Chapter 239: Wedding Night, Long Wind Stirring Snow

The imperial city’s trees were turning yellow, their leaves falling.

Large crimson banners stretched from one end of the street to the other. Red fire-sparrow kites caught the autumn wind, soaring into the sky. In every shop, red lanterns, intricately woven and adorned with festive designs, were prepared overnight for the scene when thousands of bright lanterns would ascend into the night sky.

Lu Jiajia stood atop the imperial palace, gazing into the distance, and couldn't help but recall the time a single sword illuminated half the city in autumn rain.

Back then, Lord Bloodfeather chattered on the city wall, while the Old Fox peered from below.

It all felt just like yesterday…

It was the eve of Zhao Xianger's wedding banquet, bathed in brilliant sunshine. Clouds in the sky resembled long fish, and the shadows of autumn geese drifted faintly among them. Looking out, the prosperity of the city still felt freshly minted, built within towering walls where flags stood erect, the character "Zhao" and fire sparrows fluttering together in the wind.

Her beloved was marrying someone else, and she felt she ought to be angry, even if only feigning it. Yet, as she gazed at the city tower, she knew only that she would forever remember such beauty.

The autumn wind gave its final caress to the imperial city.

The calendar turned past this day; winter solstice was approaching.

This was destined to be a richly significant chapter.

The sound of gongs and drums echoed in the distance. Ning Changjiu and Zhao Xianger were likely hidden somewhere, chatting. The thought of that once-arrogant girl experiencing anxiety and worry made her chuckle.

This was a flower that wouldn't wither with autumn.

That's what she thought.

"Do you remember? In Fengdu, when Lady Bai established the divine realm, we bowed to each other on Jiuyu's back," Ning Changjiu said.

Zhao Xianger rubbed her head, a hint of distress in her voice. "I can't quite remember... My memory has been terrible lately."

Ning Changjiu and she sat opposite each other across a table, a burning incense censer between them.

Ning Changjiu recalled a certain folk saying and smiled.

Zhao Xianger, thinking he was mocking her, snapped, "What are you laughing at?"

Ning Changjiu looked at the incense censer, changing the subject. "Is this the incense that's more expensive than me?"

This was a conversation they'd had earlier on the fishing boat.

Zhao Xianger said, "How do you remember everything I say?"

Ning Changjiu replied, "Isn't it an imperial decree?"

"You've been disowned..."

"Aren't I coming back as a live-in husband?"

"You..."

Zhao Xianger cupped her face in her hands, resting her chin. The thought of wearing a red wedding dress today, bowing to heaven and earth with him like a shy young bride in front of everyone, and being married off, made her utterly mortified. It felt as if the dignified image she had carefully cultivated was about to crumble entirely.

"You, Ning!" Zhao Xianger exclaimed.

"Hm?"

"I want to run away from the wedding..." Zhao Xianger sprawled on the table, watching the wisps of smoke rise and freely dissipate, feeling a pang of envy.

Ning Changjiu said, "Go ahead and run. Anyway, your mother will stop you by some unseen force."

Zhao Xianger paused, then felt even more sorrowful.

"Don't you have control over time?" Zhao Xianger suddenly had another idea.

"What about it?"

"When we do the bowing ceremony, can you make that part go faster...?"

This was her pre-wedding anxiety, something many women experience to some degree on this day. Although she was extraordinary, she couldn't escape this common nervousness, which only heightened her anxiety.

The sun gradually rose, and time passed.

The imperial palace was already decorated.

She was the unprecedented empress of the Zhao kingdom, making this an unprecedented wedding for Zhao.

The imperial ministers repeatedly praised the empress for only announcing the event today, believing she was surely averse to extravagance. However, Song Ce and her close female attendants knew more—they knew the empress would be leaving today.

Whether the Zhao kingdom would prosper tomorrow remained a mystery.

The national treasury was currently very full, so even with a thrifty empress, the lavish display was still astonishing.

However, the empress seemed a bit *too* thrifty. While they were setting up the wedding venue, Zhao Xianger's female attendants constantly relayed messages, asking to halve the red carpet... then halve it again. They praised Her Majesty's integrity and care for the people, unaware that she simply wanted to walk less.

"When I'm gone, you must treat Lu Jiajia well," Zhao Xianger suddenly said. "If you dare bully her, I'll beat you to death the next time we meet..."

Ning Changjiu looked at the girl, who was almost driven mad by the wedding banquet, and tentatively asked, "Is Your Highness... playing hard to get?"

