Chapter 2: I Forbid This Wedding!

"I forbid you from proceeding with the ceremony! Cousin, you love Bingbing—why betray her and marry this ugly woman whose origins are unknown!"

Hua Qinci, her vision obscured by the crimson bridal veil, listened intently. Indeed, her background was a little mysterious, and as for whether she was ugly or not, she had never seen her current appearance.

"Bingbing, that's enough!" a coarse woman raised her voice in warning, then hastily tried to smooth things over, "Everyone, just ignore her. She's just an ignorant little girl."

Hua Qinci thought to herself, let them make a scene, the bigger the better. If the wedding could be ruined, wouldn't she be spared from being forced to bow in the ceremony?

"It's all your fault, shameless ugly thing!" Bingbing's voice was shrill. "You're the one shamelessly seducing my cousin behind everyone's back!"

In a flash, Bingbing rushed forward, her hand wielding a gust of wind. With a loud "slap," her palm struck Hua Qinci's face with such speed and force that the crimson veil was knocked aside.

"Wow!" the crowd exclaimed.

Hua Qinci felt a burning pain on her cheek, and she looked up angrily, her large eyes filled with menace. To strike her—she must be courting death.

Bingbing met her gaze and was instantly startled. Seeing that neither her aunt nor cousin reacted, she grew bolder and charged at Hua Qinci again, shouting, "You shameless woman! I'll beat you to death today!"

Her little palm was raised before Hua Qinci's face, but was firmly caught by a larger hand. "Enough!" a deep, pleasant voice rang out.

Hua Qinci glanced at the man. He was dressed in red, wearing a half-black mask made of what seemed to be animal fur, fluffy and strange. He stood tall, his exposed features strikingly handsome, his sharp contours clearly warning others to keep their distance.

Meeting his cold gaze, Hua Qinci felt a jolt in her calm heart. Was this the man she was to marry? The one rumored to be monstrously ugly? He didn't seem like a typical hunter.

"Cousin!" Bingbing's eyes reddened as she raised her voice in grievance, "Have you forgotten what you promised Bingbing?"

Seeing her pitiful expression, Hua Qinci sensed there was a story behind this—what a show!

Bingbing's delicate face was adorned with exquisite makeup, her hair tied with a beautiful red ribbon, a silver moon hairpin gleaming atop her head, her tearful eyes evoking sympathy.

"Cousin, do you really have to marry this ugly woman today?"

She pointed at Hua Qinci and shouted, drawing everyone's gaze to her—including the masked man.

Hua Qinci swept her eyes over the shocked faces. Ugly woman? How hideous must the body’s original owner have been?

"Stop this nonsense. Go back, and when I'm finished, I’ll come find you," the masked man looked at Bingbing and spoke.

"Cousin!" the girl's voice was drawn out, her face flushed with anger and dissatisfaction. "If you insist on marrying her today, I'll die before your eyes!"

She shouted, shook off the man's hand, and began to smash the fruit and candies on the table, ripping the red wedding decorations. The entire ceremony was instantly thrown into chaos by her rampage.

"You crazy girl, I see I've been far too indulgent as your aunt! How dare you... how dare you ruin my son's wedding," Qin Mingyue, the mistress of the Qin family, bellowed with a gruff voice, her teeth clenched. "You learn nothing good, only the faults of your mother!"

As she spoke, her heavy palm landed on Bingbing’s fair cheek, leaving a large, bright red mark.

"How dare you mention my mother?" That struck a nerve, and Bingbing exploded in fury. "I hate it most when people talk about her—and you still compare me to her!"