8.2

The closer the wedding date crept, the nearly all the dignitaries and diplomats from all the planets arrived.

Even though the prince didn't want to marry his partner and asked for everything to be quick and simple, it was still the sole heir of the empire's wedding. No matter how simple he wanted it to be, it was still grander than an ordinary noble's wedding. Many princes from neighboring countries also attended the wedding on the capital planet to congratulate the newlyweds.

In fact, there wasn't even a need for a wedding. Jovin would have been able to bear a child for the prince, but the Queen objected. She didn't want her first grandchild, the one who was supposed to be a true emperor, to have a messy birth. If Jovin's child was the one in the prophecy, then he could not have a single stain on his record as the future emperor.

Therefore, the wedding was forced to go on. The queen didn't care much about Jovin's life or lack thereof once the child was born. She would leave those matters to her son. All she wanted was for her grandson to be born in a legitimate and rightful manner.

Jovin was just an ant dancing in the palms of the royal family. No matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't escape from their grasp. Qiao Chen, however, was different. Even if he was just an ant in their eyes, this ant would bite them to death.

So Qiao Chen chose not to run away for the time being. He wanted to wait until they felt so much pain that they'd want to let go of this little ant. Then he'd leave on his own accord.

Prince Farley was already an adult. He no longer lived at the imperial palace. He had his own palace. The entire wedding ceremony would be held at the temple in the morning. Then they'd go to the imperial palace to receive the emperor's and empress' blessing. The banquet would take place at the prince's palace in the evening.

The temple was solemn and warm. White roses and golden ribbons decorated the temple walls. There were rows of white benches. Each bench sat powerful officials and nobles of the empire.

Prince Farley wore his formal attire as he stood on the left side of the high priest. His face was gloomy and ugly. Anyone would be able to see with a single glance just how unhappy Farley was.

Qiao Chen wore a white wide-sleeved robe. He was surrounded by over a dozen flower girls. Qiao Chen walked into the temple expressionlessly. Once he reached the high priest, he stood to the right of him.

The high priest began to read the greetings and congratulations with soft music accompanying him in the background. Qiao Chen and Farley faced the guests below.

Farley saw his beloved sitting down in the benches. She watched the ceremony with tears in her eyes. Farley felt a sharp pain in his heart and looked back at his darling with affectionate eyes to appease her.

Among all the people sat in the benches below, Qiao Chen recognized a familiar face. An indescribable awkwardness and bitterness rose in his heart. He was marrying a complete stranger in front of his lover. Furthermore, he was just a stranger in his lover's eyes.

Tang Ao sat down. His heart creaked. An uncomfortable feeling slowly grew in his heart as Qiao Chen stared at him. He wasn't sure that Qiao Chen was looking at him at first. However, the gher just kept prolonged eye contact and Tang Ao was slowly convinced that Joven was looking at him. He wondered why Joven would look at him with such sad eyes. Tang Ao very rarely returned to the capital planet. He'd visit once every few years or so, so this should have been the first time that the two met.

Soru, the captain of his personal guard, sat next to Tan Ao. He also realized that Qiao Chen had been staring at Tang Ao weirdly. He covertly asked, "Your Highness, have you been cheating people's feelings?"

Even though Tang Ao and Soru had a master and servant relationship, they often spoke casually with one another. There weren't that many restrictions or taboos because they grew up together.

"I've only returned to the capital planet once every few years. Even if I wanted to cheat someone's feelings, how would I do it while so far away? Furthermore, this is the first time I've ever seen the person." Tang Ao replied quietly. It didn't even look like they were speaking because their mouths didn't move. It was like they were ventriloquists.

Qiao Chen had been staring deeply at Tang Ao for nearly the entire time. Even if Tang Ao wanted to avoid him, he couldn't. Therefore, he just openly looked back at Qiao Chen and observed the wedding couple. The prince's eyes were glue to another person anyway. He'd never notice that his bride was looking elsewhere.

Qiao Chen wore a white robe with gold threaded embroidered patterns. This accentuated his temperament. His lips were rosy and full. His skin looked as smooth as porcelain. His pale blue eyes drew people in with those melancholic waves rolling like the ocean. Every single attribute made him very in line with Tang Ao's type.

If he had met this person before his marriage, then Tang Ao would have definitely pursued him. However, they've met at the gher's wedding day. This meant that it was impossible for them to even have a chance.

Tang Ao was surprised at these feelings of regret. This was just someone who looked attractive. He had seen countless attractive individuals. However, this was the first time that he felt this way. It was possible that not only was this person so attractive, but even their temperament was completely according to his preferences.

The wedding ceremony's atmosphere was very strange. The guests didn't feel like they were attending a wedding. The couple stood together, but seemed to be in completely different worlds. They could not be farther away from each other even when they stood so near the other.

Prince Farley looked sad as he affectionately stared at…. someone in the benches.

The prince's bride to be was entirely expressionless as he meaningfully stared at… someone else in the benches.

