The Phoenix Reborn Book II

Chapter 54 The Challenge of Marriage

Liang Fenghong frowned, his hands clinging to his chest. The man's breathing sounded heavy and an expression of pain appeared on his face.

“Lu Si, you know clearly my agreement with Lan’er ..” hiss Young Master Liang who began to pant. There was a lot of sweat adorning his forehead.

Lu Si snorted, then he stopped right before Liang Fenghong. With his hands folded, he looked at the man who looked like he was in pain.

“Whatever the slightest unexpected by you that the man will do this?” lu Si said in a displeased tone. “Sacrificing your incredible destiny for another uncertain destiny, I didn't realize you were a fool.” Then, the man waved his hand in front of Liang Fenghong who was half-bending.

Lu Si's words filled with hidden meaning made Liang Fenghong frown. “Not your business,” he replied ketus.

The pain that Liang Fenghong felt began to subside, allowing him to re-enforce his body. The man's gaze was calm again, the same as his emotions were much more controlled.

“I was expecting it,” said Liang Fenghong in the end. “However, unexpectedly from all options, he would choose to do that on Ling’er.” Both of the men's hands clenched tightly.

A hazy snort from Lu Si's mouth. “He's not the same guy, you know it.” The man furrowed his brows while smiling mockingly. “Even if he's the same guy, I'm sure he won't take a different choice.” His eyes glanced at Liang Fenghong. “Different from you, he put forward his ambition.”

Liang Fenghong closed his slightly yellowed eyes. The man's throat felt dry, making himself frowning uncomfortably. Every time Lu Si started discussing about his past, it would happen.

“Ambition?” The Young Master Liang smiled faintly, as if challenging his interlocutor. “Who said I don't have it?”

Lu Si rolled his eyeballs. “Don't you play my words.” The man then decided to return the conversation to a more important topic. “After the last information I gave, of course the man will run here.” The man's forehead is wrinkled. “Especially because tomorrow is your wedding day.”

Lu Si's gaze turned towards the Huang residence, making it look as if he could see through the sturdy wall that was before him. His red bead contracted a little, not knowing what he was looking at.

“After their meeting, are you sure the girl will still choose you?” Lu Si turned his gaze again to his interlocutor.

Liang Fenghong wrinkled his face in annoyance. “Did you come here just to insult me?”

“I'm here to warn you,” reply Lu Si quickly.

Liang Fenghong showed a confused face. “What do you mean?”

“One year.” Lu Si's words were followed by Liang Fenghong's shock. “If within one year you cannot fulfill your agreement with Lan’er,”—Lu Si touched his hand on Liang Fenghong's shoulder while walking past that man—“then I myself will kill you.”

Liang Fenghong turned his head back quickly, but Lu Si had disappeared without a trace.

It came in the darkness, and disappeared faster than the shadows. If not for Liang Fenghong being so familiar with the visitor earlier, then he would have been wide-eyed and appeared surprised.

What kind of man is capable of disappearing like dust blown by the wind?

Liang Fenghong leaned his back against the wall of the Huang residence while covering half of his face with his hands. Benak the man tried to process the information that Lu Si had just given.

The last sentence that came from Lu Si's lips answered all of Liang Fenghong's questions regarding the man's arrival. The expression of the Young Master Liang looked so desperate as he realized something.

‘Lan’er can't last much longer.’

***

“What happened to you?!” liang Siya exclaimed as he looked at his grandson's swollen eyes accompanied by a black shadow. “It's a nightmare!”

Huang Miaoling who had just cleaned himself up and was sitting at her dressing table nodded. “I did get a nightmare,” he replied with a flat face. It was obvious that he had not been able to sleep well the night before.

“You know what I mean not that!” reprimanded Liang Siya half growled. He looked at the servants who were in the room. “Prepare tea leaves and cold water immediately!” Then, the old woman glanced back at Huang Miaoling. “I want to see those black eye bags disappear as soon as possible!”

Huang's entire residence is a ravine-poranda. The servants ran to and fro while preparing for all the needs of the Bride. Although sweat streaks adorn the forehead, smiles remain etched on their lips.

The wedding day is a happy day!

Especially since there will be a red envelope to be shared!

Unlike the usual, Huang's residence that day was covered by everything that was nuanced red. Brightly colored ornaments hang on some sides of the residence. Red carpets decorate the floor of Huang Miaoling's room and also certain places, such as the ancestral hall and also the central hall— streets that the Bride will go through.

In Huang Miaoling's courtyard, various dishes had been provided. Some relatives and friends have come, prepared to accompany the Bride to a meal before starting the wedding ritual and going to her future husband's house. As per the rules, only a generation equal to or younger than the bride can accompany.

Seen in his courtyard, Shang Meiliang was biting his handkerchief while crying. Situ Yangle who was next to the woman sneered at her temple.

“Why tradition we do not allow the sister-in-law of the bride to attend the wedding?! Unfair!” shang Meiliang's whine with tears falling from her beautiful eyes. “Why are only First Sister-in-law and Jieli able to drop off Miaoling!? I want to too!”

Situ Yangle's reply made Shang Meiliang's cry even harder. “I want to see Miaoling in her wedding dress! She must look beautiful, and I can't see her!”

Situ Yangle was completely speechless. ‘Is this really the effect of her pregnancy? It's horrible,’ inner Situ Yangle while pursing lips.

