Wasn't he supposed to be beaten to death? Why did this powerful cousin love him so much?

The officials from the Ministry of Rites and the generals of the Imperial Guards responsible for maintaining order were already covered in sweat.

According to regulations, although newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) are honored, they are still the emperor's disciples and their rank is far lower than that of a princess personally appointed by the royal family. When faced with the wedding procession of a royal princess, the Jinshi must rein in their horses and give way!

"Whoa—!" The Ministry of Rites official leading the way raised his command flag and shouted hoarsely, "All newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) listen to my command! Rein in your horses! Dismount! Make way for the Princess's carriage!!"

Upon hearing this, the scholars hurriedly reined in their horses and dismounted with slightly flustered movements. The top two scholars (Zhuangyuan and Bangyan) were the first to dismount and stood respectfully by the roadside with their heads bowed. The scholars in the middle of the procession also quickly dismounted and lined up by the roadside.

Only Xie Yao, sitting on his horse, tightened the reins, frozen as if his soul had left his body.

Dismount and give way?

Whom should we give way to?

It was to avoid that grand, opulent royal procession!

They even avoided it...

she was.

Xie Yao stared intently at the approaching procession ahead, his fingers tightening around the reins, his knuckles making a slight cracking sound.

When he passed the imperial examination with flying colors, he had to avoid his wedding procession and watch helplessly as he married the woman he loved!

Xie Yao felt as if everything before his eyes was blood red, and all the noise around him seemed to be blurred through a layer of water, like a blood-soaked heart, his internal organs feeling as if they were being repeatedly ripped apart by a dull knife, causing unbearable pain.

"Third-ranked scholar! Thank you, Third-ranked scholar! Dismount quickly!" The anxious voice of the Ministry of Rites official urged again.

His classmates around him also cast doubtful and urging glances his way.

Xie Yao suddenly closed his eyes briefly, then opened them, dismounted, and stood to the side and behind Tang Nian.

She must look beautiful today.

"Look! Even with his head down, the third-ranked scholar looks so handsome!"

"But why is this third-ranked scholar's face so pale?"

"Perhaps it's because the sun is too strong..."

Just as the sedan chair brushed past him—

Xie Yao's body trembled almost imperceptibly. He bit his lower lip hard, and a metallic sweetness spread in his mouth.

Xie Yao used all his strength to restrain himself from looking up, from desperately trying to lift the sedan curtain and take another look at the person inside.

Time seemed to stretch out infinitely. Every moment was a slow, agonizing torture of his soul.

The phoenix sedan chair finally passed by, and the dowry procession slowly drove past, the sound of horns gradually fading into the distance.

"The Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) parade through the streets, continue—!" The Ministry of Rites official breathed a sigh of relief and shouted loudly.

The scholars mounted their horses, straightened their robes, and lined up again. Tang Nian reined in his horse at the front and turned to call out to the crowd, "Hurry up, hurry up! Don't be late. If we're any later, the people from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices will say we don't know the rules."

Shi Chao mounted his horse and glanced back at Xie Yao.

Xie Yao stood still, and as he mounted his horse, the hem of his robe fluttered, and he landed steadily on the horse's back.

Shi Chao glanced at him and asked, "Brother Xie, are you alright? You didn't look too good just now."

After Xie Yao settled down, he raised his eyelids and smiled slightly at him: "The wind is a bit strong, it got in my eyes. Let's go, don't keep Brother Tang waiting."

Shi Chao didn't press further, but simply nodded, turned around, and rode off.

Xie Yao's fingers tightened slowly around the reins, the veins on the back of his hand bulging slightly, but his smile grew even brighter, the curve of his lips undiminished.

A spring breeze blew by, and the gold flower pinned to his hat swayed gently.

Xie Yao spurred his horse to catch up with the group and never looked back.

……

The grand scale of the Xie family's wedding blocked off the entire alley.

A continuous stretch of temporary wedding tents stretched from the mansion gate to the alley entrance, with crimson silk ribbons hanging from the rooftops, billowing like waves in the spring breeze. Three checkpoints were set up outside the mansion gate, each staffed by an official who checked name cards and waist tags. Only guests with gold-embossed red wedding invitations were allowed inside; those without invitations were not even permitted to approach the main gate.

