Chapter 84: A Bride’s New Marriage
Ping Le did not stay at the Women’s Society for more than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea before she grew restless and decided to leave.
The women all found the Princess to be acting strangely, but they did not dare to ask, and they all escorted her to the door, watching until the Princess got into the carriage before they dispersed.
The carriage curtains were tightly drawn.
The maid Hong Xing then presented a scented sachet filled with medicinal materials and brought it close to Ping Le.
“Your Highness, take a few breaths to calm yourself.”
It was a calming and soothing herbal pill.
Ping Le took two deep breaths, signaled to Lu Lian to massage her stiff neck, and repeatedly took deep breaths and exhaled. Despite her efforts, she still felt uncomfortable.
“Xue Liu!”
“I will definitely kill Xue Liu!”
Hong Xing noticed the sweat beading on the Princess’s forehead and coaxed her to take a pill. Once the Princess’s body relaxed, she pursed her lips and sighed.
“Princess, why did you show favor to that Xue Si just now?”
“If she and Gu Jie hadn’t used the Princess’s name to illegally divert treasury silver from the Gold Department, the Princess wouldn’t have been implicated by them and ended up in such a state, becoming a laughingstock…”
Ping Le looked weary.
“What do you know? Imperial Father values Marquis Jingyuan.”
She pursed her lips again, deeply inhaling the rich fragrance from the calming sachet, and quieted her mind.
“I have a use for this Xue Si.”
Hong Xing acknowledged her and asked no further questions.
She was Ping Le’s personal maid and understood the Princess’s temper best. If she continued, the Princess would become angry.
As the carriage arrived at the Princess’s Mansion, Lu Lian was about to lift the curtain when another hand, as fair as jade, reached out.
Upon seeing this, Ping Le handed the sachet to Hong Xing and directly took the offered hand, smiling radiantly.
“Husband, didn’t you go to the southern suburbs for Scholar Liu’s poetry gathering? Why are you back at this hour?”
Lu You’an did not answer her question. Instead, he looked at her with exhaustion, his eyelids slightly lowered, and retorted:
“Didn’t the Princess say she was recuperating at home? Why did you go out to the Women’s Society?”
If anyone else had questioned her like this, Ping Le would have likely kicked them on the spot and ordered them to be beaten dozens of times.
But Lu You’an was different.
He was the man she admired.
Lu You’an had also sacrificed a great deal for her.
If he hadn’t married her, Lu You’an, a distinguished Top Scholar and the legitimate son of the former Prime Minister’s mansion, could have achieved great things. Merely by marrying a princess, he had been bound by numerous rules, limiting his career prospects. Yet, he had no complaints over the years and had taken good care of her and their two children.
Ping Le looked at his handsome face, her expression softening.
“Some matters have been delayed for too long and had to be dealt with. I only sat for the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, and then I returned…”
Lu You’an said, “The seasons are changing, and malevolent winds are strong in Shangjing. The Princess’s health has not fully recovered; please rest more at home from now on.”
This was a subtle warning that the political situation was delicate, with hidden undercurrents. There were many rumors outside, and she needed to be cautious with her words and actions, to avoid causing more trouble.
Ping Le linked her arm through his, a gentle smile appearing on her face.
“I know you care for me, Husband. I will take good care of myself. Let’s go, we’ll go see Guan Chen and Tong Tong…”
Lu You’an nodded slightly, allowing her to affectionately link arms with him as they walked forward.
Ping Le glanced back at the maids and guards with a cold eye, signaling them not to gossip.
When she turned back to Lu You’an, her smile returned.
“Husband, you’ve worked hard these days. I specifically asked the kitchen to prepare your favorite deer antler and black chicken soup. Imperial Physician Hu said this soup is very nourishing… There’s also yam and Euryale ferox for the Yi Yuan cake. You can try them later and see which flavor you like…”
Lu You’an showed a hint of shyness on his face and sighed slowly.
“Thank you, Princess.”
–
An unseen storm was brewing.
In the Xue Mansion, Jinshu was slowly brushing Xue Sui’s long hair.
“Eldest Young Master sent word that he won’t be coming to the mansion for the banquet…”
Xue Sui smiled slightly, “Senior Disciple Brother is accustomed to being aloof; let him be.”
Jinshu observed Xue Sui’s expression, feeling as if a fire was burning in her heart, unable to calm down.
After suppressing herself several times, she still couldn’t help but speak.
