As the first month of the lunar calendar approaches, the calm before the feast and the undercurrents...
As the twelfth lunar month draws to a close, the atmosphere of the approaching New Year grows ever stronger. However, what attracts even more attention in the capital than the New Year itself is undoubtedly the upcoming wedding of the Crown Prince in the first lunar month. This will be the first and most solemn royal celebration after the New Year.
The Xu residence has been bustling with visitors these past few days. Although Xu Nianchu is usually calm and composed, she can't help but feel a little nervous about this important life event. Fortunately, her close friends have become her strongest support. Qin Yuti left behind the prince at home who was constantly trying to get attention, Shen Anci slipped out of the general's mansion, and even Liu Mianying, who was far away in Jiangnan, rushed back to the capital ahead of time. The three sisters have been spending almost every day at the Xu residence, helping Xu Nianchu check the dowry list, choose jewelry designs, and discuss the wedding arrangements.
Inside the warm pavilion, the charcoal fire burned cozy and warm, and the table was covered with various brocades and jewelry patterns. Liu Mianying held an abacus, calculating expenses with a rapid-fire rhythm, her meticulousness drawing admiration from everyone. Shen Anci, on the other hand, scrutinized the quality of a jade ruyi, displaying the air of a connoisseur. Qin Yuti accompanied Xu Nianchu, carefully examining the wedding dress that the embroiderers had hastily completed; every stitch was imbued with blessings and reluctance to part.
"Sister Nianchu, you'll definitely be the most beautiful bride in the world in this dress," Qin Yuti said softly, a hint of envy in her voice. Her wedding with Su Wanqing was filled with too much helplessness and calculation, far less joyful than the pure joy of being married before her.
Xu Nianchu held her hand and smiled gently: "Silly girl, the four of us sisters will eventually go our separate ways. Although we may not be able to get together every day like we do now, our hearts will always be together." She glanced at the other two, "Anci, Mianying, the same goes for you. No matter where you are in the future, don't forget the bond we share today."
Shen Anci patted his chest generously: "Of course! If anyone bullies you, I'll be the first to object!"
Liu Mianying also put down her abacus and smiled charmingly: "Sister Nianchu, don't worry, our business... oh no, our friendship will last forever!"
Laughter echoed in the warm pavilion, yet it couldn't conceal the faint sadness of impending separation. They all knew that after the Crown Prince's wedding, Xu Nianchu would move into the Eastern Palace, and it would be difficult to laugh and joke as freely as they did now.
The Eastern Palace was in a frenzy. Although Crown Prince Zhao Jingchen was always composed, the wedding preparations were incredibly complex, and he needed to personally oversee many details. From palace decorations to banquet arrangements, from etiquette procedures to the guest list, everything had to be befitting the Crown Prince, without the slightest error. Occasionally, when he looked up from his busy schedule, the thought of that quiet and intelligent woman soon becoming his Crown Princess would fill him with a strange sense of peace, and the fatigue of the past few days seemed to dissipate considerably.
Inside Prince Yi's residence, Zhao Jingyi had been much more well-behaved lately. Firstly, with the year-end approaching and his wedding to the Crown Prince imminent, he dared not cause too much trouble. Secondly, he noticed that as long as he didn't provoke Qin Yuti, she seemed too lazy to use her "gentle methods" on him. She even occasionally went out to meet her sisters, bringing him back some exquisite pastries unique to the Eastern Palace or the Xu family. Although she still didn't give him a pleasant look, it was better than forcing him to drink bitter medicine or copy books. Prince Yi thus concluded: when the Princess Consort was in a good mood, his life was easier. Therefore, although he still felt a little jealous of Qin Yuti's frequent outings, he dared not openly stop her, at most giving her a resentful look when she returned late.
The Prince Rui's residence maintained a facade of tranquility. As her brother's wife, Su Wanqing also assisted with some of the household affairs related to the Crown Prince's wedding, performing her duties meticulously and flawlessly. Zhao Jingming was also polite and considerate towards her, giving her the dignity befitting a Princess Rui in public. However, back at the residence, the two returned to their own worlds, like two parallel lines, their intersection limited to necessary formalities. Sometimes, Su Wanqing would gaze out the window at the servants busily preparing festive decorations, thinking of that figure far away in the northern frontier, a deep loneliness settling in her heart.
Inside the imperial palace, lanterns and decorations adorned every corner, the festive atmosphere even dispelling the winter chill. Looking at this spectacle, and especially thinking of the Crown Prince's impending marriage, the Emperor's longing for the late Empress deepened. He issued a special decree, granting all officials of the third rank and above permission to bring their wives and families to the palace to witness the ceremony and share in the joy on the Crown Prince's wedding day. This decree made the wedding even more grand than ever before.
Everyone sat at the preparatory seats for this grand feast, awaiting the arrival of the first month of the lunar calendar with varying emotions. Those already married experienced the bittersweet flavors of married life. Those awaiting marriage were filled with both anticipation and trepidation. But most eyes were focused on the Eastern Palace, awaiting the formal debut of the future mistress of the empire.
The air was filled with joy, yet also with subtle emotions and anticipation. A grand wedding, bringing together all the key figures, was about to become another significant turning point in the capital's political landscape.
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