However, among these people, only Ming Jiuxiao accompanied Jun Mohan for the wedding procession, to atone for his past mistake of ruining the Cold King’s wedding.
At this moment, the ones standing at the gate of the Cold General’s mansion to welcome the groom’s party were Leng Jinyu and the couple, Grand Tutor Xia, along with Leng Ruoli’s two maternal uncles.
Leng Jinyu and Grand Tutor Xia, with their wives, wore broad smiles. They were extremely pleased, looking at the magnificent wedding procession brought by Jun Mohan.
This time, the groom’s party was not only spectacular in scale but also accompanied by the most influential figures in the capital, which made the Cold General and the Xia family feel incredibly honored. This was evident from the beaming faces of Leng Jinyu and Grand Tutor Xia, who couldn’t stop smiling.
Just then, Jun Mohan, clad in a grand crimson wedding robe, alighted from the carriage. A smile graced his face as he strode with steady steps to face Leng Jinyu and Grand Tutor Xia, offering them a respectful cupped-hand salute.
“This humble son-in-law, Jun Mohan, greets Father-in-law, Maternal Grandfather, Maternal Grandmother, and my two uncles!”
“En, Your Highness may rise! Ruier has gone to fetch Li’er. Your Highness, please wait a moment!” Leng Jinyu said, feigning a stern expression.
“Yes! Father-in-law!”
As soon as Jun Mohan finished speaking, he glanced sideways and saw Leng Ruorui carrying Leng Ruoli, who was adorned in opulent robes, a phoenix coronet, and ceremonial attire.
Leng Ruorui stopped with Leng Ruoli on his back at the main gate of the Cold General’s mansion. After Jun Mohan bowed deeply three times to Leng Jinyu, he then walked over to Leng Ruorui and bowed again.
“Mother-in-law, eldest brother-in-law, please rest assured and entrust Li’er to me. I will cherish her for a lifetime, until the very last breath I draw.”
Jun Mohan’s words were deeply touching.
Xia Wan’er nodded gently after hearing them.
“Cold King, although I did not watch Li’er grow up, I ardently hope that in the days to come, she will live a happy and joyful life, and have a man who loves her, dotes on her, and cherishes her as his own life. I hope you will not disappoint me.”
“Mother-in-law, today, I, Jun Mohan, swear before you and everyone here: I, Jun Mohan, will only marry Leng Ruoli in this lifetime. I pledge to the heavens and earth to be a devoted husband to Leng Ruoli, and should I break this vow, I shall be struck by lightning and die a terrible death! Sworn by Jun Mohan.”
Hearing Jun Mohan’s oath, Leng Ruoli’s heart was even more touched. The corners of her eyes, hidden by her brocade fan, welled up with tears. Xia Wan’er, and indeed everyone present who heard the Cold King’s oath, were deeply moved.
After making his oath, Jun Mohan immediately took the bride from his elder brother-in-law’s back and held her in his arms. He then nodded to his mother-in-law and elder brother-in-law again before striding over to place the bride into his luxurious wedding carriage. Immediately after, he also entered the carriage.
Subsequently, Jun Mohan called out lightly to the outside of the carriage, “The bride has been successfully fetched, let us return to the Cold King’s mansion!”
Following this, the carriages driven by Ye Ying and Yin Chen slowly proceeded onto the streets, heading towards the Cold King’s mansion.
The wedding procession behind them quickly followed suit, with tens of miles of red decorations, music, and drumming, the carriages stretching from one end of the street to the other.
The betrothal gifts from the Cold King’s mansion and the dowry from the Cold General’s mansion were already substantial. Furthermore, the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, the Xia family, the Su family, the Third Prince of the Beichen Kingdom, Murong Lichen, the King of Nanzhao Ji, and the Shangguan family had all added significantly to Leng Ruoli’s dowry. The dowry this time was so immense it was beyond counting.
In the heat of summer, those carrying the dowry for the bride were sweating profusely.
The scene of the Cold King’s wedding was truly spectacular. Everywhere the wedding procession passed, there was great festivity. Such a sight truly gave the common folk of the capital a grand spectacle.
