Chapter Twenty-Two
May 16th is an auspicious day for marriage.
This day was the wedding day of the Crown Prince of the Qing Dynasty.
The Fucha family was already very busy before dawn... no, it should be said that they were already in the early hours of the morning, and Jialuo was also pulled out of bed to start dressing up.
She disagreed with the makeup artist's skills. As the princess's personal makeup artist, Xiaoqing knew that today was the princess's highlight moment and she had to look beautiful!
It highlights all of Gege's strengths: delicate, beautiful, gentle, and charming.
A woman of perfect fortune (good health, two sons and two daughters, living parents, and a happy marriage) combs Princess Fucha's hair.
"One comb to the end, husband and wife will be loving and carefree; two combs to the end, they will grow old together hand in hand; three combs to the end, husband and wife will be healthy and worry-free; four combs to the end, children and grandchildren will be everywhere, bringing blessings of longevity and prosperity..."①
Although the delicate and beautiful Crown Princess is somewhat different from the elegant and dignified wives of ordinary principal wives, it is not necessarily true that the Emperor's preference for the Crown Prince led him to choose a woman who is both beautiful and dignified.
While applying makeup and combing her hair, she put on her wedding dress, looking graceful, beautiful, and charming. The women in Jialuo's boudoir were full of praise for her, and Fucha Fujin responded with a smile, her face beaming.
On the other side, Yuqing Palace.
The Crown Prince, who also got up before dawn to put on his wedding attire, was surrounded by his brothers. Because it was the Crown Prince's wedding, the Emperor had granted leave, and all the brothers were required to attend.
Not having to go to class? Of course I'd be happy!
The handsome and noble Crown Prince was dressed in a red groom's suit. The eldest prince, Yinti, was thinking that he must get the Crown Prince drunk this afternoon so that he would be too drunk to consummate the marriage that night.
The third and fourth princes were invited by the crown prince to help fend off the prince's drinks, the fifth and seventh princes were usually not very noticeable, the ninth and tenth princes also wanted to toast the crown prince, and the eighth prince had a gentle expression...
The Crown Prince does not need to be present to marry the Crown Princess; the Ministry of Rites will bring the bridal sedan chair into Yuqing Palace.
Showing off the dowry was also to leave a dowry list with the Imperial Household Department for verification, so that on the wedding day, the dowry would be carried for miles along with the bride's sedan chair.
Jialuo waited in her boudoir. After her makeup was done, she wasn't given anything to eat. This was partly to prevent her from needing to relieve herself during the wedding, which would be unseemly, and partly because her wedding dress was so thick and heavy that it would be difficult to take it off.
Jialuo touched her stomach. If she remembered correctly, she had to wait until the afternoon? Or even the evening?
"Xiaoqing, Xiaoqing, go prepare some pastries for me." Upon hearing their instructions, Jialuo immediately and with a sense of urgency asked Xiaoqing to prepare them. Although she wasn't very hungry now, it didn't mean she wouldn't be hungry later.
If she gets seasick in the bridal sedan chair and then faints from hunger, wouldn't that be incredibly embarrassing? The royal family wouldn't even want to acknowledge her existence as the Crown Princess.
As the most trusted maidservant of the princess and the future head maidservant of the Crown Princess of Yuqing Palace, how could Xiaoqing not understand the princess's meaning instantly?
Not only pastries, but also fruits need to be prepared and washed, just in case the princess gets thirsty.
Jialuo: Perhaps you could prepare some water for your princess; that would be more effective at quenching her thirst?
Unfortunately, Xiaoqing didn't know what Gege was thinking. Anyway, she went to prepare. At this time, the Fucha family was bustling with noise and excitement.
Waiting for the Ministry of Rites' ceremonial team to come and fetch the bride, Jialuo had already put on her red veil and was wearing a gorgeous wedding dress that looked as beautiful as if it were inlaid with gold. The red veil covered her delicate and pretty face with her makeup.
