Zhang Wei concealed her aura using a magical artifact and successfully left Luoshui City.
Outside, she met up with Senior Brother Jin Liang and the others who were waiting to pick her up.
Along with them were several elders from Tianxing City.
Tianxing City, in its current stance, remained neutral and did not take part in the conflict.
But when their own disciples came bearing their family legacy to pledge allegiance, that was not considered a fight—it was care!
Seeing Senior Brother Jin Liang and the others, Zhang Wei’s anxious heart calmed down.
Usually the obedient girl, she cast a mocking cold smile as she looked toward the direction of the City Lord’s mansion:
“They claim to be divination geniuses, but it’s all lies—outer disciples are just outer disciples. Flying to the heavens? Not a chance.”
“Taking over Luoshui City from my father and greedily clinging to power wasn’t enough, they even want to force me to marry some third-rate nobody, sacrificing my entire life for it!”
Senior Brother Jin Liang and the others had heard of Chu Yin’s reputation.
Thinking about the big joke Lady Chunhan was about to make, they laughed as well:
“That kid really is a divination genius. How could he not foresee the junior sister fleeing her marriage? What a laughingstock!”
“Lady Master is trying to build his reputation everywhere. In a couple of hours, when dawn comes and all the guests have arrived, the bride will be gone. Let’s see how Lady Master handles that!”
They held a grudge about being expelled from the sect.
The City Lord position rightfully belonged to Jin Liang—he was the chosen eldest disciple of the old City Lord!
Why was he driven out? Why let an outsider become City Lord?
Inside the City Lord’s mansion,
Chu Yin stood on high ground, gazing in the direction Zhang Wei had fled without stopping her.
Because stopping her was pointless.
Even if he did, what good would it do? She still wouldn’t cooperate with the marriage, and the rabble outside wouldn’t relent.
“Though I knew Zhang Wei would cause trouble, I never imagined she had such patience—waiting specifically for this day to flee the marriage and embarrass Lady Master in public, causing her to lose face and authority.”
Chu Yin and Zhang Wei’s wedding banquet was practically regarded as the New City Lord Succession ceremony, carrying extraordinary significance for Luoshui City.
Even if someone came to stir up trouble, the guests would understand.
Whose family had no enemies? As long as the enemies were dealt with properly, it could be taken as entertainment.
But if the most important bride ran away, that meant there was a serious internal problem in Luoshui City—utter humiliation!
Especially since Lady Chunhan herself suffered misfortune at her own wedding.
Now that her daughter’s wedding was also in trouble, all the city’s problems over the years would be blamed on her—as if she had betrayed the City Lord family for two generations!
Chu Yin himself didn’t care, but the blow Lady Master was about to suffer would be tremendous……
“This dream is nearing its end. The faint memories left in my mind are almost here.”
“For now, I’ll return to Lady Master and steady her emotions.”
Chu Yin quickly returned to Lady Chunhan’s boudoir.
As expected, she was in a panic, slumped in a chair with one hand holding her forehead.
Her hair was messy, not yet combed, and she wore a plain white inner garment.
Her eyes were vacant, radiating a broken and sorrowful aura.
No matter how many things she handled, what could she do about the bride running away?
Many guests had come from afar; if the wedding banquet was canceled, how would she explain it to them?
Amidst her chaotic thoughts, a familiar figure appeared, bringing her some comfort.
She looked gloomy and self-reproachful as she said:
“Chu Yin, Wei’er… she… she ran away. Lady Master has failed you…”
At a time like this, the beautiful woman’s first reaction was to apologize to Chu Yin, for not allowing him to have a good marriage.
A female guard handed over a letter, presumably left by Zhang Wei.
Chu Yin took it but did not open it immediately. Instead, he first embraced the devastated Lady Master, trying to soothe her mood.
His arms tightly wrapped around Lady Chunhan’s ample figure.
No matter how strong and dignified she was normally, she was breaking down now.
