Chapter 2: The Bride's Arrangement. You harbor ill intentions towards me.
Although they were dressed in the finest palace attire, they were clearly not from noble families in the capital.
Especially those sitting in wheelchairs in the middle.
His long eyebrows were like swords, and his eyes seemed to have been dipped in ice, holding a fierce aura. His lips were pursed, and his face was devoid of any emotion.
Dressed in brocade and black robes, enveloped in a fierce aura, he resembled a towering tree growing amidst the rolling yellow sands of the northern border, proud and independent.
Even though he was in a wheelchair, reaching Jing Hui's shoulder level, he still exuded an imposing aura and commanded respect without anger.
Is this person Lu Songyuan?
His imposing aura was like a sharp blade drawn from its sheath, hanging in front of his forehead. It was so intimidating that Jing Hui slowed her breathing. She glanced down at the swords on either side of Lu Songyuan's wheelchair and unconsciously took a small step back.
"Your subject Lu Songyuan greets Your Highness."
Lu Songyuan raised his arm to bow to Jing Hui, his wide sleeves falling to cover most of his sword. "Is the princess well?"
It really was him.
Jing Hui had expected his voice to be rough, but it was actually like a clear spring hitting a rock, clear and refreshing, giving people a sense of comfort for no reason.
Jing Hui's tense shoulders relaxed a little, and she asked, "Yes, General, are you well? Was your journey safe?"
Lu Songyuan remained expressionless, but his eyes were dark. "Thanks to Her Highness the Princess, everything is going smoothly."
"That's good."
Jing Hui nodded.
After she finished speaking, she and Lu Songyuan, one standing and one sitting, looked at each other in silence.
Silence, accompanied by a vague sense of unease, gradually spread between the two, while the night breeze blowing in from outside the hall flowed silently between them.
The hem of her skirt, billowing in the wind, brushed against Lu Songyuan's leg, and Jing Hui's ears gradually quieted down.
After an unknown amount of time, the eunuch's voice came from the doorway, "The Empress Dowager has arrived!"
Empress Dowager?
Jing Hui's attention was drawn to the doorway, and she turned to look at it. Sure enough, she saw only the Empress Dowager coming to the banquet.
The officials hurriedly rose and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, we pay our respects."
The princes and princesses followed closely behind, saying, "Grandchildren greet the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager be well."
The Empress Dowager walked past Jing Hui, glanced at Lu Songyuan beside her, and then glanced at Jing Hui.
After taking her seat, she said, "Rise."
"Thank you, Empress Dowager."
After everyone was seated, someone who was concerned about Emperor Jingwen stepped forward and asked, "Your Majesty, His Majesty was in court this morning and has not yet arrived. Is he feeling unwell?"
The Empress Dowager sighed, "After the Emperor returned from court, he fainted again and has not yet woken up."
"ah?"
"Has the imperial physician examined you?"
The room erupted in commotion. After a moment, the Empress Dowager raised her hand, and the room immediately quieted down. She said, "The imperial physician examined my pulse and said that I am exhausted. Therefore, I am unable to personally come to welcome General Lu today, so I have come instead."
Another commotion erupted in the hall, and the officials followed the Empress Dowager's gaze to Lu Songyuan.
Jing Hui also turned his head. Even under the gaze of so many people, Lu Songyuan remained expressionless and calmly instructed his deputy to push him forward to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager.
"Your subject Lu Songyuan greets Your Majesty the Empress Dowager. May Your Majesty be well."
After Lu Songyuan finished speaking, he prepared to kneel down and pay his respects.
The Empress Dowager raised an eyebrow and looked at Lu Songyuan.
He stretched out his arms and placed them on the armrests of the wheelchair, gripping them tightly with his hands, the veins on the back of his hands standing out. He leaned forward, clearly trying his best to stand up.
The officials in the hall held their breath and watched him together with the Empress Dowager.
They both wanted to see the legendary God of War in person and feared that he might actually rise up.
After all, the fear that people in the capital had of Lu Songyuan stemmed more from the unknown.
No one knows where he came from, who his teacher was, why he suddenly pacified the northern border and annihilated foreign tribes, or why he obediently obeyed orders to return to the capital.
The armrests of the wheelchair creaked under the pressure, Lu Songyuan's legs trembled, and after his body lifted half an inch off the seat, he slammed back down.
Jing Hui had some medical knowledge, and judging from the difference in Lu Songyuan's legs—one thin and one thick—she knew he probably couldn't stand up.
