The Groom Who Marries

Within the two family estates, joyous melodies simultaneously began to play.

Inside Jiang Yao’s room at the Jiang family estate, she sat before her dressing table, resplendent in a luxurious golden-red gown, her hair adorned with beautiful golden ornaments, looking every inch a princess.

She picked up a lip rouge and lightly dabbed it, enhancing the vividness of her lips.

“Third Sister, the time has come. You should head to the Yan family to bring our brother-in-law back,” Jiang Yao’s second sister said, entering the bridal chamber.

Jiang Yao nodded, then rose gracefully to her feet.

“Understood.”

As Jiang Yao turned, her appearance in the bridal attire was utterly breathtaking, like a vibrant red rose blooming in spring, exquisitely delicate and alluring.

On the other side, Yan Yun was utterly mortified. She sat primly on the bed in her room, her face flushed with shame, much like a young woman about to be married off.

“Son, be good, put on the bridal veil,” Su Muyu said, holding the red veil, attempting to place it over Yan Yun.

But Yan Yun dodged left and right. She could already imagine how low her family status would sink after this wedding.

“No, I won’t wear that thing! If I’m marrying into the family, then so be it, but let’s not have so many strange rituals,” Yan Yun protested, her face a mask of defiance.

Few men, she reckoned, could endure this entire process. Anyone who could complete the ceremony without a single blush or a quickened heartbeat would truly be a rarity.

“Oh, my dear son, it’s come to this point, so don’t fret over such things,” Su Muyu chided. “Whether you face it or shy away, the outcome is the same. Besides, once the red veil is on, you won’t see anything. You’ll be walking past the guests in a moment; are you certain you don’t need this?”

At the mention of that, Yan Yun’s face contorted into an expression of agony.

“Then, then I suppose I’ll put it on,” Yan Yun conceded, taking the veil. “After this wedding, I’m sure to become famous throughout the Jiang Kingdom. There haven’t been many instances of nobles marrying into another family in the Jiang Kingdom’s history, have there?”

Su Muyu nodded without a moment’s hesitation.

“You’re quite right,” she affirmed. “While commoners might have cases of men marrying into their wives’ families, for a noble scion to marry into another noble family—you, my son, are setting a precedent.”

Upon hearing that she was setting a precedent, Yan Yun immediately let out a cry of despair, then rolled her eyes and collapsed onto the bed.

“It’s over! I’m going to be nailed to the pillar of shame for the rest of my life.”

Su Muyu, meanwhile, couldn’t stop laughing. Seeing her precious son in such a predicament seemed to delight her immensely, dispelling the gloomy mood she had felt earlier after seeing her family.

“Ah! It’s all Mother’s fault,” Su Muyu lamented, a look of self-reproach on her face. “If only I had broken through my realm earlier, received the blessings of the Heavenly Dao, and improved my spirit root quality, perhaps you wouldn’t have had to endure such a thing.”

Yan Yun, who had appeared utterly despondent, heard Su Muyu’s words and her eyes darted about before she promptly sat upright.

“Mother, ultimately, it’s my own lack of ability, so this isn’t your fault,” she quickly interjected. “Besides, truthfully, for a man to marry a Heavenly Daughter—whether by marrying into her family or taking her as his wife—it’s always a joyous occasion.”

Su Muyu glanced at Yan Yun, then offered a faint smile.

“Mm, it’s good that you understand. Alright, I should go wait for Yao’er to arrive. Just be patient a little longer.”

Yan Yun nodded.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yao had already stepped out of her room, arriving in the guest courtyard accompanied by a retinue of maids.

Upon Jiang Yao’s arrival, the guests rose one after another to offer their congratulations. Only Lin Mo, upon seeing her attire, crushed his wine cup outright, his eyes clouded with a dark gloom.

‘Jiang Yao, you will surely regret your decision today. Just you wait,’ Lin Mo swore inwardly, his gaze fixed intently on her.

His anger stemmed primarily from a loss of face. Everyone in the Yunhua Sect knew that he and the Lin family had consistently pursued a marriage proposal with Jiang Yao and the Jiang family, undoubtedly making them the most persistent suitors.

Leaving aside his need for Jiang Yao’s physique, his pride alone was enough to make this unbearable.

Before Jiang Yao’s appearance, he too had been widely recognized as a Heavenly Scion.

Alas, what should have been a match of ‘Golden Boy and Jade Girl’ ended with the Jade Girl spurning the Golden Boy and falling for the Cowherd instead.

Lin Mo had often boasted among his fellow disciples that Jiang Yao was destined to be his, so this public humiliation felt like a resounding slap to his face.

Many people, at that very moment, were secretly mocking Lin Mo.

“Look, isn’t that Lin Mo, the Heavenly Scion of the Lin family? I can’t fathom why he’d personally come to offer congratulations at such an awkward occasion. It makes no sense.”

