Chapter 86: Grand Ceremony
Li Zhao sat in the imperial carriage, watching Xue Sui walk past him.
Her slender yet resolute figure was stretched long by the setting sun, completely enveloped in the shadow of his carriage. At the moment they brushed past, she did not look back at him.
Li Zhao did not turn his head either.
Only their two shadows met in the soft, orange-yellow light.
Yet they blurred into an indistinguishable form, merging together.
The wedding officiant faltered, frantically shaking the handkerchief in her hand and shouting at the top of her lungs.
“Music! Music! The procession, keep up! Quickly, quickly keep up!”
The wedding procession moved slowly forward.
Jinshu followed behind Xue Sui, glancing at Xiao Zhao out of the corner of her eye.
Xiao Zhao understood immediately and nodded slightly.
The two were perfectly in sync, not speaking further.
The bride walked ahead.
The Crown Prince’s carriage followed slowly behind.
The imperial procession led the way, with guards on either side.
The bluestone road beneath their feet stretched into the distance.
It wound endlessly.
As if to walk from the splendor of the setting sun’s dying rays into the thick, inky night sky.
And so, on Rui Shou Bridge, a peculiar and rare scene unfolded, leaving everyone stunned into silence.
Years later, those who enjoyed gossip would still recount this day vividly, as if the Crown Prince’s scandalous affair had happened before their very eyes.
And at this moment…
Xue Sui’s expression was as calm as water, showing no hint of emotion.
On the other hand, Li Zhao, seated in his carriage, had a face full of shifting expressions, making it impossible to fathom his thoughts.
The wedding music band played merrily, the gongs and drums beating thunderously.
Lai Fu occasionally stole glances at the Crown Prince’s expression, and in a daze, he almost looked forward to this scene as if it were the Crown Prince’s own wedding…
Of course, that was just a fantasy.
The Crown Prince had refused to marry Grand Tutor Lu’s granddaughter that day and was summoned by Empress Xie for a scolding.
Afterward, the Crown Prince convinced Empress Xie that it was to prevent the Emperor from becoming wary, but Lai Fu felt that was just His Highness’s excuse…
This was not the first time Grand Tutor Lu had brought up the matter.
Empress Xie had long since agreed, so how could the Crown Prince have only just learned of it?
He refused neither early nor late, but only after the Spring Flower Banquet…
Lai Fu mused that the Crown Prince must have been affected by the Gu poison…
Thinking this, Lai Fu felt even more pity for the Crown Prince.
Of the Emperor’s five imperial princes, whose inner courts were not filled with a multitude of women?
Only the Eastern Palace was cold and deserted.
Lai Fu remembered that when the Crown Prince was fifteen, Consort Xiao had instructed a palace maid to attempt to seduce the Crown Prince while making his bed in Shao Yang Hall. However, she had made a mistake by mixing aphrodisiacs into the incense, and he discovered it.
The Crown Prince was furious and immediately ordered the palace maid to be beaten to death on the spot.
From then on, Empress Xie replaced the palace maids close to the Crown Prince, and his bedchamber was exclusively attended by eunuchs.
After this incident, the Crown Prince became wary of any woman who came near him and never allowed himself to be intimate easily.
A significant part of his dislike for Lu Xi was that Grand Tutor Lu had intended to form a marriage alliance with the Eastern Palace once Lu Xi had grown up.
Now that Sixth Miss Xue was using Gu poison to harm him, one could imagine how much the Crown Prince hated her?
If he could act, Sixth Miss Xue would have died a thousand times over by now. Unfortunately, the Crown Prince not only cannot kill her but must also protect her. How much torment and suffering must he be enduring in his heart?
Listening to the wedding music, Lai Fu was on the verge of tears!
Sitting in the Eastern Palace, disaster befell him from the heavens.
Hateful!
Pitiful!
The position of Crown Prince loomed above all other imperial princes.
But the Crown Prince was actually very lonely…
Otherwise, there wouldn’t be so many stray leopard cats and wild dogs he’d picked up in You Huang Ju, raising all sorts of disliked or injured small animals…
Those were His Highness’s beloved pets, and also his friends.
Yet the Crown Prince could not keep them in the Eastern Palace.
The position of Crown Prince, though seemingly glorious, did not allow for doing as one pleased.
Lai Fu sighed heavily.
Guan Ya walked over, approached the imperial carriage, and said in a low voice, “Your Highness, everything is handled.”
Li Zhao gave a soft hum and remained silent, not knowing what his subordinate was thinking.
Guan Ya glanced at Lai Fu’s red eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
Lai Fu shook his head, “I want to die.”
Guan Ya: “Who?”
Lai Fu thought for a moment, “This servant… me!”
Guan Ya: “…”
Incomprehensible!
No one else spoke around them.
The sound of the wedding music became particularly jarring.
After the wedding procession passed, a group of Imperial Guards escorted several suspicious-looking men out of a restaurant by Rui Shou Bridge.
