Day 20: “Wedding”

In the end, we spent another two days reaching the palace. There are still two days left for us to examine the wine. The four of us immediately visited the imperial doctor's office, Wang Peng.

"Pardon the intrusion, is the imperial doctor here?", I said.

"Xun Jinyun? What are you doing here in the middle of the night? And, ah… the general is with you too.",

I quickly pulled the bottle from my bag and handed it to Wang Peng, "Sir, could you identify if there's any poison inside this liquid?",

"What's this?",

"Wine from the army at the border.",

Wang Peng widened his eyes, he immediately closed the door and windows, "Do you know what you're doing?",

"I know. But we need to make sure there's nothing in this wine. Or else, I would regret for the rest of my life if something happened to anyone at the castle.",

Wang Peng sighed and took a seat on the chair, "I know that you're a good man, but to accuse a marquis is a big crime.",

"Physician Xun didn't mean to accuse the marquis. He just wanted to find out what's in the wine, could the imperial doctor examine it?", Li Xiang said and took the bottle from my hand, "Or should we ask another doctor?",

Wang Peng's face immediately went pale, he shook his head and said, "No, I could examine it.",

"Good.", Li Xiang handed the bottle and crossed her arms, "I'll be watching.",

"Y-yes.", Wang Peng seemed to be fearing Li Xiang, he pulled his fat body and immediately examined the wine.

…

....

After another two days, the result is out, there were indeed deadly nightshade berries contained in the wine. Wang Peng was immediately shocked and sighed, "It's a shame that Qin Zihao rebelled.",

"Come to think of it, today is the day where the wedding will be held, isn't it?",

"Holyshit, I forgot.", I immediately took the result to my bag and thanked Wang Peng. Wang Peng said it was his duty to make sure the imperial family stays healthy. I bowed to Wang Peng and the four of us immediately returned to our own mansion to change to auspicious clothes. The four of us know that we need to dress up well in order to ruin someone else's wedding.

After rushing to the main palace, somehow we make it before the ceremony begins. For a second, I was hoping we arrived right at the time before they drank the wine. Then, I say something heroic and save the day, just like a hero. However, it seems like we arrived too early, the bride and the groom haven't arrived yet. Although, the emperor and Zhao Baiguang were already present in the room. I asked Li Xiang to tell Zhao Baiguang not to be careful with the wine. Li Xiang nodded and whispered to Zhao Baiguang. Zhao Baiguang was surprised, she blinked twice and seemed to whisper something.

"The bride and the groom have arrived!",

A eunuch suddenly announced and outside the palace, I could see a sedan chair with Qin Zihao standing next to it, he waited for Zhao Mingxia to get off from the sedan chair. The two wore auspicious crimson clothing, however, Zhao Mingxia's face was covered with a crimson veil. Even with her face hidden, Zhao Mingxia appeared very beautiful. The thought of Zhao Mingxia marrying someone else made me angry. After the two bowed to the emperor and the empress, Zhao Baiguang, she blinked at me, somehow motioning me to interrupt the wedding right away.

"Hold on, Your Majesty.",

The whole audience gasped and the crowd's attention was focused on me. I sneaked a peek at Liao Yan, that bastard is actually recording this scene with his smartphone.

"What do you mean by interrupting a wedding ceremony, physician Xun?",

"Your Majesty, the marquis, Qin Zihao has rebelled. He mixed all the wine with deadly nightshade berries to weaken all the audiences here.",

Once again, the crowds were barking here and there. The emperor shouted and was angry, "What do you have to prove your accusation?",

I immediately took the wine test from earlier and showed it to the emperor, "This is the wine from the army at the border. I have already identified it and there is indeed a poisonous berry contained in it.",

"Qin Zihao, do you have something to defend yourself?",

Qin Zihao kneeled and said, "This official didn't know anything about this. Perhaps, someone is trying to accuse this official of accomplishing many things at a young age.",

Damn, I swear this guy could win an Oscar for being good at acting. However, I shouldn't show weakness, even if I'm scared to death right now.

