DS Extra 5

Finally, the wedding date was set for the late summer and early autumn season.

At that time, the heat would drag out its last tail across the cool high sky. Harvest, nostalgia, and falling leaves returning to their roots.

“…How is it?”

Jiang Jianming came out of the changing room. The newly customized ceremonial robe had a silver-blue base with thick double-breasted buttons embroidered with black and silver threads. The cuffs featured the same intricate pattern.

His black hair was no longer cut short, but had been grown out after Ryann’s persistent persuasion. Recently, it was long enough to fall to his shoulder blades. Now it was braided into a loose braid that just hung over his pale nape.

“Wow—”

Diana’s eyes sparkled, “This looks too good, Commander Jiang! I told you my brother’s eye for design is very reliable!”

“Mmm,” from the smart wheelchair, Audrey wore a dress with light makeup and smiled, “It suits your temperament well.”

“Isn’t it too flashy?” Jiang Jianming flicked the hair band adorned with tiny diamond tassels.

Diana reached out to straighten it for him. “It really looks good, you just need to get used to it.”

Jiang Jianming was about to speak when the other changing room also opened, and Ryann came out in his new clothes.

He turned his head and was dazzled. His Majesty’s ceremonial robe was more luxurious, with dark red base embroidered with large patches of beautiful golden rose patterns. The collar was layered with three tiers of white lace, and thick platinum curly hair naturally fell to his shoulders. Under the ceiling lights, every step he took swayed with reflections.

…Just like an angel statue with built-in mobile lighting function, Jiang Jianming thought secretly.

“What’s wrong?” Ryann stood in front of him and reached out to adjust his collar, “Commander?”

Jiang Jianming stepped back half a step and cleared his throat. “Not used to wearing such shiny ceremonial robes.”

Ryann: “As an imperial family member, you must have a set. We’ve already reduced the budget, so just listen, get a custom-made good quality one, and it can be worn for more than a decade.”

“……” The Lance sisters exchanged glances.

To force His Imperial Majesty to say such frugal words as “a ceremonial robe can be worn for more than a decade,” only Jiang could do this…

“Then the clothes are settled,” Jiang Jianming said, “What else is missing?”

Ryann pulled up the memo on his wrist device, ticked off the ceremonial robes item, and nodded with satisfaction. “Everything’s complete.”

Actually, after realizing his own misconception about prices, Jiang Jianming had withdrawn that “within 200,000” restriction.

Ryann also didn’t implement his initial wedding plan that would definitely make the finance officer weep. They compromised, deciding to reduce the scale of the wedding, only inviting a small number of acquaintances, while making it more exquisite.

Together, they chose the style of matching rings and ceremonial robes, consulted a few people, finalized the designs, and handed them over to the imperial master craftsmen.

Proposal ceremonies and engagement banquets were all canceled.

As a substitute pre-wedding trip, on a cool day in midsummer, Ryann accompanied Jiang Jianming on a visit to Glorious Star City.

Changze, as the newly adopted son of the governor of Glorious Star City, warmly received the two.

They chatted all night at the hotel and had some drinks for fun. Jiang Jianming’s constitution was weak, so he got a bit tipsy after drinking a little too much and was carried to the room by Ryann late at night. He drunkenly kissed His Majesty’s lips, murmuring words of affection that were usually difficult to express, his knees wrinkling the nightgown.

The next morning, when they both looked at the messy hotel bed, they fell silent.

“Cough,” Ryann forced himself to remain calm, “It’s fine, the hotel staff has seen a lot of this kind of thing.”

The two stayed in the hotel to rest for half a day, only going out in the evening. They wore casual clothes, put on disguises, and strolled along the roadside.

A few fireflies flew by the roadside. A young couple was selling local specialty fresh milk ice cream. Jiang Jianming bought one, took a bite himself, then fed a bite to Ryann, and they finished it together.

On the third day, they went to the central square of the Star City.

There, Jiang Jianming finally saw with his own eyes… the bronze statue of Helga standing firmly on the ground.

The valiant woman held a banner and shouted with her mouth open. A white dove rested on her shoulder, and another was about to fly from the flagpole.

That was his mother.

Closing his eyes, Jiang Jianming seemed to dimly recall the nights in the wild area.

His mother, with messy hair and tattered clothes, smiled as she held him, wrapped him in a ragged blanket, and told stories of distant places.

“Want to buy a bouquet?” Ryann placed his palm on his shoulder.

At the base of Helga’s bronze statue, there were many fresh flowers laid by tourists. Various bouquets were sold around, and there were also many charity sales and free flower-giving activities.

