Volume 15
Chapter 30: The Grand Wedding (Part 2)
“Your Majesty, you should address him as the imperial son-in-law,” Chu Xiaodong reminded him helplessly.
Zhu Youcheng scratched his head. “Prime Minister Chu, why do you still have to lecture me even after we’ve left the cabinet… I’m already afraid… But, Prime Minister Chu, from now on, you and I will be family, haha. I’ve also gained some honor!”
Chu Xiaodong reminded him again, “It’s in-laws.”
“Yes, yes, yes…”
This was the first time Lu Li had seen the way Chu Xiaodong and Zhu Youcheng interacted. Perhaps the cabinet wasn’t as dull and rigid as he had imagined.
The two from the Chen family were restless. Lu Li, being thoughtful, after greeting all the parents, took the initiative to accompany the Chen family and talk. In fact, besides the Chens, there was another person who was also quite awkward, and that was Hupo’s biological father. He was stroking his beard, and seeing no one to talk to, he simply drank water by himself. In truth, Lu Li hadn’t invited him. He had proposed to come himself after receiving the news. The other party was Hupo’s biological father, so Lu Li naturally couldn’t refuse, although neither he nor Hupo had ever considered the diplomat as one of their own.
…
The parents present chatted for a while, and after some polite conversation with Lu Li, another motorcade arrived. Lu Li then invited them to get into the cars one after another to go to the wedding venue. Then he took out a wet wipe, hastily wiped the sweat from his forehead, and then, without stopping, took the brides to take pictures.
Fortunately, the money Lu Li had spent had not been in vain. The photoshoot went without a hitch, and the photos that came out were very satisfactory to everyone. Lu Li first took a photo with each girl individually, and then a family photo. During this time, Zhu Xi was still fidgeting and unwilling to be in the group photo. Lu Li forcibly pulled her over, and the photographer happened to capture this moment. Zhu Xi was so anxious she wanted the photographer to delete it, but in the end, the girls all jeered and wanted Lu Li to keep this photo. It seemed that many of the girls at home had a very wicked sense of humor and were all hoping to see Zhu Xi make a fool of herself. Lu Li was no better. On the surface, he had the photographer delete it, but in reality, he had him send the original to himself.
After the photoshoot, it was already one in the afternoon. The weather was good today, with a clear autumn sky. It was the most pleasant time at noon.
…
By the time they arrived at the large villa, the guests had already greeted each other and were chatting animatedly. The guests invited to this wedding were: a few elders from the Chu family, Long Di and his wife, an old man from the Yan family who had been suppressed by Yan Rujun before, Zhu Youcheng and Zhu Xi’s a few good-for-nothing older brothers and sisters, Amber’s adoptive parents, the Chen couple…
Another group: the gift-bearing delegation from the Amber family led by the diplomat, a string of Chen family relatives whose names even Chen Jianing couldn’t call out, Coach Dan and her friends, a junior high school teacher of hers and her husband and children whom Chen Jianing had specially invited…
And another group: Yameng’s bad friend Zhou Wen and her high school teammates, the old principal of Chuanhai No. 1 High School whom Jingyi had invited, the female manager of Qingyuanfang, a few honest and simple little girls whom Long Jing had brought along…
…
The brides were lined up, with Lu Li standing in the middle, holding Hupo and Baili on his left and right respectively. He took a deep breath. “Are you ready?”
Wen Hupo also took a deep breath. She was actually nervous too. “Mm.”
The Little Tiger suddenly had a crying face. “I-I’m a little scared. Can I cover my face…”
An Baili giggled. “You little shorty, so unpromising! Why don’t you go sit with the guests and watch us get married?”
“No!”
Chu Jingyi said, “Lu Li… look at me. Is my hair and clothes alright? Should I change again… The stylist is on standby in the back…”
Zhu Xi grinned. “You’re fine. You’re at your most beautiful right now. There’s no need to change. Little Qiao, are you ready?”
Zhu Qiao’s free hand suddenly took Zhu Xi’s hand. “Sister Xi, you stand next to me. I’m a little nervous.” Although she was no longer a Miko, her eyes were still shining. Was she really nervous?
Zou Yameng closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths, looking as if she were about to enter a competition.
Lu Li’s heart was beating very fast. He had never held a wedding with six or seven girls at once. Among this group, the most nervous one should have been him. He repeatedly recited the script he had prepared yesterday in his mind, praying that he wouldn’t make a fool of himself during his speech later.
…
When they stepped into the main entrance of the villa, the band that had been ready for a long time began to play, and the emcee announced the arrival of the groom and brides. Everyone turned to look, and for a moment, there were continuous gasps of amazement. They saw Lu Li holding the brides’ hands, walking down the red carpet like the moon surrounded by stars. The brides were all stunningly beautiful, their gazes mostly fixed on Lu Li. Anyone could see that they were all deeply in love with the man in front of them. And Lu Li, in his sharp suit, with his red lips and white teeth, was handsome and dashing, not at all inferior to the brides. The silver-chained gold-rimmed glasses he wore gave him a strange noble air. As he walked in front, some of the guests subconsciously took half a step back to make way for him.
Everyone had only one thought in their hearts: what a well-matched couple.
Zhou Wen complained to Coach Dan, “I almost snatched Little Lizi away back then. Yameng was always obstructing me. It turns out she had her eyes on him herself…”
Coach Dan shot her a look. “You’re not even thirty yet, are you? How come you’re starting to brag too?”
Long Jing was a little dazed watching. She felt that today’s brother-in-law was exceptionally handsome, handsome in an indescribable way. She looked back and saw that the few little followers she had brought were also stunned. Long Jing blocked their view with her body. “Don’t look. That’s my brother-in-law. You’re not allowed to look!”
“…How can you be like this…”
“If you have any objections, I’ll have you ‘deported’!”
If Lu Li had seen this little demon lord acting so tyrannically in front of the honest girls, he might have invited her to another round of spanking.
…
The parents were also led by the emcee to sit on either side of the high platform. Zhu Youcheng, as the person with the highest nominal status here, naturally became the chief witness. He stood in the center of the high platform, quite excited, waiting for the arrival of the brides and groom. To have the emperor of Shenzhou as a witness, Lu Li had probably made history.
The host was introducing the identities of the groom and brides. As Lu Li listened, his thoughts began to drift. He seemed to have entered a transcendent state, his soul floating in mid-air. He saw the sea of clouds churning in the distance, and for a moment, he thought of many things, from his own past, to this moment, and to the future. The little moments he had spent with them passed through his heart like a silver thread.
By the time he came back to his senses, he was already standing in front of Zhu Youcheng. Zhu Youcheng was looking at him kindly, his eyes full of gratitude and appreciation.
He heard the host say, “…having come this far, let us now invite the groom to say a few words.”
The microphone was handed to him. Lu Li looked at the girls, whose gazes were focused on him, and a strong emotion welled up in his heart. This emotion was like a gratitude for life, like a response to their love, and also like a sigh for everything he had experienced. A thousand thoughts and a thousand words all converged into one sentence:
“I love you all.”
