Chapter 668 Substitute

The little brother, his heart blooming with joy, laughed merrily and said, "Yes, yes, I've longed to fall into your hands. Please, Master Sister, be ruthless with me and show no mercy!"

Holding An Biru's hand, they stepped forward together, lightly crossing the charcoal basin in front of the door, symbolizing happiness. A chorus of endless cheers and applause erupted from the hills, as the Miao people danced and sang in celebration of the birth of this new couple.

After the three kowtows, the ceremony was complete, and the couple was officially wed. Joyful fireworks sounded incessantly, and Lin Wanrong was so happy he couldn't close his mouth!

The Miao marriage customs are many, including wine on the way up the mountain, wine on the way down from the sedan chair, and wine for recognizing relatives, each an essential part of the celebration. With the status of Ah Lin Ge and the Holy Maiden, this was arguably the most grand and lively wedding in the Miao community in recent years. Whether it was the elders of the Miao village or the mi duo and mi cai of Yingyue Hamlet, the line for toasting formed a long dragon. Even Lin Wanrong, eloquent as he was, had to concede before this impressive procession. He kept his cup constantly filled, drinking from noon until sunset, feeling as if he was floating in the sky.

It was only at nightfall that he finally escaped the sea of wine, sneaking towards the bridal chamber.

The bridal chamber for the Holy Maiden's wedding was set at the highest point of the White Miao village, atop the highest stilted building of Wulian Peak. Surrounded by steep mountains, the exquisite building stood proudly against the wind. Red lanterns hung high at the door, and the eaves were adorned with red drapes. The windows were plastered with happiness characters, exuding warmth and sweetness.

Gazing at the warm light seeping through the window, Lin Wanrong couldn't help but imagine his Master Sister's shy, expectant face. Excited to step inside, he heard a burst of giggles: "He's here, Ah Lin Ge is here!"

Looking up, he saw the staircase crowded with mi cai, each dressed in Miao festive attire, young and beautiful, blocking his path.

Lin Wanrong blinked rapidly and chuckled, "What are you all doing here, sisters?"

"We're here to press the bridal bed," one of the Miao girls said with a mischievous smile, extending her hand. "Ah Lin Ge, you can't skimp on the red envelope!"

To press the bed? Seeing the beautiful girls, numbering over a dozen, he joked that his large bed might actually collapse under their weight. He laughed heartily and handed out a stack of red envelopes to the girls, "Thank you, sisters. When you get married, I'll come to press your beds too!"

The girls blushed and giggled, accepting his red envelopes but showing no sign of stepping aside. "Ah Lin Ge, you can go upstairs, but the Holy Maiden asked us to pose a question to you. Only if she's satisfied with your answer will you be allowed to pass!"

Miao customs are indeed numerous, and who knew what bizarre question this might be. Blocked by the younger sisters at the staircase, Lin Wanrong had no choice but to agree.

The beautiful leader of the group grinned mischievously and called out loudly, "Ah Lin Ge, the Holy Maiden wants to know, what is it that you fear the most in this world?"

The most feared thing? Now, that was a tough question! He could tell, without a doubt, that it was Sister An who had come up with such a tricky question. Lin Wanrong pondered for a moment and replied calmly, "What I fear the most, of course, is death."

Afraid of death? The girls deflated in unison, finding his response lacking in creativity and rather cliché. Where had Ah Lin Ge's cleverness gone? Had he run out of ideas?

However, Lin Wanrong seemed completely unaware of their judgment. With a chuckle, his gaze fixed upon the loft above, he said softly, "I love you. But I dare not speak it. I fear that once I do, I will die! It's not death I fear, but the thought that after my death, no one will love you as I do."

A hush fell around them, suddenly broken by thunderous applause. The girls' palms turned red with excitement. Ah Lin Ge truly was unique, even making a statement about fearing death feel deeply moving!

In the loft above, where the room had been dim, lanterns suddenly brightened, revealing a gentle figure sitting shyly under the light. The girls giggled nonstop: "Congratulations, Ah Lin Ge, you've passed! Come upstairs quickly, for a moment of spring night is worth a thousand gold!"

