16 Wedding
◎How can there be a woman as sensible as you?◎
"Are you unhappy?" Bai Yi took Rong Qianyu to the side hall and asked her a few questions.
"No." She lowered her head and looked a little depressed.
Bai Yi also saw through her thoughts. He Zhaoyi was always idle and had nothing to do, and she relied on a little favor to attract attention everywhere.
Then he patted her shoulder and said softly, "Actually, there's no need to be angry. Everyone in the palace knows how Liu got pregnant. She's a pitiful person, but you don't have to belittle yourself."
"Yes." Rong Qianyu nodded, and the grievance in her heart was slightly relieved. She understood the meaning, but she was still very concerned.
Bai Yi never pushed her, and always stood by Rong Qianyu no matter what happened. It was this unconditional protection that made Rong Qianyu tremble with fear, fearing that she would not do well enough and affect others.
I have never been cherished by others, so I will repay even a drop of kindness with a spring.
It was this kind of worrying mood that made her feel uneasy for many days. Her relationship with Fu Hua had eased a little, but if it took a sudden turn for the worse for some reason, it would be even more difficult to deal with.
It’s a small matter to feel sorry for her status as the Crown Princess, but it’s a big matter to feel sorry for the Queen’s kindness.
But Bai Yi remained gentle and kind, without any anger or disgust.
"Of course, I also hope that the eldest son is a legitimate son, so that it will be legitimate and easier to do things. But this is not something that can be controlled by human power. Besides, I also understand your situation. There is no rush to have a child." She held Rong Qianyu's hand and said earnestly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your understanding. Qianyu is deeply grateful." Rong Qianyu said reluctantly.
"Take good care of Liu's baby and be careful of Cui. You are the legitimate mother of this child. If it is a boy in the future, it will still be yours."
Bai Yi was also extremely helpless. The wedding date was moved forward because of Fu Hua's ridiculous behavior. Otherwise, they wouldn't have to hold the wedding in the cold winter. It was indeed unfair to Rong Qianyu.
"Thank you for your understanding, Madam."
"Go back. You've served for many days. It's time to rest."
After leaving the Queen's bedroom, Rong Qianyu was still worried and listless. Rong Pan saw that she was distraught and asked her, "Princess, what's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry to see so many people?"
"Liu is pregnant," she said.
"Pregnant? But just once, and..."
"Yes, she is a blessed person." Rong Qianyu has been in a bad mood since returning to the palace. Rong Pan also wanted to comfort her, "Princess, don't be too sad. You will have a child sooner or later."
She fiddled with the forbidden steps on her chest, weakly reacting to these comforts, as if she had long been numb. "I have nothing to be sad about. Now I don't want him to touch me. As for the child, let it be. And don't call me princess anymore. It's no longer respectful. It's time to call me Crown Princess."
The snow fell like cotton, and gusts of cold wind blew, and most of the leaves on the trees fell off. The pine trees and bamboos on the imperial road exuded a comfortable greenness against the white snow.
The sound of gongs and drums was accompanied by the loud sound of firecrackers. Xue Ji was disturbed by the noise in the early morning.
Fireworks exploded in the flames, firecrackers and fireworks rippled in the air, and magpies kept calling on the branches.
He couldn't stand the noise and pushed the door open impatiently. "What day is it today? It looks like they bought 200 kilograms of firecrackers outside?"
"My lord, it's the twenty-third day of the winter month," Qingyun replied.
Xue Ji then remembered that the twenty-third day of the winter month was the wedding day of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Princess Rong.
He smelled the scent of firecrackers and winter snow outside the house, slammed the door and said, "Just wait and see. I'm afraid there will be no peace from now on."
"Comb it all the way to the ends with one comb. Comb it all the way to the ends with two combs. Comb it all the way to the eyebrows with three combs." The old nanny got up early in the morning and went to comb Rong Qianyu's makeup.
The ceremony started before dawn, and Fu Hua was waiting in a bright red wedding dress.
But it was in Cui Rumei's room.
When he woke up in the morning, he was also awakened by the sound of gongs and drums. He hugged his beautiful concubine and the two of them snuggled together.
