The abstinent prince, practicing Buddhism, is seduced by a voluptuous beauty into breaking his vows.

Chapter 171 Welcoming the Bride

Before dawn, the Yongning Marquis's residence was already bustling with activity.

Red silk hung from the eaves, and wedding candles lit up the courtyard. Maids and servants hurried about, carrying hot water, face powder, and wedding dresses, moving in and out, busy but not chaotic.

When Su Yaoyao was dug out of bed, she couldn't even open her eyes.

"Miss! Get up quickly!" Chun Tao's voice boomed in her ear, "The auspicious time cannot be missed!"

Su Yaoyao opened her eyes groggily and saw a room full of people.

Madam Jiang sat by the bed, her face full of loving kindness.

Jiang Wan Ning held the washbasin, her eyes sparkling. Her aunt and several nannies stood in a circle, holding various things she couldn't name.

"Get up, get up." Old Madam Jiang pulled her up. "Today is your big day, you can't stay in bed."

Su Yaoyao rubbed her eyes as she was pressed in front of the dressing table.

What followed was an hour of fussing.

Bathing, changing clothes, combing hair, facial cleansing—

"One comb to the end, two combs to white hair reaching the eyebrows, three combs to a house full of children and grandchildren..."

The voice of Lady Quanfu echoed in her ears. Su Yaoyao looked at herself in the bronze mirror, watching her gradually transform into the image of a bride.

A bright red wedding dress, an elaborate golden phoenix crown, and meticulously drawn eyebrows and eyes.

She suddenly felt a little dazed.

I'm really going to marry him.

"My little Yaoyao has grown up..."

Hearing her grandmother's voice, Su Yaoyao became more alert and turned her head.

"Grandma, please don't cry."

Old Madam Jiang wiped away her tears.

"Don't cry, don't cry, Grandma is happy."

"Miss!" Chun Tao's eyes welled up with tears. "You look so beautiful..."

Su Yaoyao stood up and turned around in front of the mirror.

The hem of her wedding dress trailed on the ground, like a blooming peony.

This is the first time she has ever worn a wedding dress, both in her past and present lives.

This is my first marriage.

She married that aloof and cold man who doted on her to the core.

Her gaze, however, was fixed on the view outside the window.

It's almost dawn.

He should already be on his way, right?

Just then, I heard footsteps outside.

"So graceful!"

Anar was the first to rush in, followed by Chu Qingzi.

"Wow—" Anar circled Su Yaoyao, her eyes wide with amazement. "Little sister, you look so beautiful today! If I were a man, I'd marry you too!"

Su Yaoyao was amused by her.

"Don't give me that."

Chu Qingzi walked over, looked at Old Madam Jiang, paused slightly, then looked at Su Yaoyao in her bright red wedding dress, her eyes even turning a little red.

"nice."

Xie Yu and Ashina Lie peered inside, only to be stopped by a shout from Old Madam Jiang.

"Wait outside! Do you think you can just look at the bride like that?"

The two slunk back inside.

Ashina Lie muttered softly, "Let's see what's wrong..."

Xie Yu bumped into him.

"Stop talking, or you won't even be able to get in the door."

---

The Eastern Palace.

Xiao Chenyuan got up even earlier than Su Yaoyao.

He was dressed in a bright red wedding robe, standing in front of the mirror, looking at himself.

The bright red color made him look less aloof and more down-to-earth.

Ling Feng waited nearby, his eyes downcast and his mind focused.

"Your Highness, the auspicious time is almost here."

Xiao Chenyuan nodded.

"Let's go," he said.

---

The wedding procession set off from the East Palace and headed in a grand procession toward the Yongning Marquis's residence.

Xiao Chenyuan rode on a jet-black steed, dressed in a bright red wedding robe, which made his usually aloof face appear less distant and more approachable. With a golden crown binding his hair and a jade belt around his waist, he looked as handsome as if he had stepped out of a painting.

The person who was usually aloof and distant had a hint of a smile in his eyes today.

No, not a few points.

It's the kind of thing that can't be hidden no matter what.

Behind her was a large red sedan chair carried by sixteen men, and a dowry procession of thirty-six bearers, surrounded by hundreds of guards. The air was filled with the deafening sounds of gongs and drums, and the streets were packed with people.

Among the onlookers, a girl couldn't help but scream softly.

