"Dong~ Qiang~ Dong~ Qiang~" The joyful wedding procession moved forward with grandeur, attracting the attention of many onlookers who stopped to watch. "It's so magnificent. I wish my daughter could marry into such a wealthy family," a woman dressed modestly said with envy.

"Stop dreaming. Do you know who the people in the second wedding procession are?" another onlooker mocked. "They are none other than the Emperor's younger brother and General Weiyi, who suppresses the northern barbarians. Your daughter marrying into such a prestigious family? You better wait for your next life," another woman said bluntly. The first woman who spoke felt embarrassed and turned away without saying another word.

"The Emperor's brother getting married is indeed a big deal, but how can someone dare to hold a wedding on the same day? Aren't they afraid of incurring the Emperor's wrath?" a commoner voiced their doubts.

"You're so ignorant. You truly are not ordinary in your stupidity. Do you even know who this person is?" A hand was placed on the shoulder of the person who asked the question, and another commoner answered.

"Lao Zhang, just tell me already. Why are you keeping it a secret?" The person pushed away the hand on their shoulder and complained, annoyed at being called foolish.

"When it comes to General Weiyi, I have to say he is truly an extraordinary figure. He went to the battlefield at the age of fourteen. At sixteen, he was appointed as General Weiyi. This time, he returned triumphantly after suppressing the northern barbarians. With such a prominent figure marrying on the same day as a prince, what's wrong with that? Besides, it's the Emperor's decree," Lao Zhang proudly looked at Lao Li.

"So, you already know?" Lao Li cursed in his heart, thinking that Lao Zhang only knew a few more characters than him.

"It was written on the imperial list last month. Well, let's not talk about it. It has nothing to do with us common folks," Lao Zhang quickly changed the topic when he saw Lao Li getting agitated.

...

Po Jun rode his beloved horse and looked at the person occupying the main position in the other wedding procession. Usually dressed in white, today he wore a bright red wedding attire, just like Po Jun, both of them radiant in red.

"General, we are about to reach the South Gate," Yuan Zhigang, who had recently been promoted to vice-general and served as the leader of the wedding procession, informed Po Jun, taking charge of everything on the wedding journey.

"Good," Po Jun thought to himself, "Once we pass through the South Gate, we will go our separate ways, and there will be no room for change between us." Po Jun glanced at Qi Aotian once again with the corner of his eye and made a silent vow to forget that forbidden affection.

Amidst the loud gongs and drums, the two wedding processions separated after passing through the South Gate. However, Qi Aotian didn't even cast a glance at Po Jun. With a smiling face, he interacted with the onlookers.

"Let's go," Po Jun refocused his attention, knowing that he shouldn't be thinking about Qi Aotian. Instead, he should focus on how to make amends to an innocent woman. He gently patted his horse, changed direction, and crossed paths with Qi Aotian's entourage. During their encounter, not a single word or glance was exchanged between them.

With a heavy heart, Po Jun arrived at the Prime Minister's residence, where his father-in-law was waiting at the entrance. As soon as he saw the wedding procession approaching, he ordered someone to light the firecrackers.

Po Jun dismounted and was quickly welcomed by Hu Jiangling, his father-in-law. Seeing Po Jun in his wedding attire today, Hu Jiangling couldn't contain his joy, and his mouth couldn't close. He thought, "What a remarkable son-in-law. Who else could I find to be my son-in-law?"

"Father-in-law," Po Jun called out after a long deliberation in his heart.

"Haha, my beloved son-in-law, good, good!" Hu Jiangling was overjoyed to hear Po Jun address him as "father-in-law." He couldn't be happier today.

"The auspicious time has come. The bride should board the sedan chair," the wedding matchmaker dressed in red shouted loudly. Po Jun saw the bride, who had been assisted out of the Prime Minister's residence, slowly walking towards the grand red wedding sedan.

"Daughter, life after marriage is different from being at home. You must serve your husband well," the Prime Minister's wife anxiously advised her daughter, afraid that her daughter would be mistreated. Her eyes even shimmered with tears.

"Mother-in-law, your son-in-law will never let down his wife," Po Jun thought helplessly. He feared that living up to her expectations would be difficult.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Upon hearing Po Jun speak, the Prime Minister's wife carefully observed her son-in-law, who had always been praised by her husband. She had to admit that her husband had a discerning eye. She noticed his striking eyebrows, eyes shining like stars in the night sky, a firm nose indicating his rectitude, and moderately thick and red lips. His whole appearance had an androgynous charm, and she heard that he was a military general. However, she didn't see any coarseness or bloodshed aura on him. Instead, he exuded an air of elegance and refinement. The Prime Minister's wife looked back at her daughter, who was marrying such a man among men. She wondered whether it was a blessing or...

Just as the Prime Minister's wife was assessing Po Jun, the wedding matchmaker repeatedly reminded them not to miss the auspicious time. The Prime Minister's wife refrained from saying more, patted her daughter's hand that she held tightly, and said softly, "Go, maybe there will be a good solution in the future." The Prime Minister's wife whispered to her daughter, who was about to get married.

