Chapter 804
Chapter 804
Shen Lang returned to his chambers and resumed a life fit for a queen. Grand Duchess Dipas had sent him a great many books, but they were mostly about the history, art, and philosophy of the Seirun Dynasty. Shen Lang wanted to read about the Witch Empire, but there were no books on the subject. He couldn't tell if this was to prevent him from accessing information about the Witch Empire, or if all written records concerning it were sealed off entirely.
Over the next two days, Shen Lang's life became even more extravagant, far exceeding his expectations. Was the Russo family truly this wealthy? Their lavish spending was enough to make even a profligate like Shen Lang's heart ache. No wonder the Grand Duchess could afford so many black slaves. For a time, there was a constant stream of ships on the sea, carrying countless suits of armor, weapons, and slaves from all corners of the world into Azuregold Castle. It made Shen Lang suspect the Russo family had discovered an ancient gold vein, owned a massive gold mine, or perhaps everything they shat turned to gold. Shen Lang had no idea how large an army she intended to raise. He still knew very little about the Witch Empire, not even where it was located or if it was Qiu Yao'er's empire. He continued to live like a canary in a magnificent, gilded cage, enjoying all the riches and splendor but unable to take a single step outside his door.
***
Two days passed in a flash. Grand Duchess Dipas had the castle decorated anew, hanging red silk everywhere. Even the statues and benches along the paths were tied with red silk ribbons. The lanterns throughout the castle were kept brightly lit, day and night. Every effort was made to create a festive atmosphere, and even the slaves were dressed in special attire. Because the Grand Duchess's wedding was imminent; she was to marry a handsome man from the mysterious Eastern world.
It was surprising enough that she would marry him, given his lowly introduced status, so Shen Lang had expected a small ceremony. At most, something akin to taking a concubine. But to his surprise, Grand Duchess Dipas intended to hold a formal wedding ceremony, which was even stranger.
***
As darkness fell, the entire castle blazed with brilliant lights. Fine wine was prepared in quantities that could fill a pond, exquisite dishes were piled high like mountains, and servants waited in attendance like a sea of clouds. A continuous stream of luxurious carriages entered the castle. It was a procession of several hundred distinguished guests arriving for the Grand Duchess's wedding, every one of them exceedingly wealthy and powerful. The pirate chief who had brought Shen Lang here would not have been qualified to attend the wedding, let alone set foot through the castle gates. Shen Lang noted that most of the nobles attending the wedding still wore the attire of the Seirun Dynasty. No matter how fragmented the Seirun Dynasty had become, its legitimate status was still recognized throughout the Western world. The dynasty was filled with viscounts, counts, and marquises, but grand dukes were so few they could be counted on one hand.
***
The wedding began at approximately nine in the evening. Shen Lang wore a flame-red silk robe, and Grand Duchess Dipas wore a long dress of the same color. Weren't wedding ceremonies in the Western world held during the day? Why was this one being held at night? The grand hall was filled with blazing torches, and the paintings on the walls and windows all depicted flames. There were images of great dragons breathing fire, hellhounds spewing flames, and volcanoes erupting from massive mountain ranges.
The priests who had previously entered the castle and then vanished now reappeared. A mysterious middle-aged high priestess conducted the ceremony. Shen Lang couldn't understand a word she said. It was neither Latin nor Greek. She seemed to be asking questions, and Grand Duchess Dipas appeared to answer each one with great sincerity. At the end of the ceremony, the high priestess took out a golden bracelet and placed it upon the hands of both Shen Lang and Dipas.
*Fwoosh!*
A mass of flame erupted from the bracelet, but it did not harm them. This signified that before the God of Fire as their witness, Shen Lang and Dipas had officially become husband and wife. This was a truly preposterous situation. He had just arrived in the Western world and had somehow gotten remarried without knowing a thing. And it was a more grandiose and formal wedding than the one he'd had with Mulan. With several hundred nobles in attendance, this wedding signified that Shen Lang was now the official husband of Grand Duchess Dipas.
This was far beyond simply taking a lover. Moreover, Shen Lang clearly saw the Russo family's scribe already beginning to write a new *History of the Russo Family*, officially recording the wedding ceremony and including Shen Lang's name. This meant that this history would be passed down, and his title as the Grand Duchess's consort would be passed down through the generations. There was even a professional painter at the side, capturing the moment of their union.
