Three days passed in a flash. During these days, Wan Jinlan would go to Prince Qi's mansion to check on Xiao Feng's condition.
To be honest, she didn't know whether to worry that Xiao Feng would die in the next few days, leaving her a widow, or that he would die after getting married, leaving her a widow in name only.
In the case of the former, she can still remarry. As for the latter, as a royal widow, she has a respected status. No matter which prince ascends the throne in the future, she will be the royal aunt.
These two scenarios were not difficult for her to accept. She had also prepared herself mentally for the possibility that Xiao Feng might die.
On the one hand, Wan Jinlan felt it was a pity that Xiao Feng died at such a young age, but on the other hand, she felt that being a widow wasn't that bad except for the bad reputation.
Three days passed in a flash as her mind was in a mess.
Firecrackers blasted, ceremonial music played, she was sitting in a sedan chair, wearing a veil with auspicious patterns of dragons and phoenixes, and a bright red auspicious dress made by an embroiderer in the palace.
She got married today, but there was no groom to welcome her.
At the gate of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, Shen Qing tried hard to hold back tears.
Lin from the second house was still sarcastically saying, "Don't cry, sister-in-law. Today is a happy day. If Jinlan hadn't married well, who knows what would happen to our family now."
Gu stood aside without saying a word.
Now, because of the suspicion of His Majesty over the Yongchang Marquis' Mansion, her husband's situation on duty every day is also a bit delicate, and Concubine Wan in the palace has also fallen out of favor. The atmosphere in the mansion has indeed been a bit solemn these days.
Prince Qi is the Queen Mother's biological son. Jin Lan is marrying him in advance. If Prince Qi can get better in the future, it will also be beneficial to the situation of the mansion.
"Merchants are short-sighted and short-sighted. They're so bold as to stand with the rebels." Lin looked at Gu. "Third sister-in-law, don't you think so? Some people are just troublemakers."
Gu frowned, "Second sister-in-law, be careful with your words. Today is a happy day. Why are you saying these things?"
Lin snorted softly.
Shen Qing remained silent. She was worried about her parents' home and her daughter's future. She couldn't even refute Lin's squeeze at this moment.
Before the three sisters-in-law turned around to return home, a man in his thirties wearing a gray shirt and shorts rode a horse to the front of the house.
When Lin saw someone, she hurried down the stairs and said, "Song Ming, why are you back at this time? Does the master have something to tell you?"
Song Ming is a servant of the second master of the Wan family. He is also the elder brother of a concubine in the Wan Feng's backyard. In recent years, he has been in charge of the business operations of the second branch of the Wan family in the southwest and often travels to Kyoto.
Song Ming dismounted and said respectfully, "I'm back to check the account books and handle the matter."
Shen Qing and Gu took one look and then lost interest, and took their people back to the mansion.
After Song Ming saw that everyone had left, he whispered, "Madam, the master recently took in a new concubine and doted on her. Not only did she cause Concubine Song to have a miscarriage, but the master also gave all the money in the house to her and even treated her like his wife when he was around."
Lin sneered, "Are you here to get help for your sister?"
Song Ming said calmly, "That Aunt Sun is quite pretty. The master has been bewitched by her and even took her with him to the military camp."
"No matter how favored she is, she is still just a concubine. Without my approval, she is not even a lowly concubine in the mansion. You don't have to think of a way for Concubine Song. The sky is high and the road is long. What can I do in Kyoto? Go and do your work."
Lin returned home with a bad look on her face.
What could Lin, who was far away in Kyoto, do when she heard that her husband was doting on another woman?
Concubine Song has been favored for many years, and now she has a rival. Isn’t that good?
Even thinking so, there was no smile on Lin's face.
In Prince Qi's mansion, Wan Jinlan entered the bridal chamber and took off her veil herself.
Chuntao felt sorry for her daughter. She should be dressed in red and be admired by everyone, but the sound of firecrackers today made her feel sad.
"Keep everything simple. This is too simple. There's not even a banquet at Prince Qi's mansion. There are only red silk and red lanterns hanging. What's this?" Chuntao muttered softly as she arranged the items on the dressing table in the room.
Wan Jinlan looked in the bronze mirror and saw the person in the mirror with her hair all tied up, wearing a phoenix crown and full makeup, and took off the phoenix crown with a listless look.
There is no one who appreciates her. It's such a waste that she was called up in the middle of the night to put on makeup. I don't know how painful it must be when she was kneading her face.
There were no telling how many young ladies in the capital were laughing at her in her mansion.
Wan Jinlan felt unhappy when she thought of this. Xiao Feng couldn't die. She had to make up for the face he had lost for her today in the future.
Although the Empress Dowager kept everything simple, the phoenix crown on her head and the wedding dress on her body were not unfair to her. She also privately gave her two manors, several shops, and a treasured collection of jewelry as compensation. The betrothal gift to the mansion was also very generous. However, in order to allow Xiao Feng to recover better, the mansion did not hold a banquet.
Wan Jinlan changed into her wedding attire and asked Chuntao to get a new light red dress. After she fastened the belt and put it on, she saw that Chuntao was still pouting. She pinched her cheeks and said, "Alright, don't say this again in the future. Go to the kitchen and ask them to make a few of my favorite dishes. I'll serve them in the outer hall of the prince's residence today."
She had known the layout of the palace for a long time. Xiao Feng had someone send the blueprints a few months ago. Standing under the window, she saw the banana leaves were glossy green. The pomegranate tree not far away had not grown tall yet. She didn't know who had hung small red lanterns on the pomegranate tree, which made it look like big fruits were hanging on it.
Leaving the hall and entering the courtyard, I saw the eastern wall covered with a delightful green of ground ivy, which was growing vigorously, even reaching under the adjacent pavilion. In the shade hung a swing.
"Princess, the main courtyard was renovated by famous craftsmen after the prince received the sketch you drew. A waterside pavilion was built on the west side and lotus flowers were planted."
Butler Wang came in with a nanny. Seeing Wan Jinlan staring at the swing in a daze, she told her everything her master had done for her.
To be honest, Wan Jinlan felt a little ashamed when she saw the appearance of the courtyard. She didn't want to be a widow, but she was mentally prepared to become one.
He had already prepared in advance to live with her in the future and took her words to heart.
At this moment, she sincerely hoped that he would not die.
If he woke up and faced that face every day, she could have an extra bowl of rice.
"The prince is not in a good position to move right now. Please have all my belongings moved to the prince's courtyard. I will live with him in the future."
Butler Wang was stunned for a moment, then thought to himself that the princess must like the prince very much, which is why she would always stay with him at times like this.
The person lying on the couch was no different from yesterday, except that his cheeks seemed thinner.
She picked up the warm medicinal porridge and worked with Butler Wang to feed him the porridge, then wiped the porridge stains from the corners of his mouth with a handkerchief.
After Wan Jinlan finished his meal in the outer hall, the nanny who had been silent the entire time said, "It's time to wipe the prince's body. The Empress Dowager said that from now on, the princess must serve the prince herself."
Wan Jinlan: “…!”
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