Marrying the Crown Prince

"Shh-"

"Boom-"

Both arrows fell into the center at the same time.

"call--"

The onlookers cheered.

"It's a winner! Young lady, hurry up and open the door!" Someone in the crowd cheered, and others rushed forward as well.

If it were anyone else, the Zhou family lads blocking the door would certainly not have been allowed in, but now it was His Highness the Crown Prince urging them to enter.

They did want to stop him, but Lord Yongjing's winks were so subtle they were practically twitching.

Since there is a traitor on our side, the crowd blocking the door is just a formality.

Soon, the door was pushed open, and Li Ziyan strode in amidst the crowd. Zhou Rong, who was next to him, was pushed and stumbled a couple of steps before someone grabbed her arm.

Once Zhou Rong had regained her footing, the man quickly released her grip.

Zhou Rong's heart, which had been in her throat, relaxed. Then she looked up at the young master who had just saved her. What she saw was a pair of deep and sharp eyes, like a knife.

Her body trembled involuntarily—it was him! The person she had saved at the temple that day.

Fortunately, the person was unconscious that day and should not have known about himself.

Thinking this through, Zhou Rong calmed herself down and put on a polite smile. "Thank you for saving me, young master."

Ye Zejin's sharp eyes swept over her for a moment before shifting his gaze away, his voice tinged with a hint of languor, "Miss, be careful."

Zhou Rong lowered her head and nodded in response.

At this moment, a burst of enthusiastic cheers erupted from inside the room—

"The bride is so beautiful!" said one of the male guests brought over by Li Ziyan.

“My Zhouzhou is naturally beautiful.” This was Li Zixi, who stood with her hands on her hips between the two.

Today, Zhou Zhou didn't draw her usual curved willow-leaf eyebrows. Instead, her eyebrows were sharp and pointed, giving her a rather dignified look. Beneath those eyebrows were a pair of calm, watery eyes, not dark in color, but a light ink color, as if they could see into people's hearts.

Her dark wedding dress accentuated her imposing presence; even a slight glance revealed an unparalleled aura.

When Zhou Zhou saw Li Ziyan step forward, he extended his right hand and couldn't help but smile as he gently and naturally placed his hand on top of Li Ziyan's.

Soon, Zhou Zhou was put into the bridal sedan chair. The procession started again, and Li Ziyan mounted his horse. The sedan chair was slowly lifted up and followed behind him.

The last part of the procession consisted of box after box of dowry, overflowing with gifts, accompanied by music and fanfare.

The common people stopped what they were doing and looked over. They immediately saw their Crown Prince riding a horse, with Chen Muchuan, known as the most handsome man in the capital, beside him.

"It's really strange, I actually think His Highness the Crown Prince is just as handsome as that Young Master Chen."

"You know what, you really think so too."

"So lovely."

Two beauties rode together, one of whom was the crown prince.

This topic was quite sensational, and many young women opened their windows and threw handkerchiefs down, mostly at Chen Muchuan, but quite a few were also thrown at His Highness the Crown Prince.

The reason why only a few people were given to His Highness the Crown Prince is as follows.

Who is this Crown Prince? They dared not indulge in such daydreams.

Years later, when people talked about the Crown Prince's marriage, they still remembered, "You have no idea, His Highness the Crown Prince and Young Master Chen looked so good together."

Of course, these are all for later.

Finally, after circling the imperial city, their grand procession headed towards the palace. Just when even a good-natured person like Zhou Zhou was about to lose her patience, the curtain of the sedan chair was lifted, and Li Ziyan led Zhou Zhou out of the sedan chair.

After sitting in the sedan chair for so long, it would be a lie to say that his legs weren't numb. As a result, Zhou Zhou's legs felt weak for a moment, and he almost swayed to one side when he got out of the sedan chair.

Fortunately, Li Ziyan reached out and put his arm around Zhou Zhou's waist, making it look as if His Highness the Crown Prince had momentarily lost control and wanted to hug his bride.

"Oh dear, Your Highness, why are you in such a hurry?"

Sure enough, he had barely hugged her a couple of times when someone started teasing him.

"That's right, the bride isn't going to run away."

Li Ziyan's skin was as thick as a city wall. Faced with their jeers, he didn't show any extra expression, just a look that said, "I'm happy to do it, what's it to you!"

Zhou Zhou, on the other hand, felt somewhat embarrassed by the teasing, so she gently squeezed the hand she was holding with Li Ziyan, but he did not give any reaction.

Her brow twitched: Could it be that the change in her movements was not obvious, so he didn't notice?

So, Zhou Zhou mischievously tickled his palm.

Li Ziyan turned his head to look at her, and saw her round and soft eyes blinking.

Li Ziyan took a deep breath to suppress his impulse and removed his hand from her waist.

The Crown Prince's wedding was similar to, yet different from, a common wedding. For example, there was no bowing to heaven and earth or to one's parents. Instead, the Minister of Rites presided over the ceremony, with the chief and deputy envoys assisting him.

The three of them unfurled the imperial edict, which was a full three feet long. Zhou Zhou knelt on the prayer mat, listening to the Minister of Rites passionately express his gratitude to Heaven and Earth for the favorable weather; he sang praises of the country's prosperity and the people's peaceful and happy lives; he praised the emperor's great achievements and the Crown Prince's benevolence; and only at the very end did he get to the point, praising how dignified and excellent he was.

Listening to his eloquent speech and his praises that made him blush, Zhou Zhou admired him from the bottom of his heart—this Minister of Rites was truly not a position that ordinary people could hold.

Of course, the most impressive one was the official who drafted the imperial edict, who was able to write such a long and eloquent piece in such a fresh and refined style.

Finally, after the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the imperial edict conferring the titles was read aloud, and the Minister of Rites was hoarse from talking.

Zhou Zhou bowed three times and kowtowed nine times as he received the imperial edict, saying, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your great favor! Long live the Emperor!"

After saying that, Zhou Zhou slowly stood up and walked side by side with Li Ziyan, step by step, up the steps of Xuanzheng Hall.

The head eunuch chanted loudly, "Kneel—"

All the officials, along with their wives and relatives of the imperial family, knelt down in unison, their movements so synchronized that they were truly awe-inspiring.

The head eunuch continued chanting, "Bow—"

"Your subject pays respects to His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Crown Princess. I humbly wish His Highness good health and His Highness good fortune."

After all the officials knelt in obeisance, Zhou Zhou and Li Ziyan returned to the East Palace, which was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and filled with a joyous atmosphere.

A brazier was placed in front of the main gate of the East Palace, with flames burning fiercely. It looked somewhat intimidating. According to the custom of Chen Kingdom, people would step over the brazier. The brighter the fire burned, the more prosperous their married life would be.

Zhou Zhou and Li Ziyan exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of helplessness in each other's eyes, because crossing the fire basin was a ritual for two people to do together, symbolizing the unity of husband and wife.

They took a deep breath and strode across quickly.

"it is good!"

The crowd erupted in excitement again, crowding around Zhou Zhou as they escorted him into the bridal chamber.