Chapter 478 The Tenth Prince's Marriage Proposal

"Your Highness." Daiyu nodded slightly.

The Tenth Prince handed over the brocade box: "I was passing through Jiangnan and saw this two-colored crabapple tree in full bloom. I thought you would like it."

Daiyu opened the box and saw a carefully cultivated crabapple tree, half of which was as white as snow and half as red as fire, which was her favorite variety.

"Your Highness has gone to great lengths."

She said softly, a ripple of emotion stirring within her.

Over the years, the Tenth Prince has never stopped caring for her.

Even during her period of serious illness and seclusion, she frequently sent people to deliver rare and precious items from various places.

What's even more remarkable is that he always maintained just the right distance and never put pressure on her.

"I heard you're currently writing 'The Strategy to Pacify the Seas'?"

The Tenth Prince walked side by side with her on the garden path.

Daiyu nodded: "I want to record the experiences of governing overseas regions and reforming the salt administration over the years, which may be of some use to future generations."

You're always thinking about others.

The Tenth Prince stopped and looked at her intently.

"And what about yourself? Have you thought about what you'll do in the future?"

Daiyu was silent for a moment, then said, "It's good as it is now."

"Is that so?" the Tenth Prince sighed softly. "But I always feel that you still need someone by your side to take care of you."

This was said in a tactful way, but the meaning couldn't be clearer.

Daiyu looked up at him and suddenly noticed that he had a few gray hairs at his temples.

By all accounts, the Tenth Prince should be thirty-five years old this year.

Which prince of this age doesn't have a multitude of wives and concubines, surrounded by children?

He alone remains unmarried to this day.

"Why must Your Highness..." Daiyu was interrupted by the Tenth Prince before she could finish speaking.

“I know what you’re going to say.” His gaze was firm.

"Over the past twenty years, I've watched you grow from a young girl into a capable governor-general, seen you advocate for the people and reform the salt administration, and witnessed your illness and recovery. During this time, it wasn't that no one advised me to marry, nor that no prominent family sought a marriage alliance. But I always remembered what I said to you in Suzhou that year—"

He paused, then said, word by word, "I'm willing to wait for you, until the day you're willing."

Daiyu was deeply moved.

She recalled the ups and downs of the past years: when she was exploring overseas, it was the Tenth Prince who lobbied for her in the court; when she was reforming the salt administration, it was the Tenth Prince who supported her despite opposition; and even when she was seriously ill, it was he who sought medical treatment everywhere.

This affection has remained unchanged for twenty years.

"Your Highness..." she said softly, "I am no longer the little girl I used to be."

The Tenth Prince smiled: "I am no longer the impetuous youth I once was. Over the years, I have learned patience, responsibility, and what it truly means to speak up for the people from your guidance. Yu'er, you have made me a better person."

At this moment, Yuan Hongqu quietly appeared and nodded slightly to Daiyu.

This subtle action finally made Daiyu make up her mind.

She looked up at the Tenth Prince and said softly, "If Your Highness doesn't mind that Daiyu is old and faded..."

"Nonsense!" the Tenth Prince interrupted excitedly, "Looking across the entire country, who can compare to Princess Jiangzhu's unparalleled beauty and charm!"

This is no exaggeration. Daiyu was already over thirty, but time had not left a single trace on her face.

Daiyu finally revealed a genuine smile: "Then... Daiyu is willing."

Those five simple words sounded like heavenly music to the Tenth Prince.

He was so excited that he didn't know what to do. After a long while, he remembered the brocade box in his hand: "This...this crabapple, shall we take it as our token of love?"

Yuan Hongqu laughed from the side:

"Your Highness has waited for twenty years, and this day has finally come."

The news caused a stir in both the government and the public.

No one expected that this powerful female governor would eventually choose to marry the tenth prince who had waited for her for twenty years.

The Emperor was overjoyed upon learning of this and immediately issued an edict to grant the marriage. He also specially summoned Yuan Hongqu, saying, "Your teaching and nurturing have been excellent. I am very pleased that Daiyu has found a home."

In the warm spring of March, the air in Beijing is filled with the sweet fragrance of flowers and a festive atmosphere.

As the first rays of dawn pierced the sky, Zhuque Street was already packed with people.

People crowded on both sides of the imperial road blocked by soldiers, craning their necks and standing on tiptoe, their laughter and cheers surging like a tide, all looking forward to the legendary wedding that had been awaited for twenty years—the grand wedding of the Tenth Prince and Lin Daiyu.

"They're here! They're here!" Someone shouted first, and the crowd immediately stirred.

As the palace gates opened wide, the first thing that caught the eye was two rows of royal guards dressed in golden armor and holding colorful banners. Their steps were firm and resounding, and they shimmered like a flowing golden river in the sunlight.

Then, music began to play, with the clear and melodious chimes and flutes, as the imperial procession, composed of sixty-four eunuchs in blue robes, played the solemn yet joyful "Dragon and Phoenix Bring Auspiciousness".

Guided by sixteen pairs of maids carrying gilded palace lanterns and dressed in crimson brocade dresses, the unparalleled wedding carriage finally slowly drove out.

The carriage was made of sandalwood and adorned with gold and jade, with thin, misty red silk gauze hanging on all four sides.

A gentle breeze blew by, causing the silk gauze to flutter lightly, and a pair of beautiful people could be vaguely seen sitting side by side inside the carriage.

The groom, the Tenth Prince, was dressed in a bright red four-clawed python robe, with his hair tied up in a golden crown. His usually dignified and imposing eyes were now filled with tenderness and joy that almost overflowed. His gaze never left the bride beside him from beginning to end.

The bride, Daiyu, became the most dazzling pearl in the entire capital city today.

She wore a crown with nine dragons and four phoenixes, surrounded by pearls and jade, its precious light shimmering.

The bright red wedding gown she wore was woven with gold thread by three hundred embroiderers from Jiangnan who had spent half a year working on it. The pattern of crabapple blossoms on it was so lifelike that it seemed to sway and bloom at any moment with her breath.

The embroidered robe draped over her shoulders, pearl tassels swaying gently on her forehead. Her stunningly beautiful face was partially obscured by the veil, but the faint, happy smile on her lips was clearly visible to the man beside her.

Following the wedding car was not the traditional gold and silver chests, but a procession of brides escorted by students from the Women's Academy.

They held scrolls or books, which were Daiyu's dowry—"Pacifying the Seas," "Lin Gong's Political Essentials," "New Compilation of Salt Administration"... These works, which were enough to bring peace to the country and benefit the people, were solemnly placed on an incense table covered with red silk and carried by strongmen to tour the capital.

"Look! That's Governor Lin's dowry!"

"This is the real 'Ten Miles of Red Dowry,' unparalleled in the world!" A burst of exclamations erupted from the crowd.

What is even more touching is that wherever the procession went, people offered gifts.

An elderly salt farmer from Jiangnan, with his white hair, presented snow-white refined salt and exclaimed, "May the friendship between the Governor-General and the Prince be as pure as salt!"

Representatives from various ethnic groups in Exin State presented colorful fabrics and mountain delicacies, and sang ancient blessing songs.

Even overseas envoys rushed to the scene, presenting dazzling corals and pearls to express their gratitude to Daiyu for her past contributions to opening up the sea frontiers and facilitating trade.

Every gift carries a sentiment and reflects the people's heart.

Along both sides of the road, petals fell like rain, scattering across the imperial road and covering the wedding cars.