Investing in the Reborn Empress, She Actually Calls Me ‘Husband’ Chapter 730: All Parties Reached a Consensus

"Where could that ice block have stashed it?"

Li Mo rubbed his head in frustration. It was the middle of the day with no moon in sight, making it impossible to start a private chat with the ice block.

Furthermore, since she was the one who had concealed it, she likely wouldn't divulge its location to him regardless.

He shifted his gaze toward his mother, searching her face for any subtle clues.

Gu Xueqin simply smiled and gave a small shake of her head. "Little Bing'er was the one who hid it. I’m just as clueless as you are."

Detecting her son’s shifty eyes, Lady Gu grew wary and stood more firmly in the doorway, blocking his path.

"It isn't time to visit the bride. And later on, you are strictly forbidden from sneaking a peek under Little Bing'er's veil."

In terms of gold and silver, Li Mo possessed wealth that could rival an entire empire.

In the realm of martial power, his physical form was unrivaled; his Divine Physique and Seventy-Two Transformations made him practically invincible against a hundred tribulations.

It appeared his only choice was to keep searching for that object...

Suddenly, the sound of soft steps echoed from behind his mother. Before Li Mo could even shift his focus, a stunning flash of crimson caught his eye.

He saw that the wedding gown was a deep red, though it paled in comparison to the jade-like face currently flushed with a bright rose hue.

She kept her head lowered, her fluttering eyelashes masking whatever emotions stirred within her eyes.

"Mother, please don't make him search any longer."

"You foolish girl, how can we just let him..." Gu Xueqin paused, momentarily stunned. We, your loyal subjects, were ready to fight to the bitter end for you, Your Majesty—so why have you surrendered so easily?

A soft laugh escaped her then as she thought back to her own wedding. It had been nearly identical; she had watched Old Li search until he was soaked in sweat before she finally had a servant move the hidden item to a more obvious spot.

Back then, her family had teased her for being so impatient, claiming they had never seen a bride so eager to get the wedding over with.

"I have already fetched the hidden item."

"Eh? I didn't see you grab it?"

"I am... wearing it..."

Gu Xueqin looked on, confused.

Li Mo had just reached for the ice block's hand, intending to lead her away, but he paused at her words. As his gaze drifted downward, he couldn't help but draw a sharp, startled breath.

It was a known fact that if one had to decide between the ice block's mastery of Cultivation and her legs as the more lethal weapon, Li Mo would pick the latter every single time.

Especially now, where beneath the scarlet skirt of the phoenix coronet and the formal robes, there was also...

"Mother, maybe we should skip the part about stepping over the fire brazier later?"

"Why would we do that? Are you worried about a fire starting in this dry weather?"

"Fire aside, I'm just concerned for your health."

"?"

While Gu Xueqin remained utterly baffled, Li Mo took a steadying breath. He had originally planned to carry the ice block on his back, but he changed his mind and swept her up into a horizontal bridal carry instead.

She was light as a feather, yet sweat began to bead on his forehead and his grip wavered slightly.

Ying Bing was flustered at first, but upon seeing his strained expression, a smile broke through her composure.

The usually dignified Young Master who loved playing secret tricks now looked exactly like a clumsy, immature kid.

"Immature kid, carry me away then."

"I'm not just carrying you away."

"Then marry me and take me home, okay?"

"...."

Li Mo's heart skipped a beat.

He realized that even if he mastered the Seventy-Two Transformations to the peak and paired it with his Divine Physique, he still wouldn't be able to withstand a strike like this.

The peerless, cold beauty of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths was currently leaning against his shoulder, her face red and eyes sparkling, asking him to take her home as his wife. Who could possibly say no?

"Mother, I'm taking the ice block now."

"Go ahead."

Gu Xueqin smiled, though tears began to pool in her eyes. She quickly dabbed them away with a red cloth.

As her sight cleared, the immature kid seemed to find his resolve. Holding his bride—his senior sister—he marched out with his head high and his chest out.

Straight toward the sunlight and the massive crowd!

"Ice block, what is that tune you're humming?"

"The one you were whistling the other day. You said you heard it from some monks."

"I strongly suspect you know that's the song for 'Pigsy Carries His Bride,' though I can't prove it."

Their playful banter drifted back toward the house.

"How wonderful."

The voice of the Thousand Forms Martial Venerable resonated within Xiao Qin's consciousness. "I can actually feel a sense of warmth in this body."

Teacher, aren't you just a lingering Nascent Soul remnant now?

Xiao Qin's lip twitched, but he didn't dwell on it.

"Teacher, don't you think I'm the only person who remembers this entire wedding was supposed to be a trap to lure the enemy out and ambush the demonic..."

"My boy, you've always been too honest for your own good. That's exactly why I chose you."

"?"

"Forget it. Let us go to the feast. We should sit at the children's table. They eat slowly, so you can let me take control of your body to enjoy some food and wine."

Xiao Qin suspected his teacher had a different motive for wanting the kids' table, but he lacked the evidence.

"I feel like I've overlooked something..."

Lady Gu paused mid-sniffle, realizing the 'red handkerchief' she had used to dry her eyes wasn't a handkerchief at all.

It was actually Little Bing'er's bridal veil.

"Wait! Son, come back!"

...

Fireworks thundered over Ziyang Prefecture City, their brilliance visible even in the bright sun.

These 'fireworks' didn't release sparks, but rather a cascading rain of flower petals. There was no need to wonder how it was done; the deity in charge of weddings for the Great Shang dynasty possessed a specialized inner world just for such professional displays.

Amidst the falling petals, the white horse, Bai Ju, trotted gracefully through the streets. A floral storm followed in its wake wherever it traveled.

Ying Bing held onto her veil, resting her head against Li Mo's chest.

She mentioned that if she had stayed under the veil inside a sedan chair, she would have missed all the vibrant energy of the celebration outside.

But now, the sun was warm, the autumn breeze was refreshing, and the roar of the crowd felt like crashing waves.

Even if she saw nothing else, and even without using her spiritual sense, everything felt incredibly real.

She wasn't marrying him in some hazy, fragmented dream this time.

A soft, complex sigh that wasn't her own echoed in her soul.

It was filled with blessings and quiet hope.

The sovereign of the Nine Heavens Immortals, whom she had always feared and guarded against, was also watching this scene in silence, seemingly preparing to depart.

"Ice block, I think there's a river up ahead. We're going to fall in," Li Mo teased.

"Liar. We are clearly arriving at the Clear Abyss Sect."

"......"

"In the future, immature kid, you don't need to make up excuses if you just want to hold me tight."

"Oh, right."

Only after responding did Li Mo realize he had been played. Wasn't that just an admission that he had used excuses in the past?

How strange, why wasn't he being as stubborn as usual?

This must be the Law of Conservation of Hard and Soft!

When the mouth isn't hard anymore, then the hammer treasure...

"You're still calling me an immature kid..." Li Mo muttered as he helped her dismount.

The moment he spoke, the ice block leaned in close to his ear.

Li Mo felt a shiver of anticipation, only to hear her cool, melodic voice tinged with mischief:

"What is it you’d rather hear me call you?"

"You know, the way a wife addresses her husband."

"I see." Ying Bing tilted her head playfully. "But the wedding ceremony isn't over yet~"

Gazing at the ice block behind the veil, Li Mo could almost see the triumphant grin on her face. He felt goosebumps break out across his skin.

He was doomed.

Today, the ice block was in a particularly mischievous mood!

But there was a silver lining.

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