Chapter 645: Chapter 645: October 6th, Auspicious for Marriage

Taking another look at the rat snake, she saw it was only about the length of an arm—just a small snake.

Gripped in the monkey’s hand, its body was curled into a terrified ball.

The little monkey said, "We asked him. He was slithering through the grass when our King’s friend stepped on him. He got mad, so he secretly climbed up her leg and bit her on the hand."

Shen Ningning didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when she heard the reason.

The animals in the mountain forest had drunk the Spiritual Spring Water and eaten fruit from the trees she provided. They had truly gained sentience. Even a small snake like this one acted so human.

Shen Ningning waved her hand. "Never mind. Just release it back into the forest."

The three little monkeys bounced around. "Our King is so kind-hearted!"

"We heard our King is getting married soon, so we’ve prepared lots of gifts. When the time comes, you must come back to the mountains to get them, Your Majesty."

With that, the three of them tossed the small snake into a burlap sack, shouldered it, and scurried off.

Mo Lingwei looked at Shen Ningning and began to list them off for her.

"The monkeys are grateful to you, so they treat you as their Monkey King. By that logic, the brown bears must see you as the Bear King, and the tigers and leopards must see you as the Tiger King."

The Black Wolf King lazily raised its eyelids.

It commented offhandedly, "When I step down in the future, the position of Wolf King will naturally go to Ningning. So, kid, do you realize what a treasure you’re marrying?"

"Your qualifications for the role of Wolf Queen are a bit lacking, but it can’t be helped. Ningning likes you, after all. You really lucked out."

Mo Lingwei’s expression darkened.

’Wolf Queen? Why does that make me sound like Shen Ningning’s pampered little wife?’

Beside him, Shen Ningning was doubled over with laughter.

"You heard that, didn’t you? If you marry me, I come with this whole powerful family. Don’t even think about bullying me in the future."

Mo Lingwei chuckled. "As if I would dare."

’I have to wait for the right chance just for a hug, and practically beg for a kiss!’

Besides, Mo Lingwei could never bear to bully her anyway.

Just then, Shen Siyi and Xie Suzhi walked over from the adjacent courtyard, waving and calling out, "Ningning, you and the Crown Prince should stay for dinner tonight. Let’s have a family reunion meal."

Shen Ningning happily agreed.

Mo Lingwei was puzzled. "A reunion dinner? Isn’t that for New Year’s Eve? What’s the special occasion?"

"Today is a wonderful day for our whole family to be together, so of course we have to celebrate!"

The past hardships of the Xie Mansion had all begun with Qi Jingchun’s malicious schemes.

Not only were the years of affection between Second Master Xie and Fang Qingdai destroyed, but he was also forced to marry a woman he did not love at all.

Fang Qingdai left the Capital City heartbroken and pregnant, and Second Master Xie had no idea he had two children living out in the world, lost to him.

Then, after Shen Ningning was lost, Shen Siyi "drowned." Xie Suzhi was so overcome with grief that he fell gravely ill several times, vomiting blood, his heart and spirit worn down by sorrow.

Thankfully, all those hardships were now finally in the past.

So how could tonight’s dinner not be considered a reunion meal?

The night was soft, the moonlight lovely.

In the flower hall, the family sat together. The sound of their chatter and laughter drifted out, painting a picture of joyful harmony.

The Xie Mansion had chosen an auspicious day to officially add Liang Yici back into the family registry.

Like Xu Jingxi, she was still allowed to use the name Liang Yici. After all, General Liang had shown great kindness in caring for her and her mother.

Moreover, he had genuinely doted on Liang Yici, so Second Master Xie was all the more supportive of her continuing to use the Liang surname.

Of course, in the family registry itself, her surname was changed back to Xie, and her new given name was recorded as Xie Yuangui.

The birth order of the young masters and ladies of the Xie Mansion was also rearranged.

The eldest was Xie Mingxu, the second was Xie Ming’an, the third was Xu Jingxi, the fourth was Liang Yici, and Shen Ningning remained the fifth.

The dark clouds that had long hung over the Xie Mansion finally scattered, making way for brilliant sunshine.

...

「The sixth day of the tenth month. Auspicious for marriage.」

Today was the wedding day of Crown Prince Mo Lingwei and Princess Funing, Shen Ningning.

Ordinarily, their wedding would have taken place in March of the following year at the earliest.

