Chapter 366: The So-Called Marriage

“Let me go out for a walk, okay?”

That night, Jiang Huai and Wu Zhaohua lay side by side.

He turned his head and said softly to Wu Zhaohua.

Wu Zhaohua didn’t answer. Her eyes were closed, her breathing long and even, as if she were fast asleep.

Jiang Huai propped himself up, resting his chin on one hand, and looked at her face.

“Stop pretending. You’re a Celestial Immortal level cultivator. What’s the point of pretending to sleep in front of me?”

Wu Zhaohua snapped her eyes open. There was no trace of drowsiness in them. She immediately bristled.

“You’re thinking about going to see those women again!” She sat up, the brocade quilt sliding off to reveal her moon-white inner robe.

Her ink-black hair spilled over her shoulders, making her already cold face look even paler.

“What are you trying to do?!”

“Don’t go.” She bit her lower lip, her eyes like autumn water.

“Just stay put in the courtyard and keep me company.”

Jiang Huai sighed helplessly, shifting closer until his forehead almost touched hers.

“But staying in the courtyard is really suffocating for me.”

“Besides, I haven’t seen our daughter in a long time. I don’t even know what’s going on outside…”

Before he could finish, Wu Zhaohua grabbed his shoulders and swung herself on top of him.

She looked down at him from above, her hair cascading down, shrouding both their faces in a small shadow.

She gritted her teeth, her voice laced with anger.

“Don’t go see them. Each of them has hogged you for so long and still won’t stop.”

“But…”

Jiang Huai tried to say something, but Wu Zhaohua didn’t give him the chance.

She reached out and slowly untied her sash.

She leaned down, sliding her body down like a fish, then grabbed a fistful of his hair.

“D-don’t say anymore.” Her voice trembled at the end.

“Wait until tomorrow.”

Before Jiang Huai could react, everything went dark. His nose touched something warm and ticklish, and her scent filled his mouth and nose.

He let out a muffled whimper, fumbling with his hands until he had to wrap them around her legs.

Wu Zhaohua tilted her head back, moonlight falling on her face, her hazy eyes tinged with confusion.

The next day, Jiang Huai was jolted awake by the crackling sound of firecrackers.

He sat up, rubbing his head, and said in annoyance, “What’s that noise? What’s going on? Is it New Year?”

As soon as he spoke, the door was pushed open from outside.

Qi Yurong led the way, followed by several junior sisters, carrying all sorts of colorful things: red silk and a neatly folded set of bright red wedding robes.

The fabric of the wedding robe was excellent. When the sunlight hit it, faint dark patterns flowed across it, as if alive.

“Young Lord Jiang, get up and change your clothes.” Qi Yurong called out cheerfully.

“Senior Sister will be here soon.”

Jiang Huai stared at the red bundle and instinctively shrank back, pressing his back against the bed frame.

“What’s this for?”

“Huh?” Qi Yurong tilted her head curiously, the velvet flowers on her double-bun hairstyle swaying.

“Senior Sister didn’t tell you?”

“No.”

“Well.” Qi Yurong placed the wedding robe on the edge of the bed and blinked.

“But it doesn’t matter whether she told you or not. Today, you’re going to marry Senior Sister.”

“Senior Sister will come to pick you up in person. You’d better change into it, brother-in-law.”

After calling out that crisp nickname, she didn’t wait for Jiang Huai’s reaction and ran off giggling.

The room fell silent.

Jiang Huai sat by the bed for a moment, reached out and touched the wedding robe, shook his head, and finally put on the red outfit.

He walked out the door and sat down on a stone stool in the courtyard.

The tree in the courtyard was sprouting new leaves, tiny bits of green emerging from the branches.

He sat there in his bright red robe under the shade, resting his chin in his hand, lost in thought.

Getting married?

I wonder who she invited? She must have invited the people from Nine Heavens Palace, right?

The sun gradually climbed higher.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled spots of light on his red robe.

He waited a long time, but there was no movement outside the courtyard, not even a sound of voices.

Just as Jiang Huai was thinking, his heart stirred, and he turned his head to look at the courtyard gate.

A red figure flew in from the horizon, carrying a sharp sword intent, yet it was perfectly restrained, its edge fully concealed.

She landed at the entrance.

Wu Zhaohua usually wore plain, clean clothes, cold and aloof, like an immortal walking out of a painting, untouched by any worldly dust.

But not today. She was dressed in a full set of bright red wedding attire, with a gold-embroidered Luan belt cinching her waist, making it look extremely slender.

Her skin was already very fair, and the red made it look dazzlingly white.

Wu Zhaohua crossed her arms, her expression a little unnatural, her lips pressed tight as if she was struggling to maintain her usual coldness.

“Maybe it’s a bit late to ask now,” she said, her voice clear and cold.

“But do you want to marry me?”

Jiang Huai was stunned. She had prepared everything.

The wedding banquet, the wedding dress, the firecrackers, and she even came to pick him up herself.

She had arranged everything perfectly, yet at the very last step, she stood here and asked him if he was willing.

