Chapter 98 Thoughts before the wedding
The warm autumn sun filtered through the carved window lattices, lazily casting its rays on the thickly carpeted floor of Yuning Pavilion. The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of osmanthus and... a faint, almost imperceptible aroma of premium golden nanmu wood.
However, the owner of this exquisite boudoir, Princess Fuxing Dongfang Yuning, was like a kitten with its claws clipped, lying listlessly on the chaise longue covered with soft brocade, holding a rabbit pillow that had been squeezed into shapeless shape by her.
“How boring!!”
A long wailing sound broke the silence in the room, filled with resentment.
System 118 was scrolling through her mind in a frivolous manner:
[Ding! Host! The 108th protest against the 'Marriage Seal' has been invalidated! Current Status: Research Skill Locked! Activity Area: Yuning Pavilion and the Back Garden (Limited to one hour). Suggestion: Admire the autumn scenery outside the window, or... count your dowry list? It contains all your 'future working capital'!]
Dongfang Yuning angrily buried his face in the pillow:
[118! Shut up! What's the point of counting dowries! You can see it, but you can't touch it! My automatic tea-roasting machine 3.0! My Star Tears purification process optimization! And the design drawings for Yueji Pavilion's new season's 'Phantom Series'! Everything is stagnant! My sister and Yueyue are fascists! Brother Aye is an accomplice!]
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, and she kicked the edge of the couch.
A month ago, she had been "escorted" back to the Imperial Tutor's Mansion by her sister, the Empress, under the pretext of "resting and preparing for marriage." At the same time, the Emperor's brother-in-law, Nangong Yu, had also issued a thoughtful instruction: to spare Princess Fuxing the stress of her wedding, all matters related to the Fengming Jiuxiao Chamber of Commerce and the Tiangong Pavilion would be temporarily managed by a trusted confidant, allowing her to focus on preparing for her marriage.
This is simply cutting off the source of her scientific research!
"Ning'er, what are you doing with your temper again?"
Empress Dongfang Qiwu and the eldest princess Nangong Yue walked in with great grace, like a phoenix patrolling the territory. The Empress's phoenix eyes swept over her sister, and seeing her sister's despair, a smile flashed in her eyes, but her face remained serious.
"Look at you, you're about to be a bride, but you still act like a child."
Nangong Yue followed beside her mother, her complexion rosy, and her eyebrows and eyes were full of moisturized charm. However, the imperceptible and deliberately slowed pace when she walked revealed some "unspeakable" information.
She looked at her aunt, who was lying on the couch with a look of pity for her, and a kind of hidden expectation that "you will also suffer this day."
【Auntie, oh auntie,】
Nangong Yue lit the candle silently in her heart.
[You should cherish the days you have left to roam! My bloody battle history of losing eight pieces of gear is still fresh in my mind! And what kind of physique does the Emperor's uncle have? He's a fighting machine that can tear apart tigers and leopards with his bare hands and stay indoors for three days! Your small physique... well, you're on your own! Even if I could prepare twenty pieces for you, it would still be a stretch!]
"Sister! Yueyue!"
Dongfang Yuning raised his head, his face wrinkled. "I'm really going to get moldy! My research..."
"Stop!"
The Queen raised her hand, leaving no room for doubt.
"What research?! We'll talk about that after we get married! Right now, your mission is to eat well, sleep well, and be in a good mood!"
She turned her gaze to the window, where stood a silent "iceberg"—Prince Yong, Nangong Ye. He was still dressed in his dark uniform, his posture erect. However, for the past month, a strangely soft glow had enveloped his handsome face, once frozen in time. Even his overwhelmingly cold aura had receded, as if a corner of the iceberg had melted under the warm sun.
"Prince Yong,"
The Queen's tone was filled with unquestionable majesty.
"Keep an eye on your future princess! If you let her sneak out and tinker with those 'weird' things, you'll be held accountable!"
Nangong Ye's gaze fell heavily on Dongfang Yuning. His eyes were deep and focused, carrying a sense of satisfaction of being about to possess a rare treasure and a subtle hint of the patient waiting of a predator.
He nodded slightly, his voice low and firm:
"Don't worry, sister-in-law. I will never leave your side."
The four words "never leave" were pronounced particularly clearly, carrying a certain declaration.
