Chapter 29 Chapter Twenty-Eight

From imprisoning Yang Yizhi to the wedding, there were only seven days. During these seven days, Zhuo Wangsun kept Xiangsi by his side.From dawn to dusk, the two of them faced each other silently as if they were on that small boat. Every evening, he would give her a gift. He made up for all the tenderness he owed her to her over the years. It's like seeing her every time is the last time. On the first day, it was a new lotus. In the lake in early summer, lotus leaves are all over the pond, and the fields face each other.There was only one pink lotus, which anxiously emerged from the pile of lotus leaves, timidly looking at the world of the rest of the catastrophe.He took it off with his own hands and handed it to her.There was a blush on her cheeks, she held it in front of her chest, stared at it for a long time, but carefully took off one of the petals, took his hand, and put the flower back.

The lotus unfolded in his palm, with a touch of coolness.Zhuo Wangsun did not speak.He knew the meaning of this action.When they first met, there was also such a lotus falling from her hand.That time, he took off one of the petals and put the lotus back into the water. He remembered this scene, and she also remembered it.There are tens of thousands of lotus flowers in the world, but only this lotus with one petal left is a little cinnabar in her heart. On the second day, it was a small log cabin.The wooden house is built in imitation of the drunk lotus building in Huayin Pavilion, but it is much smaller.That's what she wants.She never told him that she didn't want a house that was too big, nor did she want to be decorated with carved beams and painted buildings.It's just a small wooden house, with vines crawling behind the house, and a pond in front of the house, full of lotus flowers in summer.

That is her home. She also secretly thought that after they got married, the two would live here.The Xusheng Baiyue Palace is too big and too cold.It's just that this wish was too unrealistic, and she never dared to say it.However, just thinking about it in my heart is extremely sweet.She didn't want much. There was such a small wooden house in the world, which only belonged to him and her. It was enough for him to come here once in a while.For the rest of the time, she would sit by the window and wait for him quietly, full of hope and happiness.Even if the ten-day wait is only to meet each other for a moment; even if all the years are exhausted in watching.

On the third day, he took her, changed into ordinary clothes, and came to the market in Pyongyang, where he accompanied her to buy lead powder, jewelry, and dishes.Although he has already prepared the best for her.But like all newlyweds, she still decorates her small home with happiness and longing.Perhaps because of the skill of the disguise technique, no one in the market recognized them. The two held hands and shuttled through the crowd freely, without any worries. Xiangsi would also try to bargain with the hawkers, but she couldn't help laughing as soon as she opened her mouth.She suppressed the price arbitrarily, and used all the methods she had just learned to negotiate with the peddler. The price was pressed again and again, and the peddler was so angry that he blew his beard and stared at him. Finally, he handed the goods to her heartbroken, but she left twice the price. Copper plate, ran away with Zhuo Wangsun.And no matter what she bought, she always handed it to Zhuo Wangsun until he piled up a hill in his hands and couldn't put it down anymore.On that day, this rainy city was also illuminated by the sun. In the blue sky, the white clouds changed silently.The sun is like a naughty child, teasing the shadows of the two on the bluestone path, making them sometimes meet and sometimes separate.

This is the happiness of ordinary couples, but it will last for a hundred years, and even the most touching legend cannot match it. On the fourth day, it was a mirror platform, from logging, cutting, to the lotus in front of the mirror, all done by himself.He carved very seriously, from morning to dusk.She sat on the ground beside him, looked at him with a smile, and counted the rays of sunshine cast by the window.Seeing the passage of time, she wished she could reach out her hand and grab them, so that the years would never pass by.It was not until dusk that the lotus flower was finally carved.The moment he looked up, the afterglow of the setting sun filled the cabin.He couldn't help being a little surprised.Unexpectedly, it took a whole day for the invincible swordsmanship to carve a lotus flower on the dressing table.

He stretched out his hand, bit the sawdust, and fell from the lotus. On the fifth day, it was a night of starlight. At that time, their wooden house had been decorated, and there was a newly made mirror stand, simple dishes, and a blanket embroidered with Jindalai flowers bought from the market.Zhuo Wangsun moved some vines and covered the cabin, so the cabin became warm. When they finished all this, the sky was already dark, and the stars were dotted with fireflies dancing under the starlight. It seemed that the whole world was occupied by these elves. Xiangsi and Zhuo Wangsun sat on the roof, looking at the sky full of stars.When you get tired from sitting, you lie down side by side and watch the Tianhe flow together, with thousands of stars sinking and floating in it.At that moment, the two of them seemed to be illuminated by the starlight, and when they lowered their heads, they could see each other's transparent hearts. There was nothing else in the vast world, only him and her, facing each other silently.