What in the world was going on? Then, another question arose in Shen Lang's mind. Back when he married Mulan, they hadn't consummated the marriage right after the ceremony. Today's wedding had been a complete mystery, yet it was so formal. He wondered if they would actually go through with the "grand affair."
***
After the wedding, Shen Lang was led, almost dragged, into a special house. The house was newly built and didn't fit the overall atmosphere of the castle at all. Azuregold Castle was primarily made of milky-white marble, but this house was a fiery red. Moreover, upon entering, he could clearly feel that the temperature was high. Azuregold Castle enjoyed spring-like weather year-round, and the average temperature was not low. Even now, at night, the temperature outside was close to twenty degrees Celsius. But inside this red house, the temperature felt like it was at least over thirty degrees.
Furthermore, the house was filled with countless lit candles. At first glance, it seemed romantic, but it also felt a little strange. It felt like some kind of ritual was being performed. There was nothing in the house but a single large bed. Hundreds of candles surrounded the massive, three-by-three-meter bed. Seeing this scene, he wondered if they were really going to consummate the marriage. Otherwise, why go to such lengths to set the mood? Shen Lang lay lazily on the large bed, his mind drifting back to the wedding night from years ago—or more accurately, the night he spent alone.
*My dearest Mulan, whatever happens next, please don’t blame me. You must remember this: even if your husband loses his body, the woman he loves most in his heart is you. You are the only one he loves.*
Shen Lang tried to act nonchalant, but he was a little nervous. The image of Grand Duchess Dipas torturing the large lion kept replaying in his mind.
*She may look beautiful and delicate, but she’s actually a warmonger. What if something really happens? Surely she won’t beat me to a pulp?*
Above all, Shen Lang wasn't very confident in his own abilities. His prowess was only enough to utterly defeat Xiao Bing; against a warmonger like Grand Duchess Dipas, he would suffer a miserable defeat. But a man has many talents. For instance, couldn't he use his silver tongue...?
***
Just a quarter of an hour after Shen Lang was brought to the red house, Grand Duchess Dipas slowly walked down the central path illuminated by countless candles and arrived before the large bed. The candlelight enhanced her bewitching beauty, and her red hair, in particular, was breathtaking. She walked up to Shen Lang, pulled off her long dress, and revealed a perfectly smooth, beautiful, pale body. She immediately sat on his waist and began chanting in a peculiar tone.
*What is she saying?*
Shen Lang couldn't understand her words at all. Next, Dipas removed Shen Lang's robe and began drawing mysterious runes on his chest.
*Ow, that hurts...*
She was actually tracing the characters with her fingernails, leaving red marks on Shen Lang's fine, smooth skin. What kind of strange characters were these? Once his chest was covered in the characters, she pounced on him.
*Damn it. So we’re really doing this?*
***
An hour later, it was all over. Grand Duchess Dipas left immediately, leaving Shen Lang alone on the bed to bask in the afterglow. This world was too bizarre. He thought she was a widow who wouldn't refuse any man, but she turned out to be a chaste maiden. He thought she was looking for a male plaything, but it turned out to be a formal marriage. He thought it was a fake marriage, but they actually consummated it. Shen Lang had to admit that his encounter with the Grand Duchess had been quite enjoyable. Above all, he hadn't needed to exert any effort. But he had no idea why any of this was happening.
***
Shen Lang was now the Grand Duchess's husband. He could now move freely within the castle, and even throughout the entire city. He could go anywhere. So, had he become the male master of this city? Not at all. It was just that almost everyone treated him with respectful distance. The maids in the castle still didn't dare speak to him, and the middle-aged eunuch, Taren, was the same. Whenever he encountered Shen Lang, he would stop several meters away, bow respectfully, then step aside, lower his head, avoid eye contact, and even hold his breath.
The Russo family warriors were even colder toward Shen Lang. Whatever they were doing—laughing loudly or whispering amongst themselves—the moment Shen Lang passed by, their expressions would instantly turn to stone, and they wouldn't even spare him a sideways glance. Furthermore, the priests who had presided over the wedding ceremony seemed to have vanished again.
Grand Duchess Dipas seemed extremely busy; after their wedding night, Shen Lang didn't see her for several days. However, he continued to live a life comparable to that of a queen every day.