Kangxi now finds Lin Qingse, whom he used to admire, increasingly unpleasant to look at. So what if she's a little fair-skinned, so thin, and so short? How could she be worthy of his Ke'er!
Seeing the noisy courtiers, Kangxi didn't listen to a word they said. Sensing the emperor's anger, the courtiers, who seemed to have become quite shrewd, also quieted down, afraid that their loud voices would make them targets for the emperor's anger.
The atmosphere in the entire court became unusually quiet and harmonious. As it was about to end, Kangxi reluctantly issued an imperial edict amidst Liang Jiugong's gesture of blinking his eyes out.
"The Left Vice Minister Lin Qingse is handsome and of good character, and is very much to my liking. He is hereby chosen as the consort of Princess Dunke, and the wedding will take place in three days."
Lin Qingse was stunned. He knelt down and bowed mechanically to receive the imperial decree, like a wind-up puppet.
The court officials were also stunned. There were quite a few officials present who participated in the winter hunt. Upon hearing the emperor's decree, before they could even offer their congratulations, they recalled the dreamlike scene from that day. The exceptionally beautiful Princess Dunke, whose beauty was envied by the heavens, was the most precious sight in the world. How could Lin Qingse, that boy, have such good fortune to marry the most precious treasure of the Qing Dynasty—Princess Dunke!
Nian Gengyao was one such example. His eyes instantly reddened. If Nian Xiyao, who was standing next to him, hadn't immediately pulled him back, he might have already stood up to refute. Stopped, he looked at his elder brother's warning eyes, lowered his unwillingness and plundering ambition, and clenched his fists tightly in his sleeves, feeling a strong pain.
Lin Qingse met the envious and jealous gazes from the crowd, a faint smile appearing on her lips. She was both happy and worried that Qingyin only liked him as a man, not the real her.
In the Qianqing Palace, Qingyin, who practically drank medicine like water, was unaware of her future groom's anxiety. She drank the tasteless medicine and ate the bland medicinal soup, her mouth practically burning with bitterness. The delicious food she ate in the system space only served to tantalize her taste buds; back in reality, she craved it even more.
"System, once the mission in this world is complete, remember to take me away as soon as possible."
System: "Alright, Yinyin, the progress bar is more than half full."
Three days is neither long nor short, and Qingyin and Lin Qingse's wedding was held amidst the reluctance of many heartbroken men in the capital.
Ten miles of red bridal procession, ten thousand miles of peach blossoms, the procession of the bridal sedan chair carrying the dowry paraded through the streets in a grand manner. The people were shocked by the size of the wedding procession, as well as the several valiant and strong soldiers on horseback who were gleaming in the sunlight. Was this a wedding or an arrest of traitors? Wow, so many people!
"Who is this? Such a big commotion!" Someone in the crowd couldn't help but ask.
A man from a famous monastery replied proudly, "This is the wedding of Princess Dunke, His Majesty's most beloved daughter, and the consort is none other than this year's top scholar, Lord Lin Qingse!"
"As expected of a princess's wedding, wow...it's so luxurious!"
The conversations of the common people drifted into Qingyin's ears as she sat in the sedan chair. Her father had kept her whereabouts well, and while the people knew of her favor, they were unaware of her beauty.
She wore a light yet weightless headdress, specially commissioned by Emperor Kangxi from the Ministry of Rites over several days. Though light, it didn't feel cheap at all; every thread and ornament was carved from the finest gold and precious jade. The shimmering headdress, however, paled in comparison to her jade-like face. Her flawless skin was so fine that the fine hairs on it were almost visible. Her lips, usually only slightly red, were now covered in bright red rouge—almost the most vibrant color on her entire face. A gentle breeze stirred the carriage carrying Qingyin, and that breathtaking beauty, surpassing a thousand other sights, flashed before everyone's eyes, vanishing in an instant. One couldn't help but wonder if what they were seeing was real.
Only one child, still hiding his worries, cried out, "Mother, there's a fairy!" The woman, who was also stunned by Qingyin's voice, quickly covered the child's mouth. How could she speak so carelessly about the princess!
Such a commotion clearly alerted the common people who had also witnessed it, confirming that the fairy they had just seen was not an imposter, but rather the princess Dunke who was getting married.
The people who saw it unconsciously walked towards the wedding procession, which made the vigilant soldiers glare at their surroundings. Only then did the people stop in their tracks, filled with fear.
The princess's residence was chosen by Emperor Kangxi to be located in a courtyard closest to the palace. The land was taken back by Kangxi and used as his daughter's territory. The residence was unusually large.
Lin Qingse, dressed in a red robe and riding a horse, dismounted gracefully. He reached out to catch Qingyin with a trembling hand. Qingyin sensed his nervousness, and the corners of her mouth, hidden by her red veil, curled up slightly as she reached out and took his hand.
Time flew by, and Chen Junxiu, the handsome groom, beaming with pride, led his bride into the hall draped in red cloth. The bride, too, was dressed in a magnificent red gown. Though no one could see her stunning beauty beneath the veil, her silhouette alone revealed her to be a breathtakingly beautiful woman, a perfect match for the handsome and refined groom.
Only those who have seen the princess know how stunning and aloof her face is beneath the red veil.
At the wedding banquet, all the princes were disgruntled as they poured wine down the throats of the groom, who was the biggest beneficiary of the day. Looking at the wine cups offered by the princes, Lin Qingse could only obediently drink one cup after another.
Faced with his true identity as a woman, he could only try to get himself drunk to prevent his exposure. The moment he lowered his head to drink, he revealed a hint of worry that the princess would not want him.
Lin Qingse successfully got half-drunk from the drinks offered by her brothers-in-law and rivals.
She staggered toward the new bed in the east courtyard, and looking at the familiar face guarding the door—Tao Su—she understood even more deeply that she, who had concealed her gender, had secretly married her beloved, Dun Ke, the princess.
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