was thinking about the delicious food, Dongfang Junhao's voice rang out from behind him.

"You two talk first, I'll go over there for a bit." Jinxuan glanced at Dongfang Junhao, smiled at Aojun, nodded to her, and then turned to leave.

"Congratulations, Jun." Dongfang Junhao glanced at Ao Jun with amazement in his eyes and smiled. It was the first time he had seen Jun in women's clothing, and he was deeply shocked. He never imagined that the first time he saw her in women's clothing would be her wedding dress. From today onwards, she would be someone else's wife, a married woman, and he could no longer even stand by her side.

"Thank you, Junhao. We're still friends, confidants, just like before." Aojun picked up a glass of wine, raised it, and smiled sincerely. How could she not know the bitterness in Junhao's eyes? She was destined to never reciprocate his feelings. In this life, the people he had wronged the most were Yelü Ying and him.

"A friend, a confidante. With your words, I, Dongfang Junhao, have no regrets in this life." Dongfang Junhao raised a glass of wine and clinked it with Ao Jun's, smiling sincerely. As long as he could silently protect her, he would do anything.

"With a friend like you, I, Ling Aojun, have no regrets in this life. Cheers!" Aojun tilted his head back, downed the wine in his glass in one gulp, and said heartily.

"Cheers!" Dongfang Junhao also downed his drink heartily and laughed heartily. He glanced in Jinxuan's direction, then leaned closer to Aojun in an ambiguous manner and said, "I'd better get out of here first, otherwise your prince will get jealous, hahaha..." He then walked away laughing.

Ao Jun smiled and watched his figure disappear into the crowd, silently wishing him well: Junhao, I hope you can also find your true love.

As soon as Dongfang Junhao left, Jinxuan immediately came over, put his arm around Aojun's waist, and said with a smile, "Dongfang is gone?"

"Hmm." Ao Jun nodded absentmindedly, his magnetic eyes searching for something.

“Yelü Ying won’t come; he’s already left.” Jin Xuan saw through Ao Jun’s thoughts at a glance and smiled as he spoke her mind.

"Huh?" Ao Jun turned his head in confusion and looked at Jin Xuan.

“Yesterday, Yelü Ying came to see me and said he would be returning to his country in a few days and wouldn’t be coming back. The King of Cangliao has been restored to his status as crown prince, and now the whole country of Cangliao is waiting for him to return. He also threatened me, saying that if I cannot give you happiness and make you sad, he will definitely come back to take you back…” Jin Xuan gently embraced Ao Jun and said with a tender smile.

"Oh..." Ao Jun murmured, admitting a slight disappointment at Yelü Ying's absence. He looked up at the sky and saw an eagle soaring across the horizon, flying towards the grasslands. Yelü Ying, I hope you can let go of everything and soar through the skies...

On a distant rooftop, a man in brocade robes stood silently against the wind, his red eyes gazing intently at the bride's blissful smile at the wedding. He clutched a jade pendant tightly in his hand: "My lord, I love you, I will always love you..."

Finally, today's wedding has reached its most important moment, which is... hehe... the wedding night.

Everyone rushed to the new house with a commotion, shouting that they wanted to make a ruckus there.

"No, we absolutely have to make a ruckus in the bridal chamber! At the very least, the bride has to drink a drink with each of us..."

"Yes, Your Highness is not allowed to help..."

...

Knowing that Zhengxuan and Aoxue had arrived, Jinxuan and Aojun escaped a disaster.

Everyone who wanted to cause trouble in the newlyweds' room was politely asked to leave by Zhengxuan and Aoxue. Before leaving, Aoxue even stuck her head out in a very ambiguous way and said to her mother, "A moment of spring night is worth a thousand pieces of gold!" She also kindly closed the door tightly for them.