At the palace gates, a scene of gratitude and contrasting emotions.
The next morning, as dawn broke.
The atmosphere inside the bridal chamber of Prince Yi's residence was eerie. Zhao Jingyi, rubbing his still-sore bottom, grimaced as he was helped by his maids to put on his princely robes. Qin Yuti had already finished washing and dressing herself, and was now in the formal attire befitting a princess consort. She sat upright before the mirror, Jinshu adjusting her jewelry. Her expression was calm, as if the "tigress" who had kicked the prince off the bed the night before was merely a phantom.
Zhao Jingyi stole a few glances at her, trying to put on some princely airs, but when he met Qin Yuti's seemingly calm but actually warning gaze, he swallowed back the words he was about to say, and only snorted sullenly: "Hurry up, don't be late for the time to go to the palace to express our gratitude!"
The carriage drove towards the palace in silence.
Right at the palace gate, they happened to meet Prince Rui, Zhao Jingming, and Su Wanqing, who had also come to express their gratitude.
The two couples presented a stark contrast.
Although Zhao Jingyi felt a little unwell, he was full of energy, even carrying a hint of triumph as if he had won a battle (although this "victory" was a little hard to talk about). Qin Yuti, on the other hand, remained as aloof and dignified as ever, but upon closer inspection, there was a trace of barely perceptible fatigue in her eyes.
The scene with Prince Rui and his wife was entirely different. Zhao Jingming remained as gentle and refined as ever, but a subtle distance lingered between his brows. Su Wanqing, on the other hand, kept her eyes downcast, her exquisite makeup unable to conceal her weariness and forced smile. The two stood a step apart, their politeness bordering on that of colleagues.
The four greeted each other.
Zhao Jingyi, unusually respectful, bowed to his fourth brother, but his eyes couldn't help but dart towards Su Wanqing. He thought to himself: "Fourth brother's princess is beautiful, but she's like a wooden doll. My one... well, although she's a bit fierce, she's vibrant!"
Qin Yuti and Su Wanqing's eyes met briefly, and they both saw some complex and unspeakable emotions in each other's eyes. They nodded slightly, and everything was understood without words.
Inside the Taiji Hall.
The emperor looked at the two couples kneeling side by side below the steps, and especially at his youngest son Zhao Jingyi's smug yet restrained manner, and Qin Yuti's graceful and poised demeanor. He felt quite gratified. It seemed that this marriage might truly win over Xiao Liu's heart.
"Rise," the emperor said gently, with a rare tenderness in his voice. "Now that you are married, you must be more prudent. Harmony between husband and wife is the foundation of a prosperous family." These words were mainly directed at Zhao Jingyi.
"Your Majesty's teachings will be obeyed," the four replied in unison.
Qin Yuti stepped forward, bowed gracefully, and said in a clear and melodious voice, "Your subject, Qin, thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness. In the future, I will certainly fulfill my duties as a wife and assist Your Highness, living up to Your Majesty's high expectations." Her words and actions were impeccable, fully demonstrating the upbringing of a scholarly family.
The emperor nodded in satisfaction, then looked at Su Wanqing: "Su, you too. You and Prince Rui must live in harmony and produce offspring for the royal family."
Su Wanqing quickly lowered her head, her voice weak: "Your subject, Su, will remember your father's teachings." Her cautiousness contrasted sharply with Qin Yuti's composure.
The Emperor asked the Crown Prince a few more questions with concern, his gaze sweeping over his two sons, especially when he looked at Zhao Jingyi, whose features were increasingly resembling those of the late Empress. A barely perceptible trace of pain and reminiscence flashed in his eyes. He waved his hand, his tone slightly weary: "Alright, go and offer incense to your mother, let her see what it's like for you two to start a family."
"Yes, Father."
After leaving the Taiji Hall, we headed towards the ancestral temple.
Zhao Jingyi leaned closer to Qin Yuti, lowered his voice, and said with a hint of disbelief, "Hey, you were putting on quite a show in front of Father Emperor just now, weren't you?"
Qin Yuti kept her eyes straight ahead, her tone calm: "Your Highness flatters me. I am merely fulfilling my duty." But inwardly she thought: To deal with a fool like you, one must use extraordinary means; before His Majesty, of course, one must abide by the rules. This is called assessing the situation.
Zhao Jingyi, annoyed by her rebuff, rubbed his nose.
Not far behind them, Prince Rui, Zhao Jingming, and Su Wanqing continued walking in silence. The sunlight stretched their shadows long, yet an insurmountable distance remained between them. Zhao Jingming's gaze would occasionally drift uncontrollably to Qin Yuti's retreating figure ahead, then quickly return, fading into a barely audible sigh. Su Wanqing saw all of this, her nails digging deeply into her palms.
When offering incense before the late Empress's memorial tablet, Zhao Jingyi abandoned his playful demeanor and stood solemnly alongside the Crown Prince. Qin Yuti quietly followed beside Zhao Jingyi, sensing a genuine emotion in the man beside her that was so different from his usual self. A slight stirring crossed her heart; perhaps this seemingly absurd husband also possessed a soft and affectionate side.
However, this subtle feeling was quickly shattered by Zhao Jingyi's next sentence.
As soon as he stepped out of the ancestral temple, he reverted to his original state, leaned closer, and whispered, "See? From now on, in front of Father and Brother, you'd better act like you did just now and give me face! Do you hear me?"
Qin Yuti: "..." The slight improvement that had just emerged vanished in an instant.
It seems like this cycle of bad luck is going to continue for a long time.
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