After the latest confrontation between the Central Plains martial artists and the members of the Seventy-Two Islands, there was a welcome silence; no news suggested the islanders would return to disturb the nearby villagers.
The news of the double wedding of Rao Zhengsheng and Yong Taihua had spread throughout the martial arts world like wildfire, and on the fifteenth day, guests from all corners of the world poured into Sunset Sect.
Inside the massive conference hall, which was hosting the celebration, servants and martial artists were bustling, running around helping with chores. Many close-by martial artists and wandering fighters came for the wedding. For most guests, this was eye-opening, as the Sunset Sect had been closed to outsiders for over eighty years.
Inside a preparation room, Si Meifeng slowly applied makeup to Cao Yanmei's face. She smiled and said, "I just finished with Yuan guniang. Since the last celebration of welcoming Chief Xin, Sunset Sect has not celebrated anything of this magnitude."
Cao Yanmei looked at her. "Leader Si, have you ever been married?"
Si Meifeng smiled. "No."
Cao Yanmei asked, "Why?"
Si Meifeng gave a wry, lighthearted answer. "I don't want to wrap ropes around my own neck." Cao Yanmei looked down at the table sadly. Si Meifeng noticed her change in mood. "What's wrong? Today is your wedding day. You should smile."
Cao Yanmei confessed softly, "It would be great if the groom were someone else. I have dreamed of this day for so long, but the groom is someone else."
Si Meifeng offered practical encouragement. "Since the groom is not that person, then you have to accept that he is not worthy of you. Also, Yong gongzi is not a bad catch. He is the only son of Chief Yong of Sword Village, and a promising young martial artist. Also, the heir of Sword Village."
Cao Yanmei voiced her deep worry. "His late wife passed away on the day of their wedding. I am sad because I know that this man only marries me out of responsibility, and nothing more."
Si Meifeng smiled reassuringly. "It may be due to responsibility now, but as long as you two are together, love will slowly bloom. Trust me. I've heard of it before."
Cao Yanmei looked up, hopeful. "Really?"
Si Meifeng confirmed, "Of course... Wen qianbei's mother married into the Wen family for responsibility, but their marriage lasted longer than most. They stayed together until the death of Wen qianbei's father. She never remarried since."
Cao Yanmei's anxiety returned. "What if my story is not like that of Wen qianbei's mother?"
Si Meifeng laughed, adopting a fiercely protective stance. "Then you can come to me, and I will help you beat him up! If he dares to marry another wife, I will storm into Sword Village and help you slap his new bride." Cao Yanmei laughed, the worry lifting from her face. "That is the face I want to see! Let's go put on your dress."
Cao Yanmei smiled. "Okay." She stood up but immediately staggered and fell back onto a chair.
Si Meifeng quickly grabbed her. "Cao guniang! Are you alright?"
Cao Yanmei said, her voice weak, "I suddenly felt dizzy when I got up."
Si Meifeng helped her to the bed and instructed her. "You take a break first. I'll go find Yan yisheng."
Si Meifeng rushed out and found Yong Caixia walking toward her. She immediately asked, "Do you see Yan yisheng?"
Yong Caixia asked, concerned, "What's the matter? Zhanjin is with da ge."
Si Meifeng explained the situation. "I don't know, Cao guniang was suddenly dizzy and her face turned pale."
Yong Caixia panicked. "What?! You go back, and I will go get Zhanjin!"
Yong Caixia rushed toward Yong Taihua's room. When she entered, Yan Zhanjin was still helping the groom dress. Yong Caixia was breathless. "Zhanjin... Zhanjin..."
Yan Zhanjin turned, annoyed by the interruption. "What's wrong with you?"
Yong Caixia stammered out the news. "Zhanjin, Leader Si said, Cao guniang suddenly fainted, and her face turned pale!"
Yong Taihua immediately put his own needs aside. "Zhanjin, you go and see her first."
When they reached Cao Yanmei's room, Yong Caixia quickly grabbed Yong Taihua's hand. "Ge, you can't see her face until after the wedding."
Yan Zhanjin stepped in to reassure the anxious groom. "Taihua, don't worry. If I'm still standing here, I'll never let her have an accident. I'll check it out and tell you."
Yong Taihua sighed in relief. "Thank you."
Yan Zhanjin walked into the room and found Cao Yanmei lying on the bed with Si Meifeng sitting on the edge. Yan Zhanjin glanced at the patient and said, "Leader Si, if you don't mind, I need to speak to Cao Yanmei alone."
Si Meifeng nodded immediately. "Sure." She walked out and closed the door.
Yong Taihua rushed toward Si Meifeng. "Leader Si, how is she?"
Si Meifeng simply said, "Yan Yisheng wants to have a private conversation with Cao guniang ."
Yong Caixia worried aloud, "Is that bad—for Zhanjin to talk to her in private?"
Inside the room, Cao Yanmei sat up on the edge of the bed. "I feel better now. A moment ago, I suddenly felt unwell."
Yan Zhanjin asked, his expression serious, "How long have you had these symptoms?"
Cao Yanmei thought for a moment. "Ten days."
Yan Zhanjin quickly counted on his fingers. "That sounds about right."
Cao Yanmei looked at him, her heart sinking. "Yan da ge... tell me directly. It must be bad enough for you to ask Leader Si to leave."
Yan Zhanjin looked her in the eye. "There is nothing wrong with you."
Cao Yanmei frowned. "Then why did you ask Leader Si to step out?"
Yan Zhanjin explained, "I didn't know if you wanted to let others know, so I asked her to leave."
Cao Yanmei insisted. "Tell me what's wrong with me."
