323, the Fifth Princess's Wedding
323, the Fifth Princess's Wedding
The tenth day of April is a good day for marriage.
The marriage between the Prince of Zhennan and the Fifth Princess was scheduled for this day.
This was the result of Lu Mingfei's negotiations with Prince Zhennan and Prince Qi, father and son. Prince Zhennan's Mansion was willing to respect the imperial decree and allow the prince to marry the fifth princess as his consort.
The wedding date had been chosen long ago by the Imperial Observatory.
The Imperial Astronomical Observatory looked at three dates in total, and this date was the closest and most suitable.
Lu Mingfei didn't know if he was doing the right thing. He was following orders, but a woman's marriage and future happiness were involved, so he felt a bit pressured.
Because the Fifth Princess and the Prince of Zhennan were getting married soon, he stayed to attend the wedding as a member of the bride's family, and planned to return to Beijing the day after the wedding.
Ten days ago, they moved out of the house arranged for them by Prince Qi and moved to a new house they bought themselves.
This new house will serve as the Fifth Princess's dowry and will belong to her in the future.
The fifth princess brought a lot of dowry, which included the dowry prepared for her by her mother, a list prepared by the emperor for his sister, and some other relatives of the fifth princess also gave some dowry.
He also gave the fifth princess a gift.
When all these things are added together, it’s not a small amount.
During the days leading up to the Fifth Princess's wedding, he also helped her organize her dowry. Unsure of what the Fifth Princess' future would hold, he didn't dare buy her too many shops and properties, so he only bought this house.
In the future, the fifth princess may want to come here to be alone or rent out the house.
Before Prince Qi arrived to pick up the bride, Lu Mingfei planned to come over and say a few words to the Fifth Princess, figuring she should be ready. He said to the maid guarding the door, "I wonder if the Princess is ready? I have a few words to say to her. Could you please go in and ask if I can come in?"
"Okay, Lord Lu, please wait a moment." The maid asked Lord Lu to wait at the door for a moment, and she went in to pass the message.
Not long after, she came out and said to Lord Lu outside, "Our princess wants you to go in."
As Lu Mingfei stepped into the room, he saw the fifth princess in red sitting in front of the dressing mirror with her back to him.
Hearing the footsteps coming from behind, the Fifth Princess raised her hand and said to the maids standing beside her, "All of you go out."
"Yes." The two maids bowed and went out.
This time, Lu Mingfei did not stop the maid from leaving. He bowed to the princess, whose back was facing him, and said, "Your humble servant greets Her Royal Highness."
"Lord Lu, even now, why are you still so polite to me?" The fifth princess turned around and stood up from her seat.
Today she was wearing a bright red wedding dress, with a little makeup on her face, a gold necklace around her neck, a forehead ornament on her head, and a gold hairpin in her bun. She was beautiful and charming.
"The princess is worth a fortune, and this is my respect for her," said Lu Mingfei.
To this day, the Fifth Princess knew that there was no possibility for her and Lu Mingfei to be together. Perhaps it should be said that from the day she agreed to marry the Prince of Zhennan, she was destined to have no chance with Lu Mingfei.
But the feelings in this world cannot be let go completely just because you want to.
Although she knew there was no possibility between them, she still had some hope for this man in her heart.
The Fifth Princess put away her thoughts and looked at the man standing upright like a green bamboo in front of her. She asked, "You said you had something to say to me. What did you want to say to me?"
"Princess, tomorrow morning, I will lead my men to leave Yunzhou City and return to Kyoto Prefecture. If you have any words to convey to your mother, you can tell me." In fact, Lu Mingfei came to see the fifth princess today to say goodbye to her in advance.
Because if they leave early tomorrow morning, they will definitely not be able to see the fifth princess on the second day of her wedding, so they have to say some things in advance.
The Fifth Princess also understood this. Although she felt a little disappointed, she still took out the letter she had written in advance and handed it to Lu Mingfei: "I have written a letter here. Sir Lu, please help me take it back to my mother."
"Okay, I will deliver this letter to Concubine Zhang." Lu Mingfei took the letter and promised.
The Concubine Zhang he was talking about was the fifth princess's mother, Concubine Zhang who served the late emperor.
Later, after the death of the previous emperor, all of his concubines, except for a few who had died, remained in the harem and were promoted to concubines dowagers.
The two new emperors who succeeded him did not make things difficult for the former empresses and concubines who only gave birth to princesses or had no children.
Moreover, keeping these princesses and their mothers could also be used to exchange for benefits for the court, such as the Fifth Princess in front of us. This time, letting the Fifth Princess marry the Prince of Qi was the intention of the court and the emperor to use the Fifth Princess's marriage in exchange for easing relations with the Prince of Zhennan.
