Chapter 90 Wang Zhangshi broke her leg again!
Unless it's a very close and trusted family, princesses and princes rarely dine outside the palace. Didn't you notice that Princess Jiaoyang hasn't touched her tea since she entered?
Luckily, Ah Qi was quick-witted and didn't serve the most expensive tea, otherwise Ah Qi would have regretted it to death.
Princess Jiaoyang frowned slightly and waved her hand, "You go out and prepare the carriage first. I'll talk to the Grand Madam for a bit and then I'll be right back."
The lady-in-waiting asked with difficulty, "Your Highness?" How could she leave Princess Jiaoyang's side?
As Princess Jiaoyang's personal maid, and now that they are outside the palace, she must stay by Princess Jiaoyang's side at all times.
Princess Jiaoyang glared at the female official with displeasure and said irritably, "It's just me and the Grand Madam here. Do you think the Grand Madam would hurt me?"
The female official then awkwardly curtsied and apologized, saying, "This servant dares not." She then looked apologetically at Madam Min Qiao.
Madam Min Qiao said with a smile, "Go ahead, I will personally escort the princess out in a little while."
The female official then led her entourage out.
Princess Jiaoyang watched the ladies-in-waiting leave before turning back to look at Madam Min Qiao with an embarrassed expression and asking, "Madam, does the Earl of Enping live next door to your residence?"
Min Qiao was taken aback, then stared in disbelief.
Princess Jiaoyang is asking a question she already knows the answer to!
No way? No way? Could this be Princess Jiaoyang's real reason for coming to see her today?
Seeing Madam Min looking at her with surprise, clearly guessing what was going on, Princess Jiaoyang blushed immediately. "Grand...Grand Madam, did you see the Earl of Enping in person? How tall is he? What does he look like?..."
Seeing Princess Jiaoyang's shy yet expectant expression, Madam Min felt a lump in her throat, leaving her speechless.
Princess Jiaoyang is clearly in love and has taken a liking to the Earl of Enping!
After a long while, Madam Min Qiao swallowed hard and said with a forced laugh, "What others say is not as good as what you see with your own eyes. Instead of asking me, Your Highness, you should find an opportunity to see for yourself."
"It's getting late. If the princess doesn't go out soon, the lady-in-waiting will start to worry again."
"Alright then." Princess Jiaoyang sighed and reluctantly stood up. "Then I'll wait until Father Emperor summons Earl Enping to the palace to see for myself."
After seeing Princess Jiaoyang off, Madam Min Qiao finally breathed a long sigh of relief.
Princess Jiaoyang has taken a liking to the Earl of Enping, who in turn is engaged to Su Rongrong. Tsk tsk, just thinking about it is troublesome!
Fortunately, she'll be leaving Beijing for the south in a few days. Let them do whatever they want; out of sight, out of mind!
After seeing Princess Jiaoyang off, Madam Min Qiao packed up and led her people to Min Hui's residence.
However, for some reason, because of Princess Jiaoyang, Madam Min Qiao was already quite late in leaving home. And to make matters worse, she happened to run into the carriage of the Minister of Works' matriarch, which had broken down on the road, blocking her way.
By the time the old lady of the Ministry of Rites' carriage was repaired and made way, it was already well past noon.
By the time Madam Min Qiao hurriedly arrived at Min Hui's residence, it was already 1:15 noon, a quarter of an hour before the wedding ceremony.
However, when Madam Min arrived, Min Hui and Feng Yuerou, the fifth young lady of the Marquis of Annan's mansion, had not yet completed their wedding ceremony.
The atmosphere inside the wedding hall was eerily frightening.
On the groom's side, relatives led by Wang Mian and Wang Zhangshi sat on the left. On the bride's side, relatives led by Feng Yuerou's two brothers who accompanied her to the wedding sat on the right.
Both sides stared at each other in silence.
