Today, She Was Truly Beautiful

The auspicious hour arrives, and drums and music fill the air.

Father Wen led Wen Zhaoer, who was dressed in a bright red wedding gown, step by step, to Qin Wangchuan.

The old man looked at his daughter, whom he had raised and treated as his own, his eyes reddening. He had so much to say, but in the end, it all came down to a choked sob.

"... She's a spoiled girl, and quite stubborn. From now on, I'm entrusting her to you."

"Uncle, rest assured." Qin Wangchuan bowed solemnly and accepted the red silk ribbon that led to the bride.

Holding one end of the red silk ribbon, he led the figure covered with a red veil step by step into the hall.

Ultimately, Qin Wangchuan was just going through the motions with this marriage.

Upon reaching the hall, he glanced sideways at the person beside him, whose face was hidden by a red veil.

Whether it was the joyous atmosphere of the room, the wedding dress she had made herself, or something else entirely, it was hard to tell.

He only felt that his Eighth Sister looked exceptionally beautiful today.

Thinking it over, Qin Wangchuan leaned closer and whispered something in a voice only the two people nearby could hear.

You look beautiful today.

Beneath the veil, Wen Zhaoer was taken aback at first.

The voice was so soft that she couldn't immediately tell who had said it in her ear.

It wasn't until several breaths later that he suddenly realized what was happening.

It was him.

Qin Wangchuan!

Her heart suddenly began to pound wildly, a surge of surprise and joy welling up inside her. Qin Zhaoer almost instinctively wanted to say something in response.

But as the words were about to come out, he remembered his father's repeated admonitions.

The wedding ceremony is a solemn occasion, and one must absolutely refrain from whispering or breaking the rules.

So, the Qin Clan's little devil, who was usually fearless and impatient with rules, was...

At that moment, he swallowed back all the words he wanted to say.

She twisted her handkerchief, her face flushed, and walked with impeccable posture, not daring to utter a sound.

But the ears hidden beneath the red silk were already completely red.

"First bow to Heaven and Earth--"

"Bowing to the parents--"

"Husband and wife bow to each other--"

The ceremony is complete.

The hall erupted in cheers and applause, the joyous sounds resounding throughout the room.

Beneath the veil, Wen Zhaoer somewhat dazed.

The noisy and joyful atmosphere of the hall seemed to be separated from her by something, far away.

She had been waiting for this day for far too long.

Now that it's finally here, it feels unreal, like she's walking on clouds, like she's in a dream she never wants to wake up from.

After the wedding ceremony, the wedding banquet proceeded in a continuous stream.

Dozens of tables were set up inside and outside the courtyard for a feast, with toasts, laughter, and drinking games filling the air.

Fan Yuan led the people from Soaring Tower, going from table to table to fend off drinks for Qin Wangchuan.

Uncle Lu blushed and kept praising him for a long time.

For once, Uncle Song didn't put on a stern face and even offered a toast.

Jiang Zhuo sat at the main table, watching this scene, her eyes quietly welling up with tears, repeatedly muttering, "Okay, okay."

A wedding banquet lasted from noon until late at night.

The guests, filled with joy, gradually dispersed.

The bride had already been helped into the bridal chamber by the matchmaker.

Qin Wangchuan had been entertaining guests all night, and now he was being escorted towards the bridal chamber by several guests who were still enjoying themselves. They were exchanging auspicious greetings.

Just before he turned around to go inside—

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a person standing outside the courtyard gate.

The man looked travel-worn and covered in night dew, as if he had traveled a long way.

It's Zhou Heng.

A year has passed, and the impetuous boy of yesteryear has now grown into a tall and composed young man.

"You're a little late." Qin Wangchuan walked over to look at him.

"There's nothing I can do," Zhou Heng grinned. "I'm not like you; it's hard to walk alone in the dark."

As soon as he finished speaking, Qin Wangchuan's gaze fell on his empty right sleeve, which swayed gently in the wind.

That arm is gone.

Qin Wangchuan didn't ask.

