Supported by two bridesmaids, Xia Qingyue finally appeared before Xiao Che. She wore a vibrant red phoenix coronet adorned with a delicate veil of pearls cascading down to obscure her face entirely, concealing any trace of her expression. Her sleek, dark hair was softly bound behind her, and she was clad in a formal, straight-collared red robe intricately embroidered with cloud and phoenix patterns, her waist cinched to reveal a graceful figure. Around her waist lay a fine jade belt, with strands of pearl tassels trailing from it, and on her feet, she wore golden embroidered shoes. Her splendid attire only served to heighten her luminous elegance.
Guided gently by the bridesmaids, Xia Qingyue moved toward the bridal sedan where Xiao Che awaited, each step light and poised as though she were floating. Ordinary women simply walked, but Xia Qingyue moved with such ethereal grace that even this simple act captivated Xiao Che's gaze, leaving him with an unbidden sense of awe.
Upon reaching the sedan, the bridesmaids withdrew. According to the marriage customs of the Blue Wind Empire, it was now the groom's role to assist the bride into the sedan. Xiao Che stepped forward, extending his hand toward Xia Qingyue, who in turn raised her delicate fingers toward his. But just as her hand was about to touch his, a piercing chill emanated from her fingertips, freezing his entire arm with an intense, prickling cold that left it rigid and immobile. Xia Qingyue's hand hovered just above his, appearing to accept his assistance as she elegantly entered the sedan. To onlookers, it seemed as if she had accepted his support.
The numbing cold faded from his hand, and Xiao Che let his arm drop, his face calm and silent. Apart from a fleeting furrow in his brow when the chill hit, he betrayed no other reaction, nor did he utter a single sound.
If anyone had lifted the veil from Xia Qingyue's face at that moment, they would have caught a flash of surprise in her gaze, though it quickly receded into indifference.
Xiao Che mounted his horse, and the bridal procession set out in grand fashion, with the Xia family's escort team following closely as they headed back to the Xiao residence. An hour and a half later, they returned to the Xiao Clan's gates. The journey had been unexpectedly smooth and uneventful, disappointing those who had hoped for some drama to disrupt the wedding.
Xiao Lie, standing by the gate, personally greeted the guests. Most of those present were there for his or the Xia family's sake rather than to celebrate Xiao Che himself. Given Xiao Lie's influence in Floating Cloud City and the Xia family's connections, the gathering was substantial. Crowds gathered outside the gates, blocking the road, all eager for a glimpse of Floating Cloud City's most celebrated beauty on her wedding day.
As Xia Qingyue's sedan came to a stop, her maid Xia Dongling lifted the corner of the curtain and softly announced, "Miss, we have arrived."
Xia Qingyue extended a hand and, assisted by Dongling, gracefully descended from the sedan. The instant she stepped out, the once-deafening crowd fell silent, replaced by the sound of collective, awestruck gasps.
The sun was high, casting a warm and gentle glow over her in her phoenix crown and wedding robe, setting her ablaze with resplendent brilliance. Her intricate hairstyle was adorned with exquisite golden hairpins, and from her crown dangled delicate beaded tassels that swayed with each movement. Draped in a luxurious red robe embroidered with phoenix patterns, bound by a sash of matching brocade, she was a vision of breathtaking elegance, her face barely visible through the thin veil yet as dazzling as a celestial goddess.
One breathless sigh followed another as countless pairs of eyes fixated on her, unable to look away. Such was Xia Qingyue's allure; even without showing her face, her otherworldly grace and poise rendered her like an ethereal beauty stepping out from a painting.
A red silk ribbon was draped over Xia Qingyue's hand by her maid, the other end of which was tied around Xiao Che's hand. He walked forward with a serene smile, leading Xia Qingyue across the threshold, over a ceremonial brazier, past a saddle, and through the gate of the Xiao Clan's main hall.
Entering the Xiao residence, the lively chatter persisted. Xiao Che remained calm, his steps unwavering, hoping to bring this wedding to an end as quickly as possible.
The Xiao Clan's grand council hall, reserved only for the clan head or elders, had been lavishly decorated for the occasion. Ornate yellow crystals adorned the carved beams, while twin dragons chasing pearls were intricately painted across the walls, encrusted with luminous pearls that cast a golden glow throughout the hall. A red carpet stretched down the center, leading to a raised platform gleaming with a subdued golden light. Of course, the Xiao Clan would never spend so extravagantly on Xiao Che's wedding. The lavish decorations were all courtesy of the Xia family; Xia Hongyi spared no expense for his daughter's marriage.