Embarrassed but amused, Lin Wanrong chuckled and swiftly ascended. Approaching the inner chamber, his steps grew lighter, and he slowly pushed open the partially closed door.

The dragon and phoenix candles glowed brightly, illuminating the woman's graceful figure by the bed. Silver tassels hung from her hair, partially hiding her lovely face. Even just by her enchanting silhouette, it was unmistakable that she was the Holy Maiden.

"Master Sister!" Lin Wanrong's heart pounded as he took a few steps towards her, tightly grasping her warm hand.

An Biru laughed softly, a mix of shyness and joy in her voice, "The verse you just recited, where did you steal such a clumsy poem from? The rhythm is off, and the matching is poor!"

Lin Wanrong replied with a grin, "Never mind the rhythm or the matching, just tell me if it sounds good?"

The Holy Maiden's eyes glowed with a blush, and she lowered her head slightly, "It sounds nice, but once is too little. If you recite it ten times a day, that would be just passable!"

"Master Sister, you're too greedy!" Lin Wanrong laughed heartily, gently lifting the silver ornament from her head to reveal An Biru's face, a mix of joy and mock annoyance.

The first meeting under the Jining city amidst thousands of cannons, their time together on the solitary boat on Weishan Lake, the tear stains in the quiet night at Prince Cheng's residence - all these moments unfurled like a long scroll, drifting before their eyes.

Lin Wanrong sighed deeply, "Sister, in my heart, it feels as though I met you just yesterday."

"You're such a flatterer," An Biru replied, both shy and delighted, giving him a coquettish look. "To me, it feels as though I've known you, this little rascal, for hundreds of years!"

Lin Wanrong felt his heart melt at her words. ‘And she says I'm the flatterer - Sister An's skills clearly surpass mine by a hundredfold!’

As he stood there, completely smitten, the Holy Maiden giggled softly. A bashful Miao girl entered the room, her cheeks flushed, holding a tray wrapped in red silk. On the tray were two cups and a pot of fine wine.

This was the wedding cup exchange! Lin Wanrong was momentarily stunned, his attention wholly on Sister An, barely noticing the girl who brought the wine. As he reached into his pocket for a red envelope, the atmosphere seemed to shift strangely.

He looked up, and his mouth fell open in shock. "Yilian!!!" His hand, holding out the red envelope, froze mid-air, unable to react for a long time.

The girl's hands trembled slightly, she glanced at him, a silent longing in her eyes, then lowered her head.

No wonder he hadn't seen little Sister Yilian among the girls blocking the way earlier; it turned out Master Sister had kept her back. Was this a deliberate provocation for Yilian?

Lin Wanrong chuckled awkwardly and asked, "Yilian, what... what are you doing here?"

An Biru smiled, "I asked Sister Yilian to come. Why, do you have a problem with that?"

"Absolutely not!" He hastily waved his hands, yet his heart was filled with confusion. Sister Yilian's presence on his and the Holy Maiden's wedding night was utterly inappropriate. What was Sister An up to?

The Holy Maiden, paying him no mind, beckoned with a smile, "Yilian, come over here by your sister."

The young girl, her cheeks flushed, gently moved to stand beside her. An Biru took her hand and winked at Lin Wanrong, mysteriously asking, "Ah Lin Ge, what do you think of our Yilian?"

What did she mean by that? Was the Holy Maiden trying to set him up? Lin Wanrong's heart raced as he looked at Sister An's half-smiling face, unsure how to respond. After a long hesitation, he carefully said, "Yilian is a good person, everyone likes her!"

His answer was carefully neutral, but the Holy Maiden wouldn't let it go, asking shockingly, "What do you think about letting Sister Yilian replace me?"

"What?" Lin Wanrong stood up abruptly, his face changing color, "Master Sister, I married you, how can Yilian replace you? There's no such thing in the world! Yilian also has the right to pursue her happiness—"

"Brother, not that kind of replacement," the girl said shyly, her head down and stamping her foot, "You misunderstood the Holy Maiden's meaning!"

"Hmph, I think he did it on purpose!" An Biru held back a laugh and turned her head away from him.

If it wasn't that kind of replacement, then what was it? Lin Wanrong, for all his cleverness, was completely baffled by the Holy Maiden. Wasn't Sister An always his nemesis?