Cui Rumei coaxed him tenderly for a long time before he got up reluctantly. Today was his wedding day, but she didn't seem to be his bride.
"Erlang looks so handsome today." She let her hair down and snuggled lazily in his arms.
Fu Hua took her hand in a daze, and a warm breath touched the back of her slightly cold hand. "It's a pity that I'm not marrying you." He said with some regret.
"I am already Erlang's, so I don't need these conventional rituals."
She always looked delicate and weak in front of Fu Hua, with tears in her eyes, which made me feel pity for her.
The next day, when she faced the women in the harem, she looked completely ferocious. She was like the evil ghost with painted skin, captivating young men and Fu Hua was her drug inducer.
He was obedient and compliant to her, and was willing to offer her his whole heart just to make her smile.
"Mei'er, you must remember, no matter who my legal wife will be in the future, you will always be the most important and cherished person in my heart. No one can replace you."
Cui Rumei listened to Fu Hua's promise in a docile manner. In his heart, Cui Rumei was like the white moonlight.
A person who doesn't care and is always obedient.
"I know," she smiled, a bright smile she had never seen in the palace before. "So I don't blame Erlang. I understand you have no choice. After all, you are the crown prince. I am lucky enough to have this marriage with Erlang. It is the greatest blessing in my life. I dare not ask for anything else."
"How can there be a woman as sensible as you?" He was very happy that Cui Rumei was so considerate. He pulled the person in his arms and kissed her on the cheek.
The person in his arms was reluctant to accept the offer, saying, "But Erlang, you should also give the Crown Princess some respect. After all, it was she who asked for my opportunity to serve here, so I should be grateful."
Fu Hua nodded. Rong Qianyu did a good job in this matter. She didn't expect that she would be so magnanimous as to accept her concubine.
"The Queen is right. It would be better for the Crown Prince to have a legitimate son as soon as possible."
Cui Rumei's behavior was always impeccable, and because she was so favored, she had no scruples about many things. She also always pretended to be pitiful, acting cute in front of Fu Hua, but constantly bullying Rong Qianyu.
"Aren't you jealous?" Fu Hua asked.
She helped Fu Hua put on today's bright red wedding suit, wrapped the slender onion root around his straight waist, and tied a belt for him.
Her fingers lightly brushed across the hairpin's dress, and she looked up at her beloved with tenderness. "Of course I'm jealous, but what can I do? You're not mine alone. I wish you were mine alone."
"I belong to you alone." Fu Hua suddenly moved closer, pushed her to the edge of the couch, leaned over, put his arms around her slender waist, and whispered to her beside her.
"Then what about the Crown Princess?" Cui Rumei responded with difficulty in the gap, showing an expression of not daring to resist but being extremely embarrassed.
"Let her wait." After saying that, Fu Hua couldn't wait to taste the delicacy in front of him again.
Cui Rumei naturally wouldn't let Fu Hua get what he wanted so easily. She dodged and turned her head away. She originally wanted to take a sip, but she didn't expect the other party to be so evasive, so she started to eat heartily.
A faint red mark was left on the smooth leather surface, revealing spots of varying depths from last night. Cui Rumei calmed herself down and pulled him away.
"Erlang, are you coming tonight?" She held his face in her hands with a dazed look.
The other party was already starving and could no longer hear any sound of begging for mercy.
Until the eunuch outside the door asked, "Your Highness, it's time to set off, otherwise you will miss the auspicious time."
"Someone is shouting, Erlang!" She patted the person on top of her.
Fu Hua was reluctant to leave and kissed her neck again, "Then I'll come find you later."
"Wait a moment!" Cui Rumei stood up, took out a handkerchief, and gently touched the corner of his mouth, "Wipe the rouge on the corner of your mouth."
"Go back first, don't let anyone see you. I'll come find you in the evening."
The Weixuan Hall was decorated with lights and was bustling with activity. The princess was getting married, and today this place was considered her natal home. So she had to go to the East Palace to pay her respects.
She sat on the wedding bed, wearing a scarlet top and an emerald green gauze skirt with scattered flowers. Her waist was tied into a big heart-shaped knot with gold thread, and her hair was full of jade and agate. She looked even more beautiful than the day she entered the Great Zhou.
