Chapter 71

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Chapter 71: Cause and Effect of the Mortal World

"Bow to Heaven and Earth!"

With a clear shout, two figures in red bent down to salute the bright and clear heavens and earth. One wore a phoenix crown and ceremonial dress, while the other donned a vibrant red wedding robe, their hands connected by red silk.

"Bow to the parental home!" The speaker clearly lacked knowledge about this marriage ritual, unaware that this phrase held no meaning for both parties involved. He glanced at the two individuals who remained still, then paused before realizing the significance of this marriage and quietly skipped that line, continuing with, "Spouses bow to each other!"

Ming He looked down at the festive red robe she wore, feeling dazed and uncertain. She raised her head and took in her surroundings filled with the sounds of drums and gongs, with guests overflowing into the hall. The wooden beams and decorations created a cheerful atmosphere.

She was indeed in a wedding hall, in the role of the groom.

But she remembered that she seemed to be… Huh? Ming He blinked, realizing she felt a bit lost, yet somehow accepted this reality.

Yes, she was in a wedding hall, preparing to get married, because her father had unfortunately perished in an ambush recently, and she needed to inherit the family business. She… she was meant to perform the wedding ceremony now.

Ming He recalled some memories that had surfaced in her mind and accepted them naturally, feeling a bit heavy-hearted as she bent down to offer a bow to the person in front of her, completing the ceremonial greeting.

"The ceremony is complete; take her to the bridal chamber!" The officiant’s booming voice sent a wave of excitement through the hall.

Ming He watched as the bride was enthusiastically escorted out of the wedding hall with a faint smile on her lips, knowing she still needed to accompany the guests for toasts and couldn’t leave during the day.

"Congratulations, Young Master Ming, on your grand wedding!" An unfamiliar guest approached with a raised glass, their expression revealing no true sentiment.

"Congratulations on your grand wedding, Young Master Ming, marrying such a delicate beauty from a prominent family!" someone teased, referring to the bride’s noble background.

They were all rogue wanderers, and before this, they hadn’t expected anyone to connect with the authorities, although the frail Young Master of the Zhenyuan Escort had a scholarly and refined appearance, with red lips and white teeth; he didn’t seem to belong to the world of martial arts.

Ming He didn’t respond, just kept her gaze deep, her face adorned with her usual light smile as she took a sip of her drink, then lightly coughed, her handsome features contrasting in shades of red and pale, before swaying to the next table.

"Shishu Zhang, here’s a toast to you." Ming He addressed a middle-aged man with a beard warmly, her voice consistently low and hoarse, lacking the vigor of good health.

"There’s no need for such politeness, Shidi. My brother just passed not long ago; it’s unfortunate he couldn’t witness your marriage. I believe he would be pleased," the middle-aged man said with a smile as he drank from his glass.

"Yes, if my father were here, he would indeed be happy." Ming He replied with a half-smile, "After all, not only am I getting married, but I will also take over the escort agency, so I am establishing my career too."

She noticed the middle-aged man’s expression change abruptly at the mention of taking over the escort agency, his fists tightening as he raised his brow, finishing his drink before walking away.

The onlookers exchanged glances, recalling that one was the Second Master of the Zhenyuan Escort, and the other was the rightful Young Master. The escort leader had died in an ambush, and normally the Young Master would take over the escort. However, due to his frail health and lack of martial skills, the Second Master, Zhang Gui, had temporarily exercised the rights of the escort leader.

Yet if the Young Master wished to take over, the so-called Second Master would naturally have to relinquish the power he held.

In truth, the escort leader’s death was suspicious, and there might be hidden stories behind it. As for the seemingly refined and unskilled Young Master Ming He, he had quietly connected with the daughter of the governor of Jiangnan. Although she was said to be of illegitimate birth, she still held a prestigious status.

Tsk, it grew more unsettling the more one thought about it! But that was an internal matter of the Zhenyuan Escort; it had little to do with them; they were merely there to enjoy the spectacle.

After making a round of toasts, dusk began to fall, and Ming He sent away the guests with the help of her childhood servant, Si’er, and the gloomy Second Master Zhang Gui, before pushing open the door to the bridal chamber.

The bride, dressed in a brilliant red wedding gown, sat on the wedding bed, which was adorned with joyful and sweet treats. A red veil covered her face, and her demeanor was graceful and dignified.

The daughter of the governor of Jiangnan, a delicate lady from a noble family.

