On the eve of the wedding, undercurrents were swirling.

As the Qixi Festival approaches, the capital city is adorned with lanterns and decorations, brimming with the joy of the two kings' weddings on the same day. However, beneath this bustling and noisy atmosphere, distinctly different moods permeate the various residences.

Zhao Jingyi paced back and forth in the Prince's mansion, trying to project an air of complete control. He instructed the steward, "On the wedding day, the pomp and circumstance must be grand! But the rules of the inner courtyard of the Prince's mansion must be followed according to my will! Especially the servants brought by the Princess Consort, keep a close eye on them!"

But whenever the night was quiet, the scene of him making a boastful remark in the restaurant and being rebuffed by Qin Yuti in the street would uncontrollably resurface. Qin Yuti's words, "We'll see," sounded like a demonic whisper in his ears, making him inexplicably uneasy. He began to secretly flip through the "Book of Rites" and "Rules for Women," trying to cram at the last minute and find a few "sage's words" that could subdue his future princess. However, he became dizzy after reading only a few pages and angrily threw the books aside.

"Hmph! Why should I reason with her! This palace is my territory, how dare she defy the heavens!" He tried to bolster his spirits, but his confidence was clearly not what it used to be.

In contrast to Zhao Jingyi's anxiety, Qin Yuti appeared unusually calm. She did not cry or sob, but calmly sorted out her dowry list, especially her books, calligraphy and paintings, and that precious jade chess set.

She summoned Jinshu, her close maid who had followed her since childhood and was quick-witted and composed, and whispered to her, "Tomorrow you will come with me to the mansion. Pay attention to the people in the mansion, especially those who are useful to the prince. Don't rush to befriend them; first, understand their connections. I will find a way to take over the storeroom keys and account details later."

She knew that confronting Zhao Jingyi head-on was not the best strategy; she needed to proceed cautiously and gain real power to remain invincible. Although her father was helpless, he secretly assigned several reliable maids to her, instructing her, "Since the emperor's will is hard to disobey, you must be careful in your words and actions, and use gentleness to overcome strength."

Prince Rui, Zhao Jingming, and Su Wanqing's pre-wedding interactions were remarkably distant and polite. In accordance with protocol, Zhao Jingming sent lavish betrothal gifts, and Su Wanqing reciprocated with handmade shoes and socks. They met a few times at palace banquets, but their greetings were merely perfunctory; when their eyes met, they quickly avoided eye contact, tacitly maintaining a facade of peace.

Zhao Jingming was painting in his study when he unconsciously painted a magnolia. Only after finishing did he realize his mistake and angrily crumpled the painting. He told himself that since he had made his choice, he should treat Su Wanqing well, but the lingering resentment was hard to soothe.

Su Wanqing tried her best to play the role of a bride-to-be, learning the rules of the Prince's mansion, but behind her smile always lay a lingering melancholy. She secretly locked away the little things from her teenage years related to Lu Beichen deep in a box, as if sealing away a hopeless dream.

Crown Prince Zhao Jingchen observed all of this. He was worried that his sixth brother's recklessness might offend the Qin family, a family of scholars, and he was also concerned about whether his fourth brother's marriage, which was based on "substitution," could last. He summoned Zhao Jingyi and tried to advise him: "Jingyi, the Qin family is a family of scholars. Since you have asked for their hand in marriage, you should treat them with courtesy and not lose the dignity of the royal family."

Zhao Jingyi verbally agreed, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I know what's important." But in his heart, he thought: Decency? Once she witnesses my power, she'll naturally understand what decorum is!

Seeing his expression, the Crown Prince knew he hadn't listened, so he could only sigh inwardly and instruct the officials of the Eastern Palace to pay close attention to the movements of Prince Yi's residence and to intervene if necessary.

Meanwhile, the two letters were being sent in different directions.

A letter from the Qin family was written by Qin Yuti to her close friend Liu Mianying, who was visiting her maternal grandmother in Jiangnan. The letter briefly mentioned the helplessness of the marriage and her own plans. The tone was strong, but the recipient could feel the heaviness between the lines.

The other letter came from the Duke of Anguo's mansion. It was from Su Wanqing's mother, who was worried about her daughter. She secretly sent someone to the northern frontier to try to find out about the young general Lu Beichen's current situation and whether he was engaged. She was hoping to make her daughter give up, or... grasp at the last straw? At this moment, Lu Beichen was practicing formations in the wind and sand at the border, completely unaware of the two weddings that were about to take place in the capital and were closely related to his future fate.

On the eve of the Qixi Festival, the moonlight, like water, enveloped the sleepless capital. Several mansions were brightly lit, making final preparations for the grand celebration the following day. Joy, anxiety, resentment, calculation, helplessness... a mix of emotions foreshadowed that these two weddings, which had attracted worldwide attention, would be far more than just simple celebrations.

Everyone is in place, waiting for the auspicious time tomorrow for the curtain to rise.