Hong Ling, upon hearing her mother's words, was overwhelmed with sorrow. She knelt down on the ground and cried softly, not realizing that people who didn't know the situation would think she was a filial daughter. Many onlookers commented, "The bride is truly a dutiful daughter."

"The auspicious time has come. The newlywed bride should enter the sedan chair," the wedding matchmaker urged once again. The makeup on her face was almost washed away by sweat.

"Alright, can you two stop now? Don't keep the son-in-law waiting," Hu Jiangling pulled his wife over, realizing that if they continued like this, their daughter wouldn't be able to marry today. He let the maidservants help his daughter onto the wedding sedan; that was the proper thing to do.

"Start the sedan chair," the wedding matchmaker shouted loudly, and immediately the sedan bearers began to move. It would be unlucky to pass the auspicious time. The clamor of gongs and drums resounded once again.

Po Jun saw the bride entering the wedding sedan, and he bowed deeply to his parents-in-law. "Po Jun bids farewell here," he said.

Seated in the wedding sedan, tears flowed incessantly for Hong Ling. She tightly gripped the folding fan her mother gave her before she left, not expecting that she would be married off to this general who was renowned in the north and had achievements in the court.

"Cousin, it's Red Ling who has let you down," her melodic voice was already hoarse from crying, as she slowly opened the curtains of the wedding sedan. When she threw the folding fan out of the sedan, it seemed as if she could hear her cousin calling her.

"Master, the wedding tray is here," the steward came with a basin filled with water and approached Hu Jiangling.

"Bring it here," Hu Jiangling took the basin from the steward and looked at his reflection in the water. He muttered words that only he could hear, "Father is doing this for your own good. I want you to have a good life in the future."

"Splash!" Hu Jiangling poured the water from the basin onto the spot where the wedding sedan had been. At that moment, he realized there were watermarks on his old face. When he noticed it, he felt embarrassed, especially when he faced the servants and his wife.

"Cough... cough... Alright, everyone, go inside," Hu Jiangling placed his hands behind his back, his dignified face blushing slightly.

On the way back to the general's residence, Po Jun looked back at the grand red wedding sedan behind him. His thoughts involuntarily drifted to Qi Aotian. It was about time for him to be on his way back too, right? Po Jun was surprised at himself for referring to him in his thoughts as "him." When did he switch from calling him "master" to using the pronoun "him"? Was it when he was officially appointed and left his wings, or was it even earlier? Shaking his head, he told himself not to think about it.

"General, are you okay?" Yuan Zhigang noticed that Po Jun was acting differently than usual. Combined with his constant head shaking, Yuan Zhigang couldn't help but worry and ask.

"I'm fine, Yuan Zhigang. You don't need to worry about me," Po Jun reassured Yuan Zhigang, but he couldn't calm the uneasiness in his own heart.

"General, we're almost there. I've sent someone ahead to inform the residence," Yuan Zhigang said, realizing that Po Jun's thoughts were elsewhere. He shook his head, thinking about his own fiancee back in his hometown. "Yunzhu, I wonder how you're doing now?"

"Oh, alright," Po Jun absentmindedly responded to Yuan Zhigang's words.

With the lively atmosphere of gongs and drums, Po Jun couldn't feel any excitement. It was only when the procession reached the gate of the general's residence that Po Jun snapped out of his daze.

"General, we have arrived," Yuan Zhigang called out to Po Jun countless times before he finally came back to his senses.

"Oh, good," Po Jun dismounted and handed his beloved horse to a guard. For a moment, he didn't know what he should do next. It was only with the reminder of the wedding matchmaker that he stood in front of the wedding sedan.

"Kick the bridal door," the matchmaker, once again with her unappealing voice, called out the ritual. Po Jun closed his eyes helplessly and, following the matchmaker's words, gave a ceremonial kick to the door curtain.

"Escort the bride over the hearth," the matchmaker proudly shouted.

Already feeling overwhelmed by this marriage, Po Jun was about to lose his patience and knock her out to end the matter. However, he heard Lin'an quietly say a few words to him. Po Jun clenched his fist and slowly released it, calming his mind.

Po Jun looked at the bride, supported by maidservants, who resembled a willow catkin in the wind. Her appearance indicated that she was not just a beauty in terms of looks but also a precious jade. Would this precious woman have to live a lonely life because of something he shouldn't have discovered?

Upon hearing the matchmaker's commands, Po Jun took hold of Hong Ling's wrist and hesitated for a moment. He furrowed his brows and looked deeply at the bride dressed in a grand red attire. Without saying a word, he lifted Hong Ling into his arms, ignoring the matchmaker's nagging, "Hey, General, this is not in accordance with the ceremony!" As soon as the matchmaker finished speaking, Po Jun didn't respond but glanced at her. That made the matchmaker so frightened that she dared not say anything about the ceremonial rules anymore. She watched as Po Jun carried the bride over the hearth and entered the gate.