Joyful music sounded once more. Though the musicians were trembling a little, they played with even greater fervor than before.
The procession set off again, but this time, no one dared show even the slightest hint of contempt.
All that remained in their eyes was awe.
The rest of the journey went by with astonishing ease.
An hour later.
The wedding procession arrived safely at the Zhang Family Courtyard.
The Zhang Family's grounds were festooned with lanterns and decorations, and red carpets covered the ground.
Countless guests had gathered outside well in advance. Now that they saw the procession return intact, every face was piled high with smiles warmer than a father's.
"Congratulations, Young Master Zhang! Best wishes, Young Master Zhang!"
"A match made in heaven—what a perfect couple!"
Amid a chorus of flattery, the bridal sedan came to a steady stop.
Zhang Chen walked up to the sedan and gently tapped its door with his foot.
A pale, yet icy-cold hand reached out from behind the curtain.
Without hesitation, Zhang Chen took hold of it.
It was icy to the touch, as though he were holding a block of ice.
The Cold Poison inside Lin Qingxue was acting up.
He could feel her hand trembling slightly, her palm slick with cold sweat.
Zhang Chen did not let go. Instead, he clasped her hand a little tighter.
With his own warm palm, he passed her a little strength.
"Don't be afraid. You're home now."
He whispered softly in her ear.
Beneath the red bridal veil, Lin Qingxue's body stiffened slightly. Then the taut sense of wariness about her seemed to ease.
She let Zhang Chen lead her across the brazier, a symbol of driving away evil and warding off misfortune.
In the family hall, beneath the pleased gaze of her parents seated in the place of honor, and amid the complicated looks of all the guests,
the two stood side by side.
"First bow—to Heaven and Earth!"
"Second bow—to the parents!"
"Now bow to each other!"
At the officiant's booming calls, the two faced one another and bowed.
The night was as dark as ink, with stars scattered across the sky.
The Zhang Family Courtyard was still brightly lit. The din gradually faded, leaving only the large red lanterns hanging outside the bridal chamber in the back courtyard, swaying gently in the night breeze.
Inside the bridal chamber, the dragon-and-phoenix candles burned brightly, occasionally crackling as little sparks burst from their wicks.
Zhang Chen took a deep breath and calmed his somewhat restless heart.
Having lived two lives, this was his first time getting married.
Although this marriage was steeped in mutual interests and system quests, as he looked at the slender figure seated by the bed, an indescribable sense of responsibility welled up inside him.
He walked slowly to the bed and picked up the jade scale tied with red silk from the tray.
Lin Qingxue seemed to sense him approaching. Her fingers, which had been tightly twisting together on her knees, suddenly went rigid.
She was afraid, and nervous too.
"Don't be afraid."
Zhang Chen spoke gently, his voice soft.
He reached out and carefully slipped the jade scale beneath the edge of her red veil, then lifted it with a light flick.
The red silk slid away, revealing a breathtakingly beautiful face.
Even though he had been prepared, Zhang Chen still froze for a moment.
Beautiful. Far too beautiful.
Though her face was pale, though a lingering trace of illness clouded her brows, that cool and proud bearing, paired with features so flawless they seemed beyond reproach, made her look just like a snow lotus blooming amid ice and snow.
But at that moment, the snow lotus seemed on the verge of freezing solid.
The instant the veil was lifted, visible white frost qi surged from within Lin Qingxue's body,
and the bridal chamber's temperature dropped several degrees in an instant.
Lin Qingxue's eyelashes trembled, and a fine layer of white frost quickly formed on them.
She bit down hard on her lip, seemingly enduring some immense agony with all her might, her body trembling violently without pause.
"What's going on?"
Zhang Chen furrowed his brows and hurriedly grasped her wrist.
The moment he touched her, bone-piercing cold drilled from his fingertips straight into his bones.
"The Cold Poison... it's flaring up..."
Lin Qingxue struggled to force out a few words, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz. "I'm sorry... today is your wedding day... and I..."
Falling ill at a time like this not only spoiled the mood, but was also a very bad omen.
Lin Qingxue was filled with guilt. She felt like a burden.
She could not even keep up the last shred of her dignity.
"Don't say such foolish things."
Zhang Chen cut her off, his tone carrying a hint of reproach, but far more concern.
He quickly pulled an exquisite White Jade Porcelain Bottle from his robes and poured out a crimson pill.
It was a Grade 2 High-grade Crimson Sun Pill, which his father, Zhang Yunshan, had paid a fortune to acquire.
It was specially made to suppress the Cold Poison.
"Open your mouth."
Zhang Chen held the pill to her lips.
Lin Qingxue looked at him hesitantly. This pill was worth a fortune—enough to cover half a month's expenses for a small lineage.
Back at the Lin Family, they had eventually refused to buy her even ordinary Warm Sun Powder.
Yet Zhang Chen had casually brought out such a precious pill.
"Take it."
Zhang Chen said in a tone that brooked no argument. He put the pill directly into her mouth, then picked up the Wedding Wine from the table. "Have a sip to help it go down."
The pill dissolved as soon as it entered her mouth, turning into a warm current that flowed down her throat and into her stomach before spreading through her limbs and bones.
At last, the chill that had nearly frozen Lin Qingxue solid slowly receded, and the faintest hint of color returned to her face.
"Do you feel better?"
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