Chapter 28 We are husband and wife
On the 24th of March, a grand banquet of flowers will be held.
Chi Ying had been anxious for a long time, and this day finally came.
She originally wanted to dress modestly, preferably blending into the crowd, but when she thought about how she was playing the role of Chi Yingyue, who was always adorned with jewels and bright and flamboyant, she realized that if she encountered a noble lady she knew at a banquet, it would be easy for people to notice something was wrong.
Aunt Fangchun brought over a set of pomegranate-red and gold-embroidered begonia-patterned ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) and busied herself helping her change and do her makeup.
Aside from her wedding dress on her big day, Chi Ying had never worn such gorgeous and expensive clothes.
Fangchun noticed her restraint and couldn't help but smile, "Today is not only your first time entering the palace to express your gratitude after marrying His Highness, but also a grand banquet for noble ladies. The Princess is naturally beautiful, so you should dress up even more today."
Chi Ying could only nod in agreement.
Xiangqin adorned her hair with a full head of red gold and kingfisher feathers, and her fair skin was embellished with rouge, making her look as delicate as a begonia. As she walked, the dangling gold and pearl hairpins swayed gently with her steps, and the large skirt flowed with light and color, as if it were woven from the clouds at the edge of the sky.
Fangchun was increasingly pleased with herself: "The princess will surely outshine all the beauties today."
Chi Ying didn't want to outshine everyone; she just hoped to get through today smoothly.
The carriage stopped outside Shuyuzhai, where King Zhao was already waiting for her.
Chi Ying lifted her elaborate skirt and stepped onto the carriage. In an instant, Yan Xuecui heard the clinking of no less than five kinds of pearls and gemstones.
He smiled and said, "The princess is dressed in her finest attire; she seems to be very much looking forward to today's banquet."
The dress and headdress were quite heavy. Chi Ying straightened her skirt and said helplessly, "I just thought that since it's my first time entering the palace, it's better to be more formal."
Moreover, he himself was dressed in a rare red robe and jade belt, with his black hair tied up high and his jade pendants jingling, making him even more noble and elegant than the flower-adorned scholars who paraded through the streets.
Chi Ying glanced at him, then looked down at herself, feeling that something was off, as if they weren't going to a palace banquet, but rather to get married...
The vermilion-lacquered carriage with its brocade canopy traveled all the way to the palace gate.
The banquet for beauties was held at Fufeng Hall next to the Imperial Garden. Ordinary carriages would have to stop outside Yanhe Gate, and everyone would have to get out of the carriage and walk inside. However, Yan Xuecui had been granted permission to ride in a carriage to enter and leave the palace since she went blind.
Upon seeing the insignia of Prince Zhao's residence, the guards at Yanhe Gate immediately opened the gate and allowed the carriage to pass. The carriage traveled along the palace road and finally stopped outside Yongshun Gate of Kunning Palace.
Yan Xuecui said, "I have my own ideas about the Soul Separation Pill. When you see the Empress later, just pretend you don't know anything about it."
Chi Ying was about to face the mastermind behind the murder of Consort Zhuang, and she was a little uneasy.
“I understand,” she said softly, her fingertips, which were slightly white as she gripped the handkerchief. “Will Your Highness be with me today?”
Yan Xuecui's serious expression relaxed slightly, and she raised an eyebrow, asking, "Are you willing for me to come with you, or not?"
Chi Ying pursed her lips: "This is my first time entering the palace, and I only know Your Highness. Naturally, I hope to be with you."
Yan Xuecui chuckled softly: "You only know me?"
Chi Ying paused for a moment, unsure whether the princess Chi Yingyue knew would come, so she tentatively replied, "I rarely know any members of the royal family. Since I've been waiting to be married at my residence, I haven't had any contact with the young ladies in the capital for a long time."
Yan Xuecui hummed in agreement, "That would mean you'd become rusty."
After saying that, he asked with a smile, "Are you really going to stay by my side all day?"
Chi Ying hesitated for a moment, "If Your Highness has important matters to attend to, I can have Xiangqin accompany you."
Yan Xuecui reached out and grasped her hand. "You've already asked me, how could I possibly refuse?"
Chi Ying was then slightly relieved.
The palace is a den of dragons and tigers, and she has to face all sorts of people who smile but hide daggers on their faces alone. How could Chi Ying not be worried and afraid? Although Prince Zhao's thoughts are also unpredictable, she is, after all, his queen. With him around, she can feel a little more at ease.
