On the day of the wedding, the red silk of Xiefang Courtyard cascaded from the lintel, layer upon layer covering the tops of the sycamore trees. Even the breeze carried the sweet fragrance of wedding candy crumbs. Chuntao's hand, holding the bronze diamond-shaped mirror, trembled like a sieve, and a thin layer of moisture condensed on the mirror surface. "Look, young lady! The golden phoenix on this cloud brocade wedding dress is about to flutter and fly in the sunlight!"
Shen Weiwan stared at her reflection in the mirror. Ninety-nine phoenixes embroidered with gold thread slithered across her crimson wedding gown, each eye nestled in a black pearl, swaying gently with her breath. The pearl tassels dangling from her hair brushed her cheek, their cool touch unable to dispel the images of her past life that surged through her eyes—a time when she was wearing Shen Ruorou's discarded old skirt, crammed into a leaky, tattered sedan chair, while outside, Liu and Shen Ruorou sneered. Her throat tightened, and a familiar hard object suddenly jostled against her waist—the mutton-fat jade "scam token" Xiao Yu had given her. On the back, a piglet, rummaging through a chili basket, grinned innocently at her.
"What are you flying for?" She curled her lips deliberately, poking the nearest phoenix's eyes with her fingertips. "No matter how fast a phoenix flies, can it be faster than my hand speed in trapping people? Chuntao, do you think the walls of this imperial palace are so high? Can they really dig holes as easily as they did in the general's mansion?"
Chun Tao, who was inserting her red gold and kingfisher hairpin, paused, the hairpin almost digging her scalp: "My lady! Yesterday, His Highness patted his chest and said that you can treat the palace as the back garden of the general's mansion! Look at this token -" She poked the jade token on Shen Weiwan's waist, "Even the Shangfangjian has engraved the hidden pattern of 'As if I am here in person', which is more effective than an imperial edict!"
Before he finished speaking, the sound of a folding fan tapping against the window lattice could be heard from outside. Xiao Yu, dressed in a gilded wedding gown, stood in the corridor. The Hetian jade Pisces pendant on his jade belt buckle reflected a fine golden light, and a scrap of red silk, accidentally rubbed against it, was still stained in his hair. He shook the brocade box in his hand: "I am here to give you a 'scamming wedding gift package'—"
Shen Weiwan's eyes lit up, and she jumped up to grab it: "Is there chili powder again? Or croton powder?"
"Of course I do." Xiao Yu opened the brocade box, revealing three small packets of powders of different colors. "Western Seven-Star Pepper Powder, Sichuan Peppercorn Powder, and... ginger powder specially prepared for Father." He lowered his voice and leaned closer, his warm breath brushing against her ear. "I've even mastered the menu in Father's imperial kitchen. Tomorrow morning's lychee paste is a good time to try my hand."
"Wonderful!" Shen Weiwan laughed so hard that she fell backwards, but Chuntao quickly pushed her back to the dressing stool: "My ancestor! The auspicious time is almost here. If your wedding dress gets wrinkled from laughing, His Highness will hold me responsible!"
There was a gentle knock on the carved wooden door. The old butler poked his head in with red eyes. His Adam's apple rolled and he couldn't speak. He just pointed to the door with a trembling voice: "Miss...it's time to get on the sedan chair..." He looked at the red coral bead hairpin on Shen Weiwan's temples and suddenly wiped away his tears. "If the general were still alive, he would definitely give you all the jade headwear in the warehouse as a dowry..."
"Grandpa Butler!" Shen Weiwan stuffed a handkerchief into his hand. "If my father knew that I married a prince who helped me cheat people, he would definitely crawl out of his coffin and praise me for my success!"
Xiao Yu bowed beside him and said, "Don't worry, Steward. Weiwan will be like a fish in water in the palace in the future...er, like a pit in water." He reached out and took Shen Weiwan's hand. The golden dragon pattern on the cuffs of her wedding dress echoed the phoenix on her wedding dress. "Let's go. This prince will take you to the wedding hall... and by the way, let the emperor see how powerful his daughter-in-law is."
When the sedan chair was carried out of the general's mansion, Suzaku Street was surrounded by people. Shen Weiwan could not hold back and quietly lifted a corner of the sedan chair curtain. Countless excited faces flashed through the gaps in the red silk:
"Look! There really are ninety-nine phoenixes on the Seventh Prince's wife's wedding dress!"
"More than that! I heard she has a 'scam token' hanging around her waist, and even the emperor has to avoid her when he sees her!"
"The other day I saw the Seventh Prince buying her candied haws in the West Market. He told the vendor, 'My princess loves sour ones. Give her a couple more, or she'll sell your stall like a jellyfish!'"
Shen Weiwan couldn't help but curl her lips. The jade pendant on her waist made her itch. Suddenly, the sedan chair shook violently, and Xiao Yuchen's cold voice came from outside: "What's going on?"
The sedan bearer replied in a trembling voice: "Your Highness! Someone is blocking the sedan!"
Shen Weiwan frowned and lifted the curtain of the sedan chair. She saw Liu Ruolin's brother, Master Liu, with three scoundrels with ferocious faces, blocking the middle of the road with kitchen knives in hand. Their hair was disheveled like a bird's nest. "Shen Weiwan! You've driven my sister mad. Today I want you to pay with blood!"
Just as Xiao Yu was about to give the order, Chen Weiwan had already taken out a bag of chili powder from her sleeve, smiling like a fox stealing fish: "You came just in time! I was just worried that I couldn't find anyone to prepare the sedan chair for the wedding ceremony!" She raised her hand and sprinkled the powder, and the fine red mist accurately pounced on Master Liu's face.
"A-choo! A-choo!" Tears streamed down their cheeks, and kitchen knives clanged to the ground. Xiao Yu seized the opportunity to wave his hand, and the guards rushed forward like wolves and tigers to restrain the man. He approached the sedan chair curtain, pointed his folding fan at the scoundrel rolling on the ground, and asked with a smile: "Weiwan, is this the first pitfall you've made since marrying into the royal family?"
"It's too early!" Chen Weiwan swung the jade token, making it jingle. "In the next volume, I'm going to start by tricking my father-in-law... No, tricking my father!"
Inside the Fengtian Hall, the emperor sat on the dragon throne, his beard shaking with laughter. When Shen Weiwan and Xiao Yu knelt, he suddenly slapped the armrest of the dragon throne: "Seventh Imperial Concubine, I heard that you wanted to mix ginger powder into my lychee paste?"
Shen Weiwan froze, glaring at Xiao Yu beside her. He shrugged, a mischievous smile in his eyes. She simply straightened her back, blushing and shouting, "Your Majesty, please understand! I just thought... I thought you were so busy that you deserved a taste of something spicy and sour!"
"Hahahaha!" The emperor laughed so hard that the golden dragon pattern on his robe trembled. "Alright! As long as you can make this brat behave, you can do whatever you want with my imperial kitchen!"
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