Lu Songyuan tried several more times, and sure enough, every time he tried to stand up, he would fall back into his wheelchair after only half an inch, unable to stand up.
The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. At the back, one of the military officers let out a slightly mocking laugh, and many others began to chuckle along.
"Alright, there's no need for such a grand ceremony."
The Empress Dowager finally smiled. Leaning back in her chair, she asked Lu Songyuan, "Have you had your leg examined?"
"Thank you, Empress Dowager."
Lu Songyuan sat back in his wheelchair, took a few deep breaths, and said, "When we were in the Northern Territory, military doctors and folk healers examined me. They said that the poison had entered my blood vessels and my tendons and bones were broken. In the future... I'm afraid I will never be able to stand up again."
"The Emperor remembers your hard work and great achievements in quelling the rebellion in the northern border of Liang, and now you have injured your leg for the country. You can rest and recuperate in the capital."
Sensing the resentment in his tone, the Empress Dowager curled her lips slightly and then comforted him, "After all, you will be the princess's husband in the future. Taking good care of your health will also benefit the princess."
After these words were spoken, the hall fell silent for a moment.
Jing Hui felt the Empress Dowager's gaze, turned his head to the side, and remained silent.
She did not hear Lu Songyuan's voice either.
"The Sixth Princess Jinghui has reached marriageable age, and you are still unmarried. Today, I have come with the Emperor's decree to bestow a marriage upon the two of you."
The Empress Dowager said, "The Imperial Observatory has already matched your birth dates and times, and the Ministry of Rites is also preparing for the wedding. The Emperor has specially bestowed a house upon you two as your wedding home. Do you have any objections?"
In just a few words, the marriage was settled clearly. Jing Hui felt the gazes coming from all directions and turned to look at Lu Songyuan.
She was forced to agree; Lu Songyuan might not be willing.
Throughout history, when princesses married powerful ministers who were independent and held excessive power, the latter usually did not have a good ending.
They either lost power or met a tragic end due to partisan strife.
If Lu Songyuan had any sense at all, he wouldn't want to get involved with the royal family. It would be better for him to return to the Northern Territory and become a local tyrant than to stay in the capital city.
"Your subject is willing."
?
Jing Hui stared wide-eyed, wondering if she had misheard.
"I am but a humble man, and it is through the favor of Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager that I have been able to marry the princess. I am deeply grateful."
Lu Songyuan said solemnly, "After the marriage, I will definitely cherish the princess and put her first in everything. I will not let her suffer any grievances. Please rest assured, Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager and the princess."
Jing Hui looked on in disbelief. How could he say such a boastful thing with such a cold face?
Today is probably the first time the two of them have met.
Something's not right.
Before Jing Hui could think it over, the Empress Dowager's gaze fell upon him.
She gritted her teeth, stood up, and walked to Lu Songyuan's side.
Their eyes met briefly. Jing Hui's eyes seemed to be spitting fire, while Lu Songyuan remained the same. He glanced at Jing Hui and then looked away.
"Granddaughter accepts the imperial decree and thanks the Emperor and Empress Dowager for bestowing the marriage upon her."
As soon as Jing Huifang agreed, the hall erupted in cheers. All the officials immediately stepped forward to offer their congratulations, including Jing Ao, who had come with ill intentions.
"Oh, my sister and General Lu are overjoyed!"
Jing Hui hastily thanked the officials, glanced sideways at Jing Ao, ignored the latter's provocation, and dejectedly walked back to his seat.
Once the imperial edict was issued, the matter was truly settled.
Jing Hui grabbed the wine glass in front of him and took a big gulp of wine, then let out a long sigh.
"Ayu, pour the wine! This princess is going to get thoroughly drunk tonight!"
Holding the wine jug, Ayu said helplessly, "Yes."
One cup after another, he drank until he lost count, when suddenly a shout came from in front of him.
"Spending all day with alcohol, what kind of behavior is that?"
The Empress Dowager walked up to Jing Hui without anyone noticing and scolded him.
Jing Hui was taken aback upon hearing this, swayed slightly, and slowly stood up, saying, "Grandmother."
The Empress Dowager said, "This morning, your father fainted again after he finished writing the imperial edict bestowing marriage upon you."
Jing Hui thought to herself that her father's fainting was partly due to her, but she would not argue with the Empress Dowager in public.
He only asked, "How is Father?"
"With the imperial physicians taking care of him, he is currently out of danger."