Yan Xuecui gently stroked her palm and suddenly asked, "Does your hand still hurt today?"
Chi Ying was still preparing her words for when she met the Empress when she was caught off guard by these words, and her cheeks flushed red.
She hadn't expected him to take so long. Yesterday, she was so tired that her hands almost cramped. He "kindly" suggested that she switch hands, but she hadn't done farm work in a long time, and her left hand wasn't as nimble as her right. She was slow and he disliked her. In desperation, she was forced to use her feet to barely help him get out.
He wouldn't have mentioned it if he hadn't, but once he did, Chi Ying's face turned bright red, and the heat on her face didn't completely subside even after she entered Kunning Palace.
The chief eunuch of Kunning Palace was already waiting outside the palace gate. Upon seeing them arrive, he immediately bowed and said, "This servant greets Your Highness and the Princess Consort. His Majesty and the Empress are both in the palace, waiting for you two."
Chi Ying's heart suddenly leaped into her throat. She hadn't expected Emperor Yongcheng to be there. Just thinking about how the two most honored people in the entire Great Jin Dynasty were in the hall made her legs feel weak.
As her palms became cold and sweaty, a warm, large hand suddenly reached out and gently grasped hers.
King Zhao held a bamboo staff in one hand and intertwined his fingers with hers in the other.
Chi Ying looked up at him in a daze, and then realized that he probably wanted her to help him into the room. After all, this was Kunning Palace, not her own residence where she was familiar with the place, and it would be bad if she lost her composure in front of the emperor.
However, holding his warm hand tightly, she felt inexplicably at ease.
The two entered the inner hall, where Emperor Yongcheng, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, and the Empress, in her phoenix crown and everyday clothes, looked at them with smiles on their faces, sitting on the golden throne at the head of the hall.
Chi Ying tried her best to suppress her panic and loosened her grip on King Zhao's fingers, as a reminder that it was time to pay her respects.
Yan Xuecui handed the bamboo cane to a palace maid, and the two bowed to the Emperor and Empress to express their gratitude.
Emperor Yongcheng raised his hand and said gently, "Rise, all of you."
Out of consideration for King Zhao's eye ailment, Emperor Yongcheng granted both of them seats.
This was the first time the Queen had seen Prince Zhao since his wedding. She thought that Prince Zhao had become increasingly aloof and cold over the years, and now that he was blind, he had even gained a reputation for being violent. She also heard from the palace servants that Prince Zhao had been injured before the wedding and that the couple had not been able to perform the wedding ceremony or consummate their marriage. She had thought that the princess would just be a figurehead after marrying into the family, but she was surprised to see that the two were surprisingly harmonious and seemed to be a good match.
Princess Zhao was beautiful and radiant, and King Zhao, dressed in his red robe, looked just like he did five years ago, full of youthful vigor.
The Empress looked you over for a moment, her face beaming with a warm smile: "It is a rare occasion for you to enter the palace, and your father is always concerned about you. Seeing you and your husband so loving and harmonious today, His Majesty and I are relieved."
After saying that, she raised her eyes and gestured to the head palace maid beside her to take out the prepared congratulatory gift and give it to her. "This pair of red gold and kingfisher feather hairpins is my gift to you. I hope that you and Xue Cui will respect and love each other and live in harmony."
Chi Ying quickly stood up. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I will remember this."
Since entering the palace, Chi Ying had strictly followed the rules and had never dared to look directly at the emperor's face. Only now did she dare to raise her eyes.
His Majesty and the Empress were slightly different from what she had imagined.
Emperor Yongcheng was majestic and handsome. Even in his forties, he was still radiant and exuded imperial majesty, appearing much younger than his actual age.
The Empress had a gentle and dignified appearance, but perhaps due to years of hard work in the inner palace, she was slightly thin, and a faint cloud of sorrow seemed to hang between her brows and eyes.
Recalling the origin of the Soul-Separating Pill, Chi Ying dared not look at it for long, and lowered her eyes respectfully after just one glance.
Emperor Yongcheng turned to Yan Xuecui and asked, "I heard you were injured a few days ago. Have you fully recovered?"
Yan Xuecui: "Thank you for your concern, Father. I am much better now."
He concealed the fact that Consort Zhuang had suffered a hysteria attack, so Emperor Yongcheng would naturally only suspect his sons.
Emperor Yongcheng was well aware of the years of open and covert struggles among the princes, but the princes were all cautious enough that they wouldn't be foolish enough to leave any traces when they plotted to harm their brother.
