SailorStar9: Well, I figured I might as well get this over with and end this fic. So this is the epilogue. It's been a fun ride for me.
Disclaimers: I own nothing except the pairing.
Epilogue: Happy Ever After
Seven years later...
"Father,"Ya Xue knelt before her father's grave. "Karin-sama and Mao-sama released me from the 'Life Vow' two days ago. And Sanche dropped by earlier with the betrothal gifts. The Emperor had already given you a postmortem pardon and granted you the title of 'Captain'. I know that despite what Karin-sama did, I'm still honor-bound, no matter what, but..."
"Captain Huo," Sanche went on one knee before the grave. "I come before you now in hopes that you'll give me your daughter's hand in marriage. I pledge upon my honor that I will do whatever it takes to grant your daughter the happiness she deserves."
"Sanche, you don't have to..." Ya Xue blinked.
"But I want to." Sanche stated. "Besides, if your father's still alive, this is what I should've done. We'll have to consult the matchmaker to determine an appropriate date for the wedding."
"You really move fast, don't you?" Ya Xue chuckled.
Almost nine months later...
In the interior of the Ryuchin Restaurant, Sanche and his father were busy preparing for the wedding. Tang Li even commissioned the city's most famous printer to write congratulatory messages on red cloth banners.
In the back rooms of the Kikkaro Restaurant, Karin helped Ya Xue don on the red wedding dress. Putting the phoenix head gear on the younger girl's head, Karin draped the red scarf over Ya Xue's face.
"Nee-san, the precession is here!" Mao shouted from below.
"Ya Xue, it's time." Karin informed. "Mao and I will miss you."
"Karin-sama, Mao-sama, please take care of yourselves." Ya Xue remarked and stepped into the bridal sedan chair.
When the palanquin arrived in front of the Ryuchin Restaurant, the seasoned matchmaker took the bride's hand and led her into the main hall.
In the Tang ancestral hall, Sanche took his new bride's hand as they faced the high official who conducted the ceremony.
The matchmaker then took over, speaking off the couple's birth-dates and harmony and fertility, before unfolding a red silk scarf to hold up a red candle, which had two ends for lighting. Lighting both ends, the matchmaker announced before the couple bowed to the heaven, earth, the ancestors, Tang Li and each other, "The wedding has begun."
"Oh dear..." Ya Xue muttered, after the wedding party half pushed and half carried the wedded couple up to the bridal chamber. "Can we please skip this?" she looked imploringly at her new husband.
"No can do, dear wife." Sanche chuckled, as the younger boys pulled red eggs from under the blankets. "Just bear with this." he kissed her cheek. "Finally..." he sighed in relief after the wedding party exited the chamber. "Exhausted?" he looked at his new wife.
"Sore." Ya Xue admitted as she removed her head gear.
"My poor wife." Sanche chuckled and led her to the bed.
"Tang Qi Ren, get back here this instant!" Tang Ya Xue shouted after her five-year-old son.
"Qi Ren, what did you do to make your mother so angry with you?" Sanche asked, blocking his fleeing son.
"Nothing..." Qi Ren muttered, looking at the ground.
"Son..." Sanche gave the boy a reproaching look.
"I might have touched mother's saber." Qi Ren whispered.
"Now, that's not something you should do." Sanche chided. "Apologize to your mother."
"I'm sorry, mom." a sniffling Qi Ren turned to his mother.
"Promise me you won't do that again." Ya Xue scolded.
"I won't." Qi Ren shuffled his feet.
"Go wash up and meet me in the kitchen for training." Sanche told his son. "Your godmother is coming this weekend."
"Yes, father." Qi Ren ran off.
"Ever wished we had a daughter first?" Ya Xue looked at her husband.
"At times like this, yes." Sanche chuckled. "But a son does make things interesting." he pulled his wife into a hug.
"Have I ever told you I'm pregnant?" Ya Xue asked.
"Once." Sanche replied.
"Make that twice, dear." Ya Xue grinned.
"Should we write to Lady Karin in the Forbidden City, requesting she be the godmother of our second child?" Sanche suggested.
"Better add Fei to that letter too." Ya Xue stated.
"Why him?" Sanche's expression darkened slightly.
"I can't believe you're still jealous after so long." Ya Xue giggled. "I married you, not him."
SailorStar9: Now this fic's ended read and review.