The north wind is cold and the weather is sunny. The family is happy to be together. The flickering light of the painted candles is condensed with auspicious mist, and the cold plum blossoms are fragrant and lingering. Before seeing the red-dressed woman under the lamp, I am already drunk on the green wine cup by the stove. How could I know that the bridal chamber is free in spring, and the tassel curtains are warm and intoxicating.
The maids were muttering to themselves, but Rong Qianyu didn't pay much attention to what they were saying.
I got up too early today and was dragged out in a daze. Because I had a ceremony to go through, I haven't had a drop of water for most of the day.
Her expression couldn't be seen under the veil, but it was probably not a real one. Both of them were very unhappy, and this marriage was also for the sake of the two countries' countries.
Rong Qianyu was drowsy after a day of hunger, and her hair felt heavy. She sat on the wedding bed, which was covered with dates, longans, lotus seeds, and peanuts.
Fu Hua drank some wine and walked in, but just sat on the chair instead of sitting by the bed.
"It's time for the prince to lift the veil." Rong Qianyu said.
"Oh." Fu Hua absentmindedly lifted the veil, not caring about the beautiful face underneath.
"Let's drink from each other's cups." Although she was reluctant, it was an ancestral custom after all and she couldn't disobey it.
"good."
At this moment, Fu Hua was probably thinking about his gentle and virtuous Bai Yueguang, and Rong Qianyu's words went in one ear and out the other.
"We..." Rong Qianyu paused, looking a little helpless, "How about you sleep in the side room?"
This was something Rong Qianyu had proposed on her own initiative. Fu Hua was naturally happy when he heard it, and left her and was about to go out.
Just as he pushed open the door, he suddenly turned back and asked symbolically, "Then I'll leave first?"
Rong Pan saw Fu Hua walking away and rushed into the room. "Princess Consort, why did you let the Crown Prince go?"
Just then, he saw Rong Qianyu with an expressionless face, as if today's excitement had nothing to do with her. She didn't care about marital harmony, etiquette and rules, and ate peanuts and lotus seeds on the bed as if no one was around.
She had no feelings for Fu Hua, they were just trying to save face and avoid a falling out.
"The Crown Princess cannot eat these!"
"I didn't want to stay here in the first place. My heart has wandered far away. Why do we have to sleep together and hate each other? As for these things, they are just vulgar things." Rong Qianyu didn't care about it.
"This... this is etiquette. The couple should sleep together. How can a bride stay alone in an empty room on her wedding night? This will make her the laughing stock of the whole palace. How can you maintain your authority?"
These are not what she is worried about. She just wants to live a peaceful life.
She desperately tried to escape her current despair, but only sank deeper into sadness, loneliness, depression, and a void in her heart. "I've been starving for a whole day without food or water. I've already become a laughing stock. What more could I possibly need from a wedding night?"
She didn't dare to expect anything, for fear of being abandoned, but she had no one to rely on in the palace, so what should she do in the future?
There have been many nights like this, when I woke up in the middle of the night and could not see the shadow of my homeland in the darkness.
She threw away the crown that had left a mark on her head, her breathing became rapid and tears slowly flowed out. She curled up on the bed with her fists clenched, as if her whole body was being pulled and squeezed by an invisible force that made her unable to escape.
"Tell me, is this prince...reliable? Can he really change his mind towards me?"
Rong Pan felt distressed but was at a loss, "I don't know."
"I've had a few arguments with Fu Hua, and now that he has a beautiful woman in his arms, he's even less likely to pay any attention to me."
"But we have to give it a try." Rong Pan said.
Rong Qianyu was thoughtful. "What do you think of Xue Ji?"
"Master Xue? He's young, beautiful, powerful, elegant, and a man of great talent. What a pity, he's a eunuch..."
Rong Pan did not have a deep impression of Xue Ji, but after getting to know him, he seemed to be a decent man, capable and handsome. It was a pity that he was a eunuch.
"Do you think he's worth a try?"
【Author’s words】
① From "One Hundred Wedding Congratulatory Poems" 58
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