After Jianxiu Gave The Villain In The Book A Wedding To Bring Him Good Luck - Chapter 4

Three days passed in a flash. During this time, Mu Wan ate and drank well at the Prince’s residence, living a comfortable life. Ning Bumo was a man of stiff words, but he was incredibly dedicated to repaying Mu Wan for saving his life. In just a short time, he had made it clear to everyone in the residence how much he valued his new Princess Consort. Consequently, regardless of what they truly thought, everyone treated Mu Wan with utmost respect.

However, today, Mu Wan could not sleep in. He was woken up early, washed, changed into ceremonial robes, and, under the guidance of others, boarded the jade carriage.

Mu Wan sat on the soft cushion and instinctively reached out to steady Ning Bumo as he was lifted onto the carriage.

Ning Bumo seemed determined to keep up the charade of having crippled legs. As he boarded, he deliberately wrapped his arm around Mu Wan’s shoulder, putting enough force into the gesture that one had to wonder if there was a hint of personal spite behind it. To outsiders, however, it simply appeared as if the Prince and his Consort were exceptionally intimate.

With an honor guard clearing the way, the carriage proceeded smoothly toward the Vice Minister’s mansion. Ning Bumo opened a food box inside the carriage and offered a plate of pastries to Mu Wan.

Glancing at them, he saw that they were all the types Mu Wan had mentioned liking. Since he had risen too early to eat much, Ning Bumo had specifically ordered them prepared in advance.

“You are being very attentive.”

“Then do not eat them.” Unaccustomed to Mu Wan’s ungrateful tone, Ning Bumo made a move to take them back.

“Hey, why are you so narrow-minded?” Mu Wan pressed his hand down, snatched the plate back, and casually popped a pastry into his mouth.

Ning Bumo was left to process the fleeting sensation on the back of his hand. He remained stiff in that position for a moment before silently withdrawing his hand.

After finishing the plate of pastries, the procession finally arrived at the gate of the Vice Minister’s mansion.

Mu Zhe stood before the mansion with his wife and children. When he saw the approaching procession from afar, he led them in kneeling to welcome the royal couple under the direction of the protocol officer.

In the sea of kneeling people, Mu Zhe’s youngest son, Mu Yan, curled his lip. He braced his legs reluctantly and only knelt after remembering his mother’s instructions.

Mu Yan felt deeply resentful. At home, that simpleton had always been obedient, doing whatever he was told. Now that he had married a cripple, he had climbed the branches to become a phoenix, forcing them to kneel in welcome.

Thinking of the rumors regarding Prince Jing’s defeat and his subsequent reputation for brutality, Mu Yan finally felt a sense of relief. That is right. He suffered a defeat and was crippled. Now he only relies on the Prince’s title to pressure us. Once Mu Wan goes over there, who knows what kind of suffering he will face? Let us just pity him. With that thought, Mu Yan felt much better.

The procession finally halted. Only after Mu Wan and Ning Bumo were welcomed into the mansion could the family stand and follow. During this time, Mu Yan could only see Mu Wan’s tall, straight back, which resembled bamboo, and Ning Bumo sitting on the palanquin.

He could not see Ning Bumo’s face at all.

Probably not much to look at anyway.

The group arrived at the main hall. Having performed the rites outside, according to protocol, the Mu family had to perform them once more inside the hall. Mu Wan looked at the sea of bowed heads, casually observing the faint grey energy swirling around the Mu family members.

He had no interest in whether others knelt to him; however, since the Mu family had used Mu Wan to block this marriage, it was only right to return the favor. A mere bow was nothing compared to that.

Just as the protocol officer was about to instruct Mu Wan to return the bow to his parents, Ning Bumo spoke.

“The Princess Consort is innocent and naive, unversed in worldly manners. These vulgar rituals can be omitted.”

The protocol officer froze, unsure how to respond. The smiles on the faces of Mu Zhe and the others vanished instantly. Unversed in worldly manners? If that were true, why not say so before they bowed? Waiting until Mu Wan was about to perform the ritual to announce this—what hidden intent did he have? They were well aware of it.

However, they had already caused Prince Jing to lose face during the wedding by forcing him to marry a man, becoming a laughingstock. Mu Zhe had already prepared himself to be humiliated, but he had not expected Ning Bumo to be so straightforward in his disrespect. He wanted to ease the tension, but given the rigid hierarchy between a royal and an imperial official, there was little he could say that would be appropriate.

