MLIAM Chapter 81

Chapter 81: Finally Kneeling Before the Altar. Why are you so Petty? Is this Wedding Even Happening…?

Chapter 81: Finally Kneeling Before the Altar. Why are you so Petty? Is this Wedding Even Happening…?

After one absurd day, Yu Shuli avoided Wei Yan, even covering his face when he saw him. After his daily duties, he went straight back to The General’s Mansion, not even stepping out the door.

Old Man Yu repeatedly exclaimed how strange it was, saying that he had suddenly become sensible, and wasn’t even going out to cause trouble.

Yu Shuli, who was currently sprawled on a lounge chair, basking in the sun with a deadpan expression, quickly waved his hand upon hearing this, “I can’t handle it…”

He holed himself up in his residence for several days. In court, he avoided Wei Yan whenever possible until Wei Yan said he wanted to take him to meet his mother and grandmother. Only then could Yu Shuli not refuse, and was forced to go.

However, he really couldn’t put on airs in front of Madam Wu and the Old Matriarch. He was clever and pleasing, acting coy and foolish, using every trick in the book. In front of the two elders, he was as obedient as could be, pleasing them so much that Madam Wu and the Old Matriarch doted on him. They kept giving him gifts and whatnot amidst their laughter. Madam Wu even handed over the management of the household affairs early.

Yu Shuli knew his limits. He wasn’t after Wei Yan’s possessions, so he quickly returned them, “Mother, I really can’t manage these things. You are graceful and intelligent! You should just work a little harder.”

Being coaxed and flattered by Yu Shuli, Madam Wu beamed. “You child, I’m getting old. I can’t manage things for you forever.”

“You’re still as beautiful as a flower, how can you be old?! Just manage it for now. Wei Yan’s money, you can spend as you like, don’t be polite.”

Wei Yan chuckled, “Mother, just listen to him for now. When he wants to manage it in the future, you can give it to him then.”

He turned to tap Yu Shuli’s nose, “You don’t feel the slightest bit sorry for my money. If I can’t earn enough, won’t we be living off our savings?”

Yu Shuli looked away, “Aren’t you quite capable of earning? Besides, if your conditions weren’t good, I wouldn’t marry you.”

The Old Matriarch narrowed her eyes, “Our Ji’an is very clever, so Xianqing, you’re destined to be a busybody. You can’t stop any of your side businesses, or else our Ji’an might be poached.”

Yu Shuli quickly waved his hands, “I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare…”

“What wouldn’t you dare?” The Old Matriarch smiled, “If he treats you badly, I’ll be the first to support your divorce. When you divide the family property, I will definitely help you. If I can’t break his bones, I’ll definitely peel off a layer of his skin.”

Yu Shuli scratched his head a little embarrassedly, “There’s no need to be so ruthless…”

Madam Wu and the Old Matriarch exchanged meaningful smiles, “You’re already protecting him? Grandmother is just doting on you.”

“I know.” Yu Shuli quickly went over to massage their legs and shoulders, “Mother and Grandmother both dote on me.”

Madam Wu was beaming, “The residence hasn’t been this lively in a long time. Ji’an is really a sweet little cotton-padded jacket. Our Xianqing, from childhood to adulthood, has been a cold iceberg that can’t be warmed up, all chilly.”

“Mother!” Wei Yan grumbled unhappily.

“Alright… complaining about exposing his past in front of his beloved.” The Old Matriarch waved her hand, “Alright, you young people, don’t serve us anymore. Go have fun yourselves.”

Wei Yan quickly got up and asked, “Grandmother, are you tired?”

The Old Matriarch shook her head, “Your wedding banquet is coming up. Although I won’t be returning to the temple these few days, I still need to transcribe scriptures and pray to Buddha.”

Upon hearing this, Yu Shuli quickly pulled Wei Yan up and bid farewell. “Then we won’t disturb Grandmother and Mother any longer.”

Madam Wu made two “eh” sounds and sent them off with a smile.

Wei Yan followed slowly behind Yu Shuli. Because of Yu Shuli, he obediently bowed to the two elders this time and left after saying a few words of concern.

Madam Wu turned her head and said to the Old Matriarch with a gratified smile, “This child is really Wei Yan’s blessing.”

The Old Matriarch nodded repeatedly, then sighed, “In the end, our family owes him… The Yu family will only have one heir in his generation… Our Xianqing has been thinking about him for so many years, and he still forcibly brought him home. This is even severing someone’s lineage. This kind of childless wickedness, no matter how many scriptures I recite, I can’t save… I can only hope that they will be well in the future and have fewer disasters.” She looked at Madam Wu, “You should also recite scriptures with me more in the future.”