Emperor Yongcheng pondered for a moment and said, "Let me think about it. I will make other arrangements for you in a few days."
Yan Xue nodded: "Yes."
Emperor Yongcheng then asked, "How is your mother doing these days?"
Yan Xuecui's tone was calm, revealing no emotion: "Still the same as before, not quite lucid."
Emperor Yongcheng sighed: "After all these years, she still can't get over it."
Consort Zhuang bore him two sons, and Emperor Yongcheng had always been deeply devoted to her. After the death of their eldest son, Emperor Yongcheng understood her pain and felt great pity for her. When she suffered from hysteria, she would often speak inappropriately and offend the emperor, but Emperor Yongcheng did not want to hold it against her and still asked the best imperial physicians to treat her.
However, Consort Zhuang was overly immersed in the pain of losing her son and went mad every day. She mistakenly regarded him as the enemy who had harmed her eldest son, pointed her finger at him and cursed him, and even tried to assassinate him. How could Emperor Yongcheng tolerate all of this?
The emperor's majesty cannot be violated, but in the end, considering her grief over the loss of her son and her frail health, he granted her permission to leave the palace to recuperate. In his words, he also reminded King Zhao that he must not allow her to talk nonsense outside, or he would not let her off lightly.
Five years passed in this way, and Consort Zhuang did not leave her residence for many years, nor did Emperor Yongcheng summon her again.
Yan Xuecui deliberately said, "When Mother is lucid, she also regrets her mistakes and often recites scriptures and chants Buddhist prayers to bless Father."
Emperor Yongcheng paused for a moment and then said, "I will go to see her once she has recovered."
Yan Xue nodded: "Thank you, Father Emperor."
The Empress also spoke up at this moment: "Your mother is weak and mentally exhausted, so don't let her overwork herself. The key to worshiping Buddha is sincerity. His Majesty will be able to feel her intentions. There is no need for her to force herself to kneel in front of Buddha while she is ill."
Emperor Yongcheng: "The Empress is absolutely right. She should rest more."
Yan Xue smiled calmly and said, "Yes."
Chi Ying became increasingly puzzled. If the Empress intended to poison Consort Zhuang, why did she say such things today?
As she pondered, a series of light footsteps came from outside the palace gate. Chi Ying looked out and saw a pretty woman in a pink dress and gold hairpins enter the palace. She first greeted the Emperor and Empress, then turned to Prince Zhao and her, her voice sweet and clear: "Yu Xi greets Prince Zhao and wishes the Empress a happy life."
Chi Yingxin understood immediately; it was Princess Yu Xi. She quickly bowed in return.
Princess Yu Xi scrutinized her closely and her eyes lit up: "Your Majesty's appearance is outstanding. You and Prince Zhao are truly a perfect match, a match made in heaven."
Chi Ying pursed her lips and said, "Your Highness is too kind." She then had Xiangqin present the gift that had been prepared in advance.
Princess Yu Xi opened the brocade box and was overjoyed to find it contained a whole box of large and rare luminous pearls: "Thank you, Your Majesty! I love these sparkly things. From now on, there will be no need to light candles in Lu Hua Palace at night!"
Chi Ying was only trying to curry favor, but seeing Princess Yu Xi's beaming face, she was quite moved and said, "It's good that the princess likes it."
The Empress and Emperor Yongcheng exchanged a smile and said to them, "Today, the Imperial Garden is ablaze with color. You young people should go together. Prince Xuan and Prince Rui are probably here as well. Yingyue, go and get to know them."
Chi Ying bowed in agreement, and the three of them took their leave from the hall.
King Zhao was blind, so Chi Ying naturally helped him along. Princess Yu Xi, who loved lively gatherings and was very sociable, took the initiative to act as their guide in the palace, chatting all the way to the Imperial Garden.
"Before I came here, I thought my sister-in-law was all beauty and not easy to get along with, but I didn't expect her to be so gentle and kind. I like her!"
Chi Ying smiled and agreed. Even though she was used to everyone saying that her appearance didn't quite match the rumors, she still felt uneasy. She was afraid that someone with ulterior motives would overhear her and become suspicious, and then investigate her background.
Fortunately, King Zhao remained leisurely and seemed not to have taken it to heart.
"Oh, right!" Princess Yu Xi peeked out again, excitedly looking them over. "Did you dress up like this today on purpose, Your Majesty and Your Majesty? Although I couldn't see you two get married in person, your outfits do look just like a wedding."
