"It's getting late. If we don't begin the ceremony soon, we might miss the auspicious time," the Empress said softly.
The emperor's face darkened; he felt genuinely disappointed in the crown prince. Kneeling for a woman was a disgrace to the royal family.
The joyous wedding was ruined by Song Tangli's antics, turning the Empress Dowager and the Emperor's faces from joy to ashen.
When the two appeared in the main hall, some quick-witted people roughly guessed what was going on: the Song family was truly fearless.
Did they think they could rest easy after sending their youngest daughter to the position of Crown Princess? The Emperor still calls the shots in this court. Those who can't see the facts are probably still gloating over their own plans.
A newlywed couple entered through the palace gate, followed by a woman in the same wedding dress, presumably the Crown Princess who had been carried into the palace on the same day.
The Crown Princess was not supposed to come to the hall with the Emperor, but the Empress Dowager made an exception and insisted that she come along, and the Emperor acquiesced.
Song Tangxue deserves some compensation for the injustice she suffered.
Song Tangli's makeup had been touched up, and a smile had returned to her face. She looked stunning in her wedding dress, and seeing the people around her who didn't dare to show their faces, Song Tangli felt smug.
It's all because you fell into my hands. Once the Empress Dowager and the Emperor have seen her face, will they still look favorably upon her?
By the time the tedious rituals were completed, Song Tangxue was so exhausted she could barely stand up straight. This damn wedding!
In contrast, Song Tangli, looking refreshed and energetic, accepted the golden book and seal, and the ceremony was complete.
The sound of music filled the air, and officials paid homage.
Congratulations on the Crown Prince's wedding!
The echoes reverberated, their powerful momentum stretching endlessly across this vast天地 (heaven and earth).
Song Tangxue stood on the other side of the Crown Prince, and Li Zhaoxian unexpectedly turned around and caught a glimpse of her under the white veil.
A gentle breeze lifted her white veil, revealing her stunningly beautiful face, which made the much-praised Crown Princess beside her pale in comparison.
Her gaze was fixed on the audience below, on Xie Qianzhong's direction, brazenly watching him through her veil on their wedding day.
Song Tangli was completely oblivious to the Crown Prince's lingering gaze, and gently leaned closer, saying, "Crown Prince, you look as handsome as ever today..."
Li Zhaoxian nodded perfunctorily, but the image of that half-face kept replaying in his mind, haunting his dreams.
During the banquet, Song Tangxue intended to slip away when no one was looking, but she was caught by the Empress Dowager who was always concerned about her.
Thinking she was secretly grieving, he stopped her and said, "Your Highness, Tang Xue is your Crown Princess and your new bride. Bring her along to meet her."
Song Tangli's expression changed several times before she lowered her head and agreed. It was a good opportunity to expose her in front of everyone and make her lose face.
Amidst the clinking of cups and the exchange of toasts, the Crown Prince and his consort moved through the crowd, red lanterns swaying gently, and the double happiness symbol casting lingering shadows in the wind.
From afar, it was a sea of red.
Song Tangxue's heart was not warmed much by the liveliness. Her thoughts were in turmoil, and she walked stiffly forward. Xie Qianzhong's gaze came in through the white gauze.
Song Tangxue sensed a hint of human presence. Although she knew he couldn't see her, she couldn't help but smile, not wanting him to worry.
"The Crown Princess is kind, generous, and beautiful. Your Highness is very fortunate!" an old minister praised, raising his cup.
"This must be Miss Song, right?" The old minister looked at Song Tangxue, who was standing silently to the side. His son had been saved by Song Tangxue before.
"Yes," Lee So-hyeon answered on his behalf, a hint of pride in his eyes.
"Why are you wearing a mask?" the old minister asked, puzzled.
Song Tangli smiled slightly and said, "Sister, as the Crown Princess, you are unwilling to show your true face. I wonder if there is some unspeakable reason for this?"
The malice in his words made the old minister frown.
"Could it be that your face is disfigured and you can't show it to others? A person with a disfigured face shouldn't be a laughing stock for being the Crown Princess." Song Tangli went all out, glancing at her sideways.
They already believed she was disfigured, which is why she had been wearing a mask all day; what she said this morning was just an excuse.
They could also pin the blame for the substitute bride on the Song family.
“Your Highness is mistaken,” the old minister disagreed, “You and the Crown Princess are from the same family, you should not speak of your sister in such a way.”
"Did I say something wrong?" Song Tangli pressed closer, walking to Song Tangxue's side: "If I said something wrong, then please lift this white veil so we can see clearly."
"This Crown Princess is too vicious! How could she speak such arrogant words to her own sister?"
"Yes, if the Crown Princess's appearance is truly ruined, wouldn't that force her to embarrass herself in public?"
"You don't know, do you? This Crown Princess is the real daughter of the Song family. This adopted daughter is not even as good as a concubine's daughter. Now she has taken her sister's position and is so proud of herself. What kind of good person can she be!"
"..."
The people around her were in an uproar. Song Tangli felt indignant listening to the comments. She only wanted Song Tangxue to show her true colors, so why did it become that she was malicious?
These blind people.
"Alright, Ali, we'll all be family from now on..." Li Zhaoxian felt embarrassed and couldn't accept it, especially since he had clearly seen Song Tangxue's face that afternoon.
Seeing Li Zhaoxian's protection, Song Tangli's anger flared even more, and she snorted coldly.
"Did I say something wrong?" Song Tangli wasn't entirely without cunning. As long as Li Zhaoxian saw Song Tangxue's face today, would she have to worry about Li Zhaoxian going to Song Tangxue's room in the future?
In the future, won't she be the only one to dote on him?
“If you are ugly, sister, you should admit it sooner rather than later and move to a remote place so as not to offend the Crown Prince’s eyes,” Song Tangli said slowly and arrogantly.
Everyone around frowned. Why was the Crown Princess being so aggressive? Li Zhaoxian pressed her temples and asked, "Ali, what's wrong with you today?"
Song Tangli snapped out of her daze and gently resumed her persona: "I was only thinking of my Crown Prince brother..."
"In public, you should address the Crown Prince as His Highness the Crown Prince!" The Empress Dowager and the Emperor came over: "Where have you learned your manners?"
Having just heard Song Tangli's words, his dislike for her has deepened. The emperor should not speak too much about these matters of the inner quarters, but it is time for Li Zhaoxian to give her a warning.
Having held the position of crown prince for so long, he's almost forgotten who he is. I can give him wealth and honor, and I can easily take it all back!
"I didn't mean to." Song Tangli lowered her eyelids and looked pitifully at the Empress Dowager, trying to soften her heart.
“You should apologize to your sister,” the Empress Dowager said.
"It's alright." A night breeze swept by, and Song Tangxue lifted the veil from her head, her lips slightly pale: "Tangxue is not feeling well today, and I was afraid of passing on my illness to everyone, so I wore a veil."
In that instant, the world seemed to lose its color, and as everyone stared at the girl amidst the crimson glow, some could hardly breathe.
There really is such a woman in the world, so beautiful that she seems otherworldly, while Song Tangli next to her looks like a clown.
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