Chapter 223 The Wedding Night
The day before Princess Rongning's wedding to King Xijiang, four palace maids from Xijiang came to Princess Rongning's place and, under the pretext of the customs of the Jiang Kingdom, served Princess Rongning by bathing and changing clothes, removing hair from her armpits, arms, and other areas.
Exposing one's body in front of complete strangers, even if they are both women, was something Princess Rongning found hard to accept.
"This is something all noble ladies of our Jiang Kingdom must go through before marriage. Your Majesty, please don't make things difficult for us servants," the head palace maid said coldly.
What if I don't?
"Then this servant has no choice but to report to the King and ask him to make a decision."
Princess Rongning's expression changed constantly upon hearing this, looking as if she was suffering unbearable humiliation but had no choice but to endure it. After struggling for a while, she gritted her teeth and said, "Then my sister must accompany me."
The head palace maid glanced at Qiu Heng, who was standing quietly not far away and almost invisible, and did not refuse: "Of course, there is no problem."
I heard that this princess of Great Xia has quite a temper and even hit Princess Duoya, but now it seems she knows how to back down.
"Aheng—" Princess Rongning called out to Qiuheng, looking completely dependent on her.
"Your Highness, don't be afraid, I'm right here with you."
"Um."
Qiu Heng watched as four palace maids from Xijiang helped Princess Rongning wash her body and lay her down naked.
Princess Rongning closed her eyes and bit her lip tightly.
After an unknown amount of time, the head palace maid said, "Your Majesty, please put on your clothes."
The everyday clothes prepared to the side have three layers from the inside out.
Princess Rongning remained expressionless as they helped her put on her clothes, before coldly asking, "Is this enough?"
The head palace maid was much more polite at this point: "Please, Your Majesty, move to the waiting room for your marriage."
That was another courtyard, filled with Xi Jiang palace servants. The furnishings inside were simple and easily distinguishable.
"Your Majesty, please rest well. We will wait outside. Please give us your orders if needed."
The four palace maids bowed in unison and withdrew.
Although Princess Rongning's eight maids have arrived at the new courtyard, judging from the behavior of the four Xi Jiang palace maids, it seems that if they want to get close to Princess Rongning, they would have to be right under their noses.
Once only Princess Rongning and Qiuheng remained in the inner room, Princess Rongning smiled bitterly: "As expected, they are heavily guarded."
Whether the so-called custom was true or not, she was thoroughly inspected from head to toe by the other party. If she really was hiding a dagger, she would fail before the wedding could even take place.
Qiu Heng grasped Princess Rongning's hand and whispered, "Bear with it a little longer."
The next day, the sky was high and the clouds were light, and unusually, there was no wind.
From early morning, the joyous drums and music never stopped. Princess Rongning changed into her auspicious clothes, applied powder and rouge, and covered her face with a light veil. Amidst the jubilation, she held her wedding with King Xijiang.
Influenced by the Xia Dynasty in its early years, Xijiang also set the auspicious time for royal weddings at dusk. After completing the wedding ceremony, Princess Rongning was escorted to the bridal chamber accompanied by Qiuheng, while King Xijiang listened to congratulations from all sides at the wedding banquet.
As the wedding envoy, Xue Han was seated at the same table as several prominent guard captains in the wedding procession to witness the wedding.
None of the guard captains showed any joy, and Xue Han was even more expressionless.
"Xue Han." Princess Duoya, dressed in gorgeous clothes, approached with a wine glass, seemingly unconcerned about the strange looks from the captains of the guards. "Are you returning to Great Xia in a couple of days?"
Xue Han nodded: "Yes."
Why don't you stay?
Upon hearing this, one of the captains of the guards was so shocked that he spilled his wine glass.
"Isn't Great Xia going to discuss an alliance with our country again? They'll be sending people then, so there's no need for you to go back and forth."