“Going to Prince Duan’s Mansion, this maid feels you are at a disadvantage. Eldest Young Master must also feel sorry for you and couldn’t bear to witness it himself—”
Xue Sui’s expression was calm, “Prince Duan is suitable.”
Jinshu asked, “Why doesn’t Miss consider the Eastern Palace?”
Xue Sui curled her lips, offering no explanation.
She knew that Jinshu understood the reason for her going, and saying this was merely out of concern for her.
This marriage was personally arranged by Master Jing Kong and Princess Consort Duan.
It had been decided from the moment she returned to the capital.
Consort Xiao had personally conferred the title of Ru Ren, and it was impossible for the imperial decree to be reversed.
She was eighteen this year; if she didn’t go to Prince Duan’s Mansion, it wouldn’t be appropriate to stay at the Xue family’s home indefinitely.
Her revenge and her ambitions required a legitimate identity to be realized. Prince Duan’s Mansion appeared dangerous, but wasn’t the Eastern Palace also a Dragon’s Pool and Tiger’s Den, a target for everyone?
Moreover, was the Eastern Palace a place she could enter simply because she wished to?
Prince Duan’s Mansion was the best place for her to take refuge.
Compared to the one in the Eastern Palace, Prince Duan’s Mansion was truly not the most dangerous.
Controlling Li Zhao, using Li Huan’s hand to stir up trouble, and dealing with Ping Le – that would be truly satisfying.
She did not have the power to cover the sky with one hand. In the treacherous currents of Shangjing and the complex struggles of the powerful, attempting to overthrow the imperial court single-handedly was undoubtedly a fool’s dream.
Whether seeking justice from those Three Dukes and Nine Ministers sitting high above, or bringing down the Emperor’s beloved Princess Ping Le, she needed to take it step by step, patiently accumulate strength, and slowly climb upwards to reach her goal—
A dark walker, she was the only one.
Approaching the enemy was the only way to utterly defeat them.
“If Ping Le falls by Li Huan’s hand and is disfavored by the Emperor, then she can truly be brought down. To see her abandoned by everyone, taste all the bitterness in the world, that will truly satisfy me…”
After Xue Sui finished speaking, she saw Xiao Zhao’s lips move as if she wanted to speak but hesitated, so she smiled again.
“Revenge is not about brute force killing.”
Jinshu and Xiao Zhao exchanged a glance and chuckled.
She remembered the words her mistress had spoken.
She wanted her enemies to lose everything they cared about, for their cherished possessions to turn to dust, for their affections to become ashes, and for their hopes to end in despair. She wanted to see their grand mansions crumble, their families scattered, and their lives ruined…
This path was still very long.
As long as the Emperor on the Golden Palace did not abandon the Princess, Ping Le would not lose her honor. Even in death, she would be glorious…
“Alas!”
Jinshu sighed and looked gently into the mirror.
The woman in the mirror had a calm and cold face, her eyes as deep as a bottomless pool. Every strand of her hair was smooth and lustrous, like black silk, shimmering enchantingly under the soft lamplight.
Xiao Zhao brought over the cosmetic box and carefully placed it down.
Xue Sui picked out a golden hairpin inlaid with a red gem and placed it in her ink-black hair bun.
The woman in the mirror became even more stunning and captivating, beautiful beyond compare. However, she did not possess the shy charm of a typical bride. Her face was cold, as indifferent as autumn frost.
Jinshu said, “Miss’s makeup is a bit too light.”
Xue Sui merely smiled, “This is just right.”
Jinshu offered a few more pleasantries with a smile, but suddenly couldn’t continue.
Xiao Zhao held Xue Sui’s hand, carefully blowing on the freshly painted red nail polish.
Everyone fell silent.
The atmosphere became somewhat heavy and oppressive.
After repeating it to herself several times, Jinshu slowly spoke.
“If Prince Duan requests your presence for the night, how will you respond?”
Xue Sui was silent.
For her, this was not a problem.
Because she did not care about such things.
After years of planning, no one could stop her progress. Romantic love was like barren land and dead wood to her, utterly meaningless.
It was merely a physical shell; what was there to care about?
Back then, she had struggled to survive under Ping Le and others. Having managed to live, her physical body had long since died and rotted. The Xue Liu of today was merely a soul, a soul returned to demand a life…
However, she believed Li Huan would not ask her to sleep with him.
At least not now.
