Chapter 83 The grand wedding: As the fiery red veil was placed over her head, she bid farewell to her grandfather…
As she put on the bright red veil and bid farewell to her grandfather, she saw Jiang Lang, her uncle, whom she hadn't seen in a long time.
Jiang Ying stood beside him, and although her makeup concealed it, it was not hard to see that her left cheek was slightly swollen.
She wasn't like this when she was getting ready in the morning.
Jiang Zhuoying sighed inwardly, knowing that she had been wronged again.
She only knew that Jiang Ying was well-educated and virtuous from a young age, a model of a refined young lady in Luojing City, but she only realized how difficult things were for her behind the scenes when she grew up.
...
The bridal sedan chair was carried by eight people and moved very steadily on the road.
Whenever the wind blows, a corner of the sedan curtain will be lifted, allowing her to catch a glimpse of the imposing figure on the chestnut horse ahead.
Jiang Zhuoying felt even more reassured that he had come to her residence in person to welcome her.
He has feelings for her.
However, she still needs to explain the matter of faking her death recently, and she must not let it become an obstacle between them.
...After the ceremony concluded at dusk, she had been waiting in the Kunning Palace for quite some time.
They had been waiting for ages, their stomachs growling with hunger, but there was no sound from outside the door.
Her once straight, slender waist gradually relaxed, and Xiangyue's voice sounded at just the right moment beside her.
“Miss? Why don’t you have someone bring you some food? You’ve only had a bowl of porridge this morning, you must be hungry by now.”
Jiang Zhuoying paused for a moment: "What time is it now?"
It is already 9 PM.
It was the hour of Hai (9-11 PM). The girl gently shook her head, and the pearl tassels hanging from her fiery red veil rustled with her movements.
"No need, it's getting late, we should be there soon."
Qi Fan should be back soon.
Xiangyue and Xiangxing exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with worry.
Given their daughter's original personality, she was never one to compromise herself.
She's being so well-behaved and polite right now, it must be for the sake of that prince.
They knew perfectly well what their daughter had done back then, and they wondered if that man would cause trouble later.
Thinking this, their hearts pounded even harder.
The quiet wait was too unbearable; Jiang Zhuoying had become drowsy from her restlessness.
She hadn't slept well last night, and now her eyelids were practically touching, and she was feeling drowsy.
Just before she was about to lose consciousness, a series of greetings suddenly came from outside the door...
Chu Yixin followed closely behind Qi Fan with a cheerful smile, when the person in front of him suddenly stopped, and he almost bumped into him.
Fortunately, he was skilled in martial arts and had excellent balance, which allowed him to barely stop his steps.
Before they could even breathe a sigh of relief, they heard their master's cold voice.
Have you had dinner yet?
"Your Highness, no, Her Highness has not come out since she entered the room, nor has she called anyone in."
It was Ah Liu who answered. She never expected that she would rise to such heights and become someone close to the Crown Princess.
He was even later responsible for the safety of the Crown Princess.
"Um."
...
Jiang Zhuoying held her veil with both hands, revealing most of her face.
She shook her head, which was already feeling dizzy from hunger, and asked softly.
"Could I have misheard? Did you two hear the greetings outside?"
"I heard it."
Besides Xiangyue, who responded immediately, Xiangxing also nodded.
"That's strange, why hasn't anyone come in yet?"
Jiang Zhuoying frowned, unable to wait any longer. Wearing a heavy and elaborate wedding dress, she stood up and forced herself to walk towards the door.
She walked with a hurried pace, and Xiangyue and Xiangxing were stunned for a moment before quickly following her.
Before she could even get close to the door, the two doors were pushed open from the outside, and a bright red dress embroidered with gold thread stepped across the threshold.
Jiang Zhuoying's hands trembled, and she hurriedly put down the veil and immediately curtsied.
"This humble servant, Jiang, greets Your Highness."
Her voice was gentle and soft.
The man stood at the doorway, coldly staring at the small, festive, fiery red mass on the ground, remaining silent for a long time.
Jiang Zhuoying squatted on the ground, her head hanging low and her neck stiff. The heavy phoenix crown on her head was about to fall, and the elaborate wedding robe on her body was also extremely heavy.
