Chapter 32
On the third day after the flower-viewing party, the eunuchs from the palace came to the Nan'an Marquis's residence to announce the emperor and empress had chosen Nan'an Marquis's daughter Lu Niantao as the crown prince's concubine. Also selected at the same time as her was the daughter of a military general.
The eunuch who came to the palace to report the good news said that the prince and Lu Niantao met in the garden before the flower viewing party began. Lu Niantao lost a sachet and met the prince while looking for it. She was indifferent, calm, and generous, and immediately won the prince's favor.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince has a discerning eye. Second Miss Lu is truly blessed. She will surely be the most favored lady in the Eastern Palace in the future."
Lin Qingyu found it funny. It turns out that some people really want this kind of blessing.
However, although the concubine had a respected status, she was only a concubine after all. It was impossible for her to hold a grand wedding according to the three books and six ceremonies, otherwise where would the future crown princess stand. The Queen asked the Imperial Astronomical Observatory to choose an auspicious day, and then she would use two wedding sedan chairs to bring the person to the Eastern Palace.
Lu Niantao's entry into the Eastern Palace was scheduled for one month later, so the schedule was very tight. Liang, who had been idle for a long time, finally became busy, preparing her daughter's dowry. Because of his daughter, Marquis Nan'an softened his attitude towards Liang, and other people in the Marquis's mansion were rushing to please the principal wife - the second young lady was about to become the prince's concubine, and when the prince ascended the throne, she would at least be a concubine. If she gave birth to a prince in the future, her future would be limitless. Who would dare to neglect her now?
Once Liang gained confidence, she moved the good things from the warehouse to the main house one box at a time, which made Huantong feel painful. He was still thinking that he could get more of the family property when the young master left the Marquis' Mansion. "Master, I just heard from the storehouse manager that Madam even took away the Jiangnan silk that the Queen gave to the young Marquis!"
Lin Qingyu didn't care: "Let them take it." He actually hoped that Lu Niantao could make a few more clothes to please Xiao Cheng. It would be best if he could have fun with her every night and finally die on her.
He knew his idea was too vicious, but Xiao Cheng was worth it.
In the blink of an eye, it was the day when Lu Niantao was getting married.
At the auspicious time, Marquis Nan'an and Liang sat in the seats of honor in the main hall, with the elders of the Lu clan sitting on both sides. Among Lu Niantao's peers, only Lu Wancheng was sitting in a wheelchair, while everyone else was standing.
Soon, Lu Niantao, wearing a phoenix crown and a red bridal robe, came slowly with the support of the bridesmaid. The wedding dress of the Crown Prince's concubine was made by the Shangfu Bureau of the palace. It was graceful and elegant, and more gorgeous than Lin Qingyu's wedding dress. Lu Niantao wore a golden hairpin and a phoenix crown with a pearl curtain hanging above it, and a flower ornament painted between her eyebrows.
Lu Wancheng remembered something important and said to Lin Qingyu, "Qingyu, you also had a flower ornament on your forehead on your wedding night, right?"
"It's more than just flowers and ornaments," Lin Qingyu said expressionlessly, "I also put on makeup."
Lu Wancheng pounded the armrest of the wheelchair: "Damn it, how could I sleep at that time?"
Lu Niantao walked up to her parents and knelt down to kowtow: "I am an unfilial daughter and cannot serve you. Please accept my three kowtows, father and mother, to repay your kindness in raising me."
Liang helped her daughter up with tears in her eyes. Just as she was about to speak, a steward came hurriedly to report: "Master and Madam, the prince is here. He said he is here to pick up the bride!"
As soon as these words fell, the hall immediately became chaotic.
It's just a concubine. According to etiquette, the prince only needs to wait for others to arrive in the East Palace. He came in person to pick up the bride, which really gave enough face to the Nan'an Marquis' Mansion.
The Lu clan members congratulated the Marquis of Nan'an one after another: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is so fond of the Concubine. This is a blessing for our Lu clan!"
"This is not the kind of ceremony that you would expect from a concubine, even a grand wedding would be no more than this."
At this time, Nan'an Marquis did not forget to be cautious in his words and actions: "Don't talk nonsense. A wife is a wife, a concubine is a concubine, how can the two be compared. You all follow me to welcome His Highness."
Lu Niantao's expression changed under the bead curtain, and was covered by the veil of the matchmaker.
Lin Qingyu said: "Shall we go?"
Lu Wancheng smiled somewhat coldly: "Go ahead. He is my cousin after all, and he married my own sister, so I should go and congratulate him no matter what."
Lin Qingyu pushed Lu Wancheng and followed everyone to the gate of the Marquis' Mansion. Xiao Cheng did not come on horseback like an ordinary groom to welcome the bride. He sat in the crown prince's sedan chair. He did not stand up even when the Marquis of Nan'an arrived. It was more accurate to say that he came to show off his status rather than to welcome the bride. In Lu Wancheng's words, he started pretending again.
