Chapter 301: Princess Marries

Early morning brought a bustling atmosphere to Azure Wind Imperial City. All the streets, big and small, were crowded with people craning their necks and looking into the distance. Today was the day the sole imperial princess was to be wed, and at this very moment, the Burning Heaven Clan's wedding procession had already entered the city gates, majestically advancing towards the Azure Wind Imperial Palace.

Indeed, the Burning Heaven Clan's wedding display truly deserved the description "grand and imposing." Fen Juecheng rode a giant horse with a fiery mane, a calm smile on his face as he looked straight ahead. Behind him was an eight-bearer palanquin carved with soaring fire phoenixes. Around it, over two thousand Burning Heaven disciples, clad in blazing red robes, formed a long procession. From a high vantage point, it resembled a slowly moving fire dragon advancing towards the Imperial Palace. These Burning Heaven disciples had been meticulously chosen; each was extraordinary. Even the least powerful among them had reached the Spirit Profound Realm, while the strongest were already in the mid-Earth Profound Realm. Such a display was extremely rare, even awe-inspiring, within the entire Azure Wind Empire. Evidently, the Burning Heaven Clan, having suffered a significant loss of face after their defeat in the ranking tournament, seemed intent on using this opportunity of marrying the princess to once again demonstrate its power to the world.

According to custom, Fen Juecheng's father, Fen Duanyun, naturally did not accompany the procession. However, the accompanying elders were all figures renowned throughout the land. There were as many as eight Heaven Profound Realm experts among them, and the two leaders had even reached the late Heaven Profound Realm, being two of the Burning Heaven Clan's top ten experts. These eight wore even more conspicuous blazing red robes, floating evenly distributed above the wedding procession. The entire procession exuded a heart-pounding aura of power, creating an almost suffocating sense of oppression from a great distance.

It would not be an exaggeration to say this was a force capable of leveling the entire Azure Wind Imperial City.

"Look! The Burning Heaven Clan's wedding procession is here!"

Following a loud shout, the crowd began to stir. Everyone stood on tiptoe, looking towards the Burning Heaven Clan's procession, which was getting closer in the distance.

Normally, crowds watching a wedding procession would be incredibly lively. But now, under the astonishing oppression of the Burning Heaven Clan, not a single person dared to shout out loud. As the procession passed in front of them, the unparalleled sense of oppression nearly made their hearts leap out of their chests. Even some individuals with impressive strength and considerable courage only dared to whisper.

"The legendary Profound Sky Crossing... and eight people! Are all eight of them Heaven Profound Realm?"

"Of course. The two leaders are Fen Duancang on the left, the younger brother of Burning Heaven Clan Master Fen Duanyun and head of the Burning Heaven Clan's Li Fire Pavilion. It's said his profound energy has reached Heaven Profound Realm Level 8! On the right is Burning Heaven Clan's Thirteenth Elder, Fen Moran, whose profound energy is Heaven Profound Realm Level 7! Even within the Burning Heaven Clan, they are extremely high-level figures. Who would have thought they would accompany the Young Clan Master's wedding procession this time!"

"Fen Juecheng is the future Burning Heaven Clan Master. Such a display is not an exaggeration at all."

"The legendary Heaven Profound Realm... I've only seen one in my life... the Palace Master of the Azure Wind Profound Palace. Today, eight suddenly appeared! My goodness... truly worthy of the Burning Heaven Clan!"

"I heard about Fen Juecheng pursuing Princess Cang Yue several years ago, but wasn't Princess Cang Yue later won over by Yun Che...?"

"It's a pity Yun Che fell. Otherwise... otherwise, Yun Che couldn't have contended with Fen Juecheng. No matter how powerful Yun Che was, he was alone, with no backing force. Fen Juecheng, on the other hand, has the formidable Burning Heaven Clan behind him."

"That's not necessarily true! Although Fen Juecheng is a dragon among men, what kind of person was Yun Che? He was a dragon among dragons, a legend of our Azure Wind! Fen Juecheng's father, Fen Duanyun, once pursued Chu Yuechan but couldn't even meet her. Wasn't she also won over by Yun Che? If Yun Che hadn't died, the only way Fen Juecheng could compete with him would be to rely on the Burning Heaven Clan's power to assassinate him. But Yun Che was backed by the Frozen Cloud Asgard! Both of his women were from the Frozen Cloud Asgard, one the leader of the Seven Frozen Fairies, and the other the future Palace Master. If the Burning Heaven Clan wanted to make a move, even with a ten thousand percent certainty of success, they'd have to weigh the consequences. Even if Fen Juecheng dared, Fen Duanyun might not have had the guts."

Amidst the onlookers and their whispers, the Burning Heaven Clan's wedding procession drew closer. At the stroke of Chen Shi (7-9 AM), they precisely arrived before the gates of the Azure Wind Imperial Palace. After a brief exchange of words, the procession continued forward. Simultaneously, drums and gongs sounded, and eight lion dancers performed, heading straight for Embrace Moon Palace, where Princess Cang Yue resided.

The Emperor's Bedchamber.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Burning Heaven Clan's wedding procession has entered the palace gates and will reach Embrace Moon Palace in another quarter-hour," Cang Wanhe's personal eunuch reported respectfully.

Cang Wanhe's face was now so pale it was almost devoid of color. His eye sockets were sunken, his hair half-white, and his face was covered in wrinkles. If Yun Che saw him now, he surely wouldn't recognize him as the Cang Wanhe he had met two years ago. In just two years, he seemed to have aged decades, and every breath he took was as difficult as that of a dying old man who could expire at any moment.

