Chapter 41 Chapter 41 Qiong Qiong, don’t you need me anymore?
Yin month 19th. Prince Jing's Mansion
On the day of the wedding of Prince Jing Chen Zelan and Princess Qingyuan Has, the palace of Prince Jing was packed with guests and every seat was occupied.
This was the first time Jiang Hexue attended this kind of wedding banquet. He and Ruan Yueyi stretched their necks to watch the ceremony from the edge of the screen, biting their ears at the same time.
"A marriage between two countries is truly extravagant," Ruan Yueyi sighed, tilting her head to glance at Jiang Hexue. "I wasn't there for your wedding, and I still feel so sorry."
Princess Has's wedding dress was hurriedly made by the Royal Clothing Bureau of the Longlin Royal Family. It was made of the finest red brocade and embroidered with two lifelike lovebirds in gold thread. The edge of the veil was embellished with round South China pearls, which jingled as she walked.
She didn't wait for Jiang Hexue to reply, and lightly touched her arm with her little finger: "Hexue?"
"I feel sad." Jiang Hexue looked at the two people getting married in the hall and suddenly sighed, thinking of the chain on Princess Has's ankle at the New Year's banquet.
"Marriage is the decision of parents and the matchmaker, and there's always a time to choose. But in her case, she's going far away, far from home, and will never see her family again." She met Ruan Yueyi's puzzled gaze and spoke slowly. "Su Ling'er is the same. Although she's a little immature and arrogant, she's also... alas."
"In history, diplomatic relations between countries are bound to involve marriages. My cousin Changning also married someone from western Yunnan in the past, and now she and her cousin-in-law are living in harmony." Ruan Yueyi chose her words to comfort her.
"But how many of them marry far away? The better ones live in harmony with their husbands, but the worse ones suffer from indifference and live out their lives in loneliness?" Jiang Hexue held her chin with her hand, looking sad.
"I was just wondering, why are those who marry into foreign countries always women? In history, there are mostly princesses and princesses who marry into foreign countries. When will there be a prince or a king who marry into foreign countries?" The newlyweds had been sent to the bridal chamber. She had lost interest and kept silent.
She thought of her deceased mother.
Ruan Yueyi also fell silent.
"I don't want to think about it. After all, Prince Jing is lively and speaks Qingyuan language. Being able to talk to her is a good choice." Jiang Hexue smiled cheerfully. "I want to go out for a walk. Want to come with me?"
"Guishui, I don't want to move." Ruan Yueyi refused.
-
Shen Zelan traveled all over the world. Although the scenery of Prince Jing's Mansion could not be said to be elegant and exquisite, it was novel and diverse, with many exotic flowers and plants that Jiang Hexue had never seen.
"The color of this Impatiens is similar to my nail polish." She stopped beside an Impatiens with petals streaked with gold and raised her hand to compare.
"Princess Heng'an, this is Impatiens balsamina, a species unique to Donggui, the Water Golden Phoenix," said a servant from Prince Jing's mansion. "Donggui is known for its ability to cultivate flowers and trees, and this Water Golden Phoenix is considered one of Donggui's national treasures."
Jiang Hexue said "Huh" and looked at the nail polish on her hand with tiny golden dots.
Is there any such thing at home? She has no idea.
"So that's how it is." She nodded to the servant. "I can walk by myself, so don't bother me."
"I'll take my leave."
After the servants left, she began to wander around again. Just as she reached a rockery, she heard a familiar, resentful female voice from behind: "Cousin, you are truly heartless!"
It was Su Min'er. Isn't that cousin Shen Qingchen?
Jiang Hexue dodged and hid behind a tree, listening with his ears tilted.
"Ling'er and his cousin are so cruel and disregard their dignity, sending her to Qingyuan without hesitation!" Su Min'er choked up. "And Princess Has's choice of a husband clearly has nothing to do with him, so why did he personally bring it up with His Majesty and choose Prince Jing? It ruined our plans..."
