The moment Xiao Jin Feng rushed out of the room, he could clearly hear the sound of firecrackers coming from outside the Manor as gongs and drums resounded throughout the sky. Duan Mu Yan's bridal sedan had already arrived at the General Xiao Manor's entrance. Xiao Yin had given the order for the entourage to return to Xiao Manor as fast as possible.
Steward Zhou also followed Xiao Yin's instructions to usher Xiao Ji Feng back into the Main Hall to undertake the ceremony.
As the bridal sedan landed on the ground in front of the Manor's entrance, Duan Mu Yan's heart went from being nervous to frightened. She didn't dare to imagine how would she face Xiao Yuxuan.
The wedding officiator's voice sounded once more.
"The groom kicks the bridal's sedan door…" With that said, Xiao Jin Feng walked to the front of the palanquin with two quick steps. With an indifferent look in his eyes, he kicked the door, and a servant girl brought over a golden hook. Before the officiator could even speak, Xiao Jin Feng had already raised the palanquin's curtain.
"The groom leads the bride from the palanquin and enter the residence…" The officiator glanced at the Prince of Qi with a cold glare. He knew that things were not going well, and to avoid trouble, he overlooked the Prince's disregards of these so-called protocols. As long as this wedding was over, the mission would be considered as complete.
There was not a single trace of warmth in Xiao Jin Feng's gaze. He extended his hand into the sedan's door. At this moment, his only thoughts were of Chu Shirou. He had to hasten this act so he could be with his wife during her final moments.
Seeing a hand reached into the sedan door, Duan Mu Yan's eyes lowered, and she couldn't help but choke. 'Will Yuxuan be here…?' With no other choice, Duan Mu Yan held out her hand into Xiao Jin Feng's palm. But before she could even prepare her body to rise, her entire body had already been viciously dragged out by Xiao Jin Feng.
The sudden force caused Duan Mu Yan to lose her balance, that when she exited the sedan, her jade-like feet was tripped at the edge of the door and caused her to fall unprotected on the ground. The entire crowd instantly fell silent, and everyone's gaze landed on Duan Mu Yan. Indeed, the rumour was true, the Third Princess had an unparalleled beauty, a heavenly beauty that could even match the beauty of a celestial maiden.
The absolute silence turned into whispers. Duan Mu Yan gritted her teeth as she felt an indescribable fear in this midst of numerous spectators. If her royal father was to hear how she had committed such a disgrace, he would definitely ostracize her mother.
With the help of her maidservant, Duan Mu Yan immediately got up. When she subconsciously raised her gaze, she saw Xian Jin Feng's pair of ice-cold eyes.
This is my husband? Is he Xiao Jin Feng? His eyebrows were like sword, and his eyes were like stars. However, his face was stone-cold, his eyes piercing, causing Duan Mu Yan's heart to tremble. He must be unwilling about this marriage, and he must be detesting her now.
After the maidservant fixed the phoenix coronet on Duan Mu Yan's head, the wedding customary acts must continue.
When Duan Mu Yan took a hold of herself upright, Xiao Jin Feng mercilessly grabbed her arm without any warning, which caused an indescribable pain to emerge out from her arm. It turns out that the accident just now had left several bruises on her arms, but no one cared and no one noticed, including Duan Mu Yan herself.
Sensing that Duan Mu Yan's arm seemed to be trembling, Xiao Jin Feng subconsciously lowered his eyes and saw a streak of blood in Duan Mu Yan's hand. Xiao Jin Feng was somehow shocked by the sight and a feeling of unfathomable pity unknowingly seeped right through his heart.
However, he immediately trashed it out as he remembered that this woman was the reason why he couldn't keep up his promise to his wife… and because of this woman too, he's wasting his time in here instead of accompanying Chu Shirou on her remaining hours.
As she thought up to this point, Xiao Jin Feng's hand inexplicably tightened, and his footsteps became quicker. He completely ignored the injuries on Duan Mu Yan's arm. In the front hall, Xiao Yin sat with a plastered smile on his face, although it was clearly stiffed.
The officiator once again bellowed with clear voice as he formally started the ceremony in the main hall.
