Chapter 18 The Wedding

Unable to marry Princess Chang'an, the Bohai Kingdom delegation bid farewell to Chang'an on the second day of the fifth month and returned to Bohai Kingdom.

On the day of her departure, Prince Xiuren of the Balhae Kingdom presented her with a gift.

It wasn't particularly precious, but it was fresh and special, so Huiyi accepted it.

It was a packet of iris seeds.

Irises are nothing special, but the Balhae envoy who delivered the seeds on behalf of Prince Xiuren said that this was a newly cultivated bicolor iris in Balhae.

"The prince said he was not destined to be with the princess, but he hoped that the iris seed could stay in Chang'an and bloom by the princess's side."

To be honest, Huiyi was somewhat moved after hearing these words.

This was the first time someone had so openly and sincerely expressed their love for her.

That's why she was especially happy that night in the Linde Hall and spoke a few more words with the Bohai delegation.

However, just as Prince Soo-in said, the two were not destined to be together.

Even without the marriage to Lin Er, she had no interest in marrying far away to Bohai.

Regardless, Huiyi still held some goodwill towards Prince Xiuren, accepted the seeds of the two-colored iris, and in return gave him a peony named Yaohuang from her Xunfeng Palace.

According to the palace servants who returned, Prince Xiuren was overjoyed when he received the peony. He personally took the peony and carried it all the way to his carriage.

Everyone says that the wind leaves no trace, but the ripples on the water's surface are a different story.

...

The Dragon Boat Festival in Chang'an was the same as always: hanging mugwort leaves, eating zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), shooting rice balls, giving longevity threads as gifts, and drinking realgar wine.

There's also the opportunity to watch the dragon boat races at Qujiang Pool on a sweltering day.

Huiyi even bet on the wrong dragon boat team this year, which put her in an even worse mood.

Huiyi disliked the heat, so after the dog days of summer began, she rarely went out. If she wanted to watch shadow puppetry, she would have someone summon a shadow puppet troupe to perform. Regardless of whether the performance was good or bad, she could receive a generous reward before leaving.

It was enough bonus money for a team to live on for several years.

Therefore, whenever Princess Changle summoned them, the shadow puppet troupes of Chang'an would scramble to participate.

At the end of May, the cicadas were chirping loudly.

Huiyi couldn't hold on any longer and had to use the cool hall to relieve the heat.

The huge wooden wheel above the roof of Xunfeng Palace drives the water in the water channels around the palace to splash onto the roof, and the water flows down the eaves to form a cool and refreshing water curtain.

At the same time, the rotation of the wooden wheels generated a strong wind, sending wave after wave of cool air into the hall, sweeping away the stuffy heat.

Huiyi lived a hard life in Lingzhou with her grandparents since childhood, often lacking food and clothing, and was physically weak and thin.

Once, seeing her parents working hard in the fields, she volunteered to help, wanting to share their burdens.

It happened to be the hottest time of the year, and Huiyi, unable to bear the intense heat, fainted from heatstroke in the fields. After that, he could no longer tolerate the heat.

Her parents felt sorry for her and built her a cool palace after they arrived in Chang'an so that she would not suffer from the scorching heat again.

Leaning against the chaise lounge covered with soft ice silk mats, a whirring fan is beside you, blowing icy air from the front of the fan blades, dispelling the summer heat and leaving you surrounded by a cool breeze.

With the wedding date approaching, the Sixth Bureau has almost finished preparations. Yesterday, the Bureau of Fashion and Costumes even brought her the wedding dress to see.

Wearing a light blue pheasant-patterned robe, the dark blue ceremonial dress embroidered with baby birds was exquisite and gorgeous. Huiyi was initially happy to see it, but the thought that the person she was going to marry was Lin Er made her unhappy.

The Sixth Bureau never makes mistakes in this matter. Huiyi glanced at it briefly, then nodded perfunctorily and let them leave.

Three days before the wedding, early in the morning, her grandfather took her to the ancestral temple to offer sacrifices to the ancestors and inform them of the joyous occasion of their daughter's marriage.

Next, she would put on the nine-phoenix crown and undergo the coming-of-age ceremony.

Huiyi disliked going through this tedious and lengthy process the most, but since it was an ancestral rule, she could only endure it.