His flame of life was on the verge of extinction.

Cang Wanhe had not slept all night. Hearing the eunuch's voice, he struggled to open his eyes and said in a hoarse voice, "Help me up, prepare the imperial carriage. I want to personally go to... Embrace Moon Palace... *cough cough*... *cough cough cough cough*..."

After only a few words, Cang Wanhe was coughing uncontrollably, and his face became even more frightening.

"This..." The eunuch quickly patted Cang Wanhe's back, a troubled expression on his face: "Your Majesty, it's still early, and the wind is cold. Your imperial body cannot endure such exertion. Her Royal Highness the Princess specifically instructed yesterday that once the Burning Heaven Clan's procession arrives, she will directly enter the palanquin without any complex ceremony, so Your Majesty need not attend at all."

"No... I, I must go." Cang Wanhe shook his head, struggling slightly as if to get out of bed: "Yue'er, back then, to avoid Fen Juecheng, she didn't hesitate to leave the Imperial City far behind. How could she... willingly marry him now...? Yue'er has always been obedient, but for this matter, she has never told me the reason... I have a feeling... if I don't go this morning, perhaps I... will never see her again... Quickly... help me there."

"Sigh!"

A long sigh came from above. Following it, a middle-aged man in a gray robe, with a refined, scholarly appearance, descended. "Since Your Majesty has made up your mind, allow this old subject to accompany Your Majesty."

"Palace Master Dongfang!" Seeing the suddenly appearing refined young man, the eunuch quickly stepped back two paces, not showing surprise, and respectfully said, "With Palace Master Dongfang personally accompanying you, Your Majesty will surely be safe... This old servant will go prepare the imperial carriage."

Embrace Moon Palace was now brightly lit, filled with lanterns and red carpets as far as the eye could see. Even the ponds were adorned with vibrant red ribbons. All of this had been personally arranged by the Third Prince, Cang Shuo, who had been anticipating Fen Juecheng's marriage to Cang Yue for many years and naturally spared no effort in its preparation.

This time, with the Burning Heaven Clan's procession arriving, Cang Shuo had been waiting in front of Embrace Moon Palace since early morning. As soon as he saw the Burning Heaven Clan's procession, he excitedly rushed forward to greet Fen Juecheng, then personally led the way at the front of the procession.

Fen Juecheng, in his red robes, adorned with a red flower on his chest, flames on his shoulders, and a crimson fire-feather crown, was extraordinarily handsome and exuded a transcendent aura. He completely overshadowed Prince Cang Shuo, causing the palace maids to feel their hearts pound.

The Burning Heaven Clan's wedding procession lined up in front of Embrace Moon Palace. All of the guests invited by Embrace Moon Palace were also present, though their number was small. At a glance, aside from dozens of palace maids and a dozen eunuchs, there were only a few individuals from the Azure Wind Profound Palace... Qin Wushang and Qin Wuyou were among them. The other person was an elderly man named Mu from the Black Moon Merchant Guild, who was in charge of medicinal material transactions.

At Cang Yue's instruction, Embrace Moon Palace had not prepared any complex welcoming ceremonies. The Burning Heaven Clan's procession had arrived and was ready. Next was simply to await Princess Cang Yue's appearance.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

Following a drawn-out shout, a golden dragon imperial carriage slowly approached, surrounded by dozens of golden imperial guards, stopping in front of the Burning Heaven Clan's procession. Fen Juecheng leaped from his horse and quickly walked to the carriage, bowing and saying, "Juecheng greets Imperial Father."

Cang Wanhe did not lift the curtain, merely letting out a faint hum: "Today is only the wedding procession. You and Yue'er have not yet performed the marriage rites. Calling me Imperial Father now is a bit premature."

Fen Juecheng showed no anger, calmly smiling as he said, "Imperial Father is right to reprimand me. Juecheng was presumptuous."

Just then, the grand doors of Embrace Moon Palace slowly opened. Princess Cang Yue, in her phoenix coronet and ornate robes, slowly walked out, supported by two palace maids. Dressed in crimson, she was as radiant as the rising sun, instantly stealing all color from the world and captivating every gaze.

"Hahahahaha!" Seeing Cang Yue appear, Cang Shuo burst into laughter first, then gestured to Fen Juecheng: "Young Clan Master Fen, please."

Fen Juecheng nodded, a smile on his face, and walked gracefully towards Cang Yue. He stood before her and extended his hand.

As it was a wedding procession, it was naturally Fen Juecheng's role to help Cang Yue into the palanquin. However, Cang Yue showed no reaction, as if she hadn't seen his outstretched hand. Instead, she coldly asked, "Where is the Burning Soul Flower I requested?"

Fen Juecheng smiled slightly, clapped his hands, and said, "Present the betrothal gifts."

Over thirty Burning Heaven disciples stepped forward simultaneously. Each held a massive chest. The chests were arranged side-by-side and then opened at once. Immediately, the splendid glow of jewels and the fragrant scent of high-grade medicinal herbs filled the air above Embrace Moon Palace. A wave of exclamations rose, and even a figure like Qin Wushang showed surprise in his eyes... The Burning Heaven Clan's betrothal gifts were truly priceless! Even for marrying an imperial princess, they seemed somewhat exaggerated.