But because Mo Lingwei relentlessly pushed for it, inquiring daily about the Palace Affairs Department’s preparations, the wedding date was moved up to the golden autumn of October.

Early on the morning of her wedding, the Xie Mansion was already filled with relatives and friends.

The clamor of gongs and drums, punctuated by the crackle of firecrackers, periodically echoed through the courtyards.

Shen Ningning gazed into the bronze mirror at her reflection, dressed in a magnificent red wedding gown, her head adorned with a phoenix coronet that seemed poised for flight.

Her eyes shone with a dewy light, her brows were a stark, lovely black, her lips were full and red, and a faint blush graced her fair cheeks.

Shen Siyi stood beside her, adjusting the dangling golden tassels and pearls on her daughter’s headdress.

Shen Ningning saw tears glistening in her mother’s eyes. She tilted her head up and said gently, "Mother, don’t be sad. Even though I’ll be living in the palace after the wedding, he said I can come out whenever I want."

"Besides, he’s invited you and Father to live in the palace as well. He’s already prepared a residence for you, and Uncle Emperor has no objections."

Shen Siyi smiled and wiped away a tear. "Silly child, that’s not what’s on my mind. I just can’t bear to let you go, and I feel like I’ve failed you."

"I came back too late. I missed watching you grow up before you came of age. I’ve only just returned, and now I have to send you off to be married. I’m just feeling a bit emotional."

"But I have faith in my daughter. No matter her status or where she goes, she will live a wonderful life, so I’m not worried."

As she spoke, she embraced Shen Ningning.

She didn’t forget to add a reminder, "After you’re married, your father plans to fulfill his promise to take me traveling to see the world. So don’t feel like you always have to come home. The most important thing is to focus on nurturing your bond with Xiao Mo."

At this, Shen Siyi’s gaze drifted down to Shen Ningning’s abdomen, a thoughtful look on her face.

Shen Ningning blinked her wide eyes. "Mother, what’s wrong?"

"Ningning, you’re almost nineteen, aren’t you?"

Shen Ningning nodded.

Shen Siyi immediately waved her hand. "Nineteen... In my time, you’d still be considered a young girl. I’m afraid giving birth so soon would be hard on your body. You and Xiao Mo should be mindful. Wait at least another two or three years before you consider having children."

Shen Ningning’s face instantly flushed red. She hurriedly lowered her head. "Mother! How did you get onto the topic of children?"

Shen Siyi blinked. "I’m only telling you this for your own good. Don’t be too shy to mention it to him."

As mother and daughter were speaking, the courtyard suddenly erupted with noise.

It turned out Mo Lingwei had arrived at the main gate with the groom’s procession.

Qi Xiuwei called from outside the door, "Ningning, the Crown Prince’s party has been stopped in the front courtyard! Yici and Changyi have gone to help. I heard your three older brothers have prepared countless challenges for him to get through!"

Shen Ningning let out a small, knowing smile. "Then I’ll just wait for him to get here."

With that, Shen Siyi draped the red bridal veil over her daughter’s head.

The commotion outside was ceaseless, not letting up for even a moment.

Shen Siyi stood by the window, peering out and giving Shen Ningning a running commentary on Mo Lingwei’s "battle progress."

"I see Xiao Mo’s trusted aide has broken through!"

"Oh dear, he’s been dragged back out by the Black Wolf King."

"Alright, alright, things are looking up! Chen Shaobei is clearing a path for Xiao Mo—he’s managed to squeeze halfway through!"

"Tsk, tsk. And he’s been shoved back out by Hei Diao."

The courtyard was a cacophony of voices and high-spirited laughter. Some people were trying to help the groom’s party, while others were helping to block the door.

Mo Lingwei even tried to climb the wall, only to have the Black Wolf King grab the hem of his robes in its teeth.

All of Shen Ningning’s little animals had come to "help" by getting in the way!

Mo Lingwei couldn’t take it anymore. He raised his voice and shouted, "Let me in! I brought Grandma Qin with me!"

And sure enough, there was Grandma Qin, whom he had invited. She walked at the front of the procession, beaming, and no one dared to stand in her way.

Even a brown bear, which had just stuck out a leg to trip someone, silently retracted its huge paw and shuffled back into a corner upon seeing it was Grandma Qin.

Ye Shangyi pushed her way to the front and stomped her foot. "Your Highness, that’s cheating!"

Who among them would dare to stop Grandma Qin?

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