Chapter 19 Shocking! A large-scale food event has occurred at Qiyun Mountain...
This was the first time Yan Yi had met Zheng Chunyun in real life.
Compared to the woman in her dream who was thin, haggard, and whose eyes were as lifeless as a dead well, Zheng Chunyun was in much better condition now.
Shen Lingyue was also carefully observing her. She looked a little thinner than on her wedding day, but she still seemed to have a lot of energy.
Indeed, the fact that she can go out and socialize as the wife of the heir of the Duke of Lingguo's mansion, instead of being locked in a dark and gloomy little Buddhist hall like in her dream, is a good sign in itself.
Zheng Chunyun was also very happy to see Shen Lingyue, and held her hand to ask her how she was doing.
Shen Lingyue took the opportunity to introduce Yan Yi to her. The two had never met before, and they politely nodded to each other.
“I’m doing quite well in the Gu family,” Zheng Chunyun said. “The young master Gu died for his country, and as his wife, no one in the household dares to make things difficult for me.”
To be precise, anyone who dared to make things difficult for her was dealt with by her own means.
This is all thanks to the divine decree issued by the "Nine Heavens Goddess of Fate".
As the events described in the letter were confirmed one by one, Zheng Chunyun realized that being compliant and tolerant was useless. The entire Gu family used her as a tool to boost their reputation and create a persona. Her constant concessions would only lead to a dead end.
Since that's the case, why not take advantage of your existing strengths and go all out?
Zheng Chunyun could tell that Shen Lingyue's concern for her was genuine.
Therefore, she sincerely emphasized again, "I'm doing very well, really."
It's good now, it's good in the future, and it will only get better.
Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi looked into her bright, unyielding eyes.
Like a white plum blossom broken by wind and snow, it remains unyielding and fragrant when the snow clears and the sky brightens.
That's great.
They successfully saved the life of an innocent woman.
"Sister-in-law, why are you here all alone? I've been looking for you for ages."
A somewhat greasy, flippant voice sounded from behind.
Zheng Chunyun frowned slightly, turned her head, and said with a hint of indifference, "There are too many people over there. I just came out for some fresh air. You don't need to worry about me, cousin."
"That's too formal. You are the most honored wife of the heir in our household, and you must not be allowed to make any mistakes."
The young man in the brocade robe lingered his eyes on her without restraint, and his words, though seemingly dignified, sounded quite improper.
It's him!
Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi recognized the person at a glance as the one who had ruined Zheng Chunyun's reputation in their dream.
"Sister Zheng, is this also a young master from the Duke of Ling's mansion?"
Shen Lingyue pretended not to know her and said, "I've never heard of anyone else in the Gu family before."
The man's gaze fell on Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi, and he gave them another admiring look. He quickly struck up a conversation: "My surname is Fan, and the Duchess of Lingguo is my aunt. May I ask which family this young lady comes from? You look very familiar to me. Have we met somewhere before?"
Zheng Chunyun frowned even more and warned in a low voice, "Do not be rude. This is the daughter of the Vice Minister of Rites, and she has been betrothed to the Marquis of Changning by imperial decree."
Fan Guangzu looked unwilling and then turned to Yan Yi, "Then this one—"
Shen Lingyue quickly answered, "She is my future sister-in-law, and it's also a marriage bestowed by the Emperor."
Fan Guangzu: ...
How come all these beautiful young ladies are engaged? And all of them were arranged by the emperor?
After Fan Guangzu left reluctantly, Zheng Chunyun explained, "He is just a distant relative of my mother-in-law's family. He shamelessly came to stay here and has been living in the Duke of Ling's mansion for half a year."
Every family has a few poor relatives. Anyway, the Duke of Ling's mansion is large and wealthy, and Fan Guangzu is good at flattery and wins over the Duchess of Ling's wife, so they let him stay.
However, this man was over twenty years old and still unmarried, and had no proper business. He often frequented the women's quarters in the inner quarters, which was quite frivolous and rude.
Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi exchanged a glance, then Shen Lingyue deliberately frowned and said with displeasure, "This person looks like he has a bad heart and doesn't seem like a good person. Sister Zheng, you usually live alone in the Prince's courtyard, so you must guard the gate well to prevent unscrupulous people from taking advantage of you and damaging your reputation."
