Chapter 6 The Grand Wedding. He walked up to Jing Hui.

The night rain drizzled on and off all night.

The next morning, the morning light pierced through the thin mist, falling in wisps before the window of Jinghui's bedroom.

The melodious chirping of birds swept across the sky. Jinghe, who had been reading all night, rubbed his lower back, which ached from holding one position for too long.

"It's dawn."

Jing Hui turned his head to look at the raindrops falling from the eaves and murmured, "It's time to go to court."

Ah Yu brought over a bowl of nourishing soup, gently placed it in front of Jing Hui, and whispered, "Princess, there's still time."

Jing Hui picked up the tonic soup and drank it all in one gulp. He shook his head and said, "Go and get that plain pink dress. I'm going to check on my sister."

Ayu hesitated, but Ayan gave her a look, and then Ayu went down to find her clothes.

Having not slept a wink all night, Jing Hui was feeling a bit drowsy, and A Yan stepped forward to gently massage his head.

"Princess, will you regret this later?"

"No one knows what the future holds, but at least for now, I have a clear conscience."

Jing Hui looked up at her, smiled, and said, "Ayan, I must live up to my father's expectations."

Ayan paused for a moment, then her eyes welled up with tears, and she nodded.

"The princess's filial piety surpasses that of the princes by far; she is a blessing to the Great Liang."

Jing Hui smiled.

After washing up, the sun was already high in the sky when I walked out of the Brocade Palace.

It rained all night in late summer, and the wind carried a damp chill.

Stepping out of the Brocade Palace and walking along the palace path, as Jing Hui turned a corner, he saw a person lingering in front of the Brocade Palace in the distance.

She walked over and asked, "Eunuch Ning, what brings you here?"

"This old servant greets the princess."

Ning Lu hurriedly stepped forward and bowed, saying, "This is His Majesty's order for this old servant. He said that if the princess's mind changes, this old servant should immediately go to the court to report. This old servant has been waiting all morning, and the princess is only now coming out; the court session has already ended..."

"It's alright."

Jing Hui chuckled, "No need to trouble you, Father-in-law. I already made it clear to my father yesterday that I intend to marry you."

Ning Lu looked at Jing Hui and sighed deeply.

"Your Highness, since you were unable to go, the imperial decree has probably already been sent to the capital. Princess, please rest assured. With your noble status and His Majesty's support, I believe General Lu will not dare to disrespect you after the marriage."

"I think so too."

Jing replied, "Please go back, sir."

"yes."

Ning Lu said, "This old servant will return to report. His Majesty knows the princess's intentions and should summon General Lu for an audience."

After Lu Songyuan returned, Emperor Jingwen intended to give him a break, and given his poor health and the events of that day, he did not summon him for a private audience.

Jing Hui nodded.

"This old servant takes his leave."

When Ning Lu left, he was followed by several Imperial Guards.

These Imperial Guards cannot be moved without Emperor Jingwen's decree; I wonder why they are following Ning Lu today.

"Princess."

Ah Yu said, "Let's go."

"Um."

As she turned around, Jing Hui caught a glimpse of a black hem of clothing flitting past on the palace path not far away. She gave a soft hum and headed towards the Lotus Jade Palace.

-

After that day, news of Jing Hui and Lu Songyuan's marriage spread from the capital to the entire country.

The palace also began to make preparations for the wedding in full swing, with the six ministries working together without stopping for a moment.

With everyone working together in this way, the couple's bridal chamber outside the palace was completed in just over two months, and the interior was furnished to royal standards.

It only needs to be left for ten days before you can move in.

Coincidentally, their wedding was just ten days away.

During the time she was waiting to be married, after her wounds had fully healed, Jing Hui rarely left the palace. When she did leave, it was only to attend to Emperor Jingwen when he was in a coma, and to help with some state affairs in remote areas.

Or you could visit the palace where Empress Huixiao lived, or go see the elder sisters in Lianyu Palace.

After returning to the palace, she enjoyed brewing wine and catching butterflies in the back garden.

People kept coming to offer their congratulations, but Jing Hui declined to see them all. However, Lu Songyuan, for some unknown reason, came to the Jinxiu Palace that night and then visited every few days with gifts.

Since it was offered to him, Jing Hui ordered his men to take it all and throw it into the storeroom.