As Leng Jinyu and Grand Tutor Xia watched the procession fetching the bride majestically depart, they too boarded their carriages with other guests and headed towards the Cold King’s mansion via a different street.
Today was the wedding of Jun Mohan and Leng Ruoli. The Emperor had requested that the main venue be the Cold King’s mansion and also required Leng Jinyu, his wife, and the entire Xia family to be present at the Cold King’s mansion to witness the newlyweds’ ceremony. Therefore, after seeing the welcoming procession leave, Leng Jinyu and Grand Tutor Xia also had to board their carriages and head to the Cold King’s mansion.
Meanwhile, Jun Mohan’s carriage proceeded slowly. It took its time passing through several streets in the bustling city center before finally arriving at the grand entrance of the Cold King’s mansion.
Jun Mohan leaped down from the carriage first, then scooped up the bride in his arms and strode to the main gate. The palace wet nurse accompanying the Empress Dowager had long been waiting at the entrance.
As the Cold King strongly disliked the constant chatter of matchmakers, Jun Mohan had not hired a matchmaker for this occasion. However, certain rituals required a matchmaker’s participation. Therefore, the Empress Dowager had arranged for an experienced palace wet nurse to be at the Cold King’s mansion gate to welcome the bride.
Seeing the Cold King carrying the bride to the main gate, the palace wet nurse immediately shouted, “Groom and bride, cross the fire basin!”
With that, Jun Mohan carried Leng Ruoli across the fire basin.
The palace wet nurse then uttered some auspicious words.
Jun Mohan was then able to place Leng Ruoli’s feet back on the ground. He casually adjusted her fiery red wedding dress before taking her slender jade hand and walking together to the main hall. However, Leng Ruoli’s other hand remained unable to leave her face.
At this moment, seated in the main seats of the hall were not only the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, but also Leng Jinyu and Xia Wan’er. The guests observing the ceremony filled the two sides of the hall, leaving only a passage for the groom and bride to traverse.
Subsequently, under the guidance of the officiating officer, Jun Mohan and Leng Ruoli successfully completed the ceremonial bows. The palace wet nurse then guided him to escort the bride to the bridal chamber before allowing Jun Mohan to come out and entertain the guests.
As night fell, the entire Cold King’s mansion was filled with festive joy. The Emperor, Grand Tutor Xia, Leng Jinyu, and others were all extremely happy, having drunk a considerable amount of wine.
Although the Empress Dowager, Old Madam Xia, Xia Wan’er, and the other female guests did not drink much alcohol, they consumed a lot of fruit beverages. These fruit drinks were prepared by Xia Wan’er, who had instructed the cooks, specifically for the female guests who did not drink. Since they wouldn't appear foolish after consuming these drinks, these ladies were all very happy.
As for Jun Mohan, he fared poorly. Led by Ming Jiuxiao, Murong Lichen, Prince An, Prince Ji, and Prince Xian, this group of scoundrels was particularly mischievous. They kept plying Jun Mohan with drink, cup after cup, from the start of the banquet until midnight. Only when Jun Mohan was completely inebriated and unresponsive did they finally relent.
Then, Ming Jiuxiao and Prince An carried the drunken Jun Mohan into the bridal chamber before departing.
In fact, as Jun Mohan and Leng Ruoli held their second wedding, Ming Jiuxiao and Prince An, who harbored romantic feelings for Leng Ruoli, were both in great turmoil internally. They had secretly cherished Leng Ruoli for a long time, but because they appeared before her too late, they had lost the opportunity to pursue her. 138 Reading Net.
However, since Leng Ruoli had found a man who could bring her happiness, Ming Jiuxiao and Prince An were also happy for her.
Meanwhile, in the bridal chamber of Leng Ruoli and Jun Mohan.
After Ming Jiuxiao and Prince An had left, Jun Mohan immediately sat up. His eyes were clear as he looked towards a certain spot, showing no trace of drunkenness. He then casually took out the two pieces of sponge hidden in his sleeve cuff, threw them onto the table, and quickly walked into the inner sleeping chamber.