Chapter 149

“The auspicious time has arrived!”

The announcer’s voice drew everyone’s attention.

Tan Hanchi also instinctively looked up.

His gaze casually swept across the crowd opposite, and he immediately saw Zuo Anning standing beside the Duke of Yan.

She was wearing a festive silver-red dress, with a layer of white gauze draped over it. Her beautiful eyes were filled with joy as she smiled at the newlyweds in the hall.

Tan Hanchi suddenly remembered the rumors that had been circulating in the capital recently. Some said that the heir of the Duke of Yan had behaved improperly, while others said that his former wife had not adhered to proper conduct.

Fortunately, she seemed to have been unaffected…

That day, after seeing Miss Zuo in the Qiao Mansion, Qiao Brother suddenly asked him about his marriage. At that time, he hadn’t really thought about it.

Later, after thinking about it carefully, he always felt that Qiao Brother seemed to have some intentions in mentioning Miss Zuo to him.

Perhaps with this thought buried in his mind, he couldn’t help but pay more attention to Miss Zuo. Seeing her almost getting hurt during the day, he rushed up without hesitation…

Thinking of this, Tan Hanchi looked at his right hand again.

At that time, in his urgency, he instinctively used a great deal of force. He didn’t know if he had hurt her…

“The two families are united, a contract is formed, and a happy marriage is forever!”

The voice of the announcer once again brought Tan Hanchi’s thoughts back. His gaze quickly swept over the others and fell on Qiao Tianjing.

The Grand Princess had been paying attention to Tan Hanchi the whole time, and seeing him gaze off in a certain direction, she couldn’t help but flicker her eyes.

Unfortunately, they were now at the wedding hall, and to maintain their dignity, she couldn’t afford to look around.

Qiao Jiaojiao, held by Qiao Diyi, watched as her elder brother and sister-in-law began to bow to the heavens and the earth, her heart filled with joy and comfort.

She didn’t know the thoughts of the Grand Princess. After all, in the original story, Tan Hanchi was just a clandestine adviser by the side of the Second Prince, and the Grand Princess didn’t even look at him.

Moreover, only after the Second Prince ascended to the throne did he reveal Tan Hanchi’s existence to the public. By then, the Grand Princess had already married, and she was gloriously named the Grand Princess.

“Bowing to the heavens and the earth to form a happy marriage!”

“Bowing to the parents to remember their kindness!”

“The couple bows to each other to unite in marriage!”

“The ceremony is complete—”

“Send them into the bridal chamber!”

As the cheers fell, the hall erupted into cheers.

Qiao Jiaojiao quickly leaned forward, calling out, “Brother! Brother!”

“Elder brother, let’s go to the bridal chamber!”

Soon, most of the young people in the hall left, with Zuo Anning saying a word to the Duke of Yan before following suit.

Tan Hanchi didn’t hesitate and followed along as well, after all, he had gone to meet the bridegroom’s party in the morning.

Seeing Qiao Jiaojiao leaving, Prince Xi couldn’t sit still and turned to look pitifully at the Crown Prince.

“Brother, I want to go too~”

The Crown Prince helplessly shook his head. “Go ahead, but stay with someone and don’t run around.”

Prince Xi nodded repeatedly, jumped off his stool, and chased after them. When the people from the Western Zhou Dynasty were gone, he dared to call out:

“Sister Qiao! Wait for me! I want to go too!”

Qiao Jiaojiao vaguely heard the voice of Prince Xi and looked back over Qiao Diyi’s shoulder. Sure enough, she saw a short figure rushing towards them desperately.

Feeling extremely happy today, she grinned and waved at him.

“Little Xi!”

Prince Xi smiled even more brightly and quickened his pace.

Most of the young people in the wedding hall had run out, and the older ones had to maintain their dignity. They greeted Qiao Zhongguo and Mrs. Qiao with smiles, secretly glancing at the Crown Prince and exchanging pleasantries.

The Grand Princess saw Tan Hanchi following them out and immediately turned her head to look down.

She was curious as to whom Tan Hanchi had been looking at just now.

As far as she could see, there were ministers whose names were called out in court. If she had to lock in on someone, it seemed that Tan Hanchi had been looking at… the Duke of Yan?

The translation has been updated:

When the Duke of Yan was mentioned, the Grand Princess remembered the recent uproar about the divorce incident.