They told everyone that spies from Xizi had infiltrated the capital and urged the neighborhood constables and citizens to remain vigilant, pay close attention to their surroundings, and report any suspicious individuals to the authorities immediately…
Today was Prince Duan’s birthday.
Ping Le arrived at Prince Duan’s Mansion, calculating the time.
Prince Duan had always advocated for frugality and hadn’t even sent out birthday invitations. The celebration was very simple, yet there were many guests at the mansion.
Ping Le was always casual at her Imperial Brother’s mansion. Bringing her two children, she saw Xue Yuechen greeting guests and immediately handed the children to their wet nurse before quickly walking towards her.
“Congratulations, Imperial Sister-in-law, on gaining another new sister.”
Xue Yuechen heard the hidden meaning in her words and smiled slightly, replying unhurriedly, “Ah Sui is already my own sister. After entering the mansion, we will be even more of a family.”
Ping Le let out a cold snort.
This Imperial Sister-in-law, who usually appeared gentle and kind, was actually very shrewd.
When her Imperial Brother was not in the capital a while ago, Xue Yuechen had been avoiding her, wholeheartedly intent on marrying her sister into the mansion, unwilling to give up this opportunity.
Ping Le put on a fake smile and said, “What I said wasn’t about Sixth Miss Xue.”
Seeing Xue Yuechen’s confusion, she immediately curved her lips into a malicious smile.
“I recently acquired several beauties, all of them so lively and pleasing to the eye. I brought them today as a birthday gift for my Imperial Brother.”
Xue Yuechen’s heart chilled.
Wasn’t this deliberately meant to disgust her?
She was utterly annoyed by Ping Le’s demeanor, but having been Princess Consort Duan for ten years, the demeanor of a virtuous and dignified lady was already ingrained in her bones.
Even though she was displeased, her face remained wreathed in smiles.
“Your Highness’s kind intentions are more than enough.”
After a polite remark, Xue Yuechen changed the subject.
“However, the Prince has always disliked these women. The inner quarters of the mansion prefer quiet. I had to put in a great deal of effort just to bring Ah Sui in. I truly dare not accept these beauties you’ve brought for the Prince…”
Upon hearing this, Ping Le replied with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
“If you can’t even make this decision, then your role as Princess Consort is quite useless, isn’t it?”
Xue Yuechen bowed slightly, her tone humble, “Naturally, I cannot compare to a Princess.”
The Imperial Son-in-law in the Princess’s Mansion obeyed her in all matters.
As women, their statuses were worlds apart, truly incomparable.
Ping Le pouted.
Ignoring what Xue Yuechen thought, she lightly clapped her hands.
“Hong Xing, bring the birthday gift I prepared for my Imperial Brother for Imperial Sister-in-law to see!”
As soon as she spoke, several graceful women glided in with delicate steps, greeting the Princess and Princess Consort in sweet, childish voices.
Ping Le’s gaze swept over these women, a half-smile on her face.
“From now on, you must serve His Highness well, do you hear me?”
She glanced at Xue Yuechen again and said with a leisurely smile, “If you don’t serve him well, I’ll have your hides!”
“Yes,” the women replied timidly, their heads lowered.
Xue Yuechen watched coldly, her smile becoming somewhat forced.
She managed to suppress the rising irritation within her and said in a gentle, soft voice:
“Your Highness, I truly dare not accept this grand gift. If the Prince were to blame me, I would not be able to bear it.”
Ping Le lazily adjusted her sleeves, her face beaming with a spring breeze.
“Imperial Sister-in-law has worked hard for my Imperial Brother all these years; you have merit even if you don’t have achievements. How could I possibly make things difficult for you? I will handle things with my Imperial Brother. Look at these beauties, each one so lively. If they can alleviate some of my Imperial Brother’s worries, they will also be helping you…”
Xue Yuechen sneered inwardly.
Why didn’t she keep such fine beauties for her Imperial Son-in-law to enjoy?
Without changing her expression, she called for Fei Cui.
“Go to the front hall and tell the Prince that Her Highness the Princess has sent a grand gift, and I don’t know how to handle it. Please instruct me…”
Ping Le knew this was Xue Yuechen indirectly complaining.
Xue family girls were all useless like this, only knowing how to find men to back them up.
She let out a soft snort, her face a mask of a smile.
“Imperial Sister-in-law, please rest assured. I brought them with my Imperial Mother’s permission. My Imperial Brother’s inner court has been too quiet all these years, truly lacking some liveliness. After so many years, not even a young Heir Apparent has been born. Those who know will say Imperial Sister-in-law is solely focused on the mansion’s affairs and has no time to take in more beautiful consorts for my Imperial Brother to continue the lineage. Those who don’t know might say Imperial Sister-in-law is narrow-minded and jealous, that she can’t have sons herself and won’t allow others to either…”
She said this with a light laugh, covering her mouth with a fan, feigning a slip of the tongue.
