Chapter 016: The Grand Wedding
On the very day the Regent Prince Fischer issued an edict ordering a wedding for Du Fan and Princess Angel on the nation’s anniversary, Du Fan officially announced that half a month later, the Governor-General of the Empire’s South, Duke Du Fan, and the Queen of the Elves, Naixiu, would hold a grand wedding!
“That’s completely disrespectful to me!” Fischer, who was handling official documents in his room, heard the guards report this news and angrily grabbed a teacup, smashing it on the ground.
A crisp sound followed—as the expensive jade cup, a gift from the Western Saudi Province, shattered into countless useless pieces.
The guards standing nearby trembled at Fischer’s reaction, fearing that even a slight mistake might lead the emperor to vent his anger on them.
“Go and summon Duke Wade to see me!” Fischer suddenly shouted at the guards.
“Yes, Your Highness!” Hearing this order, the guards rushed away as if granted amnesty.
By the time Duke Wade arrived, Fischer’s expression was completely calm. In the room where he often received ministers, Fischer greeted Duke Wade with a warm smile and stepped forward quickly.
“Elder Duke, please sit.” This time, Fischer invited Duke Wade in and helped him sit down in a gem-encrusted leather chair.
“Your Highness, I can’t accept such honor! I truly don’t deserve it,” Duke Wade said, filled with awe at Fischer’s treatment.
“Elder Duke, as a founding hero of the nation, you most certainly deserve it!” Fischer replied, still smiling, despite Duke Wade’s nervousness.
“Ahem.” Duke Wade coughed heavily twice and asked, “Your Highness, did you summon me urgently regarding Duke Du Fan?”
“Yes, Elder Duke. How’s the preparation in the south going?” Fischer asked promptly.
“Your Highness, don’t worry! Rest assured, within half a month, the 600,000 troops I’ve assembled will be ready near Du Fan’s territory,” Duke Wade replied immediately.
“Excellent! Duke Wade, once this is done, I won’t fail to reward you!” Fischer said repeatedly. “After eliminating the Green family, I’ll personally appoint you as the King of the South. All the lands lost by the Lionheart family in battles against the Lanni Empire will be given back to you!”
“Your grace is truly boundless! Your Majesty, how could this old servant not give it his all?” Hearing Fischer say this, Duke Wade quickly got down on his knees and spoke loudly. “Duke, please get up!” Seeing Duke Wade kneel again, Fischer helped him up once more. …… At this time, Du Fan had already taken control of the Green Shuttle and arrived in Tiger City. After the Frozen Alliance was conquered, the eighteen duchies were all renamed as provinces, but the names of the cities remained unchanged. “Son, you’re still a bit impulsive,” Old Green sighed inwardly as he faced Du Fan and spoke softly. “Father, it’s nothing. Fischer issued a nationwide announcement without consulting me at all. He just wants to see my attitude and test my limits. I’ll show him with my actions! It’s impossible for him to control me,” Du Fan said firmly. “Truly a descendant of our Green family!” Hearing Du Fan’s words, Old Green’s eyes sparkled, and he immediately became energetic. “Son, don’t worry. No matter what happens, I will stand firmly by your side!” “Father! If Fischer takes action, he’ll surely target both of us. So, it’s better for you to be careful during this time,” Du Fan said seriously. “Indeed. For our Green family, we’re now in a situation where the north and south support each other. It won’t be easy for Fischer to attack us. Even the royal family probably doesn’t have the strength to deploy forces in both directions at once!” Thinking of this, Old Green also began to ponder. After a moment of silence, Du Fan spoke again. “Father, be careful with everything,” he repeated. “I still need to go to the Dusk Mountains and the elves’ territory. After that, before I marry Nayxiu, I’ll come to pick you up,” Du Fan said with a smile. “Go! Time is running out. Hurry up,” Old Green said. “Don’t worry about me. Tiger City has a hundred thousand troops from the North. I’ll bring your two brothers back soon. With them around, you won’t have to worry.” Hearing his father’s words, Du Fan nodded. George and Allen were already experts at the realm level. ……
The news that Duke Du Fan, the Governor of the South, was to marry the queen of the elves in half a month had already been spread through the information systems of the mercenary guilds, magic guilds, thief guilds, and many major merchant associations across the continent, all thanks to Du Fan’s efforts. As a result, Du Fan’s marriage to Naixiu in half a month, as well as his marriage to Angel on September 23rd, quickly became the focus of the entire Gavin Empire and the whole continent.
“Mr. Wu, what do you think? Should we attend Duke Du Fan’s and Naixiu’s wedding?” asked the governor of Cabu Province, which bordered Du Fan’s territory and was adjacent to the four southern provinces, to one of his advisors.
“My lord, since Duke Du Fan has invited us, I think we should go. However, my lord should not appear in person,” said Mr. Wu.
