Gui Qinshao was dressed magnificently today. She wore an extremely luxurious red gold silk long skirt and a sparkling pearl gold crown.
Her originally extremely beautiful face became even more stunning and dazzling because of the bridal makeup. It was so beautiful that people could not look at it directly.
When she entered the venue everyone first fell completely silent. Then they were about to cheer.
However when a persons face was full of smiles but their eyes were filled with ice coldness it would make people shudder with fear.
At this moment Gui Qinshao had exactly this kind of smile.
Originally all the guests were smiling. But when Gui Qinshao showed this ice cold smile they all withdrew their smiles instead. They looked at each other in dismay. The cheers that were about to come out also stopped abruptly.
Let us go Solun. You have got what you wished for. Let us proceed with the wedding ceremony. Gui Qinshao said with a smile as she came before Solun.
Solun reluctantly stretched out his left hand which was less injured and tried to hold her hand.
No need. I do not want to have to chop off this hand of mine in a moment. Gui Qinshao said still with a smile on her face but her gaze remained completely ice cold.
Then the groom and bride stood side by side and walked gracefully towards the high hall.
When the Dragon Emperor crossed over to this world he not only brought knowledge and civilisation but also brought Earths wedding etiquette. Both Chinese and Western styles were included.
This wedding between Solun and Gui Qinshao chose the Chinese style.
Gui Xingfu and Turing Si as the brides parents and Suo Ningbing as the grooms parent sat upon the high hall.
Qing Chengzi the chief disciple of the Sword Venerable served as the officiant for todays ceremony.
Below hundreds of guests gathered in the hall watching this pair of newlyweds perform the wedding rites.
One bow to heaven and earth!
Solun and Gui Qinshao knelt down together and bowed to the heaven and earth outside.
Two bows to the high hall!
Solun and Gui Qinshao knelt and bowed to the parents of both sides on the high hall.
Gui Xingfu still had a smile on his face as if he was truly accepting the bows of a pair of newlyweds.
As for Suo Ningbing out of courtesy and upbringing she also tried very hard to show a smile.
Turing Si as a woman from the ducal mansion no longer even had the mood to put on an act. Her face was directly ice cold.
The couple bows to each other!
Solun and Gui Qinshao faced each other and bowed deeply.
During the mutual bow Gui Qinshaos originally ice cold beautiful eyes suddenly trembled. An extremely complicated emotion flashed through them.
This moment was when she and Solun were closest to each other. It was also the first time she seriously looked at Solun.
He really looked very handsome. He was even very charming. It was a face that would make the vast majority of women feel pity and become infatuated.
He was also truly outstanding. So outstanding that he could almost shock everyone.
He was also truly a bastard. A bastard that women hated to the bone. But also a bastard that women loved to the bone.
Gui Qinshao originally thought that she could maintain a smile on her face with ice cold eyes and killing intent in her heart to complete the entire wedding ceremony.
But at the instant of the bowing her heart still skipped a beat.
The man before her was suffering the greatest misfortune. He had lost his father and lost his territory. He was like a dog that had lost its home with nowhere to settle.
Moreover he had to face endless enemies endless pressure and responsibilities. Yet his shoulders were still so slender.
He who had almost nothing was still resisting and fighting. He even created miracles again and again.
However everything was in vain. His fate of destruction had already been completely decided. Perhaps his birth itself was a tragedy.
So should she add a heavy stroke to his tragedy should she fiercely tear open his wounds and expose the bloody mess to everyone present?
The originally extremely proud cold and strong Gui Qinshao felt a slight hesitation and softness for the first time. She truly felt a little reluctant.
The ceremony is over. The wedding banquet begins! Qing Chengzi impatiently ended this strange wedding ceremony.
Then all the guests began to applaud neatly. Although it was not enthusiastic it was very orderly.
Immediately afterwards delicious delicacies were served like flowing water.
Festive and beautiful music began to play. Everything seemed just like a real wedding.
Cough! Gui Xingfu gave a light cough then raised his wine cup and drank.
This was a signal. Gui Qinshao had to do something now.
A final struggle appeared in her beautiful eyes. She bit her jade teeth hard closed her eyes for a moment and brewed her emotions.
I am sorry. I must do this. Solun this is also what you brought upon yourself. Gui Qinshao repeated in her heart twice.
