As the wedding procession departed from the Marquis of Zhaolie’s mansion, everyone finally snapped back to reality.
“Oh my god, the Regent is just too much!”
The young maiden clutched her chest, sighing in adoration. “I’m so jealous of Mu Qing Tang. How can a foolish, ugly woman like her marry such a devoted man as the Regent?!”
“He knew Lu Qing Wan had no father or brother to escort her, so he generously took on that role too. What kind of divine man is he!”
“And that ten-mile dowry! I wish I were Lu Qing Wan!”
Countless young maidens, consumed by jealousy, pounded their chests in frustration, unconsciously setting extremely high expectations for their own future weddings.
Thus, for the next decade or so, whenever someone got married, the groom’s procession was always criticized for being stingy, much to the chagrin of the young talents in the capital, who turned into sour lemons. This, however, is a story for another time.
Feng Xi Wu, the current Regent, had a wedding ceremony much like any ordinary folk.
At the very least, with Emperor Jing You personally present, Lu Qing Wan could not bow with her veil on. That would be a grave disrespect.
At that moment, Feng Xi Wu sat in his four-wheeled carriage, holding Lu Qing Wan’s hand as they crossed the brazier. The guests in the Regent’s mansion were all anticipating a spectacle.
This couple, one ugly and one disabled, would have a difficult future. Today, they intended to witness the drama unfold.
Upon entering the main hall, the officiant began the ceremony, “The groom lifts the veil, pay respects to His Majesty!”
As Feng Xi Wu was about to raise his hand, Lu Qing Wan had already bent her knees, maintaining eye level with him.
Feng Xi Wu was slightly surprised, then used his auspicious staff to lift Lu Qing Wan’s veil. As Lu Qing Wan’s face gradually appeared before his eyes, Feng Xi Wu was stunned.
The woman before him, he had clearly seen her just days ago. Yet, she was now a completely different person compared to before.
She was breathtakingly beautiful, truly unparalleled.
“She… is that Lu Qing Wan?”
A noblewoman from a prominent family, who was there with her relatives to offer congratulations, saw the face and exclaimed in surprise.
“The Regent is marrying his bride. No one would dare to make a substitution.”
“But her face…?”
“This face is too favored by heaven. Does such a beautiful person truly exist in this world?”
Everyone’s astonishment was evident on their faces.
Lu Qing Wan ignored the amazed gazes and calmly walked behind Feng Xi Wu, pushing him towards the center of the wedding hall. She then lifted her skirt, knelt down, and said, “Your humble subject pays respects to His Majesty. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years, ten thousand years, and ten thousand years!”
Then, she remained kneeling and said solemnly, “The Prince is unwell and unable to perform the full kowtow. As his wife, your humble subject thanks His Majesty on behalf of the Prince for his care over the years. May Your Majesty’s wishes be granted, and all affairs proceed smoothly.”
With that, she respectfully kowtowed three times to Emperor Jing You.
Everyone present was stunned. They had expected Emperor Jing You to waive Feng Xi Wu’s kowtow as usual, but they never anticipated Lu Qing Wan would perform the ceremony on his behalf.
Emperor Jing You himself was taken aback for a moment, then said, “Good, good. Sister-in-law, please rise. Officiant, continue the ceremony.”
The officiant, finally regaining his senses, continued, “First bow to heaven and earth!”
Lu Qing Wan and Feng Xi Wu, one seated and one standing, looked incredibly harmonious.
“Second bow to the esteemed elders!”
Naturally, this was a bow to Emperor Jing You.
“Husband and wife bow to each other!”
The two bent their heads, touching them together. A voice, characteristic of the rules of the space laboratory, sounded out.
“Toxic substance detected.”
Lu Qing Wan felt no discomfort herself, but she noticed Feng Xi Wu stiffen beside her.
Without hesitation, she grasped Feng Xi Wu’s hand and supported him through the officiant’s final pronouncement, “Into the bridal chamber.” She then personally pushed Feng Xi Wu into the inner room.
