Chapter 229 - The Wedding Ceremony

The long-awaited news of the Queen's wedding caused a huge uproar among the Yu clan.

Soon after the official announcement, the descendants of the Yu clan who have lived across the nation returned to Yun city to witness the joyous occasion.

Since the marriage of Bai Chen, the Yu palace never had a chance to hold such a blissful event for years. So not only the ancestral homes but the entire Yun city was covered in flowers, stretching to miles, preparing for the marriage of the only girl child in the family.

Those who received the news were busy preparing the gifts or visited the Yu palace to lend a hand in organizing the event.

As the sun rose in the skies of Yun city, touching the earth, chasing away the darkness, the Yu palace stood bathed in the golden hue.

While the entire palace bustled with happiness, the crystal clear mirror in the queen chambers, reflected an absolutely stunning beauty clad in a fiery red gown. 

Those women who prepared the beauty on her big day, gawped at the splendidly dressed bride in awe, unable to believe their eyes. 

Their Queen was someone who preferred simplicity over her regality. However, today, when Li Juan finally decided to flaunt her beauty, they couldn't help but look at her in amusement. 

What was even more strange? 

The calmness and tranquillity of the bride on her wedding day was something unbelievable for them. 

Usually, brides appear tensed or excited on their wedding day, but what about this ice queen?

Does her face show any traces of overwhelming emotions? No. Not at all. 

While everyone was excited for the marriage of eternity, the bride appeared tranquil and serene. 

For Li Juan, who has already moved in with Lee Tae Yang under the same roof, a wedding ceremony was nothing but an event to officiate the couple's union.

However, her title of the Queen of Yu palace has obliged Li Juan to follow the customs and ceremonies of her clan, leaving her with no choice but to agree to a grandeur marriage. 

In the absence of the bride's mother, Li Juan's aunts were the one's who took part in the bridal ceremonies. Everything was done in a calm yet poise manner without any traces of panic.

"Oh my god, you are the prettiest bride I've ever seen," Unable to curb down her excitement Wu Xuan Yi smilingly stated. 

Even as a fashion designer, when she saw her niece, Wu Xuan Yi could not help but brighten up.

Indeed, Li Juan looked the most beautiful in her red wedding gown embellished with golden motifs.

"Young miss, are you not nervous?" Ji Ya asked doubtingly to the nonchalant Li Juan, even though she knew the answer. 

When Ji Ya met her young miss for the first time, she thought Li Juan's silence was the aftermath of finding the truth about her birth. However, later only she realized that the Queen of Yu palace is a woman of few words. 

The only time she witnessed a change in Li Juan's aloof facade was during the time when Lee Tae Yang visited Yu palace, as a friend/personal doctor. 

Even from his first visit, everyone doubted their relationship was something more than friendship. 

Only during the coronation ceremony, they came to know the true identity of Lee Tae Yang - the young master of the Guan family who also happens to be one of the suitors of the Queen.

They were meant to be with each other- it was a fact. 

Li Juan glanced at Ji Ya and shook her head in denial.

Why she would be nervous? Her heart has never been calmer than now.

"It's time," Bai Su Ya reminded them in a smiling voice and handed over the exquisite heavy phoenix crown to Lin Li-Hui.

After gently placing the heavy crown adorned with the five coloured jewels on Li Juan's head, Lin Li-Hui took the red veil to cover the bride's face. 

"Aunt Lin," Li Juan lifted her hand and refused the veil,

"You don't want to use the veil?" Lin Li-Hui stared in disbelief and exchanged glances with Bai Su Ya,

"It is alright if you don't want to wear it..there is no need to follow these formalities if you find it uncomfortable," Bai Su Ya came to rescue Li Juan, who refused the red veil that covers the bride's face, a symbol to hide her shyness. 

"I'm ready," Li Juan stood up from the seat with a wide smile on her face, blinding everyone with her charismatic aura. 

"Yes, let's leave," Bai Su Ya agreed and gestured Lin Li-Hui to lead the bride to the entrance.

The moment the door opened, Zhang Zi Zhong and others who waited outside the chambers got stunned for a while.

The beauty of the woman who stood before them was far beyond their expectations. All the people once thought that they got used to their Queen's beauty, once again got blown away by the reality. 

Well, a wedding dress does indeed elevate the beauty of a woman,

"The groom's party is almost here, hurry or we are going to be late," Bai Zhu tried to remind the people who remained mesmerized by the marvellous sight,

As per the traditions and customs of the Yu clan, the wedding ceremony was organised in the venue arranged in the foothills of the Yun mountain, paying homage to their true roots as a mountainous tribe,

Li Juan walked out of her chambers with Zhang Zi Zhong and Lin Li-Hui accompanying beside her, while her cousins and royal guards in their traditional attires escorting her path.

Though most of the guests were already sent to the wedding venue, a large group of Yu clan members still stayed behind to see their Queen,

For them, Li Juan was a truly legendary person who did things that were once considered impossible.

She was the first female child born after countless males in the royal bloodline of the Yu clan, the one who grew up without any knowledge about the power of the title she held from her birth.

Struggling to survive in a world of adversities, she lived a life filled with pain and angst. 

The time has brought her back to where she belongs- her family, her people, her kingdom.