All the guests had the same that at once 'Are you sure you two are getting married? Even if you didn't want to, you didn't have to make the atmosphere so weird, did you?'

Every single minute of this wedding was torture for Qiao Chen. He had to marry someone he didn't love. What made it even worse was that he had to marry this person in front of his lover. Even though he would never allow Farley to touch a single hair on his body, his heart still panged with discomfort.

The morning ceremony, afternoon ceremony, and banquet finally finished. Qiao Chen nearly slumped over in exhaustion. He ignored Farley's look of disgust and sat on the bed. Qiao Chen rubbed his sore shoulders and neck.

The prince's palace butler entered the room with two glasses of wine. "Your Highnesses, this is the wine sent from Her Highness the empress to congratulate you on your wedding."

It was custom for the elders to send wine to the newlyweds on their wedding night. However, Qiao Chen unconsciously clenched his hands into fists when he recalled this wine.

In Jovin's life, he lost consciousness after drinking this glass of wine. When he woke up the next day, he was relentlessly slapped by Farely as he scolded him for being depraved. Half his face swelled up from the abuse.

Farley and his lover agreed that even though they weren't the ones who stood at the altar together; the wedding night would belong to them. Mandy waited all night in the study next door. However, Farley failed to see his beloved because of the wine.

The wine was sent by the queen, so that meant that the drugs were also send by the queen as well. Farley knew in his heart that it was his mother that plotted against him, but he still vented all his hatred and anger on Jovin.

Qiao Chen accepted the win and drank it all in one go. Then he slammed the glass back onto the tray. The butler couldn't help to do a double take and wonder where this sudden bitter hatred and enmity came from.

Farley also downed the wine in one go. He wanted the butler to leave as quickly as possible so he could reunite with his beloved Mandy.

As soon as the butler left, Qiao Chen used the system and forced the drugs from the wine out of his body. Farlet sat on the other side of the bed for a bit before he stood up. He threw his coat on the bed, but just as he was about to leave, he clutched his head. Farley fell onto the big bed behind him, motionless.

Qiao Chen waited until Farley was unconscious before he stood up and walked to Farley's side of the bed. He looked at Farley and saw his face quickly redden. Farley's eyes were glassy as his vision blurred. Qiao Chen thought that the queen was quite unscrupulous. She wanted this grandson so badly that she would even feed her own son such strong drugs.

The drugs would completely take over Farley's reasoning in a while. Qiao Chen wouldn't be able to control him if he waited, so he began his plan.

He took out a bottle of medicine hidden in his sleeves. Qiao Chen wanted to open Farley's mouth to pour it in, but felt sick at the thought of touching this man. Unfortunately, the things that had to be done must be done. Qiao Chen found a clean handkerchief to act as a barrier. He dropped it on Farley's chin and pushed the jaw down. Then he poured the bottle into Farley's open mouth.

After doing what needed to be done, Qiao Chen went back to his side of the bed and lay down. It looked like he had fallen under unconscious from the wine as well.

A few minutes passed by. Farley suddenly opened his eyes and shot up from the bed. He looked around nervously before relaxing. He saw Qiao Chen's back facing him and coldly snorted. Finally, he held his dizzy head as he walked to the secret door in the wall.

This room had a secret door that lead directly to the study. Farley didn't have to worry about being caught by the servants outside. He was able to meet directly with his lover in the study this way.

Qiao Chen looked at the closed secret door and sneered. He knew that Farley wouldn't return to this room tonight and was exhausted. He wanted to lie back down on the bed and just fall asleep. However, he fell gross all over when he thought about how this was Farley's bed. Qiao Chen stood up and walked over to the sofa nearby to sleep.

Qiao Chen was obviously very tired, but his brain refused to relax. All the guests who attended the wedding were invited to sleep in the palace after the banquet. Tang Ao was a prince with a distinguished status. He should have been given accommodations in the main building.

His lover was so close to him, but it seemed like they were separated at such a great distance. This suddenly reminded Qiao Chen of a poem*:

The furthest distance in the world

Is not between life and death

But when I stand in front of you

Yet you don't know that I love you

Qiao Che suddenly wondered whether this was the right decision. Should he have married this person he didn't love all for the chance of revenge? Even though Farley wouldn't be able to touch him and it was just a marriage in name… his lover attended the wedding. He felt bitter knowing that his beloved watched him marry someone else.

Tang Ao sat on the sofa on the balcony in his sleeping clothes. He swirled the wine glass in his hand. He should have been asleep by now. However, as long as he thought about how that near holy angel he watched get married would consummate his marriage with someone else tonight, he felt irritated and restless.

If only they could have met earlier. He definitely would have exhausted all his means to marry that person. However… they met each other at such a time.

Tang Ao drank wine by the bottle. One turned to two and two soon turned to three. However, he didn't feel sleepy, so he sat there until the sun gradually rose and lit up the morning sky.