Chapter 583

Chapter 583: The Iron-Willed Woman

“Father, Mother, thank you for trusting me and entrusting A-Ning to me.”

“I, Zheng Yue, will never let A-Ning suffer or regret placing her trust in me.”

“Today, before all our honored guests, I swear this oath.”

As the groom’s words fell, the room instantly grew silent.

Beneath the red bridal veil, Wen Ning noticed the shift in atmosphere. She anxiously clutched the hem of her robe, her heart filled with unease.

“Today, I, Lu Zheng Yue, make this vow.”

“In this lifetime, I shall only take A-Ning as my wife. I will not accept concubines, equal wives, nor keep any outside mistress. I will only walk this path with A-Ning alone. Should I break this vow, may I suffer a terrible fate!”

The moment these words were spoken, the entire hall erupted in commotion.

Wen Father and Wen Mother hurriedly interjected, “No, no, this must not be!”

They anxiously glanced at Lu Yan Shu and Lu Yuan Xiao, who were also present, but the two simply smiled warmly, showing no signs of discontent.

The knot in A-Ning’s heart instantly unraveled, yet she couldn’t stop the sting of emotion welling up inside her, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.

This was the young man she had admired since childhood.

Lu Zheng Yue, one of Northern Zhao’s youngest generals, held the emperor’s favor and had boundless potential. Yet, he vowed to stay by her side, never taking another.

In Northern Zhao, which official did not have numerous wives and concubines?

“Even His Majesty dismissed his harem to remain devoted to the Empress. Zheng Yue’s actions merely follow His Majesty’s decree,” Lu Yan Shu remarked lightly, causing the guests to realize the deeper implication.

Lu Yuan Xiao, however, twitched the corner of his mouth.

Really? Was the emperor truly inspired by devotion, or was he merely terrified of being tormented by Consort Hui?

Still, Lu Yuan Xiao had no intention of ruining his brother’s moment.

“In our Lu family, there will be no concubines!” he declared firmly.

The betrayal of Lu Yuan Ze back then had caused their mother immeasurable sorrow. Their sister had nearly been drowned at birth. These memories were forever etched into his heart.

At these words, admiration lit up the eyes of those around them.

“Good, good… A-Ning is in good hands. We can rest easy.” The elderly Wen couple wept with gratitude.

Soon after, Young Master Wen carried his sister on his back as she departed for marriage.

Wen Ning’s tears soaked through her brother’s shoulder, dampening his clothes.

Zheng Yue’s gaze softened, his emotions surging. At last, he had rewritten their fate.

In his dreams, his brothers and the Xu family had all been sentenced to execution.

A-Ning, in an attempt to save them, had been ruined by Lu Jing Yao’s men.

Now, that cruel destiny had been averted.

He would give A-Ning a lifetime of peace, security, and happiness.

As Lu Zheng Yue led his bride home, Lu Chao Chao was busy circling Shan Shan.

Tilting her head, she examined him from every angle.

“Strange… You have a different aura about you…”

“It’s the scent of someone who has killed…”

“But there’s no lingering resentment, only a trace of… virtue?” Lu Chao Chao sniffed at him again. There were truly no vengeful spirits clinging to him.

Shan Shan trembled violently, clutching his mother’s leg for dear life.

He truly did not want to die by his sister’s sword on this joyous occasion!

“The bride has arrived!” A loud voice announced from outside, immediately followed by the crackling of firecrackers.

Lu Chao Chao was instantly distracted and ran off.

Shan Shan exhaled sharply in relief.

That day, A-Man also found time to attend the wedding feast. She sat with A-Wu, whose pregnancy was not yet visible.

“I heard that black dragon sawed off his own horn and gave it to you?” A-Man’s face was full of curiosity.

A-Wu twirled the dark, polished dragon horn in her fingers, the corners of her lips curving into an enigmatic smile.

“Indeed.”

A-Man let out an exaggerated gasp.

She played with the dragon horn for a while before returning it.

