Chapter 224 Wedding Process

Despite the chaos and confusion in preparations, the Crown Prince's wedding ceremony was still held in grand style on an auspicious day in June.

This was the first time Hongzhao had stepped into the Yuqing Palace since it was completed. Now, dressed in a bright red wedding gown, he stood inside, looking at the decorations and furnishings, without feeling a sense of unfamiliarity.

Xiao Dezi noticed the meaning in his eyes and stepped forward to explain, "Your Highness, you may not know this, but His Majesty specially ordered people to renovate Yuqing Palace according to the layout of the side hall of Yangxin Hall. All the previous decorations were completely overturned and rebuilt. All the vases and ornaments in this palace were chosen to match your usual preferences, and their positions have not changed much."

Hongzhao was in a good mood today due to his great joy, and he smiled broadly as he looked at the room. "No wonder you didn't call me over. So you were waiting here. I'll go and thank Father Emperor after today."

"Take me with you when you go to see Father tomorrow!" Hongshi's voice preceded his arrival. He was dressed smartly today, carrying a food box and striding towards Hongzhao. "I finally finished writing the policy essay that Father asked me about last time. We can go together tomorrow."

Don't think he's stupid. Following his younger brother will save him from being scolded by the Emperor. This is a great opportunity; anyone who misses it is truly a fool.

Hongzhao readily agreed, then looked at the gleaming food box in his hand and couldn't help but tease him in a good mood, "Third brother is here to attend his younger brother's wedding banquet, are you afraid that his younger brother won't provide food?"

Hongshi knew it was just his occasional joke and didn't say much. He simply stuffed the food box into Xiao Dezi's hand and slowly walked behind Hongzhao. "Huiyi asked me to bring this. She said that on the wedding day, the woman must abstain from water and food. There are so many formalities all day long that it's easy to get dizzy."

“When I married Huiyi, we were in the Prince’s Residence, which had a separate small kitchen where we could sneak something to fill our stomachs. But Yuqing Palace was brand new, probably never even been used. The food on display looked nice, but it was actually hard enough to hit someone. I brought these pastries because I wasn’t worried about them spoiling; I could always save them for a while.”

Although Hongzhao had made preparations for this, who would complain about the kindness of others? He returned his third brother's sincere and trusting gaze with an equally sincere smile, and patted his shoulder—"Thank you, third brother. I'll put the food box in the back hall. Let's go to the palace gate when it's about time."

Hongshi felt embarrassed by such a solemn thank you, and a blush appeared on his face even before he had drunk any wine, a rare sight for Hongzhao. His protective instincts as an older brother welled up, and he straightened his chest and followed in his footsteps, blurting out everything he knew.

"When I came, I heard that Father and Mother had already made preparations. However, since the Crown Princess had not yet been brought into the palace, it was unreasonable to ask Father and Mother to wait for their daughter-in-law to come in. That's why they have been holding back from coming. Just you wait and see, as soon as the Crown Princess enters the door, you will be able to see Father's imperial carriage in less than a quarter of an hour."

Hongshi caught up half a step and walked alongside Hongzhao. As he spoke, he gently bumped his younger brother, the Crown Prince, on the shoulder. Staring at the red silk fluttering in the wind, he said, "Father Emperor personally appointed Thirteenth Uncle as the chief envoy and Governor-General Lü Jia of Zhili as the deputy envoy. They set an auspicious time early and left the palace to fetch the bride. Now, judging by the time, they should be arriving soon."

"Little brother, don't be nervous, I have experience with this..."

As Hongzhao listened to the incessant chatter around him, he actually wanted to say something like, "Third Brother, why do you seem more nervous than I am?"

Fucha Yingjun moved back home a month in advance to prepare for her wedding. The ceremony of the Crown Prince marrying his principal wife was no ordinary event, and the entire Fucha family was making preparations in full swing. During this month, the palace frequently sent things over to help supplement and guide the preparations, striving to ensure that there would be no mishaps.