As soon as the door closed, she immediately said, “Li Yang, come in. Everyone else, leave!”
The wedding attendants were still dawdling. Lu Qing Wan grabbed Yue Er, shoved the attendants, and pushed them and several maids out.
Lu Qing Wan took out several silver needles and was about to insert them into several of Feng Xi Wu’s vital acupoints.
Li Yang lunged forward, drawing his sword and blocking Lu Qing Wan’s path. “What are you doing?”
His movements were too abrupt, and the blade grazed Lu Qing Wan’s hand, instantly drawing a bloodstain.
“If you don’t want him to be paralyzed, then get out of my way!”
As she spoke, Lu Qing Wan already pushed Li Yang aside. “Keep an eye on the people in the wedding hall, especially those wearing incense. Find a way to detain them, don’t let them leave.”
Li Yang was initially unwilling to obey Lu Qing Wan’s orders, still shocked that he had been stumbled by a mere young woman.
Feng Xi Wu urgently said, “Do as she says.”
Li Yang then angrily turned and left. Shortly after, Li Jin dragged in Physician Shen. “Your Highness, Physician Shen is here.”
Before Feng Xi Wu could speak, Lu Qing Wan interrupted, “You’re just in time. Help me take off this phoenix coronet, and keep it far away, as far from your Prince as possible.”
While Lu Qing Wan was speaking, she directly dislocated Feng Xi Wu’s jaw, dropped a few pills into his mouth, and then put his jaw back in place.
Feng Xi Wu had never been treated so roughly, his eyes filled with a murderous intent.
However, Lu Qing Wan, ignoring him as a patient, completed her series of fluid actions and then presented her head to Physician Shen.
“Take it off and let’s see what this thing is.”
Physician Shen held up his hands, looking troubled. “Consort, you are making things difficult for this old man. How would I know how to dismantle such a delicate item?”
Physician Shen, in his forties and still unmarried, had no experience with women’s headdresses.
Moreover, Lu Qing Wan was getting married today, and her phoenix coronet and elaborate hairstyle were incredibly complicated. Asking him to dismantle the coronet was truly a difficult task.
Lu Qing Wan suddenly looked troubled. “Then what should we do?”
She didn’t know how to dismantle the phoenix coronet either!
It would be no problem for an ordinary maid to do it, but she feared they might accidentally smear away any residual medication and fail to find any clues.
If that happened, she would become the prime suspect for poisoning Feng Xi Wu.
As they stood in a stalemate, Feng Xi Wu spoke, “I will dismantle it.”
“You…”
Lu Qing Wan hesitated and looked over, seeing Feng Xi Wu taking out a pair of gloves, as thin as cicada wings, and putting them on.
Meeting her suspicious gaze, Feng Xi Wu calmly said, “I have practiced my martial arts for years and can hold my breath to avoid inhaling the medication on it.”
“Alright.”
Lu Qing Wan could not think of a better solution, so she presented her head to him.
Halfway through, she asked warily, “You won’t take the opportunity for revenge, will you?”
Feng Xi Wu remained speechless. Lu Qing Wan silently offered her head again. Feng Xi Wu then warned her, “If you don’t want me to take revenge by holding your head, then shut up.”
This bothersome girl’s mouth was too talkative. He truly feared he might accidentally snap her slender neck!
Ancient women’s hairstyles were already complex, and wedding hairstyles were even more so. Even with Feng Xi Wu’s confident words, it took him a quarter of an hour to dismantle it.
Lu Qing Wan’s neck was almost breaking. She tilted her head and defended herself, “I didn’t poison him. With this method of poisoning, once discovered, I would be the first one you suspect. I’m not that stupid.”
“I do not suspect you.”
Feng Xi Wu still had several shimmering silver needles stuck in his head. “You asked Li Yang to detain the people in the wedding hall, so you suspect the poisoner was in the hall?”