When the Female Lead Becomes Obsessive – Chapter 117

Volume Five: Those Years When I Was the Prime Minister

The Grand Wedding

The feeling of spring was abundant, and the ice and snow were melting.

Recently, two major events that shocked the world had occurred in the Tianyang Kingdom.

First: Ling Wen Nuan was resigning from her official post again.

The crowd was completely bewildered, unable to make heads or tails of it, not knowing what kind of trouble Ling Wen Nuan was planning to stir up with this move.

Second: Her Majesty the Empress Regnant was going to install Ling Wen Nuan as the Tianyang Kingdom’s Phoenix Consort.

The crowd was terrified, unanimously believing that Her Majesty the Empress Regnant must have lost her mind. In order to control Ling Wen Nuan and protect her own throne and power, she would actually sacrifice her body to feed a tiger!

For a time, it caused a great uproar.

People were in a state of panic. Her Majesty the Empress Regnant was making such a move that harmed others without benefiting herself. Was she planning to perish together in a blaze of mutual destruction?

Everyone speculated that Ling Wen Nuan would surely be unable to bear the humiliation and would raise troops to rebel. But as it turned out, Ling Wen Nuan actually accepted the imperial edict issued by Her Majesty the Empress Regnant with pleasure and even began to prepare her own dowry¹ with great enthusiasm!?

Putting aside what Her Majesty the Empress Regnant intended to do, or why Ling Wen Nuan so easily agreed to this “imperial edict” of a humiliating nature, the mere fact that two women were to be joined in matrimony was in itself a shocking and astonishing affair. This was simply a violation of ethical principles and social order², intolerable to the world.

However, of these two people, one was the Empress Regnant of the Tianyang Kingdom, and the other was the Prime Minister of the Tianyang Kingdom. They were practically the existence of heaven and earth. Under all of heaven, no one dared to say a single word of criticism or complaint.

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Prime Minister’s Manor

Wen Nuan watched as a continuous stream of betrothal gifts³ were brought in, already piling up and filling the main hall and courtyard of the Prime Minister’s Manor. She looked at the guards who were still carrying things inside.

She waved her hand and said, “Take the rest back. The Prime Minister’s Manor can’t fit anymore.”

The guard was stunned. She had never heard of betrothal gifts being rejected and sent back. She hesitated on the spot, not knowing whether to put them down or take them away.

Wen Nuan also saw the guard’s predicament and sighed, “How much is left?”

The guard: “Replying to Lord Prime Minister, there are still five carts.”

“…” Wen Nuan was speechless. “Has the national treasury been completely emptied?”

The guard: “….”

It’s pretty much empty.

Her Majesty had sent almost all the good things from the national treasury and the imperial palace to Lord Prime Minister Ling.

Wen Nuan pressed her forehead and sighed, pointing to several large chests. “These, along with the five carts outside, are to be returned the way they came. If Her Majesty holds you accountable, just say that I ordered it. I will bear responsibility for any issues.”

A look of difficulty appeared on the guard’s face, but she did not dare to defy Wen Nuan’s order. She could only reluctantly reply, “…Yes.”

The steward looked at the many betrothal gifts still in the main hall and courtyard, at a loss. “My Lord, these… how should this servant handle them?”

“Tidy them up. When I get married, have them carried back along with my dowry.”

Fertile water does not flow into others’ fields⁴, after all.

Steward: “…”

It can be done like that?!

Wen Nuan and Sheng Tingwan’s wedding date was set for the Spring Equinox⁵, which was only seven days away.

Although their marriage as two women was already a matter of great heresy, some rules set by the ancestors still had to be followed. For example, the couple could not meet before being sent to the bridal chamber⁶, otherwise it would be a breach of etiquette.

Sheng Tingwan was naturally unwilling. She would become frantic if she didn’t see Wen Nuan for a single day. But she couldn’t withstand Wen Nuan’s strict requirement that she must obey the ancestors’ rules. After all, the two of them were already defying propriety by getting married; they still had to put on a show for others.

Now that the two could not meet, one was in the imperial palace suffering from the torment of lovesickness, her heart scratching and her liver clawing every day and night from missing Wen Nuan, while the other was in the Prime Minister’s Manor, learning new knowledge with her system.

“Tongzi, not bad. Where did you get this film?” Wen Nuan’s eyes lit up as she spoke.

The system’s mouth curved into a proud smile: 【It’s new stock from one of my buddies, the latest release. It hasn’t even gone on sale yet. This is a limited edition.】

Wen Nuan gave a thumbs-up. “Awesome!”

【Of course,】 the system said proudly, 【Putting other things aside, I have friends all over the Three Realms Space. What rare resource can’t I get?!】

Wen Nuan applauded supportively, “Amazing!”

The system was smug, its chin held high.

Just as Wen Nuan was about to tell it to stop bragging, she heard a knock on the door.

“My Lord?” It was the steward.

Wen Nuan answered, “What is it?”