She smiled faintly, “Prince Duan is still bothered by the incident at the Bamboo Forest Pavilion and hasn’t figured out the truth. He won’t want me. Moreover, he is very wary of me, and he is terrified of those malevolent things in the Old Mausoleum Swamp. The women in the back chambers of the Prince’s Mansion are not lacking me; he has no reason to risk himself.”
She paused, then winked at the bronze mirror.
“Besides, I have Princess Consort Duan, my dear Elder Sister. Don’t worry, Aunt, I have my ways of handling it…”
Jinshu hesitated, then said, “Since Miss has a plan, this maid will no longer worry for you. However, there is one thing this maid cannot understand. Since Prince Duan has no intention towards Miss, why did he agree to this matter?”
Xue Sui’s eyes curved, revealing a hint of a smile that, in her dazed state, looked more like mockery or sarcasm.
At this moment, Spirit Feather pounced over, its claws tangling the tassels on her favorite fan pendant. She was not annoyed, and she smoothed out the tangled threads one by one.
After a long while, she spoke slowly.
“In Prince Duan’s heart, I am merely a useful chess piece.”
“For Prince Duan, grand ambitions and hegemony far outweigh fleeting female beauty.”
Jinshu smiled, “I believe you, Miss.”
–
Shao Yang Hall in the Eastern Palace.
A scout in black knelt and cupped his fist.
“Your subordinate has discovered that Princess Ping Le bribed a sedan chair carrier from Prince Duan’s Mansion and also hired several skilled knights-errant in the streets and alleys at a high price to ambush the sedan chair carrying Miss Xue Liu…”
Li Zhao listened quietly, his eyelids lowered, his long lashes drooping slightly, obscuring a cold glint of disdain in his dark eyes.
Silence reigned.
The scout lowered his head, feeling the pain in his knees.
He had been reporting for so long, why wasn’t the Crown Prince letting him stand up?
Guan Ya coughed lightly, stepped forward, and cupped his fist with his head bowed.
“Your Highness, why not go with the flow? Use their plan against them?”
Seeing Li Zhao remain silent, he added, “As long as Miss Xue Liu’s life is spared and she is hidden away somewhere… without anyone knowing, it can be blamed on Princess Ping Le. No one would ever guess it was the Crown Prince’s doing…”
Li Zhao chuckled lightly.
Hide Miss Xue Liu somewhere?
He could not imagine the scene Guan Ya described.
Xue Liu was no caged bird, no canary.
Her hatred was boundless.
She wished to turn the Li family’s empire upside down to be satisfied, how could she easily comply?
Moreover, were his affections and desires so cheap? To be manipulated by her?
If he truly did that, in Xue Liu’s eyes, he would not only appear short-sighted but also petty.
Didn’t Xue Liu want to conspire with him on great matters?
Complying with her was the true way to go with the flow.
Li Zhao said, “Ensure her safety and escort her to Prince Duan’s Mansion.”
Guan Ya was shocked, his pupils widening.
The Crown Prince was trapped by the Love Silk Gu and had to protect Miss Xue Liu. A few trusted confidantes knew about this. These past few days, Zhang Huaicheng had been secretly searching for people from the southern regions, and Guan Ya was well aware of this.
However, based on his observations, Li Zhao was extremely reluctant for Miss Xue Liu to marry into the Prince’s Mansion.
Could his mind have changed in just three days?
So he said, “Your Highness, why don’t we simply watch from the sidelines and let Princess Ping Le make her move? At the critical moment, we can intervene and abduct her. Wouldn’t that be killing two birds with one stone? Why rush into the murky waters and put the Eastern Palace in a precarious position, attracting attention?”
In Guan Ya’s opinion, reaping the benefits while remaining uninvolved was the most stable plan.
Li Zhao remained silent.
He was influenced by the Gu, but not in love with Xue Liu.
Xue Liu wanted to use him for revenge, targeting Li Huan and Ping Le, which was beneficial to him.
Just as she said, common interests were the most enduring.
For a woman who was neither yielding nor stubborn, one had to use cunning.
Li Zhao slowly played with the two intricately patterned Qilin walnuts in his hand…
“Imperial Sister-in-law, wouldn’t that add more interest?”
Guan Ya was startled by his words.
The scout wished he were deaf.
The two exchanged a glance. Seeing the Crown Prince’s serious expression and faint smile, they had no choice but to brace themselves and cup their fists in agreement.
“This subordinate will attend to it immediately.”
“Wait—” Li Zhao suddenly spoke.
He placed the two lustrous Qilin walnuts on the sandalwood base, slowly stood up, and adjusted his robes.
