As the bells tolled like slow, melodic drums of a festival, Qin Wei, dressed in crimson finery, his face pale and hollow, was escorted out of the dressing chamber.
His boots thudded against the tiled floor, but to him, they sounded like shackles dragging across stone.
On either side of him, servants and attendants guided his slow steps, whispering prayers and ceremonial instructions he didn't hear.
The crimson groom robe, a rich brocade of golden phoenixes and embroidered qilins, wrapped tightly around his form like a silken coffin.
A long silk sash trailed behind him, embroidered with the imperial crest: a golden sun rising behind Wudang's sacred peaks.
A red veil was draped from the topknot crown he wore, fluttering faintly as he moved like a prisoner walking toward execution.
He didn't have a wedding in his mind.
All he had was the shatter of his dream when he was just about to achieve his freedom.
It took great courage for him to go for the escape, but in the end, he got caught.
Luckily, it was the Emperor who caught him.
If it were someone else, he would have already been punished
When he stepped into the Crimson Jade Courtyard, the guests had already gathered.
Nobles from prestigious clans, sect elders, and representatives of the royal family filled the ceremonial seats lining the colonnaded courtyard.
Flower petals had been scattered across the white jade tiles, and the eight ceremonial drums thundered in slow, synchronized rhythm.
All eyes turned to him.
Some sneered.
Some laughed behind folding fans.
"Look at him. That trash of the Qin Clan acting like he's off to be slaughtered
"He should be grateful he's marrying Li Xue."
"Doesn't even deserve the robes he's wearing."
Qin Zhenhai, patriarch of the Qin Clan and father to Qin Wei, sat among the elders. His frown was etched deep into his stern face.
"This scoundrel… does he plan on disgracing the Qin Clan like this?" he muttered under his breath.
Only one man remained impassive: Wen Tianlie, the Emperor of the Great Liang.
He sat on the lone elevated platform at the head of the courtyard, clad in ceremonial black and gold robes that shimmered faintly with dragon qi.
Then the bride arrived.
Li Xue, radiant and cold, stepped forward through the second corridor, draped in the traditional phoenix coronet and red veil, her posture elegant and precise.
Her robe glimmered with heavenly silk, crimson with golden fire-lotus patterns, the skirt trailing like a flowing river of starlight.
Her veil covered her expression, but her footsteps were slow and controlled. Her gaze, though hidden, never once turned toward Qin Wei.
They met in front of the Twin Soul Altar, two raised platforms joined by a bridge of vermilion wood, beneath an arch woven from plum blossoms and spirit jade.
A priest in ceremonial robes, an old cultivator with snowy hair and a calm voice, stepped forward, holding a scroll of red silk in his hands.
"By decree of Heaven and His Majesty," he began, "we now bind the fates of these two souls in the eternal rites of unity."
The Ritual began with the binding of robes.
Two maids stepped forward, one from each clan.
They held a red silk sash woven with threads of spirit jade.
Silently, they tied it around the wrists of the bride and groom, binding them together at the wrist.
Qin Wei didn't resist. His hand, cold and trembling, simply remained limp as the sash tightened.
Three Bows of Fate. The officiator called out the next step in a voice echoing with qi.
"First bow to Heaven and Earth."
The couple bowed stiffly toward the sky and the ground.
"Second bow to the Emperor and the Elders."
They turned to the dais, bowing to Wen Tianlie and the two families. Qin Wenshan nodded stiffly. Li Yujin's face remained unreadable.
"Third bow to each other."
They turned to face one another. Qin Wei's eyes flickered with something like defeat.
Li Xue bowed gracefully. Qin Wei simply followed without expression.
Then, two jade pendants, one with a phoenix, one with a dragon, were offered by each family.
They were tied to the couple's sashes, then touched together, forming a soft glow.
Then, they stepped forward to stand before a large mirror carved from clear spirit crystal.
