Chapter 222: The Dragon and Phoenix Wedding Candle

How could such a man exist—repeatedly rushing into the most perilous places, as if destined to endure countless calamities? Though those trials neither deterred nor defeated him, they left his body ravaged and battered. Ye Jiao lowered her gaze toward Li Ce, silently wishing he would confess it was all an act, yet unable to believe such pretense. Li Ce merely stretched out his arms, pulling Ye Jiao into his embrace as they tumbled beneath the canopy.

"I want to hold you," he murmured softly.

Ye Jiao struggled faintly but did not pull away. Instead, she buried her head in his chest, whispering, "I'm afraid I might crush you."

Li Ce chuckled, a gentle cough mingling with his laughter. He tenderly stroked her cheek and whispered, "With you by my side, how could I ever wish to die? My illness isn't so grave; with care, I will recover soon."

Ye Jiao responded with a soft hum, shifting her position to nestle closer. Eyes closed, they savored this serene, blissful moment after such turmoil.

After some time, Ye Jiao spoke quietly, "Is Sisi trying to ease Bai Fanxi's suspicions?"

The blood at the riverside had been coughed up right before Bai Fanxi's eyes. Li Ce was a man of pride, who even in grave illness endured silently, swallowing his pain rather than showing weakness.

"It's mainly because of the Crown Prince," Li Ce replied, eyes still closed, breathing in the scent of Ye Jiao's hair. "After this, we must swiftly return the reins of governance. The wedding is in three days, and after that, I will petition for a fiefdom. Even if I must leverage my merits to beg for a favor, I will ask Father to grant a place that you love. I will not let you suffer; we shall leave the capital together."

"So soon?" Ye Jiao's voice was tinged with reluctance but she understood Li Ce's intentions. She sighed deeply and said, "This is 'success achieved, gracefully withdrawn'—the way of Heaven."

Li Ce's lips curved faintly, his voice growing tender, "You know the Tao Te Ching?"

Of course she did. Her father, having embraced the Dao, had left her with many Daoist texts. Laozi wrote: "The sharpness of a blade cannot last forever. Gold and jade fill the hall, yet none can guard them forever; those who are proud in wealth and status will bring trouble upon themselves. When one's achievement is fulfilled, one must withdraw. This is the Way of Heaven."

Having pacified Jinzhou and indirectly thwarted Li Chen's bid for the throne, Li Ce's reputation would inevitably rival the Crown Prince's. If he craved the throne, he would seize power and rally ministers to contest it. But he did not—he already had everything he desired: his mother's health, his father's favor, and the woman he loved. He was grateful to Heaven for the hardships endured, for they had led to reward. Thus, to withdraw from the court and leave the capital with Ye Jiao, to spend their lives together, was enough.

"What about my brother?" Ye Jiao asked. "He still has duties at court even if we leave."

"His military merits earned him his rank," Li Ce thought briefly, "and since he was once under the Crown Prince's command, there's no issue."

Back when Li Zhang led the Northwestern army, Ye Chang Geng was his officer, so old loyalties remained. Ye Jiao relaxed and opened her eyes.

"Bai Fanxi and Zheng Feng'an have already departed; why hasn't that censor Lin Qing left yet?"

Lin Qing had once openly accused Li Ce of corruption in court, so Ye Jiao was eager to avoid him.

"His carriage broke down," Li Ce said, opening his eyes and gazing at Ye Jiao with growing affection. "Qingfeng said it won't be fixed until tomorrow."

Ye Jiao nodded absently. She was always shrewd about major matters but clumsy with trivial ones.

Li Ce's gaze deepened as he asked, "Did you bring the gift Father bestowed?"

"Yes," Ye Jiao turned toward the foot of the bed where a low cabinet held the wooden box she had carried.

Looking outside, Ye Jiao noticed dusk had fallen. The sunset's last glow draped over tiles like soft fabric, ready to lull the weary traveler's eyes. The room was dim without lamps lit, and though her mind was clear before, she suddenly felt flustered, cheeks flushing.

"I should leave now," she said, rising. "Qingfeng will come soon and see me here."

Ye Jiao sat on the bed, fumbling on the floor for her shoes, growing more flustered and unable to find them. She bent down to search, only to be pulled into Li Ce's embrace.

"Jiao Jiao," his voice was hoarse yet melodious, like bubbles rising in water. "Don't go tonight, please."