Dongfang Yuning: "..."
[Not leaving my side even for a moment?! Brother Aye, are you guarding a prisoner?! And that look in your eyes... it's creepy! 118! I feel like a fish on a chopping block!]
System 118:
[Ding! The host's perception is correct! You are under the watchful eye of a top predator 'staking out its territory'! Please remain indifferent and reduce your presence! Scientific research? Nonexistent! Current priority: fattening up! (System friendly reminder: the fat layer is also a form of defense!)]
Fengyi Palace Secret Arsenal
Although the "scientific research maniac" was suppressed on the surface, the reinforcement operation was carried out in full swing deep in Fengyi Palace.
A side hall, guarded more heavily than the imperial treasury, was brightly lit. A massive rosewood desk was covered in stunning and eye-popping design drawings—all sketches of "boudoir battle suits" that Dongfang Yuning had drawn on a whim.
From the deep V tassels of "Galaxy Charm" to the hollowed-out straps of "Flame Rose", from the transparent lace of "Night Elf" to the hazy tulle of "Moonlight Wonderland"... the fabric usage rate challenges the limits one after another.
Queen Dongfang Qiwu picked up a blueprint titled "Deep Sea Mermaid." The deep V-neck, backless design was embellished with delicate sapphire patterns. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and her fingertips touched the waistline.
"Here, Ning'er previously complained about the lack of support. Pass on this imperial decree: Use a mixture of Celestial Silkworm Ice Silk and Black Iron Gold Thread to weave the inner lining! It must be as tough as gold thread, and adhere seamlessly to the skin! The outer layer should be covered with the finest Flowing Shark Silk to ensure... sufficient cushioning in the event of a slip!"
The tone was as serious as if he was formulating a border defense strategy.
Nangong Yue's eyes lit up as she stared at a drawing of "Thorn Love" filled with intricate straps and heart-shaped cutouts:
"This one! My aunt complained about the too many straps and the hassle of undoing them? Fixed it! Used magnetic buckles at key stress points! And used the most flexible Snowland Ice Silk rope at non-stress points! Guaranteed to open with one pull, no tangling! And this slit..."
She pointed at the high slit on the side of her thigh and said firmly,
"Add another two inches! We must achieve the peak effect of 'wanting to cover but not yet'!"
She learned the hard way that convenience and visual impact are important!
[Aunt, I lost eight items in battle! With the Emperor's uncle's battle physique... oh, you'll probably suffer more than I did! Twenty items? No! It's safer to have thirty items ready!]
Mother and daughter transformed themselves into the most demanding client and their most devoted comrades, meticulously scrutinizing every detail of the blueprint. Eight veteran embroiderers from the Shangyi Bureau, each with a "life and death agreement" (leakage carries the penalty of nine generations of their clan), toiled day and night with a team of watchful, mute servants.
The materials used are all top-quality goods: the shark silk gauze that is difficult to be damaged by swords and knives, the warm jade brocade that feels warm to the touch, the glittering moonlight satin... We strive to find a delicate balance between "seductive beauty" and "tear resistance and durability".
At the same time, the "ammunition" production line is also running at high speed.
Ten mutton-fat white jade jars are neatly arranged, and inside them is the upgraded version of the "Double Blossoms·Blissful Worry-Free Cream" newly developed by Dongfang Yuning and ready to be launched in the high-end line of Yueji Pavilion!
With the Empress personally in charge, the Imperial Medical Bureau's director and several trusted maids meticulously followed the formula (secretly adding three times the amount of premium snow lotus stamen powder and a hint of aphrodisiac nectar) to create a replica of the "Royal Special Edition." The cream boasts a dreamy pink-gold hue, a richer, lingering fragrance, and a captivating charm.
"Concentration! I want the ultimate concentration and effect!"
The Queen touched a little with her fingertips and tasted the smooth and cool touch, with a mischievous and determined light flashing in her phoenix eyes.
"I must make sure Yuning... um... feels at home and is completely carefree and happy!"
The use of the phrase "feel at home" is extremely subtle.
The ultimate love from the emperor's brother-in-law Nangong Yu is even more hardcore.
In the imperial study, the white-haired old judge who was famous for developing the "tiger and wolf medicine" (but claimed to be a health expert) tremblingly presented a secret box made of rosewood and carved with a five-clawed golden dragon.
