Fu Qiyuan, with his uncanny foresight, specially set up a separate room for the nobles in the palace using a screen, so that they could see the guests outside without it being too noisy.
The four most distinguished guests of the Great Qing Kingdom were seated in this room at the moment.
Standing next to him was the youngest owner of Huangshan Garden.
The little master bowed and cupped his little hands, asking happily, "Uncle Emperor, Empress, Crown Prince, Crown Princess, are you here to see my father and mother's wedding night too? It'll be a while, we have to wait until all the guests have gone home before we can consummate the marriage!"
The emperor couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of tea.
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess turned their heads away, silently shrugging their shoulders.
The Empress suppressed a laugh and patted the Emperor on the back, managing not to lose her composure.
Just as Fu Ting was about to push the door open and enter, he heard Jiang Huai's words and was caught in a dilemma, unsure whether to go in or back out.
Jiang Huai quickly poured the emperor another cup of tea and said softly, "Uncle Emperor, please don't rush, drink slowly. It's still a bit early for the wedding night; the banquet has only just begun!"
I'm not in a hurry! I really am not in a hurry!
The emperor paused for a moment, then looked up and saw the shadow outside the screen. He cleared his throat and said, "Minister Fu, come in!"
Fu Ting walked in, glanced at his grandson somewhat awkwardly, and wondered if he should send the little guy to his father's place.
Just then, Fu Qiyuan came in.
Jiang Huai happily stepped forward and took his father's hand. Just as he was about to say something, a maid brought in the banquet.
While the dishes were being served, Fu Ting quickly whispered something to his son.
Fu Qiyuan glanced down at his son and said casually, "Your mother hasn't eaten yet. Have the kitchen prepare some of her favorite dishes and send them in. Have a little with her first, then come back to find your father later."
Jiang Huai ran off happily.
Fu Qiyuan clasped his hands in a salute and said with a smile, "My son has been impolite. Please forgive him, Your Majesty, the Empress, the Crown Prince, and the Crown Princess!"
The emperor chuckled helplessly, "I don't know who told this kid that. Tell his men to keep a close eye on things. I'll send a few more people over in a few days!"
Fu Qiyuan thanked the emperor, paused for a moment, and said, "Your Majesty need not send anyone over. It was your grandson who spoke to Huai'er about these things."
The Crown Prince's eyelids twitched, and he instinctively looked towards the Crown Princess.
The Crown Princess also widened her eyes, pursed her lips, and tentatively asked, "Is it Yu'er?"
Fu Qiyuan said solemnly, "When the two princes came to the Grand Tutor's mansion last time, the two children talked about my upcoming marriage with Shan'er while they were practicing their stances. The young prince said that after marriage, there would be a bridal chamber, but he didn't know what a bridal chamber was, so he asked Huai'er to... well, that is... when we get married."
The emperor's lips twitched, he glanced silently at the empress, and then looked away.
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess awkwardly looked away.
How can anyone talk to him like that? Can you really take what two children who are less than ten years old combined say seriously?
Once all the dishes were served, the emperor, without even looking up, said, "You're the groom, you don't need to stand here. Go out and greet the guests! Invite the Grand Tutor over, I'd like to have a couple of drinks with him!"
Fu Qiyuan quickly agreed.
Fu Qiyuan avoided the awkward topic of the "wedding night," but Jiang Shan couldn't escape it.
As Jiang Shan ate the fried dumplings his son had brought him, looking into his son's incredibly happy yet innocent eyes, he pondered how to bring up this topic with his son.
Shouldn't this be something the father teaches?
They're so young, can they even understand what they're saying?
After pondering for a moment, Jiang Shan put down his chopsticks and said to Jiang Huai, "This word is very profound, and even I can't explain it clearly. But the bridal chamber is a private matter between husband and wife, and it has nothing to do with others, let alone tell a third party. When you grow up and get married, you will understand this principle."
Jiang Huai said "Oh," opened his mouth wide, and stared blankly at his mother's serious expression.
After thinking for a moment, she said somewhat dejectedly, "Then Huai'er won't be able to see her parents' wedding night tonight?"
Jiang Shan said seriously, "Since it's a matter of privacy, it should be respected. We can't ask about it, much less look at it, right?"
Jiang Huai understood this principle and responded quickly, "Yes, we should be respected."
"So, if someone asks you again, what should you say?"
"This is the bride and groom's privacy; you can't ask. Asking is disrespectful to them!"
"That's right, good lad, you're really smart!"
Jianghuai's minor disappointment was instantly cured!
"My dear son, I've eaten my fill. I'll wait here for your father to come back for the wedding night. You can go find your friends now, but remember to treat them well for your parents!"
"Okay, Mother, then Huai'er will go first!"
Jiang Huai quickly jumped out of bed and dashed out like a cannonball.
The entire Huangshan Park was brightly lit, and everywhere was filled with a festive atmosphere. Even the deer antlers in the park were tied with red ribbons.
The housekeeper of Huangshan Garden specially prepared a banquet for Cheng Mu's family.
Fu Ting didn't let Grand Tutor Cheng intervene; instead, he spoke to the emperor himself and got Cheng Ye transferred back to the capital, where he became a minor seventh-rank official in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.
At least he was back, so Cheng Ye didn't dare to complain and obediently continued his work as the clerk. He was already quite content to be allowed to bring his wife and children to Fu Qiyuan and Jiang Shan's wedding banquet.
Cheng Lan sat there upright, her eyes fixed straight ahead. Her ears were filled with noisy congratulations and compliments, but her eyes held only the desolation and sorrow that followed the passing of the splendor.
She never dreamed she would attend such a wedding, and even sit in the main seat to receive the newlyweds' kneeling obeisance.
Her life was a joke; all her scheming and plotting had come to nothing. If it weren't for her son's pure heart, she wouldn't have been able to accept the obeisance from the Princess of Gu County.
I regret it so much…!
But she had blocked her own path, leaving only this one dead end, a dead end with no end in sight.
Suddenly, Cheng Lan's gaze froze on a certain spot, and her blood began to boil.
Not far away, a little boy in a red robe was holding a glass of juice, going from table to table offering juice to the children at each table, acting like a little adult.
That sweet smile was like the warmest sunshine in the world, instantly reviving her dead heart!
She couldn't help but stand up, but she didn't have the courage to take that step.
Jiang Huai also saw Cheng Lan when he turned around.
She stood there, looking at him so intently that he couldn't ignore her.
Jiang Huai hesitated for a moment, then walked over.
Cheng Mu looked at him with a smile and called out, "Huai'er."
The rest of the people stood up, calling out "Your Highness."
Jiang Huai bowed and said to Cheng Mu, "Great-uncle, please eat more food and drink less wine. Drinking too much wine is bad for your health."
Cheng Mu nodded with a smile and said, "Great-uncle, you're in a good mood today, so how about having another drink?"
Jiang Huai pursed his lips and nodded.
His gaze naturally fell on Cheng Lan, and he scratched his head, saying, "You are my grandmother, aren't you?"
Cheng Lan's eyes welled up with tears, and she nodded frantically.
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