She had looked into Tan Hanchi and found him to be reserved and steady, unlikely to be interested in baseless rumors.

If there was anything in the Duke of Yan’s mansion that caught her attention, it was firstly the Qiao Mansion, their in-laws, and secondly…

Thinking of this, a sudden inspiration struck the Grand Princess!

She remembered that there was a Miss Zuo in the Duke of Yan’s mansion who was yet to be married!

Perhaps because the Grand Princess herself had entertained the idea of having Tan Hanchi as a son-in-law, she became particularly sensitive and attentive.

She suddenly raised her gaze and signaled to a maid who was already waiting outside.

The maid was not dressed in palace attire but rather in the attire of an ordinary official’s daughter.

After exchanging a glance with the Grand Princess, the maid nodded gently and followed the direction where everyone was making merry in the bridal chamber.

The atmosphere in the Qingzhu Courtyard was truly lively. The main hall was packed with people, everyone chattering away.

The newlywed bride sat on the new bed, covered with a red veil and surrounded by red dates, peanuts, longans, and lotus seeds.

Mrs. Yang handed Qiao Tianjing a red-veiled scale and exclaimed, “Groom, lift the veil!”

Qiao Tianjing took the scale and walked up to Han Yaxian.

Seeing this, everyone stopped talking, preparing to catch a glimpse of the new bride’s beauty.

Qiao Tianjing’s heart thumped as he approached, a flush rising to his face. The scale in his hand was not much heavier than a writing brush, but he felt his hands trembling slightly.

He leaned down slightly and whispered, “I… I’m going to lift the veil.”

Han Yaxian’s hands were already clenched tightly under her spacious wedding gown. Upon hearing Qiao Tianjing’s voice, her face turned even redder with embarrassment.

This fool, didn’t he know that she couldn’t speak until the veil was lifted?

Seeing Qiao Tianjing not receiving a response and hesitating, she fluttered her long eyelashes and nodded slightly.

Almost instantly, the scale reached her eyes and slowly lifted the veil.

The sudden light made Han Yaxian blink uncomfortably, but soon, a shadow covered the light source.

Instinctively, Han Yaxian raised her head and looked into a pair of gentle eyes.

The young man’s features were handsome, his lips curved in a smile, his face filled with genuine joy, completely matching the glimpse she had caught of him at the Lantern Festival.

A rush of joy surged up, making Han Yaxian’s nose tingle. She quickly lowered her head.

Meanwhile, the bridal chamber was filled with a chorus of gasps.

Because this new bride had crescent-like eyebrows, autumn-water eyes, rosy cheeks, and vermilion lips, she was truly elegant and beautiful, captivating everyone.

Qiao Diyi held Qiao Jiaojiao on one side and Prince Xi on the other, smiling broadly.

Qiao Jiaojiao cheered excitedly, “Brother! Brother!”

[Siblings, perfect match! Come on, let’s see the toast between the couple!]

At this moment, two figures walked out from the crowd, representing the groom’s relatives was Tan Hanchi and representing the bride’s relatives was Zuo Anning.

They each held a wine cup and walked towards the newlyweds.

Tan Hanchi didn’t look away, smiling as he handed the wine cup to Qiao Tianjing, saying auspicious words:

“May you be locked together in happiness, forever.”

Qiao Tianjing smiled and accepted it.

Zuo Anning stood beside Han Yaxian, joyfully handing her the wine cup.

“May your love last forever, and may you never part.”

Blushing, Han Yaxian took the wine cup and nodded gratefully to Zuo Anning.

Tan Hanchi and Zuo Anning then stepped aside, while Qiao Tianjing and Han Yaxian exchanged cups in front of everyone.

The main hall immediately erupted into cheers and teasing remarks. Amidst the pushing and shoving, Tan Hanchi and Zuo Anning found themselves squeezed together.

Feeling the sleeves of their clothes brushing against each other, their faces turned red with heat.

Tan Hanchi leaned back as much as he could, his face trying to maintain a calm demeanor, but his ears were already burning red.

In such a festive atmosphere, everyone had forgotten about the formalities and only focused on congratulating the newlyweds.

Outside the crowd, a woman stood on tiptoe, desperately peering inside. Seeing Tan Hanchi and Zuo Anning standing together, their faces flushed, her eyes flashed suddenly, and she hurriedly turned and left…