Then she opened her eyes suddenly grabbed and tore off the luxurious red gold silk bridal dress on her body revealing another dress underneath.
Everyone present instantly fell into complete uproar.
Beneath her bright red bridal skirt was a white dress made of grey white cotton cloth. It was filled with gloom and pallor.
Then she pulled off the phoenix crown on her head. On her black beautiful hair were tied two strips of cloth. One was black and one was white. There was also a flower made of white paper.
This was a mourning outfit. It was the attire of a widow. It represented that her husband had already died!
In an instant all the music stopped abruptly. Everyone was shocked and lost their voices.
All sympathetic gazes turned towards Solun. Many noblewomen even had tears surging out instantly.
As for Suo Ningbing she first looked at Gui Qinshao in disbelief. Then her delicate body swayed gently and she directly fainted and collapsed sideways in her seat.
In the sword duel with Solun she had lost. She had no choice but to perform the wedding ceremony with Solun and fulfil the agreement.
But she also needed to give the outside world an absolute signal and give the royal family an absolute signal. She needed to completely sever her relationship with Solun.
Therefore she chose such a cruel and decisive way.
I have just performed the wedding ceremony with you and I am already cursing you to die.
I have just become husband and wife with you and I would rather become a widow.
Originally the nobles and high level warrior lords present were all watching this wedding with the mentality of watching a show.
However when this show truly unfolded their hearts still trembled violently.
It was too cruel. It was even… too despicable and shameless.
The Suo clan had a life saving grace towards the Gui clan. It was a grace as high as the heavens and as deep as the earth.
You Gui Xingfu have a reputation for benevolence and righteousness. Is this how you repay the Suo clans kindness?
This was using the greatest cruelty to trample on Solun and to curse Solun.
Gui Qinshaos incomparably beautiful face trembled slightly. Then she said, Solun you could have made a dignified exit. This is what you forced me to do.
Solun looked at her incomparably beautiful face for a good while. First he gave a sigh. Then instead he revealed a smile.
Next he first walked to his elder sister Suo Ningbing. He gently rubbed her temples to help her wake up. Then he smiled towards Gui Qinshao and said, I have already performed the wedding ceremony twice. The first time was with the black widow of the Ten Thousand Great Mountains Poisonous Snake Tribe. I did not expect that the second time I would still perform the wedding ceremony with a widow.
What he said was a joke. But no one present could laugh. They only felt endless heartache and righteous anger.
Gui Qinshao said coldly in a low voice, Perhaps this is your destiny. Any woman who marries you will become a widow. Remember this is what you brought upon yourself. You could have obtained a sum of money from my Gui clan in a dignified way. A huge compensation. You could have withdrawn completely unscathed.
Solun shook his head. He did not answer anymore. Instead he said to Gui Xingfu, Father in law shall we go and talk?
Alright let us go and talk. Gui Xingfu said. Then he waved to everyone and said, Everyone eat and drink well. Do not let me feel that I have been a poor host.
Then the two of them left the banquet hall and headed to the secret room in the study.
Todays Gui Xingfu had completely torn off the mask of benevolence and righteousness.
In the study!
Solun now you can tell me what you want to get from me? Gui Xingfu said.
Solun said, Back then when you had nowhere to go and fled to my Suo clans Tianshui City it was my father who lent you territory lent you money lent you troops and horses and prevented the royal family from enfeoffing Gui Xingchou. Only then were you able to rise again and seize back Linhai City. Is that right?
Correct. But times have changed right? Gui Xingfu said, I also very much want to repay the kindness. But I am really powerless. Speak. Now that we have completely torn faces tell me what you want?
I also want to ask you for a piece of territory. Not a loan but a formal cession. It does not need to be very large. Just one high level warrior lord territory will do. Solun said.
As soon as these words came out it was as if he had been struck by lightning. Gui Xingfu suddenly stood up fiercely and said sternly, You are dreaming. Go on with your grand spring and autumn dream!
Then Gui Xingfu pointed his finger at Soluns face and said, Solun let me tell you. If today you voluntarily dissolve the marriage contract then there would still be thirty thousand gold coins and three thousand soldiers. Now you insist on forcing me into this situation and completely destroying my reputation for benevolence and righteousness. Therefore I can only give you three thousand gold coins. Just treat it as sending away a beggar. Take it or leave it.