Madam Wu nodded in agreement.

*

After Wei Yan caught up with Yu Shuli, he kissed him again, making Yu Shuli bristle up again.

As expected, after that day, Wei Yan was turned away several times in a row.

Afterward, Wei Yan went to the The Duke’s Residence every day, waiting for him to go to court together, but every time he ran into him, he was met with Yu Shuli’s face, which was trying to avoid him. Wei Yan’s heart itched, but he didn’t want to force him too much, so he endured and finally endured until the eve of the wedding banquet.

During this time, because the two were at odds, the court colleagues were guessing whether the two had broken up again.

Just as everyone was secretly betting, guessing when the two would cancel the engagement again.

The wedding day finally arrived.

On that day, red silk hung high in the Prime Minister’s Residence and The Duke’s Residence, and the entire residence was filled with joy.

The red envelopes distributed to the common people by the Prime Minister’s Residence alone were enough to make the people in the streets and alleys cry with envy.

Yu Shuli got up early again in a daze, went through a series of procedures, and was almost out of breath when he was about to kneel before the altar.

On the other hand, Wei Yan was full of energy. A sick person who still had residual poison in his body looked more radiant than this normal person.

The two wore red clothes and held red ribbons in their hands. Led by the master of ceremonies, they walked towards the main hall.

Yu Shuli pulled the red ribbon listlessly, looked at the decorations of the entire Prime Minister’s Residence, and asked Wei Yan with a smile, “You’ve spent a fortune again this time, haven’t you?”

“Naturally, I can’t wrong our Duke…” Wei Yan raised his eyebrows and suddenly looked over, “You… are you finally not angry with me anymore?”

“Who’s angry?” Yu Shuli carefully followed the master of ceremonies’ instructions, taking steps in a chaotic manner. He walked absentmindedly, muttering, “It was your fault to begin with.”

“Duke, please be careful and serious during the ceremony. Please do not speak.” The master of ceremonies’ upright face suddenly turned to the side.

Yu Shuli muttered and glared at him, “You only allow Wei Yan to speak, and don’t allow me to speak? Are you bullying the weak and fearing the strong?”

Wei Yan chuckled, “He doesn’t mean that.”

He pulled the ribbon in his hand and looked at Yu Shuli, “Your steps are messed up, Ji’an.”

Only then did Yu Shuli pay attention to his feet and find that he was taking steps that no one could recognize. Left foot, left hand, right foot, right hand… like newly installed limbs, each joint seemed to have its own ideas.

“Nervous?” Wei Yan curled his lips and smiled, “No need to be nervous, it’s not the first time.”

Yu Shuli glared at him, “It’s all your fault for talking to me!”

His steps became even more chaotic.

The master of ceremonies’ face darkened, “Duke, His Majesty is watching from afar… Please pay attention to your demeanor…”

Upon hearing this, Yu Shuli’s steps became even more disorderly. He tried hard to straighten his limbs and angrily tugged at the red ribbon, “I can’t walk! This wedding isn’t happening!”

Wei Yan smiled, “Are you being coquettish with me?”

“Whether I’m being coquettish or not, aren’t you supposed to manage it?! You promised me at the time that you wouldn’t set rules for me.” Yu Shuli bared his teeth at the master of ceremonies, “I just can’t stand some people who treat chicken feathers as arrows. The Minister of the Ministry of Rites can’t even protect himself, and some people are still bullying others and acting as accomplices!”

“Where did you get so many strange idioms?” Wei Yan chuckled, “This master of ceremonies is one of us, you’ve scolded the wrong person.”

Yu Shuli looked to the side with a guilty conscience and saw that the master of ceremonies was so scolded that he couldn’t even lift his head.

He apologized repeatedly, “Sorry, accidental injury.”

“I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare.” A trace of helplessness and panic appeared on the master of ceremonies’ stern face, and he looked at Wei Yan for help.

But he didn’t dare to open his mouth to reprimand him again.

“Forget it.” Wei Yan nodded to the master of ceremonies on the side, “Just turn a blind eye, His Majesty has me to worry about.”

Only then did the master of ceremonies wipe the sweat from his forehead and responded with a bitter face.

This Duke is really as difficult to serve as the rumors say.

It’s really hard on Prime Minister, who can coax people with every word and deed.