Not long after, rumors spread throughout the palace that the two had already fallen in love with each other.

It's obvious to anyone with their toes who spread this rumor, showing just how ruthless this person is in achieving their goals!

Jing Hui held her breath, thinking to herself that once she moved to the General's Mansion after the wedding, she would settle both her old and new scores!

Thinking this way, ten days passed in the blink of an eye.

On October 17th, the princess was married.

The autumn sky is clear and the air is crisp, a gentle breeze is blowing, the sky is bright and clear, and everything is auspicious.

The only drawback was that Emperor Jingwen was still in a coma and could not personally escort Jing Hui to her wedding.

Before dawn, Jing Hui got up, half-closing her eyes as people fussed over her makeup and clothes.

The beauty's face was covered in heavy makeup. Jing Hui usually wore light makeup, but this time she was so glamorous that she looked like a celestial maiden, with all the colors of the world blooming on her face.

The wedding dress she wore was made day and night by a hundred embroiderers in the palace. The material was gold gauze and colorful brocade, which was a tribute from the Rongxi. The phoenix embroidered on it was lifelike, with delicate and realistic feathers, as if it was about to take flight, making it look extremely luxurious.

After the pre-wedding customs were completed, it was already afternoon. Jing Hui sat on the bed, ate a little something, and waited for Lu Songyuan to come and take her away.

The room was filled with a blinding red, and the surroundings were bustling with activity. Even her favorite treasures were decorated with the character for "double happiness." All the empresses and princes had come to the Brocade Palace to help. Jing Ao wisely stayed out of her sight today, so Jing Hui could simply sit on the bed in peace.

She simply closed her eyes, pondering how Lu Songyuan, in his wheelchair, could possibly come to pick her up.

Yesterday, the nanny said that according to the customs of Daliang, she should be carried into the bridal chamber by Lu Songyuan. But his leg is broken, so how can he do that?

It wouldn't be right for Lu Songyuan to be in a wheelchair, with Jing Hui sitting on his lap, being carried around by someone—

That's so ugly!

Jing Hui sat up abruptly. As a legitimate princess, she would rather walk in than be carried.

"Is the princess tired?"

Ayu, dressed in a red maid's uniform, walked over and said softly, "The auspicious time has arrived. Just now, someone outside said that General Lu is already heading towards the palace."

Jing Hui quickly asked, "How did you get here?"

Whether riding in a sedan chair, on horseback, or being pushed in a wheelchair.

Ayu said, "This servant does not know."

No sooner had the two finished speaking than the sounds of music and drums came from outside.

As the sound of drums and music grew louder, the cheers and laughter filled the air.

The music stretched from the palace road to the entrance of the Brocade Palace. After a brief, loud melody, it gradually quieted down, followed by the sounds of people laughing and joking as they blocked the door, demanding red envelopes.

I haven't heard Lu Songyuan's voice yet.

Jing Hui slowly sat down on the edge of the bed, holding the veil and looking at the door.

According to the customs of Daliang, Lu Songyuan was to put the veil on her head.

A short while later, the door opened, and a group of people escorted one person in.

Yes, walk in.

The man was over eight feet tall, dressed in a crimson and gold lotus-embroidered wedding robe, with his black hair tied up high, wearing a gold-inlaid red crown, and his face covered with a hideous ghost mask.

His steps were steady and composed, his posture upright and dignified. When he walked, his back and waist were straight, like a pine tree that was tenacious and unyielding in the north wind, exuding a noble and imposing presence.

Apart from Emperor Jingwen, Jing Hui had never seen anyone with such a pleasing walk.

Who is this person?

When he approached, the official from the Ministry of Rites standing to the side said, "Your Highness, this is General Lu's subordinate. Due to a leg ailment, the General is unable to personally come to propose marriage, so he sent a close associate in his place. General Lu is waiting for you at the entrance of the General's residence."

Jing Hui's face immediately fell.

If the groom doesn't personally visit the bride's home on her wedding day, and everyone sees her parading through the streets, wouldn't she become a laughingstock in the capital?

"How dare you!"

Ah Yu angrily retorted, "Who gave you permission to arrange things this way!"

"Your Highness, please understand!"