Territory was the lifeblood of a feudal lord. How could Gui Xingfu be willing to cede it?
Even Linhai City only had eighteen high level warrior lord territories. It was about forty thousand square kilometres. Wanting him to cede one eighteenth of it was completely a dream.
Solun said, Then I am sorry. In that case I cannot give you what you want either. In the future I will be a formal husband and wife with Gui Qinshao.
Delusional wishful thinking. Gui Xingfu said, Today my daughter wore widow attire to humiliate you. This is already enough to prove to the world my Gui clans determination to sever ties with you. Do not even think about extorting anything else from me through marriage again.
Is that so? Solun sneered, Then what about the marriage between Gui Qinshao and Ling Ao? If I do not divorce her how can she marry Ling Ao? How can the so called marriage alliance between commoner elites the royal family and the feudal lord class proceed?
Instantly Gui Xingfus expression changed.
Solun continued, Of course Prince Zhi Li does not care much. At worst let Ling Ao marry another feudal lords daughter. But at that time I am afraid you will no longer be the head of the feudal lords in his mind right? Moreover you married your daughter to me. Although she wore widow attire to express the intention to sever ties as long as the marriage relationship exists it is still a marriage alliance. Whether you admit it or not the people of the world will think that the Gui clan and the Suo clan have formed a marriage alliance.
Gui Xingfu was so angry that his whole body trembled. This little thief this shameless little thief. Earlier in Linhai City he did not want money and did not want to borrow land. He just tightly held onto the marriage contract with Gui Qinshao and would not let go. Even if he suffered all kinds of trampling and humiliation he still wanted to complete the wedding ceremony and create the fact of marriage.
Then he used this marriage to extort him. Step by step he forced him Gui Xingfu into this desperate situation.
What a ruthless heart and what deep schemes.
Solun continued, Father in law since you have already paid so much you might as well be more generous. Anyway the flesh pain is just that one shiver. Using one high level warrior lord territory to truly sever relations with me this jinx is very worthwhile.
Impossible. I would rather kill you than cede one high level warrior lord territory to you. Gui Xingfu said hoarsely, You go and ask if there is any feudal lord in the world willing to cede such a large piece of territory? This is the foundation passed down from our ancestors. A foundation that has been inherited for a hundred years. Who is willing to cede it?
Then am I supposed to deserve having my entire Tianshui City taken away? You are only heartbroken over just one warrior lord territory while what I lose will be the entire Tianshui City. Solun suddenly roared, A full twenty warrior lord territories plus one main city!
That is what you deserve. That is your bad luck. Gui Xingfu said sternly, The end of your Suo clan has already arrived!
Then this special father in law and son in law pair stared at each other like two fierce wolves.
A full quarter of an hour later Gui Xingfu asked, Solun what do you want to do by ceding a piece of territory from me?
Rise again train troops and horses and within half a year seize back Tianshui City. Solun said seriously.
Gui Xingfu looked at Solun for a good while. Then he let out earth shaking laughter. This laughter was sharp and piercing. It truly made people feel a little shudder.
Hahaha hahaha hahahaha…
Gui Xingfus loud laughter continued without end. Like a night owl it was incomparably piercing and lasted for several minutes.
He laughed until he held his belly laughed until he squatted down and finally laughed until he collapsed sitting in his chair.
It was as if he had heard the most absurd joke in the world. A joke so absurd that it could not be more absurd.
As for Solun he was not angry at all. He just accompanied him with a smile on the side.
Laughing until tears were about to come out Gui Xingfu suddenly withdrew all his smiles and wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes.
Solun how large is one high level warrior lord territory? Gui Xingfu asked, How many people are on it?
About two thousand square kilometres. Solun said, The population can be forty to fifty thousand at most or as few as ten thousand.
How much tax does one high level warrior lord territory collect in a year? Gui Xingfu asked, How many soldiers can the tax and output of the territory support?
Tax can be two to three thousand gold coins at most or a few hundred at least. Solun said, The tax and output can support up to nearly a thousand soldiers or as few as a few hundred.
Gui Xingfu asked again, How many troops and how much military pay do you need to seize back Tianshui City?
Solun said, At least twenty thousand troops and one hundred and fifty thousand gold coins.
