Stepping over the brazier, they entered the palace. The emperor and the empress were already seated on the dais. The wedding attendant presented them with a flowered silk cord made of red silk for them to hold.
"Pay homage to Heaven and Earth."
"Pay homage to the elders."
"Pay homage to each other." Feng Xingzhi deliberately swayed the silk cord. Ji Yunxi felt it and couldn't help but curl the corners of her mouth slightly.
"The ceremony is completed. Escort the bride to the bridal chamber."
After Feng Xingzhi escorted her into the bridal chamber, he had to go out to receive the guests. Ji Yunxi grabbed the corner of his sleeve and admonished him, "Drink less."
"Got it."
Feng Xingzhi left, leaving Ji Yunxi alone in the room. She sat quietly by the bed until suddenly there came a cheerful chatter from outside.
Ji Yunxi peeked through the red veil and could only vaguely see Feng Xingzhi staggering into the room. He lifted the red veil from Ji Yunxi's head, and the two drank the wed - lock wine. Thus, the whole wedding came to an end.
Ji Yunxi and Feng Xingzhi returned to the Prince Feng's Mansion, while Ji Yuchen and Li Jiuge went back to the Ji Mansion.
Qing Xuan walked to Ji Yunxi's room. Just as she was about to knock on the door, her wrist was grabbed. Looking along her wrist, she saw it was Lu Shu. Qing Xuan's eyes were full of confusion.
"What are you going to do?"
"I want to chat with the mistress."
"Is it something important?" Lu Shu asked her again.
Qing Xuan was at a loss but replied honestly, "No, it's not."
"Then chat with her another day." Lu Shu said as he pulled her away.
Early the next morning, Ji Yunxi and Feng Xingzhi returned to the Ji Mansion.
Ji Yuchen was very happy to see her come back.
Ji Yunyi also rushed to greet her, "Yunxi's back. I'll ask the kitchen to make your favorite pastries."
"Thank you, Second Brother."
"How was it staying in the prince's mansion? Was it as comfortable as at home?"
"The prince's mansion is very large, magnificent and imposing." Hearing this, Ji Yunyi's face stiffened, but he still forced a smile. "But... it's definitely not as comfortable as home. I really miss my small courtyard."
After hearing this, Ji Yunyi smiled again and said merrily, "You've become sweeter - tongued after getting married. Come back and visit whenever you miss home."
As soon as he finished speaking, Ji Yunxi felt the temperature around her drop a bit. She forced a smile. When Ji Yunyi wasn't paying attention, she secretly glanced at Feng Xingzhi, who turned his face away.
She pinched Feng Xingzhi's finger, and he pinched hers hard in return.
Ji Yunxi almost cried out.
"What's wrong, Yunxi?" Ji Yunyi saw her sudden change of expression and asked with concern.
"I'm fine, Second Brother." Ji Yunxi quickly shook her head. She was in a difficult position, caught between her brother and her husband.
Feng Xingzhi accompanied Ji Yunxi the whole time. He found that he was being ignored. Before they got married, Ji Yunyi was quite friendly to him, but this time he just ignored him.
Feng Xingzhi tugged at Ji Yunxi's wrist to signal that he was being ignored.
Ji Yunxi glanced at him. Looking at his appearance, her eyes were filled with uncontrollable amusement. She whispered in his ear.
"Don't worry. My brother won't treat you differently. He'll still treat you as before."
After hearing this, Feng Xingzhi felt even more depressed. After all, he was now married to Ji Yunxi. He didn't want things to be the same as before.
Seeing his aggrieved look, Ji Yunxi smiled like a cat that had stolen the cream.
Yun Han and the others knew they were back and came to find them.
Ji Yunxi told Yun Han her plan, "I'll rest for a day and go back to the Qinse Valley tomorrow."
"That's too hasty. You just got married. Stay for a few more days." Li Jiuge thought that Ji Yuchen was reluctant to let Ji Yunxi go so soon after she got married and wanted to persuade her to stay.
Ji Yuchen understood what Li Jiuge meant and gently patted her hand, indicating that they shouldn't force it.
"There's no other way. We only managed to hold the wedding while we were back in Nanyan." Ji Yunxi understood her thoughts well, but time was pressing, and she had other things to do.
After everyone dispersed, they each went to prepare for tomorrow's trip.
Ji Yunxi then said to everyone, "I'm going to the main headquarters of the Menghua Pavilion to check on the previous arrangements."
"Let Lu Shu accompany you." Feng Xingzhi said, and Ji Yunxi nodded in agreement.
"Yunxi, I want to go too." As soon as Li Jiuge said this, everyone looked at her.
"Where? To the Menghua Pavilion?" Ji Yunxi was a bit slow to react.
"No, I want to go with you." Li Jiuge was determined this time. She didn't want Ji Yunxi to leave her behind no matter what.
"We're going to..." Ji Yunxi's words were interrupted.
"It's okay. I'll accompany her." Ji Yuchen said as he glanced at Li Jiuge. A smile spread across Li Jiuge's face.
Hearing Ji Yuchen's words, Ji Yunxi was a bit wavering.
"Let them go with us. Otherwise, if Jiang Yaoji comes to cause trouble for the Ji Mansion, it'll be bad." Yun Han suddenly spoke up, which surprised Ji Yunxi.
Jiang Yaoji had suffered a great loss this time and would surely not let it go. If they left them here and Jiang Yaoji came back, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Alright. Then Second Brother should come too." Ji Yunxi looked at Ji Yunyi.
"Great!" A happy smile spread across Ji Yunyi's face.
"Haha, that's wonderful!" Li Jiuge shook Ji Yuchen's arm and was so happy that she almost jumped up.
Not far outside the Ji Mansion, a figure in black stood on the roof. From his position, he could have a panoramic view of the scenery in the Ji Mansion's courtyard.
Yu Mingyi watched their happy faces. His face was so gloomy that it seemed to drip water. His hatred grew stronger and stronger.
Why? Why do I have to suffer the torture of scale - removal while you can be so happy? What wrong did I do?
There was an ice - cold look in his eyes that seemed to have never melted for a thousand years. His gaze towards Feng Xingzhi was like looking at a dead thing.
Yu Mingyi stretched out his hand. In his hand was the stone that Ji Yunxi had returned. He exerted force secretly, wishing he could crush it to pieces, but at the last moment, he withdrew his magic power.
Yu Mingyi came to the Wangyue Pavilion. The guards at the door saw him and stepped forward.
"What instructions does the prince have?"
"I want to see Jiang Yaoji."
"Okay. We'll go and report right away."
"No need."
After Yu Mingyi said that, he teleported directly into the main hall of the Wangyue Pavilion, leaving the guards at the door looking at each other in surprise.
Jiang Yaoji sensed the merman's magic and walked out of the room, scolding sharply, "Who is it? Oh, it's you!"
Yu Mingyi took off his cloak, revealing his well - defined face.
"The plan failed. Our cooperation ends here. May I ask what the prince is here for?"
"I want to join you to deal with Feng Xingzhi and the others." Yu Mingyi said his purpose straightforwardly. "All my scales have been peeled off once. The pain was unbearable. I must avenge this."
A look of surprise flashed across Jiang Yaoji's eyes. Her eyes kept sizing up Yu Mingyi. "Then let's continue our cooperation."
Yu Mingyi said, "I can use the power of the merman tribe to support your plan."
Jiang Yaoji was very satisfied. "Then I'll wait and see. May our cooperation be a happy one."