Chapter 56 (The last part, "The Bride Kidnapping")

The night was deep, but the Yun residence was brightly lit.

Mingwu leaned against the window, gazing at the large red lanterns swaying under the eaves. A night breeze swept by, and the strings of lanterns undulated and swayed, like a crimson dragon waving its tail in the night.

Tomorrow, she will get married again.

Marrying Song Yan is the best choice she can make right now.

This way, she could escape Lu Yuan's pursuit and also prevent him from harming her if he discovered her identity as the Princess Consort of Ning.

She should have been happy.

But for some reason, looking at the festive red hues filling the mansion, those long-buried memories suddenly came vividly to life before her eyes, frame by frame.

She remembered the night before she married Lu Yuan.

At that time, she was sitting by the window in the same way.

She already had the joy of anticipating marrying Lu Yuan after dawn;

She was also secretly saddened by the vast difference between him and her status as the daughter of a merchant;

Some were even more uneasy about life in the grand mansions.

...

Those girlish thoughts, now, seem so distant, like something from a past life.

"Why haven't you rested yet?"

Yunzhi's voice, tinged with laughter, came from behind.

Mingwu turned around.

She strode in carrying a plate of delicate pastries, sat down casually beside me, and picked up a piece of almond shortbread and popped it into her mouth.

"Miss Yun..."

Mingwu stood up to bow, but Yunzhi pressed her down.

"Oh dear, from now on you're mine. How can you bow to yourself like that?"

She leaned closer and winked mischievously.

“My mother adores you. She keeps saying that I’ve finally done something right, finding her such a lovely and lovable daughter.”

Mingwu smiled slightly, amused by her.

"I just feel... it's a bit unfair to the General and his wife. And to you too..." The better the Yun family treated her, the deeper her guilt became.

"Stop!"

Yun Zhi waved her hands repeatedly.

"Your parents truly love you. As for me?"

She raised her chin and smiled like a cunning fox.

"The sky is high and the sea is wide, go and roam freely. You're helping me, you know?"

As she spoke, she shoved the pastry into Mingwu's hand, her tone unusually serious.

“Pretty sister, I know you’re uneasy. But that guy Song Yan…”

She paused, then leaned closer to Mingwu's ear and lowered her voice.

"Honestly, in all the years I've known him, I've never seen him care about any girl like this."

“Pretty sister, I know you’re feeling uneasy. But that guy Song Yan… to be honest, I’ve known Song Yan for so many years and I’ve never seen him care about any girl like this before.”

"Don't let his dashing appearance fool you, he's actually still a virgin."

Mingwu was so shocked by her bold words that her almond-shaped eyes widened and her ears quickly turned blush.

Upon seeing this, Yunzhi sat up straight and burst into laughter.

Mingwu's fingertips trembled slightly.

Thinking of Song Yan's ever-smiling peach blossom eyes, and his thoughtfulness and attentiveness these past few days.

To say that I was completely unmoved would be a lie.

Meanwhile, at the Prince Ning's residence.

Song Yan sat at his desk, checking the gift list one by one, his brows furrowed with undisguised joy.

"Tomorrow, change the curtains of the wedding sedan chair to her favorite cloud pattern. Also, make sure to avoid the stone-paved road in the West Market on the wedding route to avoid a bumpy ride."

...

He gave her detailed instructions, from the fact that the prayer mat used during the wedding ceremony should be edged with soft satin newly sent from Jiangnan, so as not to bump into her.

The wine for the wedding banquet must be warmed to the perfect temperature and must be a light jasmine-scented brew, which is her favorite flavor.

This conversation lasted for almost half an hour.

The old steward was stunned, his mouth agape, wide enough to fit an egg, and he couldn't close it for a long time.

He had served the prince for so many years, and he had never seen his master so concerned about such trivial matters.

This man, who usually doesn't even bother to look through the palace's account books, is now personally inquiring about such a trivial matter.

Song Yan glanced up and saw the old steward's astonished expression. He coughed lightly and tapped his fingertips lightly on the table.

