Chapter 222 Drinking the nuptial wine, entrusting it to the wrong person

Ji Qingwu took her elder sister's arm, her bright eyes sparkling.

"Madam, please rest assured. My eldest sister will be giving birth at my clinic, so there is absolutely no chance of a difficult delivery."

Ji Qingrong smiled indulgently and said, "I knew you were capable. I only feel at ease when you're around."

Cui was about to ask Ji Qingwu where his confidence came from.

He immediately thought of all the good deeds he had done. Ji Wu could even save a woman's body after it had been damaged. He might actually be able to do it too.

Cui swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

Just then, a large family arrived at the door.

Madam Cui looked closely and quickly stood up, saying, "Second daughter-in-law, come with me to greet them."

Feng Shuang followed, leaving only the two of them at the table. Ji Qingrong's back relaxed a little.

Ji Qingwu turned her head and followed the direction they had come from, and saw that the people who came were Yingyan from the Wei family, and the one in the lead was the dignified Old Madam Wei.

Madam Cui was much more enthusiastic towards the Wei family girl, who was completely unrelated to her, than she was towards her own daughter-in-law.

Because of her deceased elder sister, Cui harbored a deep hatred for the Ji family, treating only the enemy of her enemy as an ally. Old Madam Wei, however, remained indifferent to Cui.

Ji Qingrong glanced at her indifferently, then turned away and started talking about other things.

"Fifth Sister, there's something I've been wanting to ask you."

Ji Qingwu went through the events of the past few days in her mind and found that there were quite a few things to deal with. She wondered which one her elder sister was curious about.

"Big sister, ask away."

Ji Qingrong said softly, "You and Wei Ting, is there really such a thing?"

Ji Qingwu coughed lightly, and just as she was about to speak, she felt a huge mountain stand behind her, casting a dark shadow on her.

The man stood behind them and replied with a warm smile, "Exactly."

Looking at the tall, straight man behind her, who walked silently, Ji Qingrong was speechless.

Ji Qingwu took a deep breath and said, "This person is—"

"My name is Wei Ting. I greet you, elder sister."

Upon hearing this address, Ji Qingwu let out another breath.

She told herself that this was a princess's wedding banquet, and many eyes were on the Ji family. If she made a mistake, she would become a laughing stock, and the Qiao family would also lose face.

Ji Qingwu covered it up with a smile and said, "General Wei is really quite the social butterfly."

Ji Qingrong had seen Wei Ting before, but only when she was young, from afar.

Back then, he was a refined and elegant young master from a prestigious family, the object of many women's affections. Why has he become so reckless now?

Ji Qingrong said, "General Wei is joking. I am a year younger than the general, how can I be called 'elder sister'?"

Wei Ting's eyes seemed to be fixed on Ji Qingwu as he said, "Regardless of age, I will address you as Qingwu would."

Ji Qingwu clenched his fists under the table.

If she were to punch Wei Ting in front of everyone...

Given how difficult Wei Ting is to deal with right now, it's hard to guarantee that he won't grab your hand and take advantage of you.

never mind!

She couldn't give him that chance.

This was, after all, a banquet for the women, and under the displeased gaze of the old lady of the Wei family, Wei Ting did not linger for long.

But it's still eye-catching enough.

Wei Ting went to Ji Qingwu's side and said a few words with a smile, which was seen by the ladies of various families in Lin'an City.

The celestial signs say that Miss Ji is a hindrance to the imperial heir, yet Wei Ting still can't let go of her. Is he going to disobey the emperor's decree? Unable to marry his beloved and frustrated in his official career, it seems this emperor and his subject are truly on the verge of falling out.

The conversation at the table now completely revolved around Ji Qingwu and Wei Ting.

Ji Qingwu felt her ears burning, but fortunately, the shouts of the master of ceremonies attracted everyone's attention.

Princess Qingyun and her husband's carriage had arrived at the door.

The wedding ceremony was elaborate and grand. Princess Qingyun wore a nine-phoenix crown and a wedding dress embroidered with chicks. Behind her were eight boys holding square and round fans, and twenty maids carrying palace lanterns.

Li Chengxun was dressed in a red robe again. Unlike the robe worn by the top scholar who passed the imperial examination in the past, the robe he wore today was trimmed with gold, making it extremely precious.

Prince Yong rode alongside them. He dismounted at the door, walked to the carriage behind, and reached out his hand, waiting to help Tao Wanyin down.

Tao Wanyin lifted the carriage curtain and looked in surprise at the hand extended in front of her. She hesitated for a long time.

Prince Yong, growing impatient, urged, "What are you standing there for?"

Then, he took her hand and noticed that her palm was cold. He frowned and said, "What were you so nervous about in the palace just now? The Emperor and the Empress Dowager aren't going to eat you."

Tao Wanyin had long known that the Empress Dowager disliked her. She had only disliked her before because of Grand Secretary Tao. Now that the Empress Dowager was making no attempt to hide her dislike, how could she remain calm?

Princess Qingyun and her husband entered the mansion amidst the commotion of the crowd.

Prince Yong watched their retreating figures and said, "Do you remember?"

The topic changed so quickly that Tao Wanyin asked, puzzled, "Remember what?"

Prince Yong gripped the soft hand in his grasp and said, "On the day we married, this is how I held your hand as we walked into the palace."

Tao Wanyin stopped in her tracks. She had forgotten that they had once been so close.

Prince Yong observed her reaction and asked breathlessly, "You've forgotten?"

She said softly, "Your Highness knows that's all in the past; people always have to look forward."

After saying that, Tao Wanyin watched as Prince Yong shook off her hand and stormed away angrily.

The hand he had held was now warm, and she placed it on her lower abdomen.

The child in her womb was her only way out.

The wedding ceremony was held.

Ji Qingwu also joined the others in watching from the sidelines.

Only then did she learn that Li Chengxun only had an elderly mother left at home, so she specially brought her from Xianyang to Lin'an.

The wedding ceremony only involves a few bows, without kowtowing, because the princess is the ruler and does not need to kneel before her mother-in-law.

When the master of ceremonies announced, "The ceremony is complete!"

A deafening cheer erupted around Ji Qingwu.

The wind blew through their bright red brocade robes as they prepared to go to their new home for the wedding ceremony.

Ji Qingrong hadn't been out for a long time and had never seen such a lively scene before. She pulled Ji Qingwu along to the new house.

They arrived quite late, and there were already quite a few people gathered around.

Tao Wanyin, being a princess's sister-in-law, naturally stood at the front. Upon seeing Ji Qingwu, she immediately beckoned her over.

Ji Qingrong said, "Qingwu, you go over there. I'm pregnant and afraid of being crowded, so I'll stay on the outer edge and watch."

With himself in the room and Chunxing protecting him, Ji Qingwu went to Tao Wanyin.

The room was filled with red, but Ji Qingwu's bright blue stood out when she was in the front row.

Li Chengxun, dressed in a wedding robe, glanced at it and then looked away.

On the large red bed, the newlyweds sat, holding the same red silk ribbon in their hands.

The red veil was lifted, and Qingyun's face showed undisguised shyness. They drank the nuptial wine together, and the matchmaker kept saying auspicious words.

The crowd cheered and clapped, creating what should have been a lively scene.

But at this moment, a sense of melancholy welled up in Ji Qingwu's heart, because Qingyun had entrusted the wrong person.

After the wedding night festivities, Li Chengxun was pulled away to drink, and the others dispersed as well.

Ji Qingwu had already reached the door when she was invited back by a maidservant beside Princess Qingyun.