Just as Lady Dowager had predicted, when she returned to the Duke Residence, the Grand Princess and her clan were reading Zhou Gu’s letter. In the letter, Zhou Gu mentioned that he was getting married to Su Rong in half a year, asking if they would care to visit Nanchu for the ceremony.
He wrote that it wasn’t an issue if they couldn’t make the long journey. In such case, they could wait until he and Su Rong were free to visit their grandmother, mother, and aunts.
Holding the letter, the Grand Princess sighed, "Half a year? That’s too soon. The Imperial Court and Dawei had just concluded their peace negotiations, hadn’t they?"
She had only just received a letter from her father the day before, saying he would be returning to the capital soon. Now, she had another letter saying her grandson was getting married after half a year. That was a bit too rushed, wasn’t it?
"Did the princess get pregnant?" An aunt softly asked.
At her words, everyone was startled and thought to themselves, could it be? Nanchu had been at war for a long time, so could these two children really be so reckless? It would be nearly impossible to conceive during war times when resting well was challenging.
The aunt regretted her thoughtless words once they left her lips and hurried to correct herself, "I was merely speaking nonsense; there’s nothing in the letter about the princess being pregnant. She must not be." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞
Everyone sighed in relief at that.
The Grand Princess chuckled, "Yes, indeed, this letter makes no mention of a pregnancy. I wouldn’t expect that of my grandson. No more wild speculation, please."
Even though she was laughing, she didn’t rebuke her daughter-in-law severely. After all, she too had initially had the same thought.
Lady Dowager returned at this moment and, hearing half the conversation, she was left wide-eyed in shock. "Mother, what did you say? The princess... Xiaoqi is pregnant?"
"No, no," the Grand Princess shook her head hastily and handed the letter to her. "It’s just about getting married in half a year’s time. One of your sisters-in-law was speculating rather wildly."
She didn’t mention that she had also fallen into the same trap of thinking.
Lady Dowager choked back a breath, uncertain whether to be disappointed or relieved. Su Rong had just been through a war; if she were indeed pregnant, how could her body handle it?
Accepting the letter, she sat down. After reading, she also said, "There should be no pregnancy, When I was coming back from the Su Family, I found out the wife of the Su Family’s head had just gotten a letter from the princess. The letter also stated the Great Wedding would be in half a year. It asked if she could make it to the ceremony after finishing her work. If she was too busy, it was not a problem- she could come whenever she was free. The journey is long. It would be irresponsible to leave things unattended, rush off, and rush back. So, if she were to go, she should plan to stay for a year or more."
Although a year or so might seem long, when compared to the long journey, it wasn’t much at all.
Lady Dowager said, "The Su Family plans to marry their daughter in June, it seems a little too rushed, doesn’t it?"
Lady Dowager nodded in agreement.
The Grand Princess suggested, "Unless they decide to hold it earlier."
Lady Dowager shook her head, "It cannot be brought forward anymore. The wedding date was already fixed under high pressure, only a few months in advance. No family in the city wrapped up a wedding as quickly as the Su Family. The date was calculated down to every possible day, making sure there was enough time to prepare for the six traditional wedding rituals. It won’t be until June before everything is completed."
All this was still under the condition that Duke Residence was fully supportive. The Shen Residence and Princess Qingping Residence also helped significantly with the preparations. Otherwise, the process of the six traditional wedding rituals would have taken a year to complete. The first three rituals were finished in half a year, and the last three in a few months, which was considered extremely quick.
"It is almost April now, and it took about a month for this letter to reach us. By the time the wedding is concluded in June, it will have been four months. If we pack our bags as soon as the Su Family’s wedding concludes, we may still make it to Nanchu in time," the Grand Princess said with a hint of amusement in her voice. "Those two kids, could they have timed their wedding just right, to take place after the conclusion of the Su Family’s festivities?"
Lady Dowager chuckled, "Who knows?"
Indeed, it was hard to say either way.
The Grand Princess sighed, "The schedule is still quite rushed. Nanchu has just emerged from a period of civil turmoil and several months of war. The country must be so busy rebuilding. Do those two children even understand that? Do they realize how busy they will be once they return to the court? How can they possibly find time for a wedding?"
Pointing at the date on the letter, she continued, "Look at this. The letter was written just after peace negotiations with Dawei were completed, which means they still hadn’t returned to the court by then. Once they do, they’ll understand. The affairs of the court aren’t so easily handled. A whole slew of issues will be waiting for them."
Lady Dowager nodded in agreement, "So, Mother, what should we write in our reply? I wish to go there and see for myself."
The Grand Princess gave her a scolding look, "You think you’re the only one who wants to go? I want to go too."
At this, Lady Dowager laughed, "Well then..."
The Grand Princess said, "First, lets write back to him, and send it off, asking him to confirm that the wedding will be in half a year. Also, we should ask for a specific date. Even if it is a bit rushed, both you and I should go. As for the rest...", she glanced at her several daughters-in-law, "Do you want to go?"
The second, third and fourth daughters-in-law looked at each other.
The second daughter-in-law smiled, "Mother, of course I would like to go as well. But if we all leave, who would manage the Duke Residence? What if Father wishes to go as well?"
The Grand Princess shot back immediately, "He can get lost. He won’t be needed."
The daughters-in-law: "..."
Let’s do it this way. The second and third girls are still unmarried, as is the fifth child. In the coming few months, try to finalize the arrangements for their marriages. I’ll also keep an eye on things. If there aren’t any promising candidates, there’s no need to rush. We can leave it up to your father. The three of you better not think about going. As soon as we get precise news from Gu, I and the eldest daughter-in-law will set off. We can stay in Nanchu for a year or so, no problem. But it’s different for you all. You have your children to take care of, so it wouldn’t be wise," the Grand Princess decided quickly, not needing to think too much about it. She was adamant about going to Nanchu, to see the place where her grandson would be spending the rest of his life, while she still could. She didn’t want to wait until she was too old to make the journey.
Lady Dowager immediately chimed in, "Mother’s plan is excellent. Luckily, the Crown Prince has already married. His wife, Ling Huan, after being nurtured for the past few years, is quite capable of managing affairs. She can assist her siblings in managing the household while we’re away. There’s no risk of anything going wrong."
Ling Huan, the birth name of the crown princess, was also in the room.
She was a steady and dignified woman. Hearing the conversation, she said with a smile, "Mother, rest assured and go ahead. As for you, Grandmother, I am just worried about the strain of the journey on you. Can you go?"
"Yes!" The Grand Princess replied with unyielding firmness. "I can still ride a horse for thirty miles, you know. Don’t underestimate me."
Suppressing her smile, the Crown Princess thought to herself, Grandmother is so adamant about going to Nanchu that even if she can’t ride a horse, she would say she could run thirty miles. It seemed she was resolute in making the journey.
Ah, she thought to herself. I would really like to go too. I haven’t been outside the city for a long time. It’s Nanchu we’re talking about, it would surely be a very interesting trip. And it would be a great learning experience.
She contemplated asking if her son could also accompany them to congratulate his uncle on his wedding. She didn’t know if her grandmother and mother would agree to bring a child along, but she wouldn’t mind it at all.
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