As the mirror glowed, a small petal of red fire floated between them and dissolved.
"The ritual is complete," the priest intoned. "They are now bound in name, in soul, and in law."
The drums stopped.
Guests clapped politely. Some elders nodded in approval. Others looked indifferent.
"Long live the couple," the priest proclaimed.
The attendants removed the sash from their wrists. The maids stepped in to escort them away.
Qin Wei didn't move, though, as his eyes were on the notification screen that suddenly popped up.
*Ding! Mission 3: Marry your fianceé has been completed. 100 credits were added.
"Ha… Ha… hahaha…" He couldn't help but laugh in his head, mocking himself. To escape the marriage, he spent 900 credits, but in the end, he married and received 100 credits.
Only when a hand lightly tugged his robe did he come back to reality.
Before he understood what was happening and got adjusted to the new reality, the rituals were already finished, and he became the matrilocal husband of Li Xue.
As they exited, Wen Tianlie rose to his feet and spoke with authority.
"Today, the heavens bless our empire with unity. May the Li Clan and Qin family prosper."
Applause echoed as they walked away.
As soon as they were out of sight of the guests, Li Xue lifted her veil.
She looked at Qin Wei, whose expression was unreadable, and his eyes looked quite blank.
"I actually thought the wedding would be postponed today," she muttered, perhaps surprised.
Qin Wei didn't respond. He simply said, in a quiet, toneless voice: "The emergency quest failed. There was no choice."
Li Xue blinked. "Quest?"
He didn't explain. He simply turned, letting the servants lead him to the next ceremonial phase.
Tonight, they would sit through the banquet of union and eventually be locked together in the bridal chamber, a tradition meant to ensure consummation.
But Qin Wei no longer had the strength to fight against anything.
Since it had already happened, he had to go along with it, hoping that this bride would give him the divorce letter as they had agreed beforehand.
*
Later that evening;
The bridal chamber was soaked in ceremonial red.
Red lanterns glowed dimly, their tassels swaying gently in the midnight breeze.
The red silk curtains fluttered along the carved windows.
The air was thick with incense, which was quite intoxicating to the point Qin Wei felt heat all over his body.
At present, he sat alone on the edge of the bridal bed, dressed in full groom robes.
A bottle of untouched wine sat beside him, the two cups beside it still empty.
He looked toward the closed door with tired eyes, wondering when his wife would come, not to celebrate the wedding night with her to but finally go to sleep.
He had too much today after all.
Meanwhile, in the outer halls of the Li estate, Li Xue sat on a carved chair, surrounded by women.
Elder cousins, chatty aunts, second wives of influential uncles, all giggling, cheering, raising cups.
"One more, Xue'er! Just one more for good luck!"
"Yes! One for your husband's long life!"
"Another for your first night's fireworks!"
"Hey, hey. C'mon, don't be hard on the young lady. What if she breaks the poor boy? I heard that he doesn't even practice martial arts."
"Eyyy, don't be like that. This is their first time. It should be memorable and wild."
*Squeal*
"My husband is a 9th rank alchemist. There's nothing he can't mend or cure."
"I guess you must have a pleasant marriage, aunt."
"Hahaha, you wish. Your uncle is a bookworm, dear. He has zero romance."
"Oh, C'mon, Aunt, you gave birth to seven children. Don't be like that."
"Alright. Alright. Tonight is not about me. It's about Xue'er."
"Ah, right, C'mon, have another sip. You should give us ten grandnephews."
Li Xue, already flushed red from drinking, could barely focus.
"Ten sons? Are you insane?" she slurred, but they laughed louder and poured again.
One hand held a small dish of wine, another supported her wobbling head.
"Ugh, it's burning…" she muttered. "I think I'm going to die…"
By the time she was led, more like pushed, to the bridal chamber, her steps were uneven and her veil was tilted sideways.
The ornate doors creaked open.
Qin Wei stood up instinctively. The door closed behind her with a thunk.