Gui Xingfu suddenly punched and smashed the sturdy desk into pieces. He laughed loudly, So you want to cede a warrior lord territory from me then use this territory of a few dozen miles in radius to earn one hundred and fifty thousand gold coins within half a year and recruit twenty thousand troops?
Correct. More accurately it is five months. Solun said, Because half a year later the royal familys army will have already stationed in Tianshui City. According to the kingdom laws if the feudal lord is unable to suppress the rebellion the kingdom has the obligation to send troops.
Hahahaha… hahahahaha… Gui Xingfu laughed wildly once again.
This time he only laughed for less than half a minute before suddenly stopping. His expression became ice cold and ferocious again as he said, Solun are you crazy or am I crazy?
Of course I am crazy. Solun said, How could a rational person like you possibly go crazy?
He was indeed crazy. He actually wanted to rely on a territory of a few dozen miles in radius to earn one hundred and fifty thousand gold coins within half a year.
This was not just crazy. It was frenzied and deranged. Do you know how much one hundred and fifty thousand gold coins is? It is the annual tax of the entire southeast province spanning nearly a thousand miles of land with nearly two million people.
Do you know how many troops twenty thousand are? It is the accumulation of countless years for top feudal lords like Linhai City and Tianshui City to have twenty thousand elite soldiers. This is even after adding the main city army and the warrior lord territories armies together to reach this number.
A high level warrior lord territory with a radius of a few dozen miles and a total area of two thousand square kilometres producing three thousand gold coins in half a year would already be heaven defying. Let alone one hundred and fifty thousand.
This Solun was no longer having delusional wishes. He was completely frenzied and deranged.
Solun smiled and said, Since that is the case father in law even just to watch the show should cede one high level warrior lord territory to me. Besides within half a year there is a ninety nine percent chance that I will fail and die. At that time will it not be easy for you to take back this territory?
Gui Xingfu closed his eyes and remained silent.
Solun said, Use one territory to exchange for dissolving the marriage relationship with Gui Qinshao and returning her freedom. Completely draw a clear line with me this jinx in front of Zhi Li and the entire kingdom noble class and become the head of the feudal lords in Zhi Lis mind. It is very worthwhile.
Gui Xingfu still closed his eyes and remained silent.
Solun said, Moreover as soon as I die will it not be easy for you to take back this territory? Therefore father in law just sign it!
A few minutes later.
Gui Xingfu suddenly opened his eyes and said, Fine I agree to you. But there is one point. Currently all high level warrior lords manage their own territories. I still cannot decide which piece of territory to cede.
That will not do. Solun said, Could it be that if you do not decide for half a year I will also wait for you for half a year?
Gui Xingfu said, Now I can sign a draft agreement with you. Within three days I will cede to you a piece of land no smaller than two thousand square kilometres within my Linhai City territory. How about that?
Three days. It must be ceded to me no smaller than two thousand square kilometres. Solun said, Sign the agreement now then read it publicly affix the feudal lord great seal the count great seal and the city lord great seal. And swear to heaven and earth swear to the royal family and swear to the Divine Dragon Holy Temple.
Alright. Gui Xingfu said.
Half an hour later in front of hundreds of nobles high level warrior lords and all the guests.
Solun and Gui Xingfu publicly signed the sacred contract. Within three days he would cede a territory no smaller than two thousand square kilometres.
And they swore to heaven and earth the royal family and the Divine Dragon Holy Temple.
Once this contract was established no one could violate it.
After the contract was signed Gui Qinshao said with cold sarcasm, Shameless Solun you have got what you wished for. Now where is what I want? Return my freedom.
Solun asked Ye Jingyu to help. He took out a divorce letter from his bosom.
Then Ye Jingyu opened this divorce letter and placed it before Solun.
In front of hundreds of guests Solun read loudly, The Suo clans daughter in law Gui Qinshao is neither benevolent nor righteous neither loyal nor filial. She is arrogant domineering fierce and rude. She does not abide by the wifely way and is crooked and improper. Because of my fathers dying wish Solun had no choice but to marry her. However marrying this shrew my Suo clan will never have peace. The family tradition will be shamed. To protect the purity and nobility of the Suo clan I specially divorce and abandon Gui clan and expel her from the family. Heaven and earth bear witness and the ancestors of the Suo clan bear witness!
After reading Solun endured the severe pain and weakness in his left arm and fiercely threw the divorce letter onto Gui Qinshaos face.