After offering sacrifices to the ancestors, Huiyi was exhausted and fell asleep as soon as it was past midnight.

After another two long and tedious days of waiting, we arrived on the first day of June.

It was the day she was married.

Wedding ceremonies, including the evening ceremony, are usually held after sunset. Therefore, the bride is not in a hurry to get up early and can sleep in at her leisure before getting up and getting ready surrounded by everyone.

But today's wedding is a royal ceremony, so it will be more complicated.

Therefore, Huiyi had to get up early and not sleep until the sun was high in the sky.

This made her somewhat sad, and she then blamed Lin Er for it.

It's all his fault, otherwise she wouldn't have to worry about all this.

But Huiyi could only complain a little; she still had to get up early.

Although she had already bathed the night before, the bride still needed to wash and dress before applying makeup. Huiyi soaked in the pool for a while, and when she came out, her whole body felt weak.

The day was very lively. My elder sister came, Aunt Ningguo came, and the Crown Prince's fiancée, Madam Yao, also came.

Even though I've seen him several times, I still marvel at how lucky he is every time I see him.

The future eldest sister-in-law's name is Yao Rui. She is a tall and voluptuous beautiful woman with a cheerful and talkative personality. She always has a warm and sweet smile on her face, and her voice is sweet and soft.

I heard that she was the Crown Prince's childhood sweetheart and playmate. However, after her father was demoted, the Yao family was also implicated by Empress Zhu and demoted to Jiangzhou.

Last year, when the Crown Prince went to inspect three prefectures and counties, including Jiangzhou, he happened to meet this Madam Yao, which stirred up childhood memories.

In addition, Madam Yao was warm, beautiful, cheerful and generous, so my brother immediately decided on her and recommended the Yao family to my father when he returned.

This is not to blame the Crown Prince for taking a liking to her. If Huiyi were a man, he would also like a woman like Yao's wife.

There were already a bunch of palace servants around, and with the addition of my elder sister, my future sister-in-law, and Aunt Ningguo, Xunfeng Palace was extremely lively today.

“The princess was already a beauty, and now that she’s made up, she’s even more stunning. If I were the second son of the Lin family, I would immediately fall at her feet.”

Aunt Ningguo is an elder, and my elder sister is reserved and quiet. Only Yao Rui is a wonderful person. She is sweet-talking and warm-hearted. Her praise is enthusiastic but not obsequious. It is obvious that she is sincere.

No one dislikes hearing kind words, and Huiyi was no exception.

Yao Rui's words were particularly warm and sincere, making them pleasant to listen to and heartwarming. Huiyi liked this future sister-in-law very much.

"Thank you for the compliment, sister-in-law, but I think the bride's makeup is too heavy and exaggerated, and she looks better in her usual clothes."

The bride's makeup was elaborate and intricate. First, a thick layer of lead powder was applied to her cheeks to make them excessively white. Then, bright red rouge was applied, short and thick eyebrows were drawn, and gold foil and pearl flowers were attached. Two bright red dimples were placed on her lips, and crescent-shaped red rouge was painted on her temples. Finally, a small dot of lip rouge was placed between her lips to show the new bride's cherry-like mouth...

Not only was it cumbersome, but Huiyi also felt that such makeup was too strange and exaggerated.

Fortunately, it was only needed for the wedding, so she put up with it for the time being.

Upon hearing the term "sister-in-law," Yao Rui's cheeks flushed for a moment. Even the usually cheerful Yao Rui felt a little shy as she replied, "Your Highness is too kind. I am not yet married to Your Highness and do not deserve to be called your sister-in-law."

The beauty's shy demeanor made her even more charming. Huiyi looked at herself in the mirror with rouge on her face, which looked like a monkey's bottom. The more she looked, the funnier she became.

"What's the big deal? It's only a matter of time. Sister-in-law, you might as well call me by my childhood name. That's what my parents call me!"

Li Huaiyu simply smiled gently as she helped her younger sister adjust her wedding dress.

Aunt Ningguo, a lively and cheerful person, chimed in, "Xi Nu is right, niece-in-law, you should take her."

Yao Rui then smiled broadly and readily agreed, continuing their lively conversation.

After her makeup was finished, the palace maid styled Huiyi's hair into a high bun. Fortunately, Huiyi's hair had been grown exceptionally thick over the years, otherwise she would have had to use a hairpin.