Xiangsi stubbornly held Zhuo Wangsun's hand, feeling the temperature on his hand.Her heart was full of happiness, but there was also a trace of fear.All of this came so easily, like a dream.She was really afraid that when she would wake up suddenly, she would fall into the cold darkness.As a result, her movements became very light, even her breathing was very careful. Even if this is just a dream, it is a dream that cannot be disturbed. The moonlight is like milk soaked in honey, and even a slight sweet fragrance can be smelled. On the sixth day, Zhuo Wangsun put a brocade box in front of Acacia.

Xiangsi opened the lid and froze for a moment. Wearing a gorgeous wedding dress, lying quietly on the velvet. As she wished, the wedding dress was not bright red, but water red.Like the lotus in early summer, it has a gentle color like water. The top silk satin produced by Tiangongfang is as soft as the clouds cut from the sky.The gold foil trim brought from Siam is as thin as a cicada's wing, and patterns of flying phoenixes and flowers are carved in a square inch. The most precious thing is the ninety-nine lotus flowers embroidered on the wedding house.The silk thread is so thin that it is almost invisible, and the color of each thread is different. There are thousands of threads, thousands of needles and threads, embroidered into ninety-nine lotus flowers, some are deep and some are shallow, some are open and some are closed. On the red wedding dress.The lotus is so lifelike, as if it has just been picked from the pond, you can feel the morning dew that has not yet dried up with a light touch.

Even the most skilled embroiderers of the Royal Manufacturing Office will be amazed in front of these lotus flowers. This is not embroidery, it is simply fairy art.Perhaps only the Weaver Girl in the Heavenly Palace can complete such a masterpiece. Half a month ago, a flying letter reached the foot of Tianxiu Peak.Sun Shisanniang, the seventeenth generation head of the Yunyin Shenzhen Sect, opened the letter, and without a word, she led thirty-six female disciples to the peak overnight, and invited the former head of the Shenzhen Sect who had been hiding for twenty years, Grandma Shenzhen out of the mountain.The reason they were so anxious was not because there was another bloodbath in the martial arts world, but because they had received a letter from Pavilion Master Huayin, entrusting them to prepare a wedding dress for his wedding.The Huayin Pavilion had once shown the grace of rebuilding the Shenzhen Sect. How could they not do their best when encountering such a grand event as the pavilion master's wedding?

Although Grandma Shengzhen has lived in immortality for many years, it is said that she has become a loose immortal and does not ask about human affairs, but this time she did not refuse.She took her disciples to work day and night, and finally embroidered the wedding dress. The water-red lotus flower on the chest was embroidered by the holy grandmother herself. Only she has such superb stitching techniques to complete such fine embroidery. This is what he prepared for her. Ready to give it to her at this moment.In fact, he did give it to her at this moment, but because of the scene at Liuhua Temple, it has a completely different meaning.

