Soul of the Revered Banner
Chapter 76: The Grand Wedding
Another ten days passed in the blink of an eye.
The sweltering heat of Liang City had dissipated, giving way to a crisp chill.
Autumn had quietly arrived.
Today, the Marquis’ Estate was bustling with festivity. Because it was the day of the heir Wen Yue’s wedding.
The marriage rites were elaborate and intricate.
Tu Shanjun watched with interest, finding the spectacle rather novel.
The bridal sedan, carried by eight bearers, was brought through the main gate.
This marked the formal entrance into the household; once the couple bowed before the altar, they would be husband and wife in the eyes of both Heaven and man.
The Marquis’ Estate had been festooned with red lanterns and decorations for days, invitations sent far and wide.
As long as the old Marquis could still utter a few words, regardless of the invitee’s rank, an invitation had been dispatched.
Naturally, there was a division between the inner and outer courtyards.
After all, the Jing’an Marquis was a noble of rank, and his guests were among the upper echelons of power and prestige.
As for Wen Yue, though he had once enjoyed a circle of close companions, after the incident with his broken leg, he had heard nothing from them, not even a single visit.
Most likely, they had deemed him a cripple for life.
Still, Wen Yue, for the sake of past friendship, sent out the invitations. Whether or not they chose to attend was left to their own conscience.
Even if they did attend, Wen Yue would offer only a few words of courtesy. After all, the bonds of closeness had long faded. Things could never return to what they once were.
The Annan Marquis, as the bride’s father, was of course seated in a place of honor.
It was he who had stepped forward when Wen Yue had lost his title and status.
Regardless of whether his legitimate daughter bore physical imperfections, the mere courage to offer aid in another’s hour of need deserved praise.
All the more now that Wen Yue had regained the ability to stand.
Even the Annan Marquis himself hadn’t expected things to turn out so well.
Since then, the smile on his face had never faded; every time he saw Wen Yue, his satisfaction only deepened.
A brilliant young man with strength, background, and virtue. Such a catch had landed in his own household.
In Liang City, there was no shortage of titled nobles who now deeply regretted their inaction.
To cozy up to Wen Yue at this point was merely gilding the lily, how could it compare to the Annan Marquis's timely assistance when all seemed lost?
The Marquis could finally breathe easy. A son-in-law was, after all, half a son.
With both of his own children unable to care for themselves, gaining such an exemplary son-in-law was truly a joyous occasion.
It was difficult for the average person to notice any lingering impairment in Wen Yue’s condition. Now that he was a cultivator and discreetly wore lifts in his shoes, even the last trace of awkwardness had vanished.
At the gate, the steward loudly announced the guests.
Even if some didn’t attend in person, their congratulatory gifts arrived with their carriages.
For those who did arrive, guests of the same generation were greeted by the Jing’an Marquis himself, while those of the younger generation were welcomed by Wen Yue.
Guests were then seated in accordance with status.
Those with higher ranks were treated with due deference; officials of greater rank were seated foremost, the rest arranged by their position in the bureaucratic hierarchy.
To misplace a guest's seat was to invite enmity.
As Wen Yue’s personal attendant, Chu Jiu’s status had risen alongside his master’s, especially now that Wen Yue’s succession of the marquisate was all but assured.
He was now second only to the chief steward of the household.
As for the other young scions of the Jing’an Marquis’ family, they were either still in swaddling clothes or illegitimate offspring, none posed a threat to Wen Yue’s position.
Even back when Wen Yue had lost the use of his legs, the only ones who might have contested his claim were those of the second branch.
But the second branch had all succumbed to sudden "illness", a conclusion the household had collectively accepted.
Had Wen Yue not stood again and ascended to the rank of an Innate Grandmaster, the old Marquis would never have thrown all his weight behind him.
He had even gone so far as to wager his life to secure a front-line command post for Wen Yue.
That day, all had been shocked, yet they knew there was no point in offending the inevitable future Marquis. So, they conceded, offering face to the old man.
That tactic could be used once, perhaps. But if repeated, it would lose its power.
Even Emperor Liang would not allow it to happen again.
The Jing’an Marquis understood this well.
Precisely because he understood, he had chosen to place this bet.
Since the political scene within Liang City was fraught and treacherous, it was better to send Wen Yue out while he could still take root elsewhere. With Great Liang in decline and Northern Wei on the rise, holding military power was a risky but viable path to stability.
At the banquet, there was no shortage of toasts exchanged.
The nobles present, however, remained composed and restrained.
After all, such a wedding banquet was never truly about feasting and drinking, those were mere formalities. What mattered was the web of human connections.
Though the Jing’an Marquis appeared low-key in daily life, he had quite a few old friends.
Through him, Wen Yue managed to acquaint himself with a number of powerful nobles.