On the other hand, Huang Liqiang and Huang Qinghao were entertaining the visiting elders in the living room. Qing Gangtie himself was seen relaxing while sipping his tea, he was sitting side by side with the Prime Minister, Situ Haonan. Wei Xinhao and several other relatives laughed while conversing, occasionally throwing jokes at Huang Liqiang.

The atmosphere was so lively, but no one knew that various kinds of thoughts were raging in Huang Miaoling's mind. His mind relentlessly kept returning to the events of the previous night. Even when he was eating with some of his relatives, Huang Miaoling could only swallow a few spoons.

“If you don't eat more, you will be hungry,” a voice said, making Huang Miaoling raise his head. The figure of Wang Qiuhua was seen smiling at him with a face full of worry. “What makes you so worried?” tanyanya touching the hand of her best friend.

Wei Xiaomei, the younger sister of Wei Shulin, smiled. “Miaoling may be worried about his first night, Princess,” his candlestick made some others laugh.

“Your joke is ridiculous,” Wei Xiaolan replied, Wei Xiaomei's twin, while also chuckling.

Wang Qiuhua could only smile a little to respond to the joke. However, he was sure there was something else that Huang Miaoling was hiding. “Eat more. Although not according to the tradition of the royal family, but marriage with your family tradition will also take all day.”

Qiuyue picked up a piece of steamed bread and placed it on his master's plate. “Mr Princess is right, Miss. Eat more. You will not be allowed to dine until the groom returns to see you in the bridal room,” he explained making the faces of some girls blush red.

Huang Miaoling smiled faintly. “Thank you,” he said as he forced himself to eat more. His eyes then glanced towards the wine jar that was on the table. “I want it.” He pointed towards the wine jar.

“Ah?” Qiuyue. “Nona, are you serious?”

At this moment, Xiang Ruyi laughed. “According to my vision, Brother Miaoling is afraid to meet his future husband!” Everyone chuckled, making Huang Miaoling grimace. If Tang Lixi had been there back then, she would have already twisted her younger brother's ears.

“If I am afraid, I will not agree to marry her,” Huang Miaoling replied while scowling. He gulped down the wine Qiuyue had just poured.

Hearing Huang Miaoling's reply, everyone who was there grew even more excited. “Wah, is that a confession?!” one of the girls cheerfully.

The corner of Huang Miaoling's lips lifted slightly. Honestly, having his family and close friends by his side at the moment is a good thing. At least, a little bit of his worry was gone.

Doesn't mean it's gone completely.

While Huang Miaoling's courtyard was filled with laughter, Chunhua suddenly came in a hurry. “P-the groom has arrived! Young masters are blocking him!” he announced with excitement.

At this moment, Wang Qiuhua put on a meaningful smile. “Try us to see if he can go through the challenge that the men of the Huang.” residence will give

***

In front of the gates of the Huang residence, a crowd could be seen surrounding the place. Some residents of the city who have free time are seen watching the celebration, even some pedestrians who want to pass by end up silent and watch.

“Excellent! Indeed the noble families of the Wu Kingdom, even their entourage is much more luxurious and crowded than the royal entourage that picked up Second Miss Huang,” chirped a spectator.

“You think this is arbitrary because the groom comes from the Liang family? Certainly not!” reply of another spectator. “This is because Young Master Liang is also the owner of Lianhua Yuan!”

“Hah?!”

A man in student clothes opened his fan and covered half his face. He warned, “It's good that you don't talk about it. If anyone spreads your words and it is heard to the ears of the royal family, then your history is up.” He made the spectators shut up immediately, aware that Princess Qiuhua was attending this celebration.

While some onlookers were whispering about Liang Fenghong's identity, the man he was talking about had just stepped off his horse. With her brightly colored clothes, she looked completely different from usual. Of course, his good looks were not shaken at all. Instead, the man looked increasingly handsome and inviting.

It's just that, if you look closely, there is a dark shadow that envelops the face of Young Master Liang.

Welcoming Liang Fenghong's arrival, Huang Jieli stood at the very front of the gate of Huang's residence, indicating that he was the leader of the defense. By his side, there were Huang Hanrong and Huang Junyi who had prepared to head off Liang Fenghong from ‘kidnapping’ their third brother. Forced, even Wei Shulin, the cousin of Huang Miaoling, had to participate in this part of the celebration. The male and female servants had also prepared to block Liang Fenghong's entourage from breaking through their ‘fortress’.

Had Wang Zhengyi been allowed to attend, he would have definitely participated in this celebration. After all, he was still a little unwilling about Huang Miaoling's sudden marriage to Young Master Liang.

When Liang Fenghong took one step up the steps up the steps, Huang Jieli said out loud with her arms stretched out to block her future sister-in-law, “Enak just wanted to enter that easy!” He grinned arrogantly. “Before the challenge, you cannot enter!”

Hearing this, Xiaoming who did not fully understand the wedding traditions of the Shi Kingdom was flabbergasted. “Ah? Then, if you can't get through the challenge how?” ask him stupidly.

At this moment, Huang Hanrong and Huang Junyi smiled evilly. They exclaimed simultaneously, “Certainly can't get in!”

________

A/N: As long as you know, the Chinese ancient marriage culture research ... take a lot of time, especially because of the variety of :") So, if there is a misalignment with the original, just let me know, but don't insult it, yeah. My heart is fragile.