The procession stretched for miles, and it was said that the Empress Dowager and the Emperor would both be present to witness the wedding. This spectacle was even more grand than when the Crown Prince got married.
Shen Zhiyi, dressed in her wedding attire, bid farewell to her parents and elder brother.
Knowing the truth, Shen Chongde simply said, "I wish you and your husband a harmonious relationship."
Xu Yunyi felt reluctant to part with her daughter, and her eyes suddenly welled up with tears as she looked at the red veil covering her daughter's face.
“Zhiyi…” Shen Muzhi walked up to her.
"I'll carry you on my back."
"Um."
When Shen Zhiyi got married last time, her eldest brother carried her on his back. It seems that her second brother even cried at that time. This time, her second brother carried her on his back. He was tall and strong, and his back was naturally broad and reassuring.
“Shen Yiyi,” Shen Muzhi said earnestly, “If you’ve been mistreated at the Prince’s residence, tell your second brother. Even if he is of noble birth, I will stand up for you.”
The sound of the heavy branch echoed in response.
“Last time I went to the temple to draw a fortune stick for you, and it was said to be the best one. The abbot said that you are destined to have a marriage, and it will definitely last a long time.”
"The master said that you are destined for hardship, but as long as you get through it, you will be rich and prosperous for the rest of your life."
Shen Muzhi did not believe this.
At this moment, I was just trying to comfort my sister and make her feel better.
After all, things have come to this point, and life must go on.
She was about the same age as her second brother. In her father's words, her second brother was a good-for-nothing since childhood. He didn't like to study and spent his days playing with knives and sticks, which made her cry a lot.
Her older brother, who used to always argue and bicker with her, carried her steadily on his back. It seemed that, without her noticing, her second brother had also become reliable.
Shen Zhiyi was moved and hugged his neck even tighter.
This prompted Shen Muzhi to grunt, "Shen Yiyi, on this joyous day, are you trying to strangle your own brother?"
"..."
Shen Zhiyi snorted, "Second brother, you'll never get a wife like this."
"Mind your own business."
Shen Muzhi was stubborn, but seeing his sister get into the bridal sedan chair, he was still reluctant to part with her. He glared at Zhou Xuance, who had come to fetch the bride, and greeted him politely, but even a fool could see that he was displeased.
As Shen Zhiyi boarded the bridal sedan chair, she felt a stiffness in her neck. The summer heat was intense, and the interior of the sedan chair was even more stifling.
The procession was accompanied by the sounds of gongs, drums, and firecrackers.
The ten-mile-long red bridal procession was quite impressive.
She didn't know how long the bridal sedan chair had traveled before it stopped. She felt someone kick it.
She had been married before and was experienced. Logically, the matchmaker would hand over a red silk ribbon, which she would hold on one side while Zhou Xuance would grasp the other. But instead of a red silk ribbon, a hand appeared before her...
Zhou Xuance personally helped her out of the sedan chair.
"Is it hot?" he asked in a low voice, his hands clasped tightly together, clearly feeling the burning heat in her palms.
"It's a bit stuffy."
"Just bear with it a little longer."
His voice was as gentle as ever as he led her to the wedding ceremony.
Shen Zhiyi couldn't see anything, but she could hear the guests talking about the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the Empress.
Even the Crown Prince and all the princes and princesses attended the wedding. Shen Zhiyi could only sigh that this was probably the kind of prestige one would have as an imperial uncle.
The Empress Dowager and the Emperor bestowed many gifts upon the couple, hoping for a harmonious marriage.
"I see that Xuan Ce looks much better today. It seems that the marriage proposal has really worked," the Empress Dowager said with a smile.
Zhou Xuance coughed twice.
His Majesty ordered someone to quickly escort the two to the bridal chamber. Zhou Xuance seemed to be unwell and went to a side hall with the imperial physician for treatment. Everyone's attention was on him, and the bridal chamber was suddenly empty.