Xue Han coldly replied, "One thing at a time. I was responsible for escorting Princess Rongning, and now that my mission is complete, I should naturally return. As for who will be sent to discuss matters later, or who will escort her, that is not something I need to consider."
“If—” Princess Doya glanced around.
The guard captains who were glanced at lowered their eyes and pretended not to hear.
Princess Duoya lowered her voice slightly: "If you stay, I can try to persuade my father when we discuss this further."
Xue Han listened quietly as Princess Duoya finished speaking, and then smiled.
"why are you laughing?"
“What Princess Duoya said has a corresponding interpretation in our Great Xia.”
What do you mean?
"It's called drawing a cake to satisfy hunger."
"Pfft." Several guard captains couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Princess Duoya felt she was losing face and angrily said, "You really don't know what's good for you!"
"Yes, I was ungrateful."
"You!" Princess Duoya's voice rose involuntarily, and she immediately felt gazes coming from all directions. Her face darkened, and she turned and left.
"Lord Xue, does this Princess Xijiang want to keep you as her husband?" a captain of the guards asked with a smile.
Xue Han glanced at him: "Xi Jiang treats Da Xia as a sucker who can only swallow his anger, and you still have the mind to make fun of this?"
The captain of the guards immediately stopped laughing and apologized quietly.
"There must be no next time."
"yes."
In the bridal chamber, Princess Rongning sat quietly, with Qiuheng and two maids from Xijiang Palace beside her.
"Aheng, is the wedding banquet almost over?" Princess Rongning asked softly.
Qiu Heng then asked one of the palace maids, "When will King Jiang arrive?"
"This servant would not dare to speculate on the whereabouts of the King."
Qiu Heng walked to the table, poured a glass of water, and came back: "I don't know when we can rest. Your Highness, please have some water to soothe your throat."
Princess Rongning reached out and took the cup. Under the watchful eyes of two Xijiang palace maids, she covered her mouth with her sleeve and drank half a cup of water. Along with the water, she also swallowed a pill that she had hidden in her sleeve beforehand.
"Your Highness, your lip rouge has melted. Let me touch it up for you."
"Okay." Princess Rongning replied calmly, but her hands unconsciously clenched.
Qiu Heng opened her dressing case, took out rouge and face powder, and painted her eyebrows a dark yellow.
The lip rouge that had fallen off was reapplied, the faded eyebrows were carefully touched up, and fragrant powder was gently applied to the skin...
The two Xijiang palace maids exchanged a glance, and the same thought arose in their minds: The women of Daxia are really particular. Look at those eyebrow-painting and lip-painting makeup, it's simply dazzling.
There are also various kinds of fragrant powders, fragrant pills, and fragrant dews, which are very popular among the nobles of the Jiang Kingdom.
Footsteps sounded outside, and Xi Jiang Wang, reeking of alcohol, strode in.
Two palace maids bowed in unison: "Your Majesty."
Qiu Heng also curtsied: "King Jiang."
King Xijiang nodded slightly and looked at Princess Rongning, who was sitting on the wedding bed.
Under the candlelight, Princess Rongning, dressed in her finest attire, was as beautiful as a peach blossom, yet as cold as ice.
King Xijiang was only slightly tipsy, but this glance stirred his heart, and he felt somewhat intoxicated.
Two palace maids brought in wine and completed the remaining wedding ceremonies.
"You may all leave."
"This servant takes her leave."
Seeing that Qiu Heng did not move, King Xi Jiang said calmly, "Princess Sui Yun, you may also leave."
Qiu Heng gave a blessing and stepped outside.
"Aheng—" Princess Rongning couldn't help but call out.
King Xijiang chuckled: "On your wedding night, the Queen is still reluctant to let your sister leave?"
Ignoring the flippant words of the King of Xijiang, Qiu Heng nodded slightly to Princess Rongning: "Your Highness, don't be nervous. Your personal maids are waiting outside."
Princess Rongning watched Qiu Heng leave, her eyelids drooping.
(End of this chapter)
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