Compared to others who were busy to the point of exhaustion, Fucha Yingjun was much more relaxed. Ordinary women would be embroidering their wedding dresses at this time, and even those who were not good at needlework would have to do a couple of stitches themselves. But according to the rules, she was to wear the auspicious clothes sent from the palace, and she didn't even have to lift a veil.

There's no reason for someone going to the palace as a companion to a scholar to bring a personal maid. But this time, she didn't leave the palace alone; she brought a "capable assistant" with her.

Jinxi quickly adapted to her surroundings upon arriving at the Fucha residence, meticulously organizing and arranging the dowry for the future Crown Princess. She skillfully filled out lists of gifts, distinguishing between those bestowed by the Emperor and those prepared by the household.

Sometimes, Fucha Yingjun couldn't help but want to help sort things out, but Jinxi would persuade her to stop—"Princess, you can rest assured and watch. Our Crown Prince has instructed that you must not be tired by these trivial matters before the wedding."

"Princess, rest assured, I have always been experienced in handling these matters. Once we compile a list, the Crown Princess can inspect it when we enter the Eastern Palace. The Crown Prince said that your dowry will only be more than you deserve, and he would never dare to give you less."

Seeing her like this, Fucha Yingjun had no choice but to give up, saying, "The Crown Prince is so thoughtful, and Aunt is so capable, so I can only stay out of it."

As the date drew closer, she felt both anticipation and trepidation.

Finally, as she sat in the bridal sedan chair with her veil covering her face, her heart was pounding so fast it was like a drumbeat, pounding against her eardrums along with the music playing outside.

With her view obscured, she could only look down at a small patch of ground beneath her feet, and above that, the swaying golden bells hanging from the four corners of her veil. Fucha Yingjun smiled gently and shyly, a gentle smile on her face. Whenever she saw the golden bells, a certain person would inevitably come to mind.

I'm afraid that this is the reaction of anyone who has spent a long time in the palace.

"Such a grand affair, truly befitting a royal wedding."

"Nonsense, don't you even know who's getting married? That's the Crown Prince from the capital! How can anyone else compare?"

Perhaps because her vision was obstructed, her hearing was amplified, and the chatter of the people on both sides of the bridal sedan chair entered her ears during the intervals between the drumbeats.

"That's true. Look at this dowry. You can't see the end of it as far as you look. Look how hard the people carrying the dowry are working. The wooden poles are bent over. It's so generous."

The other person's voice was laced with disdain—"Hey, you don't understand. The point is right there. Look at the front. What's in that cage at the very front?"

"Wild geese?"

"Hey, you're such a country bumpkin! Do you think I don't know those are wild geese? The important thing is that they were shot down by our Crown Prince himself, and he personally delivered them to the Fucha residence. You saw the painting being carried behind the cage, do you know what it is? 'Autumn Rain and Harmony'!"

"That's a masterpiece by the great painter Cui Bai! And you're just going to use it as a match for two geese?"

"Tsk, how come you still don't understand? These two geese were shot down by the Crown Prince himself, how could they be ordinary geese..."

The noise outside gradually subsided, and Fucha Yingjun couldn't hear what they were saying next. But this didn't diminish the sweetness in her heart, which felt like it was filled with honey. Her face was gentle and tender, and the corners of her mouth curved like a crescent moon in the water.

She couldn't help but reach out and fiddle with the golden bell dangling in front of her eyes, then her gaze was drawn to the embroidered patterns all over her sleeves. In the end, her hands returned to her waist respectfully, and she silently clenched the jade pendant that felt warm to the touch. Her chaotic heartbeat gradually calmed down.

She had been so lost in thought that she hadn't heard the praise outside. When she came to her senses, a small patch of light suddenly brightened beneath her feet, and at the same time, a slender, jade-like hand with distinct knuckles was extended towards her.

Only then did she belatedly hear the matchmaker's drawn-out voice outside.

"Please alight from your sedan chair, Your Highness."

At the same time, a voice rang out from not far away: "The Emperor and Empress have arrived!"