"Precisely!
I heard His Highness the King of Qin is the sole surviving heir of the late Crown Prince, His Highness's younger brother. I wonder what kind of bewitching spell this woman from the south cast upon him, that he insists on marrying her.
The Crown Prince himself is waiting at the King of Qin's manor, and he's going to preside over their wedding ceremony.
To marry a Southern barbarian woman with such grandeur, it's truly a waste!"
Lu Qingwan found the murmurs amusing and exasperating.
In Da Gan, both the common folk and the court officials regarded Da Qin as a colossal power to be looked up to.
Yet, the people of Da Qin didn't even know the name of Da Gan, referring to them all as barbarians. If Feng Qingheng were to know, he'd probably cry.
However, "What's this about presiding over the wedding? We've just entered the city, and we're going to have the ceremony already?"
That's right, our King of Qin, in order to dote on his Consort for a little longer, had directly sat in the bridal carriage reserved for the bride.
As for the magnificent steed exclusively for the groom, it had long been forgotten somewhere.
"Today is the sixteenth of July."
Feng Xiwu, his eyes serene, threaded his fingers through Lu Qingwan's, "On this day last year, you became this King's wife. This King believes it to be a fortunate day.
So this year, this King wishes to marry you once more on this fortunate day. Consort, are you willing to marry this King again?"
Lu Qingwan was congenitally allergic to romance, never celebrating holidays or following trends.
Her actions were entirely dictated by her mood, and she never felt that certain days were any different from ordinary ones.
Upon hearing Feng Xiwu's words, she was stunned for a long time, unable to snap out of it.
Blinking slowly, after a while, she asked, "Are you proposing to me?"
"Yes."
Feng Xiwu nodded solemnly, "Not for an imperial decree, not for an alliance of interests, but solely with a heart full of love, I wish to ask you to marry this King. Are you willing?"
As he finished speaking, Feng Xiwu unconsciously tightened his grip.
Lu Qingwan sensed his heartfelt nervousness, and her mischievous intent suddenly vanished.
She thought, never mind, I won't scare him.
Thus, she curved her lips into a smile, "I will marry you."
Feng Xiwu's expression seemed unchanged, yet Lu Qingwan clearly felt him profoundly relieved in that instant.
Lu Qingwan found it amusing, "Why are you so nervous? We are already husband and wife. This wedding ceremony is merely for show. Are you still worried that I might refuse to marry you?"
"It is not for show."
Feng Xiwu seriously opened the interlayer of the carriage, revealing the black ceremonial robes within.
"This King sincerely hopes that every time you marry, the groom will be this King."
As he spoke, he skillfully began to untie Lu Qingwan's sash. Lu Qingwan quickly pressed his hand, "What are you doing?"
"In half an hour, we are to be wed. Be good, let this King help you change."
Lu Qingwan's face flushed, and she let go of his hand, removing her outer robe herself.
As she was trying to distract herself, she saw Feng Xiwu take out a black inner garment, intending to help her change.
Lu Qingwan was astonished, "Wearing black for the ceremony, are you sure you haven't given me the wrong clothes?"
"The ceremonial robes of the Da Qin royal family are black."
Feng Xiwu naturally helped her put on the black garment, which in Lu Qingwan's eyes bore no resemblance to wedding attire.
Then came the outer robe, the sash.
Finally, the golden phoenix coronet. Lu Qingwan, like a doll, allowed Feng Xiwu to fuss over her.
Only when he was finished did she ask incredulously, "I recall that during our wedding, it took you two quarters of an hour just to remove a phoenix coronet.
When did you learn all this?"
Although the color of the wedding dress was different from that of Da Gan, the style was by no means simple.
Not to mention that Feng Xiwu personally styled her hair and applied makeup. Truly, after three days, Lu Qingwan was thoroughly impressed by him.
"Didn't you envy Academician Chi and the old madam's pleasure in applying makeup?
This King found someone to learn some skills. Thinking that everything you wear is arranged by this King's own hands, this King feels as excited as the first time he married you.
What do you think? Are you satisfied?"
A glass mirror the size of a platter was placed before her. Lu Qingwan examined it carefully, "You know what, your craftsmanship is truly excellent.
Paired with this black phoenix robe, I feel like I could ascend the throne at any moment."
Feng Xiwu let out a chuckle, "Alright, this King must go out now. You can follow the bridesmaid afterwards. Don't be nervous..."
Lu Qingwan secretly smiled. She wondered who was actually nervous, as he had almost squeezed her fingers to the bone.
However, she agreed to everything, awaiting the moment to marry him again.
It's unclear who arranged it, but not long after Feng Xiwu alighted from the carriage, the drums and gongs of the wedding procession began to sound merrily.
The voice of the bridesmaid reached her ears, "Lift the sedan chair!"
After the bridesmaid's distinctive cry, Lu Qingwan was still wondering why the bridesmaid was lifting a sedan chair when the bride was right there.
As she pondered, she felt her body suddenly become airborne, beyond her control.
She instinctively wanted to lift the curtain to look, when Li Su's voice came,
"Consort, do not be afraid. The people from the Crown Prince's manor fixed the sedan chair onto the carriage. Now, the sedan chair and the carriage have been separated.
The sedan bearers will carry you to the King of Qin's manor for the rest of the journey."
It could be heard that Li Su was also a little speechless.
Lu Qingwan, without showing any emotion on her face, replied, "Understood."
In her heart, however, she couldn't help but scoff. To cover the long distance without having her change conveyances, someone had actually come up with the idea of fixing the sedan chair onto the carriage.
The person who thought of this idea is truly a genius!
The sedan chair swayed, carrying Lu Qingwan back to the memories of her wedding last year.
It was also on a day like this that she entered the Regent's manor with the mindset of living or dying.
At first, she had intended to be a couple of convenience with Feng Xiwu, maintaining a respectful distance. However, that very night proved to be a miscalculation. To this day, the two had become one, inseparable.
"Lower the sedan chair!"
The bridesmaid's unique cry pulled her consciousness back.
"The groom shoots at the sedan door!
Hey, Your Highness, you haven't shot at the sedan door yet..."
Before the bridesmaid could finish speaking, Feng Xiwu lifted the sedan curtain, "A'wan, this King has come to fetch you."
The phoenix coronet of Da Qin had a circlet of flowing streams. The bride held a fan, which served a similar purpose to a veil.
Lu Qingwan, holding her fan, alighted from the sedan. Feng Xiwu snatched the bridesmaid's role and helped Lu Qingwan. The bridesmaid shrieked from the side, "If the groom doesn't shoot at the sedan door, how will he control the bride in the future?"
"This King marries a consort to share a harmonious life and companionship for the rest of his days, not to control her or to assert dominance over her."
Feng Xiwu carefully supported Lu Qingwan, "The fire basin in front has also been removed. Let us proceed directly to the ceremony."
The bridesmaid was a person of the Da Qin Crown Prince, tasked with managing the wedding under his orders. She dared not break the rules.
She was about to say more when a gentle yet undeniably authoritative voice was heard, "Since Imperial Brother does not wish to give Sister-in-law this 'downward pressure,' obey his command.
I am waiting to see Sister-in-law. Do not delay.
If you dawdle further, when will this cup of wedding wine be served?"