The next morning, the female prison guards came to the restaurant and invited Zuo Yimei and the others to attend the ceremony.
As family members of the bride's family, she should enjoy VIP treatment.
However, neither Zuo Yimei nor the others showed any joy on their faces.
That makes sense. Who would want their own upright and capable daughter to marry into another country and become a wife?
With the situation almost irreversible, and Xiang Wan still not making a move, Zuo Yimei's face darkened to the point of being almost dripping with water.
It was getting late, and the female prison guards were waiting outside; they couldn't keep them waiting any longer.
After changing her clothes, Zuo Yimei led Xiang Wan and the others by carriage to the palace.
Along the way, the people were in high spirits, and their gloating could be heard even through the carriage curtain.
"Lord Zuo, there's no need to take it to heart." Xiang Wan thought for a moment and decided to offer some words of comfort. "The time hasn't come yet; we mustn't panic."
Zuo Yimei glanced at Xiang Wan, then turned her head away, preferring not to see her.
Evening: ...
She has quite a temper.
Upon entering the palace, envoys from the Di, Yun, and Ning kingdoms arrived.
After everyone was seated, Qian Qiudai exchanged a few pleasantries and then had the female eunuch lead the two newlyweds into the main hall.
A red carpet was laid out in the hall, and ministers of the Qianqiu Kingdom and envoys from various countries sat in order on the left and right.
Hua Wanqing, holding a red silk ribbon, entered the palace together with Qianqiu Jinyu.
The bright red wedding dress, the festive headdress, the fair skin, the delicate face—everything looked perfect.
Qianqiu Jinyu, dressed in a groom's attire, with a handsome face, stood next to Hua Wanqing. Those unaware of the situation would surely praise them as a perfect match.
"As you all bear witness, it is a joyous occasion that our esteemed Prince Jinyu of the Qianqiu Kingdom and Princess Hua Wanqing of the Hua Kingdom have been happily married. I raise a toast to you all, thanking you for traveling so far to attend the wedding, and especially to Minister Zuo Yimei of the Hua Kingdom, who represents the Hua Kingdom in establishing this auspicious union with our Qianqiu Kingdom. Cheers!"
Qian Qiudai was in high spirits, her joy evident on her face.
Regardless of what benefits Hua Wanqing could bring her, the fact that she was willing to marry him was enough to make Qianqiu Kingdom proud among all the other kingdoms.
Therefore, she was satisfied with Hua Wanqing from every angle.
"Minister Zuo, congratulations!"
After finishing his drinks with Qian Qiudai, Huo Yang raised his glass with a sincere expression, facing Zuo Yimei from afar.
The envoys from the Di and Yun kingdoms also toasted Zuo Yimei.
These two, since Zuo Yimei hadn't exposed their shortcomings, didn't have any other intentions, but the expressions on their faces were somewhat subtle.
If the Flower Kingdom and the Thousand Autumn Kingdom were to form a marriage alliance, it would mean that the two countries would have more private contact, and if they were to form an alliance, they would be the most likely candidates.
The current situation where the five countries are mutually restraining each other is very likely to be broken because of this incident.
The envoys from both countries secretly pondered that they would have to discuss this further when they returned. However, they noticed that Zuo Yimei's face was somewhat stiff, and she barely drank the wine they offered. She took a sip and put it on the table in front of her, then turned to greet Xiang Wan and whispered a few words to her.
Zuo Yimei stood up and went to Qianqiu Jinyu and Hua Wanqing, who were already seated. She bowed and said, "Your Highness, I have a few words to say to you. Would Your Highness be so kind as to take a step forward?"
She bent down and covered her mouth with her hand.
The voice was loud, but the lips were not visible, so Hua Wanqing could not hear what he was saying. She couldn't help but put her hand on Qianqiu Jinyu's arm.
After Hua Wanqing was taken to Qianqiu Kingdom, everyone quickly discovered that she was deaf and mute, and assumed she was an imposter. However, Hua Wanqing could write and clearly stated her identity, but she did not explain why she had become like this.
Qian Qiudai had also ordered the imperial physicians to examine her, but they all said there was nothing wrong with her and that it was probably congenital.
Qian Qiudai admired her for being born deaf and mute yet appearing normal to everyone else.
Now that she's already in Qianqiu Kingdom, there's no way she can be allowed to go back. Just then, Qianqiu Jinyu took a liking to her, and Hua Wanqing was good at handling things, so the two hit it off... no, more like a cuckold's love at first sight...
Everyone noticed Hua Wanqing's little actions.
Those unaware of the truth might assume they are simply very much in love.
Zuo Yimei was also a little dizzy. How long had it been since she was tricked by Hua Wanqing? In the blink of an eye, she had turned into this little woman. Did she think she was easy to bully?
Qianqiu Jinyu patted Hua Wanqing's hand and said to Zuo Yimei, "Lord Zuo, please speak frankly."
So they're protecting each other now?
Zuo Yimei stared intently at Qianqiu Jinyu, then glanced at Hua Wanqing, and said, "Young Master Jinyu, there's no need to worry. It's just a few words to say, nothing more."
Was it easy for her?
He traveled a long way to clean up Hua Wanqing's mess, but he was only able to get close to the second princess on the day of the marriage ceremony.
If she could, she would rather stay home and sleep.
She's already married, what's wrong with saying a few words?
If anyone dares to stop her now, she won't be polite!
"Young Master Jinyu, that's not right of you. Minister Zuo is, after all, a member of your own family. If you stop him from saying a word, wouldn't that make Qianqiu Kingdom seem petty?"
Huo Yang couldn't wait to face Zuo Yimei and Qianqiu Jinyu.
She was feeling down, and reading some jokes would be a good way to cheer herself up; it was much more fun than going to the Plum Pavilion.
Zuo Yimei was exasperated and glared at Xiang Wan without leaving a trace.
Is this the kind of relationship she was asked to build last night?
It's completely useless except for watching the spectacle.
She shouldn't have listened!
Qian Qiudai was somewhat puzzled. She thought that Hua Wanqing's health problem was being kept secret from the outside world by the entire Hua Kingdom. She didn't expect that Zuo Yimei didn't know about it!
Zuo Yimei insisted again, and Qianqiu Jinyu did not stop her. She had a palace maid lead her to the side hall.
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