Chapter 100: Daughter

```htmlThe wedding of Prince Zhen and the Princess is here as scheduled.
Liu Hanxi looked out from the window by the embroidery frame, where the Liu family's courtyard was adorned with fluttering red silk, and the walls were covered with big red auspicious characters. Some of them were crooked, a result of the efforts of Bai Lie and Ji Ya, who were competing to see who could paste more, so auspicious characters were stuck on the walls, trees, and even the chairs in the courtyard.```
Liu Hanxi is dressed in a bright red wedding gown, adorned with a golden phoenix pattern on her chest. Over it, she wears a cape embroidered with golden peacock feathers. The cuffs and front are embroidered with floral designs, and the hem of her skirt features a hundred sons motif. She wears red satin shoes decorated with clouds and cranes. The edges of her gown and the hem are embellished with pearls and jade, making a soft, crisp sound as she walks, pleasantly melodious.
The joyful makeup on her face added to her charm, and the phoenix-shaped hairpin on her forehead enhanced her dignity. Her long black hair was styled in an elegant updo, adorned with a delicate golden lotus crown, complemented by a pair of lively mandarin duck hairpins.
Jingniang came out of the house, no longer dressed in plain clothes, but in a stunning scarlet brocade outfit, with a formal hairstyle adorned with gold hairpins and jade hair flowers. Her appearance and demeanor now rivaled that of any matriarch.
“Miss, I'm dressed like this……” Jing Niang knew that this outfit matched the regulations for a noble lady.
“If I say it’s good, then it’s good. It looks great on you.” Liu Hanxi pulled her hand to the window, showcasing her to Ran Xingtou in the courtyard.
Ran Xingtù is standing outside the courtyard, just like the first day I met him, warm and gentle as jade. He is smiling as he looks in at his elegantly dressed mother and sister through the window.
The sound of drums and music is growing closer.
Jing Niang helped her to sit in the main seat.
The ceremonial officials smiled as they filed in, bringing various gifts that filled the entire small room neatly, then they bowed and said, "Madam Jing, the auspicious time has arrived."
Jing Niang helped Liu Hanxi put on the red veil, which was adorned with pearl tassels, gently covering her stunningly beautiful face.
Jing Niang supported Liu Hanxi, beginning to cry: "My daughter, raised for eighteen years, is leaving today. I hope your husband treats you well, and looks after you often. My daughter... you must gather reeds to treat your illnesses, you must gather new cotton to make clothes, and avoid the cold. My daughter... if you think of your mother, if there is a cart, you may ride in it; if there is a horse, you may ride it; if there is none, then walk, but do come back to see your mother. My daughter..."
Jingniang is truly marrying off her daughter whom she has raised for seventeen years, and her sorrowful cries pierce the heart. Liu Hanxi, beneath the bridal veil, is also in tears.
She cries for herself, for becoming a bride in this place, and for others who weep for their marriages. She thinks of her mother, who left this world resentfully for a man unworthy of her love, leaving her underage daughter behind, and never got to witness her daughter’s wedding day.
As the two approached the threshold, Ran Xingtu came forward, crouched down and lifted her onto his back. Amidst Jingniang's cries of celebration, he walked steadily along the stone path he had personally laid down.
There are no more members of the Liu family in this house, nor do we need any.
Ran Xingtu carried her to the gate, but Jing Niang couldn't step across the threshold, so she stood inside the gate looking out. Dressed in wedding attire, Hua Qingkong dismounted from his horse and waited outside the door.
```htmlRan Xingtou placed Liu Hanxi on the red silk laid under the sedan chair, beside Hua Qingkong.
Jing Niang stopped crying, looking at the newlyweds with tears and a smile.
Whatever king, she did not care; all she knew was that this person who could fight for her daughter was enough.```
Hua Qingkong gently held Liu Hanxi's hand, and the two knelt together toward Jingniang at the gate of the courtyard.
“You mustn't…” Jingniang tried to stop them, but she was pulled by Ran Xingtu's sleeve.
```html“Mother, your daughter is unfilial and is about to leave.” Liu Huanxi called out.
“Mother, I will take good care of Xi'er, please rest assured, there will be one more person to serve you in the future.” Hua Qingtian also said.```
Two people bow.
