Chapter 1659 — That Zun's Wedding
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 4 of 4
Envoys from all sides came in an endless stream. The rulers of the heavens and myriad worlds also sent envoys to offer congratulations. Lan Yutian, Xu Shenghua, and others hurried back from the Ancestral Court to attend the wedding as well. The White Tiger, Western Emperor; the Black Tortoise, Northern Emperor; and the Vermilion Bird, Southern Emperor all sent envoys bearing lavish gifts. The newly ascended Zun, Long Xiao, also ordered his adopted son Long Pi to hurry over from the Beast Realm.
Long Pi brought his own children to see Shen Mu in person, his heart full of sighs. Choking back tears, he said, "The Hierarch finally no longer needs me to worry about him.
.
. " Qin Hanzhen and his wife from the Carefree Land also came, their hearts full of emotion. Taichu also sent someone to present a gift.
In the gift box was a dragon scale. On this day, guests gathered in the Upper and Lower Capitals of Jingping in extraordinary bustle. The Eight Elders of Yincan Village sat in the seats of parents, and beside them was placed an empty seat.
Emperor Yanfeng and the Empress, along with Qin Hanzhen and his wife, also sat in the hall, receiving the kneeling bows of Shen Mu and his bride alongside the Eight Elders. Each wore a smile, yet secretly turned their heads to wipe away tears.
On the day of the wedding ceremony, Xue Hu'er woke from her drunken stupor and missed the wedding. When it came time for the bridal chamber, Shen Mu and Ling Yuxiu heard voices from outside: "You're still kissing! How shameless!
Shame, shame—" The Blind Old Man's voice came: "Shen'er, don't panic. I'll drive Ling'er away!
" Ling Yuxiu took off her shoe and threw it out, crying angrily, "Blind Grandfather, you've come to eavesdrop too? " From outside the window came a yelp.
It was unclear which woman had been hit by the shoe, but the voice sounded faintly like Si Yunxiang's. Shen Mu laughed heartily and spread out a sheet of paper.
Ling Yuxiu ground ink for him. Shen Mu took up his brush and painted, and in but a moment, a panorama of rivers and mountains ten thousand li wide leaped onto the paper. The two walked hand in hand into the painting.
That night, within the painting, orioles sang and swallows whispered, spring tides surged, rising and falling, melodious and sweet, exquisite beyond words.