She froze. No, no, she thought. Li Ce was a gentleman. Though they had kissed and embraced, they would never cross that boundary before marriage. She must have misheard.

Clearing her throat, she nodded, "I won't go. I'll stay in the little courtyard just beyond this house, past two gates, through the garden and small lake, a quarter hour's walk. When we arrived, I told Qingfeng to find a woman to clean and prepare the room, but he couldn't find one, so I was going to punish him. Don't worry, he can't beat me, nor would he dare."

She rushed out her words quickly, masking her nervousness. Li Ce pressed her shoulder, signaling her to stay seated while he donned his shoes and opened the box at the bed's foot.

Thank goodness, Ye Jiao thought. He's examining the imperial gift—he can't hold me or coax me to stay with his gentle voice for now.

Carefully standing, she left one shoe behind as she edged toward the door. Though free, she felt reluctant to leave.

Behind her came the sound of the box opening, followed by the rustle of silk. Curiosity prickled within her—what could it be? Gold? That fake gold plaque had cost her a dozen golden hairpins to forge.

As she reached the doorway, a sharp flick sounded—the striking of a match. Suddenly the room was bathed in light.

So Li Ce had lit a candle to inspect the contents. Ye Jiao glanced back, seeing him standing by the bed holding a candle, his gaze burning with fervor.

Heavens! The candle was exquisite. Nearly two feet tall and as thick as an arm, a flying dragon spiraled around it, clutching a pearl in its mouth at the peak, turning its head to glance back. The golden scales shimmered vividly, lifelike in their brilliance.

Besides the dragon, the candle bore decorations of auspicious clouds, flames, pomegranates, bats—each intricately carved, richly colored, noble yet dignified.

"This is... the Dragon and Phoenix Wedding Candle?" Ye Jiao asked, turning around in awe.

Li Ce nodded slightly, standing tall and handsome under the candlelight. His noble profile, handsome features, and thick black hair glowed with golden radiance, breathtakingly beautiful and warmly inviting.

"This one is the dragon candle," Li Ce said, motioning for Ye Jiao to approach, "There's a phoenix one too. Would you like to light it yourself?"

Light it? Ye Jiao bit her lip, frowning. She was about to leave, and he showed her this? But surely the phoenix one was more beautiful than the dragon.

After a moment's hesitation, she stepped forward. The phoenix, its feathers resplendent with colors, circled the candle with blooming peonies—Tang Dynasty's national flower—majestic and elegant, radiating national beauty.

Ye Jiao's pale fingers brushed the fine decorations, trying to discern whether the item was a Ruyi scale or a "descendants' ruler." Suddenly her eyes brightened as Li Ce used the dragon candle to ignite the phoenix candle.

"Isn't this only lit on the wedding night?" Ye Jiao asked nervously, holding the candle, afraid to blow it out lest it portend ill fortune.

The dragon and phoenix candle must burn throughout the entire wedding night. Once lit, it signifies a formal union sanctioned by the matchmakers.

Crafting the candles required a complex process of waxing, coloring, molding—seven steps in all. Even the imperial wedding prepared only these two.

If used now, what about the wedding day?

"Yes," Li Ce replied, "So I petitioned His Majesty, saying my health is poor and I've been worn nearly to death. Thus, I ask to light the Dragon and Phoenix candles early tonight, to dispel ill fortune and pray for health."

Ye Jiao's expression twisted—a mix of embarrassment, anger, and an unexplainable flutter of emotion.

At last she understood why the Emperor smiled so kindly when presenting the box. How could he not? She had personally carried the candles all the way to Jinzhou to save his son's life!

This was simply—

Ye Jiao stomped her shoe hard, then lifted the candle higher and asked, "So what happens now?"

"First," Li Ce said solemnly, "we must place the candles in a fireproof spot and let them burn all night."

"And then? Does that bring the blessing?" Ye Jiao arched an eyebrow challengingly.

"The second step," Li Ce took the candle and set it on a nearby table, approaching Ye Jiao. He gently parted her fingers, entwined their hands, and said softly, "You are not allowed to leave tonight."

"You're still ill," Ye Jiao kept her last thread of reason, though she felt herself drawn closer.

"I won't do anything else—just hold you," Li Ce promised.

Ye Jiao doubted silently—when a man says he will do nothing else, does he truly mean it? She lifted her head and bit his chin.

"If you dare to misbehave," she threatened, "I will—"

"I will what?" Li Ce lowered his head, saving his chin and silencing her lips with his own.