"His Highness the Crown Prince looks absolutely stunning today!"

"I heard that the Crown Prince even changed ancestral rules to marry this Crown Princess!"

"That's truly spoiling them to the core..."

Xiao Chenyuan ignored him, staring straight ahead.

We're almost at the Yongning Marquis's residence.

I'll see her soon.

---

The sounds of gongs, drums, and firecrackers could be heard several streets away.

Su Qingrun stood at the door, looking at the long and impressive procession, her expression complex.

Xie Yu leaned closer.

"My lord, are you nervous?"

Su Qingrun remained expressionless.

"What's there to be nervous about?"

"Marrying off your sister," Xie Yu said with the air of someone who'd been there before. "Although I've never married off my sister, just thinking about it makes my heart ache."

Su Qingrun remained silent.

Xie Yu patted him on the shoulder.

"It's okay, just don't cry when you carry her out later."

Su Qingrun glared at him.

Who cried?

Ashina Lie also came over.

"I've heard that in the Central Plains, when a daughter gets married, the brother has to carry her to the sedan chair. Are you strong enough for that?"

Su Qingrun looked at him.

"Why don't you give it a try?"

Ashina Lie laughed.

"Sure, if you can't carry it later, I'll help you."

Su Qingrun ignored him.

"They're here! They're here!" Xie Yu's voice rang out. "Your Highness has arrived!"

Ashina Lie stood beside him, squinting as he gazed into the distance.

The two looked at each other and clenched their fists simultaneously.

"Are you ready?" Xie Yu asked.

"Ready," Ashina Lie replied.

"To vent my anger!"

"Um!"

The two made a vow by high-fiving.

Jiang Jingchen stood behind, sighing and rubbing his forehead.

Jiang Jingchen, still "unconscious," stood behind in disguise, sighing and rubbing his forehead.

Chu Qingzi stood beside him, still with that aloof and cold demeanor, but the corners of her lips were slightly raised.

"Aren't you going to do anything about it?" she asked.

Jiang Jingchen shook his head.

"It's beyond our control."

Chu Qingzi glanced at him.

"Then what are you doing here?"

Jiang Jingchen thought for a moment.

"To watch the excitement."

Chu Qingzi chuckled softly.

-----

A bright red figure appeared on the street corner, getting closer and closer.

Xiao Chenyuan reined in his horse and stopped, looking at the group of people at the door, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"What is this all about?"

Anar stepped forward.

"Your Highness! If you wish to receive your bride, you must first pass our test!"

Xiao Chenyuan raised an eyebrow; he was unusually agreeable today. "So, what do you want?"

Ashina Lie's voice rang out.

"First challenge! Drinking!"

"Ten bowls! You can only enter after you've finished them all!"

On the wedding table in front of the mansion, there were ten large bowls of wine, the aroma of which filled the air and was clearly strong liquor.

Ling Feng laughed to the side, but only he knew that because the Crown Princess loved to drink, His Highness the Crown Prince had been practicing a lot lately for his wife!

Xiao Chenyuan glanced at it.

Then he tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp.

A gasp came from behind the door.

"I really drank it!"

"Again!"

After finishing ten bowls, Xiao Chenyuan remained expressionless, though a hint of heat appeared in his eyes.

"Can we open it now?"

The group fell silent for a moment.

"Alright, you pass." Ashina Lie stepped forward. "The second test: a martial arts contest!"

Xie Yu also came over to stand up.

"That's right! Let's exchange a few blows!"

Jiang Jingchen, standing next to him, nudged him. "Didn't we agree on archery? How did it turn into a martial arts competition?"

Xie Yu gritted his teeth, "Jealousy has made me unrecognizable. I don't care if he's the groom or not, I'm going to beat him up to vent my anger!"

Xiao Chenyuan looked at the two of them.

"Together?"

Xie Yu was stunned for a moment, then became furious.

"Let's go together!"

The two got into fighting stances and pounced on Xiao Chenyuan.

Then--

After an incense stick has burned.

Xie Yu lay on the ground, while Ashina Lie leaned against the wall, both panting heavily.

Xiao Chenyuan straightened his sleeves, still maintaining his aloof demeanor.

"Thank you for your concession."

Xie Yu: "..."

Ashina Lie: "..."

Anar took a deep breath.

"The third challenge! I'll take it!"