The other guests who came to witness the ceremony had gossipy expressions, like they were watching a show.
As for the two parties involved...
One of them sat to the side, her veil half-lifted, eating the snacks that the maidservant had brought to her without any restraint.
The other one was bent over, whispering something to the side, and his expression wasn't very good.
When Madam Min entered, she was quite frightened by the strange scene in the wedding hall. Before she could ask what was going on, she was silenced by the eager gazes of everyone.
Everyone was overjoyed to see her arrive. Even Wang Zhangshi, who had always been at odds with her, stood up from her chair, limping, and urged the others, "Quickly, the Grand Madam is here! Quickly, invite the Grand Madam to take the seat of honor!"
So, people from both the groom's and bride's sides rushed over and helped, or rather, supported, Min Qiao Shi to sit in the main seat at the front of the wedding hall.
This is where the groom's parents will be seated during the wedding ceremony.
"That's great! The groom's mother has arrived, so the wedding can continue!"
"Quick, quick, continue the wedding ceremony, the auspicious time hasn't passed yet!"
"Where are the bride and groom? Come quickly and perform the wedding ceremony!"
...
Amidst the clamor and encouragement of the crowd, the wedding ceremony resumed.
"First bow to Heaven and Earth."
"A bow to the heavens, a perfect match made in heaven."
"A second bow..."
"Three bows..."
"Bowing to Heaven and Earth twice."
"A bow to parents, tender feelings, as deep as the Eastern Sea."
"Bowing twice to thank my parents for their nurturing kindness, which is as heavy as a mountain."
"I bow three times to wish my parents a long and happy life, enjoying family bliss."
"Bowing to Heaven and Earth three times."
"One bow, one heart, one deep affection, and a lifelong commitment."
"A second bow..."
"Three bows..."
A match made in heaven? A deep and abiding love?
Is our love as vast as the Eastern Sea? Or as heavy as a mountain?
Sitting in the main seat, Min Qiaoshi listened to the lyricist chanting loudly and felt utterly ironic.
Soon, a voice announced, "The ceremony is complete. Proceed to the bridal chamber."
With the newlyweds gone, Madam Min's mission at the wedding was complete.
She stood up, ready to leave, when she saw Wang Mian walking quickly towards her.
"Thank you for arriving in time, Madam." Wang Mian bowed respectfully to Madam Min Qiao.
Following behind Wang Mian, Wang Zhangshi, who was being helped over, had a long face and accused him in a harsh voice: "You're thanking her? If she hadn't deliberately been late, would today's wedding have been so embarrassing?"
"Our Wang family has completely lost face! And you're thanking her? What exactly are you thanking her for?"
Wang Mian turned his head, suppressing his anger, and sternly ordered the maid who was supporting Wang Zhangshi, "Why aren't you helping Madam to rest?"
The maid dared not disobey and quickly helped Wang Zhangshi walk out. Wang Zhangshi, unusually, did not continue to make a fuss. She only glared fiercely at Min Qiaoshi before following the maid.
Wang Mian bowed to Madam Min Qiao and said apologetically, "Please forgive me, Madam. That's just my personality. Please be magnanimous and don't take it to heart."
Min Qiao glanced at Wang Zhangshi's limping figure, then at her lame leg that she dared not put any weight on, and her mood instantly improved. She waved her hand with a smile, "It's alright. We've known each other for so many years, how could I possibly hold a grudge against my sister-in-law?"
She had barely finished speaking when a startled cry came from outside the door: "Madam!"
"Someone come quick! Madam has sprained her injured leg again! Call a doctor immediately!"
Madam Min Qiao was taken aback, then burst out laughing: "Hahaha..."
Wang Mian looked embarrassed, cupped his hands in greeting to Madam Min Qiao, and strode out.
“Let’s go home!” Madam Min said with a smile, taking Wei Jia’s hand.
After walking a few steps, I realized someone was missing. "Where's A-Jiu?"
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