"Perhaps what Marquis Qin Zihao said is right.", I said, then continue, "Someone is deliberately wanted to put down the Marquis, for achieving a contribution with the army in the western continent.",

Qin Zihao immediately went pale, the emperor was surprised and asked, "What do you mean?!",

I pulled the wine purchase report and the treaty with the western merchant along with the plan to raid the palace tonight. Both the emperor and Zhao Baiguang were shocked. Now, Qin Zihao had nothing to hide, he immediately whistled, however, no one seemed to come.

"What? You expect to call your ally?", Li Xiang suddenly said while bringing one foreign assassin with her. She kicked his knees and he immediately fell kneeling.

"You! Where's the rest?!", Qin Zihao asked in English.

"They all have been pushed back by the imperial army.", he replied also in English.

The emperor was angry because he couldn't understand a thing, "What are these two sayings?!",

I took a step forward next to Zhao Mingxia, "Let me explain it to Your Majesty, this subject has studied this language back in our timeline. This language is called English.", the emperor nodded, he smiled sarcastically and said, "Then, go on and explain it to me.",

"Qin Zihao asked where is the rest of the army, but the soldier said all of the armies have been pushed back by the imperial soldiers.",

"I see, general Li Xiang, please seize Marquis, Qin Zihao.",

Qin Zihao immediately stopped kneeling and fought off Li Xiang. When his sword was about to pierce Li Xiang, Liao Yan suddenly blocked Li Xiang from the attack and received a fatal wound. Seeing Liao Yang slowly fell to the floor, I immediately kicked Qin Zihao and punched him several times, "What did you do to my brother?!",

Other guards pulled me behind while Li Xiang supported Liao Yan as she caressed his face.

"I finally… get to protect you…", after that, Liao Yan fainted.

Li Xiang was angry and she immediately pulled her sword and was about to stab Qin Zihao. However, Zhao Baiguang immediately stopped her, "It's not your place to punish him.",

Li Xiang tried to remain calm and sheathed her sword, she lifted Liao Yan's body and immediately brought it to the imperial doctor.

"What a mess, today is supposed to be a wedding day.", the emperor pinched his forehead, then he looked at me, "Physician Xun, since you are the one who discovered this incident, the whole kingdom is indebted to you. I will grant you any wish you want, as long as it's within my power.",

I kneeled in front of the emperor and Zhao Baiguang, "This subject is already content with this life, however, this subject only wishes for the emperor to bestow a freedom for the eldest princess to choose whoever she wants to marry.",

Once again, the crowds were murmuring again, even Zhao Mingxia who had been silent the whole time finally spoke, "What are you…",

"Physician Xun, mind explaining why you wished so?",

I took a deep breath and said, "This subject… loves the eldest princess with all his heart. This subject couldn't bear to see the eldest princess having to go through an arranged marriage. Her happiness depended on the candidate to cherish her or not. This subject just wishes for her to be… genuinely happy and free to choose for the first time in her life.",

The emperor fell into silence, he seemed to be spacing out, then suddenly came back to his senses, "Fine. I will grant you that wish.", the emperor looked at Zhao Mingxia, "Ming'er, you're already an adult now. You are free to choose whoever you want to marry. Now, today is your wedding day, is there someone in your heart that you want to marry?",

I don't know what kind of expression is Zhao Mingxia made, but she said, "There is one, Your Majesty.", she approached me and held my hand, "This daughter is in love with physician Xun.",

"Ah, why am I not surprised. Fine, go ahead. Continue the wedding ceremony.", The emperor said, Zhao Baiguang chuckled and winked at me.

I felt even more nervous, I didn't plan this ahead, I thought they would cancel the marriage, but they didn't.

"What's wrong physician Xun?",

"This subject… is too nervous…",

The emperor and Zhao Baiguang laughed, "See, aren't they matched each other?",

"Yes, my love. You are always right.", the emperor said with joy.

Zhao Mingxia tugged my sleeve and said, "Are you hesitating?",

"Of course not, I really am just nervous, I didn't expect to be marrying anyone today.",

Zhao Mingxia chuckled and brought the wine goblets, "From now on, I'll be your wife.",

"And I'll try my best to be your husband.",

"I'll be looking forward to it.",

Thus, Zhao Mingxia and I undergo the wedding ceremony for the rest of the day.