Nanfeng said, “Where are we going to find a man willing to—”

Before he could finish, both their gazes shifted.

Xie Lian continued to smile faintly, “???”

Evening, Nanyang Temple.

Xie Lian, hair disheveled, emerged from behind the temple.

The two guarding the temple entrance saw him. Nanfeng immediately cursed, “Damn it!!!” and rushed out.

Xie Lian was speechless for a moment, “Why such a reaction?”

Anyone could see he was a handsome young man with gentle features.

But precisely because of that, a handsome young man wearing a woman’s wedding dress—the image was difficult for many to bear. Nanfeng, for example, personally couldn’t accept it, hence his extreme reaction.

Seeing Fuyun standing still, his gaze sweeping up and down, Xie Lian said, “Do you have something to say?”

Fuyun nodded, “If I were the ghost groom, if someone sent me a woman like this…”

Xie Lian said, “You’d destroy the town?”

Fuyun said coldly, “No, I’d kill this woman.”

Xie Lian smiled, “Then it’s fortunate I’m not a woman.”

Fuyun said, “I think you should ask the spirit communication array if any god official can teach you how to shapeshift. That’s more practical.”

Indeed, several god officials in the Celestial Realm, due to special needs, mastered shapeshifting. But learning it now was probably too late. Nanfeng, looking grim, entered. After cursing, he calmed down considerably, just like the general he served. Seeing it was late, Xie Lian said, “Forget it, the veil will cover it all.” He was about to put it on when Fuyun stopped him. “Wait. You don’t know how the ghost groom harms people. If he lifts the veil and discovers the deception, and gets enraged, causing unexpected changes, wouldn’t that create more trouble?”

Xie Lian thought this made sense. As he took a step, he heard a “rip.”

The red wedding dress Fuyun had found for him was ill-fitting.

Women’s bodies are generally smaller. He could fit into the waist, but lifting his sleeves or taking a step was extremely restrictive. With a large movement, the clothes tore. As he was searching for the tear, a voice came from the temple entrance: “Excuse me…”

The three looked in that direction. Xiaoying, holding a neatly folded white robe, stood at the temple entrance, timidly looking at them.

She said, “I remember seeing you here last night, so I came to see if I’d meet you again… I’ve washed the clothes, here they are. Thank you for yesterday and today.”

Xie Lian was about to smile at her, but remembering his current appearance, decided not to speak much to avoid scaring her.

Unexpectedly, Xiaoying wasn’t scared, but took a step forward, “You are… if you like, I can help you?”

“…” Xie Lian said, “No, miss, don’t misunderstand, I don’t have that kind of hobby.”

Xiaoying quickly said, “I know, I know. I mean, if you don’t mind, I can help you. You… you’re going to catch the ghost groom, right?”

Her voice and face brightened. “I… I can alter clothes, I always carry needles and thread, I can fix anything that’s wrong. I’m also good at makeup and hairdressing, let me help you!”

“…”

Two incense sticks later, Xie Lian once again emerged from behind the temple, head bowed.

This time, the bride’s veil was in place. Nanfeng and Fuyun seemed to want to take a peek, but ultimately decided to cherish their eyesight. The palanquin they had found was at the temple entrance, and the carefully selected bearers had been waiting for a long time. Under the dark moon and strong wind, His Highness the Crown Prince, in his new wedding attire, boarded the bright red palanquin.

Author’s Note: The original cover art’s “C 天 R 地” is supposed to be “艹天日地” (a vulgar phrase), but the cover needs to be more appropriate, so I couldn’t write it.

The bride’s first glimpse when lifting the veil is only for her husband!!!!

I will mention the attack in the chapter summary, so please don’t worry.

The palanquin was entirely covered in bright red silk, embroidered with auspicious patterns of flowers, moon, dragons, and phoenixes. Nanfeng and Fuyun flanked the palanquin. Xie Lian sat inside, swaying gently with the bearers.

The eight bearers were all highly skilled officers. To find strong bearers for the fake wedding procession, Nanfeng and Fuyun went to the official’s mansion and showed off their skills, stating their intention to investigate Junshan Mountain at night. The official readily provided eight tall and strong officers. However, the reason for choosing highly skilled officers wasn’t to expect their help, but to ensure they could protect themselves and escape if the ghost attacked.

But in fact, these eight officers looked down on them. They were top-notch fighters in the mansion, leaders among their peers. These two pretty boys dared to order them around and make them bearers, which made them very unhappy. They couldn’t disobey orders, so they suppressed their displeasure, but their resentment inevitably manifested itself in their work—they deliberately swayed and shook the palanquin. Outsiders wouldn’t notice, but anyone inside, slightly delicate, would likely vomit.

As they swayed, they heard Xie Lian sigh softly. Several officers secretly reveled in their success.

Fuyou said coolly from outside, “Miss, what’s wrong? Are you crying tears of joy at your late marriage?”

Indeed, many brides cry in the palanquin. Xie Lian chuckled, but his voice was calm and steady, without any sign of discomfort from the swaying. “No. I just realized something important is missing from this wedding procession.”

Nanfeng said, “Missing what? We should have prepared everything.”

Xie Lian smiled, “Two maidservants.”

“…”

The two outside glanced at each other, seemingly imagining something, and shuddered. Fuyou said, “Just pretend your family is poor and can’t afford maidservants. Make do.”

Xie Lian said, “Alright.”

Hearing their banter, the bearers couldn’t help but smile. Their resentment dissipated, and they became slightly more friendly, and the palanquin became steadier. Xie Lian leaned back, sat upright, and closed his eyes to rest.

However, not long after, a series of children’s laughter suddenly sounded in his ear.

Giggles and chuckles.

The laughter spread like ripples in the wilderness, ethereal and eerie. However, the palanquin didn’t stop. Even Nanfeng and Fuyou didn’t speak, as if they hadn’t noticed anything unusual.

Xie Lian opened his eyes and whispered, “Nanfeng, Fuyou.”

Nanfeng, on the left side of the palanquin, asked, “What’s wrong?”

Xie Lian said, “Something’s coming.”

By now, the “wedding procession” had entered the depths of Junshan Mountain.

The surroundings became quieter, and even the creaking of the palanquin, the sound of crushing branches and leaves, and the bearers’ breathing seemed slightly noisy in the silence.

The children’s laughter hadn’t disappeared. Sometimes far away, as if deep in the mountains, sometimes close, as if right beside the palanquin.

Nanfeng’s expression became serious. “I didn’t hear anything.”

Fuyou also said coldly, “Neither did I.”

The other bearers certainly didn’t hear anything either.

Xie Lian said, “That means it’s deliberately letting only me hear it.”

The eight officers, initially confident in their martial arts, and believing the ghost groom’s wedding had no pattern and they’d return empty-handed tonight, weren’t particularly afraid. But somehow, they suddenly remembered the forty missing wedding officers, and a few of them started sweating slightly. Xie Lian noticed someone’s steps faltered. “Don’t stop. Pretend nothing’s happening.”