"They're here! They're here! The wedding procession is here!" Those who had been keeping a close eye on the situation outside rushed back to report, and the atmosphere among the chattering people immediately fell silent as they looked outside.
Jialu thought she would be very nervous, but she wasn't. She was calm and composed, as if all the tension and excitement had been gone because of the many rehearsals.
Anyway, sitting in the bridal sedan chair, all the noise and commotion seemed to have little to do with her. She was covered with a red veil and held two large red apples and a jade ruyi in her hands, symbolizing peace, safety, good fortune, and happiness.
Finally, after passing through the palace gates, we arrived at Yuqing Palace.
This was also the first time so many people had entered the palace.
Fortunately, Yuqing Palace is adjacent to Qianqing Palace, not far from the palace gate, but still quite a distance from the inner palace. The long wedding procession stopped, and the bridal sedan chair also stopped.
The noble and handsome Crown Prince had already arrived at the bridal sedan chair. As the matchmaker called out "Kick the sedan chair!" and "Lower the sedan chair!", Jialuo snapped out of her reverie and reached in with a pair of slender, fair hands.
At this moment, the Emperor had arrived at the main hall of Yuqing Palace. Today was Baocheng's wedding day, and he could say that he had not failed the Empress Dowager's dying wish.
They've grown up.
As the beautiful couple walked toward the main hall, Kangxi smiled broadly, and everyone could tell he was in a good mood.
The person most unhappy about this was Yinti. When he married his wife, it was done at the First Prince's residence, and his father, the Emperor, never set foot in the First Prince's residence.
snort!
Father Emperor is biased towards the Crown Prince.
Yinqi was already used to it, but he was still indignant. He was determined to force the Crown Prince to drink hundreds of jugs of wine later, so that he would be too drunk to consummate the marriage!
Jialuo, with her head covered by a red veil, had no idea where she was. She was led inside by the matchmaker and could only see the scenery at her feet. She was told to walk or do whatever she was told, just like a puppet.
"First bow to Heaven and Earth."
"Bowing to the parents twice."
"Husband and wife bow to each other."
"Send them into the bridal chamber."
Then, Jialuo was sent to the new house.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Jialuo waited for a while and got a little bored. She also felt uncomfortable with the red veil covering her head. Just as she was about to lift it off, the matchmaker quickly stepped forward and grabbed her wrist, stopping her.
"Princess Consort, the Crown Prince hasn't arrived yet. We can't lift the red veil beforehand; it's considered unlucky." The matchmaker spoke softly and gently. These customs had to be followed, lest something unpleasant happen later and she remember her wedding day…
Dissuaded, Jialuo could only awkwardly lower her hand. Well, there were no human rights in feudal society, but keeping her head covered with a red veil and having her vision completely obscured was truly a test of her abilities.
She didn't know how much time had passed, and no one around her chatted with her. Even Xiaoqing stood by, waiting anxiously.
Finally, some noise and commotion came from the doorway.
"Second Brother Crown Prince, why are you being so stingy? Let us see what's wrong with the Crown Princess?"
"That's right, Your Highness, you also made a ruckus in the bridal chamber when my elder brother was in his new house."
"Second brother, you wouldn't be so stingy, would you?"
The voices coming from the doorway were two childish ones and one sarcastic one. The former was unknown, but anyone who dared to call the Crown Prince "Second Prince" must be the First Prince, Yinqi.
The Crown Prince, listening to their words, knew exactly what they were up to. His expression remained calm and composed.
Last time, when the eldest son got married, they were the ones who made a ruckus in the bridal chamber. I had no choice but to drag them along. Father Emperor always says that he is not brotherly enough. Isn't that enough brotherly love?
Soon, a figure arrived outside the room. Many maids and servants were there, and the princes joined the Crown Prince in making a fuss. They hadn't even seen the Crown Princess whom their father had carefully chosen.
Under the matchmaker's 'guidance', she picked up the scale rod and lifted the red veil. As the red veil was lifted, the girl sitting on the edge of the bed looked up.