“I will also go join the fun!”
–
The wedding banquet at the Xue Mansion was very lively.
Although it was not as grand and luxurious as the wedding of the Eldest Daughter, nor as meticulously planned as Xue Yueying’s marriage to the Marquis’s Mansion, the Third Madam, Madam Qian, had put in a great deal of effort. The specifications were lowered, but the banquet was exceptionally well-prepared. The relatives ate with smiles on their faces, raising their cups and toasting, their laughter and joy unceasing as they came to offer their congratulations and support.
Prince Duan’s Mansion sent a magnificent vermilion and gold-painted wedding sedan chair. The chair was exquisitely decorated, with red silk wedding bells hanging from the four corners. The sedan curtains were made of the finest Shu brocade, embroidered with pomegranate patterns symbolizing fertility and blessings…
There were four sedan chair bearers, eight guards, and one wedding officiant. They followed the etiquette and rules, slightly raising the specifications to give the Xue Mansion ample face.
However, Prince Duan did not come to personally escort the bride, nor were there the complex and exquisite procedures and ceremonies of a formal wedding…
Today, Prince Duan’s Mansion was hosting a birthday banquet.
Prince Duan was too busy to attend, and clearly, he did not care about a Ru Ren entering his mansion.
“The auspicious hour has arrived!”
Hearing the wedding officiant’s clear, smiling voice, Xue Ji’s long-suppressed tears suddenly fell.
In the past few days, she had imagined countless times the scene of her daughter leaving home…
Only at this moment did she realize the reluctance in her heart, the sorrow and pain that were impossible to suppress or describe, as if a piece of her heart and flesh had been gouged out…
“Sixth Sister…”
Xue Ji hugged Xue Sui tightly, tears falling as she instructed.
“From now on, you must take good care of yourself and be extra cautious in all matters.”
Xue Sui gently patted her back, “Mother, don’t worry, I will.”
The wedding officiant beside them chuckled softly, “Concubine Xue, rest assured. Your daughter is marrying into Prince Duan’s Mansion, such a noble and illustrious family! Sixth Miss is going to enjoy blessings; her good days are yet to come.”
Before the bride enters the sedan chair, she must cry.
Xue Sui was smiling, holding a red silk wedding fan, as she stepped over the threshold.
Others saw this and said that Sixth Miss must be overjoyed to have climbed so high, unable to shed a single tear.
They did not know that Xue Sui had not been able to cry since she was eight years old.
The sedan chair was carried away from Fu’an Lane, with crowds of onlookers on both sides.
They were all counting the dowry.
Xue Sui’s dowry was quite substantial, totaling sixty-four loads. However, compared to the Eldest Daughter’s dowry, it was naturally somewhat less. The crowd was filled with busybodies, comparing and discussing.
Xue Yueying stood in the crowd, silently watching the sedan chair depart before joining the others in offering a few auspicious words.
No one noticed the faint jealousy and unwillingness in her eyes.
To go from Fu’an Lane to Prince Duan’s Mansion, one had to cross an ancient and sturdy stone arch bridge.
The bridge was about three zhang wide, built with massive bluestone blocks. The railings were carved with lifelike auspicious beasts such as Qilin and Pixiu, flowing and exquisite in craftsmanship. The people of Shangjing called it “Rui Shou Bridge.”
The water surface below the bridge shimmered, rippling in layers.
As the sedan chair just reached the bridge, on the prosperous wine shop by the bridge, the half-hidden wooden window lattice was quietly pushed open.
Several assassins who had been lying in wait earlier signaled to their companions, their eyes fixed on the approaching wedding sedan chair. They slowly pulled up the black cloths around their necks, concealing their faces.
The sun was setting in the west, and dusk had fallen.
The teahouses and wine shops on both sides were bustling with noise. Diners leaned on the railings, laughing and chatting, watching the bride’s departure. No one noticed the men lurking in the shadows.
“Act!” the leader whispered, raising his finger high.
“Yes!”
As several men clung to the eaves, about to leap out, a mighty procession emerged from Suanzao Alley opposite.
Vermilion banners fluttered, yellow umbrellas swayed, and a group of Eastern Palace attendants in bright, dazzling armor majestically escorted the imperial carriage.
It was the Crown Prince’s retinue.
They were heading precisely towards the Qilin Bridge, blocking the way…
Li Zhao: What a lively scene!
Assassins: Should I… kill or not kill?
