Chapter 474 : Newlyweds (1)

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍following day.

Deep ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍within the Inner Palace of the new Imperial Palace stood the Hall of Peaceful Diligence.

Its ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍name signified a place where the Holy Emperor and his ministers worked tirelessly to ensure the peace and prosperity of all living beings. 

Now ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍that the capital had officially been relocated, it was time for the high officials to hold their very first assembly there.

Once ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the agenda was settled and the various ministers had filed out of the hall, only Il-mok was left standing there.

Seeing ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Il-mok lingering behind alone, Wi Jin-hak turned to him.

“Is there something else you wish to report?”

Wi Jin-hak naturally assumed it was a pressing matter of state policy.

However, the answer he received was entirely unexpected.

"It is a private matter that’s a bit too personal to bring up to Your Majesty, but as your Grand Preceptor, I felt you ought to hear it from me first.”

"Very well. And what is this private matter?"

Il-mok offered a sheepish smile. “…I plan to get married soon.”

Caught off guard by the unexpected news, Wi Jin-hak's eyes went wide before he burst into hearty laughter.

"Bwahahaha! What splendid news! To think that the Grand Preceptor—no, our youngest—is getting married soon!”

He laughed so hard that tears rolled down his cheeks, leaving Il-mok standing there sheepishly.

When the laughter finally settled somewhat, Wi Jin-hak wiped a tear from his eye and looked up. “So, who is the lucky lady?”

"I wish to spend the rest of my life with Miss Jin."

"I knew it!"

Wi Jin-hak flashed a knowing grin.

"I often wondered why our brilliant youngest brother turned a blind eye to the endless ladies throwing themselves at him. Turns out you were set on Miss Jin from the very beginning.”

Truth be told, Il-mok hadn't seriously considered a future with Jin Hayeon until right before the war broke out. But he saw no point in correcting him now.

Just then, Wi Jin-hak’s bright smile faded into a slight frown.

"Wait a second. If your heart was already set on her, why keep it to yourself all this time? Don’t tell me you hold back because of this Eldest Brother of yours?”

"Of course not, Your Majesty," Il-mok replied smoothly. "My priority was helping you stabilize the realm and found the nation. I merely put the wedding on hold until the capital was officially moved."

Whatever the truth was, he could hardly admit that the Emperor was the real reason.

But Wi Jin-hak seemed to have caught on to some degree, and a look of regret crossed his face. “Ah, what am I going to do with you all? Now I have to worry whether our Third and Sixth Brothers are putting off their own marriages just out of deference to me. There was never any need for that."

Il-mok kept his mouth shut and smiled wryly at himself.

‘Do Third and Sixth Brothers even have anyone?’

Setting aside their personal quirks, their circumstances were hardly conducive to romance.

Both were just as buried in work as he was. 

And unless they already had someone by their side the way he did, love was a pipe dream for them, let alone marriage.

While he was silently pitying his two brothers, Wi Jin-hak suddenly posed a question.

"When do you plan to hold the wedding?"

"As soon as possible, Your Majesty. And quietly."

Thanks to the memories of his past life, Il-mok had no desire to make his wedding a grand and extravagant spectacle.

He remembered modern South Korean weddings, where even ordinary families poured exorbitant sums into weddings.

Human vanity certainly played a role, but the true culprit behind those lavish affairs was none other than parents’ desire to recoup every penny they had gifted at others' weddings and funerals over the decades.

It was even said that the bride and groom were only the protagonists during the half-hour ceremony itself, while the rest of the time belonged to the parents of both families.

But his current situation was entirely different.

Neither he, Jin Hayeon, nor her parents had any such debts to collect, so there was no need to throw an extravagant affair just to recoup expenses. 

Above all, neither he nor Jin Hayeon were attention-seekers or vain people like the father-son combo of the Baek Family, so there was no reason to hold a lavish ceremony.

Unfortunately, Il-mok was about to hit a brick wall.

"Hold it quietly! What nonsense is that? How can you try to hide away such a joyous occasion!"