After her own misfortune, Lady Chunhan had been bearing the blow, painstakingly maintaining Luoshui City’s operation and stability.
She had been looking forward to this day for a long time—finding a good future for the city and her daughter, passing down the City Lord position, and working together to revitalize Luoshui City.
But at the most critical moment, her daughter Zhang Wei had caused a problem—running away on the eve of the wedding!
She had previously agreed to everything without objection……
“It’s alright. Lady Master, don’t blame yourself or panic.”
Chu Yin held the beautiful woman, gently patting her jade-like back.
His calm tone gradually steadied Lady Chunhan’s heart.
Leaning into his embrace, the beautiful woman raised her delicate face and asked, forcing herself to stay composed:
“Chu Yin, can you divinate where Wei’er is? Let the wedding go smoothly first. Afterwards, Lady Master will punish her!”
“I guessed Miss Zhang Wei would run away long ago. This difficulty was inevitable.”
“You knew all along, so why didn’t you tell Lady Master…” The woman’s tone turned teasing with a hint of reproach. Calming down, she tucked away her impatience and asked, “Do you have a way to handle this?”
Chu Yin nodded, first giving Lady Master some reassurance, then said:
“You have worked so hard preparing for today. For now, just follow my plan. We will proceed with the wedding as planned to maintain appearances.”
The female guard caught on and asked:
“Master-in-law means finding someone to substitute as the bride and complete the wedding ceremony?”
Today’s occasion was very important—not only to establish the new successor of Luoshui City but also to show outsiders that the city’s future would be brighter and not decline further.
The bride’s identity could be hidden beneath a bridal veil.
As long as the wedding ceremony proceeded normally in front of outsiders, maintaining a dignified appearance, everything else could be handled privately!
Understanding this, the female guard admired her Master-in-law’s husband even more.
Though the bride had run away, he suppressed his own hurt and calmly considered the situation.
He was truly the man Lady Chunhan had chosen!
But one problem remained.
“Who will substitute as the bride? Even if the identity is concealed with a veil, the various formalities of the wedding ceremony cannot be taught to another woman overnight!”
Leaving aside common families, in wealthy households the wedding steps were very particular.
Zhang Wei had been training with the nanny for half a month recently.
Lady Chunhan regained her usual composure.
After pondering, she pressed her lips and said:
“I know the wedding rites. I can impersonate the bride. During the ‘Second Bow to the Elders,’ I can excuse myself due to illness.”
At the banquet, the bride and groom were the most important figures.
Lady Chunhan, as the mother-in-law, could appear briefly, then claim emotional distress and excuse herself backstage.
No one could object.
“Lady Master, you’ll impersonate the bride…?” Chu Yin was momentarily stunned. “Why not let a maid do it? Even if it’s clumsy, I don’t care about appearances.”
Lady Chunhan’s jade hand stroked his face.
After a bitter smile, she said firmly:
“It’s my fault for not teaching my daughter well, causing such a situation on your wedding day. If you don’t care about face and reputation, then why should I?”
Chu Yin blinked and stopped dodging.
He suddenly joked:
“They say a mother-in-law is like another mother to the son-in-law. I didn’t expect that to get a ‘bride’ of mine, I’d have to go through such a grand ceremony, even needing an eight-bearer sedan chair to carry her~!”
The beautiful woman, her charm slightly faded, was momentarily taken aback and understood what Chu Yin meant by “bride.” She blushed and scolded him softly:
“Is this really the time for your smooth talk…”
Knowing Chu Yin was trying to comfort her, she wasn’t too angry and let it drop.
Chu Yin led Lady Chunhan to the dressing table.
While helping her comb her black hair, he said:
“I said before, no matter what happens, Lady Master will always be the most important person to me. The runaway bride has nothing to do with you. Don’t blame or grieve.”
“Though Miss Zhang Wei is no longer the bride, as long as Lady Master is willing to be my ‘bride,’ I will accept it!”