Jiang Jianming went to ask at a charity sale, and an enthusiastic young man told him, “We’re planning to collect enough money to erect a bronze statue for Commander Jiang, right here!”

Jiang Jianming: “……”

Charity sale little brother: “Look, look at that position, opposite to Madam Helga, isn’t that great? Super cool, right?”

“By the way, we’re also collecting designs, what pose would be better for the Commander… is this okay, hmm, ha!… or like this? Hey, ya!”

Jiang Jianming covered his life-saving disguise and fled in panic.

Ryann mercilessly mocked him.

In the end, the two normally bought a bouquet of pure white lilies and went over when there were few tourists around.

The wind blew their hair as Jiang Jianming knelt on one knee and placed the lilies at the base of the statue.

He looked up, his gaze passing through the statue to the azure sky.

“Mom,” Jiang Jianming said softly, “I have seen the dawn, and I have found true happiness. I…”

He smiled, “I’m getting married.”

Ryann lightly touched his chest with his right hand. “Madam Helga, this empire and I will love him forever.”

Jiang Jianming pressed his knee and stood up. Ryann helped him. “Want to build a memorial hall on Aslan Star City too? You could visit anytime.”

Jiang Jianming: “…Let’s talk about it later. If a memorial hall is built at this time, I might really end up as a bronze statue facing my mom.”

Ryann: “Isn’t that good?”

Jiang Jianming: “No, it’s not!”

After returning to Aslan, they counted the days, waiting for the wedding date to arrive.

Many people looked forward to it with them. Especially Lin Ge, who was more anxious than the two old husbands who were used to each other.

In Ryann’s words: “She’s irritable all day long like a hamster running on a wheel, not knowing what to do.”

Lin Ge raged. “You bastard, do you even see Zhen as your mom——“

Ryann: “Adopted daughter.”

Lin Ge: “At least call sister!”

Ryann: “Hmph.”

“By the way, Lin Ge,” Sylph slowly stopped the female emperor who was about to fight, “There’s a problem now.”

“After the Commander marries His Majesty Kaios, they should technically be the Emperor Emeritus and the Emperor Dowager. Then I’m neither the Empress Dowager nor the Empress.”

Lin Ge just realized, “So?”

Sylph pat the table and said seriously, “So, if things continue like this, I’ll have to move out of the White Jade Palace. The newly built scientific research laboratory is here, the palace is good for confidentiality and quiet, I like it, and don’t want to move.”

She looked serious. “Can you marry me, Lin Ge?”

…The next day, the imperial smart network exploded.

“It’s difficult to explain to you all about Zhen’s relationship with Sylph,” Lin Ge publicly told the citizens. “We don’t have the pounding hearts of passion, nor the sticky sweetness of a hot romance, nor declarations and promises. Because before all this could come, long time and distance had separated us.”

“But on countless lonely nights, our souls leaned on each other across the sea of stars. We are each other’s backbone, each other’s… halves.”

“Even today, Zhen and she are old women. Appearances can be repaired, but mindsets cannot. Zhen can no longer love anyone other than her, and if Zhen’s soul has any defects, the other half would only be with her.”

“We will not separate again, in whatever form.”

Afterward, the smart network crashed for a full three hours. Two imperial weddings to be held in the same year was unheard of.

After recovering from the shock, some people joked. “According to Commander Jiang’s standards, why not just combine them together? It would save expenses.”

The replies were unanimous. “Don’t let the Commander see this!”

After all, a royal wedding would give the entire empire a holiday!

……

The location for the Emperor and Commander’s wedding was set at the Glorious Cathedral.

This actually had some political considerations: after the Crystal Particle Battle, some citizens who had believed in the Crystal Cult without knowing the truth faced severe discrimination; some buildings with connections to the Crystal Cult were violently damaged.

Despite multiple explicit prohibitions, these extreme thoughts couldn’t be suppressed.

But now that crystal particles had been fully integrated into human society, if this knot in the people’s hearts couldn’t be untied, more unnecessary losses would occur.

Jiang Jianming and Ryann made this decision after consultation. They hoped to dissolve the hatred in the citizens’ hearts through the royal family’s personal example.

“It’s not a loss, the Glorious Cathedral is so beautiful,” Jiang Jianming said with a smile, “It used to top the ‘Wedding Holy Site Ranking’ for many years.”

Ryann: “What happened then?”

Jiang Jianming: “Later, wasn’t it smashed when we were fighting the Crystal Cult? Afterward, it couldn’t host weddings anymore, only the automated bell-ringing function remains.”