菁娘站直着受了礼，哽咽道：“去吧！莫误了吉时。”
Hua Qingkong then helped Liu Hanzhi and assisted her into the bridal sedan chair.
As the music began, the townspeople laughed and congratulated the newlyweds all along the way, accompanying the wedding procession straight to the palace gates.
They must first go to the palace to pay their respects and worship their ancestors before they can return to the royal residence in the bridal sedan chair.
According to ancestral customs, the only thing not arranged is the banquet. The couple decided to use all the silver intended for the banquet to buy grain and distribute it to the common people.
As the wedding carriage arrived at the Wangfu, night had fallen. Hua Qingkong came to support Liu Hanxi. She lifted her head and looked through the red canopy at the familiar large gate.
Red silk was laid from where the wedding carriage stopped all the way to the courtyard, extending to the new house in the main building.
In their hands, there was a red silk ribbon, one end tethering Hu Qingkong and the other end tethering Liu Hanxi.
The joyful music continued for half an hour even after the two entered the main gate. The two sat there dumbfounded in the bridal chamber, still able to hear the sounds of celebration from the courtyard.
Although the yard was not as lively as a banquet, it was enough for the two of them.
```html“Xi'er……”
"Huh?"
“I... um...”
“Your Highness, Princess, the time has come, we will take our leave.” The joyful official and joyful lady said with a smile from outside the door, and then they both withdrew.
```htmlHua Qingkong heard Liu Hanxi let out a heavy sigh beside him.
He gently lifted Liu Hanxi's bridal veil, meeting her deep and affectionate gaze.
```html“Xi'er……”
Liu Hanxi replied with a bright smile, "Qingkong."```
交杯酒下肚，脸红如火，反而有些尴尬了，两人坐在床边，不知所措。
“Uh... are you tired or what...” Hua Qingkong tried to break the silence.```
“Well, my knees are hurting from kneeling.” Liu Huanxi said with a pitiful expression.
“Then... should I put some medicine on it for you?” As soon as the words were out, she felt it was a bit off and her face turned even redder.
“Um... are you hungry?” Hua Qingkong asked again.
Liuhanyi nodded.
Hua Qingkong reached into his bag and took out a bun, when he heard a soft “crunch” next to him. Liuhanyi was peeling a peanut from the bedding behind her. She took the bun, then placed two peanut kernels into his palm.
“There should still be some red dates, do you want to eat?” Liu Huanxi chuckled, pulling out another date from her hand.
Hua Qingkong couldn't help but hold her hand, gazing at her incredibly beautiful and cute face. Hua Qingkong finally remembered that this wedding night shouldn’t be awkward small talk, but rather should involve doing something else.
He knocked Liu Hanxi down, extinguished the candle with his sleeve fan, and reinforced the Taoist priest's barrier. This barrier prevented anyone—humans, gods, ghosts, and demons—from entering. Outside, Ji Ya and Bai Lie, who were sneaking in to eavesdrop, were bounced away.
The room was warm like spring, and the two of them looked at each other in the faint soul fire, as if still not accustomed to such intimacy, feeling a bit shy, yet unwilling to look away.
“How much… of your magic power is lost?” Liu Hanxi asked timidly.
Hua Qingkong shook his head and said, "I don't know, maybe it will be gone." His words made Liu Hanxi chuckle.
“If I leave, what will you do, Miss Qi?” Liu Hanxi asked, nestling in Hua Qingkong's embrace.
“走不了。”华青空肯定地答。
“若就是走了呢？”柳寒兮不依不饶。
“那我就去寻你。”华青空又肯定地答。
“我回现代了呢？你要怎么寻？”柳寒兮又问。
“你的魂既去得了，我的也就可以，你手中有这戒，我就能找到你。”华青空的手正经过她的指上戒。
柳寒兮放了心，身体的疲累，让她在华青空怀里沉沉睡着。
Hua Qingkong also fell asleep in a daze and heard her murmuring, "Hua Qingkong."
Looking at her, he saw her eyes closed, realizing that she had already entered her dream.
"I'm here," he replied softly.
"You need to come find me!"
"Okay."
“I... wait for you.”
"Okay."