“I wonder how long you’ll be carrying this baby? Zhu Mo has been sneaking off everywhere to find rare herbs for you.”

A-Wu’s smile deepened. “One year and eight months.”

“Zhu Mo is all set to be a father. Soon, you’ll be a happy family of three.” A-Man teased, but A-Wu simply narrowed her eyes, her gaze settling on the black-clad Zhu Mo in the distance.

If he hadn’t run away from the wedding, perhaps they could have been that happy family of three.

Hah…

Feng Wu had no use for a man who fled.

She rested her hand lightly on her stomach. Keeping the child while discarding the father—that was the ideal outcome.

The bride stepped over the threshold of the Lu family’s grand doors, taking each step towards the main hall.

Shi Yun, dressed in festive red, sat beside Rong Che in the seat of honor.

“First, bow to the heavens and earth.”

“Second, bow to the elders.”

“Husband and wife, bow to each other.” The ceremonial attendant called out, and beneath the witness of all present, Lu Zheng Yue and A-Ning completed their vows.

Even the emperor had taken time to attend the ceremony.

Once the bride was escorted to the bridal chamber, none of the younger men dared to make mischief—after all, who would dare create a ruckus in the house of two top scholars?

Meanwhile, Lu Chao Chao dragged Shan Shan outside the bridal chamber to eavesdrop.

She lay on the ground, her pockets stuffed with candy.

As soon as she flopped down, sweets spilled out with a clatter.

Shan Shan wasted no time scooping them up and stuffing them into his mouth.

“How dare you steal from me! Give it back!” What began as secret snooping soon turned into a scuffle…

The commotion grew so loud that even Lu Zheng Yue couldn’t ignore it.

He sighed. “My younger siblings are mischievous. I hope A-Ning doesn’t mind.”

A-Ning, having just washed up, sat on the bed with a gentle smile.

She opened the window.

Outside, Lu Chao Chao and Shan Shan were already locked in a tangled mess, wrestling on the ground.

Shan Shan, with only two baby teeth left, fiercely guarded the candy in his mouth, chewing furiously despite his weak teeth, drool running down his chin, puffing out his cheeks like a squirrel.

“Separate them at once!” Zheng Yue’s head ached.

The maids finally rushed over to intervene, barely managing to pry them apart.

Dragged away with a disgruntled expression, Lu Chao Chao lamented her loss—she had failed to witness the bridal chamber proceedings and had even lost several candies.

Since she was at the age where her family strictly limited her sweets for fear of toothaches, she had hoarded a good stash for today.

Now, hidden in a corner, she popped one after another into her mouth, her brows lifting in satisfaction.

“Pain? I am the Sword Sovereign Sunshine! Why would I fear a mere toothache?”

“I once sacrificed myself and shattered my soul without shedding a tear! I!”

“Sword Sovereign Sunshine! An iron-willed woman!”

Lu Chao Chao stuck out her backside, determinedly finishing her entire stash of sweets.

When she was done, she smacked her lips. “How could something so delicious cause pain? Candy is the best thing in all three realms…” She even licked her fingers clean.

Because she had eaten too many sweets, she could barely touch the supper Shi Yun sent over.

That night, as the world slumbered in silence, Lu Zheng Yue’s trembling fingers undid A-Ning’s robes. Their breaths intertwined, their hearts pounding ever closer.

Then—

A wailing cry shattered the night.

Startled, Zheng Yue nearly jumped. He and A-Ning exchanged bewildered glances.

In the chaos, the newlyweds hastily redressed and rushed outside.

The cause?

None other than Lu Chao Chao.

Shi Yun, hair disheveled, arrived with the others at the bedroom door. Lu Yan Shu forcefully kicked it open.

Inside, they found Lu Chao Chao clutching her jaw, sobbing uncontrollably on her bed.

“It hurts! My teeth hurt so much!!!” Tears streamed down her face as she bawled miserably.

Even a reborn savior was no match for a toothache.