Zhao Xianger looked at him, using a military strategy term, wishing she could summon ten thousand iron cavalry to trample over his annoying face...

Ning Changjiu smiled, rose, combed her hair, selected hair ornaments, and held a bronze mirror in front of her to make funny faces and cheer her up.

Zhao Xianger knew he was being very considerate and trying hard, but she just couldn't smile.

Vaguely, she had a strange, inexplicable premonition of ill omen.

"Oh, right." Zhao Xianger covered the bronze mirror with her hand, blocking him from view.

"What is it?"

"When the time comes, underneath the wedding dress, I want to wear an assassin's outfit..."

"Huh?"

"Yes, otherwise I won't feel secure."

"I am your assassin's outfit."

Zhao Xianger let go of the bronze mirror, looking expressionlessly at Ning Changjiu's open hand extended towards her.

In the afternoon, at the highest point of the imperial palace, Lu Jiajia watched with the soon-to-be-married couple as the sun slowly shifted across the sky.

Zhao Xianger nestled against Lu Jiajia's shoulder, her expression serene, as if they were the ones about to be wed.

"Sister Jiajia, look, your name has two 'Jia' (marry) characters in it. Doesn't that mean we're both supposed to get married together...?" Zhao Xianger's thoughts were particularly eccentric that day.

Lu Jiajia looked at the girl, who seemed to be growing sillier, with a touch of pity. "I'm the Sword Sect Master, and you're the Empress of Zhao. If we married together, I fear your subjects and my disciples wouldn't accept it. This would likely be debated across the land for decades."

Zhao Xianger candidly replied, "It's fine. Anyway, I'm leaving today, so any future embarrassment will be yours alone."

Hmm… looks like she hasn't gone silly after all…

Lu Jiajia pushed her away from her shoulder.

Zhao Xianger then leaned on Ning Changjiu's shoulder.

Lu Jiajia stared at the scene for a moment, finding it somehow displeasing, and pulled the girl back.

Time finally advanced towards evening.

Zhao Xianger gazed at the setting sun on the horizon, stretched out her hand, and slowly pointed at the clouds reddened by the sunset glow. "That one looks like a bird."

"That one looks like a dragon."

"That one… like a coral fish."

"That one looks like a mountain."

"That one looks like a Chen family tangyuan, bitten in half with black sesame filling oozing out."

"That one..."

Zhao Xianger slowly withdrew her hand.

The clouds on the horizon lost their rosy glow.

Night finally arrived.

The imperial city was abuzz with activity, people noisily searching for traces of the empress. Little did they know, Her Majesty was idly gazing at the darkening sky, vexed that there were no more clouds to count.

Lu Jiajia gave Ning Changjiu a look. Ning Changjiu returned a "Are you sure?" look. Lu Jiajia nonchalantly nodded, then turned her head away.

Ning Changjiu looked at Zhao Xianger's profile, leaned closer, and boldly kissed her.

"Ah!"

Zhao Xianger, like a released roly-poly toy, sat upright abruptly, head held high, looking somewhat startled.

Ning Changjiu kissed her lips again.

Zhao Xianger turned around in a panic, touched her lips, looked at the white-clad figure with her back turned, rubbed her burning face, and suddenly became clear-headed.

"You... what are you doing...? She..." Zhao Xianger stammered, flustered.

Ning Changjiu smiled, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"It's time to get married," he said.

"Indeed. What are you waiting for? They're all looking for you," Lu Jiajia said, rising and looking at the bustling imperial city with a smile.

"Mhm!" The bright spirit returned to the girl's eyes.

Zhao Xianger donned her fiery red wedding gown, her veil adorned with pearls and jade, and stepped onto the red feathered carpet.

She walked very slowly, showing a surprising degree of reservedness and shyness.

She couldn't even remember how the palace maids had dressed her; she had simply ended up with a red veil placed on her head as a final touch. Now, she and Ning Changjiu held a silk ribbon adorned with a large red peony, slowly walking forward.

The surroundings were extremely lively.

She could kill a ferocious great demon without blinking, yet on matters like this, she always found it difficult to face them with composure.

The word "marry" had never really been part of her life before; even a few days ago, she still framed it as "honoring a lost bet."

Her embroidered shoes trod softly and slowly across the red carpet with every step.

At one point, her hand was clasped.

It was Ning Changjiu's hand, slightly warm.

She felt a little more at ease.