At the top of the hall, Xiao Lie and Xia Hongyi were already seated, watching with smiles as Xiao Che and Xia Qingyue entered. On either side of the red carpet were three rows of rosewood seats, already filled. Clan Leader Xiao Yunhai and the other elders occupied prominent positions, and as Xiao Che entered with a cheerful expression, they remained outwardly composed, though their eyes betrayed a collective disdain.
For the Xiao Clan, a family of cultivators, Xiao Che—born with defective profound veins—was a disgrace. Were it not for his status as Xiao Lie's grandson, he would have been cast out to the family's remote estates. If not for marrying the Xia family's esteemed daughter, none of the elders would have troubled themselves to attend.
To them, Xiao Che's name evoked only a single word: "worthless." His presence wasn't worth a thought, much less their recognition, in this reality where respect followed power, even within one's own family.
The younger members of the Xiao Clan held expressions as unified as the elders'. When they looked at Xia Qingyue, they were entranced; but when their gaze fell on Xiao Che, jealousy and rage burned in their eyes. Here was a man whom even the clan's outer disciples scorned, marrying the woman who was the unattainable dream of every young talent in Floating Cloud City. Watching the two step into matrimony, the bitterness was like swallowing a mouthful of bile.
The wedding officiant, Xiao De, the steward of the Xiao Clan's internal affairs, began to announce the proceedings of the marriage ceremony.
From introducing the bride and groom to reading out the list of honored guests, Xiao Che kept his expression calm and his thoughts detached, his mind lingering on a single puzzling question…
When Xia Qingyue's hand had nearly touched his at the Xia family estate, what had caused that sudden, bone-chilling sensation? Could it be some form of profound technique? He had never heard of any profound arts in Floating Cloud City that would account for such an intense, silent release of cold, paralyzing energy. Xia Qingyue's progress—reaching the tenth level of the Elementary Profound Realm at sixteen—was indeed impressive, but even so, her profound level was still within the basics. Yet the energy she had unleashed was potent enough to immobilize his entire arm. What kind of profound technique could wield such power at this level?
Or… could Xia Qingyue, already at the peak of the Elementary Profound Realm at sixteen, be concealing even greater strength?
The officiant's voice halted, followed by a pause, then resumed in a higher pitch:
"First bow to heaven and earth!"
Xiao Che's mind snapped back to the present as he turned to glance at Xia Qingyue beside him. Together, they bent in unison, bowing to the heavens and the earth.
"Second bow to the elders!"
Turning, they respectfully bowed toward Xiao Lie and Xia Hongyi. Xiao Lie smiled warmly, his gaze tender as he looked upon Xiao Che and his newly arrived granddaughter-in-law, while Xia Hongyi mirrored his happiness, showing not a trace of reluctance for the marriage.
"Spouses, bow to each other!"
Xiao Che turned to face Xia Qingyue, and at that same moment, she turned to face him without a hint of hesitation. This lack of reluctance gnawed at the hearts of the Xiao Clan's younger members. They had assumed Xia Qingyue would resent this marriage to Xiao Che, who they deemed worthless. Yet, to their dismay, she conducted herself with unwavering grace, betraying no sign of unwillingness.
As they bowed to each other, Xiao Che glimpsed, through the slight parting of the pearl veil, a pair of cool, emotionless eyes.
At that moment, there should have been an outpouring of applause, laughter, and cheers. Instead, only a few hesitant claps sounded, casting a sense of awkwardness across the hall.
"Heh, congratulations, Fifth Elder, and to you, Brother Xia," Xiao Yunhai, the clan leader, spoke up with a congenial smile.
"Yes, a hearty congratulations to Fifth Elder indeed," the First Elder, Xiao Li, added with a dry tone, his words carrying a faint trace of irony that was impossible to miss.
Second Elder Xiao Bo chuckled as well, adding, "With such a granddaughter-in-law, the entire Xiao Clan shares in the honor. The Xia family has always been a merchant dynasty, and finding such a son-in-law is quite fitting. Congratulations."
The atmosphere in the hall grew colder as the supposed "congratulations" grew laden with veiled derision, leaving the meaning behind the elders' words plain for all but the most oblivious to hear.