Zhou Heng laughed first, then looked down at the empty sleeve.

"I met a little girl in trouble on the road, and I helped her out. That's how... she ended up like this," he said casually.

"Little girl?"

"Hmm." Zhou Heng nodded, a hint of tenderness flashing in his eyes. "In another city."

He paused, then looked up again.

"By the way, Qin Wangchuan, I'm probably getting married soon too."

Qin Wangchuan looked at his empty sleeve and his eyes, which were brighter and more determined than before.

The youthful spirit is gone.

But then, another kind of air rose up.

After a long silence, he spoke softly.

"OK."

"I will be there on your wedding day."

After saying that.

Surrounded by several guests who were still enjoying themselves, Qin Wangchuan headed towards the bridal chamber.

Zhou Heng then stepped into the courtyard, which was filled with festive cheer.

He maintained a composed demeanor despite his travel-worn appearance, but that composure crumbled the moment he stepped through the door.

Facing them was Fan Yuan's gaze.

Another figure, almost staggering, ran towards him.

It was Zhou's mother.

Just now, in front of Qin Wangchuan, a peer, Zhou Heng was able to smile and downplay everything.

They can handle these two people.

Those eyes, which had been strained to stay open, gradually reddened.

"Heng'er... my son..."

Zhou's mother grabbed his empty sleeve, tears streaming down her face, repeating the same sentence over and over again.

"What happened... how did it all turn out like this... how did it all turn out like this...?"

Zhou Heng opened his mouth, but his throat tightened, and he couldn't utter a single word.

Fan Yuan slowly walked over and stopped in front of him.

The master of Soaring Tower, who held sway over a region and was known for his impeccable composure, now looked at the empty sleeve, his eyes reddening, and he almost burst into tears.

He raised his hand and patted Zhou Heng's shoulder heavily.

"I gave you so many things to save your life..."

His voice betrayed an undisguised reproach, and an even deeper sense of lingering fear.

"But you should use it."

After those words, Zhou Heng could no longer hold back.

He grinned, wanting to laugh, but tears rolled down his cheeks first.

"... I didn't have time to use it."

He smiled bitterly, choked back tears, and repeated it.

"I was in too much of a rush... really, I didn't have time."

The courtyard was filled with wedding candles, illuminating the three people.

On one hand, there is immense joy; on the other, there is the relief of surviving a catastrophe by regaining what was lost.

A mixture of joy and sorrow, an indescribable feeling.

Meanwhile, Qin Wangchuan had already pushed open the door to the bridal chamber.

Red candles burned brightly, filling the room with joy.

Wen Zhaoer sat upright on the edge of the bed, her hands still neatly draped under the red veil, her posture unchanged.

Seeing this, he was somewhat surprised.

"That's really strange."

"I was thinking that you, Eighth Sister, would have lifted your veil yourself a long time ago."

That's the truth.

Given Qin Zhaoer's personality, it's truly unprecedented that she has remained so well-behaved and upright from the wedding ceremony until now, without making a single mistake.

Beneath the veil, Qin Zhaoer let out a soft hum.

For once, she adopted a bit of the airs of an older sister, putting on airs.

"Enough with the nonsense," she instructed, feigning maturity. "Follow the rules."

"Come here, lift the veil."

Qin Wangchuan chuckled, and as instructed, stepped forward and, following custom, lifted the red veil.

In the candlelight, her face, adorned with rouge, was dazzlingly beautiful.

The usually willful and arrogant girl was gone; now her eyes were filled with undisguised shyness and joy as she looked at him, her face flushed.

Qin Wangchuan stared for a long time without saying a word.

That gaze made Qin Zhaoer's heart flutter with unease.

Her eyes were lowered, and her long eyelashes trembled slightly like butterfly wings.

After a long pause, she asked in a voice barely audible, yet full of anticipation, "..."

"... Do I look really pretty today?"

(ps: 582 has been revised, some words have been added and the transitions have been improved. If you find it doesn't flow smoothly, please take a look again. Sorry for the delay.)