Chapter Twenty-Three

The prince came and went in a hurry. The red veil had been lifted and the nuptial wine had been drunk. Now the prince was going out to offer toasts, and when he returned, it would be time for the wedding night. The matchmakers' task was considered complete.

"Xiaoqing, take off my phoenix crown." The phoenix crown on her head was made of pure gold, exquisite and luxurious, but also very heavy.

"Yes, Princess." Xiaoqing knew that the princess must be exhausted. This phoenix crown weighed a full six pounds. It was beautiful, but wearing it was tiring and heavy.

“Xiaoqing, you should call her Crown Princess.” Granny Jin immediately stopped Xiaoqing from using that title. Now that she was in Yuqing Palace and married to His Highness the Crown Prince, she could no longer call him “Gege” as she used to.

"Yes, yes, Crown Princess, Crown Princess." Xiaoqing was also inexperienced, so she slapped her head and grinned. Today, she noticed that the way the Crown Prince looked at the princess wasn't indifferent. He should, he should be able to show a tiny bit of liking for her.

Two nannies accompanied her: one was her wet nurse, Granny Jin, and the other was Granny Zhao, one of the four nannies sent by the Emperor to teach her manners. In addition to Xiaoqing and Xuya, there were several other maids and servants.

"Granny, I'm hungry. Get me some food, something light." After all, it's our wedding night, and what if the Crown Prince doesn't like the smell of strong flavors?

She really likes the Crown Prince.

That face, that aura—in later generations, he would be a true male god; how could she possibly get close to him?

"Princess Consort... would you like to wash up? Your makeup is all messed up." She had been busy all day, and although it seemed like she didn't need to do anything, it was still hot and she was wearing such thick clothes.

"Prepare some water, and also sprinkle some of the scented water we brought from home, hmm..." She thought for a moment, wondering what scent to use. She didn't know what scent the Crown Prince liked, and it wouldn't be good if he had an allergic reaction. Something mild would be best.

At Jialuo's command, the people she brought began to get busy. The servants and maids who had been sent by the Imperial Household Department to serve the Crown Princess in the main courtyard of Yuqing Palace were at a loss, but after being arranged by Granny Zhao, they also got busy serving meals and preparing hot water for bathing...

When Xiaoqing went to get clothes for the princess, she hesitated for a while. On one side was the princess's usual nightgown, and on the other side was the thin gauze that (Fucha) Fujin had specially prepared. Thinking that tonight was the princess's wedding night, she had to make sure that the crown prince liked her.

He picked up the sheer nightgown prepared by the Fujin (principal wife), determined to make the princess... no, the crown princess! He was determined to make the crown princess favored by the crown prince and give birth to the eldest son as soon as possible, so that the crown princess's position could truly be secured!

Meanwhile, outside, the Crown Prince was taken back to the wedding banquet by his brothers. Emperor Kangxi had already left, knowing that he wouldn't be able to enjoy himself if he stayed, so he simply left first.

"Your Highness, come, come, let me offer you a toast to your wedding today."

"Your Highness, another cup, may you have a son soon."

“Your Highness, if you don’t drink today, it means you don’t consider me your elder brother.”

"Crown Prince..."

The first to congratulate the Crown Prince was naturally the eldest prince; on such a joyous day, how could he not have a few drinks?

Come on, let's drink! Not drinking means you're not giving me, Yinqi, any face.

The third and fourth princes wanted to shield the crown prince from drinking, but the eighth prince brought the ninth and tenth princes over. The eighth prince, Yinzhi's, mother, Lady Wei, lived in the back hall of Yanxi Palace, which was the birth palace of the eldest prince, Yinti's, mother, Consort Hui. She was raised by Consort Hui from a young age and was naturally on the side of the eldest prince.

The eldest prince has spoken, and he cannot disobey.

The Ninth Prince and the Tenth Prince were simply looking for a good show and didn't mind making things worse. Today is the Crown Prince's wedding, so of course we have to celebrate it. If we don't drink, we're not men.

Thinking this in their hearts, they naturally said it out loud, thinking they were incredibly cool. As a result, the eldest prince laughed at them, saying they were still children and not men at all.

The Ninth Prince and the Tenth Prince were furious. They glared at their eldest brother, asking if he didn't know they were trying to get him drunk.

Believe it or not, we'll turn the tables on you! Then, the Ninth Prince and the Tenth Prince started to drink on behalf of the Crown Prince.

Eldest brother Yinti: ...

Crown Prince Yinreng: Thank you for your foul mouth, you can't speak properly.

