Chapter 84 The Grand Wedding (Part Two) The door swung open, revealing Xiangyue and Xiangxing...
The door swung open, and Xiangyue and Xiangxing entered one after the other to bring her dinner.
Looking at the abundant dishes on the table, her helplessness eased slightly, but even after all the dishes had been served, she still couldn't see that person again.
Jiang Zhuoying sighed softly and looked at Xiangyue: "Go and inquire, see if you can find out where His Highness has gone?"
"Yes, I'll go right away."
Xiangyue curtsied and had already turned to leave, but she couldn't bear to leave and turned back again: "Miss, please don't rush, let's have our meal first. These are all your favorite dishes."
"I know, you should go now."
Jiang Zhuoying nodded. The dishes were already placed in front of her, so there was no reason not to use them.
Xiangyue returned very quickly, but her complexion was not good.
Jiang Zhuoying already knew what was going on. She swallowed slowly and asked her in a low voice, "How is it?"
Xiangyue pounded her head in frustration: "According to the maid at the courtyard gate, His Highness went in the direction of Mingde Hall."
Mingde Hall?
Mingde Hall is the main hall of the Crown Prince's residence, and also the sleeping quarters of the newly appointed Crown Prince.
It seems they don't plan to stay here.
“Young lady, don’t worry, there are many days ahead of you. This one day is nothing.”
Xiangyue was anxious and offered some insensitive words of comfort.
She paused abruptly at this point, saying, "Who says this day is nothing?"
This is their wedding night, and the Crown Prince's attitude on this day is of utmost importance...
Realizing she had said something wrong, she stammered and stammered, completely flustered, and didn't know how to make amends.
"Alright, don't worry about me. Haven't we been through enough lately?"
"I know what I'm doing."
The girl calmly finished her meal, even consuming half a bowl more than usual.
...
Jiang Zhuoying had already retired for the night. The candlelight flickered, dimly illuminating the top of the tent. The soft gauze curtains had their embroidery patterns folded and blurred, making them difficult to discern.
Just like Qi Fan, who reunited with her today, his cold and distant attitude towards her could almost be described as treating her with indifference.
It was clearly the same face, but it was as if it were hidden behind a mask, making it impossible for her to discern...
"Why……"
The girl sighed softly and slowly closed her eyes.
...
In her dream, Jiang Zhuoying dreamed that she was pinned down by a large insect, which buried its head in her neck and licked her cheeks.
The crushing weight was too much for her to bear; her pink lips parted slightly, and her breathing became increasingly rapid: "No, don't..."
"don't want!"
She suddenly woke up, panting heavily, her forehead already covered in a thin layer of sweat.
However, when she opened her eyes, she vaguely saw a tall and blurry figure flash past in her field of vision.
The weight that felt like mountains and boulders on his body suddenly vanished.
"Hiss~"
She let out a soft cry, and at the same time, she lightly covered her eyes. The room suddenly became bright as the oil lamp by the bedside was lit.
"The Crown Princess has some impressive skills."
The chilling words made Jiang Zhuoying freeze, and she looked towards the blinding light—
The man stood against the light, wearing only a light-colored satin undergarment with the collar wide open, and she could almost see the beads of sweat on his neck.
Her breath hitched slightly, and her cheeks flushed red. But as her gaze moved upward and she saw the other person's sinister expression, the blush that had just spread across her ears slowly disappeared.
"Could it be that I misunderstood you?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhuoying immediately recalled what had happened on this bed not long ago.
"Can……"
Her face suddenly turned deathly pale, while the man standing against the light had his face hidden in the darkness.
But that's not what she wanted.
...
He remained standing there, cold and unmoved.
Is he truly indifferent to me?
Jiang Zhuoying's breathing gradually became steady, and her thoughts were completely pulled away from the nightmare she had just experienced.
She unconsciously gripped the quilt tightly with both hands, crumpling the intricately embroidered twin lotus flowers on it into a ball.
She was too proud, thinking that he still had feelings for her.
Something throbbing in my chest plummeted downwards. She had lied to him so much; she shouldn't have such expectations.
Her plans before coming here were completely disrupted, and for a moment, her mind went blank.
The man glanced at the girl who sat blankly and unmoved on the couch.
She did not try to persuade her to stay.
His thin, sharp lips slowly straightened, and a hint of self-mockery flashed in his dark eyes.
He turned and left.
"I'm sorry." A soft, weak voice, tinged with a hint of panic.
Qi Fan paused slightly, but only for a barely perceptible moment, before quickening his pace.
"It was my fault..." Her soft voice was already trembling with sobs.
The tall figure, who had already reached the beaded curtain, finally stopped.
"I'm sorry, it's all my fault. I lied to you, Second Prince..."
"I have already betrayed your trust, and I have no face to call you that anymore."
...
"...Does what you said about loving me back then... no longer count?"
The girl asked in a soft, choked voice, her voice tinged with a barely perceptible glimmer of hope.
Qi Fan frowned deeply and slowly exhaled a breath of stale air.
He noticed that the toes of the brocade boots had been turned around, and that Jiang Zhuoying had sat up at some point.
She bent her knees backward, sitting upright on the shimmering brocade quilt, sobbing silently, her red eyes still brimming with tears.
Without doing anything, one can easily evoke pity.
The pattern on the little jacket she was wearing vaguely resembled the one whose ties he had once torn off.
His long, deep eyes were half-closed, and he knew that this was most likely the girl's scheme.
"..."
Looking at the unusually dark face of the person in question, Jiang Zhuoying slowly lowered her head, and tears streamed down her face as if they were free.