Ming He smiled softly as she approached the bride, a gentle, cool fragrance wafting in the air. She reached out and lifted the red veil, revealing a face of striking beauty beneath it—red lips pressed together, eyes cold and clear. She seemed somewhat familiar, as if Ming He had seen her somewhere before.

But after thinking it over, she found it hard to place where.

Ming He felt momentarily disoriented, sensing she had forgotten something important and that something was off.

A gentle breeze flowed through the open bamboo window, stirring the bride’s hair that fell before her.

Ming He stood in a daze, not quite understanding the cause of her fleeting distraction. She steadied herself next to the bride, her smile lifting at the corners of her mouth but not reaching her eyes. “Miss Chu.”

Her voice was as mellow as aged wine, rich and intoxicating, "I heard you fell for me at first sight?"

"My name is Yi Qing; you may call me by my name, Young Master," said the woman in the vibrant red wedding dress, her head slightly bowed, her lips parting gently, exuding the grace and restraint of a noblewoman.

"Yi Qing," Ming He smiled, her expression brightening. She lifted Chu Yi Qing’s chin with her fingers, forcing their gazes to meet. Their faces were so close they almost touched, their breaths mingling, creating a somewhat flirtatious atmosphere.

Ming He noticed her brushed lips sparkle in the light, and as she leaned in, she gently caressed Chu Yi Qing’s smooth, pale chin, her voice slightly teasing, "I heard that Yi Qing loves me at first sight and said she would marry no one but me?"

She looked deeply into Chu Yi Qing’s eyes, searching for hidden meaning. "Now that your wish has come true, are you happy?"

"Not having to fulfill the responsibilities of a wife naturally makes me happy," Chu Yi Qing replied, her heart startled as she met Ming He’s playful, peach blossom eyes. The uniqueness of those eyes felt strangely familiar.

"What do you mean? I don’t quite understand," Ming He said, placing her hand on Chu Yi Qing’s cheek. Her hand was often cold due to her illness, while the woman’s face felt warm and full of life, a delightful contrast.

"Could it be that the Young Master has worn this outfit so long that she has forgotten what she originally looked like?" Chu Yi Qing disregarded the cool hand that continued to explore her face. She removed the phoenix crown from her head and finally met Ming He’s inscrutable gaze.

"Between women, the bond of marriage means I don’t have to fulfill the duties of a wife, wouldn’t you agree?" She glanced pointedly at the decorative tassels hanging from Ming He’s waist.

"You…" Ming He’s gaze sharpened, her breath momentarily unstable. The escort agency could not be without a successor. Her mother had been weakened during her birth and could not have more children; therefore, she had disguised herself as a man since childhood, a fact known only to her maid Si’er. How could Chu Yi Qing know?

She placed her hand around Chu Yi Qing’s neck, her expression calm, yet her commanding aura conveyed an unspoken power. Although frail and unskilled in martial arts, she had become the Young Master, which meant she possessed other valuable qualities.

She could easily eliminate a delicate woman if needed.

"How do you know?" It would be easy to kill the woman in front of her; after all, having a bride die on their wedding night would be too much to explain, yet it could be concealed. But if others knew as well… Ming He narrowed her eyes, feeling the situation becoming more complex; her current circumstance was already unfavorable.

"There is no need to overthink or panic, Young Master. Only I know," Chu Yi Qing replied, a playful smile gracing her lips, well aware of the thoughts that crossed the mind of the hand that held her life.

"As for why I know…" Chu Yi Qing gently pulled Ming He’s hand from her neck and mimicked her earlier gesture, stroking her skin with the same familiarity and steadiness.

"What lies beneath is more beautiful than what is on the surface. Young Master probably does not realize how stunning your bone structure is. I spotted you from across a long street in a crowd and saw through the truth that your white robe conceals." She hadn’t expected that it would be a person like this, which was intriguing.

"So your claim of love at first sight and saying you’d marry no one but me is false?" Ming He felt deceived.

"Of course, you seem quite upset," Chu Yi Qing noted with laughter in her voice. "Could it be you have a secret crush on me?" She playfully mirrored Ming He’s earlier questions about love at first sight.

"Not exactly." Ming He brushed her robe aside and sat next to her, leaning in slightly to unfasten the first button of Chu Yi Qing’s clothing, revealing her snowy white collarbone.

"Your heart is racing; are you nervous?" Ming He smiled brightly, a tempting beauty shining in her peach blossom eyes. Her hand rested on Chu Yi Qing’s shoulder. "I just suddenly thought—while marriages between women are indeed rare, it doesn’t mean we can’t share life together."