Yan Zhanjin delivered the diagnosis plainly. "You are pregnant."
Cao Yanmei stared back, utterly shocked. "Pregnant?"
Yan Zhanjin nodded. "Yes... in the first twelve weeks of pregnancy, it is perfectly normal for expectant mothers to feel tired, dizzy, or nauseous."
Cao Yanmei looked at Yan Zhanjin, pleading. "Yan da ge... I don't want others to know."
Yan Zhanjin replied gently, "Sooner or later, others will eventually know."
Cao Yanmei insisted, "Then let it be later. I don't want people to gossip."
Yan Zhanjin smiled. "I understand. Tell him when you are ready."
Cao Yanmei nodded. "Thank you."
Yan Zhanjin stood up. "I will tell the maid to bring you a bowl of congee; it will help." He walked out of the room and went straight to Yong Taihua, Si Meifeng, and Yong Caixia. "She's fine. She's dizzy because she hasn't eaten anything yet. Caxia, will you get her a bowl of plain congee? Don't add anything. Just plain."
Yong Caixia nodded and quickly left to follow the instruction.
Si Meifeng said, relieved, "Then I will go back and help her get dressed."
Yong Taihua bowed slightly. "Thank you, Leader Si."
As Si Meifeng turned to leave, Yan Zhanjin grabbed Yong Taihua's right hand and quickly wrote the word 'pregnant' in his palm.
Yong Taihua stared at Yan Zhanjin, his eyes wide with shock and joy. "Really?"
Yan Zhanjin kept his voice low and secretive. "She told me not to tell anyone. I wrote it, so it doesn't count as telling."
Yong Taihua was overwhelmed. "Zhanjin... I..."
Yan Zhanjin cut him off, his face serious. "You don't need to say any more. If my calculation is correct, then it should be right." He looked Yong Taihua directly in the eye. "Taihua, she is afraid of other people's gossip, so except for you and me, don't let anyone else know until she is ready to tell everyone."
Yong Taihua swallowed, composing himself. "I understand."
Just as the sun touched the horizon, the grand doors of the main conference hall of the Sunset Sect were thrown open, and a hush fell over the assembled crowd. The two grooms and the two brides—a stunning quartet representing a powerful, hopeful new alliance—walked slowly into the brightly lit space.
Hundreds of martial artists, representing countless sects and clans, stood shoulder-to-shoulder on both sides, forming an aisle of formidable witnesses. Their eyes glowed with respect, relief, and optimism. These seasoned fighters had gathered not for battle, but to witness a union that symbolized the end of devastating feuds and the dawning of peace in the Central Plains.
The couples performed the sacred ritual quickly and gracefully: they bowed to Heaven and Earth, acknowledging the cosmic forces; they bowed to the elders and honored guests, showing deference to their communities; and finally, they bowed to each other, cementing their lifelong commitment. With the solemn ceremony complete, the hall erupted in applause as they took their seats, ready to celebrate their union and the hard-won peace with the rest of the martial world.
Yong Taihua picked up a wine cup and looked at Tang Keung. "Da ge, thank you for hosting our wedding today. I toast to you."
Rao Zhengsheng stood up and addressed the hosts. "Leader Yong and Chief Tang, for this wedding, I want to thank you both. If there is ever anything you need help with, please let me know."
Tang Keung grinned, enjoying the moment. "You can invite me to participate in your child's full moon celebration next year to thank me."
Everyone inside the conference hall laughed, the sound ringing with genuine happiness.
That night, in the bedroom, Rao Zhengsheng and Yuan Xiurong were sitting on the bed. Rao Zhengsheng held her close. "Xiurong, I want to thank you for being with me all these years." He held her in his arms. "I promise, from now on, I will take care of you."
Yuan Xiurong sighed softly. "Rao ge ge, I'm sorry. Horan's refusal to see you is my fault. The way your relationship with him has deteriorated—I think it is my fault."
Rao Zhengsheng gently shook his head. "Xiurong, it's not your fault, it's mine."
Yuan Xiurong smiled gently. "Rao ge ge, when you see Horan again in the future, please apologize sincerely to him."
Rao Zhengsheng nodded. "Okay."
In another bedroom Chamber, Cao Yanmei sat on the bed while Yong Taihua sat stiffly at the table. Cao Yanmei broke the strained silence. "If you feel uncomfortable, you can sleep with Yan ge ge."
Yong Taihua stood up. "It's not like that." He grabbed his chair, brought it to the bedside, and sat down facing her. "I'm trying to figure out how to tell you."
Cao Yanmei said simply, "I'm listening."
Yong Taihua hesitated. "You know about me and Chen Dandan..."
Cao Yanmei interrupted sharply. "If you want to talk about other women on the day of my wedding, it's better if you don't talk at all."
Yong Taihua immediately apologized. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have started like this. Yanmei... I know we didn't know each other before the accident, but we have a lifetime to learn and understand each other. From now on, as your husband, I will not do anything that will make you unhappy. I will love you and respect you. I hope you can give me this opportunity." He scratched his head nervously. "Sorry, I'm not a romantic person..."
Cao Yanmei nodded, her expression softening. She looked at Yong Taihua and delivered her own confession. "Taihua... I'm pregnant."
Yong Taihua was completely stunned. "Umm... you are tired, let's sleep. I can sleep on the floor."
Cao Yanmei said, with a hint of amusement, "Don't sleep on the floor. I don't mind."
Yong Taihua slowly climbed onto the bed and carefully pulled the quilt to cover Cao Yanmei. He turned to the left, slowly stretched out his hand, and held Cao Yanmei. When she did not resist, he kissed the back of her head. "Good night, my wife."