Jiang Hexue's breathing stopped.
She originally thought that it was Princess Has's complaints and demands at the New Year's Eve banquet that gave her the final say and she chose King Jing.
It turned out that there was nothing I could do.
Although it may be the best outcome, being forced into an arrangement and actively choosing something are two completely different things after all.
And the person who forced her was her husband, a husband who had nothing to do with this matter.
An indescribable feeling welled up in my heart.
Shen Qingchen was so indifferent and ruthless to others, but gentle to herself. She should have felt happy.
But at this moment, anxiety overwhelmed happiness.
She remembered what Fu Wang had told her at the New Year's Eve banquet -
He is using you and is not sincere towards you.
Doubts are like rainy clouds, expanding and covering the sky.
"He is such a cold person." Another strange male voice came from the room, as cold as a reptile in a dark room.
He sneered, "The Empress Dowager is his biological mother. Didn't you say before that Chang Xun's musk was taken away?"
"Given his personality, he must have felt something was fishy about going to all that trouble to get a spice. Could he have found something? Most likely he did, but thought it pointless and ignored it."
Su Min'er was shocked: "To my aunt?!"
"You should know that there are only friends and enemies in this world. If you are not a friend, then..."
"Why are you here?" Fu Wang's cheerful voice suddenly sounded behind him. "Long time no see!"
"Who is it?!" At the same time, a cold male voice sounded. "Go out and take a look."
Jiang Hexue was startled and didn't care about anything else. He grabbed Fu Wang and ran away.
Fu Wang followed her without knowing why: "What are you doing..."
"Shut up!" Jiang Hexue didn't dare look back. "Reckless man!"
She walked along the way they came, dragged Fu Wang and hid in the dense plum forest. Seeing that Su Min'er didn't catch up, she breathed a sigh of relief and patted him: "Enjoy the plum blossoms!"
Fu Wang straightened his back and raised his head: "Hey! It smells so good! So beautiful!"
Jiang Hexue was both angry and amused.
"What were you doing just now? Eavesdropping?" Fu Wang finally asked when he saw that she was no longer angry.
Jiang Hexue spoke vaguely and mentioned the matter of Princess Has to him.
"Given your mother's incident, it's only natural that you sympathize with Princess Has," Fu Wang reassured her. "I also feel that Your Highness's actions were inappropriate."
"However, compared to Princess Has's affairs, I am more curious. Does the princess not care about the affairs between His Highness and Su Ling'er at all?"
"Why would I care about that?" Jiang Hexue retorted subconsciously. "Don't mention that his story with Su Ling'er is completely fabricated. Ultimately, our relationship began with a contractual marriage. Even if he has three wives and four concubines, it has nothing to do with me."
"You really don't love him and don't care about him." Fu Wang said firmly.
Jiang Hexue didn't understand why Fu Wang was always focused on this topic.
No matter how much rift there is between her and Shen Qingchen, it is a matter between husband and wife. Why should she talk about it with an outsider like him?
She was extremely disgusted with Fu Wang's nosyness in this matter and just wanted to get the matter over with quickly, but she didn't want to argue with him and damage their friendship.
"Even if I don't care about him, so what?" Jiang Hexue spread her hands meaninglessly and said as he wished. "Don't mention it."
Fu Wang smiled and didn't continue.
"Look at the perfume ornaments I'm wearing today." He turned around and showed them to Jiang Hexue. "Qianxiangfang's perfume ornaments are indeed uniquely made. Many young men have come to ask for them."
Jiang Hexue nodded with satisfaction.
She also wore a complete set of perfumed jewelry today, which received a good response from the female members of the family.
With today's publicity, Qianxiangfang's reputation will become more and more famous, which is a good thing.
"But I always feel that the earrings I wore today are not good." Fu Wang bent down and tilted his head to show her.
