Do you know: I should be fat and you should be thin!

Outside the Funing Palace!

Seeing that the Prince of Yan was still hesitant, Consort Rong urged, "Why aren't you letting them in for the wedding? This is my sister's joyous occasion!"

"Something's not right, something's definitely not right! I can't understand why he didn't go to Yuzhou to deliver the blood edict and tiger tally, but instead went to marry your sister with great fanfare!" The Prince of Yan was completely baffled.

Consort Rong said, "Didn't I tell you? He was there when I went to the Sheng family; he didn't go to Yuzhou at all. He said he'd been eyeing my sister since the polo match at Madam Wu's house. This time, he forced his way out of the palace just to force me to marry my sister to him. I considered it; his official rank is low, but he's quite capable. Besides, the blood edict and tiger tally are very important to us, so I agreed. I was the one who made him come to the palace with drums and gongs to get married!"

"He already has a wife, don't you find that suspicious? You know his abilities very well, so why let him enter the palace to get married?" the Prince of Yan asked.

Consort Rong said, "Precisely because he has a principal wife, we must have the Emperor, so many ministers, and the families of military officers witness this. Once the marriage is settled, we will all be in this together. If he dares to betray us, when his entire family is executed, will he be able to escape? Besides, he has committed bigamy, and even the Emperor cannot set such a precedent; that would mean at least a year of imprisonment! Knowing the law and breaking it is an even more serious crime!"

The Prince of Yan hesitated and said, "It's still not quite right. You heard it yourself; he's unwilling to hand over the blood edict and tiger tally now. His sincerity isn't enough!"

"That's his biggest bargaining chip. If it were you, would you hand it over now? You want the horse to run but don't feed it? With so many people holding knives to their throats, even if he has great abilities, can he turn the world upside down? If someone who is destined for greatness is so cowardly and afraid of trouble, how can you hold onto this world?" Rong Feiyan said disdainfully.

The Prince of Yan retorted angrily, "You make it sound so easy! The old emperor simply refuses to write the edict of investiture, and you won't let me kill him so he can write it himself. How can I not be anxious? How can I have the leisure to watch others get married?"

"You might as well think about it," Consort Rong said. "If the old emperor saw that the people who rushed out didn't actually go to Yuzhou to deliver the message, but instead returned and got married in front of him, and it was my sister no less. If he were disheartened, and you then made an example of the Duchess of Yingguo, wouldn't he write it? Wouldn't he be afraid that the empire would no longer belong to the Zhao family? Anyway, we're in a stalemate now, and we have to break it! If we wait until tomorrow's court session, and those old ministers are clamoring to see the emperor, will you kill them or not? Will you continue to arrest them and bring them into the palace, and then send more people to watch over them? How many people do we still have to use? Right now, my Rong family only has a little over 400 people to use, and you don't even have 800!"

The Prince of Yan said, "Indeed, the most poisonous heart is that of a woman. You even dare to harm the Duchess of Yingguo? The Duke of Yingguo is the foremost military general of three dynasties and the founding duke!"

"Does my Rong family have any way out? If you are a hopeless case, then my Rong family might as well fight to the death with you. Success or failure will at least earn us a good reputation, so we won't be doomed!" Consort Rong sneered.

The Prince of Yan said displeasedly, "Stop talking such discordant words! I know your second daughter is your darling. Once I've accomplished my great task, I'll bestow upon her the title of Princess!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" said Consort Rong.

"Haha! Well said! Men, send 50 men to the Xihua Gate and replace the musicians and singers in the wedding procession. We are welcoming the Rong family's son-in-law to the Funing Palace for the wedding!" the Prince of Yan ordered.

"Wait a minute!" said Consort Rong.

The Prince of Yan asked, "What's wrong?"

"Rongxian, take 300 men with you! Tell Zhou Ning to carry my sister in step by step. Before they reach the Funing Palace, he must shout on the way: 'The Rong family of the Zhou family is married today! May they live in harmony, sharing joys and sorrows, and be bound by the Funing covenant! Those who are unfaithful will bring unrest to the ancestral hall!' I want everyone to hear this clearly and understand it perfectly! Do you understand?" Consort Rong instructed.

Tears welled in Rong Xian's eyes; Consort Rong had sought him out when she returned. He knew what Consort Rong was planning, yet he still chose to support her!

The Rong family's ancestors were bricklayers. It was only because Consort Rong gained the favor of the old emperor that she was exceptionally granted the title of Marquis of Fuchang, becoming a newly powerful noble family.

