Luck Reliant Beauty – CH 117

Chapter 117: Respect

As the convoy gradually drove out of Cheng Capital, Jiang Mi turned back in a daze.

At the East Gate, Fan Yuxiu was waving incessantly in her direction, tears streaming down her face. Yu Man and Zheng Wen stood behind Fan Yuxiu, their expressions obscured by her. Not far away, the Wang Cheng family, whom she had just acknowledged but had now collectively forgotten, watched the convoy with complex expressions.

Farewell! Who knew when we would meet again?

The Three Mothers, who were in the same carriage as Jiang Mi, smiled at each other when they saw her reluctant departure. Mother Li stepped forward and straightened Jiang Mi’s clothes, saying softly, “Don’t think about it anymore. We will meet again someday.”

Jiang Mi nodded.

She looked up at Mother Li with bright, expectant eyes and said, “Ma, everyone says I’m lucky. I will always be lucky, right?”

Mother Li smiled and nodded. “Yes, you will always be lucky.”

Jiang Mi smiled, flashing her white teeth, and said happily, “Mother had Father, so she was happy even with simple food. Young Master Cui and I will be as happy as Mother and Father, right?”

The Three Mothers exchanged smiles and said cheerfully, “Yes, Young Lady will only be happier than Her Imperial Highness.”

Jiang Mi was content.

Just then, she saw a tall, imposing figure riding towards her.

In the blink of an eye, the man arrived beside Jiang Mi’s carriage. He looked at her with a smile, his handsome face radiant, making him even more striking. It was none other than Cui Zi Xuan.

Jiang Mi met Cui Zi Xuan’s gentle gaze, her cheeks flushing red. This time, however, she did not lower her head as before; instead, she looked up at him joyfully.

Cui Zi Xuan’s lips curled into a smile. He spurred his horse closer to the carriage.

The coachman for Jiang Mi was a man from the Cui Clan of Boling, a family adept at reading people. He quickly slowed down the carriage, and the Three Mothers understood immediately. They disembarked one by one.

When Jiang Mi was alone in the carriage, the speed began to pick up slightly.

Cui Zi Xuan followed at a leisurely pace, while Jiang Mi gazed at him with joyful, longing eyes.

Meeting her gaze, Cui Zi Xuan chuckled. He leaned closer and whispered, “Were you frightened?”

This was the first time they had met and spoken since Cui Zi Xuan had summoned her back to prepare for her marriage.

Jiang Mi shook her head. Her face flushed, she said, “My heart’s bursting with joy.”

Cui Zi Xuan smiled. He added softly, “I was afraid you’d overthink things.”

Jiang Mi thought: What woman would not be overwhelmed with joy and wonder at being treated like this?

Seeing her just smiling foolishly at him, Cui Zi Xuan wanted to laugh again. He reached out and gently took Jiang Mi’s plump, slender hand in his and said softly, “My wife, I will be good to you from now on.”

Jiang Mi’s eyes crinkled into slits, and she said happily, “I know.” Meeting Cui Zi Xuan’s gaze, her tone was very certain: “I will be good to you too.”

Hearing Jiang Mi’s slightly naive answer, Cui Zi Xuan could not help but chuckle.

He glanced around, turned his head, and with a leap, jumped into Jiang Mi’s carriage.

Once Cui Zi Xuan was inside, he swiftly pulled down the curtain and gently placed Jiang Mi on his lap, his large hand resting at her slender waist. He chuckled, “Looks like you’re really happy; it’s gotten a bit bigger here.” As he spoke, his hand suddenly cupped one of Jiang Mi was soft breasts.

Jiang Mi blushed crimson. She turned and glared at Cui Zi Xuan, but seeing his handsome face and his gentle, smiling eyes, she felt an indescribable joy. Seeing Cui Zi Xuan’s mischievous smile and slightly trembling Adam’s apple as he tilted his head to look at her, she impulsively leaned forward and kissed him on the corner of his lips and on his Adam was apple.

After the kisses, Jiang Mi immediately blushed and became flustered. Her ears turned red as she stammered, “I, I just… I did not mean to…”

Before she could finish her sentence, Cui Zi Xuan held her tightly in his arms.

At this moment, Jiang Mi wiggled her hips and whispered, “What’s that? It’s poking me.”

Cui Zi Xuan lowered his head and took a deep breath of Jiang Mi’s hair, then vigorously rubbed her soft hand before replying breathlessly, “You did that on purpose, did you not? I will deal with you when we get back!”

