Wang Wan and Huai Zhuang exchanged glances, a sense of bitterness deep in their hearts. Compared to the Eldest Imperial Son’s grand wedding, why does the Great King seem so joyful at this mont? It’s almost as if the Eldest Imperial Son isn’t the Great King’s own child, while Zhao Feng is. To treat a subject with such kindness, yet face his own flesh and blood, the Eldest Imperial Son, with a cold deanor. For the Great King to act this way has surely chilled the Eldest Imperial Son’s heart.
And Fusu, watching his father, Ying Zheng, sitting among the elders with a smile, couldn’t help but smile bitterly to himself. Father, if you hadn’t arranged my marriage to Li Si’s daughter—if it weren’t for Li Si, and you had chosen even a commoner’s daughter—I would have been grateful to you. But you don’t care about my feelings at all, only about the towering authority of your kingship. If only you had been this happy at my wedding, I could die content.
Ying Zheng’s joyful deanor, in truth, left a bitter taste in the hearts of many at the banquet. In reality, even in the future, Ying Zheng would be happy about acting as an elder at Zhao Feng’s wedding, because he had truly done the right thing.
"First, bow to Heaven and Earth!" Zhao Gao called out loudly.
With a beaming smile, Zhao Feng held Wang Yan’s hand, and together they turned and bowed slowly.
"Second, bow to the elders!" ca another loud call.
Zhao Feng and Wang Yan turned to face Wang Jian, his wife, and Ying Zheng. They bowed deeply.
"Heh heh. Good, very good." Wang Jian nodded continuously. Compared to Wang Ben’s wedding, his eyes were now brimming with tears. It was clear how dearly he loved his daughter, Wang Yan. Though he was naturally reluctant to see her marry, he was, of course, overjoyed for her.
Looking at Zhao Feng, Ying Zheng sighed inwardly. Zhao Feng... If only he could replace Fusu. With so guidance, this young man could secure the future of my Empire. What a pity...
Among his many sons, although Fusu’s performance was the most eye-catching, he still did not et Ying Zheng’s expectations. As an ambitious hegemon, a king of grand strategies and vision who would later be revered as the Emperor of Ages, Ying Zheng naturally had exceedingly high standards.
"Husband and wife, bow to each other!" Zhao Gao called out again.
Zhao Feng and Wang Yan slowly faced each other. Zhao Feng’s eyes were filled with endless tenderness. For him, completing this wedding ceremony was like fulfilling the promise he had made four years ago.
Perhaps there was never any romantic love between us, but at least I have upheld my responsibility as a man. Wang Yan, from this day forward, you are my wife.
Zhao Feng gazed at the stunning Wang Yan before him, his heart filled with an indescribable joy. To start a family and establish a career—Zhao Feng had now accomplished the two greatest endeavors for a son of Huaxia.
"The ceremony concludes! Newlyweds, serve the tea!" Zhao Gao announced loudly.
A maid imdiately brought the tea forward. Zhao Feng stepped up first, offering a cup to his father-in-law, Wang Jian. Although Ying Zheng was acting as an elder, bestowing a trendous favor, wedding customs dictated that the groom first honor the bride’s family.
"Father-in-law, please have so tea," Zhao Feng said with a smile.
"Good, good," Wang Jian nodded repeatedly.
Zhao Feng then served tea to his mother-in-law, Mrs. Wang.
Afterward, Wang Yan presented tea, respectfully handing it to Ying Zheng. "Great King, please have so tea."
"Good," Ying Zheng smiled.
That simple smile was enough to completely shatter the composure of onlookers like Wang Wan. When Fusu had served tea with a sullen face, Ying Zheng had maintained a cold and displeased expression throughout. Today was the polar opposite.
Once Wang Yan had finished, Zhao Feng also raised a cup of tea to present.
"This subject thanks the Great King for the grace of acting as my elder today," Zhao Feng said with deep gratitude as he presented the tea.
With this single gesture from the King of Qin, this wedding banquet had beco the grandest of its era. For a subject, having the sovereign sit in the seat of an elder was an imnse and unparalleled honor.
"Haha!" Hearing Zhao Feng’s sincere thanks, Ying Zheng laughed, took the cup, and drained it in one gulp.
Subsequently, Zhao Feng turned to face the guests present.
"Honored guests," he announced loudly, "thank you all for attending my wedding banquet. Today, make yourselves at ho. I have prepared the finest wines from Immortals’ Liquor House for all of you. Drink to your hearts’ content, and may no one leave sober!"
"Congratulations, Shangjiangjun, on your joyous wedding!"
"We won’t leave until we’re drunk today!"
"Congratulations, Shangjiangjun..."
A chorus of celebratory voices rose from all corners.
"The Great King holds Zhao Feng in such high regard. It seems you and I have another competitor for the position of Grand Commandant," ng Wu said slowly, turning his head toward Huan Yi.
"A competitor?" Huan Yi glanced at Zhao Feng and suddenly smiled. "ng Wu, ng Wu, we’re both old n with one foot in the grave, and he is only twenty. How can we possibly compete with him? Perhaps you, I, or Wang Jian might ascend to the position of Grand Commandant for a ti, but in the future, that seat will inevitably be his. Which of the younger generation can even compare to him? No one can best him."
Hearing this, ng Wu fell silent for a mont before nodding. "You’re right."
At that mont, Huan Yi leaned closer and whispered, "I heard you had your second son, ng Yi, support the Eldest Imperial Son?"
At these words, ng Wu’s expression changed. "What do you an by that? Who told you?" he asked hastily.
"ng Wu, ng Wu," Huan Yi said with a knowing tone, "do you really think any secret can be kept forever in this world? Having ng Yi get close to Fusu—isn’t that the ng Family’s official stance? This matter has been spreading through the grapevine for so ti now. You wish to advance your ambitions, to elevate the ng Family, but have you considered what will happen if you fail?"
Huan Yi’s words carried a clear note of warning, as a fellow Senior General of Qin.
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