It was a pair of gold hoops that were exaggeratedly bigger than his ears.
Nowadays, very few men have their ears pierced. Jiang Hexue had not considered the man's earrings before, and had never expected that he would wear such a pair...
"Fu Er, what's your taste?" She was speechless and merciless. "It's really ugly."
"Yes, I can't compare to the princess' taste." Fu Wangding said with a smile, not angry at all. "I wonder if the princess has time to go with me to pick out a pair? Please don't tarnish the princess's perfume."
Jiang Hexue thought about it and felt that what he said made sense.
It just so happened that Ah Cheng had gradually gotten the hang of making incense, so she had plenty of time to pick out earrings and readily agreed.
-
"Greetings to His Royal Highness Prince Heng'an, may His Royal Highness live a thousand years." After hiding in the plum forest for a while, Jiang Hexue dared to go out without worry. Unexpectedly, after taking a few steps, he heard the sound of servants saluting.
She looked up, and through a layer of hazy flower shadows, her gaze met that of a noble young man wearing a moon-white fox fur coat.
His eyes were as calm and indifferent as ever, and his voice was emotionless: "Princess."
Jiang Hexue hesitated for a moment and walked towards him. Just as she walked around the plum tree, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her to his side.
Fu Wang bowed slowly, and Shen Qingchen only nodded slightly, then asked Jiang Hexue: "Is it boring? Are you going back home?"
"I'm going to the street with Fu Er to pick out some earrings." Jiang Hexue shook her head. "You should go back home first."
"I'm free today, let's go together." Shen Qingchen glanced at her without asking for their opinions. "Mr. Fu, please."
The golden bells on the carriage curtains trembled with clear sounds in the cold winter wind, but the spacious carriage was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
"Why did you come here just now?" Jiang Hexue was the first to break the silence.
"I don't need wine to come and find you." Shen Qingchen poured her a cup of tea and spoke slowly. "You should have something to explain to me."
"I have something to explain to you?" Jiang Hexue was slightly startled, then raised an eyebrow. "You got it wrong."
Shen Qingchen raised her eyes: "What do you want to explain?"
"Stop pretending." Jiang Hexue scoffed, leaving the steaming cup of tea untouched. "Since you believe Princess Hasi's choice of husband is none of your business, why are you nominating Prince Jing to His Majesty?"
"Why not, Prince Jing?" Shen Qingchen's face showed no surprise. "You should know that he is obsessed with mountains and rivers and will not serve as a crown prince. Sharing the country's worries is the responsibility of ministers and princes."
"But Princess Hasi begged so much at the banquet, only wishing to be in charge," Jiang Hexue argued. "Princess Hasi is willing to break up with her motherland to do this, so why can't you grant her wish?"
"What does it have to do with me?" Shen Qingchen's voice was so cold that it was almost mean and heartless. "What does it have to do with you?"
Jiang Hexue put down the teacup heavily.
"Are you so cold and selfish?" Her eyes grew slightly hot. "What if Prince Jing already has a woman he likes?"
"Not yet. Even if there is a concubine or a wife in the future, he can decide for himself."
"Chen Qingchen!" Jiang Hexue was completely enraged by his nonchalant attitude and slammed the table and stood up. "What's the point of going to someone else's place? Then why did you go to all the trouble to marry me?"
Shen Qingchen was like an ancient well without any ripples, even the hand pouring tea did not tremble at all.
But when she raised her eyes and looked over, her pupils were dark, and her already vague emotions were hidden even more difficult to discern.
He didn't intend to answer, so Jiang Hexue pressed him aggressively, "If you hadn't met me, who would you have chosen to avoid the marriage? Or would you have chosen not to avoid it at all?"
Neither.
But Shen Qingchen just stared at her silently, his fingers gently fiddling with the red jade bracelet on his wrist.
"I am cold and selfish," he asked hoarsely after a long pause. "So, you don't need me anymore?"
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