However, the Rong family's title had no real power and was not hereditary. Furthermore, Consort Rong had no children. As a result, the prominent families in the capital generally looked down on the Rong family in private, believing that their wealth and status would not last.

If this defection is executed well, not only can Rong Feiyan survive, but she may also be able to continue her glory for generations.

It's a pity that, regardless of success or failure, we will definitely not live to see it!

Some sins must be borne by someone!

"Yes, sir!"

Xihua Gate!

[At this point, I hope readers will remember our domain name: 10 ...

Zhou Ning sat on his horse, dressed in a tight-fitting wedding gown, which the Rong family had originally prepared for Qi Heng, and which he could barely wear.

Rong Feiyan held a gold-flecked gauze fan, with a crimson satin base for the collar and cuffs, and wore a bright red embroidered bodice underneath. Her dark green cross-collar gown was laid out, and the contrast between red and green did not appear gaudy at all. The skirt was tailored to fit her waist perfectly.

She sat in the bridal sedan chair, her heart filled with mixed feelings of joy and sorrow, and a sense of foreboding.

The rebel guards trembled with fear, ready to flee at any moment, lest Zhou Ning grow impatient and leap onto the city wall.

Fortunately, it didn't take long before Rong Xian arrived with several hundred people and opened the door to welcome them!

Zhou Ning listened to Consort Rong's request, obediently dismounted, walked to the bridal sedan chair, and took Rong Feiyan out, carrying her on his back.

"Don't be angry, I didn't mean to humiliate you..." Rong Feiyan whispered to him from behind.

Zhou Ning smiled and said, "Parents who love their children plan far ahead for them. I really admire my sister for going to such lengths. This is something I owe you; she wants to avenge you, and I need her help, so I have to make sure she's satisfied!"

Rong Feiyan asked, "Do you know what my sister is going to do? Can you tell me? You'll get yourself into trouble by doing this."

Zhou Ning didn't want to tell her, and said, "Zhou Rongshi, today we are married! We will enjoy every meal and every season, and live in harmony! We will share joys and sorrows, and be bound by the bond of happiness and peace! If you are unfaithful and fickle, your ancestral hall will be in turmoil!" He spoke each word with great vigor, and his voice carried far and wide. Every word resonated throughout the imperial city, like the roar of a dragon and the howl of a tiger.

"Thank you! Even if I die in the next moment, I will have no regrets." Zhao Feiyan buried her face in the broad back in front of her and murmured.

Outside the Funing Palace!

The King of Yan was shocked. The voice seemed to come from very close by, so clear and deafening that it made him feel uneasy and filled him with deep apprehension.

Consort Rong was very happy, knowing that her younger sister must be very happy too, and walked into the palace!

Inside the Funing Hall!

Hearing the familiar voice, the old emperor asked, "Who is shouting like that?"

The women in the palace whispered among themselves. In the entire Bianjing city, the Rong family must be the Rong Consort's family without a doubt. But which family is the Zhou family?

At this time, would marrying into the Rong family also make one a traitor?

Sheng Changbai recognized Zhou Ning's voice after hearing it just once. He hesitated for a few breaths before speaking again, but the voice came through clearly the next time!

"Your Majesty, it's Lord Zhou's voice!" Sheng Changbai said truthfully.

The old emperor slumped into his chair, weakly saying, "He betrayed my trust and even wanted to marry a traitor? Cough cough!"

"Your Majesty, please calm down!" Empress Cao comforted.

"Your Majesty! I guarantee with my life that Pengqi is not a traitor who seeks personal gain! I beg Your Majesty to investigate!" Sheng Changbai knelt and pleaded.

"Zhou Jiarong, today we are married! May we enjoy every meal and every season together, living in harmony and mutual respect! May we share joys and sorrows, bound by a bond of happiness and peace! May those who are unfaithful and fickle bring unrest to our ancestral hall!"

The third time it came through clearly!

Consort Rong entered the hall and said with a smile, "Today my sister is getting married, to Lord Zhou, the very man who stormed out of the capital! Everyone here is a witness!"

The women whispered among themselves, "Didn't they say Zhou Ning already had a wife?"

Bigamy is illegal. Has the previous marriage already been dissolved?

"Impossible! How could Pengqi marry a traitor? He has a legal wife!" Sheng Changbai said angrily.

Consort Rong smiled and said, "Whether it's true or not, they'll be outside the palace in a little while! You might as well go and see for yourself!"

The old emperor roared, "Get out! I don't want to see you! Cough cough!" He coughed incessantly.

......