Yan Yi did not explicitly state in her letter that Fan Guangzu was the one who ruined her reputation. At that time, they only had a sketch portrait, and it was not appropriate to give it directly to Zheng Chunyun.
Today is a good opportunity to subtly remind her.
Sure enough, Zheng Chunyun's expression changed several times, as if she had thought of something, and then she nodded solemnly, "Thank you for reminding me, sister. I will definitely be careful."
The Goddess of Fate of the Nine Heavens said that Gu Yuan would find someone close to him to consummate his marriage with her...
No normal person would agree to such a despicable and sordid thing, but if it's Fan Guangzu, then it makes sense.
Zheng Chunyun lowered her eyes, a cold glint flashing in them.
If he really dares to have such thoughts, then he shouldn't blame her for striking first.
*
After parting ways with Zheng Chunyun, the two continued to happily stroll through the garden.
Princess Tong'an's villa was very large, occupying almost half of Qiyun Mountain. Moreover, the builder was very good at combining the architecture with the natural scenery, truly achieving the effect of living by the mountain and the scenery, giving people the feeling of a hermit living in seclusion.
The two of them deliberately sought out places with fewer people, and Shen Lingyue finally understood why Zhao Lan had encouraged her to come.
Because there are so many juicy stories!
"Cousin, I miss you so much! That person treated me so badly. Why did Mom and Dad have to break us up?"
"Cousin, stop talking. It's all my fault for being so useless. I've taken the exam for several years and still haven't passed. I can't give you the happiness you want..."
"cousin!"
"cousin!"
Shen Lingyue hid behind a tree, excitedly biting her handkerchief.
"Ah, I've seen this person before. She's the youngest daughter-in-law of the Minister of Personnel. She just got married last month!"
After walking a few steps, I saw another young couple pulling and tugging at each other.
"Are you crazy? I'm your sister-in-law now!"
"Why should I? I was the one who saved you, and I was the one who left the jade pendant as proof. Why should you marry him? You are clearly mine!"
Shen Lingyue continued biting her handkerchief.
"Ahhh, this is the Crown Prince Chun's wife and her brother-in-law!"
Yan Yi silently pulled Shen Lingyue back.
She was truly afraid that if the two of them accidentally made a sound, these lovesick men and women would kill them to silence them...
As they walked and ate along the way, Yan Yi suddenly stopped and pointed to a couple standing by the stream ahead.
"Found them, it's Editor Qi and the County Princess."
Shen Lingyue made circles with both hands and held them in front of her eyes, carefully examining them for a long time.
"Hiss, it looks like Princess Rongcheng from the Heng Prince's family."
Prince Heng was the eldest son of Emperor Qingxi, and his birth mother was Consort Xian. Although he was of average talent, he was said to be honest and upright. Given the lack of a legitimate son, many court officials still supported the eldest son as the heir apparent.
Princess Rongcheng was his most beloved daughter. If Prince Heng were to ascend the throne, she would truly be a golden branch and jade leaf.
With such good conditions, how could Qi Xiuyuan not be tempted?
Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi crept forward stealthily, but the streamside was a large open area, so they couldn't get too close. They could only hide in the bushes, about ten meters apart.
Princess Rongcheng, with the demeanor of a young girl, looked up at Qi Xiuyuan with a dazed expression, as if she were pouring out her heart.
Qi Xiuyuan remained unmoved, like a block of wood, his handsome face indifferent. He shook his head at the Princess of Rongcheng, then turned and left without a second thought.
Shen Lingyue: "Wow, he actually refused."
Qi Xiuyuan, do you know whose love you rejected?
As soon as he left, the Princess of Rongcheng's face darkened instantly, and her beautiful face looked somewhat ferocious.
Shen Lingyue covered her mouth, not daring to breathe.
This noble lady is somewhat capricious...
Soon, the Princess of Rongcheng summoned the maid who was keeping watch nearby, whispered a few instructions, and then took out a small porcelain bottle from her sleeve.
So, it was because the Princess of Rongcheng was rejected in her love affair, and in a fit of anger, she decided to force herself on Qi and defile him.