“Look at my mouth, it really has no filter. I’ve accidentally touched upon Imperial Sister-in-law’s sore spot. I hope Imperial Sister-in-law will not blame me.”
Xue Yuechen’s qi and blood surged, the color draining from her cheeks.
She had been subjected to Ping Le’s harassment and sarcasm more than once over the years.
But such direct words were a first.
It was clear that Ping Le detested her to the extreme and couldn’t even be bothered to feign politeness.
Xue Yuechen suppressed her anger, calmed her emotions, and performed a formal bow to Ping Le, saying coldly, “Your Highness speaks too harshly. I cannot bear such a grave accusation and am truly frightened. I fear I must ask the Prince to judge this matter.”
Ping Le chuckled softly.
“It was just a joke, Imperial Sister-in-law. Don’t take it to heart.”
Xue Yuechen sneered inwardly, contemplating how to respond.
At that moment, a maidservant rushed in.
“Reporting to Your Highness and Princess Consort, the bride’s sedan chair on Rui Shou Bridge has… has encountered a problem. The sedan pole and the main beam have broken and can no longer be used… The bride, the bride walked here herself…”
Xue Yuechen’s face darkened.
“What kind of decorum is this?”
“Didn’t the wedding officiant prepare another sedan chair? What reason is there for the bride to walk herself…”
Upon hearing this news, Ping Le’s expression flickered.
The sedan chair breaking on Rui Shou Bridge was something she had secretly arranged, so it wasn’t unexpected.
However, hadn’t she also arranged for people to give Sixth Miss Xue a show of strength?
She wasn’t in a hurry to take Sixth Miss Xue’s life.
If she played with her to death, there would be no more fun.
She planned to deal with her slowly!
As long as on the wedding day, Sixth Miss Xue, a woman, was abducted by a group of men in front of everyone, even if she married into Prince Duan’s Mansion with a thick skin, what face would she have to see anyone?
Why hadn’t those knights-errant abducted and snatched the bride?
However, walking to the mansion was embarrassing enough.
Ping Le’s smile was no longer concealed, her eyes curved, unable to close.
“Imperial Sister-in-law, is… Sixth Miss Xue so eager to marry? Is she so impatient to marry into the mansion?”
“My Imperial Brother’s birthday was going so well, and this incident has ruined it, truly embarrassing!”
Xue Yuechen harbored a deep dislike for Ping Le, her handkerchief almost twisted to shreds.
Then she heard the maidservant say again:
“Replying to Your Highness, it… it doesn’t seem embarrassing. When the sedan chair broke, the Crown Prince’s carriage passed by… The Crown Prince offered to lend his carriage, but the bride refused. As it happened, the Crown Prince was going to Prince Duan’s Mansion for wine, so he personally escorted her. The common people along the way said that Sixth Miss Xue had quite the grand procession…”
Before Xue Yuechen could speak, Ping Le interjected.
“What did you say? The Crown Prince personally escorted Sixth Miss Xue’s wedding?”
Has Li Zhao gone mad!?
That maidservant dared not look up at the Princess’s ferocious expression, her head almost drooping to her chest.
“Yes, the person who delivered the message said… said so, and also said that the Eastern Palace procession led the way, with elite armored soldiers guarding on both sides, banners flying, drums and music playing, the procession stretching far, and the common people watching, it was very dignified…”
Ping Le let out a cold snort.
Laughing in extreme anger.
She first let out two cold laughs, then her laughter grew louder and louder. But as she laughed, she suddenly felt a surge of qi and blood, and the itching sensation from the wind returned. It was as if a blazing fire had ignited from her stomach and traveled along her meridians to her entire body, like a group of restless insects and ants roaming freely within her channels.
Imperial Physician Hu had repeatedly warned her not to experience extreme joy or sorrow, lest it disrupt the balance of yin and yang and worsen her condition…
But how could she not be angry?
What happened to those knights-errant was self-evident.
They must have seen the Crown Prince and dared not act.
Li Zhao, oh Li Zhao, are you deliberately trying to cross me?
The dignified Crown Prince escorting a Ru Ren! I’ll see if I don’t report him to Imperial Father!
“Princess Consort!”
A maidservant hurried over.
“The bride and groom have arrived at the mansion. The mansion has opened the right corner gate to welcome them. The steward is asking if we should set off firecrackers…”
Today, the mansion was full of guests, and the firecrackers were originally prepared for Prince Duan’s birthday. However, because Ping Le was present, Xue Yuechen dared not light them for Sixth Miss Xue. Ping Le was always difficult and would often pick fault with etiquette. She didn’t want to conflict with Ping Le and just wanted to avoid this big trouble quickly.
Xue Yuechen pondered for a moment and said, “No need. Take the bride and groom to Tan Qiu Courtyard and settle them down first. Tell my Sixth Sister that I will come to see her later.”
The maidservant bowed in acknowledgment and paused before adding:
“Princess Consort, the Crown Prince’s imperial carriage has also arrived—”
It’s later, but there are many words… very long～～