At this moment, red candles had been lit inside the room. The beautiful young woman had exquisite makeup and wore a gorgeous phoenix crown. Under the red candlelight, all her sharpness was softened, and she appeared even more beautiful and moving, especially since she was already delicate.
Against the backdrop of her exquisite wedding dress, her skin was as white as snow, and her bright red lips accentuated her beauty, making her even more alluring.
First Prince Yinti: Damn it, Father Emperor is so biased! The Crown Princess he carefully selected is prettier than his wife! Father Emperor is biased!
Third Prince Yinzhi: Father Emperor's taste is sometimes good and sometimes bad. I hope that my future wife will be as beautiful as the Crown Princess.
Fourth Prince Yinzhen, Fifth Prince Yinqi...
As expected, the Crown Princess was carefully chosen by the Emperor for the Crown Prince. The young Fourteenth Prince exclaimed in his childish voice, "Second Sister-in-law of the Crown Prince is beautiful. I, I want to marry the Princess Consort."
These words amused the Ninth Prince, who pinched his chubby cheek and sneered, "You? Wait until you're all grown up before you talk."
The four-year-old chubby boy put his hands on his hips and said, "Ninth Brother, you're jealous. Father Emperor will definitely grant my request. Father Emperor spoils me the most."
She raised her chin arrogantly, but unfortunately, these words only made the princes (except for the crown prince) laugh at her even more. "Who gave you the courage to say such a thing? Father Emperor's favorite is clearly the crown prince."
Everyone knows that if fatherly love were divided among so many sons, the crown prince would definitely have half the throne.
"No, you're just envious of me." The Fourteenth Prince, who hadn't seen much of his father and the Crown Prince's interactions, was the youngest prince in the palace. The elders favored their youngest son, and Consort De had always doted on him. He didn't believe their words at all.
The princes who thought that the Fourteenth Prince had never been verbally attacked or beaten by the Emperor for favoring the Crown Prince should be made to suffer once, grinned from ear to ear, and even hinted that they would find an opportunity to make him clash with the Crown Prince next time... Hahaha.
While they were joking and laughing, the Crown Princess Jialuo stared intently at the man in front of her. His handsome face exuded a cool and noble aura. He wore a bright red groom's suit, which was buttoned up tightly, giving him an indescribable alluring and restrained charm, as well as a noble and refined air.
Her fair skin, her eyes sparkling like glass, her high nose bridge, and her thin lips with a gentle and elegant smile—every single one of these features made Jia Luo particularly fond of her.
Jialuo: He's so handsome! My prince is so handsome, with beautiful eyes and alluring lips. I love him and want to stick them on.
Those bright, slightly infatuated eyes stared unblinkingly at His Highness the Crown Prince. The princes, amidst their commotion, seemed to have discovered the secret of the eye contact between the Crown Princess and the Crown Prince. Just as they were about to start making a fuss, the matchmaker began to say auspicious words.
They drank the nuptial wine, ate raw dumplings, and then asked, "Will you have children?" The answer "Yes" brought a rosy glow to her fair cheeks.
"Alright, alright, you've had enough. Now you can all leave." The Crown Prince blushed slightly at Jia Luo's straightforward enthusiasm and turned to push his unruly brothers out.
The princes, who were being pushed out of the new room, naturally wouldn't let the crown prince off so easily. The emperor's favoritism and affection for the crown prince made the brothers feel sour and envious, so they poured, poured, a lot of water down his throat.
We must make sure the Crown Prince can't consummate his marriage on his wedding night, he'll be utterly humiliated!
Two hands are no match for four fists, especially with the leader leading the charge and several brothers pushing and pulling him along.
Seriously, this pulling and tugging is utterly disgraceful.
Then, the prince was dragged away in an unseemly manner. In the end, all he could say was, "Take good care of your princesses," before being pulled out to offer toasts.
(End of this chapter)
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