Chapter Sixteen: Father, Could You Be a Little More Ambitious?

Members of the royal family are indeed generous. When a prince marries his princess, the grandeur is beyond imagination—the wedding procession stretches for ten miles. How much must that cost! What Liu Ling’er didn’t know was that of those ten miles, at least nine were filled with the Imperial Guards, a spectacle arranged by the emperor to give the Prince of Virtue a magnificent show. The rest of the crowd consisted of onlookers, for when the Prince of Virtue takes a bride, there must naturally be the joyous scattering of sweets along the way, drawing a fair number of children into the throng.

Originally, with Xiao Tao supporting her, she was about to step into the bridal sedan, when a pair of strong hands caught her. Startled, Liu Ling’er turned to see Liu Rufeng grasping her hand, tears streaming endlessly down his cheeks.

Seeing her father, crying even more pitifully than a child, Liu Ling’er was utterly at a loss. “Father, you’re the mighty General who guards our nation’s borders. Before so many people, how can you cry like this? Can’t you show a little more dignity?”

The attendants from the Prince of Virtue’s residence, who had come to escort the bride, were all wide-eyed in disbelief. “Good heavens! Had we not witnessed it ourselves, who would have believed that the war-god General Liu could weep? How would his enemies, who flee at the mere mention of his name, ever imagine such a sight?”

Su Yunyun stood beside Liu Ling’er. As a key figure in today’s arrangements, she could not leave Liu Ling’er’s side for a moment. Witnessing the scene, especially Liu Rufeng’s unabashed sobbing, Su Yunyun herself felt discomposed; the display was almost more than she could bear to watch.

Liu Rufeng had lost his wife in middle age, leaving only this precious daughter, cherished and protected as the apple of his eye. Now, seeing her marry and leave home, he truly could not let go.

In the end, it was Liu Ling’er who embraced her father and comforted him, saying, “Father, don’t worry. I’ll take good care of myself. Today is my wedding day—you shouldn’t be crying...”

It was only with great difficulty that she finally entered the flower-adorned sedan. As soon as her head tilted, Liu Ling’er fell asleep; after a sleepless and restless night, exhaustion overtook her, and nothing could keep her awake.

With drums and music playing all the way, the bridal sedan advanced at a snail’s pace toward the Prince of Virtue’s residence. The General’s estate was at the eastern gate of the imperial capital, while the prince’s residence was at the western gate—a distance of little more than ten miles. Normally, the journey would take only an hour, but this time it dragged on for three, and by the time they arrived, the sun was high overhead.

The crowds, far from thinning, grew even denser as they approached the prince’s residence. Yet, despite the clamor, Liu Ling’er slept soundly, miraculously undisturbed. She was, indeed, utterly exhausted.

At the Prime Minister Li’s estate, a man hurried through the corridors. Judging by his attire, he was evidently the steward. Butler Li rushed into the study, burst open the door, and called out, “Master, something has gone wrong! The Prince of Virtue is marrying Miss Liu today, and the wedding procession is already halfway through the city!”

Prime Minister Li slammed his book shut, his face darkening. “What! Wasn’t it supposed to be in three days? How did it become today? I understand; you may go.”

Hearing this news, Prime Minister Li’s expression was unsightly indeed. He had planned to cause some trouble for the prince during the wedding procession, but the sudden change in schedule had rendered his preparations useless.

Retrieving a carrier pigeon from the dovecote, he tied a small note to its leg and released it, muttering to himself, “Do you think you’ve escaped just like that? If I can’t deal with you during the procession, I’ll deal with you tonight. Perhaps the outcome will be even better.”

At last, the bridal sedan arrived at the Prince of Virtue’s residence at noon. Even Su Yunyun, accustomed to martial training, felt scorched in the early spring heat of East Chu, where the temperatures were already rising.

The sedan halted quietly at the prince’s entrance. The Prince of Virtue himself was already waiting at the door. The master of ceremonies called out in a loud voice, “Will His Highness please come forward to kick open the sedan door and welcome his princess inside!”

Bai Li Xian stepped forward and gently kicked at the sedan’s door, yet for a long moment, the curtain remained unmoved. The onlookers, gathered for the spectacle, stared in astonishment at the bridal sedan, all curious as to what was going on.