The steward said, “There is someone at the door looking for you. He gives his name as Shen Zilan and claims to be a friend of My Lord.”

Shen Zilan?

Zilan, Shen Zhijin’s courtesy name⁷. Why has he left the palace?

Wen Nuan: “Bring him to the reception hall.”

“Yes.”

【Why is the male lead looking for you?】 the system asked.

Wen Nuan walked towards the reception hall. “I don’t know. I’ll go have a look.”

Shen Zhijin was led by the steward to the reception hall, where he saw Wen Nuan sitting in the seat of honor, drinking tea.

When Wen Nuan saw Shen Zhijin enter, she waved her hand at the steward, gesturing for her to leave.

“Why have you left the palace?” Wen Nuan asked curiously. “Did Her Majesty let you go?”

Shen Zhijin removed the veil from his face. “You two are about to get married. What would I stay in the palace for? To ask for a snub.”

“So you came this time to…?”

“To bid farewell.” Shen Zhijin did not wait for Wen Nuan to say “please sit,” but sat down in a nearby seat on his own and took a sip of tea. “I plan to leave the capital.”

Seeing Shen Zhijin’s familiar manner, Wen Nuan smiled helplessly. “Where are you preparing to go?”

“Xizhou.”

“Xizhou?” Wen Nuan didn’t expect Shen Zhijin to go to Xizhou. “That desolate and perilous land, what is a man like you going there for?”

It wasn’t that Wen Nuan looked down on the male lead, but his life was related to the foundation of the world. If the male lead went to Xizhou and ended up losing his life in the western war, then this world would collapse.

Shen Zhijin pouted. “If Fang Minghe can go, why can’t I?”

“He’s a military doctor. What are you going there for?”

“I can go and be Fang Minghe’s assistant.”

Shen Zhijin had been well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics⁸ since childhood and had also studied some of the art of Qihuang⁹. Although he wasn’t as skilled as Fang Minghe, he could still handle minor illnesses and ailments.

“I’ll go to Xizhou to help Fang Minghe. As a man in a military camp, he must be very lonely. If I go, he’ll at least have a companion to talk to and confide in. What’s wrong with that?”

Wen Nuan quite admired the male lead’s way of thinking. In this world’s environment, for a man to be able to forsake the glory and wealth before him to go to a desolate and dangerous borderland like Xizhou, this kind of courage was truly worthy of respect.

“So you plan to return to Xizhou with Fang Minghe tomorrow?”

Fang Minghe had already set a date and was preparing to depart for Xizhou tomorrow.

Shen Zhijin nodded. “Mhm, I’ll leave with the main army tomorrow.”

Since the male lead had made up his mind, she couldn’t say much more. “Alright then. When you get to Xizhou, you must pay more attention to your safety. Although the war in Xizhou is settled, there are still many potential dangers. Don’t leave the military camp casually. Stick close to Fang Minghe. In all things, prioritize your own life. Do not place yourself in a dangerous situation, understand?”

Male lead, ah, you must protect yourself well!

Shen Zhijin hadn’t expected Wen Nuan to be so considerate in her instructions. He was so moved that his eyes grew sore, and he said with a slight choke in his voice, “Lord Prime Minister, you are so good.”

Wen Nuan sighed. “I practically raised you. I still have some affection for you. When you get to Xizhou, you must take good care of yourself. If you get tired or weary, just come back. If you don’t want to live in the imperial palace, the Prime Minister’s Manor will be left for you to live in.”

Although she was marrying Sheng Tingwan, the Prime Minister’s Manor was still her residence, equivalent to her maiden home.

Shen Zhijin was so moved he cried. “Lord Prime Minister, can I… hug you?”

Just as Ling Wen Nuan had said, he and Sheng Tingwan had received Ling Wen Nuan’s care from a very young age. Unlike Sheng Tingwan, who developed romantic love for Ling Wen Nuan, he felt both awe and respect for Ling Wen Nuan, revering her like an elder.

Wen Nuan saw his face streaked with tears and stood up helplessly. “Just one hug.”

“Mhm.” Shen Zhijin walked over and gently hugged Wen Nuan. “For all these years, Zhijin is deeply grateful for Lord Prime Minister’s care. For such kindness, Zhijin is endlessly thankful.”

Wen Nuan patted his back. “It’s nothing.”

Shen Zhijin left, his figure looking dashing and free, like a bird flying out of a cage, free and unrestrained, soaring with spirit.

“Protect him closely,” Wen Nuan said faintly. “He cannot be allowed to face any life-threatening danger.”

A voice was heard responding from the void: “Yes!”

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The eighth day of the second lunar month, the Spring Equinox, was auspicious for marriage¹⁰.

The streets and alleys of the capital were hung with red silk and colorful satin. Flakes of gold foil scattered down from the sky, and as the sunlight fell upon them, the sight was beautiful beyond measure.

Wen Nuan, dressed in a robe adorned with a colorful phoenix and wearing an imperial crown, entered the imperial palace with a ten-li red dowry¹¹.