If she were to lift her veil and look back now, she would see hundreds of thousands of sky lanterns slowly ascending into the autumn sky.

They rose one after another, like a long dragon, like a soaring wild goose.

The entire city seemed to lift off with the lanterns.

Lu Jiajia watched the couple enter the grand hall, still unable to figure out her role in all of this. *Sigh*, it seemed even less satisfying than drinking in White City… She suddenly felt that being gentle and kind wasn't so great after all; perhaps being a bad woman would be more liberating.

If she were a bad woman, she imagined today's wedding banquet would have been incredibly lively.

Ning Changjiu and Zhao Xianger walked the long red carpet under everyone's gaze, entering the grand hall at the end.

Inside the hall, water gently rippled, lights shone brightly, and the paper paintings on the walls were illuminated splendidly. There wasn't much lavish decoration; were it not for the large "double happiness" characters on the walls, it would have even looked serene.

The red silhouette of the wedding dress passed by crystal lamp pillars.

"Don't be afraid," Ning Changjiu whispered, holding her hand.

"Who's afraid?" Zhao Xianger gripped his hand tighter.

Despite her words, she now wished an old monster would attack the city, disrupt the wedding banquet, so she could tear off her wedding dress, take up her sword, and fight until the world turned dark... Unfortunately, the country was too peaceful and prosperous these days; several registers were filled each year with minor demons who had been pacified.

Ning Changjiu said, "We are properly married."

Zhao Xianger retorted, "I think *you're* the one with a guilty conscience!"

In the sacred hall, the two conversed, their voices transmitted in a low hum.

"Your hand doesn't tremble when you wield a sword, so what are you afraid of now?"

"You're the one trembling."

"You're lying..."

"Liars are puppies."

Ning Changjiu led her hand, stopping at the end of the grand hall. The seats where both sets of parents should have been were empty.

The female attendant had already begun reciting the blessings.

Zhao Xianger found it somewhat irritating to listen to.

She even started to doubt herself.

The sound of fireworks exploding had already begun behind them; the sky above the imperial city should have been dazzling and beautiful, and she could have seen it if she extended her divine sense, but she did nothing, simply standing still.

Suddenly, as if divinity surged from within her body, she felt everything was so ethereal... Was this a sign of the Vermilion Bird's impending arrival...?

She thought absently, completely unaware of what the female attendant was saying.

"A vow of shared white hair," Ning Changjiu suddenly spoke.

"Hm?" Zhao Xianger paused slightly.

Ning Changjiu repeated, "A vow of shared white hair."

Zhao Xianger took a deep breath and calmly said, "An alliance of mandarin ducks."

Her thoughts were pulled back, and her divinity gradually receded within her.

"May Your Highness endure."

"Hm?" The phrase seemed a bit off, but Zhao Xianger continued, "To forge our destiny together."

These were the words from their marriage contract. While they talked about breaking the engagement every day, they actually knew the words by heart.

"With vows of mountains and seas as our pledge," Ning Changjiu said.

"Sharing the divine sparrow and jade toad as our horizon."

The words of the marriage contract felt like a calming incantation. Zhao Xianger no longer felt annoyed; instead, she recalled many past beautiful moments, and a faint smile touched the corners of her lips beneath the red veil.

"May red threads bind us early, and auspicious candles be trimmed together," Ning Changjiu said softly.

"From black hair to white, the Grand Dao with my beloved," Zhao Xianger's voice grew steadily firmer.

"May pearls and jades combine perfectly," Ning Changjiu suddenly spoke, startling the female attendant.

Zhao Xianger also slowly spoke, "May our hearts be forever united…"

After speaking, they held hands and gently knelt.

The first bow was to Heaven and Earth.

They bowed gently.

"May pearls and jades combine perfectly, may our hearts be forever united…" What was that? The female attendant slowly recovered herself, breathing a sigh of relief. Looking at the kneeling couple, she announced loudly, "Second bow to the honored parents."

Neither of them moved.

The female attendant was surprised again, but then, thinking quickly, assumed it was because there were no parents present on the platform.

In reality, they simply thought that, for them, parents and Heaven and Earth were one and the same entity, and they had already bowed during the first part, so there was no need to repeat it.

Fortunately, this female attendant had served Zhao Xianger for a long time and did not panic excessively. After waiting for a moment, she calmly announced, "Bow to each other as husband and wife."

Ning Changjiu and Zhao Xianger turned, and gently bowed.

"May pearls and jades combine perfectly."