"First bow to the heavens and earth…"
Xiao Jin Feng bit his lips. With this bow, he had finally broken his oath to Chu Shirou. That unforgettable appearance of the feeble Chu Shirou in the bed before he stormed out of the room earlier appeared once again in his mind, and an unconcealed bitterness flashed past his eyes.
"Second bow to your elders..." Xiao Jin Feng numbly turned around. Just as they were about to kowtow in Xiao Yin's direction, there was a commotion at the entrance.
"Mu Yan! Mu Yan, stop right there! You can't continue this wedding, you don't have to marry Xiao Jin Feng! Big Brother begs you!" His hoarsed voice carried an extreme grief and indignation as he roared. Duan Jingyang desperately pushed his way through the crowd and ran to the front hall.
"Brother…?" Duan Mu Yan lifted the bead curtain in front of her phoenix coronet and looked at her brother in terror. Her heart suddenly in an unknown fear.
"Mu Yan, no need to continue this… Big brother begs you…" Duan Jingyang spoke in a sorrowful voice, his eyes filled with tears.
"Brother… What are you doing here? You can't stop this now… Brother, my mind is made up! If you do this, you'll kill yourself and mother….! Wedding officer… Please, ignore him and continue…" Duan Mu Yan resolutely turned around, looking at the officiator.
"Second bow to your elders…" The ritual office trembled as he spoke.
"Mu Yan… Mother is dead!" Duan Jingyang's declaration was like a sharp blade that mercilessly stabbed into Duan Mu Yan's heart. A sudden bone-piercing chill surged through her body as she gaped with both hands in her chest and mouth, trembling severely. Duan Mu Yan staggered towards her brother and with shaking hands pulled him, looking at him in an utter disbelief.
Seeing the despair in Duan Jingyang's eyes, Duan Mu Yan was struck with lightning! Her brother wasn't lying… 'Mother was truly gone… Why! Oh heavens… why did you forsake mother?!'
"Mother… I want to see Mother… I want to go back… I need to see mother... Please, take me back…" Tears poured down like a waterfall from her eyes as she howled in a heart-wrenching manner, her croaked voice sounded as though it was begging for mercy.
Duan Jingyang pulled his little sister along as they quickly walked towards the entrance. Suddenly, a group of Imperial Guards lined up with their swords and spears blocking their way, and Duan Xingyi impressively appeared in front of them.
"Third Royal Sister…. Aren't you going to complete the ceremony?" A cold and apathetic voice that sounded like a devil's voice shook everyone in attendance. The domineering and cold aura that was emitted by Duan Xingyi's presence caused the spectators to be unable to help themselves but shivered.
"Get lost! Argh…!" Duan Jingyang fiercely rushed forward to push Duan Xingyi away, but he was restrained by Duan Xingyi with just a flip of his hand.
"Someone…." The cold voice rang out again. Duan Jingyang had already been tightly held by two Imperial Guards.
"Bastards…! Let me go! How dare you! I am the First Prince! How dare you touched me…!" No matter how much Duan Jingyang struggled, he couldn't break free from the Imperial Guards' restraints.
"What do you want?!" Duan Mu Yan cried out, and her stunning eyes that were so beautiful as butterflies fluttered even more from anger.
"According to the Emperor's order, the marriage shall continue and no reason to postpone it no matter what. And if anyone dares to disobey or obstructs, we shall kill without mercy!" Duan Xingyi slowly walked towards Duan Mu Yan. His eyes, which were cold as ice, swept across Duan Mu Yan's face before he turned to look at Xiao Jin Feng, who was about to leave, and softly spoke…
"Consort Li is dead… But Duan Jingyang is still alive…. Don't tell me you want to lose two relatives in just a day? If it is, then have your way… walk out of this place right now, and no one would stop you…" Xiao Xingyi's voice was filled with a bloodthirsty aura as he whispered into Duan Mu Yan's ear.
"You…!" Her heart felt as though it was being strangled viciously that it numbed her soul. Right now, she suddenly discovered that she was not strong as she let herself believed to. But rather a weakling that she could not do anything but be at the mercy of others.