Just as Shen Zhiyi breathed a sigh of relief, she heard the door open and quickly straightened up.
"Royal Aunt".
That sound...
It turned out to be the seventh prince, Zhou Yuanchen.
"Look, I've brought you something delicious." The Seventh Prince ran up to her, and Shen Zhiyi carefully lifted the veil, only to see a bowl of crispy mountain in front of her.
At that moment, something icy cold was a lifesaver.
Inside the hall, the windmill blew on the iceberg, bringing a cool breeze that quickly dispelled the heat from my body.
"My royal uncle said to do whatever makes you comfortable." As the Seventh Prince spoke, Hongrui and Lühe entered the bridal chamber and removed the elaborate phoenix crown and headdress from her head, saying that the Regent had instructed Kongqing to do so.
Hongrui exclaimed, "The prince is so considerate."
After all, when a woman marries into a noble family, she wears heavy wedding clothes and has to deal with her mother-in-law's incessant nagging. It is said that every new bride goes through this ordeal.
To put it simply, it's about setting rules.
They didn't get to rest until late at night.
Only through comparison did Shen Zhiyi realize that some people's concern was just lip service.
The guests in the front courtyard were drinking and chatting, making a lively scene. The palace was very large, and the noise could not reach the inner courtyard. Chen Zhi was in the palace, which was quite comfortable, until someone knocked on the door. Hong Rui asked and found out that it was the palace steward.
Two other people followed behind him, carrying a large stack of account books and a large box into the hall.
“This is…” Shen Zhiyi asked suspiciously.
"The land deeds, house deeds, and account books—in the past, when the Prince was away fighting wars year-round, the inner quarters of the Prince's mansion were managed by lowly servants. Now that there is a mistress, it is naturally entrusted to you in full," Steward Liu said with a smile.
"so much?"
I remember my second brother saying that he was richer than a country.
This is no joke.
"Please take your time reading. If there's anything you don't understand, please let me know."
Shen Zhiyi looked at the box full of various land deeds and house deeds and felt a headache coming on.
She was exhausted and had no interest in looking at the account books. "How is the Prince?"
"The imperial physician is treating the prince."
"I'll go take a look."
Steward Liu led Shen Zhiyi to the side hall. Everyone greeted her politely and called her "Princess," which made her feel a little uncomfortable. Zhou Xuance was lying on the bed, barely breathing. The imperial physician had already prescribed medicine.
"You may all leave. I will stay here and guard the place," Shen Zhiyi instructed.
Everyone said that the Regent's health was such that something could happen at any moment, and no imperial physician wanted anything to go wrong while they were treating him, so they all ran away as soon as they heard this.
Shen Zhiyi looked at the person on the bed and said helplessly, "Still pretending?"
The person in the bed remained motionless.
"Zhou Xuance, everyone's gone, how much longer are you going to keep up this act?"
As Shen Zhiyi spoke, she shook him twice, but he still didn't react. This made her suspicious. Could it be that he really had a hidden illness that was now acting up?
“Your Highness? Zhou Xuance…” Shen Zhiyi frowned, her face filled with anxiety. Just as she was about to go out to call for someone, her wrist was suddenly grabbed.
Suddenly, my wrist tightened.
A strong force pulled her directly onto the bed.
In a dizzying moment, she was lying on the bed, while the person who had been lying motionless on the bed just moments before was now hovering above her, his hands on either side of her body.
He was dressed in a red wedding gown today and reached out to remove his mask.
His pale face, set against the red background, made him appear even more alluring and captivating.
A smile played at the corners of his lips.
It has a slightly wicked air about it.
A smile played in his eyes as he stared intently at her, his expression almost like...
My heart and eyes are filled with nothing but her.
Chen Zhiyi was shy and looked away from him.
He has always been bold, seemingly utterly shameless, and when people look at him, their eyes are always direct and ardent.
"My lady, on your wedding night, where are you going, abandoning your husband?"
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