"May our hearts be forever united…"

Their hands clasped together.

At this moment, the area outside the imperial city erupted in cheers. All the sky lanterns ascended into the night sky, dreamlike and ethereal. Carriages resembling long dragons, laden with fireworks, galloped across the palace square. Bundles of fireworks whistled skyward, tearing through the darkness like seeds, greedily absorbing everything from the night, then, in a single instant, blossoming into fleeting splendor.

The fireworks turned night into day.

It was a city that never slept.

And the imperial city's most magnificent night.

Many years later, this day would still be fondly recounted.

No one could have imagined Empress Xianger getting married or the scene in the bridal chamber, but on this day, it truly happened. Even the most rigid ministers enthusiastically spoke to others in a celebratory, laudatory tone.

It was intoxicating wine, a fervent tide.

The crest of the wave lifted them.

Zhao Xianger was, after all, still a young woman, and her emotions swelled in that moment. Suddenly, she subtly lifted a corner of her red veil.

The exquisite contours of her cheeks were framed by the fiery red of her wedding dress.

She looked up at Ning Changjiu, smiling enchantingly. "How about we try to defy fate tonight?"

This sentence was the most dazzling firework under the night sky.

Ning Changjiu was also ignited. He looked into her captivating eyes, leaned down, scooped her legs, and lifted the girl into his arms.

Zhao Xianger didn't struggle at all.

Just like that heavy rain day. They rushed wildly into the sleeping chambers.

But this time, it was so gentle.

Tonight, they were the newlyweds blessed by the entire city.

"Do you think... I'll regret this later?"

"Xianger is so rebellious, I'm quite worried about you too."

"Look, the sky is full of fireworks, and so are we. We're all going to bloom anyway, so why not bloom most beautifully... I'm also curious if every word Mother said will come true."

"But..."

"Do you want to defy an imperial decree?"

"Your husband obeys the decree..."

They spoke beneath the fireworks, laughing.

No one knew if they would regret it later.

At this moment, Ning Changjiu held her just like that.

They gently walked into that beautiful night.

The imperial city's splendor was like a dream.

Outside the dream, a great sword, forged from wind and snow, hung suspended in the air.

The girl on the snow sword gazed at the night sky, her expression distant.

"Getting married?" Xue Yuan confirmed the scene before her repeatedly, disbelief flashing in her eyes.

How could Mother's daughter marry a mere mortal?

Although Shi Yu was defeated by me, she was respectable. What is this, your marriage into the human world?

Xue Yuan had traveled day and night for nearly a month to reach this place. Seeing the festive city, she even thought she had come to the wrong location.

"Fire Phoenix... you've disappointed me greatly!"

Xue Yuan sighed softly.

Beneath her feet, the blade of ice and snow sharpened, the snow cleared from its edge, revealing a dangerously sharp edge.

The Southern Continent was unlike the Central Land.

Here, a Purple Court peak realm expert was nearly invincible in the world.

She could be more unrestrained here than in the Thunder Kingdom.

Even if it meant tearing through the city-state, she wouldn't hesitate.

The snow sword pushed towards Zhao's brilliant imperial city.

"Wait!"

The void cracked, and the white cat leaped from the void onto her shoulder, stopping her.

"What is it?" Xue Yuan's voice held respect.

The white cat's eerie blue gaze fixed on the city. "This city has a ghost," it said chillingly.

Xue Yuan frowned slightly. "A ghost? Then I'll slay it."

The white cat said, "If you set foot there, even I might not be able to save you."

Xue Yuan didn't act impulsively; she trusted the white cat's words unconditionally. "Understood."

What methods could this girl, who indulged in mortal love, possibly have? At most, Mother favored her a little more.

Thinking this, Xue Yuan extended her index finger into the night.

Within the imperial city, Lu Jiajia's Sword Heart suddenly issued a warning.

She looked up, her eyes instantly narrowing.

Amidst the fireworks, a single snowflake abruptly descended.

The snowflake unfolded its translucent body in the firelight, its hexagonal, crystalline form shimmering with swirling colors. It drifted down lightly, as if having strayed into the human world.

Coldness followed.

Under the moonlight, a mist seemed to spread, enveloping the entire imperial city.

She looked towards a certain direction outside the imperial city.

On the immense snow sword, Xue Yuan sat cross-legged, waiting for the Fire Phoenix to notice her, intending to kill her on what should have been her wedding night.

She waited calmly. She knew that if she didn't actively enter the city, it would take time for the Fire Phoenix to detect her.