The Yu clan members who grew up in Yun city believed that they owes their lives to two individuals. The Queen, who sacrificed her life to protect her people and the Guan emperor who, gave refuge for them when they lost their home.

But the moment, Li Juan returned to Yu palace after finding the lost kingdom and Queen Bai Yu Yue, her place was among the legends of the Yu clan. 

And they were sure that whomever Li Juan choose as her spouse wouldn't be an ordinary man. 

As the crowd busied themselves with the discussions of the grandeur wedding, the low grumble of a matte black limousine heard from the giant gate, slowly crawling towards the main entrance Yu palace,

In a glimpse of the moment, the groomsmen stepped down from the car and stood beside the car, making way for the groom,

While everyone anticipatingly held their breaths, Lee Tae Yang, dressed in a dark red dragon robe, got down from the car like a heavenly immortal, living up to his name as the descendant of the mighty dragon emperor,

His innate charisma had even fluttered those maiden hearts who were looking at him with stunned expressions as they felt their souls leaving their bodies.

Well, they could only look at him as none of them can stand a chance against Li Juan, the woman who was meant for him. 

"Hail for the Queen!!!" Someone informed in a loud booming voice, gathering everyone's attention to the giant entrance of Yu palace adorned with intricate carvings. 

Within a few minutes, the bride who was dressed up in fiery red, appeared at the entrance, taking everyone's breath away. 

The moment Lee Tae Yang's eyes caught Li Juan's charming face, a bedazzling smile bloomed on his lips as his gaze locked with the alluringly beautiful woman in the wedding dress. 

Zhang Zhi Zhong and Lin Li-Hui accompanied Li Juan to the groom's car in gentle strides.

Gently bowing before the bride, Lee Tae Yang stretched out his palm towards her. Without any hesitations, Li Juan reached out to hold his hands with a slightly surprised smile. 

It was her first time seeing Lee Tae Yang in traditional clothes, and just like everyone else, she was also dazed by his extremely stunning countenance. 

He indeed looked like an emperor,

"Tensed?" Lee Tae Yang cooed in her ears as soon as he led her to the backseat of the limousine.

"Not at all," She replied in a mellow voice and tightened her grip on his palm with a pair of sparkling eyes.

"But all these arrangements makes me excited." She threw a glance at the crowd who were looking at the car and turned reverted her gaze to him. "Are you excited, Mr Groom?"

"Yes, indeed. After all, our wedding is the most anticipated cooperation in the history of two legendary kingdoms." Lee Tae Yang agreed with a smile and wrapped his arm over her shoulders, reassuring himself that it wasn't a dream but real.

The venue arranged in the foothills of the Yun mountain was brimming with guests when the couple entered the podium. 

The members of both bride and groom's families have already taken their seats in the first row.

Even Li Juan's acquaintances from Jing city and Lee Tae Yang's colleagues and business partners came together to witness the ceremony of their union. 

The monks of the five temples recited the prayers while the couple participated in the nuptial rituals.

"Bride and Groom, please extend your hands." The Head monk demanded as he held the seven bright red threads, braided as one to tie the knot. 

While everyone expected the groom to take his bride's hand, Li Juan surprised everyone by extending her palm towards Lee Tae Yang with a charming smile. 

However, only Lee Tae Yang knew the real meaning behind her simple but meaningful gesture. 

'Taking an initiative' has always been her way to show her willingness and trust over the other person. 

"Will you be my sun forever?" 

"Yes." He replied and placed his palm over hers, "I will always be yours."

As the ceremonial drum and trumpet rhythmically played, the monk wrapped the red string over their palms and tied three notes. 

"In the name of the mother nature who created us, the almighty Tu mountains, who protected us, the ancestors who remain in our blood and flesh, I shall pronounce you, husband and wife."

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Author's note.

Hi everyone, it's Mango.

First of all, let me apologise for taking a long break.

For the past few months, I've been going through severe writer's block and burnout due to the heavy workload.

Apart from Webnovel, I used to write for another online writing platform. But unfortunately, that company tricked me and refused to pay for my work (After publishing 100k words)

I'm a Japanese language student and writing is my passion as well as my livelihood. 

My only income comes from the coins and gifts that Webnovel readers pays to read EOLK.

Since EOLK turned one year old on August 8 (Noise!!!) I was trying to wrap the story by the end of the month, however, my entire family and I got tested positive for Covid, making it impossible for me to focus on writing. 

During this emotionally and financially stressful time, it came to my notice that someone STOLE my story from Webnovel and selling it on Amazon, Kindle, Google Play in the form of both Ebook and Hardcopy, under the pen name "Luis Lebron". That person divided my story into ten different parts and selling it as E-book as well as paper back for 50USD. (That's a huge amount for me)

Even several other pirated sites are posting premium chapters, but they are atleast kind enough to put my name. 

Yes, we all need money. But how can you steal someone's hardwork, time and their effort and shamelessly earn money from it ? The fact that my work is available online doesn't mean that anyone can freely copy and share contents with or without permission. It's copyright infringement and I've reported it. I don't know if I get the justice I deserves from Amazon as well as that fraudulent company who exploited my writing skills. 

So I humbly request my readers to stay away from these kind of frauds. 

Please don't take part in such heinous crimes and inform me if you ever find my works on illegal sites or under any name other than "Monsoon Mangoes"

SAY NO TO PIRACY!!!!