"Lord Zhang of the Cabinet has arrived—"

"Lord Liu, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, has arrived—"

"Commander Li of the Five Military Commands has arrived—"

The sounds of wedding chants rose and fell. Several layers of onlookers gathered outside the mansion gates, and the children at the front were showered with handfuls of candy and money by the steward, scrambling to grab them.

The guests entered the house carrying three different invitations.

Members of the imperial family carried red gold invitation cards and were led separately to the royal quarters by palace eunuchs; even the accompanying ladies-in-waiting were given separate seats. Colleagues from the Grand Secretariat and the ministers of the Six Ministries carried red brocade invitation cards and were respectfully led into the main hall of the outer courtyard for male guests by stewards. Sons of noble families carried vermilion and gold-flecked invitation cards and were led by maids to the inner courtyard for female guests or the warm pavilions of the garden.

Three stages were set up in the outer courtyard, and the most famous opera troupes in the capital were invited, including the Yuhe Troupe.

The gifts filled the three side rooms, and the gift list was a thick stack. The princes and nobles of the imperial family presented imperial jade artifacts and complete sets of pearl jewelry. Princes of the rank also presented cattle, sheep, fine wine, and complete sets of nine-nine-fold gifts. The three dukes and nine ministers, as well as high-ranking officials of the first and second ranks, either presented calligraphy and paintings by famous artists, ancient inkstones and jade, or their wives presented complete sets of headdresses and jewelry, as well as brocade embroidery.

Many people who didn't have invitations but weren't of high enough status came, so the housekeeper could only register their gifts, offer a simple congratulation, and then send them off.

Low-ranking scholars, county magistrates, minor officials, wealthy merchants from the city, and newly appointed scholars—even the top scholar Tang Nian who was parading through the streets today—had no personal connections and were not qualified to attend the banquet. They only sent congratulatory invitations and a box of pastries before returning to their inns.

The man from out of town in front of us only arrived at the Xie residence after the wedding banquet had already begun.

The man stopped outside the gate, looked up at the gilded plaque hanging above the gate, then at the red ribbons tied to the stone lions on both sides, nodded in satisfaction, and stepped inside.

As soon as he stepped onto the steps, he was stopped by two servants who looked like stewards.

The older man, who was in charge, glanced at the man, his eyes momentarily blank, but he quickly said apologetically, "Sir, today is a joyous occasion at the Xie residence, and an invitation is required for entry. Do you have one?"

The man blinked, as if pondering something, then reached into his pocket—but found nothing.

The man reached into his sleeve again, but only pulled out a few copper coins and half a packet of fried dough sticks.

The man sheepishly stuffed the money and cakes back into his hands and smiled at the steward, saying, "I was in a hurry to leave today and forgot to bring them. Please do me a favor; I just want to go in and ask for a drink, and I'll leave after I'm done."

The steward shook his head apologetically, "Sir, please forgive me, but without an invitation, I really cannot let you in. Today, all the royal family members, princes, and high-ranking officials are in the residence, and security is tight. If you have any prior acquaintance with the Xie family, you may ask someone to come out and greet you."

The man sighed and muttered to himself, "Is it really necessary to take it out? Fine, fine..."

The man reached into his robes again, and this time he actually pulled out a gold-plated invitation card. His name was neatly written on the card. The man handed the card to the steward: "Here, take a look. Is this invitation acceptable to you?"

The steward took the invitation, opened it, and his expression immediately changed.

The post was a legitimate gold post. The steward looked at the post and then at the man in front of him, who was wearing a blue cloth shirt and had a wine gourd hanging from his waist. He didn't know who he was.

But they only recognize posts, not people. Now that they've seen the post, they're naturally eager to invite the man inside.

The two men stepped aside, respectfully returned the invitation to the man, and called out loudly towards the door, "A distinguished guest! Holding a gold invitation! Please guide us!"

The man laughed, took the invitation from the steward, and went inside.