He rested his chin on Jiang Mi’s head, and once his breathing had calmed, Cui Zi Xuan leaned back, his deep, starlike eyes remaining fixed on Jiang Mi’s face.

Jiang Mi looked at him shyly and playfully, then said reproachfully, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Cui Zi Xuan said softly, “Since we met, every time I see you, my heart’s filled with joy.” He took Jiang Mi’s small hand, gently kissed the back of it, and then said, “Ah’Mi, I will be good to you.”

Jiang Mi’s eyes welled up with tears of happiness.

Meeting Jiang Mi’s gaze, Cui Zi Xuan could no longer restrain himself. He lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers…

…

Looking at the swaying curtain of Jiang Mi’s carriage, Mother Gong said with some worry, “I think the princess is deeply in love with Young Master Cui. Will it not be inappropriate for such a young couple to be alone together?”

To the side, Mother Li shook her head, smiling, “What are you worrying about? What kind of person is Cui Zi Xuan? He knows his Clan has strict rules; how could he let his wife be looked down upon? Do not worry; he knows what he’s doing.”

The other two Mas nodded repeatedly.

After shifting their attention away from their Princess, Mother Gong looked back again. Looking at the endless convoy stretching as far as the eye could see, she remarked with a touch of melancholy, “This grandeur, this magnificence—even Her Imperial Highness never achieved anything like it back then.”

The convoy was indeed enormous.

Originally, Cui Zi Xuan’s own forces had gradually assembled, numbering seven or eight thousand. Then, his various friends brought in another twenty or thirty thousand, and adding the forces brought by his elder brothers, the entire convoy totaled over fifty thousand. Moreover, along the way, those who had received favors from Cui Zi Xuan or had close ties with him continued to join.

In such a chaotic era, tens of thousands of men were not particularly large, but what was remarkable was that they were all strong and well-trained soldiers, each clad in full armor! Such a force would surely deter any bandits looking to plunder.

After looking around for a while, Mother Gui could not help but exclaim, “This is the true wealth of the Cui Clan of Boling! Their son’s wedding gift is easily equivalent to the entire State treasury, and the wedding procession is this massive!” She chuckled, “I always thought my Princess was quite alright, that she deserved even the most alright man. But seeing the Cui Clan of Boling’s spectacle, I feel like my Princess has truly risen to the top.”

The other two Mas shared the same sentiment and laughed.

…

In the carriage.

Cui Zi Xuan’s kiss with Jiang Mi was fleeting. As soon as he parted from her lips, he closed his eyes and gasped for breath.

After calming down, he opened his eyes and saw Jiang Mi’s swollen lips and her watery eyes looking at him. Cui Zi Xuan almost felt a sharp pain in his chest again.

He quickly pulled his robe up to cover himself and said to Jiang Mi, “I have to go.” Without waiting for her reply, he leaped from the carriage.

Jiang Mi watched him gracefully mount his horse, feeling a pang of reluctance. She watched Cui Zi Xuan ride off to the front of the procession, her heart pounding. She thought, “He’s my husband, and I’m his wife. We will have many, many days together. I will watch over him as a mother watched over my stepfather, watching his hair turn white, watching our child grow up little by little.”

Thinking this, her heart swelled with joy. Compared to so many days and nights spent together, what was a moment of separation?

…

The main branch of the Cui Clan of Boling was currently stationed in Wuyue, and Cui Zi Xuan had brought Jiang Mi to Wuyue for their wedding ceremony.

From Shu State to Wuyue was a thousand miles. Fortunately, the procession would soon be able to travel by water, speeding down the Yangtze River.

However, the exact arrangements were unclear, and it took the entire journey of over a month after leaving the city to reach the Yangtze River.

Cui Zi Xuan had indeed made meticulous arrangements; when the caravan arrived at the Yangtze River, the dock was completely blocked by boats flying the Cui Clan of Boling flag, stretching for several miles.

Jiang Mi, the Three Mothers, and even the other passengers were all stunned by the sheer number of boats.

A moment later, one of the guests could not help but ask a member of the Cui Clan of Boling, “Why so many boats? This is quite an extravagant display!”

The Cui Clan of Boling member, gazing towards the Yangtze River, grinned and said, “This is all the eldest brother’s idea. He said that when Cui Zi Xuan takes a wife, the whole world should know.”

Those around him suddenly understood and nodded secretly. But deep down, they could not help thinking: This Cui Zi Xuan truly loves Lady Jiang. He knew her humble origins and was using this opportunity to announce to the world that the Cui Clan of Boling greatly favors this clan leader’s wife.