"You've written it all down?"

The candle flame crackled softly, making his ears feel slightly hot.

After the old steward, holding the densely filled booklet, left in a daze, he...

Song Yan took out a plain handkerchief from his bosom.

The handkerchief was embroidered with several exquisite peonies, which was the very handkerchief that Mingwu had inadvertently left behind when she came to the Prince's Mansion to retrieve the household registration documents.

He kept it.

Her fingertips gently caressed the slightly worn silk, and a tender smile unconsciously appeared on her lips.

After tomorrow, he will finally be able to protect her legitimately.

"Your Highness."

The attendant hurried in and bowed to report.

"Her Highness the Imperial Concubine has already sent the wedding invitations to each household."

Song Yan frowned: "Didn't I say we wouldn't send wedding invitations?"

He didn't mean to wrong her; he just didn't want to see "Song Yan" and "Yun Zhi" listed together on the wedding invitation.

In his heart, Mingwu was always just Mingwu.

Allowing her to temporarily use Yunzhi's name was merely a last resort.

Once the storm has passed, he will personally inscribe her name in the royal genealogy so that the whole world will know.

The woman Song Yan married, with elaborate wedding ceremonies and a grand procession, was Ming Wu, the daughter of the Ming family.

But he was also aware of his mother's obsession with restoring the Prince's Mansion. The Yun family was the in-laws his mother had always wanted to be related to, but he had long ago said that he didn't like Yun Zhi.

Yunzhi had no feelings for him either.

So his mother changed her mind and wanted to arrange a marriage with the Jiang family. Little did she know that the next day, she would find out that he was marrying Empress Mingwu.

What will happen?

Song Yan waved his hand with a headache: "Never mind. Let Mother be happy for a while."

The servant looked troubled and said in a low voice, "The Prime Minister's residence... has also received it."

The prince had repeatedly warned them to avoid the Prime Minister's residence. Yet, the Dowager Consort was the first to send the wedding invitation to the Prime Minister's residence.

Song Yan suddenly clenched the plain handkerchief between his fingers.

"When did the Prime Minister's residence send this?"

His voice trailed off, and the air in the room seemed to freeze instantly.

“Yesterday at noon.” The servant lowered his head even further.

A sudden clap of thunder sounded outside the window; the summer rain had arrived unexpectedly.

The raindrops pounded against the windowpane, making a pattering sound.

The entire palace was shrouded in a torrential downpour, and the festive red lanterns under the eaves swayed violently in the wind and rain, casting fragmented shadows.

He suddenly remembered that rainy night from long ago.

He was discussing political affairs with Lu Yuan, and it went on quite late. When he came out, it was already dark, and it had started to rain.

While waiting for the carriage, he saw the figure standing under the courtyard wall.

She had only recently married into the Prime Minister's household.

She would occasionally crane her neck to peer into the courtyard, while her maidservant carefully brushed the raindrops that had splashed onto her clothes.

When she saw him, she only glanced at him briefly before looking away.

As he sat in the carriage, he suddenly recalled a scene from his study not long ago.

A servant brought in a box of pastries, saying it was from the madam. Lu Yuan didn't even lift his eyelids, casually telling someone to throw it away.

That box of pastries ended up in his stomach.

Since then, he would often think of that night.

At first, it was just a random memory, but later it became like a mark etched on the wall of my heart, becoming clearer with each touch.

Later, that figure became deeply embedded in the walls of my heart, and could never be erased.

Just like now, the sound of rain outside the window is the same as always, and he can still see it even with his eyes closed.

As she tiptoed to peek, I noticed the stray hairs falling from her temples, her shoulders damp with rain, and her excessively beautiful eyes.

What chilled him most was the truth he learned later.

That day, she stood in the rain for a full hour, just to ask Lu Yuan if the box of pastries suited his taste.

And she will never know.

The pastries she had carefully prepared were ultimately tasted by another man.

Just as she would never know, a man had etched her image into his heart since that rainy night.

