The Demon Lords

Chapter 1076: Chapter 258: Lord Pingye!_5

"Greetings, Lord Consort."

Qu Peiluo immediately took out a jade pendant from his bosom and handed it to Eunuch Sun as he stood up. The smile on Eunuch Sun’s face grew even brighter.

The princess stepped out of the door, and soon a group of noble ladies gathered to support her, just as when Qu Peiluo led a group of white-clad attendants earlier, the princess would also be surrounded and escorted out.

At this time, Qu Peiluo could not walk ahead but had to follow behind.

It was customary, given that you are marrying a daughter of the Royal Family.

The princess had already exited the inner courtyard, and Lord Zheng was also packing up his drawing board, preparing to follow.

Qu Peiluo saw Lord Zheng with the drawing board and curiously leaned over, discovering that the drawing on the board was of himself—not drawn with a brush, yet exceptionally vivid and lifelike.

"Mr. Su, is this drawing method from the West?"

As a legitimate son of the Qu Clan, his knowledge was naturally not lacking.

Lord Zheng nodded, "It is."

"Truly, it is excellently done."

"May I join the procession from the sides? Mr. Su plans to create several more portraits, ultimately making one grand picture of the lord’s wedding."

"Thank you, Mr. Su."

Qu Peiluo was not one to refuse, and he quickly signaled the attendants to assist with the drawing board and arranged for Zheng Fan to join the procession.

Once the princess exited the inner courtyard,

Rows upon rows of representatives from various families within the Qu Clan’s territory knelt on the ground. They had sent emissaries to congratulate the master of this grand wedding.

Even the Nian Yao Family had sent someone to celebrate. The originally spacious outer courtyard was now crowded with people; as the princess moved through, those on both sides knelt, and Eunuch Sun began announcing their family names.

Moreover, not every family had the privilege to have their name announced. Even the Fan Family, which contributed significantly to the wedding, was announced as Fan Family, Tian Family, etc., at the end.

The princess stepped on a long bench, covered with a red carpet below, and walked past the people kneeling at both sides.

The strict hierarchy of Chu was palpable here; by comparison, the atmosphere in Yan State was more open, and emphasized "celebration with the people," whether sincerely felt or not, everyone outwardly embraced this practice.

Lord Zheng followed behind, occasionally adding strokes to the drawing board, but his gaze was mostly fixed on the princess’s back.

There is such a trait in people: food fought over tastes more delicious. In the ambiance of this grand wedding, Lord Zheng suddenly felt his mindset changing somewhat.

It wasn’t a moral flaw; rather, human nature is such, and Lord Zheng knew he wasn’t exempt from tradition, nor did he aspire to be a saint.

One thing Lord Zheng found fortunate was that the princess’s shoes weren’t with a high platform, so her walk on the benches was quite steady.

Continuing onward,

although exiting the courtyard, they hadn’t truly left the royal villa, as the estate was vast; they merely left the residence area.

A grand and exquisitely decorated festive carriage was parked there.

The last segment of the path comprised benches carved from gold, silver, and jade. Initially unnoticed by Lord Zheng, once he noticed, he specially turned back to count how many there were.

He calculated in his mind that even without seizing the princess, taking these benches back could support raising quite a few troops.

Eunuch Zhao walked to the front, bowed, and raised his hand, allowing the princess to place her hand upon his, assisting her as she descended from the final silver bench and stepped gracefully onto the carriage.

The carriage was immense, akin to an imperial palanquin, wide at the front and structured like a house at the back.

In Chu State, even noble families were not permitted to use such palanquins, but the princess was an exception; she could employ this standard.

The princess stood there, supported by two maidservants.

Meanwhile, Eunuch Sun and Zhao Cheng led over ten attendants into the back to inspect the arrangements, also to add items. As this was the princess’s matrimonial palanquin, interior furnishings and items had to be prepared now—doing so in advance would make the princess seem eager to wed, losing the royal dignity.

Earlier, it was families from the Qu Clan’s territory bowing in congratulations. Now, here, the princess would receive congratulatory representatives from major aristocratic families and high officials.

Those inside earlier were servants; the princess wouldn’t deign to share the same space with them, needing to tread the benches. The emissaries from Nian Yao’s family were placed inside because, despite Nian Yao being a general now, he originated as a servant from the Regent’s residence. Hence he remains the Regent’s servant, and his family’s representatives also needed to kneel inside.

Now,

the princess stood at the front of the palanquin,

representatives sent to congratulate by families came singing praises, mostly family juniors as representatives;

The princess would respond with a slight bow and a call of "Greet Uncle and Aunt on my behalf."

The process was lengthy, and no laziness was permitted—this was protocol;

Moreover, this was fundamentally a political alliance; the process was the essence of this marriage and couldn’t be skipped.

In truth, for the Chu people, typically the groom’s relatives wait at the groom’s house, and the bride’s relatives at the bride’s house wait to receive her—this is called mutual display, each family revealing its background.

However, in the Qu Clan’s case, not only families from the Qu Clan’s territory but also other major aristocratic representatives friendly with the Qu Clan, or dignitaries serving in the same court, all gathered at the royal villa.