The box was covered with bright yellow silk, on which lay quietly three longan-sized, round, red-gold pills that exuded a rich herbal fragrance and a faint golden glow.
"His Majesty,"
The old judge's voice was very low, with a hint of barely perceptible pride.
"This is the 'Nine-Transformation Golden Crow Revitalizing Pill'! It's crafted from the essence of a three-hundred-year-old ginseng king, the heart of a thousand-year-old Tianshan snow lotus, and the inner elixir powder of a deep-sea dragon... using ninety-nine eighty-one secret techniques, and refined during the peak of yang! Upon consumption... it instantly replenishes your essence, strengthens your essence, and makes you... ahem, reborn like a dragon, a tiger, a 'full moon'! Its vigor is even greater than the rising sun! Its effects are long-lasting and gentle, with absolutely no risk of harm to your body! It's truly... a gift of respect for family ties, a gift of the finest quality!"
He said the last four words with the righteousness of a benevolent doctor.
Nangong Yu weighed the heavy medicine box, his face filled with joy, his eyes gleaming with anticipation:
"My dear minister, you have worked so hard and have made such great contributions! This medicine... is truly appreciated by me!"
[Aye, I can only help you so far! Whether Ning can also experience the 'blessing' of Yue'er drinking ginseng soup depends on your own ability and the power of this elixir! Sister-in-law, your brother-in-law is optimistic about you!]
Thus, a "PLUS Supreme Invincible Edition" wedding gift box, roughly the size of a small suitcase, crafted entirely from top-grade golden nanmu wood, intricately carved with a pattern of a phoenix and a dragon singing in harmony, and emitting a noble and subtle fragrance, was quietly delivered under heavy guard to the deepest secret chamber in Prince Yong's mansion. Its strength was strong enough to withstand a direct impact from a siege crossbow!
What's inside the box:
*Top Floor: Thirty sets of ultimate battle suits, certified by both the Empress and the Princess, featuring luxurious materials (gold and silver thread, gemstone embellishments), bold designs (ridiculously high slits, shockingly minimal fabric), and combining both "aesthetic bombast" and "physical defense" (with gold and ice silk)! Each piece is dazzling, breathtakingly beautiful, and expensive enough to make the Minister of Revenue faint!
Middle layer: Ten bottles of the royal exclusive upgraded version of "Double Blossoms·Blissful Worry-Free Cream Plus Pro Max". The pink and golden cream is lustrous and the fragrance is enchanting. The effect... According to the private guarantee of the director of the Imperial Hospital, it can allow the holy monk to return to secular life.
*Secret compartment on the bottom floor: Quietly lies the red sandalwood golden dragon secret box that exudes imperial power. Inside are three "Nine-transformation Golden Crow Revitalizing Pills"—a gift from the Emperor's brother-in-law's "deep paternal love" (?)! Truly a "lifespan" artifact!
This ultimate gift box, which combines the highest level of "care" (watching the fun) and "blessings" (making trouble) of the royal family, is like a sweet bomb waiting to explode, just waiting for the wedding night to give its owner an "unforgettable" surprise (shock).
Prince Yong's Mansion & Eastern Grand Tutor's Mansion: Open Storm
The wedding preparations were also in full swing, but the style was... quite unique.
Back at Prince Yong's palace, Nangong Ye was eager to gild the entire palace and gift it to Dongfang Yuning. The betrothal gifts were as long as a picture scroll, each item priceless: giant South China Sea night-shining pearls, boxes of Northern Frontier fire fox furs, paintings and calligraphy by renowned artists of the previous dynasty, and even a rare gemstone, the "Sea of Stars," a tribute from the Western Regions... His goal was to demonstrate his utmost love and regard for his future princess.
When the news reached Dongfang Yuning, who was under "house arrest", the little princess was "exploded"!
Taking advantage of Nangong Ye's routine "visit" (actually supervision + cat-sniffing), she jumped down from the couch barefoot like a furry little animal guarding its food, stood with her hands on her hips blocking the door, her face flushed with anger:
"Nangong Ye! You, you, you...spendthrift! Your money is my money! The palace's treasury is my little treasury! Don't you get tired of carrying those treasures around? Who's responsible if they get dented? Isn't depreciation and loss money?! Extravagance! Formalism! Face-saving projects! None of this is allowed!"