"Your Highness?"

Chang Sui's gentle call pulled him back from his memories.

Song Yan loosened his clenched, white knuckles and abruptly stood up.

"Prepare the horses, let's go to Yun's residence."

"Now? But the wedding is tomorrow, this is against etiquette..."

Song Yan strode towards the door.

"If the Dowager asks, just say I went to fetch something important."

He had to see for himself to make sure she was alright.

Now that Lu Yuan has received the wedding invitation, no one knows what that man will do.

The servant hurriedly caught up: "But Your Highness, we cannot meet before the wedding, otherwise it will be bad luck."

The three words "unlucky" acted like a curse, causing Song Yan to suddenly stop in front of the threshold.

The night wind whipped raindrops onto his face, and ancient warnings about taboos surrounding marriage swirled in his mind.

He clenched his fist, then relaxed it. In the end, he gave in.

"Go to the Yun residence and see if the Princess is well. If she is asleep... do not disturb her."

"yes."

The attendant received the order and hurriedly left.

-

The next day, the sun shone brightly, making it an auspicious day for marriage.

The East Courtyard of the Prime Minister's Residence.

Lu Yuan leaned against the Xiangfei couch, his face pale, even his lips were so pale they were almost transparent.

The imperial physician had just finished taking his pulse, and his gray brows were tightly furrowed.

He looked up at Lu Yuan.

If it weren't for the lingering, chaotic, and dangerous pulse at his fingertips, he would almost have thought the person on the bed was simply suffering from ordinary fatigue, rather than experiencing the inhuman torment of the mother gu's backlash.

The imperial physician sighed softly and offered his advice for the umpteenth time.

"Prime Minister, if the mother Gu in your body is not removed soon, it may damage your very foundation. The child Gu has already broken, and the mother Gu is turning against you. To force it to remain like this is truly..."

Lu Yuan slowly raised his eyes.

"No need to say anything more."

"……yes."

The imperial physician hesitated, then bowed and withdrew.

Once the footsteps had faded into the distance, Lu Yuan raised his hand and pressed it against his aching chest, his knuckles turning white from the force.

Once the backlash subsided, he looked at Xu Ming, who was standing to the side.

Xu Ming's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately stepped forward.

"Your Excellency, there is still... no news of the Madam."

The room fell into a deathly silence, with only the sunlight slowly moving across the windowsill.

Lu Yuan's eyelashes drooped slightly.

Those unfathomable dark eyes were shrouded in a faint shadow.

This subtle movement revealed a hint of fragility in him.

Xu Ming held his breath, not daring to disturb him.

He saw the Prime Minister's hand, which was resting on the edge of the couch, unconsciously tighten, crumpling the brocade beneath him.

He had seen the Prime Minister's emotional outbursts many times over the past few days and had become accustomed to them.

After a long while, Lu Yuan raised his eyes, his gaze now clear as always.

"It's impossible not to find it."

He later had the best coroner examine the charred corpse. Although the body shape was very similar to A-Wu's, the face was burned beyond recognition, and even the bone age was the same.

But even the most meticulous plans can have flaws.

The charred corpse had given birth to a child, and most importantly, it was put into the fire after it died.

Therefore, this is not Awu.

His Awu is still alive, and someone is helping her.

Otherwise, with her abilities, she wouldn't have been able to find such a substitute without the Ming family's help.

His gaze fell on the unopened bright red wedding invitation on the desk.

He suddenly asked, "Is Song Yan going to get married?"

Xu Ming quickly recounted the most exciting wedding in Lin'an City recently, including what he had witnessed at the villa that day.

"Prince Ning and Miss Yun are deeply in love, and their wedding date is set for today."

"I have seen Miss Yun in person. She is indeed dashing and heroic, and she is a perfect match for Prince Ning."

“Prince Ning…Miss Yun…”

Lu Yuan tapped his knuckles lightly on the armrest.

Mingwu's image uncontrollably surfaced in my mind.

When she first married him, she was gentle and graceful with her head bowed and a soft smile.