"!?"

Before Il-mok could even attempt to talk him down, the Holy Emperor turned and bellowed an order to the Hidden Guard Pavilion Lord.

"Inform the ministers of the Grand Preceptor's wedding and tell them to spare no expense! I want the grandest ceremony this empire has ever seen!"

"It shall be done as commanded, Your Majesty!"

The Hidden Guard Pavilion Lord immediately offered his salute and vanished from the hall in a blur of movement without giving Il-mok any chance to object.

—Congratulations on the wedding, Grand Preceptor.

As he vanished, the Hidden Guard Pavilion Lord still managed to send his amusement to Il-mok via voice transmission.

‘No. I just want to hold it quietly.’

Il-mok could only sigh in exasperation.

* * *

News that the Grand Preceptor was getting married spread like wildfire through the capital.

The ministers of every department were thrown into a frenzy, instantly plunging into high-level debates on how best to orchestrate an event of such magnitude.

‘Why in the world are we wasting official court hours on my personal life?’

Observing the madness as though he were an unconcerned bystander, Il-mok couldn't help but question the sanity of everyone in the room.

After half a day of relentless bickering, the court finally reached a conclusion.

The wedding was postponed by approximately one month.

There were two primary reasons.

First, they needed time to prepare for a wedding of this scale.

Second, hosting another extravagant celebration so soon after the imperial wedding risked appearing as a direct challenge to the authority of the Holy Emperor.

"I have said I do not mind! What drivel are you all spouting!!"

Wi Jin-hak had practically roared at his minister as he insisted that he cared nothing for imperial decorum. Yet even an Emperor could not entirely override a wall of resolute ministers.

As a result, the venue was set for an open plain on the outskirts of Shaanxi, just beyond the Imperial Palace. The assigned workers would transform that empty land into a grand wedding avenue.

Wi Jin-hak was none too pleased with the location, either.

"Why must the Grand Preceptor's wedding be held outside rather than within the Imperial Palace!"

"Your Majesty! However esteemed the Grand Preceptor may be, imperial law strictly dictates that any wedding outside the royal line take place beyond the palace grounds!"

"Indeed so, Your Majesty!"

"The Grand Preceptor is my brother before he is Grand Preceptor! He is my own kin!"

With the Emperor glaring daggers and his officials stubbornly refusing to yield, the court session had dragged on needlessly. 

In the end, it was Il-mok himself who had to step in to quell the storm.

"Your Majesty, I actually agree with them on this. I’m incredibly grateful for the thought, but please withdraw the decision.”

Only after the groom himself intervened did the fierce debate finally come to an end.

Once the wedding plans were settled, preparations began in earnest on an open plot of land near the Imperial Palace. 

Naturally, the citizens living in Xi'an wondered what on earth was happening there, and the rumor spread in the blink of an eye.

"Would you believe it, the Grand Preceptor is getting married!"

The public's response was explosive.

It was not merely because Il-mok held the second-highest authority in the newly forged Hong Dynasty.

The true reason for the fervor lay in the last war.

Il-mok had been the hero of that war, and the legendary deeds he accomplished in battle had long since spread throughout all of Xi'an. Better yet, half the young men who came back from the front lines had seen Il-mok's awe-inspiring power with their own eyes and worshipped the ground he walked on.

"The Envoy of God is to be wed!!"

Long before the ceremony even began, celebrations erupted all across the city, and eager crowds of citizens volunteered to help build the wedding avenue.

And so, not long after the founding ceremony had concluded, a celebratory air once again washed over Xi'an.

But amidst this festive air, there were a few who could not partake in that mood at all.

They were the four women who had always been at Il-mok's side.

While Jin Hayeon was busy with wedding preparations, the other three sat in dazed silence.

At last, Ju Seo-yeon gathered her thoughts and spoke first. "What are you two planning to do?"

The first to respond was Jeong Hyeon.

As the only one who knew what had transpired between Il-mok and Jin Hayeon, she had already braced herself for this outcome.