She waved her hand with such force that her saliva almost sprayed onto Nangong Ye's stern face:
"Dowry! According to our ancestral rules, it's just a formality! All the money you save, immediately! Immediately! Invest it all in the newly opened Tea Horse Road Post Station and Yueji Pavilion Jiangnan Flagship Store in the southwest! That's the goose that lays the golden eggs! And the wedding banquet! No three-day, three-night buffet! It'll tire the guests and me out too! Exquisite! Elegant! Small and beautiful! Do you understand?! Keep the cost per table under fifty taels of silver!"
Nangong Ye looked at the ferocious, rapid-fire little woman in front of him who was trying to save money. The soft disguise on his icy face instantly collapsed, replaced by an inextricable doting and indulgence. He nodded obediently, his voice so low it could drown you:
"Okay, Ning'er, I'll do as you say. The princess is in charge of the palace... everything is up to her."
The tone seemed to be saying, "You will lose my kingdom."
System 118 echoed:
[Beep! The host unleashes the 'Ultimate Miser's Roar'! The effect is explosive! Successfully stopped Prince Yong's 'Kryptonian Gold Sow' behavior! Safeguarding the massive cash flow for your business empire! The host's domineering aura is overflowing! (System Crazy Coin Sprinkling.gif)]
Dongfang Yuning laughed wildly with his hands on his hips inwardly:
[Hmph! You're smart! You don't know how expensive food and fuel are until you manage the household! You want to touch my startup capital? No way! Wait... did he just smile? Is this an illusion?]
At Dongfang Taifu's mansion, people were in an uproar, and the atmosphere was filled with a strong smell of "sour lemon".
The mansion was festooned with lights and colorful decorations, and red silk stretched from the towering gate all the way to the moon-shaped door of Yuning Pavilion. The servants hurried along, their faces smiling but their eyes cautious—for no other reason than that the male masters of the mansion were each more arrogant and sullen than the last!
Taifu Dongfang Yanru sat upright in his study, with a copy of "The Book of Songs: Guanju" spread out in front of him, and he didn't turn a page for a long time.
His brows were twisted into the shape of a "川" character, and he sighed at the twin osmanthus flowers outside the window.
"A beautiful lady is a gentleman's dream... He longs for her, day and night, thinking of her..."
He muttered to himself, tears nearly falling. The precious child he had cherished for over a decade was about to be swept away by that cold-faced Prince Yong... Although he was powerful and genuinely devoted to his daughter, the old father's heart was as bitter as vinegar that had been steeped for ten years!
The Nangong family took away both of his own flower pots and took advantage of the Dongfang family to fleece them!!! Where is justice!!!
General Dongfang Liezheng, the Marquis of Zhenguo and a powerful general, had just returned from the military camp, his face still etched with a murderous aura. He sat in the hall, his sword and horse in hand, a wine jar before him, his eyes wide as copper bells, his fists clenched and crackling.
"Prince Yong... humph! His kung fu is pretty good! But if he dares to let Ning'er suffer even the slightest injustice, I won't care if he's a prince or not. I'll make him taste the power of my Dongfang family's Broken Army Spear!"
The pregnant sister-in-law Lu Yaoer beside her had a slightly protruding belly. She rubbed her belly helplessly and soothed softly:
"Husband...be careful with your words...the prince treats Ning'er very well..."
Dongfang Qichen looked at the table full of wedding process documents that needed his review, his eyes blank and his gentle face full of melancholy.
"The peach tree is young and tender, its flowers are bright and beautiful... The son is getting married, and he is a good match for the family..."
He picked up the brush and unconsciously wrote "Taoyao" on the rice paper, but his handwriting was desolate.
"The palace is as deep as the sea... My little sister's temper... Prince Yong doesn't look like someone who can coax people... Sigh..."
The worry is beyond words.
Dongfang Linyuan, the general manager of the Imperial Merchant Fengming Jiuxiao Chamber of Commerce, was clacking at his abacus and gift list, his brow furrowed as he muttered to himself:
"...One hundred and twenty-eight taels of dowry is the regulation...but shouldn't the dowry be increased by another fifty thousand taels? Although Prince Yong's Mansion is wealthy, it's always good for me to have some financial comfort myself...Tsk, the betrothal gift from the Mansion is too generous. It would be great if I could convert it into cash and invest in the Chamber of Commerce..."