When he occasionally came home a little earlier, she would lift the hem of her skirt and hurry to greet him, her voice brimming with joy as she called out, "Husband!"

...

The scene changes.

She stood in the shadows, her eyes, once filled with stars, now cold as ice: "Prime Minister, this is the end of it."

as well as.

Beneath the crabapple tree in the Ning Prince's mansion, she stood side by side with Song Yan, their sleeves brushing against each other. The spring breeze caressed her smiling eyes.

It was a brightness he hadn't seen in a long time.

The tapping motion with the knuckles came to an abrupt halt.

Lu Yuan slowly closed his eyes, but the images became even clearer.

The mother Gu churned violently in the chest cavity, whether due to backlash or something else, it was unclear.

He forced down the metallic taste rising in his throat.

"check."

He doesn't believe in coincidences.

Why did Song Yan immediately want to marry Miss Yun after he "lost" Ming Wu?

“Prince Ning and Miss Yun do indeed have frequent interactions. However…”

"Just what?"

"Recently, Miss Yun brought a young lady back to the manor, and the Yun family is protecting her very closely. Our people have only found out that the young lady lives in the same courtyard as Miss Yun."

"As for his appearance... no one has ever seen it."

"No one saw it?"

Lu Yuan sneered and threw the wedding invitation to the ground. The bright red cover was particularly glaring against the bluestone.

"Then I will go and see for myself!"

He wanted to see what kind of "Miss Yun" could make Song Yan go to such lengths.

More importantly...

A voice inside him was screaming wildly: that was the person he had been searching for everywhere.

This thought spread like wildfire, instantly consuming all reason.

He faked his death to escape, changed his appearance, and used the power of the Yun family to carry out a plan to impersonate a ghost... What a clever Prince Ning! What a clever escape plan!

Overwhelmed by intense emotions, he clutched his chest and coughed violently, an unnatural flush rising on his pale face.

"Prime Minister!" Xu Ming rushed forward in a panic.

Lu Yuan raised his hand to stop him. After his breathing calmed down, his eyes were already bloodshot.

"Prepare the gifts. It is the Prince of Ning's wedding, and I... will personally go to offer my congratulations."

-

Following the Zhou Dynasty's customs, the wedding was held in the evening.

The setting sun melts into gold, and the evening clouds merge like jade.

The setting sun dyed the layers of red silk under the eaves of the Prince Ning's Mansion into a flowing golden-red color, making the entire mansion appear to be burning in the sunset from a distance.

The guests' carriages wound their way from the end of the long street, and the clamor of voices and festive music rose and fell, making even the summer evening breeze seem to be infused with wine.

It has a slightly sweet fragrance.

Song Yan, dressed in a bright red wedding robe, stood tall and straight as a pine tree before the steps. He greeted the guests with a smile, but his gaze occasionally swept over the gate of the mansion.

"The bride has arrived."

The bridal sedan chair arrived at the door, and firecrackers went off in unison.

Under the watchful eyes of a hall full of guests, the bride, dressed in an embroidered gold phoenix coronet and wedding gown, was helped onto the red carpet by the matchmaker.

At that very moment—

"Prime Minister Lu has arrived!"

A single announcement silenced the noisy scene instantly.

The guests automatically lined up on both sides like a tide.

A dark black carriage slowly came to a stop, and Lu Yuan bowed and stepped out of the carriage.

He wore a dark brocade robe with subtle patterns, the wide hem fluttering in the evening breeze, making his face appear even paler.

His brows furrowed with the weariness of someone still recovering from a serious illness.

As soon as he stood still, his gaze pierced through the crowd and locked onto the bride in her bright red wedding dress.

Song Yan's heart tightened, but his smile remained unchanged. He calmly took half a step forward and shielded the bride behind him.

"I am deeply sorry for not welcoming you properly, Prime Minister Lu."

Lu Yuan seemed not to hear, his entire attention was focused on that petite and familiar figure.

Ah Wu, is that you?