The Empress Dowager glanced at the wine cup in Jing Hui's hand and scolded, "As a princess, you act like a common woman from the streets. From tomorrow onwards, return to the palace to await your marriage and are forbidden from drinking!"
If you can't make decisions about your marriage, why should you be allowed to drink alcohol?
Jing Hui couldn't help but retort, "I can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk, and I won't make mistakes even if I drink. There's no need for Grandmother to worry about me."
After these words were spoken, the surroundings fell silent for a few moments.
The Empress Dowager looked at Jing Hui, and after a long while, she smiled and said, "Whatever. Sooner or later, you'll be ruined by this wine."
After the Empress Dowager finished speaking, she turned and left the hall. Jing Hui gestured towards her retreating figure with his lip and continued to instruct A Yu, "Pour the wine."
While Jing Hui was drinking alone, Lu Songyuan, surrounded in the middle of the hall, had also drunk quite a bit.
It's unclear what he said to Jing Ao, but Jing Ao laughed incessantly, making quite a racket.
Jing Hui glanced over there with a dazed look in his eyes, then looked away.
She propped her head up with one hand and twirled a wine glass in the other. The gilded glass spun around in her hand a few times, the golden light making Jing Hui's vision increasingly dizzy.
"Ayu, pour me a cup of tea."
I didn't hear Ah Yu's voice, but a cup of tea was handed to me.
Jing Hui reached out to take it, but suddenly several hands appeared holding the teacup, and she couldn't grasp them no matter what she did. Finally, she simply opened her lips and leaned towards the cup, saying, "You feed me."
After saying that, Jing Hui inexplicably noticed a stunned expression on one of the hands.
"Um?"
Two pink blushes rose on Jing Hui's cheeks and cheeks, and her peach-blossom eyes seemed to be wet with water.
"What's wrong? This princess wants some water!"
Lu Songyuan stared coldly at the drunkard, stunned for a moment.
He slid the wheelchair forward a little, held the teacup to Jing Hui's lips, and said, "Drink."
"Hmm."
Jing Hui was completely unaware that something was wrong. She closed her eyes, reached out and grasped the swaying arm in front of her, and tilted her head back to drink water.
The swallowing sound wasn't loud, but Lu Songyuan heard it clearly.
He stared, almost unconsciously, at Jing Hui's lips as she bit the rim of the cup. The water made her lips appear even redder. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he felt a strange itch under his tongue.
Lu Songyuan frowned. After Jing Hui finished drinking and left the rim of the cup, he immediately slammed the cup down on the table.
The unfamiliar voice brought Jing Hui back to her senses. She blinked, still resting her head on the table, and exclaimed in surprise when she saw who it was: "It's you?"
Lu Songyuan leaned back in his wheelchair, his hand on the side where Jing Hui had held his was loosely clenched into a fist, and said, "I saw that the princess had drunk quite a lot and had no one to serve her, so I came to check on her."
"Huh? The legendary, fierce general actually cares about the lives of others?"
Lu Songyuan remained silent, but Jing Hui suddenly sat up straight and asked, "Is there poison in this teacup?"
Lu Songyuan looked at her drunken outburst and said, "No, how could I dare to poison the princess?"
"snort."
Jing Hui breathed a sigh of relief and leaned back on the table. She rested her head on her arm and looked at Lu Songyuan with her watery eyes unblinking.
The city of Daliang is located in the Central Plains, and the women there are generally elegant and graceful, but Jing Hui is born with a striking appearance.
Her skin was as white as jade, her eyebrows were naturally deep without makeup, her lips were naturally red without lipstick, and her nose was smooth and high.
Her most beautiful feature was her pair of peach blossom eyes, clear as spring river water, sparkling as if starlight were sprinkled into them.
When she looks at someone, the corners of her eyes will slightly slant upwards, making her appear charming, affectionate, and pure.
Lu Songyuan had been forcibly pushed to Jing Hui's side, and now being stared at by her like this made him feel inexplicably irritated.
Just as he was about to leave, he heard Jing call his name.
"Lu Songyuan".
She called out to someone but didn't speak. Lu Songyuan looked at her and asked, "What's wrong?"
Jing Hui leaned on the table to get up and moved closer to him. She placed one hand on the armrest of the wheelchair and extended her slender, soft fingers to touch the spot between Lu Songyuan's chest and the arm.
"You are to me..."
She was too close, so Lu Songyuan frowned and leaned back slightly.
Jing Hui caught up with him again and pressed him down. She smiled and tapped Lu Songyuan's chest with a single word, "Heart, harboring, impropriety."
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