Xiangsi hugged the wedding dress, and pressed the silk satin tightly to her face in surprise, as if only the soft touch could make her lovesick that this was not in a dream.She smiled sweetly.Like a blooming lotus.Laughing and laughing but sobbing softly, finally unable to hold back his tears, he cried out loudly.She cried so unresponsively, as if she wanted to shed all the tears for many years at this moment. Seeing her cry, Zhuo Wangsun couldn't help feeling a little sad. It would be great if you didn't lie to me. seventh day The sky in Pyongyang was full of joy, the city walls, palaces, streets and even a single piece of grass and a speck of dust were all dyed golden red by the twilight.Together with the music of silk and bamboo drums and the hustle and bustle of people, the tranquility of the evening was broken, and the whole city became noisy and noisy. Scarlet wedding curtains are hung in the Empty White Moon Palace, and golden tassels are tied with concentric knots, hanging from the roof to the ground.Every ten steps there is a candlestick made of sandalwood, with dragon and phoenix red candles as thick as a child's arm inserted.The flames flickered, illuminating the palace as if it were daytime. The hall is full of congratulatory guests.The Goryeo nobles in Pyongyang City, the court officials who accompanied the army, the disciples of Huayin Pavilion, and the prominent figures from various factions in Jianghu were all dressed in splendid attire. They gathered in the hall and greeted happily. Today is Huaying Pavilion The day of the lord's wedding was also the time when the princess came out of the cabinet. It was a great honor for the small city of Pyongyang to host such a grand event. Who would dare not come to congratulate her? Zhuo Wangsun sat on the high hall and watched all this quietly.He held a glass cup in his hand, filled with bright red wine juice.The candlelight shines through the wine glass, refracting colorful rays of light, illuminating the overlapping auspicious clothes on his body.The wedding dress of the master of Pavilion Huayin was extravagant and solemn, making his face as dazzling as the morning sun, and it was impossible to look up at.However, his expression was unusually indifferent, with a cup in one hand and a sip in the other, he was watching the guests coming and going from afar.It seems that the loud drum music and the boundless prosperity have nothing to do with him. The scarlet Persian carpet, with exquisite patterns, was spread from the lobby to the outside of the palace gate, with flowers and herbs laid out at every step.These flowers and herbs have been carefully selected, and although it is evening, there is no trace of withering.In the hall full of people, they exude fragrance to their heart's content, as if they have accumulated the beauty of a lifetime, only waiting for this moment to serve the corner of the bride's skirt. The auspicious time is approaching, and the sound of silk and bamboo is even louder. There was a commotion outside the door. Acacia appeared on the red carpet. Her long hair was rolled up, a phoenix hairpin was inserted obliquely, and the wedding dress embroidered with lotus flowers was on her body.The makeup on her face is carefully drawn, elegant and delicate, making her look like a blooming lotus.The ninety-nine embroidered lotuses are incomparable to this one of hers. They are swaying on her dress, willing to worship, but they lose their beauty due to her existence.It is precisely because of her that the beauty of these ninety-nine lotus flowers has received the finishing touch, and finally becomes complete and impeccable.Her beauty has never been aggressive, encroaching or oppressing, but giving, inclusive and sharing. As she walked towards him, every step brought waves of light and swayed, as if time had returned to the sparkling autumn river. Surrounded by overwhelming red, she is the gentle lotus in the sea of ​​red.The color is a lighter red than the surrounding ones; the happy color is a more restrained happy color than others.She walked in the sky full of wedding curtains, but she was not so eye-catching.Because she is born like this, she is not overpoweringly gorgeous, not alluring and enchanting, but she never makes people feel abrupt.Also because she is the master of all these joys, there is no need to show it too much on her face. Zhuo Wangsun put down the wine glass in his hand, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. He got up slowly, walked towards her along the long scarlet blanket. Xiangsi stopped in her tracks, raised her head and glanced at him, then quickly lowered her face, with a faint shyness on her face. Zhuo Wangsun stopped in front of her and looked at her carefully, as if he was admiring her beauty today, but also as if he wanted to see her through. Although she didn't look up, she still felt the heat in his eyes, and she couldn't help but blush.Seemingly unable to hold back the excitement in her chest, she bravely stretched out her hand to him, the lotus flower on her cuff trembling slightly. She was waiting, waiting for him to take his hand, walk to the front of the hall, and tell the world that he would marry her as his wife, love and cherish her all his life, and never be separated. He looked at her quietly, the smile in his eyes gradually becoming mocking. Her outstretched hand seemed to feel a bit of cold, and it