But could a princess alone really bring the Prince of Zhennan back to the imperial court? Or could she stop his ambition to reign supreme? Or could she persuade the emperor to spare his brother-in-law, Prince Qi?
Just think about it and you will know that it is impossible.
Those officials or emperors who intended to use a woman's marriage to seek benefits for the country and the court were all foolish and devious. After all, they were not exchanging their own interests for benefits, so why would they care about the lives of others?
If benefits can be gained by using one person, why don’t these people use themselves to gain benefits for the court and the country?
Wouldn't it make the enemy feel happier to send a high-ranking official to serve as a slave in his home than to send a princess to marry a foreign prince?
Therefore, the only reason is that women are in a weak position in this era, so they send men away like gifts in exchange for benefits.
However, he himself had also been the executioner who assisted these people in committing atrocities and cruelly harming women. Thinking of this, Lu Mingfei felt a little guilty towards the Fifth Princess.
But there are some things that he can't change on his own. At least not yet.
Even though he couldn't change the Fifth Princess' fate and situation, Lu Mingfei still wanted to leave this poor woman a way out before leaving. "Princess, before we leave, I have a few words to tell you."
"Go ahead." The fifth princess walked to the stool and sat down, motioning Lu Mingfei to sit down and talk. She also personally picked up the teapot to pour tea for Lord Lu.
Lu Mingfei sat down and said, "Princess, I know that this world is very unfair to women."
"However, I still hope that Princess can live well and strive for your own happiness."
Hearing this, the Fifth Princess smiled, a smile full of irony.
Lu Mingfei didn't ignore the smile on the Fifth Princess's face and continued, "You will be staying here alone from now on. You will have to rely on yourself for everything. Princess, please be careful and cautious in your future actions and don't act on impulse."
"I have left a few people here. If Princess encounters any danger in the future, you can go to the address written on this brocade bag and find a man named Lao Fang. He will take you out of Yunzhou City."
As he spoke, Lu Mingfei took out a brocade bag from his arms and placed it on the table. "Remember, don't let anyone else know about this brocade bag except yourself, including Prince Qi. Don't tell him either."
"Okay, thank you, Lord Lu." The Fifth Princess also knew that Lu Mingfei was an official acting under imperial orders, and that he had done his utmost to help her.
How could she ask a stranger who had no personal relationship with her and no feelings for her to disobey the order and take her away from here?
Her brother and mother both told her to think about Dayan, the imperial court, and the people. However, Lu Mingfei, a stranger, arranged a way out for her before leaving.
Only then did she realize that Lu Mingfei was such a good person. It was a pity that he didn't like her. If only he could like her, even a little bit, how wonderful it would be.
Just as they were talking, a maid knocked on the door outside, reminding them, "Princess, the prince is here to pick up the bride."
"I am here to wish Her Royal Highness the Princess a smooth life, happiness and good health." Lu Mingfei stood up, bowed to the Fifth Princess, and gave his blessing to the Princess Without a Princess.
"Thank you." This time, the fifth princess sincerely thanked Lu Mingfei.
At this moment, she looked at the handsome man in front of her, and for some reason, she suddenly gave up her love for him. Perhaps it was because this man was too good, and she felt that she was not worthy of such a good Lord Lu.
When the maid came in to tidy up the fifth princess's clothes, Lu Mingfei retreated out the door.
He stood outside for a while before Qi Jun, dressed in a groom's uniform, came into the backyard.
Judging solely by appearance, the Prince of Qi was tall, long-legged, handsome, and carried the arrogance of a child from an aristocratic family. He often wore a smile, and it was obvious at first glance that he loved to laugh and had a good temper.
However, such a person can also be said to be full of calculations.
"Prince."
"Lord Lu."
The two met here, and Lu Mingfei bowed to Prince Qi and said, "I hope that Prince Qi will treat the Fifth Princess well and love her."
"Of course, she will be my wife in the future, so I will naturally treat her well." Qi Jun said.
"I hope the prince can do what he says." Lu Mingfei was a little skeptical whether Prince Qi could do what he said.
Just as they were talking, the maid inside came out with the fifth princess wearing a red veil on her head.
When Qi Jun saw the Fifth Princess coming out, he walked up to her and took her hand, "Your Highness, please follow me."
The fifth princess was stunned for a moment.
Hearing this, she still raised her feet and followed Qi Jun's pace.
Something happened today, so I can't make it to the second update, so I'll just post the first one.
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