You don't want your secret to be revealed by others, right?-Chapter 170 - 9. Various Princes and Princesses

"On the twenty-second day of November, Duke Heng’s mansion was bedecked with lights and decorations, the scene bustling with excitement, the vast estate brimming with an extra touch of festive spirit.

In Qinghu Inn, close to a dozen maids surrounded Lin Yue, some carefully combing his hair, some busy arranging his headdress, others helping him don the groom’s robes, and some bringing over decorations.

Lin Yue, sitting before the mirror, could only let them fuss over him.

The undergarment was easy to put on, but the outer red groom’s robe was far more complicated with its multitude of ties crisscrossing and various adornments whose proper places were unknown. He neither knew how to arrange them nor cared to learn, so he let the maidens take care of it.

Some maidens even wanted to apply makeup to him, but he naturally refused.

Normally, a prince’s marriage would require consulting the Divine Emperor, following a process where, on the wedding day, the princess would be escorted to the prince’s mansion in her bridal attire to commence the grand wedding.

However, Lin Yue had not yet claimed his princely identity, nor had he established his own mansion, so he could only proceed with a normal wedding at Duke Heng’s estate.

Besides, he cared little for the tedious formalities, preferring the concepts from his past life.

A nominal marriage was sufficient, any ceremonial rules could be dispensed with if possible.

After all, the purpose of this arranged union was to let Di Hong City know in the future — the Seventeenth Prince had married into the Duke Heng household.

Of course, another important reason was to continue the bloodline.

Xiahong’s princely bloodline was so pure that his successors were sure to be outstanding and naturally the perfect choice for enhancing the family’s strength.

When Lin Yue finished dressing, he stood up in his red robe and took a look at himself in the mirror.

After giving himself a few glances, he suddenly noticed Baili Fengzhi standing silently behind him, watching, and couldn’t help but smile and say, "My beloved guard, does the young master look handsome?"

Baili Fengzhi nodded slightly.

"Seeing me take another as my wife, do you feel jealous?" Lin Yue asked with a teasing smile.

"...Your Highness thinks too much," Baili Fengzhi responded somewhat at a loss for words. After spending a long time with him, she had come to understand the meaning of jealousy.

"Then you should be a little jealous, otherwise your young master will be troubled."

Lin Yue suddenly said with a smile, "By the way, will you stand guard in the bridal chamber tonight?"

"The last of your guards will watch from outside the door," Baili Fengzhi said calmly.

"You’re unwilling to watch inside the room, could it be you secretly love me?"

"...Then the last will guard inside the chamber."

"Aren’t you afraid of hearing strange noises?"

"...It is my duty."

"Admirable."

"..."

"Bow to Heaven and Earth!"

The resonant voice of the ceremony master echoed above Lake Center Island.

Duke Heng’s estate was vast, its grandeur almost comparable to the princes’ mansions. The previous Duke Heng had even used Great Divine Power to relocate a large lake within the estate, creating an environment surrounded by water, rocks, mountains, and forests — a garden landscape second to none.

Passing over the winding arch bridge, one arrived at the meticulously refurbished island in the center of the lake.

The island had always been where Duke Heng entertained distinguished guests. Today, being the wedding of Lord Qi’s eldest daughter, it was naturally held here.

The island was already festooned with bright decorations, and pavilions and terraces were beautifully arranged amidst a sea of vibrant flowers, creating an elegant atmosphere.

Each structure was placed in a unique and exquisite position.

Common wedding banquets were gatherings for toasting and drinking. High above them all, Duke Heng was no exception. The distribution of the pavilions and terraces was not much different from how mortals arranged their seating.

Those of lower status were comfortably accommodated in a pavilion.

But the distinguished personages were hosted in the high-rise buildings on Lake Center Island.

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For this wedding banquet, Duke Heng had invited many, but the least among them were the Minister Elders of the household, or direct descendants from some powerful households in Di Hong City.

Regarding those people on the upper floors of the pavilions, they were truly extraordinary.

They were either top ministers and nobles of the current regime or Great Cultivators from the Three Religions Holy Land, each an influential figure.

On the highest Xuan Guang Pavilion of Lake Center Island, Duke Heng chatted and laughed easily with several dignitaries.

"Lord Qi, your sudden decision to give your daughter away, what is the reason? Could it really be that prince who awakened two months ago?"

"Mu Yue? There are families with the surname Mu among the prominent clans of Great Yong, but the Mu family has long declined, and I have not heard of any dealings between Lord Qi and them?"

Duke Heng responded with a smile and evasiveness: "It’s hard to say, hard to say, in time you will know."

The dignitaries on the tower had their suspicions about this wedding’s ’Mu Yue,’ yet they remained uncertain.

As for those of lower status distributed among the various pavilions and terraces, they were clearly less aware.

"Marquis Yan, it is said that the groom marrying Lord Qi’s daughter is the son of an old friend of Lord Qi? Is there any truth to this rumor?"

"The son of an old friend, betrothed from infancy, this is personally claimed by Lord Qi himself, could it be false?"

"Indeed, if he had a background that reached the heavens, why go through all this? Lord Qi truly is a man of his word, which commands respect."

"This Mu Yue is of such age and his cultivation only at the level of the Five Elements Heavenly Barrier, possessing such mediocre talent, he has no significant background, and yet he manages to marry Lord Qi’s daughter. It’s truly his good fortune."

"Lord Qi’s daughter is like a Heavenly Immortal herself, no less than the true disciples of the Three Religions Holy Land. It’s somewhat of a pity..."

"However, we should still get on good terms with this Mu Yue. Lord Qi did not make him a live-in son-in-law, but rather gave his daughter away, which shows that he still values this person."

A mix of calm, envious, disdainful, and indifferent gazes fell from each pavilion and tower onto Lin Yue, who was in the midst of his bows to Heaven and Earth in the center of Lake Center Island, while the bride, dressed in a bright red bridal gown and covered with a red veil, had her face unseen.