But just one breath later, Xue Yuan's pupils contracted sharply.

In the sky, all the heavy snow condensed from ice clouds, just as it began to fall, was swept up and reversed by a surge of sword energy that rose like a wall.

The wind and snow she had created had now entirely transformed into another's sharp sword.

All the coldness also transmuted into pure sword intent.

That sword sliced through the firework-filled sky, piercing the chilly, dark night. It came straight at her.

Xue Yuan had never seen such pure sword intent.

A fire for battle ignited within her heart.

The girl extended her hand, and the snow sword surged, like a massive ship cutting across a river.

The collision between the two occurred in an instant.

Wind and snow exploded densely, instantly engulfing their figures.

A sword hum rang in Xue Yuan's ears.

Within the sword hum, there was also a faint bird cry… a cry that surprisingly instilled fear in the snow sparrow perched on her shoulder.

This snow sparrow was a divine bird of the Northern Kingdom, even comparable to the Thunder Bird and Fire Phoenix among all divine birds today. Besides the Vermilion Bird, who else would it need to bow to?

Xue Yuan couldn't understand.

The next moment, something even more incomprehensible happened.

After their sword intents collided, the immense impact force pushed back towards her side.

All her sword energy was assimilated by the opponent, transforming into unstoppable sharp blades that rolled back towards her.

After a momentary clash, Xue Yuan's figure was forced back dozens of feet.

Beneath her feet, the sword named Han Que exploded, transforming into a true divine bird, acting like a shield in front of her, finally deflecting the opponent's subsequent sword moves.

Xue Yuan hovered in the air, reaching out to brush away the snowflakes that obscured her vision.

She narrowed her eyes, looking at the girl also hovering above the imperial city.

At first glance, she felt the opponent's figure was very similar to the mysterious woman who could control time a month ago, and her heart involuntarily tensed.

The woman before her had dark hair and white robes, her figure exquisitely beautiful, and her silhouette against the night sky resembled a standing sword.

"You are not the Fire Phoenix..." Xue Yuan judged her identity. "Who exactly are you?"

Lu Jiajia looked back at her.

Her Sword Spirit Unity had now been forged to an almost terrifying degree.

This was different from her playful sparring with Ning Changjiu; this was her first true sword strike after her Sword Body had reached full mastery.

The opponent's sword was instantly assimilated by her into her own.

And so was the opponent's sword energy.

The enemy's blades were all her own daggers.

How could this battle be fought?

Xue Yuan felt the incredibly pure sword intent emanating from her, her eyes flickering.

This woman's strength was definitely no less than Shi Yu's...

"And who are you?" Lu Jiajia asked coolly.

Xue Yuan said, "I've come looking for the Fire Phoenix. What relation are you to her?"

"Fire Phoenix?" Lu Jiajia paused, then asked, "Zhao Xianger?"

Xue Yuan said, "So her name is Zhao Xianger..."

"What is your relationship with her?" Xue Yuan asked again.

Lu Jiajia retorted irritably, "A love rival."

Xue Yuan's expression softened slightly. "It seems we are friends."

Lu Jiajia asked, "Are you here to kill her?"

Xue Yuan nodded. "Yes."

Lu Jiajia watched her silently.

The next moment, night clouds, city towers, fireworks—everything was covered with a faint sword intent.

While Xue Yuan was momentarily distracted, an intricate sword domain had already been established, like a crystal lotus blossoming in the night sky.

Lu Jiajia held one hand behind her back, the other loosely cupped.

Though her hand was empty, it seemed to hold a peerless famous sword.

Xue Yuan was certain she was only in the Purple Court realm, which made the power she displayed even more astonishing.

Another incomprehensible Purple Court peak realm expert?

When she fought Shi Yu, they were actually evenly matched until the very last moment. Killing her relied mainly on divine favor…

Now, Xue Yuan's resolve became even firmer.

She would kill that woman named Zhao Xianger before returning to the divine realm!

Although the woman before her was powerful, the Purple Court realm was still just the Purple Court realm.

"Don't attack yet. Let me properly gauge her," Xue Yuan said to the white cat hidden in the void, communicating through thought.

She would use this woman as a whetstone!

The girl took off her mink fur coat and tossed it aside casually.

All that remained on her body was a dress made of ice silkworm silk.

A fluorescent glow appeared beneath the hem of her skirt.

It was the tattoo of the Xue Yuan divine sparrow.