The Ministry of Rites official trembled with fear, "Yesterday, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager personally issued an imperial edict. Even if you gave me eight hundred lives, I wouldn't dare to deceive the princess!"

It's the Empress Dowager again.

Jing Hui gritted her teeth. On this joyous day, the more people wanted to see her make a fool of herself, the less she could afford to make things too ugly with them.

She held the veil forward and looked up at the person.

The person behind the mask took the veil and nodded slightly.

The red veil then descended from above, blocking Jing Hui's view.

Then Jing Hui felt the person lean down, and he put one hand around her lower back and the other under her knees, lifting her up steadily.

The last time I was held like this was when I was a baby.

The sudden feeling of being lifted into the air startled Jing Hui. In her panic, she reached out and grabbed the man's collar. Her gold bracelet hit his collarbone, and her fingernails seemed to scratch his neck.

"Your Highness, do not be afraid, I will certainly not let you fall."

The voice was somewhat hoarse and unfamiliar.

The man spread his large hands, one above and one below, firmly protecting Jing Hui's back and the back of her legs, making her sit steadily in his arms.

Jing Hui was still shaken. "Mmm."

He walked out step by step, crossed the threshold, and passed under the corridor. The man walked steadily, with large but unhurried steps. Jing Hui gradually relaxed, leaned inward, and rested against his chest.

Blind and unable to see the road ahead, this person inexplicably gave her a sense of security that she could rely on.

As they left the Brocade Palace, the sound of drums and music resumed. The man helped Jing Hui into the mahogany wedding sedan chair carried by sixteen men, and bent down to place her comfortably on the seat.

As he stood up, Jing Hui smelled a faint, bitter medicinal fragrance.

This smell seems familiar.

After the officiant finished chanting the eulogy, the bridal sedan chair was lifted steadily.

The gilded lotus-shaped dome on the sedan chair blooms in the sun, its shimmering light reflecting off the palace walls.

The jeweled ribbons jingled softly as the dowry, carried by hundreds of palanquins, walked out of the palace and down Taiping Street, the most bustling street in the capital.

The entire city's population flocked here, shoulder to shoulder with no gaps between them.

Several days ago, Taiping Street was already covered with colorful ribbons that blotted out the sky, and the characters for "double happiness" were pasted on the doors of the shops. Palace servants followed the wedding carriage, constantly scattering fist-sized golden fruits to show the emperor's benevolence.

The bridal sedan chair finally stopped in front of the General's Mansion, which was two streets away from the palace.

In front of the General's Mansion, the surrounding noise was even louder, with gongs and drums resounding, firecrackers exploding, and the sounds of people celebrating and servants scattering money filling the air. The master of ceremonies stepped forward again to recite the eulogy, and after he finished, the bridal sedan chair landed steadily on the ground.

The man stepped into the sedan chair again and gently lifted her up. This time, Jing Hui did not smell any medicine.

He walked a distance, went up the steps, and stopped in front of the gate.

"Your subordinate greets the General."

Jing Hui felt the man carrying her bow to the person in front of her, "General, I have brought the princess back to you."

Jing Hui grew angrier as he listened to this, and before Lu Songyuan could speak, Jing Hui said sarcastically, "General Lu, what a show of power you have."

As the surroundings gradually quieted down, Jing Hui heard the sound of a wheelchair rolling.

Lu Songyuan seemed to move closer to her. "I am disabled and it is really inconvenient for me to accompany the princess through the ceremony. Please punish me, Your Highness."

It was the Empress Dowager's decree; what punishment should Jing Hui be given to him?

She chuckled, then suddenly paused.

Lu Songyuan's voice seemed to be right beside her.

Was he that close to her?

Jing called out to him, "Lu Songyuan."

"Um?"

It's too close, it seems to be right at my waist.

Before Jing Hui could investigate further, the man had already carried her into the hall to pay homage to Heaven and Earth.

The wedding ceremony, which involved bowing to heaven and earth on behalf of the bride, was quite elaborate. By the time they entered the bridal chamber after the ceremony, it was already dark.

The man carried Jing Hui into the bridal chamber and placed her steadily beside the wedding bed.

Just as she was about to leave, Jing Hui suddenly lifted the veil, grabbed the man's sleeve, looked up at him, and said, "Take off your mask. This princess wants to see who you are."