Shen Lingyue whispered to Yan Yi, "Let's follow her."
With a maid leading the way, the two walked around for a long time before finally arriving at a courtyard that looked like a kitchen.
A few wisps of smoke rose from the rooftop, carrying the aroma of food. Maids and servants bustled about carrying snacks and drinks, each busy with their own tasks.
The maidservant, who had been so subservient to Princess Rongcheng, became arrogant and haughty in the kitchen, blocking a head maid's way and saying, "My princess wants a pot of fruit wine. Where is the wine cellar? Take me there; I want to choose it myself."
The head maid dared not delay and hurriedly led the maid to the storeroom next door.
It was an empty courtyard filled with dozens of wine jars, all prepared for today's banquet. A long table was set up in the middle of the open space, with many small wine jugs on it, ready for use.
The head maid personally poured a pot of wine for the maid, saying, "This is newly brewed bayberry wine this year; it has a sweet and refreshing taste that won't make you drunk."
The maidservant feigned displeasure, "The county princess doesn't like bayberries, are there any other kinds?"
She picked and chose, constantly asking questions to distract the stewardess, while behind her back, she held a porcelain bottle with the stopper already removed.
Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi eavesdropped outside the door. She asked in confusion, "How can Princess Rongcheng be so sure that Qi Xiuyuan will get his hands on the poisoned wine?"
Yan Yi recalled the wine-serving servant she had just met at the kitchen door, "I noticed that there were slips of paper under each wine pot, maybe with the guests' names on them?"
Even without a name, one can easily bribe any maid who delivers wine.
Princess Rongcheng's plan was deliberate, and if Qi Xiuyuan hadn't been prepared, he would definitely have fallen into her trap.
While the two were discussing in hushed tones, the maid had already selected a pot of wine, which was then brought out by the head maid.
They quickly hid behind a corner of the wall and watched the two leave.
Shen Lingyue: "Then I'll just find any maid and have her deliver a note to Qi Xiuyuan, reminding him not to drink the wine at the banquet."
Yan Yi nodded in agreement, and the two decided to go back and look for paper and pens.
Before they had taken more than a few steps, they saw a furtive figure approaching from the opposite direction.
The two had no choice but to hide behind the warehouse again.
Soon, a stranger approached. He was a young man who looked furtive. He tentatively pushed the door open, found it unlocked, and immediately slipped inside. He picked up a wine pot from the table and poured some medicinal powder into it.
After doing all that, he snorted twice and then sneaked away.
Shen Lingyue: ...
Is this also a place to administer drugs?
Yan Yi shook her head, "No wonder Princess Tong'an said those things beforehand, these people are really..."
After the man who drugged her left, Shen Lingyue wasn't in a hurry to leave. She had a feeling that the warehouse would become even more "lively".
Don't ask, it's just a natural talent of bystanders!
She and Yan Yi chose a good spot, and before long, several more groups of people arrived.
There was a case of someone giving their half-sister laxatives, intending to embarrass her in public;
Some people poisoned their sister-in-law's body with safflower, intending to cause her to miscarry.
There were also those who, out of jealousy that a certain talented man was more popular, would put chili powder in his drinks…
A dazzling array of styles, truly breathtaking.
Shen Lingyue couldn't help but sigh, "Does Princess Tong'an have to face these things every year?"
If it were her, she would have quit long ago.
What kind of monsters and demons are these?!
That's outrageous.
Yan Yi glanced at the sun. "It's almost time for the banquet to start. Let's hurry back."
He was also somewhat worried, "There are so many people who are going to be schemed against... how can I possibly remind them all?"
Jealousy and jealousy can be considered minor squabbles, but using safflower or aphrodisiacs... can really lead to death.
"I have an idea. Wait here for me for a while."
Shen Lingyue rolled her eyes and told Yan Yi to hide well so as not to be discovered. She then ran towards the direction where the carriages were parked.
Yan Yi waited for a while and saw Shen Lingyue running back breathlessly, carrying a small black cloth bag in her hand, which looked heavy.
Shen Lingyue wiped her sweat and casually asked, "Did anyone else come over just now?"