froze in the air, the surroundings were empty, but she didn't know what to grab. Everything seemed to go back to the moment when the lotus pendant fell from her palm into the water many years ago.At this moment, her fate is once again at an inflection point, and she doesn't know where to go. Maybe it was because of waiting too long, a sense of ominous premonition rose from the bottom of her heart, which made her feel cold, but then she managed to suppress it.Still smiling, she silently waited for him. Why wait a moment longer? She had waited twenty-one years for this moment.Or, it is Three Lives Three Worlds, a long cycle of reincarnation. Zhuo Wangsun watched her and smiled slowly. Then, he walked past her without looking back. At that moment, the loud drum music and the hustle and bustle of human voices seemed to stop for an instant.In the air, there was only a soft rustling sound - that was his robe slipping through her hand, carrying the chill of the night. He didn't even look at her, and walked straight to the end of the red carpet.The lotus flower she handed out was left behind empty. Trembling and withering. He walked over to another woman. A woman with a phoenix crown and Xiapei, and a well-dressed woman. Princess Yongle.She stood silently at the entrance of the Xitang, her hair full of emerald jewels showing an indifferent expression.Behind her is a golden and colorful Luanjia, and a long procession to see off her relatives. Zhuo Wangsun went straight to the princess, took her hand, turned and walked towards the hall. Xiangsi stared at them blankly, with endless fear in her heart.The world seems to be broken into fragments, like yellowed illustrations on the pages of a book, which are continuous but cannot be touched.When they walked by again, he still didn't look at her, he just flicked his sleeves lightly and pushed her away from the center of the red carpet. His movements were very light, as if he was just brushing away a wisp of dust inadvertently. Acacia couldn't help being sad and backed away. She retreated in the crowd, looking at their backs through the blurred eyes of tears.Under the tassels, the two stood hand in hand, the auspicious clothes on their bodies were inlaid with gold and jade, so gorgeous.The officiant, Yang Jisheng, walked up to the high hall and bowed to congratulate the two.The voices of people around are gradually recovering, blurred into one piece, they are cheers, blessings, and admiration. Yes, it is indeed worthy of admiration, this pair of wall people are of the same age and appearance, and they are a perfect match.One is invincible in the world, and the other is golden branches and jade leaves.Only they can match each other's glory.The sound of silk and bamboo is played more vigorously, embellishing the celebration of the moment. Everything is so perfect, only she is abrupt. The faint red color on her body seemed so out of place under the overwhelming joy.Xiangsi suddenly felt that compared with the auspicious Luanfeng costume worn by the princess, she actually didn't look like a wedding dress.That gentle beauty looks so fragile in front of the overwhelming red. It turns out that this carefully prepared unique color has a unique pride only under his protection.When he dismissed it, this chic turned into absurdity. Xiangsi watched helplessly, and they joined hands under the blessings of everyone, preparing to worship heaven and earth.She was suddenly filled with fear, and she wanted to say something, but her throat was choked up, and she couldn't say a word. She knows all this, it doesn't belong to her anymore. The people watching the ceremony surged forward, squeezing her into the corner step by step.Crowds of people gradually blocked the line of sight, leaving only an endless scarlet.She seemed to be a straw in the red ocean, washed to a corner where no one cares about her, let her live, let her die. Her heart was cooling down, and she had a premonition that if she left this moment quietly, she could still maintain her last dignity.If one more word is said, it will only bring more humiliation that breaks her heart even more. Do you want to give up, do you want to leave? she can't. Because if she didn't shout out, then he would just walk past her holding another woman's hand and never look back. "No!" She rushed out of the crowd, stood on the red carpet, and looked at him with tears in her eyes. Everyone looked at her in shock, as if they were looking at a monster. Their mocking, puzzled, and astonished eyes were like knives, stabbing her to death. But she couldn't care less about these things, she just looked up at him and hissed, "Why...is it her?" Zhuo Wangsun turned his head.There was a mocking smile on his face, as if he had heard a very funny joke. He didn't speak, just waved back. Master Han Qing stepped forward in a hurry, and said in a low voice: "Lord Xiangsi Yue, the fact that the pavilion master married the princess is the fate of the Emperor, and the world knows it. Please..." He didn't go on, because he found that Xiangsi seemed to be Listen, don't seem to be listening. Does everyone know it?Why is she the only one who doesn't know? She raised her head stubbornly: "No, that's not the case!" Han Qingzhu felt a little apprehensive.He had never seen such lovesickness.In his impression, Acacia is always so gentle and forbearing, she will not get angry for anything, and always