Chapter 1045: The marriage is decided and will be held within 3 days

Mu Xuelan and Pan Xiaoting looked at each other, both of them were confused, but because they were on the territory of the Tang Dynasty, they dared not ask or say anything.

Lin Lang humbly declined, "I am deeply grateful for your kindness, my Royal Brother and the Royal Sister-in-law. However, the arranged marriage came too suddenly, and I already have the Empress and concubines by my side. I'm afraid I might be letting Miss Min Yue down. I hope my Royal Brother and the Royal Sister-in-law will reconsider this arranged marriage."

Hearing Lin Lang's refusal of the marriage proposal, Helan Minyue lowered her head and counted on her fingers, feeling inexplicably sad. She muttered softly, "Hmph, you don't know what's good for you."

Wu Shun had not expected that his sister Empress Wu would propose to marry her daughter to the emperor of Shanghai. For a moment, he was filled with mixed feelings and was reluctant to let his daughter marry far away.

Empress Wu smiled and advised, "Don't worry, my dear brother. Minyue is open-minded and will not mind. Besides, the marriage between our two countries is of great significance. I hope you will consider the overall situation first."

Li Zhi's expression was gentle yet carried an unquestionable dignity. "My dear brother, since I am your elder brother, this matter is settled. You and I are brothers, and also father-in-law and son-in-law. Our friendship will only grow deeper."

Seeing this, Lin Lang could only bow and say, "Since my brother and sister-in-law value you so much, I would be honored to accept your offer. I wish to establish this marriage and build a bright future for our two countries."

When Empress Wu heard this, she smiled knowingly. Her goal of "clearing the imperial court" was achieved.

After hearing Lin Lang's agreement, Helan Minyue was secretly delighted.

She lowered her head slightly, her cheeks flushed, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but rise, and her eyes sparkled with joy.

Helan Minyue secretly raised her eyes to look at Lin Lang, her heart filled with joy and shyness.

Thinking that she was about to marry the heroic and extraordinary Emperor of Shanghai, her heart beat faster.

A sweet feeling surged in her heart. Helan Minyue's shy yet joyful look was as beautiful as a flower blooming in spring.

Lin Lang and Helan Minyue looked at each other from a distance, and they seemed to be attracted to each other. He gave Helan Minyue a loving look to make her feel at ease.

After seeing Lin Lang's responding look, Helan Minyue lowered her head in embarrassment and glanced sideways at her mother Wu Shun.

As an experienced person, Wu Shun saw at a glance that her daughter liked the emperor of Shanghai. Now that things had come to this, she could not say anything. She could only pray for her daughter in her heart, hoping that the emperor's marriage would be a good one.

Li Zhi raised his hand to signal for silence. His gilded dragon-patterned sleeves swept across the table, and his voice was as resounding as a bell: "Although the Kingdom of Shanghai and the Tang Dynasty are far apart, my dear brother and I have a deep brotherly bond. This marriage should be treated with state ceremony."

"Order the Ministry of Rites to immediately prepare the wedding ceremony. All regulations shall be similar to those for the marriage of a royal princess. Draft the rules and regulations and present them to me tomorrow for my review. The wedding will take place three days later in the residence I have granted to the Emperor in Shanghai!"

Li Zhi glanced at the ministers below and added, "Minyue is the empress's niece. Her dowry must be ten times the usual amount. Don't lose the dignity of the Tang Dynasty."

Minister of Rites Xu Jingzong hurriedly stood up and kowtowed, the beads on his official hat swaying as he moved: "Your Majesty is wise! I will immediately mobilize the staff to make the wedding ceremony grand and comprehensive, and live up to your Majesty's trust!"

He caught a glimpse of Empress Wu's lips slightly raised, and knowing that this was in line with the Queen's wishes, his back bent even lower.

The atmosphere in the hall instantly became warm. Zhang Sun Wuji was the first to raise his glass, his silver beard trembling with a smile: "Congratulations to the Emperor of Shanghai! This is a match made in heaven. In the future, when the two countries join hands, they will surely be able to intimidate the four barbarians!"

Duke Cheng Yaojin of Lu laughed so loudly that the candlelight flickered. "Congratulations to the Emperor of Shanghai! The Empress has adopted Minyue as her own daughter. This marriage between the two countries is truly a kinship! I offer a toast to Your Majesty!"

All the ministers echoed in agreement, and the sound of jade cups clinking could be heard one after another.

Lin Lang picked up the jade cup and stood up. His eyes swept over Helan Minyue, whose cheeks were blushing, and he said in a loud voice: "Thank you all for your kindness! On the day of the wedding, I hope you will come and drink with me!"

