getting married
Chang Yi returned in early February with good news. The private school in Bianzhou was running smoothly. Jiang Jin hid in Lou Xuan's palace under the cover of night; she would be getting married from there the next day.
"Why are you two staring at me?" Lou Xuan, with her long hair down and wearing a nightgown, looked at Jiang Jin and Lou Xuan.
"Look at tomorrow's bride. The princess's descent will naturally be at the princess's residence. I heard His Majesty specifically chose a residence closest to the capital." Zhai Wan was checking Lou Xuan's personal belongings to ensure there were no problems.
“It will be easier once we leave the palace.” Jiang Jin carefully poked at the pearl and jade ornament on her headdress. “This is much more gorgeous than the Third Prince’s wife’s.”
"After I reprimanded the Imperial Household Department last time, Eunuch Lin also sent someone to inquire about it. Naturally, they wouldn't dare to follow the Consort's wishes and lose face for the royal family." Lou Xuan was used to seeing brocade and jewels, so she didn't care about those obstacles; she just didn't want to disgrace the royal family.
"If Your Highness leaves, won't the palace become the Consort's personal fiefdom?" Jiang Jin shook her head, thinking of the Consort's arrogant manner.
"It's nothing. Father Emperor promoted two other concubines to manage the harem together," Lou Xuan said with a smile, recalling the embarrassing incident she caused the day after she relinquished power, which led to her father having the power divided among others.
"Father has already approved the appointment of Chang Yi as the governor of Beizhou, but the announcement will not be made until the war begins." Lou Xuan held Jiang Jin's hand and sighed, "I know your heart, so I did not try to dissuade you, but you must keep your life, no matter what happens."
Lou Xuan then took Zhai Wan's hand and said, "Awan, you will move to the Princess's residence after tomorrow. The matter with the Imperial Concubine can be put to rest for now."
Zhai Wan nodded. "Your Highness, in a few days I will give some life-saving pills to A Jin. Song Zhimin may not harm her, but the person behind the scenes may not."
"It's alright, we'll just have to wait and see. It seems the Dou family has already accepted the marriage proposal?" Jiang Jin hadn't heard anything about the Dou family making any moves while in the capital.
"It's just that we've dodged it. Besides, the Crown Prince is currently deeply in love with Wang Wu Niangzi, so how could he possibly care about my sister's marriage?" Lou Xuan sat on the couch, adjusting the candlelight.
"Alright, Xueya, take the two of them down to rest. We'll take the opportunity to send them off tomorrow." Xueya looked at the two women's reluctant expressions and advised them, "My ladies, don't be reluctant. Once His Highness leaves the palace and enters the Princess's residence, it will be His Highness's domain. At that time, it won't be just a day, but a month or a year."
Jiang Jin and Zhai Wan reluctantly bowed before following Xue Ya to the side hall.
"Please make do for the night, ladies. Your rooms at the Princess's residence have already been arranged." Xueya smiled as she watched the two close the door.
"Although this palace is ornately decorated, I don't know why it always feels somewhat cold and gloomy," Jiang Jin said to Zhai Wan as she squatted down beside the brazier.
“It’s always cold in winter, and besides, this side hall isn’t often occupied, so it’s not very lively.” Zhai Wan burrowed under the covers, looking at Jiang Jin still by the charcoal brazier. “Aren’t you going to sleep?”
"I'm not sleepy and can't go out freely, so I'm just sitting here in a daze," Zhai Wan said, lying on the bed with her hair down, looking at Jiang Jin.
"What's bothering you?" Zhai Wan could tell at a glance that she had something on her mind.
"Why is Your Majesty so lenient with us?" Jiang Jin sat on the edge of the bed, leaning over it as she looked at Zhai Wan.
"I really can't tell you what's bothering you, but does it matter why? Isn't the most important thing how to keep His Majesty's attitude stable?" Zhai Wan wasn't one to pry, nor did she want to speculate on Emperor Wende's thoughts.
"I just find it strange. Ordinary men would consider it an insult to a woman to enter the court, yet His Majesty is so proactive and even quite enlightened in allowing Her Highness to participate in state affairs." Jiang Jin shook Zhai Wan's arm. She tried to keep her eyes open to respond to Jiang Jin's words, but ultimately succumbed to sleepiness and drifted off to sleep.
"I knew you were unreliable!" Jiang Jin got up, pushed Zhai Wan inside, and then lay down next to her.
"This really is an unsolved problem." Jiang Jin lowered the bed curtains, smelled the herbal scent on Zhai Wan, and fell asleep. Just after midnight, before dawn, footsteps could be heard outside.
Jiang Jin was woken up and nudged Zhai Wan, who was sleeping soundly beside her, "Get up. Today is His Highness's wedding, and we should take this opportunity to leave the palace."
Zhai Wan rolled over and finally got out of bed after Jiang Jin's persistent coaxing. Yunwu brought two sets of palace maid's clothes for the two of them to change into.
"We've already given the order. Ten people from Huiyue Palace will go to the Princess's residence first; you two can blend in with them." The two, carrying the clothing box, stood beside the palace maid and were smoothly led out of the palace by Yunwu. It was perfectly reasonable for Princess Zhaoyang's personal maid to send people out of the palace with a token on her wedding day.
This was Jiang Jin's first time entering Zhai Wan's residence. Although it couldn't compare to the magnificent palace, it was still like a fairyland.
"Are all these gifts from His Majesty?" Jiang Jin asked, noticing the luminous pearls embedded in the beam.
