Ren Yingying was overjoyed and quickly said, “Thank you, Senior Xu. Please rest assured, I am not one to gossip.”
The two entered hand in hand. Xia Qingqing greeted them with a forced smile and asked, “So, how did the discussion go?”
Ren Yingying nodded. “We’ve reached a decision. Since you are so magnanimous, we’ll humbly accept.”
“Good!” Xia Qingqing raised an eyebrow. “Someone, prepare the phoenix coronet, bridal robes, and dragon-phoenix candles at once!”
Ren Yingying was taken aback. “Right… right now?” She had initially thought that even if they were to marry, it would take a few days, giving her time to discuss terms with Senior Xu Ruowu. Little did she expect Xia Qingqing to be in such a rush.
Xia Qingqing, with her hands behind her back, approached Ren Yingying and scrutinized her flawless, delicate face. When Ren Yingying could no longer endure her intense gaze and looked away, Xia Qingqing said, “No man could resist a stunning beauty like Miss Ren. My agreement to let you marry is just a passing whim. If I wait a few days, I might regret giving such a beautiful fiancée to another man.”
“Shameless!” Ren Yingying’s cheeks flushed as she silently cursed. Strangely, though, hearing Song Qingshu praise her beauty didn’t annoy her as much as it used to. Perhaps Ah Jiu’s earlier outburst had shaken her confidence, making this compliment feel unexpectedly reassuring.
Given Song Qingshu’s shameless nature, Ren Yingying worried he might go back on his word in a few days. Resigned, she said, “Fine. If we’re getting married now, then let’s get married now.”
Seeing Ren Yingying take the bait, Xia Qingqing nodded in satisfaction. She turned to Song Qingshu and asked with a smirk, “And what about you, young hero Linghu? What do you think?” She deliberately emphasized the name “Linghu,” hinting at the secret only the three of them knew.
Suppressing a smile, Song Qingshu nodded. “If Yingying agrees, then I have no objections.”
“Then let’s have the grandmaster officiate this wedding,” Xia Qingqing said, bowing respectfully to Zhang Sanfeng.
“This…” Zhang Sanfeng hesitated. He had come here to discuss something important with Song Qingshu, not expecting so many complications. After a long pause, he nodded. “Very well.”
Ren Yingying felt like she was in a daze. Before she knew it, the maids had dressed her in the phoenix coronet and bridal robes. Gazing at the radiant beauty in the bronze mirror, she couldn’t resist touching her cheeks. The warmth beneath her palm made her heart race.
Though this marriage was only a facade, everything about it—except the intention—was as real as any true wedding.
‘So, this is what it feels like to be a bride?’ Ren Yingying thought, her heart a swirl of emotions. ‘If only the groom was Brother Chong…’
“The auspicious hour has arrived. Bride, it’s time to proceed!” The voice of an elderly woman interrupted Ren Yingying’s thoughts. She reluctantly pulled the red veil over her head and followed the woman step by step into the hall.
After a series of elaborate rituals, the ceremony reached its most critical stage.
“Bow to Heaven and Earth!”
The announcement startled Ren Yingying. Was she really going to bow to Heaven and Earth with this stranger? Although it was a sham wedding, the ritual itself was genuine. Once it was completed, everyone would see her as his wife.
She hesitated, remaining rooted in place, drawing whispers from the onlookers. Xia Qingqing frowned and whispered to her, “Miss Ren, it’s not too late to regret now. Song here would gladly take you as his bride.”
“Bah!” Ren Yingying spat silently. Without further delay, she bowed alongside Song Qingshu.
“Bow to the parents!”
With the precedent set, the rest of the ceremony proceeded smoothly. Neither of their parents was present, so Xia Qingqing nominated Zhang Sanfeng to act as their “parent.” Ren Yingying, hoping to leverage Zhang Sanfeng’s reputation to deter her father, didn’t object. Song Qingshu had no reason to protest either, as Zhang Sanfeng was his grandmaster in every sense of the word.
“Bow to each other!”
Hearing these words, Ren Yingying felt a jolt in her heart. But by now, she had no choice but to go through with it. Numbly, she bent forward in a ceremonial bow.
Through the veil, she caught sight of Song Qingshu’s lower half. Her mind raced. ‘Is this man really going to be my husband?’ Quickly, she dismissed the thought. ‘No, no! He’s just standing in for Chong. My real husband can only be Chong.’
“Send them to the bridal chamber!”
Ren Yingying’s heart sank. She hadn’t discussed the bridal chamber arrangements with Senior Xu. If he truly entered, she would fight him to the death! But then she remembered his unfathomable martial arts and couldn’t help but despair. If he harbored ill intentions, how could she resist? She shuddered at the thought.
‘If I were to be defiled, it might as well be by that scoundrel Song Qingshu…’ Startled by her own thoughts, Ren Yingying mentally chastised herself. ‘What nonsense! Senior Xu is a gentleman and would never bully me. Even if he tried, I’d expose everything. With Zhang Sanfeng and Song Qingshu here, he wouldn’t dare act recklessly.’
Unbeknownst to herself, Ren Yingying’s perception had shifted. Initially, she had seen Senior Xu as an ally against Song Qingshu. But after this sham wedding, her subconscious began to guard against Xu while finding Song Qingshu oddly dependable.
Lost in her musings, Ren Yingying returned to the bridal chamber. As everyone else left, she quickly removed her veil, pacing the room anxiously and considering all the possibilities. She was too restless to sit still.
After what felt like an eternity, her exhaustion began to catch up with her. Sleepiness crept in, but she dared not succumb. If the fake groom arrived and turned the act into reality, she would have no one to cry to.
Determined, she steeled herself to wait for “Xu Ruowu.” Once he arrived, she would clarify everything and ensure they didn’t share the room overnight.
Just as she was on the verge of collapse, Song Qingshu stumbled drunkenly into the room. The strong scent of alcohol made Ren Yingying frown. Instinctively, she stepped back, her hand gripping the dagger hidden in her sleeve. The cold touch of the blade steadied her chaotic thoughts, if only slightly.
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