hides any grievances in her heart.Although she has a deep affection for the Pavilion Master and everyone in the Huayin Pavilion knows about it, she has never publicly expressed it.She thought that this wedding kept Xiangsi alone in the dark to protect her, but she didn't expect that instead, she suffered the most painful injury. If he had known this, he would have told her the truth in advance.But he didn't expect that she lost her mind in front of so many people and yelled such disobedient words to the pavilion master.He looked at Zhuo Wangsun worriedly, not knowing what the consequences would be. But unexpectedly, Zhuo Wangsun had a smile on his face "Oh, so what?" She looked at him, the pleading in her eyes was so helpless: "You said that I will marry you..." Although her voice was soft, everyone couldn't help but startled.They couldn't help but look at the princess.The princess stood firmly beside Zhuo Wangsun, and the phoenix crown and Xiapei on her body were sent by an envoy personally sent by Emperor Jiajing three days ago.The Xitang was also personally selected by several elders in the city led by Yang Jisheng.Even the festive etiquette followed the princess's full set of etiquette.There is nothing wrong with it. Their eyes could not help turning to Zhuo Wangsun. Zhuo Wang faintly said softly: "Did I say it, why don't I remember?" Acacia suddenly understood. This is a trap. In the past seven days, he has been gentle to her.The gifts he gave her all point to one result - he will marry her.But he didn't say it himself.Did he do it on purpose?To make her walk up to the wedding hall full of hope, only to find out in despair that the bride is someone else?Let her put on her wedding dress and stand in front of everyone, full of joy, only to find that it was just a carefully arranged humiliation? She raised her head, tears slid down her pale face, soaking her carefully drawn makeup: "Why, did you do this to me?" Every word is heart-piercing, like weeping blood. Zhuo Wangsun's smile cooled down a little bit. At this time, she didn't know how to repent, didn't know how to reflect on the mistakes she made, but looked at him innocently, and asked him why he treated her like this in public. After seeing her smiling and throwing herself into the arms of another man; after she gave him a cup of poisoned tea in order to date her lover, she was able to ask so confidently. How ridiculous, how absurd. He couldn't help thinking about that water-red shadow, on the rippling autumn river, at that time, she was staring at the remnant lotus in her hand, a blurred light and shadow from nowhere illuminated her face, she was so pure , transparent, not stained with a trace of dust. She stared at her in front of her, as if she wanted to see every inch of her clearly.This woman shivering in despair is so similar to the image Qiu Jiang saw when she looked back, but also seems to be slightly different, and it still cannot completely overlap with the memory. What changed her? Is he too tolerant and conniving? He sneered slightly, with infinite tenderness in his eyes, but at the moment he looked so mocking: "You know." She was startled. She knows?what do you know?For many years, Jun's heart is like the sea, even in the most intimate time, he never really opened his heart fan to her.All along, she had carefully speculated about his likes and dislikes, his emotions and anger, guessing that she was physically and mentally exhausted.But how can a woman like her understand his heart?She didn't want to guess anymore - this time, she wanted to hear him tell her. "No!" She suddenly raised her head, following his gaze fearlessly, "I don't know!" "That's a pity." Zhuo Wangsun smiled, and said a bit teasingly, "Such an interesting question, only the person you really want to marry can tell you. Just ask him." "But..." Xiangsi clenched her fists and said heart-piercingly, "But that person is you!" "Oh?" He sneered slightly, "Really?" Acacia gritted her teeth and nodded. "Very well, you can stay by my side and be my concubine." He glanced at the princess, "I believe she won't care too much." Lovesickness and then retreat. This sentence, like a sharp knife, cut off the tightness in her heart with a hurtful humiliation. She couldn't stand, and knelt down on the red carpet covered with flowers. She lowered her head and clenched her fists tightly. The petals were broken in her hands, soaking in bright red sweat, staining the water-red wedding dress with mottled spots. . She knelt on the red carpet like this, without crying, but she didn't back down either.The candlelight shone on her, and she was like a withered lotus, standing silently on the Hengtang, letting the autumn wind invade and shed her last youth. So sad, yet so stubborn. Gradually, the horror, ridicule, and contempt on everyone's faces subsided, and finally turned into a sigh. In the sky full of joy, she is the only sadness, but also the only truth. Zhuo Wangsun looked at her, speechless for a long time, for a moment, there seemed to be ripples in his quiet eyes. He thought of the sparkling autumn river, the remnants of a river of lotus, the starry sky above the hut, and the lotus flower he carved with his own hands. Just put it into a smile in an instant, without a trace. He waved his hand to signal the wedding ceremony to continue. The sound of silk and bamboo sounded again, joyful and infinitely prosperous.