"Probably not, Your Highness isn't that extravagant." As the clouds dispersed, the group led the two to a courtyard near the main courtyard. "Jasmine, which Lady Jiang likes, is planted here, and a place has been reserved for Lady Zhai to grow herbs."
The courtyard was large, and the first thing you saw was a pavilion built on a lake. To the left of the pavilion was Jiang Jin's courtyard, and to the right was Zhai Wan's courtyard.
Since there was no awkwardness and she could still have her own space, "This servant will not disturb you two ladies any longer." Yunwu, satisfied with their amazed expressions, closed the courtyard gate.
"Ah Jin, I need to go see your yard first!" Zhai Wan grabbed Jiang Jin's wrist and rushed to the yard.
A brass lock with a key was inserted on the reddish-brown gate. Jiang Jin pushed the door open and saw a swing swaying in the wind.
The yard was mostly planted with jasmine, but some space was left for Jiang Jin to plant other flowers and plants.
Even without candles, one can see the soft carpet and the vase on the table in the open main courtyard.
As the sun rose, Zhai Wan looked at the decorations in the room. To her left, a carved gauze curtain and beaded screen blocked the view, revealing a rosewood table and cabinet.
To the right is a mother-of-pearl inlaid screen, with a pearl curtain separating the two sides. The carpet on the floor is an priceless Persian rug, and the chairs made of golden nanmu wood and the small round table made of rosewood also exude an air of extravagance. Further inside is a carved wooden door.
Pushing open the wooden door revealed a sandalwood dressing table and a rosewood bed inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Zhai Wan carefully touched them, afraid of damaging even the slightest thing.
"Most of the ornaments here are by famous artists, and the rest are tributes from foreign countries, presumably from His Highness's private treasury." Jiang Jin opened the window, which offered a perfect view of the blooming plum blossoms outside.
"I wonder if my house is the same as yours?" Zhai Wan eagerly crossed the pavilion and pushed open the door to her courtyard, while Jiang Jin followed leisurely behind her.
The basic furnishings were almost identical to Jiang Jin's, except that the Persian carpet had been replaced with a fur carpet.
Zhai Wan lay on her couch, touching the priceless silk pillow, and sighed, "What a miserable life I used to live!"
Jiang Jin gently touched the silk-embroidered pillow. "I suppose this is His Highness's compensation."
Since Zi Yuan's accident, both she and Zhai Wan had experienced varying degrees of sadness and anger, but Lou Xuan was different. She remained busy with her own affairs, but these two courtyards clearly couldn't be completed overnight. Jiang Jin knew that Lou Xuan felt guilty, so she wanted to make amends to the two of them.
"I suppose this princess's residence is His Highness's domain, and also our last resort." Zhai Wan prepared to tidy up her belongings to avoid any chaos.
Outside the main courtyard, in the storeroom on the side, were stored charcoal, cloth, and utensils for a small kitchen.
"Your Highness is truly thoughtful, considering everything." Jiang Jin placed some charcoal in a basin, and soon the room warmed up. Zhai Wan opened the wardrobe, which contained clothing for all four seasons, some of which were clearly made in the palace due to their exquisite craftsmanship.
"I suppose that's how it is for you too." Even if Zhai Wan was naive, she could sense Lou Xuan's guilt and desire to make amends. The two sat on the fur coats, warming themselves by the fire. The sun outside gradually rose higher, and Jiang Jin had also changed her clothes and was preparing to return to the manor.
"I'm going to appear with Wei Shu tonight, are you staying here today?" Zhai Wan shook her head upon hearing this, "The manor must be busy today, and I'm afraid if I stay here, His Highness will worry about me, so I might as well leave with you."
The two left the courtyard together and happened to see Yunwu putting Lou Xuan's dowry into the storeroom.
"Are you two ladies satisfied?" Yunwu was also delighted to see the new clothes on the two women.
"Of course we're satisfied! It's clear Your Highness put a lot of thought into this. Ah Wan and I almost cried!" Jiang Jin reached out and shook Yunwu's arm. "We're busy at the manor today, so Ah Wan and I will leave now. We'll come back tomorrow!"
"Okay." Yunwu smiled as she watched Jiang Jin and Zhai Wan's retreating figures, then turned to look at the maid who had her head bowed.
"Don't bother these two. Just be respectful when you meet them. They are not arrogant, but if anyone thinks they are easy to bully, they are making a big mistake."
Jiang Jin led Zhai Wan through the alley to the back gate of the Wei residence. As soon as the servant saw Jiang Jin, he quickly opened the gate and invited the two of them in.
“Ah Jin, today I will be your maid and go to the princess’s residence to attend the ceremony.” Zhai Wan took out a veil and carefully covered her face. “I also brought rouge. When the time comes, just say that I have injured my face.”
"Since you've already said that, wouldn't it seem too heartless of me not to take you? You don't have to try so hard to make me happy."
Jiang Jin knew that Zhai Wan wasn't one to join in the fun; her current actions were merely an attempt to cheer her up, imitating Zi Yuan's behavior. In reality, Zhai Wan was also upset, but she was just keeping it to herself and taking care of herself.
"I just feel that since Ziyuan left, the two of us have been keeping quiet, either talking about court affairs or our future plans. If Ziyuan were still here, I'm afraid she wouldn't have come back to the Wei residence with you now." Zhai Wan resumed her usual demeanor.
"Yes, let's not talk about this anymore. Are you still going to the ceremony with me?" Zhai Wan shook her head. "No, I'm not going. You'll be going to Song Zhimin's side later, so I'll prepare more pills for you."
Zhai Wan suppressed her smile, "Anyway, normal marriages are just pawns in a game of chess, and I can't be bothered to look at them."
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