Ning Bumo could be arbitrary, but Mu Zhe had to be cautious with his words.

Fortunately, the protocol officer was experienced and quickly smoothed things over, arranging for everyone to be seated. As the Princess Consort, Mu Wan should have accompanied his stepmother, Qi Yue, to the inner chambers, but due to his unique status as a man, it was more appropriate for him to remain in the outer hall.

The banquet was excruciatingly boring. Even with Mu Wan’s favorite foods, he showed little interest, which Ning Bumo—who had been observing him—found curious. He had never seen this person lose interest in food.

He actually loses interest in food when sitting across from people he dislikes, which is quite annoying. Suddenly, the words sounded in his ear. It was clearly Mu Wan’s voice, yet Ning Bumo saw no movement from his lips. Ning Bumo was startled, and his chopsticks dropped onto the table with a crisp clatter.

“Prince Jing?” The guests looked up, puzzled by his sudden agitation, wondering if they had done something to offend him.

“It is nothing. Ever since my injury, I have occasional episodes like this.” He picked up a new pair of chopsticks from a maid, looking displeased.

Mentioning his injury silenced the guests, who feared incurring his wrath. They were surprised, however, that the usually proud Prince would so openly admit to his physical infirmity.

Has he accepted his fate and become demoralized?

Mu Yan, who had been unhappy since the bows were canceled, cast a gloating glance at Mu Wan. So much for arrogance. You married a cripple, and now he cannot even hold chopsticks steady. Perhaps he will be in the grave before long.

He was satisfied, but his small movements did not escape the eyes of Mu Wan and Ning Bumo.

“Does your son suffer from an eye disease?” Ning Bumo asked.

Mu Zhe froze and looked back at his youngest son, who was bowing his head with a stiff expression. “My son’s health has always been robust. He should not have any eye disease.”

“Then why has he been glancing at the Princess Consort from time to time, his eyes twitching and his mouth twisted?”

The unsparing insult left the hall in silence once more. A moment later, a soft laugh broke the tension. It was Mu Wan.

Since he was widely known as a simpleton, people watching him laugh could not tell if it was deliberate.

Mu Zhe’s face darkened, and he struggled to maintain his composure. Fury surged within him—toward Mu Yan, toward Mu Wan, but mostly toward Ning Bumo, who was lashing out with sharp words. Mu Zhe finally realized that Prince Jing must have gone completely insane after his injury; he was absurd, capricious, and reckless.

Yet, Mu Zhe had no way to retaliate. Ning Bumo was being disrespectful, but not to a degree that a mere Vice Minister could refute. He could not retaliate; he had to offer a hollow smile and apologize. “My son has been lacking focus lately, but he certainly has no intention of offending your Highnesses. Since he displeases the Prince, I shall have someone take him away.” He summoned the servants to drag Mu Yan off.

Mu Yan was reluctant, but under Mu Zhe’s stern glare, he was quietly taken away. Still, his hatred for Mu Wan, who followed Ning Bumo in bullying him, only deepened.

Ning Bumo finally regained his composure. He reflected that he must have misheard; how could anyone speak without moving their lips? As he pondered this, the sighing voice returned to his ears.

“Truly wonderful. I do not wish to stay here any longer, either.”

The chopsticks he had just picked up collided with the bowl once more. The sudden sound made the guests look up, wondering what had dissatisfied the Prince again. This time, however, Ning Bumo was staring intently at Mu Wan, as if he were the target of his gaze.

It was clearly a destiny of a dragon hidden in the deep, untouchable and noble. Yet, surrounding Ning Bumo was a black mist, eroding him. If the current Ning Bumo was a precious sword hidden in a scabbard, then this black mist was like a chain, binding him firmly in place.

Regrettably, Mu Wan had already become his spouse, and with their fates intertwined, he could not probe too deeply.

“Forget it. Since you served me so diligently, I suppose I can help you.”

Ning Bumo heard this clearly and could not help but say, “You only know how to spout nonsense.”

Despite the words, the corners of his mouth curled up involuntarily. Realizing what he was doing, Ning Bumo immediately suppressed his smile. Given this fellow’s tendency to climb up the pole, he could never be too kind, or one day this person would be riding on his head.