Regret? No.
Herta shook her head and talked herself down. Why would she regret anything? Her wedding would be a thousand times grander. Millions of guests. The entire blue planet, maybe half the universe, would be celebrating. Her dowry would fill ten space stations. The phoenix crown she and Ruan Mei would weave would make this one look ordinary. Her wedding would be perfect.
Ruan Mei watched her from the side. Moments ago, Herta had been wistful, almost melancholy. Now it was gone, replaced by her usual boundless confidence. Only Herta could bounce back so fast. Maybe that was one of her few redeeming qualities.
Inside the main hall, the Fu elders sat with the younger generation, alongside Qingque and Fu Xuan's usual circle. Bailu and Yunli fought over candy, neither willing to yield. Jing Yuan sipped his wine, half-dozing, as if he had expected all of this. But when he looked at the candy, something flickered in his eyes. Memory. Regret.
Years ago, when he was still a young Cloud Knight, Baiheng had handed out sweets to him, Dan Feng, and Yingxing. "From me and Jingliu. Call it an early wedding gift. There'll be more at the real thing. Tengxiao and Yueyu have already agreed to set us up."
Yingxing had looked away, silent. He and Dan Feng had offered their congratulations. But none of it had lasted. A month later, the eve of that wedding, Shuhu came. The Luofu became hell. Tengxiao fell. Baiheng fell. So many others. All that remained were the phoenix crown and cape that Baiheng and Jingliu never got to wear.
"General? Are you alright?"
Jing Yuan blinked. Yanqing was refilling his cup. "It's fine. This wine is from the Vidyadhara waters, I hear."
"Maybe slow down, General. You'll fall asleep again."
"Good, good."
Across the hall, Guinaifen and Sushang were livestreaming the wedding. "Everyone, the hour is almost here. Send your blessings for Qingque and the Grand Diviner!"
"A hundred years of happiness."
"Fu Xuan and Qingque—first in ten thousand years."
"May they always be together."
Even the Ten-Lords judges, perpetually overworked, had made time. It was said one of the Fu elders at Ten-Lords had specially arranged leave for Huohuo and the others.
Huohuo kept her head down, overwhelmed by the crowd. "Sister Hanya, Sister Xueyi... why are we here? We don't fit in."
Xueyi shook her head. "Orders. No exceptions."
Hanya said nothing, her face impassive. But inside, she was pleased. In nearly a thousand years at Ten-Lords, this was her first wedding. And she was here with Xueyi.
Fu Qing surveyed the room. Two of the Six Edicts were missing—Lingsha of the Alchemy Commission and Yukong of the Sky-Faring Commission. "Brother-in-law, where are the honored guests?"
Qing Ming scratched his head. "Yukong will be with General Feixiao. They should be here soon. As for Lingsha... no one can reach her."
Fu Qing frowned. Lingsha was the officiant. Without her—
Qingque slipped over. "What's wrong, Father?"
Qing Ming sighed. "The officiant is missing. We have fifteen minutes."
Qingque looked across the hall at Herta and Ruan Mei. "I know someone who can step in."
Herta looked up from her tea as Qingque approached. "Madam Herta, Madam Ruan Mei—Lingsha has disappeared. Could you officiate instead?"
The two geniuses exchanged glances. So Lingsha was the officiant. Of course Herta wouldn't let someone who had openly challenged her get away unscathed.
Herta: "I've never officiated."
Ruan Mei: "I could try."
Herta immediately changed her tune. "Then we'll do it together."
Qingque smiled and handed them the script—simple questions, easy to memorize. "Thank you both. I need to get back." She left.
Ruan Mei and Herta looked over the notes.
A shadow passed overhead, then Feixiao descended, Yukong in her arms. The wind roared, but they landed softly. Every eye in the hall turned to them.
Murmurs spread through the crowd. "Are they a couple?" "They look like it."
Herta frowned. Normally, she would be the center of attention. Now she was invisible. If she and Ruan Mei made an entrance, people might assume the same about them.
"Ruan Mei, should we change our entrance?"
Ruan Mei's gaze was cool. "We've been here for hours."
Herta sighed and rose. "Fine. Let's officiate."
Ruan Mei nodded and followed her to the front.
Outside the Luofu, a fleet of Starcrusher ships appeared on the horizon, blotting out the sky.