Liuli blinked her confused eyes and looked down at her clothes. The plain maid's outfit she had been wearing was long gone, replaced by a bright red wedding dress embroidered with golden phoenixes.
A red bridal veil appeared in Xiao Yan's hand. He gently placed it over her head, then, before she could react, scooped her straight into his arms. He looked no different from a bandit who had just snatched himself a Bandit Queen.
"Y-you-you..."
The Young Girl was so startled that she could not even speak. She kept patting Xiao Yan's back. Though a layer of red cloth covered her face, she could still imagine everyone's eyes gathering on her.
"What? You've already stormed someone else's capital, and now you want to flee at the last moment? With so many people watching, you don't want the whole continent gossiping about you tomorrow, do you?" Xiao Yan whispered beside her ear, his tone full of mischievous delight.
Liuli trembled all over and finally stopped struggling. She said softly, "I'm not running. Put me down!"
Xiao Yan nodded in satisfaction, set her down, tightly grasped her little hand, and led her toward the elders.
Xiao Zhan watched the young couple being so lovey-dovey with a beaming smile. Only after they approached did he smile at Gongsun Lin on his left. "Look at them. Their relationship is really good!"
Gongsun Lin kept a straight face, though he still nodded in agreement. He sternly told Xiao Yan, "In the future, you must not let my daughter suffer even the slightest grievance. Do you understand?"
Xiao Yan bowed solemnly. "I shall heed Father-in-law's teachings!"
"Hmph!" Gongsun Lin snorted. Unable to withstand Gongsun Yu repeatedly pinching his waist beside him, he waved a hand and declared heartily, "Begin the ceremony!"
Firecrackers rang out, and