Jiang Huai stood up, the hem of his red robe falling to his feet. He smiled.

“Of course I do.”

The corners of Wu Zhaohua’s mouth lifted, as if she had finally heard the answer she had been waiting for.

She lowered her arms, put her hands on her hips, and lifted her chin slightly, unable to hide a hint of pride.

“Then will you love me?”

“Yes.”

“Then if…” She paused, her eyes flickering.

“I turned into a stone, would you still love me?”

Jiang Huai thought for a moment.

This was probably one of those difficult questions from storybooks, right?

Stone or bedsheet or anything else—it’s all the same. The important thing is how to answer.

He said softly, “No matter what you become, I will love you.”

Wu Zhaohua didn’t say anything else.

She pressed her lips together as if afraid she might laugh, then stepped forward and swept Jiang Huai into her arms.

They soared into the air.

Her red wide sleeves flapped loudly in the wind, and her skirt spread out like a red lotus blooming in the sky.

Her figure, wrapped in sword energy, cut through the sky, heading toward the Wenxuan Sect.

“Where are we going?” Jiang Huai held onto her neck, the wind filling his ears.

“To get married and bow!”

The main hall of Wenxuan Sect was decorated with lanterns and festoons today.

Red silk hung from the beams, layer upon layer, nearly covering the entire hall.

Thick dragon-phoenix candles burned on the altar, their flames dancing, casting the hall in a bright, warm light.

The hall was filled with people.

All of them were disciples of Wenxuan Sect, packed together like a dark mass, seated in order of seniority.

Xiao Yue sat at the very front. Now she was the Successor, wearing the robes of the Sect Leader, sitting upright with a bearing completely different from before.

She looked at the couple standing side by side, shook her head slightly, but a smile crept onto her lips.

“Grandmaster… it’s been a long time.”

Bai Lei and Qi Yurong squeezed to the front, clapping and cheering.

They exchanged glances and shouted in unison, “Congratulations, Senior Sister!”

The officiant was an elder of Wenxuan Sect with white hair and a beard, his voice loud and resonant, chanting each line slowly.

“First bow—”

Wu Zhaohua and Jiang Huai stood side by side and bowed together.

“Second bow—”

Their red robes overlapped as they bent again.

“Third bow—”

Wu Zhaohua turned her head and shot a quick glance at Jiang Huai, the corners of her mouth curving, then she bowed solemnly.

“Fourth bow—”

As the last bow fell, the hall erupted in cheers and applause.

Qi Yurong jumped high, clapping until her hands were red.

Meanwhile, above Wenxuan Sect, a transparent barrier separated the inside from the outside.

Those outside could see inside, but Jiang Zhun inside could not see outside.

Wu Zhaohua had sent invitations to Nine Heavens Palace, but she would not let them in.

Bai Lu, Su Yingman, Chi Hong, Chihuang, Ao Yao, and others could only watch helplessly from outside, looking at the wedding.

Chihuang stamped her feet in anger, her red dragon tail swinging back and forth.

“How infuriating! This is bullying a dragon! Where is the etiquette for receiving guests? This is simply rude!”

Su Yingman and Tang Zhaoxue also looked displeased.

Su Yingman, in her pink skirt, leaned on Tang Zhaoxue’s shoulder, biting her lip and saying nothing.

Tang Zhaoxue crossed her arms and snorted coldly. “What should we do?”

“I don’t know. Let’s watch for a while. Who knows how long she plans to keep our Young Lord of Nine Heavens Palace locked away?” Zhu Siyao said angrily.

Ao Yao hugged her short sword, her green eyes full of resentment.

Cang Jing and Cang Ling stood side by side, one expressionless, the other gnashing her teeth.

Bai Lu said nothing. She just silently watched the figures bowing inside the barrier, her white dress swaying in the wind, her emotions unreadable.

These people hovered in midair, separated by that thin barrier, helplessly watching the wedding feast below in full swing, watching their husband in bright red wedding robes bow to heaven and earth with another woman.

None of them could keep their composure.

Inside the bridal chamber.

Red candles burned high, and the character for “double happiness” was pasted all over the walls.

On the table were a wine pot, wine cups, peanuts, red dates, longan, and lotus seeds.

The bed was covered with a large red brocade quilt, and mandarin duck pillows lay side by side.

Jiang Huai was pushed into the bridal chamber by Wu Zhaohua. He staggered a couple of steps, steadied himself, looked around, and asked curiously, “Huh? We’re not having the bridal chamber in the little courtyard?”

“Of course not. Do you remember what I said before?” Wu Zhaohua said with a smile, a hint of pride rising on her cold, beautiful face.

“What?”

“Hmph, you really didn’t take it seriously!” A flush of anger rose on Wu Zhaohua’s pretty face.

“I said that in the future, you would follow me and live a life of luxury, wearing silk and jewels!”

“Naturally, I want to marry you in the best house!”

She gave Jiang Huai a push, crossed her arms, and looked down at him. “Now, you are mine!”

Jiang Huai finally understood why Wu Zhaohua had only let him bite her these past few days but held back—she had been waiting for today.