Yan Yi's expression was somewhat strange. "Yes... it's your second sister, Shen Songyi."
Shen Lingyue: !
She snorted. "Which young master has she set her sights on, and is she planning to force herself on him?"
Yan Yi shook her head to indicate she didn't know, her gaze falling on the black bag. "What's this?"
Shen Lingyue smiled slyly, "Do you know where a drop of water is safest to hide?"
—Of course, it's hidden in the sea.
She had Yan Yi keep watch at the door while she went into the courtyard, lifted the lids of the wine jars one by one, and poured the white powder from the black bags into them.
Don't you like to drug people? Then let's give you a good drink.
Keep adding and adding until you get tired of it—
She evenly sprinkled the entire bag of medicinal powder into the wine jar.
Shen Lingyue patted the powder off her hands, "Mission accomplished!"
They went out and grabbed Yan Yi to make a quick getaway.
When the two arrived at the banquet venue, Zhou Yanling immediately ran over and said anxiously, "Elder sister, where have you been? I can't find you anywhere."
He grabbed Yan Yi's hand and stared at Shen Lingyue warily, as if she were a human trafficker.
Since the two families were seated separately, Shen Lingyue had to separate from Yan Yi first, and she didn't forget to mouth a reminder: "Don't—drink—alcohol."
Yan Yi nodded. Although she didn't know what Shen Lingyue had added to the wine, she thought about all the trouble those people had caused before.
She certainly didn't want the chance of drinking something laced with laxatives, safflower, chili powder, or some other strange concoction...
Seeing that most of the people had returned, Princess Tong'an didn't waste any more words. She waved her hand to signal the start of the banquet and told everyone to make themselves at home.
She sat alone at the head of the table, with a long black table in front of her filled with exquisite delicacies.
A female official used a silver needle to test each dish to confirm that it was not poisonous.
Another female official poured herself a glass of wine, took a sip, and then frowned slightly.
She leaned close to Princess Tong'an's ear and whispered, "Your Highness, there's a lot of 'pleasure potion' in the wine."
Princess Tong'an couldn't help but scoff, "Whose little brat is this, trying to set his sights on me?"
The lady-in-waiting coughed lightly and explained in a low voice, "Perhaps the dishes were accidentally mixed up when they were being served, over at the wine cellar..."
Princess Tong'an listened to her report with even greater interest in her eyes.
"This year has truly seen a surge of talented individuals."
With a casual flick of her wrist, she knocked the wine jug to the ground, causing the spout to tilt and the wine to gush out.
"Then I'd like to see how many couples can be found at this banquet this year."
She smiled and instructed the female official: "Drinking alone is no fun. Let them take turns playing drinking games. Those who can't answer should be punished with three cups."
Shen Lingyue was engrossed in eating when she heard the lady-in-waiting of Princess Tong'an announce that they would play drinking games, compose poems in a relay, and pass a flower while beating a drum.
She glanced at the small wine pot on her table and quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, she had already had Qingchan replaced with peppermint water, so she could just punish herself with three cups later and get away with it.
Anyway, the original owner of this body wasn't exactly a talented woman.
However, this greatly depleted the wine in front of everyone. Several maids moved among them, refilling the empty wine jugs.
A maid walked up to Qi Xiuyuan, lifted the lid, and found that it was still full.
"Lord Qi?"
Qi Xiuyuan sat up straight and gently shook his head: "I don't drink alcohol, tea is fine with me."
For some reason, after he refused the Princess of Rongcheng by the stream, he suddenly remembered the advice Shen Lingyue had given him a few days ago.
Since Qi Xiuyuan took his seat, he only symbolically picked up two pieces of vegetables and didn't touch any of the drinks on the table.
He glanced at the Princess of Rongcheng sitting diagonally opposite him, who kept glancing at him, then silently lowered his head and pressed his hand to his abdomen.
Just bear with it a little longer, wait until the banquet is over, and then go home to eat my mother's chicken noodle soup.
...The Princess of Rongcheng was extremely anxious!
If Princess Tong'an hadn't been sitting up there, she would have rushed over and poured the drugged wine into Qi Xiuyuan's mouth.