"You two are still greenhorns, children aren't allowed to drink alcohol, get out of here, get out of here!" Yinti was also angry. Why did so many of his brothers go to help that bastard Crown Prince? Aren't they unhappy that their father is so biased towards him?

“Brother, you’re wrong about that. How could we, the Great Qing warriors, be afraid of even a little bit of wine?” The Tenth Prince said this with great swagger, patting his chest, determined to show his elder brother his might and domineering presence.

"Big brother, come on, drink. If you don't drink, you're not giving me any... If you don't treat us like brothers, are we still good brothers???" The Ninth Prince imitated his elder brother's words. The Crown Prince next to him watched with a slight smile on his lips, which seemed both mocking and smug.

The Eighth Prince helped stop the Fourth and Third Princes, but then the Ninth and Tenth Princes got involved. He didn't care because he was too busy. The Third Prince, that slippery fellow, even checked if his wine was watered down.

Yinti was initially angered by the Ninth and Tenth Princes, but soon managed to coax them into turning their attention to the Crown Prince. The Fifth and Seventh Princes were pulled over by the Eighth Prince to drink with the Third and Fourth Princes...

When the princes of the imperial family saw that several of them were drinking together, the princes who were more familiar with them, such as Yarjianga and Baotai, had lived in the palace when they were young, came over to join in the fun without any hesitation. After all, it was a wedding, and everyone should be happy.

So, in his excitement, the Crown Prince got him drunk.

Seeing that the Crown Prince had been made drunk, the First Prince Yinti was overjoyed, even more so than when his wife had given birth to a legitimate daughter. He instructed Xiao Shunzi to safely escort the Crown Prince to the bridal chamber...

There's no need to worry about the guests. With so many princes here, how could we possibly neglect them?

"The Crown Prince can't hold his liquor. Look how drunk he is! I don't know what to do tonight. It's just a few cups of wine. This won't do. How can a warrior of our Great Qing get drunk from a little wine?"

The eldest prince, fearing others might not hear him, deliberately raised his voice, making the third and fourth princes' heads spin. They felt that the prince's day was their day (their wedding).

New house.

The Crown Princess ate a bowl of vegetarian noodles, took a bath and changed her clothes. The longan and red dates on the bed had been put away. She was wearing a light-colored gauze dress, and there were ice basins in the four corners of the room.

"Your Highness, do you really not need to wear makeup?" Xiaoqing looked at the delicate princess. Compared to her charming beauty when she lifted the red veil, she looked a bit plain now, didn't she?

"Xiaoqing, do you feel hot today?" Even though Jialuo had never eaten pork, she knew that the bedroom activities in a while would not be relaxed. If she sweated and her makeup was ruined, wouldn't she look even uglier?

"It's hot..." Xiaoqing nodded awkwardly, as if she understood what the Crown Princess meant. It was just that the room was a bit dim, and the candlelight softened her face. The other princes were also far away, otherwise the Crown Princess's smudged makeup would have really been seen...

I wonder if the Crown Prince saw it...

Xiaoqing immediately nodded in agreement with Gege's statement that she didn't need makeup; after all, Gege was beautiful whether she wore makeup or not.

A short while later, the Crown Prince's men brought him back. His drunken state worried Zhao and Jin, the two old women… Could it be that he didn't… cough cough, you know… tonight? He's so drunk?

If word gets out, wouldn't their Crown Princess lose face?

"Quickly prepare some hangover tea." Granny Zhao hurriedly sent someone to prepare it. However, after entering the bridal chamber, His Highness the Crown Prince, who was originally drunk, sat upright like a pine tree.

Immediately, everyone understood that His Highness the Crown Prince was faking his drunkenness.

Knowing what kind of occasion was coming up, Granny Jin and Granny Zhao quickly led the maids serving in the bridal chamber out, handing the stage over to His Highness the Crown Prince and his wife.

The rustling sounds completely disappeared from the bridal chamber, remaining at the door to ensure the newlyweds inside would not be disturbed, and eavesdropping would be impossible!

Of the two who remained, the Crown Prince was clearly not acting voluntarily. He sat there drinking tea, calm and composed. In fact, he had also drunk quite a bit of wine, and it would be good for him to sober up.

"Your Highness, have you eaten?" Jialuo, knowing what was about to happen, held a handkerchief in her hand, showing shy concern.

[What if His Highness the Crown Prince doesn't eat his fill? Will he lack the strength? I've heard that a man's strength is needed in the bridal chamber...]

Before the Crown Prince, who thought the Crown Princess was concerned about his health, could even feel touched, he heard her inner thoughts and subconsciously looked up at her.

(End of this chapter)