533 An Acciden (1/2)
Yun Yang turned around abruptly, looking at Ji Lingxi in disbelief.
Ji Lingxi lowered her head, casting her red-rimmed eyes downwards, and spoke softly, ”I… I can't… I didn't agree to it but Sister Lan said that even if I don't agree, there's only death in store for her. My brother's not here anymore, if I don't agree, she won't be able to be a part of the Ji Family, I…” she trailed off.
A red scarf hugged the bottom of Yue Rulan's neck. With Yun Yang's sharp vision, he could easily see the faint trail of blood seeping through. Coercing Ji Lingxi with her life, threatening her with her death, this was how the wedding banquet came to be.
Ji Lingxi lowered her head and sighed softly.
Yue Rulan's focused on her, she said with a smile, ”Lingxi, today is your brother's and your sister-in-law's big day. Why aren't you helping to welcome our guest? After today, we'll truly be a family!”
Ji Lingxi breathed in and said, ”I'll go now.” She then turned to enter the room.
Yun Yang closed his eyes and breathed out a long exhale. His eyes opened shortly and he put a grin on and said, ”Congratulations! Sister-in-law, you're marrying into my eighth brother's family today. What a match made in heaven! I'm so happy for my brother and I wish for both of you to stay together forever.”
Yue Rulan's eyes turned into crescents as she replied, ”I sure hope it comes true. Since you've called me sister-in-law, then you must drink more today. You're not alone, you know?”
Yun Yang nodded vehemently and said, ”Of course, of course. I've come to this banquet today on behalf of all my brothers. I must drink till I am intoxicated!”
Yue Rulan's eyes were twinkling as she replied, ”Then today will be the happiest day in my life. This is enough to last me a lifetime.”
”Congratulations,” said Yun Yang again.
After saying that word, he wanted to go on saying a couple more congratulatory phrases but felt his throat locking itself down. No further words could be produced.
The curtain was drawn back as Ji Lingxi exited the room and rejoined them.
When Yun Yang looked over, Ji Lingxi had changed into a man's clothing; it was the bridegroom's attire. She looked handsome and lively. What a charming bridegroom!
Yun Yang now better understood what Yue Rulan meant when she told Ji Lingxi to help her. He had only come on behalf of his Nine Supremes brothers, but Ji Lingxi had to both welcome the guest and also become the family of the bridegroom; she had to be the bridegroom as well.
Yue Rulan looked a little awkward and said anxiously, ”Brother Yun, I've suddenly got this idea today and wanted to fulfill this wish of becoming husband and wife. You'll have to be the witness of our wedding, the officiator, and the guest all by yourself.”
Yun Yang breathed in deeply and said in a light-hearted manner, ”It doesn't matter, sister-in-law. It would be wrong if you had not sought to include me. Besides, it isn't only me, Yun Yang, alone today. The Nine Supremes brothers stay together through life and death, never letting each other go. We're together. Just as I am here, they are here as well.
Yue Rulan then hooked arms with Ji Lingxi and said happily, ”Brother Yun, look at us husband and wife, how do we look? Don't we look like a great couple?”
Yun Yang emptied his goblet, gulping down the heartache and inexplicable grief along the wine; he put on an equally joyous face as he answered, ”Marvelous! A perfect match made in heaven of both talent and beauty, a woman of charm and a man of genius, perfect indeed!”
The red candles burned.
Yun Yang's voice sounded like it was choked and he had to cough out his words.
”Bride and bridegroom, the first kowtow is to heaven and earth!”
”Second to the parents!”
”Third to each other!”
”End of the ceremony!”
The bride and bridegroom had gone in for their nuptial night to complete the last protocol.
Yun Yang faced the table full of dishes and wine by himself, feeling his throat clogging up; every bite he took was tasteless like as if he was chewing wax. Yun Yang's well-known trait of gluttony was already gone but even if it had still remained, he would not have been able to swallow another mouthful.
Frustrated, he picked up the pot of wine, intending to gulp down the liquid straightaway. When the whole pot was emptied, he heaved a long sigh.
”A dream of a hero, a lifetime of a woman… Eighth brother… if your spirit remains… how can you bear letting such a soul mate… be wasted away like this…”
”Eighth brother!”
”A dream of a hero, a lifetime of a woman… Sigh…”
Yue Rulan and Ji Lingxi walked out shoulder to shoulder. Both of them had just shared the cross-cupped drink. They looked lively but tears tinged their smiles. Their grief and sorrow needed no words of explanation.
Yue Rulan was still beaming joyously, just like a bride who had fulfilled her wish of marrying a great man. Ji Lingxi however, looked weighed down, tears hanging by the tips of her lashes; she held her grief down, forcing herself to look jubilant.
”Brother, today's our big day. Your sister-in-law and eighth brother will propose a toast. You can't run away!”
Yue Rulan picked up the pot of wine and poured a goblet full of wine, passing it to Yun Yang, and said, ”The bride is here to propose a toast.”
Yun Yang accepted it mechanically and pulled the corners of his lips into a smile. ”Great wine! I will definitely drink this wine! Even if I were to be drunk after this, I'd still drink it. This toast is to wish my eighth brother and sister-in-law to always be harmonious and happy together.”
He raised his goblet and finished the contents with a gulp.
The second goblet came. Yun Yang sucked in a breath. ”This second one, I wish my eighth brother and sister-in-law to be together forever, eternally husband and wife!”
”The third toast, I wish my eighth brother and sister-in-law to be in love forever, till the end of the world!”
”The fourth toast, I'll drink it on behalf of my brothers!”
”Brother, don't keep drinking. Sit, sit. Have some dishes. You'll be drunk soon enough if you keep drinking without eating anything. You're here representing all your brothers. Even if we're to stop only when we're drunk, I can't have you being intoxicated so early.”
It was the most suffering meal Yun Yang ever experienced in his life but he forced himself to put up a happy front and kept on toasting, cooperating with all his might.
”This toast, to the brothers.”
”Thank you, sister-in-law.”
”Again!”
”Thank you!”
Eight consecutive goblets of wine were gulped down. Yun Yang was in great agony after drinking them.
”Eldest brother, second brother, third sister, fourth brother, sixth brother, seventh brother, eighth brother's wedding wine, I've drunk it all for you guys.”
A while later, when Yun Yang was utterly inebriated, his head throbbed with a dull ache and his vision became foggy.
Not only was this wedding banquet the most insufferable meal of his life, it was also the only time Yun Yang was intoxicated since the battle at Tianxuan Cliff! Yun Yang's vision was blurry but it was like as if his brothers had really reunited here in this foggy sight; everyone was holding a goblet as laughter and chatter filled the place.