Chapter 5 Entering the Palace
As dawn broke, the ceremonial guards for entering the palace were already prepared in front of the main gate of the Prince's Mansion.
Ling Wei changed out of the scarlet wedding dress she wore last night and into a dark purple everyday dress befitting a prince.
He wore a jade belt around his waist, from which hung a double fish pendant and a prince's seal. His dark hair was casually tied up with a jade crown, with a few strands hanging loosely beside his cheeks.
She stood on the steps, her posture still upright, honed by the battlefield, her back habitually straight, but her shoulders and neck were slouching, carrying a lazy air as if she hadn't woken up yet.
Half a step behind him, Shen Zhilan was already standing quietly.
He also changed out of his wedding clothes and into the formal attire for a concubine entering the palace to pay homage. He wore a moon-white robe with silver thread patterns, and a brocade belt representing his status as a concubine was tied around his waist. His jade ornaments were neatly arranged.
She was like a jade tree immersed in a cold pool, aloof yet pure.
Ling Wei glanced at him sideways.
Shen Zhilan noticed the gaze and nodded slightly to her, maintaining proper etiquette but showing no sign of intimacy.
Ling Wei withdrew her gaze and swept her eyes towards the mansion gate: "Where is Yi Shao?"
Qing Shu, who was already waiting nearby, stepped forward and whispered, "I have sent someone to the courtyard to urge them to come, but the gate is tightly closed. Without Your Highness's orders, the guards dare not enter, and no one inside responds."
Ling Wei was taken aback. Yes, that's how she had tied up that peacock last night.
She coughed lightly and said without changing her expression, "Have Yi Shao's personal attendant go in and serve him."
Qing Shu accepted the order and left.
Ling Wei turned and got into the carriage. The princely carriage was spacious and luxurious, with soft cushions and a small table inside.
She leaned against the car wall, closing her eyes to rest.
Fortunately, although Yi Shao loved to act, he was ultimately pragmatic. Missing the appointed time to enter the palace to express his gratitude would be a slap in the face to the royal family, a crime that no one could bear.
Before long, a commotion could be heard outside the carriage.
First came the rhythmic sound of wheels rolling over bluestone slabs, approaching from afar.
Immediately following was a servant's low announcement: "Your Highness, Young Master Shao has arrived."
The carriage curtain was lifted slightly.
Then, a figure was carried onto a carriage.
Yi Shao's outfit today is truly... dazzling.
The style was exactly the same as the one Shen Zhilan was wearing, but the color was completely different.
He chose a royal blue outfit, the color rich and strikingly beautiful, almost aggressively so, as if he were silently inviting you to stay seated.
Ling Wei thought he would have a dark face, or at least some resentment. Anyone who has been tied up all night and feels sticky all over until dawn would not be in a good mood.
But Yi Shao raised his head, smiled at her, his eyes sparkling with tears, showing no sign of grievance.
Instead, it revealed a hint of sweet reproach.
“Your Highness,” he began, his voice clear but no longer drawn out, “you were quite strong last night.”
He flexed his wrists to ease the discomfort, "They still feel sore. But..."
He glanced at Shen Zhilan, who was sitting quietly to the side, and his smile deepened. "If Your Highness likes this, I am willing to oblige."
The words were vague and ambiguous, and Ling Wei didn't respond, only lazily lifting her eyelids.
Seeing that she still didn't react, Yi Shao wasn't in a hurry and calmly took out a flat, black jade hand warmer from his sleeve.
The hand warmer had a simple design and a warm, smooth feel; he casually placed it on a small table.
"It's chilly in the morning, Your Highness. If your hands are cold, you can use this."
Then, he took out a small celadon bottle and placed it next to the hand warmer. "Menthol, it's refreshing. Your Highness might need it if you didn't get a good rest last night."
He acted naturally, without being overly eager, but rather with a sense of composure as if he had everything under control.
When those eyes looked at Ling Wei, their gaze was focused, yet not cloying; it was more like they were observing her reaction and weighing their next move.