She tilted Chu Yi Qing’s chin upward, slowly closing the distance between them, her breath cool and refreshing. "If Miss Chu has needs, I can certainly meet them."

Chu Yi Qing met her gaze, her eyes calm and steady, "Then there’s no need." She pressed Ming He’s hand down, turning her head away.

"We’re merely fulfilling each other’s needs," her tone was cool, unexpectedly discovering a side to the frail-looking Young Master that she hadn’t anticipated.

"I can help you break free from your family’s control, and the Young Master can use the governor of Jiangnan’s name to intimidate troublesome younger generations. From now on, do as you please regarding reclaiming your escort or anything else."

Each word was deliberate, "Our marriage is fake."

"But Yi Qing, didn’t you have different plans at first?" Ming He paused, observing her beautiful, calm profile. It had become evident when Chu Yi Qing revealed her true identity that this was more of a mutual arrangement, which was the best outcome.

But now, seeing Chu Yi Qing’s assured demeanor as she held all the cards, Ming He felt a wicked amusement rise within her. She had no intention of letting the moment slip. "The outside world whispers that the Young Master of the Zhenyuan Escort has been weak and sickly since childhood, destined for an early death."

"It seems Yi Qing’s initial thought was to marry me, then, after my death, she would be free from both her father’s and her husband’s control." The world often held women to harsh standards, even if they came from noble families.

"True," Chu Yi Qing replied without missing a beat.

"And you’d also gain the title of a beautiful widow!" Ming He teased, considering that given her charm, it wouldn’t be too hard for Chu Yi Qing to escape from Zhang Gui, especially since she held a prestigious status.

Chu Yi Qing shot her a glance, seemingly uninterested in responding. "If the Young Master thinks each of us fulfilling our needs is acceptable, you may leave; we can agree to no longer interfere with each other." Her tone held an inherent command, as if it were second nature.

"Leave? Where do I go?" Ming He still held onto her hand, refusing to let go. "Today is our wedding day; this is our new home, and beneath us is our wedding bed. Where else could I go?"

A smile graced her face. "If the groom is absent from the wedding room on the wedding night, it would be a source of ridicule for the bride; since we are fulfilling our needs, how could I allow you to suffer undue embarrassment?"

Ming He’s eyes danced with mischief, her expression appearing remarkably romantic. "Besides, I thought about it earlier, and since we’ve already bowed to the heavens, we might as well make the best of our days ahead. A marriage between women isn’t impossible, especially with someone as beautiful as Miss Chu."

As she leaned closer, her right hand trembled slightly as she unfastened the second button of Chu Yi Qing’s clothing, revealing glimpses of her curves beneath the white attire. The woman possessed a lovely figure, warm and soft to the touch.

Chu Yi Qing trembled slightly when Ming He’s fingertips brushed her collarbone, feeling astonished and unprepared. Gazing at the one so close to her, her dark hair arranged and the jade pendants swaying lightly, she saw laughter and warmth in her eyes, but underlying her gaze was a mysterious and dangerous depth that was hard to decipher.

For a moment, Chu Yi Qing was uncertain whether Ming He spoke the truth or merely toyed with her. She attempted to push her away but found herself unable to; Ming He seemed far from the fragile figure that the rumors described.

Ming He’s hand continued to caress her collarbone, treating her as a delightful plaything, eliciting shivers from Chu Yi Qing.

Realizing the increasing proximity, Chu Yi Qing instinctively pulled back, "No need, I’m not interested in women." She felt a tremble within her, sensing she might have chosen a rather perilous path.

"Is that so?" Ming He released her hand, sounding somewhat regretful. "Then I’ll let it go."

After saying that, she kicked off her shoes and slid under the covers, revealing a brilliant smile to the dazed Chu Yi Qing sitting at the edge of the bed. "But this is my room; I’m used to sleeping here, and there’s nowhere else for me to go."

Chu Yi Qing glared at Ming He’s smile, feeling a surge of anger but remained outwardly composed, as she had always portrayed a gentle and demure image. Eventually, she resigned herself to lying on the other side, deliberately avoiding Ming He’s gaze.

Ming He watched the graceful figure turned away from her, her eyes flickering. The earlier warmth had vanished, replaced by a profound darkness that felt like an ancient well, deep and heavy, her lips pressed together in coolness.

Chu Yi Qing.

She whispered the name, feeling an indescribable familiarity and warmth in her heart, but why did she feel this way? In the escort agency, she had never heard of her before; what could the reason be?

It was as if the entire world felt unreal.

But how could that possibly be?

She sighed softly, feeling an unsettling sense of loss in the darkness.