Though some discord had arisen in the past, most aristocratic factions based their judgments on affairs, not personal grudges.
As long as someone could bring them sufficient profit and wealth, they didn’t mind swallowing their pride.
Moreover, Wen Yue was pure-hearted and respectful. He never tried to use this situation to slap anyone’s face, which in turn earned him admiration and a willingness to draw near.
With such a noble character, only a fool would make him an enemy.
Wen Yue’s mother had passed away. His father’s second wife of the second branch had died suddenly of illness. Thus, the seat beside him remained empty, and only the Jing’an Marquis presided.
After a long afternoon of festivities, it was finally time for the formal bowing ceremony.
“His Majesty bestows the inscription: ‘A Hundred Years of Harmony.’”
The calligraphy, penned by Emperor Liang himself and elegantly framed, was carried in and placed at the head of the gift display.
The Jing’an Marquis led his family in expressing gratitude. Yet the eunuchs who had delivered the imperial calligraphy seemed to hail from two different factions.
When the time came to present the customary gratuity, no one was quite sure whom to hand the tea money to.
It was safest to give it to the eunuch who had first read the edict, let them divide it among themselves afterward.
“Marquis, please rise.”
“His Majesty is most pleased.”
“Eunuch Gao also instructed me to bring a wedding gift,” the lead eunuch in green robes said with a bright smile, presenting a lacquered gift box. His gaze turned to Wen Yue. “Congratulations, Young Marquis, on your auspicious union.”
His eyes were filled with admiration.
Gone was the usual arrogance of palace attendants.
“Eunuch is too polite. Please convey my thanks to Eunuch Gao,” Wen Yue replied with a smile, offering the red envelope.
The green-robed eunuch’s grin deepened. “The Young Marquis is too courteous.”
“Marquis, I was entrusted by Eunuch Zheng to bring his congratulations as well.”
Another green-robed eunuch of equal rank stepped forward with a gift box, also all smiles and polite demeanor.
Yet this made Wen Yue cautious.
Just half a month ago, Zheng Zhong had sent assassins to take his life. Wen Yue had expected an open confrontation but instead, things had gone quiet for two weeks.
And now, on his wedding day came a congratulatory gift, as if their relationship had never soured.
The lead eunuch’s expression immediately darkened.
He and the other eunuch had bickered all the way here. Now it was clear this man was up to no good, trying to win over Wen Yue.
Still, he couldn’t say much. If the two of them started fighting in the Marquis’ Estate, they would be stripped and thrown into a pauper’s grave.
That was the rule.
So all he could do was force a stiff smile and look hopefully at Wen Yue, silently wishing the young man would stand firmly with their faction.
Wen Yue’s expression cooled noticeably. He cupped his hands and said, “Many thanks. Please thank Eunuch Zheng on my behalf.”
“Chu Jiu, the red envelope.”
“The hour grows late. We shan’t delay the Young Marquis’ joyous night,” said the lead eunuch with a stiff bow, taking his leave.
They were clearly unwelcome here, better to leave swiftly.
And most importantly, to get Zheng Zhong’s lackeys away from Wen Yue before they wormed their way any deeper.
Inside the banner, Tu Shanjun furrowed his brow slightly. Zheng Zhong was playing a deep game.
Something was off about his attitude.
If this were a man who lived by swift revenge, the assassination attempts would have come in waves until the target was dead.
But the palace man had chosen to withdraw after one failure.
Could it be he had truly given up?
Tu Shanjun did not believe Zheng Zhong would simply let things go.
The enmity had already been forged. Even if Zheng Zhong tried to reconcile, they could never afford to let a poisonous serpent roam free.
That matter would have to be revisited another day.
Today, at least on the surface, was a grand wedding feast that delighted all in attendance.
The old Marquis drank a few more cups than usual.
But for a martial artist at the Organ-Refining stage, drunkenness was a choice. No matter how much one drank, one would not become intoxicated unless they willed it.
Even mortal martial artists were like this, let alone cultivators.
Wen Yue only took a few small sips, he dared not overindulge. Moderate drinking aided the refinement of essence into qi, but excessive drinking would build up impurities.
His teacher had once advised him: given his poor aptitude, it was best to limit his intake of grain and foodstuffs. All those residues had to be painstakingly refined with spiritual power.
Eating meat was a necessary evil. Internal cultivation methods offered the greatest boosts to a cultivator’s strength.
By dusk, the guests had dispersed, and the once-clamorous Marquis’ Estate returned to stillness.
The maids and servants busied themselves cleaning the aftermath, while Wen Yue returned to his private courtyard.
There, beneath red silk and glowing candlelight, his bride awaited him.
Wen Yue pushed open the door and entered.
(Chapter End)