“Oh, then what should I do according to you, Mr. Wu?” asked Governor Buka promptly upon hearing this.
“My lord, naturally, you only need to send a prominent figure to deliver a gift on Duke Du Fan’s behalf,” said Mr. Wu.
“Hmm, that’s good. It won’t offend His Highness, and it will also fulfill our obligation to Duke Du Fan,” said Governor Buka, nodding in agreement after hearing Mr. Wu’s advice.
In another place, in a province in the southwest called Hitu Province, which was essentially a barren land with a population of less than five hundred thousand people!
Most of Hitu Province was desert, and its governor was practically in exile. According to the unspoken rules of the Gavin Empire, when an emperor wanted to exile someone but lacked a proper reason, he would send that person to govern a province with extremely harsh conditions.
In such a province, the so-called governor was actually just an exiled noble.
“Hahaha!” The governor of Hitu Province laughed loudly from the main hall of his simple governor’s residence. “Good, good! The rebellion in the capital last time happened too quickly! By the time I heard about it, it had already been quelled. This time, I must seize this opportunity!”
“My lord, what opportunity are you referring to?” asked a woman with a veil covering her face, whose appearance was hidden, but whose voice was cool and clear.
“Sally.” The governor glanced at the woman lustfully. “Think about it—someone who dares to confront Fisher like this must surely have rebellious intentions. Think again: the Green family controls both the north and the south and possesses a large army. If I were the emperor, I wouldn’t be able to sleep peacefully!”
“This time, with Duke Duvan’s wedding, the conflict between the royal family and the Green family has been exposed to all. On this continent, anyone with eyes can see it!” said the governor of the Hitu Province.
“As long as chaos persists, my chance will come! No, rather, everyone’s chance will come. Whether the Green family is destroyed or the Gavin Empire is overthrown, a great deal of power will be vacated. Those who can position themselves correctly during this chaos will reap huge benefits,” the governor of Hitu Province laughed heartily.
“Then, which side will you be on, Governor?” Hearing this, Sally moved slightly and quickly asked.
“Hmph, that old man from the Austin family treated me like that back then—I definitely won’t side with them,” the governor of Hitu Province said resentfully. “Moreover, in my opinion, when chaos breaks out, there will surely be many more people on the royal side. But the greater the risk, the greater the reward. I’ll definitely side with Duke Duvan!” he declared loudly.
“Sally, send someone to prepare a generous gift! We’re too far from the Siro Province. Have them travel day and night to deliver it before Duke Duvan’s wedding. I’ll set off right after to meet this duke in person!” the governor of Hitu Province ordered.
“Yes, my lord! I’ll handle it right away!” Sally replied promptly.
“By the way, use my Blood Jade Linglong as the main gift for Duke Duvan,” the governor suddenly said as Sally was about to leave the hall.
“My lord, are you really sure about this?” Hearing this, Sally trembled and asked.
“Yes! I’ve made up my mind!” the governor of Hitu Province said firmly.
……
That day was the wedding day of Duvan and Naixiu!
In the city of Doha, within the Siro Province, everywhere was filled with joy. The marriage of the lord was a major celebration for the entire city of Doha, for the entire Siro Province, and for all four Southern Wind Provinces!
Needless to say, for the residents of the Siluo Province, even in the other three provinces returned by Lanni, Du Fan not only did not collect taxes but also spent a great deal of money and resources to provide free support for the people in these provinces for their development! Across the entire four southern provinces, Du Fan was regarded as an envoy of the God of Light, sent to save the world!
Was there a local governor who, after taking office, not only did not exploit the people but also provided large amounts of money and resources? Was there a lord who made the kind of academic education usually reserved for nobles available to commoners? Moreover, this lord not only waived tuition and living expenses for eligible commoners but also gave them a subsidy of five gold coins per year!
Five gold coins! That was enough to ensure a worry-free life for a family of five for a whole year!
“The lord is getting married!” people in the four provinces passed the news around to each other.
Those capable among them even organized themselves to go to the city of Doha to witness the lord’s wedding in person!
The city of Doha had been transformed by its people into a sea of flowers—a place filled with joy.
At the center of Doha was a huge open square that could accommodate nearly half a million people!
When planning the entire city, Du Fan had already included this massive square. He naturally understood the importance of such a large square for a city.
In front of the square stood a huge platform, where Du Fan would hold his wedding ceremony publicly. At that moment, Du Fan was changing clothes in a room behind the platform, getting ready to appear.
Just as Du Fan took off his outer clothes to put on new ones, a figure suddenly appeared outside the door.
“Who’s there?” Du Fan shouted immediately!
If it were someone from his own team, they would never burst in without announcing themselves!
“Du Fan, even if you’re getting married, you could at least inform me!” Hearing this voice, sweet yet tinged with resentment, Du Fan immediately realized it was Angel.