She was feeling a little dizzy from being hungry all day, but she still patiently and softly reminded him, "Your Highness?"
Qi Fan pursed his thin lips, his voice hoarse: "All of you, step back."
Xiangyue and Xiangxing were even more anxious, but they had no other choice. This was the Crown Prince, and they couldn't afford to be presumptuous.
The group hurriedly took their leave. Xiangyue and Xiangxing stood on tiptoe, huddled together, peering into the room until Chu Yixin, the last to leave, completely closed the door.
With a soft 'bang,' Jiang Zhuoying knew that only the two of them remained in the room.
Her vision was filled with red, and with a veil over her head, she couldn't see anything. Only by lowering her eyes could she see the gold-embroidered boots approaching through the gaps in the pearl tassels.
In addition, the familiar scent of sandalwood that I could smell at the tip of my nose became even clearer.
She had imagined this situation a thousand times in her mind.
She had expected to be extremely nervous, but now that the moment had arrived, she found herself somewhat lost in thought, contemplating the present moment... as if it were the first time they had met.
"Have you been waiting for me for a long time?"
Such a brief question left Jiang Zhuoying frozen in place, hesitant about how to answer.
Is it a considerate denial? Or is it an opportunity to act cute and play the victim?
I wonder which one he'll fall for...
She pinched her palm, made a decision quickly, and spoke considerately in a low voice.
"Indeed! I waited for half a day, but this joyous day is important. My husband is busy, and I understand, so I have no complaints."
"Half a day?" he said with a hint of sarcasm. "Do you know how long I searched for you at the bottom of the cliff back then?"
Jiang Zhuoying was speechless for a moment. She had expected this person to bring up old grievances, but she didn't expect it to happen so quickly.
According to her plan, that would have to wait until after the wedding night was over, and then she would use the technique that the nanny had taught her...
She was so hungry that her mind was in disarray, but she was still trying to choose her words carefully, while the man in front of her had already resumed his indifferent voice.
"Your Highness is so considerate, please rise."
At this moment, Jiang Zhuoying naturally dared not act arrogantly and immediately lowered her head: "Yes."
She hadn't eaten all day and her stomach was empty. She had been squatting for a long time, and when she suddenly stood up, she felt dizzy.
My vision blurred, and I couldn't control my heels at all; I was about to fall...
Someone swiftly grabbed her lower back, and the red veil on her head fell to the ground in the chaos.
Jiang Zhuoying closed her eyes, feeling utterly weak, and waited for the dizziness to subside.
The man lowered his eyes, his palm holding the slender waist, which seemed even thinner than before. The girl had her eyes closed, so her eyes were not visible, but her skin was fair, her lips were red, and her eyes were like peach blossoms.
His face was ashen: "What trick of yours is this now?"
Jiang Zhuoying gently placed her hands against his chest. Upon hearing his words, her heart sank, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her, chilling her to the bone.
The girl opened her eyes, and the wrinkles between her brows smoothed out. She slowly stood up straight, then took two steps back and curtsied.
"It was because my legs were weak for a moment, please forgive me, Your Highness."
Qi Fan glanced coldly at the beautiful girl with a face as red as cinnabar, and after a few moments, he turned and left.
As the footsteps faded into the distance, Jiang Zhuoying felt a pang of worry. Had she said something wrong?
If she angers someone and they leave, how will she maintain her position in this household in the future?
Jiang Zhuoying glanced at the man's back until she saw that he hadn't left but had gone to another side room, and only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.
...
Xiangyue and Xiangxing were already taking off her hair and removing her makeup. Jiang Zhuoying glanced at the man on the other side from time to time.
Through the beaded curtain, the floor-length screen, and a main room, one could only vaguely see that the person was holding a scroll.
She didn't look well, and Xiangyue and Xiangxing noticed that things probably weren't going as smoothly as their young lady had expected.
After shedding her heavy and elaborate wedding gown, Jiang Zhuoying was helped to change into a red silk nightgown embroidered with lovebirds.
Just as Xiangxing was about to add some more makeup to her already clean face, Jiang Zhuoying gently shook her head, signaling the two of them to step back first.
"……this……"
Xiangyue hesitated, her face reflected in the bronze mirror was beautiful, but it lacked color.
Although her lips were beautiful, they weren't as pink and tender as usual; instead, they appeared somewhat pale.