Did he notice? But she did it perfectly, there was no way she could have been discovered.
Princess Rongcheng was both angry and anxious, and without realizing it, she drank several extra cups of fruit wine.
Suddenly, a fire surged in her lower abdomen, and her whole body inexplicably felt weak and hot. Her hand trembled, and the wine glass fell to the ground.
What happened?
Qi Xiuyuan is fine, but how come she seems to have... been infected?
Ding ding dong dong—
The effects of the medicine began to take hold, and cups, plates, and bowls were scattered all over the floor.
"What happened? I'm so hot."
"My hands have no strength left..."
"Could I have been poisoned? Someone, help!"
"vomit!"
The banquet instantly descended into chaos.
Those guests who didn't drink alcohol due to illness or other reasons were stunned by what they saw.
"Could it be that he ate something bad?"
"Then why are we alright?"
"Something's not right. I think it's more like..."
Before the words were finished, a man with a flushed face and a silly grin suddenly lunged at the girl in the pink dress opposite him.
"Qingqing, I've liked you for so long, just give in to me!"
"……Help!"
The girl screamed and ran away, but the man chased after her like a madman.
The young woman who had just spoken clapped her hands, "Isn't this traditional Chinese medicine?"
She knows this kind of act all too well!
Last year, at someone's birthday banquet, the second master and the old lady's head maid were caught in bed together, and the situation was exactly the same as now!
Looking across the street, I saw several young couples who had come together, their faces flushed with desire, cuddling and kissing!
The woman quickly raised her hand to cover her face, her fingers spread wide apart, shaking her head as she looked: "This is indecent, utterly indecent!"
Shen Lingyue pretended to be drunk and lay on the table, listening to the chaotic screams around her, and secretly opened her eyes.
Good heavens, this is her first time administering drugs, she didn't get the dosage right, did she put in too much?
Looking again at Shen Songyi at the next table, her cheeks were flushed like peach blossoms, and she still had some self-control as she tried to get up unsteadily.
Shen Lingyue followed her gaze and looked across the room.
Wow, isn't that the youngest son of Prince Chun who was just pestering his sister-in-law?
Ahhh, he drank a lot of alcohol too, and he went straight to his sister-in-law!
No way, he already has someone he likes and won't marry you.
Shen Lingyue grabbed Shen Songyi and pulled her back, tearing off her shawl and tying her tightly to the table leg.
You're not going anywhere, just stay put!
The scene was chaotic when Princess Tong'an slammed her hand on the table and stood up.
"There must be poisonous mushrooms mixed in with the food, causing everyone to hallucinate. Someone come here—"
A team of valiant female guards clad in soft armor quickly arrived.
The leader knelt on one knee. "What are your orders, Your Highness?"
"Separate the male and female guests and then go down the mountain to fetch a doctor."
"Yes, sir!"
*
Princess Tong'an's female guards acted swiftly and quickly brought the situation under control.
Pot after pot of "antidote" was brewed and brought into the room. Except for some people with severe symptoms who were still vomiting and having diarrhea, most people had regained consciousness.
Recalling what happened at the banquet just now, and my indescribable embarrassment...
Everyone tacitly agreed on the same story.
"That's right, we ate poisonous mushrooms!"
Shen Lingyue, who was also pretending to be drunk, was also given a bowl of medicine.
She had only taken one bite when the bitterness made her face contort in agony, and her eyes went straight to the top of her head.
This is no antidote at all; it's more like Coptis chinensis decoction!
However, I heard that the medicine is meant to cause internal heat, and Coptis chinensis (Huanglian) is good for clearing heat and detoxifying, so it's perfect for the condition.
She slipped out of the room when no one was looking to find Yan Yi.
"I haven't even asked you yet, what exactly did you put in the drink?"
Yan Yi pulled her aside and anxiously whispered, "You've really messed up this time."
“But I also indirectly saved a lot of people.” Shen Lingyue shrugged. “Everyone was drugged, so no one was taken advantage of.”
Yan Yi: ...
How is it that it's outrageous yet somehow makes sense?
*
In the evening, Princess Tong'an was urgently summoned to the palace.