Marquis Nan'an led the entire family to pay their respects to him. Xiao Cheng said "No need to be polite" slowly, accurately found Lin Qingyu and Lu Wancheng beside him in the crowd, smiled with interest, and then walked out of the sedan chair.
The bridesmaid helped Lu Niantao out of the door, imagining that she would send Lu Niantao to Xiao Cheng's hands like a normal wedding. Xiao Cheng paused for a moment and said, "Help the concubine get on the wedding sedan."
The bridesmaid was stunned for a moment, and didn't dare to ask any more questions. She took Lu Niantao into the wedding sedan. Xiao Cheng walked straight up to Lu Wancheng and said, "My cousin has been ill for a long time. Mother and I are very worried. I don't know if my cousin's health has improved recently."
Lu Wancheng smiled and said, "Nothing has improved. I'm afraid Your Highness will have to continue to worry."
Xiao Cheng leaned down and spoke to Lu Wancheng, but his eyes were on Lin Qingyu: "Don't worry, cousin. When you leave, I will take good care of Xiao Qingyu for you."
"'Xiao Qingyu'." Lu Wancheng laughed softly, "I'm a little curious, what will Your Highness call the newly-accepted concubine - Xiao Taotao?"
Xiao Cheng narrowed his eyes in displeasure: "My cousin has the energy to joke around, why not save it and take care of your body. After all, when a person dies, everything is over."
Lu Wancheng smiled slightly: "Your Highness, don't worry. As long as I don't say it's over, nothing will end."
Xiao Cheng straightened up, looked at Lin Qingyu deeply, turned around and said, "Go back to the palace."
The wedding procession gradually went away. Marquis Nan'an and Liang were busy greeting the Lu clan. Lin Qingyu and Lu Wancheng did not want to join in the fun and returned to Lanfeng Pavilion.
Lin Qingyu frowned and said, "Xiao Cheng already has Lu Niantao, why..."
"Why are you still looking at you with such disgusting eyes?" Lu Wancheng kept it a secret, "Do you know what people who like to find substitutes have in common?"
"explain."
Lu Wancheng said with contempt: "They like to ignore what they have already got, and they are always eager to get what they can't get. If you had agreed to him earlier, he wouldn't have been so interested in you. But now, you have become the first person who dared to reject him, so of course he will look at you differently."
Lin Qingyu frowned even more tightly: "Isn't this just being a jerk?"
Lu Wancheng smiled and said, "You're right, this is being a jerk - cough."
Lu Wancheng started coughing again, unable to stop. Lin Qingyu patted his back and said, "Go to sleep for a while."
Lu Wancheng fell asleep after drinking the medicine. Hualu walked in from outside, looked around and asked, "Young Master, where is the Young Master?"
"Just went to bed. Why?"
Hua Lu lowered her voice and said, "The fierce guy is here."
Xiongsi is a shop that sells funeral supplies. Lin Qingyu chose the oldest murder shop in the capital. This shop had been passed down for a hundred years before the establishment of the Dayu Dynasty. In addition to selling goods, Xiongsi can also arrange funeral ceremonies for customers. As long as you have money, you can have a grand funeral.
Lin Qingyu glanced into the inner room and asked, "Where is the person?"
"He's waiting at the gate of the mansion." Hua Lu said, "He said that there is a wedding in the mansion today, so he can't enter the mansion to avoid bringing bad luck."
Lin Qingyu met the fierce clerk at the door of the Marquis' Mansion. Although he was doing funeral business, he was lively and cheerful: "Young Master, please let me know if you have any request. We will do our best to handle this funeral for the Marquis' Mansion."
Lin Qingyu had never dealt with a funeral before, so he was a little confused. He looked at the Chinese character "喜" pasted on the gate of the mansion and the red silk ribbon hanging under the eaves, thought for a long time, and said, "Just do as he likes."
During this period of time, Lu Wancheng slept a lot and woke up a lot. Every time he woke up coughing before sleeping for an hour. Wake up and sleep, and the day passes.
This time he woke up in the evening. He saw Lin Qingyu sitting beside his bed, watching over him quietly, and the setting sun cast a layer of warm afterglow on him.
Lu Wancheng saw a double image in front of his eyes, and subconsciously called out: "Qingyu..."
Lin Qingyu said: "I'm here."
Lu Wancheng asked dazedly, "Is there any news from the East Palace?"
Lin Qingyu remained silent.
Fragrances enter through the nose, and it takes time to achieve the desired effect. It will take at least three to five months to see results.
"Let's not talk about this for now." Lin Qingyu said gently, "Wan Cheng, what color do you like?"
Lu Wancheng was stunned for a moment, as if he realized something, and said with a smile: "If it was me before, I would wear more black, white and gray. But if it's Dayu, I like to wear red, which looks good with long hair."
Lin Qingyu nodded: "Okay."
"By the way, Doctor Lin, are you preparing for my funeral?" Lu Wancheng said with a smile, "Everything else doesn't matter, but can I choose the coffin myself?"
“…Why?”
Lu Wancheng joked, "I want to pick one that's comfortable to sleep in."
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