Chapter 593: Ningning Is Gone?
Chapter 593: Chapter 593: Ningning Is Gone?
The next morning.
Just as the sky began to brighten, thousands of firecrackers were set off in Xiangyun Village.
Although, according to procedure, Shen Ningning’s betrothal could only be officially finalized by the Ministry of Rites after her betrothal card was approved by the Imperial Ancestral Hall.
But everyone knew it was a foregone conclusion that she was to be the Crown Princess Consort.
Lately, many commoners from outside had been gathering around Xiangyun Village. Some even dug up a bit of its soil to take home.
Everyone believed that a place like Xiangyun Village and Wolf Mountain, which could produce such a phoenix, must be a blessed land that nurtures extraordinary people.
Since it was a blessed land, every blade of grass, every tree, and even a handful of its soil was said to carry good fortune!
The Black Wolf King had been invited by Xie Suzhi to stay at the Xie Mansion the previous night.
Because today was special, friends and family were allowed to escort Shen Ningning into the Imperial Palace. Although they couldn’t enter the Imperial Ancestral Hall, they could watch her and Mo Lingwei enter hand in hand.
Xie Suzhi had the Black Wolf King stay with him because the day’s celebration was sure to be unprecedented.
As Shen Ningning’s Wolf Father, the Black Wolf King certainly couldn’t be absent. Xie Suzhi worried that he would be blocked by the sea of people and unable to make it.
After all, if the commoners were willing to take home handfuls of Xiangyun Village’s soil, what would they do upon seeing the Black Wolf King—the legendary wolf who had raised Shen Ningning? Wouldn’t they all suppress their fear and try to touch him for good luck?
That was why Xie Suzhi had the Black Wolf King stay with him.
Shen Ningning was to be escorted to the Imperial Palace by the imperial guard.
Everyone gathered excitedly at the foot of Wolf Mountain, and villagers and commoners from nearby areas also rushed over to watch the spectacle.
Rows of imperial guards, clad in golden armor, stood in strict formation in the early morning light, awaiting Shen Ningning’s descent from the mountain.
In their midst was an eighteen-bearer grand sedan chair. It was open on all four sides, forged from gold thread and white ivory, and draped with fluttering Purple Luo Sha. It looked exceptionally elegant and dignified as the gentle breeze drifted past.
「At that moment, inside the Imperial Palace.」
Mo Lingwei was already dressed. His hair was bound in a Jade Crown, and his vermillion and purple Dragon Robe, a symbol of the Crown Prince, was dazzling and incomparably noble.
He paced back and forth inside Zichen Palace, waiting. The auspicious hour would not begin until Shen Ningning arrived, and only then could he proceed to the Imperial Ancestral Hall as planned.
But the mere act of waiting was already making him anxious.
Chen Shaobei stood inside the hall, watching as Mo Lingwei sat for a moment before impatiently standing up again to look at the bright sky through the window.
"Your Highness, can’t you just sit still for a moment? Even if the imperial guard has already gone to fetch the Princess, it will take at least an hour for them to get here."
Wolf Mountain was not close to the Imperial Palace to begin with, and besides, the streets were already packed with a sea of people.
All along the way, commoners were waiting for Princess Funing to pass by, hoping to bask in her good fortune.
Mo Lingwei already knew all this, but he still couldn’t contain his excitement.
He pressed his lips together and asked, "You don’t think Shen Ningning will have second thoughts, do you?"
Chen Shaobei smiled. "Second thoughts about what? About marrying Your Highness? As far as I know, Miss Shen is the type of person who never regrets a decision once she’s made it."
Mo Lingwei continued to pace around the hall.
"You’ve confirmed all the procedures. There are no problems, right?"
"I’ve checked everything. There are no issues. Besides, six officials from the Ministry of Rites are here to assist and oversee things. Everything is ready."
Mo Lingwei tried to think if there were any potential problems he might have missed.
Suddenly, he remembered. "How is Father Emperor today? Is he in good health?"
Chen Shaobei raised an eyebrow, a little perplexed.
"Your Highness means...?"
"Father Emperor had better not faint or pass out today."
"I think as long as Your Highness doesn’t do anything to anger His Majesty, that’s unlikely to happen."
Just as they were speaking, the Emperor’s voice, feigning anger, came from the entrance. "What? Afraid I’ll kick the bucket today and ruin your grand occasion? Hmph, you had people feed me a two-day dose of medicine yesterday. I couldn’t pass out even if I wanted to! I’m so full of energy I couldn’t even sleep last night!"
