Investing in the Reborn Empress, She Actually Calls Me ‘Husband’

“Where could that ice block have hidden it?”

Li Mo scratched his head. It was broad daylight with no moon, so he couldn’t initiate a private conversation with the ice block.

Besides, since she was the one who hid it, she probably wouldn’t tell him anyway.

He looked up at his mother, hoping to glean a hint from her expression.

Gu Xueqin smiled and shook her head. “It was Little Bing’er who hid it. I don’t know either.”

Noticing her son’s evasive eyes, Lady Gu became alert and blocked the doorway more firmly.

“It’s not time to see the bride yet. Later, you’re not allowed to secretly lift Little Bing’er’s veil either.”

In terms of wealth, Li Mo’s riches could rival a nation’s.

In terms of martial prowess, his physique was peerless within his realm, his Divine Physique and Seventy-Two Transformations technique making him nearly impervious to a hundred calamities.

Yet now, he was utterly helpless, because the one blocking the door was his own mother.

It seemed he could only go look for that item…

But just then, light footsteps sounded from behind his mother. Before Li Mo could even turn his gaze, he caught a glimpse of a breathtaking flash of red.

He noticed the wedding gown was very red, but not as red as the jade-like face now flushed with crimson.

She hung her head, her trembling eyelashes veiling the emotion in her eyes.

“Mother, don’t make him search anymore.”

“You silly child, how can we not…” Gu Xueqin was taken aback for a moment. We, your subjects, were prepared to fight to the death, Your Majesty, so why have you surrendered first?

Then she couldn’t help but chuckle softly, remembering her own wedding day. It had been just like this, watching Old Li search frantically until he was drenched in sweat, before she secretly had a maid return the hidden item to a conspicuous spot.

Back then, the family had lamented her eagerness, saying they’d never seen a bride so desperate to get married.

“I’ve already retrieved the hidden item.”

“Eh? I didn’t see it?”

“I’m wearing it…”

Gu Xueqin was puzzled.

Li Mo, who had just taken the ice block’s hand intending to whisk her away, leaned back slightly at these words, his gaze dropping. He couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath.

It was well known that if forced to choose between the ice block’s martial arts mastery and her legs as the deadlier option, Li Mo would choose the latter without hesitation.

Especially now, beneath the red skirt of the phoenix coronet and ceremonial robe, there was also…

“Mother, how about we skip the part about stepping over the brazier of fire later?”

“Why skip that? Afraid it might catch fire in this dry weather?”

“Fire or not aside, I’m worried you might be concerned about my health.”

“?”

While Gu Xueqin was utterly confused, $2i Mo took a deep breath. He initially thought to carry the ice block on his back, but in the end, he scooped her up in his arms horizontally.

She was light, yet beads of sweat formed on his forehead and his hands trembled slightly.

Ying Bing was also flustered at first, but seeing his expression, she couldn’t suppress a smile.

The usually proper gentleman who secretly played tricks now truly looked like an immature kid.

“Immature kid, carry me away.”

“Not carrying away.”

“Then marry me and take me away, okay?”

“….”

Li Mo’s breath hitched.

He felt that even if he cultivated the Seventy-Two Transformations to its peak and combined it with the Divine Physique technique, he still couldn’t withstand this blow.

The one and only peerless, aloof beauty of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths was now nestled against his shoulder, her face flushed, her eyes smiling, asking if he would marry her and take her home. Who could possibly resist that?

“Mother, I’m taking the ice block now.”

“Go on.”

Gu Xueqin smiled, but as she smiled, tears welled up in her eyes. She quickly wiped them away with a red handkerchief.

As her blurred vision cleared, the immature kid suddenly found his courage. Holding his bride, his older sister, he strode out with his head held high and chest puffed out.

Towards the sunlight, towards the sea of people!

“Ice block, what song are you humming?”

“The one you were humming the other day, said you heard it from the Buddhists.”

“I suspect you know it’s the tune for ‘Pigsy Carries His Bride,’ but I have no proof.”

Their chatting voices drifted over.

“How wonderful.”

The voice of the Thousand Forms Martial Venerable sounded in Xiao Qin’s mind. “I feel a warmth in my body.”

Teacher, aren’t you just a remnant soul consciousness now?

Xiao Qin’s mouth twitched slightly, but that wasn’t the main point right now.

“Teacher, don’t you think I’m the only one who still remembers that this grand betrothal ceremony was meant to lure out the snake from its hole, to ambush the demonic…”

“My boy, you’ve been honest since you were little. That’s what I saw in you from the start.”

“?”

“Never mind. Let’s go to the banquet. Let’s head to the kids’ table. They eat slowly, so you can let me possess you to have a bit to eat and drink.”

Xiao Qin had a feeling his teacher had another reason for wanting the kids’ table, but he had no proof.

“Feels like I’ve forgotten something…”

Lady Gu, mid-sniffle, paused, realizing the ‘red handkerchief’ she used to wipe her tears wasn’t a handkerchief at all.

It was Little Bing’er’s red bridal veil.

“Ah, son, wait!”

…

Fireworks sounded over Ziyang Prefecture City, vivid even against the bright daylight.

Because these ‘fireworks’ exploded, scattering not sparks but a shower of flower petals. As for how this effect was achieved, there was no need to worry. The god presiding over marriages in the Great Shang dynasty had an inner world specifically for this purpose, emphasizing professionalism.

Under the shower of petals, the white steed, Bai Ju, galloped lightly through the city streets. Wherever it went, the floral rain followed.

Ying Bing held her veil, leaning against Li Mo’s chest.

She said that with the veil already covering her, and then being inside a sedan chair, she wouldn’t be able to see or hear the bustling excitement outside.

But now, the sunlight was good, the autumn air crisp and clear, and the cheers were like mountain roars and ocean waves.

Even though she couldn’t see anything, even without using her inner world to sense it, everything felt tangible and real.

She wasn’t marrying him in a hazy, muddled dream like before.

A complex, soft sigh echoed in her heart, not her own.

It carried blessings and hopeful expectations.

The leader of the Nine Heavens Immortals, whom she had always been vigilant against, guarding against his return, was also silently watching all this, seemingly planning his departure.

“Ice block, there seems to be a river ahead. We’re going to fall in,” Li Mo said deliberately.

“Liar. We’re clearly almost at the Clear Abyss Sect.”

“……”

“In the future, if you want to hold me tight, you don’t need to find excuses anymore, immature kid.”

“Oh, right.”

Only after saying it did Li Mo realize he’d been tricked by the ice block. Wasn’t this admitting he often used excuses before?

Strange, why wasn’t his mouth as stubborn as before?

This was the Law of Conservation of Hard and Soft!

When the mouth isn’t hard anymore, then the hammer treasure…

“You still call me immature kid now…” Li Mo grumbled, helping her down from the horse.

As soon as the words left his mouth, the ice block leaned close to his ear.

Li Mo felt a little thrill of excitement, only to hear her clear, cool voice laced with amusement:

“What would you like to hear then?”

“You know, the kind between husband and wife.”

“I see.” Ying Bing tilted her head slightly. “But the ceremony isn’t finished yet~”

Looking at the ice block beneath the veil, as if he could see the smile on her jade-like face, Li Mo broke out in goosebumps all over.

Done for.

Today’s also a mischievous ice block!

But there was good news.

Today, he didn’t have to be the immature kid.