Chapter 51 Rubbing Salt into a Wound
The next morning, Yu Nian was pulled from her sleep by Chun Tao's somewhat anxious voice.
Yu Nian rubbed her eyes; Chun Tao was practically her human alarm clock.
"There's nothing much going on today, and I'm a patient, so I should be able to sleep for an extra hour, right?"
Chun Tao was even more anxious when she saw her young mistress looking so lazy. She should have told Yu Nian yesterday, but Yu Nian had slept until now.
"How can you say nothing's wrong, Miss? Not only is something wrong, but it's a big deal! Today, Lord Chunyu and His Highness the Crown Prince will both come to the Prime Minister's residence to present betrothal gifts and exchange marriage certificates."
Chunyu Han and the Crown Prince are both here! Doesn't that mean a hellish scene is unfolding ahead of time?
Thinking of this, Yu Nian quickly began to wash up. In this situation, if that Crown Prince didn't cause trouble, he would have to write his Li name backwards.
A large crowd had already gathered in front of the Prime Minister's residence, all eagerly anticipating the grand scene of the betrothal ceremony.
Whether it's the crown prince or the powerful regent, they are all legendary figures to these ordinary people.
In particular, the touching love story between the Regent and the Prime Minister's eldest daughter has become the best-selling story in the streets and alleys.
The betrothal gifts are another way for the groom to express his attitude towards the bride. Everyone was curious about how many loads of betrothal gifts the Regent would send and how many the Crown Prince would send.
Everyone craned their necks to look at the street corner, and then someone with sharp eyes shouted out loud.
"Look! Someone's coming!"
The first to emerge from the street corner was Crown Prince Li Mingjin, riding a tall horse and wearing a light yellow round-necked robe.
He had his men block the main roads in the city early in the morning, wanting to get to the Prime Minister's residence before Chunyu Han to present the betrothal gifts.
So what if Chunyu Han steals his auspicious wedding day? He is the crown prince of the country. No matter how powerful Chunyu Han is, he can't override his master in terms of rules.
Someone was counting the gifts; the Crown Prince had brought a total of forty-eight loads of betrothal gifts, the highest standard ever for a prince's wedding in the Great Zhao Kingdom.
The long procession of betrothal gifts stretched out along the street, forming a vibrant red spectacle.
Yu Huaifeng greeted him at the door. This was not the first time that Prime Minister Yu had greeted the Crown Prince at the door in this way, but his mood this time was completely different from the last time.
If the Crown Prince hadn't broken off the engagement, Yu Nian would have been the high and mighty Crown Princess long ago, and wouldn't have suffered any health problems, ultimately having to marry that eunuch Chunyu Han.
However, Prime Minister Yu had already harbored resentment towards the Crown Prince, but he did not show it on his face. He still had to represent Yu Zhirou's parents in exchanging gifts with the Crown Prince, and in terms of etiquette, he had to ensure that no one could find fault with him.
When the opportunity arises, I will definitely settle the score with the Crown Prince.
Yu Zhirou stood obediently behind Prime Minister Yu. As soon as Li Mingjin appeared at the entrance of the Prime Minister's residence, their eyes were glued together.
Yu Nian held a handful of melon seeds in her hand and hid behind the door with Chun Tao to watch the commotion.
"Since they're so clingy, we might as well just marry them today and bring them to the Eastern Palace."
Yu Nian remembered that the original owner also received forty-eight loads of betrothal gifts. Didn't Li Mingjin say that he would give Yu Zhirou a better one than Yu Nian? She didn't know what the difference was.
"Miss, look, the Regent's betrothal procession has arrived too!"
Yu Nian followed Chun Tao's finger and her eyes lit up.
For no other reason than that Chunyu Han's betrothal party was not dressed in red like the Crown Prince, but rather consisted entirely of the Eastern Depot's Imperial Guards in brown-green bullfighting uniforms.
Each of them moved with light steps, a goose-feather saber at their waist, and an invisible killing intent spread through the streets as they walked.
The Jinwu Guards were Chunyu Han's personal guards, on par with the Emperor's Jinyiwei. Each Jinwu Guard had the right to arrest and execute.
As soon as this procession appeared, the common people who had been watching the prince's procession with great fanfare all retreated and kept their distance.
"Wow, that looks pretty imposing."
Yu Nian hadn't expected Chunyu Han's betrothal party to be so unique.
"It's imposing, but also kind of scary."
Chun Tao's legs trembled slightly as she looked at the burly Jinwu Guards carrying large swords.
Chunyu Han's betrothal gifts were of the highest standard for a subject, totaling forty-six loads. Compared to the Crown Prince, they were two loads less, but there was no overstepping of the bounds.
Prime Minister Yu stood at the door, his expression stiffening for a moment.