She sat in a bridal sedan¹² carried by eight people. The curtains of the sedan were made of bright red silk, embroidered with auspicious patterns like flowers of wealth and a Crimson Phoenix Facing the Sun¹³.

With the sound of gongs and drums all along the way, this bridal sedan was finally welcomed into the imperial palace.

Sheng Tingwan watched the approaching bridal sedan, holding her breath, her heart thumping.

The hundred officials stood to the side, watching this unprecedentedly grand wedding scene. They thought back to the formidable Lord Prime Minister Ling who once commanded the winds and clouds and struck fear into all hearts, who was now obediently sitting in a bridal sedan to marry Her Majesty the Empress Regnant. Even now, they still found it incredible.

The eight sounds of music played in succession, the momentum magnificent and grand.

Sheng Tingwan walked to the front of the bridal sedan, personally took Wen Nuan’s hand, and intertwined their fingers, walking up to the high platform together.

Lu Yan, acting as the Master of Ceremonies¹⁴, saw that Sheng Tingwan and Ling Wen Nuan were in position and shouted loudly, “First bow to Heaven and Earth¹⁵——”

Wen Nuan wore a red wedding veil¹⁶ and couldn’t distinguish the directions, relying entirely on Sheng Tingwan to guide her.

The two faced the vast heaven and earth and bowed deeply.

The moment Sheng Tingwan and Wen Nuan bowed, tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. She bit her lip to keep herself from crying out loud.

Wen Nuan heard Sheng Tingwan’s sniffling and squeezed her palm. “Don’t cry. It’s a joyous day, what are you crying for?”

Sheng Tingwan sniffled, clear tears flowing, and said with a trembling voice, “Wen Nuan, I finally… get to marry you.”

Even now, she is holding my hand tightly, our fingers are intertwined, our hearts are beating as one, and we are about to become the most intimate of relations in the world.

She is truly so happy.

Wen Nuan paused, thinking of their past lives where they were always just one step away from marriage. To be able to find fulfillment in this world, she was truly grateful.

She suddenly thought of the blessing the immortal had given her in the previous world. She had originally thought it was just something the immortal said casually, but at this moment, Wen Nuan couldn’t help but sigh in her heart, He truly is a worthy enlightened immortal.

Lu Yan raised her hand and announced loudly, “Second bow to the parents¹⁷——”

Sheng Tingwan looked at the two jade tablets before her. Her expression was faint, but in her heart, she still felt gratitude towards her Mother Empress and Father Consort. If not for the two of them giving birth to her, she would not be able to marry her beloved today.

This bow, she ought to make, and they were worthy of receiving it.

But Wen Nuan did not need to. Sheng Tingwan held Wen Nuan’s wrist. “I will make this bow. You don’t have to.”

Wen Nuan stood still as only Sheng Tingwan bowed deeply.

The hundred officials watched, dumbfounded, but on second thought, it seemed perfectly reasonable. After all, there were rumors that the late sovereigns¹⁸ were secretly killed by Lord Prime Minister Ling. Given Lord Prime Minister Ling’s temperament, she would certainly not kowtow to the late sovereigns.

If Lord Prime Minister Ling were to bow to the late sovereigns, it might just anger them back to life.

Thinking this way, everyone felt it was not a stable or reliable idea. It was best not to disturb Her Majesty’s joyous day by inviting bad luck.

Lu Yan: “Husband and wife bow to each other¹⁹——”

Originally, she had wanted to change it to “wife and wife bow to each other,” since both Her Majesty and Lord Prime Minister Ling were women. Later, Lord Prime Minister Ling said that the ancestors’ rules could not be changed, so it should remain “husband and wife bow to each other.”

Sheng Tingwan looked at Lu Yan in surprise. Lu Yan helplessly pointed at Wen Nuan, indicating her own innocence.

“Husband and wife bow to each other, it should be so.” Wen Nuan held Sheng Tingwan’s hand. The two stood opposite each other and bowed deeply. “I point to the sky and swear by the sun, even through ten thousand lifetimes of reincarnation, you will forever be my, Wen Nuan’s, only deeply loved wife.”

Lu Yan announced loudly, “The ceremony is complete——”

“Play the music——”

Sheng Tingwan’s tears finally couldn’t be held back and burst their dam completely. She pulled Wen Nuan tightly into her arms and said, trembling, “Wen Nuan, I love you.”

She always felt these words were too pale and narrow, yet she didn’t know what else to use to express her ardent love and deep affection for Wen Nuan.

System: 【Beep! The female lead’s blackening value has been cleared to zero. A duplicate body is being constructed. The mission-taker will soon be detached from the mission world. Please prepare.】

Wen Nuan smiled faintly. “I love you too.”

【Three, two, one… Duplicate body construction successful. Mission-taker detaching!】

-Wait for me.

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The author has something to say:

This world is finished. See you all in the next world.

Author-jun: Hey, it’s the usual routine, ha.

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