Princess Yu Xi was prone to making careless remarks, and despite the nanny beside her giving her several winks and reminders, she didn't notice.
Chi Ying blushed, unsure how to respond to this enthusiasm.
Yan Xuecui laughed and said, "Yu Xi, your sister-in-law is shy and can't stand being teased. She'll be embarrassed if you say these things."
Chi Ying realized he was implying something, and her face turned even redder.
Fortunately, the Imperial Garden was nearby, and princes, princesses, and concubines from the harem arrived one after another. Along the way, they encountered many people, and Princess Yu Xi generously introduced them to her one by one.
Chi Ying met Prince Qing and his wife, Consort Wen and her daughter Princess Chunyi, the Empress's niece, the daughter of the Minister's family, Prince Rui and his wife and the young prince. Chi Ying had seen their portraits before, and Princess Yu Xi pointed them out from the side. She bowed and returned the bows along the way, and was quite composed and dignified.
The concubines, princesses, and noble ladies were acquainted, many of them related by blood. They gathered in groups of three or five to talk. Chi Ying was a new face and, being new to such an occasion, did not want to squeeze into the crowd, but simply stayed by King Zhao's side.
At this time, King Zhao was the most comfortable. Since he was "arrogant and disdainful of everyone," he would give perfunctory responses to those who came forward to greet him, but ignored everyone else.
It was also because of his bad reputation over the years that Chi Ying clearly sensed several gazes that were either evasive or wary.
As we approached the artificial hill, another couple came towards us.
Based on their attire and the portraits she had previously examined, Chi Ying began to have some clues. Princess Yu Xi then reminded her from the side, "These are Prince Xuan and his sister-in-law."
Chi Ying nodded and bowed as usual, but suddenly remembered that King Zhao had mentioned that his brother, King Xuan, was handsome and dashing, and that was the man in front of her.
Curiosity compelled her to take another look, but at that moment, a slight pain suddenly shot through her knuckles.
King Zhao held her hand, and for some reason suddenly tightened his grip.
King Xuan stared at the face before him, which was almost identical to that of Chi Yingyue, and stood there for a long time. It was only when Princess Xuan bowed in return that he came back to his senses and looked at her and King Zhao's intertwined hands. "Seventh brother, I have not yet congratulated you on your wedding."
Yan Xuecui replied with a smile, "Thank you, Brother Wang."
Princess Consort Xuan smiled gently at Chi Ying and softly reminded Prince Xuan, "Your Highness, we have not yet met Prince Qing."
King Xuan calmly withdrew his gaze. "Let's go."
After everyone left, Princess Yuxi ran over to greet her best friend.
Only the two of them remained by the artificial hill. Chi Ying curled her fingers and whispered, "What's wrong, Your Highness? You were holding me so tightly just now."
Yan Xuecui pondered for a moment, then lowered her eyes and said, "I'm sorry, my old ailment suddenly flared up."
Chi Ying was startled: "What should we do? Are you alright?"
Yan Xuecui shook her head, "I can barely bear it."
Chi Ying: "If all else fails, we..."
His old ailment flared up, and she didn't want to stay any longer. She was about to suggest that they go back to the mansion when he interrupted her in a hoarse voice, "Can I have a hug?"
Chi Ying glanced around quickly, then asked in surprise, "Here?"
In broad daylight, and in the palace, what kind of decorum is this of embracing and hugging?
Yan Xuecui replied, "There's a rockery here to block the view; no one will notice."
Chi Ying was still hesitant: "But..."
Yan Xuecui smiled enigmatically: "So what if someone sees us? We're husband and wife, what's wrong with that?"
Helpless, Chi Ying could only grit her teeth and compromise in secret.
She had seen him when his old illness flared up before, and fearing he might lose control in front of others, she could only reach out and gently wrap her arms around his waist in the shade under the artificial hill to soothe his emotions.
Yan Xuecui was extremely pleased, affectionately nuzzling her cheek, listening carefully to the footsteps not far away, and a satisfied smile appeared on his lips.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Having watched too many Errenzhuan (a type of Chinese folk performance), let's briefly touch on the plot. As you all know, I like to throw a big party at the palace banquet, and what you're looking for will be served up quickly. However, the setting is what it is, and I'm afraid of attracting too much attention, so please don't get your hopes up too high. I can only say I'll do my best. [Panda head][Panda head]
50 random red envelopes to be won!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