Ryann: “……”

On the eve of the wedding, fireworks lit up the night sky over Aslan Star City for an entire night.

Jiang Jianming and Ryann sat side by side by the window watching for several hours, and finally rolled up in the blanket together, falling asleep amidst the brilliant colors.

The next day, the sky was as blue as water, the clouds as white as snow.

The bells of the Glorious Cathedral rang, startling the flying doves.

Tang Zhen and Bei Man’er, who were on their honeymoon, hurried back with their invitation, arriving just in time.

Bei Man’er, whom they hadn’t seen for a long time, was not ravaged by illness, but instead looked more charming and radiant.

Her chestnut curls were pinned up, adorned with a small water diamond hat. She wore an elaborate black swan ceremonial dress, revealing snow-white shoulders and neck, dazzling like a bright pearl.

After the war, she retired from the Silver Big Dipper due to after-effects and, through Zheng Yue at the Golden Sun Wheel, found a suitable civilian position where she would report after her newlywed vacation ended.

Tang Zhen had agonized for a long time, but finally made an unexpected decision. He also applied for a transfer, moving from the Silver Big Dipper to the Golden Sun Wheel.

For so many years before, it had always been Bei Man’er following his direction. This time, he decided to reverse it.

“Xiao Jiang——!!”

Tang Zhen rushed in, frantically waving, his face excited as he ran towards Jiang Jianming.

The next second, the back of his head was slapped, “Ow!!”

Tang Ren followed behind, walking in with a cane, anger making his beard and eyes bristle: “You little brat, what are you calling him?!”

Tang Zhen complained pitifully: “Grandpa!”

Tang Ren ignored his grandson… or rather, replaced him. He tossed aside his cane and, with the same excitement, rushed towards Jiang Jianming, “Your Excellency the Commander——!!”

Ryann’s face darkened. “Zhen is here too, Old General Tang.”

On the other side, the Lance sisters had also arrived. Diana wanted to give Jiang Jianming a hug, but was gently patted on the head by him: “I’m about to be a married person, be mindful.”

Diana instantly had teary eyes. “Wuwuwuwuwu…”

Jiang Sheng, who was about to marry off his son, joined in with teary eyes on the side. “Wuwuwuwuwu…”

Audrey still sat in her wheelchair, holding a large bouquet of flowers. Her fingers were slender, her wrists smooth, no longer covered by gloves.

She had gentle eyes. “Congratulations, Commander Jiang, happy wedding.”

After the Crystal Nest was dismantled, Audrey’s original body was sealed deep in the Black Shark Base, and had not absorbed the scattered crystal particles. She had almost no hope of growing crystal bones in this lifetime.

But after the Crystal Particle Battle, public perception had greatly changed. The Lance family head could finally remove her gloves and appear properly in public.

In the deepest part of the cathedral, under the colorful stained glass. Sylph, wearing a white formal ceremonial suit, quietly complained, “…I still firmly believe this is unreasonable.”

“I am the base leader. Even if my previous attire was, well, a bit eccentric, I was still a science researcher, not a priestess.”

She made a sorrowful accusation. “Why am I the one standing in the cathedral today, acting as the officiant?”

Lin Ge peeled a wedding candy and stuffed it into her mouth, gloating, “Probably a matter of temperament. You have the face of a missionary saint.”

The two “old men,” Chen and Luther, pretended not to see, leisurely sitting aside and chatting.

“Xiao Xie really isn’t planning to come back?” Luther shook his head, “Ah, still young and impetuous. So many people consider getting this invitation card a lifetime honor, yet this child doesn’t take it seriously. Don’t know if he’s genuinely foolish or just pretending…”

Chen Hanke twisted his waist and smiled. “That’s a wild horse, his temperament still needs much polishing. But for now, let him run in the Far Star for a few years.”

It was time, and Sylph cleared her throat forcefully and began reciting, “Respected guests——“

The crowd fell silent.

Sunlight passed through the cathedral’s glass, refracted into a pure white color.

Golden roses were thrown skyward. When the two newlyweds emerged from the corridors on the left and right, enthusiastic applause erupted in the cathedral.

“Ryann.” Jiang Jianming smiled at his partner, his beloved, in the clear radiance, “…Love you forever.”

They exchanged rings in their vows, the circular bands entwined with flower branches, the gemstones chosen were the red-gold color that matched Ryann’s crystal bones.

Just after the rings were fitted, Ryann pulled Jiang Jianming into his arms and kissed him.

“Say it again,” he said hoarsely.

“Love you forever,” Jiang Jianming kissed him back, “I’ll forever…love you.”

Cheers rang out again, freezing this moment of love.