Emperor Qingxi asked with concern, "I heard there were poisonous mushrooms at today's banquet, which knocked out all the guests? How are they now? Is anyone injured?"
He was concerned about the marriage prospects of young men and women in the capital, which is why he requested Princess Tong'an to hold a matchmaking banquet every year.
Everything was fine in the past few years, so why did such a big problem occur this year?
"Father, there is no need to worry. After the incident, I promptly summoned a doctor to prescribe an antidote, and most people are now fine."
Before the words were finished, the sound of a woman crying and sobbing came from outside the hall.
"Father, please, Father, send a royal physician to save Rongcheng!"
The eunuchs dared not stop her. Princess Heng entered crying and glared angrily at Princess Tong'an as soon as she saw her.
"How did you manage to hold the banquet, my royal sister? My Rongcheng went to the banquet perfectly fine, how did she end up eating poisonous mushrooms? If anything happens to her, how will you compensate me?"
Princess Tong'an rolled her eyes and refused to answer.
Princess Heng felt a surge of resentment upon seeing her attitude.
Once her husband ascends to the throne, she will be the Crown Princess and the future Empress. Then we'll see how she deals with Tong'an!
Princess Heng then said to Emperor Qingxi, "Father, Tong'an has caused such a huge mess this year, almost wiping out all the children of families in the capital. How can the court officials and nobles trust our royal family in the future? This is a great blow to the imperial prestige."
She was implying to Emperor Qingxi that Princess Tong'an must be punished to give an explanation to all the families.
Emperor Qingxi thought for a moment, "Then... a six-month salary deduction, and Tong'an will be responsible for all medical and nutritional expenses for each family. Do you have any objections?"
Princess Tong'an readily agreed, "If I have made a mistake, I will accept the punishment."
Princess Heng's eyes showed dissatisfaction. "Only a half-year salary deduction? That's too lenient."
Princess Tong'an glanced at her and said, "Since you think I'm incompetent, why don't you take charge of organizing next year's banquet?"
Princess Heng was overjoyed; this was a great opportunity to win over the hearts of all the families.
But in front of Emperor Qingxi, she still had to feign humility, saying, "Your daughter-in-law is terrified..."
Princess Tong'an: "If you can't do it, then I'll go find my second sister-in-law?"
Princess Heng panicked, "I'll do it, I can do it!"
*
After returning from Qiyun Mountain, Shen Lingyue behaved herself for a while, fearing that the palace or Princess Tong'an would be determined to investigate and eventually find her.
However, just two days later, news spread from the palace that the large-scale food poisoning incident, in which Princess Tong'an had failed in her duties and found poisonous mushrooms in the banquet, causing hallucinations among the guests, had been officially confirmed.
Moreover, each of the parties involved swore that they had eaten poisonous mushrooms, which is why they did things that defied common sense.
The final outcome was that Princess Tong'an was fined six months' salary, had to personally pay a sum of money as compensation to each family, and would no longer host matchmaking events starting next year, handing the responsibility over to Princess Heng.
Are we just going to turn the page like that?
Shen Lingyue, who had been on edge for several days, finally breathed a sigh of relief and patted her chest in lingering fear.
She really is God's favorite daughter; she managed to get away unscathed after doing something so big!
Hehe, I'll do it again next time :)
*
At the same time, in the East Wing.
Shen Songyi pointed to the sky and swore to Aunt Liu, "I clearly put the drug in his wine, how come I also fell for it?"
And why does everyone say they ate poisonous mushrooms?
Doesn't she know whether it's a poisonous mushroom or an aphrodisiac?
Due to the effects of the medicine, she lay weakly in bed for several days. She was also watched by the imperial physicians sent from the palace to comfort her, and drank a lot of bitter medicine. Now she is almost pickled in bitter herbs.
Shen Songyi was anxious and pulled Aunt Liu, saying, "If I miss this opportunity, when will I have another chance to get close to Prince Chun's youngest son?"
"Don't panic, there's still a chance."
Aunt Liu clenched her handkerchief and said reluctantly, "The Third Miss is getting married soon. Once she marries into the Changning Marquis's mansion, you should visit her there a few more times. Are you worried about not having a chance?"