Chunyu Han summoned these people, and luckily they were all carrying betrothal gifts. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought they were here to confiscate his Prime Minister's mansion!
"Niannian, come out."
Prime Minister Yu called out to Yu Nian, who was hiding behind and watching the commotion. This girl was quite carefree; despite the huge incident that had happened to him, she acted as if nothing had happened.
Yu Nian put the unfinished sunflower seeds into her purse, straightened her skirt, and walked out from behind the door.
Once outside, with a wider view, Yu Nian realized that Chunyu Han hadn't come.
The one who came up to exchange marriage compatibility charts with Prime Minister Yu was Canghai.
Prime Minister Yu was starting to lose his composure; his face was visibly grim. Chunyu Han hadn't even come on such an important day as the betrothal ceremony!
"Your Excellency the Regent is preoccupied with official duties and fears that he may be late, so he has sent me with the betrothal gifts first. Please forgive me, Your Excellency the Prime Minister."
Forgiveness? Forgiveness my ass!
Prime Minister Yu was holding back his anger and had nowhere to vent it, and Chunyu Han had just walked right into his trap.
Prime Minister Yu stood with his hands behind his back, not reaching out to take the invitation. Just as he was about to speak, Li Mingjin spoke first.
"Is he too busy with official duties? Or is he just not taking the engagement seriously?"
Although Prime Minister Yu felt that the Crown Prince should not have spoken at this moment, Li Mingjin had indeed expressed Prime Minister Yu's true feelings.
Yu Nian watched with amusement, thinking that Li Mingjin was indeed the male lead, daring to directly challenge Chunyu Han.
"Your Highness, the official is indeed not as idle as Your Highness was when you were observing the administration."
Canghai's words were often offensive to the Crown Prince, but they were also the truth.
Li Mingjin snorted coldly. What a sharp-tongued subordinate. No wonder he's Chunyu Han's lackey.
Yu Nian couldn't help but smile. Why did she suddenly feel that Li Mingjin was a bit pitiful?
Yu Nian's smile was fine when she wasn't smiling, but it was really irritating to the Crown Prince, who glared at her fiercely in anger.
You're so proud of yourself for marrying his arch-rival, Chunyu Han, aren't you?
Let's see if you can still laugh in a little while.
Li Mingjin beckoned with his hand behind his back, and the little eunuch Fulu standing behind him immediately understood.
"Your Excellency, since His Highness has made the betrothal first, let His Highness's men carry the gifts in first."
"The butler will lead the way."
Prime Minister Yu waved his hand. He wasn't actually familiar with Yu Zhirou, this distant cousin who had come to seek refuge. He was just doing what a patriarch should do.
A sea of red enveloped the Prime Minister's residence as baskets of betrothal gifts were carried in.
Everything was in perfect order when suddenly one of the men carrying the gifts slipped and fell at the gate of the Prime Minister's residence.
"How dare you! You've damaged the betrothal gifts His Highness gave to Miss Rou! You'd better watch your head!"
As Fu Lu spoke, he directed the people to pack their things.
"These two fine leathers were personally caught by the Crown Prince in the hunting grounds last autumn, and they must not be allowed to get even a speck of dust on them."
Fu Lu's voice was high-pitched and clear enough for everyone around him to hear clearly.
Lipi is deerskin. Deer always roam in herds, and in the Zhao Dynasty, it was regarded as a beautiful symbol of many children and good fortune.
In Dazhao, everyone knows the important significance of this leather in betrothal gifts.
The fact that the Crown Prince personally hunted for her shows how much Li Mingjin values Yu Zhirou.
This was something that wasn't included when Yu Nian was betrothed.
It's just two pieces of leather, how stingy! Is this what you call much better?
Yu Nian's lips curled down slightly. Li Mingjin was really ruthless; without saying anything, he had subtly implied something about both Yu Nian and Chunyu Han.
That makes sense, though, as a couple, she and Chunyu Han are really not associated with the idea of having many children and many blessings.
Prime Minister Yu's eyes were also very unfriendly; the Crown Prince was openly rubbing salt into someone's wounds.
But this time the crown prince didn't say a word, and no one could open their mouth to refute him; to do so would be to put themselves at a disadvantage.
Yu Nian thought, let it go this time. Anyway, the Crown Prince hadn't gained any advantage in the last few times, so let him have his fun for a while.
A grayish-brown shadow flashed past Yu Nian's eyes and landed precisely on the "treasure" deerskin that the Crown Prince had just put away.
Fulu screamed in terror, "Where did this living creature come from! Quickly grab it and strangle it! Protect the Crown Prince's betrothal gifts!"
The guards on both sides, who were somewhat stunned, immediately stepped forward to grab him after hearing Fu Lu's words.
At this moment, Canghai's voice rang out with considerable power.
"Who dares to touch it!"
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