Wearing a nine-phoenix crown and a blue pheasant-patterned robe, with two jade pendants tied with colorful ribbons, a palace maid stood by, holding a round fan inlaid with pearls and gemstones, ready to hand it over at any moment.

When she was almost fully dressed, Aunt Ningguo suddenly smiled and handed her a booklet.

"Auntie, what is this?"

Huiyi noticed her aunt's mysterious behavior and was about to open it to take a look when her aunt stopped her hand.

“It’s a good thing, but don’t rush to see it now. Let’s go to the new house tonight to see it. This is the best I have here. The writing is the best, the painting is first-class, and it’s the most pleasing to the eye.”

Huiyi listened in a daze. Although she didn't quite understand, she still nodded obediently.

It must be another wedding gift from her aunt, a pleasant surprise.

Nodding solemnly, she instructed Biqing to put the booklet into the trunk she was going to take to the Lin family, intending to open it and take a look when she had some free time that night.

After finishing her makeup and having a light meal, Yu Niang arrived from outside and informed that the Lin family had come to fetch the bride. The groom had already arrived at the Liangyi Hall to receive his father's instructions and was bestowed with the seal of the Imperial Son-in-Law Commandant. Huiyi was then instructed to depart for the Lizheng Hall.

Huiyi also wanted to linger, but thinking that her parents were waiting in the Lizheng Hall, she sighed and left the Xunfeng Hall with the help of several noblewomen around her.

The round fan obscured the woman's heavily made-up and beautiful face, revealing only her magnificent high bun adorned with a nine-phoenix crown and her slender, delicate hands holding the fan.

As they approached the Lizheng Hall, Huiyi peeked out briefly and immediately saw Lin Lanting, standing tall and straight, holding a jade tablet in front of the hall.

Today, as the groom, he wore a crimson official robe, a lacquered gauze crown, and a long robe with wide sleeves, quite different from his usual sharp and dashing appearance.

As if seeing Huiyi arrive, the red figure moved and walked towards her, holding a jade tablet.

He strode forward with a light and natural gait, appearing from afar as if he were brimming with joy.

But Huiyi knew it was all an illusion, especially the serious tone in Lin Lanting's voice when he walked up to her.

"Princess."

Through the fan, Huiyi couldn't see Lin Er's expression, but just hearing his half-dead tone was extremely disappointing.

"Um."

She didn't say much, only gave a faint "hmm," and the newlyweds exchanged a perfunctory glance before heading towards the Lizheng Hall together.

Inside the palace, Emperor Yongxi and Empress Du, along with civil and military officials, watched the newlyweds walk in from outside and thought they were an exceptionally well-matched couple.

"Congratulations to the princess and her husband on their wedding! May they live a long and prosperous life together."

The commotion, as loud as a mountain, made Huiyi truly realize that she was currently holding a wedding ceremony with Lin Er.

My emotions surged suddenly.

Seeing the loving faces of her parents at the head of the table made Huiyi even more uneasy.

The newlyweds paused, bowed to the emperor and empress above, and addressed each other as father and mother.

In formal settings, one should also use more dignified terms of address.

However, hearing the same words from Lin Er made Huiyi feel very strange.

She really wasn't used to having multiple husbands, especially Lin Lanting.

She glanced at him sideways, but to her surprise, he was also sharp-eyed and looked over, his hawk-like eyes locking onto her, making her heart skip a beat.

It was inexplicably frightening; first, I felt like I was being targeted by something terrifying.

The bride quickly turned her head, causing the hair ornament on her hair to sway precariously. Lin Lanting stared at her maliciously for a moment, finally angering her, and received a whispered "Get lost."

Before the wedding, his grandfather sternly warned him that no matter what he was thinking, he had to put on a cheerful face today, or he would be in trouble when he got back.

Lin Lanting initially thought it would be difficult, but now she doesn't think so anymore.

She may be a bit spoiled, but she's also quite amusing.

The Emperor and Empress noticed their daughter and son-in-law's little actions below, but pretended not to see them and smiled with satisfaction.

See, isn't this quite harmonious?

A note from the author:

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Update [heart emoji]

On their wedding night, they had to pinch each other [doge emoji].