"It's all my fault. I'm sorry to you. I shouldn't have asked for the Second Prince's forgiveness."
"From now on, let me spend the rest of my life alone in this empty room."
With a few quick steps, Qi Fan reached the bedside. He pinched her delicate chin with one hand, feeling its warmth and moisture—the tears she had just shed.
Jiang Zhuoying's voice was slightly hoarse: "Your Highness?"
"Are you full?"
"...Hmm?" She blinked her teary eyes, a hint of confusion in them.
"Did you have a full dinner just now?"
Despite not knowing why, Jiang Zhuoying nodded in agreement, even though the issue had absolutely nothing to do with the current situation.
The man's cool eyes suddenly turned dark.
"If that's the case, then it's my turn to leave."
"..."
"Hmm..."
The hibiscus-scented tents are warm, and the temperature rises everywhere.
Jiang Zhuoying had no idea when she closed her eyes; she only knew that she no longer had the strength to even lift her hand.
In the moment before she fell into a deep sleep, she kicked someone with a weak, feeble kick.
But the meaning is quite clear: stop making trouble.
The man ignored her; his usually aloof eyes were now intense and deep, with a red tinge at the corners, exuding a predatory and aggressive aura that made her unable to look him in the eye.
He buried his face in her neck, his hot breath making her tremble uncontrollably.
"You rest, don't worry about me."
She wanted to retort, but the moment she opened her mouth, her voice was cut off.
...
When I opened my eyes, it was still dark.
Jiang Zhuoying was half-awake when she was startled by the soft sobbing that came from beside her.
She suddenly opened her eyes and saw Xiangyue standing at the head of her bed with red eyes, and Xiangxing standing beside Xiangyue with a helpless expression.
"Xiang...cough cough..."
As soon as she spoke, her throat was dry and hoarse, and her voice was not as soft and pleasant as usual, but rather rough and hoarse.
"Miss, you've suffered. Please have some hot water."
Xiangyue had already leaned over and helped her up, so she leaned softly against the pillow that Xiangxing had prepared behind her. Xiangxing then handed her a cup of hot water.
Jiang Zhuoying lowered her eyes, staring at the slowly rising steam, and sipped the water in small bites.
"Miss... are you still feeling unwell? Shall I give you a massage?"
Xiangyue spoke cautiously, and Jiang Zhuoying looked at her. She saw that Xiangyue's round eyes had stopped crying, but they still looked wet.
Jiang Zhuoying nodded, and Xiangyue and Xiangxing helped her change positions, one massaging her shoulders and the other massaging her legs.
"What time is it? Where is His Highness?"
She drank half a glass of water, and her throat felt much better. At least it was no longer as hoarse as before, and she no longer felt any pain or itching when she spoke.
Xiangyue spoke first, her tone tinged with resentment: "They left before Chenshi (7-9 AM)."
Then she suddenly softened her tone: "It's already Chen Shi (7-9 AM), but the weather isn't very good today, so it looks a bit gloomy."
Jiang Zhuoying found it amusing and tapped her forehead with her fingertip: "What did he do to offend you with your little schemes?"
Xiangyue pursed her lips, her face still somewhat sullen: "This servant wouldn't dare. This servant just feels sorry for Miss. You called for water so many times last night, Miss, you must be exhausted, but..."
But the young master didn't care about the young lady at all, and went out alone early in the morning.
So what if he's the crown prince? A son-in-law who doesn't cherish his young lady isn't a good son-in-law!
She was dissatisfied, but dared not voice it, not because she was afraid, but because she was afraid of causing trouble for her mistress and also afraid of damaging the relationship between the couple.
Even though she was somewhat displeased, she knew that if her mistress could not win the Crown Prince's favor in the long days to come, then worse days were yet to come.
Jiang Zhuoying, having received firsthand instruction from the palace matrons, was more knowledgeable than the clueless Xiangyue.
Last night, she clearly didn't do anything... and yet she was already like this.
She believed that there was still some resentment in her heart.
However, it's impossible to say that he has completely lost interest in her.
I'm tired, but I don't feel as empty inside anymore. Compared to last night, I feel more confident.
Jiang Zhuoying gave Xiangyue a few pointers, then got up to do her hair and makeup, as she would be going to the palace to see the Emperor later.
Today, her hair was styled in a dignified and elegant updo, adorned with a kingfisher feather phoenix crown and a luxurious hairpin swaying diagonally in her temple.
But the weight of this phoenix crown is even greater than that of the crown worn during yesterday's wedding.
She was busy when the door quietly opened. The man moved almost silently until the rustling sound of the beaded curtain being lifted caught Jiang Zhuoying's attention.
She turned her head slightly and saw the tall, slender figure outside the beaded curtain. She smiled sweetly and said, "Your Highness, you've returned?"
She did not immediately rise to bow, as her crown was not yet properly secured, for fear of making a mistake in the rush.
Qi Fan had already lifted the full, shimmering beaded curtain, and the girl's sweet and charming smile came into view. When she smiled, her brown pupils were bright and large, her dimples were shallow, and her lips were full, with something sparkling on them.
He had already savored the sweetness of this place last night.
His gaze gradually moved upwards, and the enormous crown caused him to slowly frown.
Jiang Zhuoying had been by his side for a while before, and now she was scrutinizing his expression without blinking.
He stepped in expressionlessly, and when he saw her face, his expression did not soften but became even more serious.
The gentle words she had prepared stuck in her throat, and she simply couldn't bring herself to say them.
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Author's Note: Qi Gou: Alone in an empty room? Dream on.
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