Ling Wei suddenly reached out and picked up a piece of osmanthus cake from the dessert plate on the table. "Open your mouth."
"Hmm."
Yi Shao's mouth was stuffed full, his cheeks puffed out, and he stared blankly at the osmanthus cake, unsure whether to swallow or spit it out.
Ling Wei withdrew her hand: "Let's take a break."
Yi Shao stood there, the sweet and soft osmanthus cake in his mouth, but he couldn't taste any flavor at all.
A sense of frustration welled up inside him. He had been exceptionally handsome and intelligent since childhood, and even after he became disabled and faced difficulties at home, he had never truly failed at winning people's favor.
Whether navigating the family business in the past or dealing with various people who coveted his appearance later on, he could always easily discern their preferences, cater to them, or use them or maneuver around them with ease.
But Ling Wei didn't take the bait at all.
Yi Shao slowly lowered her eyelashes and chewed and swallowed the pastry in her mouth.
When she looked up again, a flawless smile had returned to her face, though the smile didn't reach her eyes.
He picked up a handkerchief, elegantly wiped the corner of his mouth, and said nothing more.
The carriage stopped in front of the second palace gate. According to regulations, whether they were princes or ministers, they had to get out of the carriage and walk to the inner court.
Ling Wei got out of the car first, still looking as lazy as ever, with Qing Shu silently attending to her side.
Shen Zhilan was helped out of the carriage by her attendants, and Yi Shao's wheelchair was carefully lifted off the carriage. Except for Qing Shu, all the attendants stopped there. Ling Wei was about to lead the people to the inner court when a slightly chaotic sound of footsteps and laughter came from the side.
"Look, who's here so early? It's Fifth Sister."
Her voice was delicate and sweet, with a sticky, warm quality.
Two groups of people were seen walking around the corner.
The two women at the head of the group were both dressed in dark purple formal attire befitting princes. The style of their robes was exactly the same as Ling Wei's, with only slight differences in patterns and accessories, highlighting their shared imperial lineage and status.
The woman on the left has a face as round as a silver plate and a pair of almond-shaped eyes that always seem to shimmer with a watery hue; she smiles even before she speaks.
She moved with a light step, as if she were wrapped in a warm spring breeze; she was none other than the Second Princess, Ling Yao.
Ling Yao quickly approached, her gaze lingering gently on Ling Wei's face: "Fifth Sister, you look quite well on your wedding day."
Then, her gaze naturally fell to the back, first looking at Shen Zhilan, her eyes softening, filled with just the right amount of regret and concern: "Zhilan is here too. You look a little thinner, is it because the servants are not serving you well? If there is anything lacking or inconvenient, please do not hesitate to let someone tell me."
Then, she looked at Yi Shao in the wheelchair, her almond-shaped eyes suddenly brightening. She leaned forward slightly and softened her voice: "This must be Yi Shao, right? Truly a remarkable person."
Her gaze fell on the wheelchair, her brows furrowing slightly: "Although the imperial road in the palace is smooth, it is still inevitably bumpy. My family recently acquired a wheelchair made by a skilled craftsman from the south using exotic rattan and wood. It is lightweight and stable, and it is also padded with soft down inside, making it more comfortable to sit in. I will have someone send it to you later."
Upon hearing this, Yi Shao smiled with gratitude and a hint of trepidation, and bowed slightly: "Your Highness is too kind. Everything in the manor is already very good. I am unworthy of such kindness."
His attitude was respectful, neither completely offending the other party nor failing to draw a clear line.
Ling Yao was about to say something more when Ling Wei interjected, "Second sister, don't bother with that."
"Whether he is comfortable sitting or not, I will handle it myself in my own residence."
Ling Wei raised her eyelids and glanced lazily at Ling Yao. Her eyes were devoid of emotion, but they made Ling Yao's smile freeze for a moment. "Aren't those precious young men in your second sister's mansion enough for you to worry about? Aren't you afraid of tiring yourself out by being so considerate?"
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