The ministers responded with smiles, and the atmosphere was very warm.

Wu Shun looked at his daughter's shy appearance as she lowered her head and twisted her handkerchief, feeling a mixture of bitterness and relief in his heart.

She picked up the teacup and took a sip, only to see Empress Wu smiling at her through the curling tea mist. That smile contained both the calmness of a successful plan and a hint of tenderness.

Outside the palace, the night wind blew through the corridor, blowing the laughter and joy in the room outside the palace wall, startling the night owl perched on the paulownia tree, and it fluttered away into the dark night.

Chu Yiren was about to pick up the wine glass and drink, but Li Moli reminded her in a low voice: "Sister is pregnant, you must not drink alcohol, or you may upset the fetus."

After hearing this, Chu Yiren immediately calmed down from her jealousy. She put down her wine glass and gently stroked her belly, comforting herself in her heart: Don't be angry, don't be angry. Lin Lang already has so many concubines, it doesn't matter if he has one more.

Zhou Mengyao drank alone, unable to hide the loneliness on her face.

Mu Xueman whispered a reminder: "Mengyao, although the alcohol content of the imperial wine in the Tang Dynasty is low, you should not drink too much. If you get drunk, you will lose your composure."

Zhou Mengyao narrowed her eyes, forced a smile, and whispered back, "This Jiannan Shaochun wine from the Tang Dynasty tastes similar to rice wine, and it's quite good."

Pan Xiaoting took a sip out of curiosity and didn't feel any alcohol either. She looked at Helan Minyue from a distance and thought: Will Brother Lang bring the concubine who was given in marriage by the Tang Dynasty emperor back to the modern era?

Before Pan Xiaoting could think about it, she heard Zhangsun Wuji say loudly, "I heard that the emperor of Shanghai has the ability to call the wind and rain, and can pray for rain for the four provinces of Yong, Hua, Pu, and Tong that are suffering from drought in the Tang Dynasty. I wonder if this is true?"

Lin Lang finished the wine in his cup, placed the jade cup steadily on the table, and replied with a firm gaze, "It is true. I can cast a spell to pray for rain for the four states of Yong, Hua, Pu, and Tong in the Tang Dynasty, to help the local people who are suffering so much from the drought."

Zhangsun Wuji frowned slightly, a hint of disbelief in his heart. He slowly said, "In our Tang Dynasty, the art of praying for rain is performed by shamans and requires complicated sacrificial rituals. How could the king of Shanghai be proficient in such magic?"

Lin Lang remained calm and responded frankly, "Our kings of Shanghai have always possessed the secret of communication between heaven and earth. This is a divine power passed down through our bloodline, acquired since childhood. This power allows us to communicate with heaven and earth and summon wind and rain."

Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji bowed and said, "Since Your Majesty has such ability, I wonder if you could demonstrate it to open our eyes and allow the Tang Dynasty's rulers and ministers to witness this miraculous technique together."

Lin Lang raised the corners of his mouth slightly and replied confidently: "OK, no problem."

After saying this, he stood up from his seat and walked to the open area in the hall.

Lin Lang looked solemn, with his hands in seals and muttering something.

At first, everyone in the hall only felt the breeze and the flickering candlelight.

Gradually, muffled thunder could be heard faintly in the night sky outside the hall. It was weak at first, but gradually became clearer and louder.

All the ministers stood up and looked out through the palace door. They saw that the originally clear night sky had been covered with layers of dark clouds, which grew thicker and thicker, completely blocking the moonlight.

Immediately afterwards, a flash of lightning streaked across the night sky, illuminating the entire palace.

Following the lightning, bean-sized raindrops fell "crackling", hitting the glazed tiles of the palace and splashing crystal water.

The ministers in the hall were stunned at first, and then burst into exclamations.

"The Emperor of Shanghai is truly a god!"

"The Emperor of Shanghai is indeed very powerful!" The ministers whispered to each other, amazed at Lin Lang's abilities.

Li Zhi was overjoyed. He stood up from the throne and walked over to Lin Lang. He patted him on the shoulder and praised him, "My dear brother, you are truly the lucky star of the Tang Dynasty! With such magical powers, there is no need to worry about the drought in Yong, Hua, Pu, and Tong provinces!"

Lin Lang smiled modestly and said, "Your Majesty, thank you for your kind words. It is my honor to be able to contribute to the people of the Tang Dynasty. Tomorrow, I will cast a spell to pray for a downpour of rain for the people suffering from the drought and relieve this urgent crisis."