Especially compared to the bright red lipstick from before, it looked even more pale, and even gave off a hint of illness.
According to Xiangyue, she should apply some more rouge to make her complexion look better.
Before she could even utter a word of advice, Xiangxing grabbed her wrist and shook his head at her.
Xiangxing knew her young mistress's plan, and without saying a word, she pulled Xiangyue away...
After the two maids left, Jiang Zhuoying glanced at herself in the bronze mirror one last time before letting out a breath and walking towards the other side room.
She moved with light, graceful steps, her movements elegant and slender.
She made a show of herself, walked through the floor-to-ceiling screen, and entered the small study. She slowly curtsied and said, "Your Highness, A-Zhuo has finished washing and dressing."
To maintain perfect etiquette, she kept her head down.
Jiang Zhuoying knew that given what she had done, it was perfectly normal for the man in front of her to be angry.
Therefore, she wasn't angry even when she was given the cold shoulder.
After a short while, she gently reminded him, "Your Highness? What are you looking at?"
When she was still far away, she saw that this man was holding a book.
But now that this stunningly beautiful woman is right in front of him, how can he still bear to look at her?
Jiang Zhuoying kept her head down, unaware that the man's gaze had long since shifted away from the dull and boring calligraphy copybook.
The interior of Kunning Hall was covered with thick, fragrant carpets, and the incense burned was pear-scented incense, a favorite of many women.
The girl was dressed in a soft, sheer red silk dress. Her shoulders were slender and rounded, revealing glimpses of her jade-like skin. She had a delicate and graceful figure, and her black hair cascaded down like a waterfall.
She's beautiful, but she's not very kind-hearted.
Qi Fan restrained himself and looked away: "Get up."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Jiang Zhuoying slowly stood up straight and looked up at the person, only to find that the person wasn't even looking at her!
Following the man's gaze, what I saw was... a pot of green orchids placed on a flower stand?
Jiang Zhuoying: "..."
It's not even in bloom right now; there are only a few green leaves. Can they be prettier than her?
She has always been confident in her appearance.
Being so blatantly ignored, it's impossible to remain unmoved.
You can treat her coldly, but you just can't ignore her!
Jiang Zhuoying felt a surge of displeasure. She tiptoed two steps to the side, blocking the pot of green orchids with her body.
"...Your Highness?" This time, she used all her charm, her sweet and sticky voice almost melting one's bones.
The man's expression changed slightly.
Jiang Zhuoying naturally noticed the change in his eyes, and felt a little more satisfied.
Thinking she should strike while the iron was hot, she took a few more steps toward him under his gloomy gaze and stopped in front of him.
She carefully examined the man's face; he didn't appear angry, nor did he say anything to stop her.
With a hardened heart, and then her legs went weak, she sat directly on Qi Fan's lap and fell into his arms.
Still preoccupied with the sarcastic remarks she had just received, she hurriedly explained, "I lost my balance for a moment, please forgive me, Your Highness."
She tried to stand up again, pressing against the man's strong chest, but her waist was already grabbed by one hand.
"If you can't stand still, then don't stand."
The man finally spoke, and before Jiang Zhuoying could even feel joy, his cold voice startled her.
Stop standing there?
With a sudden lightness, she was lifted up by the waist, and Qi Fan carried her straight back to the bedroom without stopping.
With a "thump," her black hair spread all over the bed, and Jiang Zhuoying hooked her arms around his neck, a slight blush appearing on her pale cheeks.
A hint of shyness in his eyes: "Your Highness..."
"Bang bang bang~" Suddenly, the sound of knocking on the door rang out again.
"Master?" It was Chu Yixin.
The all-too-familiar voice made Jiang Zhuoying freeze, and several unsettling thoughts flashed through her mind. She unconsciously tightened her grip on his arms.
"release."
The cold voice made her stiffen and suddenly lose her strength. Her arms slowly fell down, and all she could see was the soft canopy.
Jiang Zhuoying immediately turned her head and saw that the tall and slender figure was already getting further and further away, and helplessness gradually filled her eyes.
Was she... being too presumptuous?
Was this marriage not something he actively sought out?
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Author's Note: Qi Gou will soon be proven wrong [eating melon emoji].
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