What a pity, this was originally a marriage she wanted to fight for for her daughter...
*
June 18th is an auspicious day for marriage.
No matter how much Shen Lingyue tried to avoid it, no matter how much she didn't want to face it, this day still came.
Her pre-wedding jitters were strange; half of it was the nervousness of spending the rest of her life with a stranger, and the other half was the excitement of being able to spend every day with Yan Yi.
It made her seem very conflicted, sometimes good and sometimes bad.
Zhao Lan whispered to Liu's mother in private: Is she desperate to get married, or is she looking forward to it?
But no matter what, the premarital education process still has to be followed.
The night before her wedding, Zhao Lan handed her a small booklet and spoke those embarrassing words with a blank expression.
"...Hurry up and have a son, so you can gain a foothold in the Pei family, and then you can live however you want."
Zhao Lan didn't want to say anything discouraging, as her daughter was getting married tomorrow. She wanted to leave her with some beautiful dreams for her wedding night.
She raised her hand to tuck Shen Lingyue's hair behind her ear, her eyes filled with deep reluctance and longing.
"Your mother hopes that you will always be as happy as you are in your own home."
Shen Lingyue felt a lump in her throat and bent down to hug her.
Although they had only been mother and daughter for a few months, she could feel Zhao Lan's unconditional love.
On your last night at your parents' home, don't argue or fight; just spend it peacefully.
*
Because both sons of the Marquis of Changning were betrothed by the Emperor, they were granted permission to marry on the same day, bringing double joy to their family.
The Shen family and the Zhou family happened to be located in the east and west of the city, respectively. The two grooms set off from the Marquis's residence to fetch their brides.
The two celebratory processions made a lively journey around half of the capital before reuniting in front of the Changning Marquis's residence.
The man riding a white horse on the left is Pei Jingyi, the eldest son of the Marquis's family. He is refined, noble, and handsome, a gentleman as pure as jade.
The man riding the black horse on the right is Pei Jinghuai, the second son of the Marquis's family. He is dashing and exudes a commanding presence.
The people of the capital were treated to a feast for the eyes on this day, and at the same time, they couldn't help but wonder what kind of beauty the bride in the two bridal sedan chairs must be, since she was chosen by the emperor to be married.
Under the guidance of the matchmaker, Shen Lingyue stepped out of the bridal sedan chair, holding a red silk ribbon in one hand and Pei Jinghuai in the other.
She hadn't eaten much since waking up in the morning and was feeling dizzy from hunger. The noisy, chaotic environment around her gave her a sense of detachment, as if her soul had drifted out of her body and was watching her own body as others paid homage to heaven and earth and their parents.
Until my gaze shifted to the other side, I saw the twin lotus-embroidered shoes under the bright red wedding dress.
She only came to her senses in a daze when she realized it was Yan Yi.
Thinking of this, she suddenly stopped panicking.
No matter what happens in the future, they will always be together.
The couple bowed to each other and were led into the bridal chamber.
Shen Lingyue was led to sit down on the edge of the wedding bed. The tassels hanging from the veil blocked most of her vision, and she could only see a pair of black boots embroidered with flowing cloud patterns standing in front of her.
The onlookers and relatives cheered, "The groom should lift the veil now!"
Pei Jinghuai picked up the scale rod, hooked it around one corner of the cover, and gently lifted it up.
As his vision returned to light, Shen Lingyue subconsciously looked up.
Their eyes met, and both of them wore the same look of shock.
Pei Jinghuai: ...
Ni, Xiao, Die?
A note from the author:
----------------------
Moon Boy: ...It's you! Big Chest Bro!
Ahhh, the word count of this chapter really exceeded my expectations, lol. But the VIP chapters were agreed upon before the editor went on vacation, and there was no time to change them at the last minute, so I'm releasing them all at once!
Every book goes through this process, and with each book, I encounter many old and new friends. Seeing familiar IDs feels really heartwarming, but also a little nerve-wracking. I hope I can do my best to write this story well! [Cat emoji]
There will be a 10,000-word update tomorrow when the game goes live (VIP chapters), so please continue to support me! [Let me see][Let me see]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com