Empress Wu's eyes were filled with admiration, and she smiled and said, "My dear brother, your ability is truly a blessing to the Tang Dynasty and the people. This rain will not only alleviate the drought, but will also deepen the friendship between our two countries."

Helan Minyue looked at Lin Lang with even more admiration in her eyes, and secretly rejoiced in her heart that she was about to marry such an extraordinary king.

Although Chu Yiren, Li Moli and others still had mixed feelings, they had to admire Lin Lang's ability.

When the night banquet ended, the sound of the three-o'clock clapper sounded slowly.

Thirty-six palace lanterns outside Danfeng Gate lit up one after another, making the towering city walls look magnificent and golden.

Li Zhi was wearing a bright yellow dragon robe and a crown with twelve tassels on his head. He stood on the jade steps with all the civil and military officials in the court. The red and purple robes were layered on top of each other, like rolling clouds in the night.

Lin Lang was about to say goodbye, but Li Zhi quickly stepped forward and held him with both hands.

"My dear brother, you have come a long way and have worked hard. Please go back to the inn and rest. We will meet again in the palace tomorrow." Li Zhi's voice was loud and clear, carrying the concern and reluctance of an elder brother.

Lin Lang smiled and replied: "It is late at night. My brother and his wife have been working hard all day. I hope you can rest as soon as possible. I will take my leave now."

As soon as he finished speaking, the horn of the Jinwu Guard suddenly sounded. The desolate and distant sound cut through the night sky, startling the night owl perched on the Chiwen.

Immediately afterwards, thirty-six golden-armored warriors, holding golden axes, marched in unison and lined up on both sides of the imperial road.

Tang Dynasty ministers such as Changsun Wuji and Cheng Yaojin said a few polite words to Lin Lang and bid farewell.

Lin Lang politely greeted and said goodbye to the ministers, his eyes inadvertently sweeping across the crowd.

Helan Minyue stood beside Empress Wu, her pink dress making her look delicate and charming, but at this moment her fingertips were tightly tangling the hem of her skirt, and her eyes were full of attachment and reluctance as she looked at Lin Lang.

The Minister of the Ministry of Rites was waiting outside the palace with more than twenty vermilion-lacquered and oil-painted carriages. The bronze shafts gleamed coldly in the moonlight, and the qilin patterns embroidered with gold thread on the curtains swayed gently in the night breeze.

The Honglu Temple was a diplomatic agency of the Tang Dynasty, and the Honglu Temple Minister was the highest official.

"Your Majesty, please come in, Empress Dowager." The Minister of Rites bowed and led the way to the most luxurious carriage, with gilded palace lanterns hanging on both sides of the shaft. "The house Your Majesty has given us is being cleaned up urgently. Please stay at the Honglu Guest House tonight."

"Sister, be careful." Li Moli supported the pregnant Chu Yiren. The pearl hairpins on her temples swayed with her movements, making the soft satin cushions in the carriage even more radiant.

After Mu Xuelan helped the slightly tipsy Zhou Mengyao stagger into the carriage, she called Pan Xiaoting to get on as well. The three sisters whispered along the way, talking about what they had seen and heard in the Tang Dynasty Palace today, and they were all very excited.

Until Lin Lang boarded the richly decorated carriage and the curtains were completely drawn, Helan Minyue was still staring blankly at the dark shadow that disappeared into the night, unwilling to look away for a long time.

With the sound of a crisp whip, the convoy slowly started.

Li Zhi looked at the departing convoy and stood there for a long time until the lights disappeared from his sight. Then he returned to his palace after hearing the farewells of his ministers.

When the convoy turned into the side gate of the Honglu Temple, the temple secretary was already waiting in front of the hanging flower gate.

He raised his hand to signal the servants to lift the curtain of the main hall. A green jade couch was revealed behind the sandalwood screen. On the antique shelves on both sides were displayed green porcelain vases and Western Region rugs.

Lin Lang and his wives and concubines got out of the car.

"Your Majesty, please be assured. This was originally the upper room for receiving the Arab envoys. All the utensils are new."

The temple secretary smiled respectfully and said, "The inner chambers of the western wing have been prepared. Tomorrow morning, the Ministry of Rites will send someone to discuss the details of the marriage."

"Okay." Lin Lang nodded slightly.

The Secretary bowed his head and said: "If your majesty needs anything, just call the palace maids. It is already three o'clock in the night. Please rest as soon as possible, your majesty and the queen. I will take my leave now."

Lin Lang raised his hand to support her: "Thank you for your concern."

After Si Cheng retreated to the corner, Lin Lang, along with his wives and concubines, led by Chu Yiren, stepped into the warm inner room. The curtains embroidered with sea beast patterns slowly dropped behind them.