Yilian, her face red, explained, "The Holy Maiden said that between Ah Lin Ge and the Miao village, she could only choose one. Now that she's married you, she feels she has let down the Miao village and carries a sense of guilt."

For years, the Holy Maiden had been the spiritual pillar of the Miao people. Now that she was married, she naturally found it hard to let go of her feelings for the Miao village. Her sense of guilt was understandable. Lin Wanrong took An Biru's hand and said tenderly, "Sister, you've done nothing wrong. Pursuing personal happiness and creating happiness for the Miao village are not conflicting goals."

"You say that so lightly," Sister An chided him softly, "You've taken away the Holy Maiden of the Miao village, what about my people? Who will lead and speak for them when they face difficulties?"

Lin Wanrong scratched his head, unsure how to respond. By marrying Sister An, the Miao people of Xuzhou would inevitably lose their leader. But he knew well that with her nature, she would never just abandon her people.

"So what do you suggest we do?" Lin Wanrong asked helplessly.

An Biru glanced at him coquettishly and said, "One must have a conscience. Since you've taken away the Holy Maiden of the Miao village, the best solution, of course, is to give them another Holy Maiden."

Give them another Holy Maiden? How so? Just as Lin Wanrong was about to ask, his gaze fell on the charming Sister Yilian. A realization struck him like lightning, and he exclaimed in astonishment, "You mean, you want Yilian to replace you—?"

An Biru laughed playfully and nodded, "That's why I asked you, what do you think about her replacing me! Who knew your mind would wander to such improper thoughts, hmph!"

So that was the kind of replacement she meant. Lin Wanrong, sweating profusely, realized it was she who had led him into temptation. Having spent a long time with Yilian, he was well aware of her temperament and capabilities, almost a spitting image of Sister An from a decade ago. Yilian was steadfast, deeply loved her Miao homeland, and was smart and agile. Indeed, she would be an excellent choice as the new Holy Maiden.

Of course, what Sister Yilian lacked was experience and prestige. The former could be gained through practice, and with her intelligence, she would surely not lead the Miao village astray. As for prestige, with the support of Ah Lin Ge, the Holy Maiden, and the Council of Elders, coupled with Yilian's own efforts, it shouldn't be a problem.

"What do you think?" the Holy Maiden asked, gripping his arm expectantly.

"Capability-wise, there's no issue. The most important thing is Yilian's own choice."

His gaze slowly turned to the young girl, "Being the Holy Maiden of the Miao village is not just a great honor, but also comes with immense pressure. There will be many things that you won't be able to choose for yourself. Yilian, you need to consider this carefully!"

Yilian looked at him earnestly, her voice soft, "Ah Lin Ge, if we build up our Miao village well, will you come back to visit often?"

"Of course!" Lin Wanrong nodded seriously.

Yilian's cheeks flushed, and with a determined bite of her lip, she declared, "Holy Maiden, I am willing!"

"Good Sister!" An Biru embraced her, gently stroking her hair, "Don't worry, whatever your sister promises, she will do!"

"Sister!" Overwhelmed, Yilian buried her face in her arms, sobbing.

What exactly had Sister An promised Yilian, to make such a tender girl bravely take up such a heavy burden? Lin Wanrong was curious, but seeing An Biru and Yilian whispering softly, he had no chance to inquire.

Yilian filled two cups to the brim and respectfully handed them to Lin Wanrong and An Biru. After a silent glance at Ah Lin Ge, she quietly retreated.

As Yilian's figure disappeared from the room, Lin Wanrong shook his head silently, his heart filled with indescribable emotions.

"Don't worry, she won't go far!" the Holy Maiden whispered in his ear with a giggle, "Sister Yilian is one of us. She'll be watching outside our room tonight! You mustn't misbehave!"

Watching? Ah Lin Ge was dumbfounded.

An Biru's cheeks were tinged with a blush as she handed him the cup filled with wine, her gaze shy yet filled with an indescribable warmth.

Such a stunningly beautiful Sister An was not someone one could encounter ordinarily. Lin Wanrong's heart trembled intensely. He tightly clasped her arm, and the two shared a light laugh, drinking the wedding cup of wine in one gulp.

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