It's completely a businessman's mindset.
The entire Dongfang Mansion was enveloped in a giant jar of jealousy. Wherever the male masters appeared, even the autumn insects dared not chirp. The air was filled with the sorrow of "my daughter has grown up, but she has been taken away by a pig" (even though the "pig" was a top-notch noble with a golden border).
The head of the household, Li Zhen'er, was busy as a spinning top, directing everything with unwavering confidence, arranging dowries, decorating the bridal chamber, drafting banquet menus, and managing relationships. Turning back, she saw her master once again lamenting the passing of time before the osmanthus tree, his eldest son standing in the hall like a demon, his second son sighing, and his third son buried in his accounts. Finally unable to contain herself, she walked over and gave Dongfang Yanru an elegant yet forceful glare:
"Master! What are you talking about? You have such a sullen face, as if the sky is falling!"
She put her hands on her hips, full of energy.
"And you guys!"
She glanced at her sons.
"Each one is more shameless than the other! My daughter will eventually get married! Seeing her find her ideal husband and marry happily and gloriously, that's the most important thing! How does Prince Yong treat Ning'er? Are you blind and can't see? His eyes are almost glued to Ning'er! How dare he go west when Ning'er points east? This blessing is something that no one can ask for! Cheer up! Go do what you need to do! Don't get in the way and cause trouble here!"
Li's barrage of scolding finally dissipated some of the sourness in the hall. Dongfang Yanru shrank back at his wife's yelling and muttered softly:
"This old man... this old man just can't bear to let go..."
Dongfang Liezheng snorted, grabbed the wine jar, and took a long gulp. Dongfang Qichen silently put away the rice paper covered with "Taoyao" (peach blossom) inscription. Dongfang Linyuan pushed his abacus and continued to calculate his account.
What made Nangong Ye feel a little "frustrated" the most was that the right to decorate the bridal chamber was forcibly "snatched" away by the emperor's brother-in-law Nangong Yu!
"Aye, you are busy with official duties, so leave trivial matters like the wedding room to me!"
Nangong Yulong waved his sleeves, not allowing any further discussion.
"I will have the Imperial Household Department arrange everything perfectly for you. I guarantee that you and your bride... well... will be perfectly satisfied!"
Nangong Ye instinctively felt that there was something fishy going on. He tried to argue:
"Brother Emperor, I am your humble servant..."
"Hey! It's settled!"
Nangong Yu interrupted him, his eyes flashing with unquestionable and... a hint of mischief,
"Don't worry, I'm doing this for you, aren't you? I'll make sure you... never forget it!"
He deliberately put emphasis on the words "unforgettable".
Therefore, the main courtyard of Prince Yong's Mansion, which served as the new house and was originally designed and supervised by Nangong Ye himself, striving to be simple, elegant and fully functional, was taken over by the people of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Nangong Ye was "politely" asked to leave the yard and could only watch the craftsmen coming in and out from a distance. The things carried in were covered with thick silk cloth, exuding mystery.
He only vaguely noticed that the rosewood, exquisitely crafted, step-out bed he had personally selected seemed... reinforced? There seemed to be some... strange metal buckles on the bedposts? And a huge, brocade-covered... bathtub seemed to have been moved into the corner?
Nangong Ye's icy face rarely showed a crack, and his brows were slightly furrowed:
[Brother Emperor...what the hell are you doing? ]
He had a feeling that this wedding room...would probably be a "battlefield" full of "surprises".
System 118 In Dongfang Yuning's mind, he remotely monitored the movements of Prince Yong's Mansion, and the electronic voice carried a hint of gloating:
[Beep! Warning! Host, your wedding room has been taken over by the 'officials'! Abnormal energy fluctuations detected (Emperor's bad taste)! Suspected loading of 'special scene props'! The difficulty of the wedding room dungeon... may be sky-high! Host, wish you the best! (System lights a virtual candle.jpg)]
Dongfang Yuning was rolling on the couch with her rabbit pillow in her arms. She was startled when she heard this:
[Special item? What item? 118 Explain clearly! Hey! Stop playing dead!]
She suddenly had an ominous premonition, which was even stronger than facing thirty battle suits and ten jars of worry-free ointment!
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