The two finally walked to the main hall. Under Wei Yan’s low voice command, although Yu Shuli’s walk wasn’t very decent, it was barely passable.

The Emperor sat in the center on the side.

Today, it seemed to be to express the imperial family’s emphasis on and support for this marriage. Not only the Emperor, but also the ministers of the court and the two princes came together.

The Second Prince looked excited and happy. If it weren’t for the royal etiquette, Yu Shuli felt that he might rush up to ask Wei Yan for an autograph or something…

As for the “Third Prince”…

Yu Shuli met Wan Yan Jun’s gaze and only felt that his calm gaze made people feel inexplicably eerie.

Very creepy.

But the former Crown Prince was nowhere to be seen.

But it didn’t matter, Yu Shuli thought, perhaps he was placed on house arrest again after being deposed, and his party was ransacked, so he had no power to turn the tables. He felt ashamed and disgusted in his heart, so he didn’t want to appear.

“Ji’an, Xianqing.” The Emperor looked over, his eyes were a little cloudy, and his voice was a little stiff, “May your ‘orchids and irises flourish for a thousand years, and your zithers and lutes bring joy for a hundred years’.”

Wei Yan smiled imperceptibly and led Yu Shuli to salute slowly, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor nodded, closed his eyes, and said slowly, “Go.”

Yu Shuli gently tugged at Wei Yan’s clothes, “What’s wrong with the old Emperor today? He looks a little strange…”

“I lit some incense to guide him. It’s not harmful to the body.”

Yu Shuli widened his eyes, “Wow, you’re really spending big. You even dare to make a move on the Emperor? You’re so bold!”

It was not difficult for Yu Shuli to guess that Wei Yan was afraid that the Emperor would wake up and see through the truth in their marriage, which would be detrimental to them. So he used incense to guide him. In order to prevent the Emperor from making trouble at the wedding banquet and creating some changes out of thin air, it was better to let him be drowsy and muddle through the wedding banquet.

“More than just making a move?” Wei Yan smiled and leaned into his ear, whispering, “I even dare to rebel. If I succeed in the rebellion, you will be the empress. Wouldn’t that be good?”

You cunning fox! Deliberately using the previous things to tease him.

Yu Shuli quickly pinched his hand to remind him, “Stop showing off! Someone’s watching! Stop saying these things!”

“Alright, you two should kneel before the altar, don’t delay the auspicious time.” After the two stood still in the main hall, the Emperor’s stagnant voice slowly sounded behind them. Looking up, his eyelids were about to droop to his chin.

Yu Shuli chuckled and responded pretentiously with Wei Yan.

Wei Yan held Yu Shuli’s hand and said in a low and aggrieved voice, “I made a move because I was worried that The Duke wouldn’t be able to get married? Even if you don’t give me a reward, you don’t have to criticize me.”

“Where did I criticize you?” Yu Shuli’s voice was a little louder, “Wei Yan, why are you so petty? This wedding can’t happen at all, let’s get divorced!”

The master of ceremonies’ face was twisted into a knot, so he could only turn away and pretend not to see anything.

Wei Yan covered Yu Shuli’s mouth, “Be good, it’s time to kneel before the altar.”

The people sitting around watching the ceremony touched their noses tacitly and said nothing.

Arguing on the wedding day, this is probably the only couple, right?

Fortunately, everyone was used to it.

These two had been at odds with each other countless times over the years, and no one would have thought that there would be a day when they would be harmonious and respectful.

And the most magical thing is that these two, who can be said to be Da Liang’s prominent figures, finally shattered all the girls’ dreams today and completely digested it internally.

“The auspicious time has arrived! Please stand in front of the incense table, you two!” The wedding hostess called out loudly.

Yu Shuli was pulled to a standstill by Wei Yan, and the two smiled at each other.

Madam Wu and the Old Matriarch sat in the front, looking over with satisfaction and comfort.

Old General and Madam General were also smiling happily on the side.

It was said that one side was marrying, and the other was taking a bride. But after all, both sides only had this one son, so naturally, both sides were giving enough face.

The master of ceremonies smiled and stepped forward, “Play music! Fire cannons! Prepare to kneel before the altar!”

Everyone cheered.

“Wait!” A voice, like the biting cold wind in winter, interrupted the festive atmosphere.

The tone of the person who came was gloomy and low, but with a strange arrogance and complacency, which made people feel chills, “I said, I wanted to give The Duke a wedding gift. How dare The Duke kneel before the altar without waiting for me to come?”