“Indeed,” another chimed in. “The Lin family originally sought to assert dominance, but who would have thought that the Yan family’s Seventh Madam would suddenly catch the eye of Fairy Yunshuang? As long as that Seventh Madam agrees, the Yan family will henceforth be under the protection of the Yunhua Sect. This is truly a humiliation of epic proportions.”

Jiang Yao, of course, also noticed Lin Mo.

Yet, she paid him no mind whatsoever.

Truth be told, if Lin Mo’s character had been decent, and if she hadn’t yet recognized Yan Yun, perhaps many years later, she might have sought a Dao Companion, and Lin Mo, given his family background, would have been a fair choice.

However, her intense aversion to Lin Mo stemmed from the utterly repulsive actions he had committed within the Yunhua Sect.

What actions, one might ask? Lin Mo had engaged in illicit relationships with numerous disciples within the Yunhua Sect.

This fellow possessed a High-Grade Fire Spirit Root, coupled with a Fire Elemental Spirit Body.

Such a physique, if harmonized with an extreme Yin-Soft physique or a singular Water Spirit Root, could improve one’s constitution, even elevating the spirit root’s grade, while also upgrading several Fire Elemental Spirit Bodies to Fire Spirit Bodies.

Currently, throughout the entire cultivation world of the Jiang Kingdom, the only person who could guarantee a hundred percent advancement of his physique and spirit root was Jiang Yao.

In fact, within the Yunhua Sect, First Elder Yunhong had repeatedly proposed this matter to Yunshuang, but Jiang Yao had unfortunately rejected all such overtures.

Finally, Jiang Yao stepped out of the Jiang family estate and boarded the bridal sedan carriage, which then proceeded towards the Yan family.

In truth, there was no real need for this; the two families were not far apart. However, for a wedding, the ceremonial procedures were still deemed essential.

After a short journey, the carriage halted at the main entrance of the Yan family estate.

Su Muyu was already waiting at the entrance, having volunteered to be the escort.

Once Jiang Yao alighted from the carriage, Su Muyu immediately approached her, a beaming smile on her face.

“Yao’er, come, I’ll take you to fetch Yun’er.”

Thus, amidst the cheers of the Yan family and their guests, Jiang Yao, a gentle smile gracing her lips, walked towards Yan Yun’s location.

Shortly after, she arrived at the doorway of Yan Yun’s room.

Hearing the commotion from outside the door, Yan Yun instantly grew nervous.

As the door creaked open, Jiang Yao entered with a cheerful chuckle. Her gaze fell upon Yan Yun, who sat primly on the bed, and a playful smile spread across her face.

“Cough, cough, my dear wife, your husband has come to fetch you,” Jiang Yao teased, her voice deliberately deepened after a few dry coughs.

Beneath the red bridal veil, Yan Yun’s face instantly flushed crimson. She wished she could burrow into the ground and disappear.

“Stop being so sarcastic,” Yan Yun urged, her voice muffled. “Just take me away quickly. The sooner we finish this process, the sooner I can find peace.”

Jiang Yao walked up to Yan Yun and, with a sudden movement, lifted her red bridal veil, taking a quick look.

For a moment, their eyes met. Yan Yun, startled, quickly pushed Jiang Yao’s hand away.

“What are you staring at? Haven’t you ever seen a groom getting married?”

Jiang Yao tried to maintain her composure, but the image of Yan Yun’s earlier expression proved too much. She couldn’t help herself, clasping her stomach as she burst into peals of laughter.

“Hahaha… I can’t take it anymore! You look utterly unbearable like this. So, when a man marries into a family, he still needs a dowry? How truly bizarre! Hahahaha…”

Though Jiang Yao was laughing, her mirth was subdued, audible only to Yan Yun.

“Ah! Are you trying to kill me?” Yan Yun cried, on the verge of madness. “Don’t you know how mortified I am? Please, my dear wife, stop playing around and quickly lead me out of this misery!” she implored.

Only then did Jiang Yao reluctantly place a red silk ribbon into her hand.

“Alright, I won’t laugh anymore. Come, my dear wife, hehehe…”

Thus, Jiang Yao led Yan Yun out of the room by the red silk ribbon. The moment they emerged, they were met with a chorus of congratulatory voices.

At that moment, however, Yan Yun had no desire to hear any of it.

“Yao’er, my son, I entrust him to you,” Su Muyu’s voice rang out.

“Yes, Mother, I will certainly take good care of Yan Yun,” Jiang Yao replied.

Afterward, Yan Yun continued to be led by Jiang Yao, soon arriving at another exceedingly lively area. Without even needing to look, she knew this was where the guests were gathered.

Yan Yun yearned only to escape this place quickly; every extra second felt utterly mortifying.

Finally, they reached the doorway.

Upon reaching the entrance, a teasing voice echoed.

“Third Brother, congratulations on your marriage! Your elder brother is truly happy for you.”

The voice nearly choked Yan Yun. Without even needing to think, she knew it was Yan Kun.

Next, Yan Kun, as the elder brother, escorted his younger brother to the neighboring Jiang family. It was only when Yan Yun was led into the bridal chamber by Jiang Yao that the matter was finally settled.