Chen Shaobei gave a helpless smile, clasped his hands, and stepped aside.
Mo Lingwei pursed his thin lips. "So Father is in exceptionally high spirits today."
It was true. The Emperor usually tired easily.
He couldn’t help but laugh heartily. "Today is a joyous occasion. Seeing you and Ningning finally come together lifts a great weight from my mind. I can finally rest easy."
After speaking, the Emperor turned and asked the Chief Eunuch, "What hour is it? Has the Princess’s party set out yet?"
The Chief Eunuch glanced at the hourglass and nodded with a smile.
"Yes, according to the schedule, the Princess should already be on her way to the Imperial Palace."
Mo Lingwei immediately straightened his robes and sat down in a chair, forcing a calm and composed expression to hide his inner excitement.
However, something had gone wrong on Wolf Mountain.
The imperial guards had arrived ahead of schedule and had been waiting ever since. But to their surprise, an incense stick’s worth of time passed beyond the designated hour for meeting Shen Ningning, and she still hadn’t come down from Wolf Mountain.
The crowd’s ecstatic expressions turned to looks of confused anticipation.
People began to whisper amongst themselves—
"Why hasn’t the Princess come down yet? It’s been almost two incense sticks’ worth of time, hasn’t it?"
"Oh! Could it be that the Princess has had second thoughts?"
"No way!"
The commoners’ murmurs reached the ears of the commander, Lu Fu.
Sitting high on his horse, he tilted his head slightly, and a single stern glance toward the back was enough to make the crowd fall silent.
Lu Fu looked up at the lush, green Wolf Mountain, bathed in sunlight.
After a moment of thought, he dismounted and handed his whip to Pei Yin.
"Wait for me here. I’m going into Wolf Mountain alone to check on the situation."
"Commander, shouldn’t we accompany you?"
"No," Lu Fu quickly refused. "Wolf Mountain is Princess Funing’s home. Without her permission, none of us should trespass. But today is a special case, and I fear something might have happened, so I will go take a look. The rest of you will stay here."
With that, Lu Fu started up the path into the mountains.
However, he had only taken a few steps when he saw Grandma Qin riding Lang Si, racing down the path.
Grandma Qin looked panicked, holding a letter in her hand.
"Ningning’s gone! Ningning’s gone!"
Lu Fu hurried forward and took the letter from her.
He glanced at it, and his expression immediately turned grim.
"Back to the palace, immediately!" Lu Fu clutched the letter, hastily mounted his horse, and then led the large contingent of imperial guards away like a gust of wind.
After he left, the villagers from Xiangyun Village who knew Grandma Qin well crowded around her.
"Grandma Qin, what’s going on? Ningning’s gone? Where did she go? Is she not getting betrothed anymore?"
Grandma Qin was so anxious that a layer of sweat broke out on her forehead.
She shook her head. "I don’t know either. I can’t read. The wolf pack told me Ningning just left. She left in the middle of last night!"
At the gates of the Capital City, Shen Ningning’s close friends had prepared dragon and lion dance troupes to wait for her.
Lu Shaoyuan had spared no expense, hiring a host of opera troupes with thundering gongs and drums.
"The moment you see the Princess’s procession, start playing immediately. We have to make this grand! Every living thing for miles around should feel our joy."
Ye Shangyi and Qi Xiuwei watched him and shook their heads. "He’s really just flaunting his wealth."
Liang Yici, after waiting for a while, asked with feigned indifference, "It’s been so long. Is she coming or not?"
Lu Shaoyuan clicked his tongue. "What’s the rush? Today is a huge deal. Ningning definitely has to dress up elaborately. It takes time for a girl to get ready."
As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Shangyi pointed into the distance. "Huh? Lu Shaoyuan, isn’t that your older brother, Commander Lu?"
Lu Shaoyuan waved his hand excitedly at the opera troupes. "Get ready! Ningning’s coming!"
Liang Yici could see farther. She squinted for a long while before her brow suddenly furrowed.
"That’s not right. There’s no one in the sedan chair."
"What?" Everyone was startled and stared intently.
A moment later, Lu Fu arrived before them, leading a dense crowd of imperial guards carrying an empty sedan chair.
Lu Shaoyuan quickly jumped out to block their path. "Brother! Where’s Ningning?"
Lu Fu was in a hurry to report back to the palace and had no time to explain to his younger brother. He used his whip to nudge him aside. "The Princess is gone. I have to report this to His Highness at once, so stop causing trouble."
With that, he galloped off.
He left Ye Shangyi and the others gaping at each other. "What? Ningning’s gone?"