"N-nothing's changed, right? I-I've been by the Grand Preceptor's side simply because I w-wanted to serve him."

It was partly the truth and partly a lie.

She had certainly harbored feelings for him, but she had never dared dream of becoming Il-mok’s wife.

With Jeong Hyeon’s answer accounted for, Ju Seo-yeon turned her gaze to Hyeokryeon Seon-ah.

Jeong Hyeon likewise turned to look at her.

Worry and unease filled both women's eyes.

Having spent years together, they knew her well enough to fear how she might take the news.

Perhaps feeling the weight of their troubled stares, Seon-ah snapped out of her daze and furrowed her fair brows.

"What are you two looking at? I have no intention of leaving."

Oddly enough, her prickly tone brought a wave of relief to both of her seniors.

"I won't pretend I don't love the Grand Preceptor—No, Big Brother. But I came to terms with this long ago. A man as extraordinary as him was never going to belong to just one woman."

Having said her piece, Seon-ah turned on her heel and marched away.

Ju Seo-yeon let out a soft chuckle, but Jeong Hyeon stood frozen like she was getting hit by a sudden enlightenment.

‘Is she saying she doesn’t mind sharing his affection?’

* * *

Time flew by while the ladies came to terms with their feelings in their own ways.

A month passed in the blink of an eye, and the appointed day of the wedding arrived.

Spruced up and made impeccably handsome at the hands of the women assigned to assist him, Il-mok made his way to the wedding avenue.

"He's here!"

"The Grand Preceptor has arrived!!"

"The Envoy of God graces us with his presence!!"

The clearing that had been designated for the wedding.

The open plaza designated for the ceremony was so tightly packed with people that to call it a sea of humanity would have been an understatement.

It would be no exaggeration to say that every single citizen of Shaanxi Province had flooded the area.

In fact, the sheer size of the crowd made the recent imperial wedding at the palace look modest by comparison.

Not that Wi Jin-hak minded in the slightest.

As he watched his youngest brother from the seat of honor, the Holy Emperor simply threw his head back and roared with hearty laughter.

"Hahahahaha!! Our Grand Preceptor is handsome on his worst day, but look at him now; he’s practically glowing from joy!"

And so, Il-mok pressed forward through the roaring crowd.

Before long, he caught sight of her in the distance.

Perhaps owing to the occasion, her usual quiet elegance had given way to resplendent regalia.

Yet there was nothing gaudy about the grandeur; if anything, the idiom describing a beauty that could topple empires described her perfectly at this very moment.

Unaccustomed to such lavish finery, Jin Hayeon offered him a bashful smile the moment their eyes met. That single look melted him instantly, leaving him grinning like a fool.

"Look, the Grand Preceptor is smiling!"

"Ahahahahaha!!"

Wave after wave of warm laughter erupted from the gathering crowd.

It was indeed a wonderful scene.

* * *

While a grand wedding ceremony was being held in Shaanxi Province of the Central Plains, a peculiar situation was unfolding in Baghdad.

It was once the glorious capital of the Abbasid Caliphate, which had unified the region in centuries past.

And even after that empire fractured and crumbled, control of Baghdad remained the ultimate symbol of legitimacy, making it a prize claimed by every conqueror who styled themselves an heir to the Abbasid throne. 

The new empire that had reunified the Muslims’ territories had likewise designated this city as its capital to emphasize its legitimacy, and the current Sultan who had come to power through a successful rebellion also maintained this city as his seat of power.

Deep within the innermost sanctuary of the palace, the Sultan stood clad in ornate golden robes and a black turban.

He turned to a figure in black who had slipped silently into the chamber.

"Are the preparations complete?"

"Everything is in place, Your Majesty. You need only give the command, and we shall immediately punish the filthy apostates in the East at once!”

A battle-hungry smile curved the Sultan's lips. "Then the time has come to begin a new Jihad!”

For all the world belonged to Allah, and Allah alone.

"Allahu Akbar!"