Chapter 221 The Grand Wedding Ceremony, A Beauty of Immortality
These past few days, the Empress Dowager has been busy with the princess's wedding and has been unable to spare any attention.
Ji Qingwu was happy to have a few days of peace and quiet since he didn't have time to summon her for the time being.
Princess Qingyun personally wrote the invitation and sent it to the Ji residence, bringing up the matter of dressing up for him again.
The maid who delivered the letter said, "Fifth Miss, the invitations from other families are all written by the Court of State Ceremonial, but yours is written by the princess herself."
Princess Qingyun wasn't someone who wrote often, and it took her more than a dozen sheets of paper to finish writing it. Then she quickly instructed her maid to bring it over.
After reading it, Ji Qingwu thought it over and over, but still refused.
Although this dressing-up ritual was merely a formality and she didn't actually need to apply makeup, it would have been more appropriate for the bride's sister-in-law, or even a concubine from the palace or the Princess of Yong, to perform it.
If she were to do it, it would surely attract a lot of criticism; why would she want to cause trouble for herself?
But Qingyun's words were earnest, so Ji Qingwu compromised.
"Go back and inform the princess that I will attend the wedding ceremony. As for the hair and makeup, please ask Your Highness to find someone more suitable."
*
Princess Qingyun's wedding was a matter of great importance not only to the Ji family, but also to the entire city of Lin'an.
Early in the morning.
Ji Qingwu was woken up by Lanzhi to put on makeup.
Looking at the still gray sky outside, Ji Qingwu sat on the round stool by the dressing table like a ghost.
"Lanzhi, it's not like I'm getting married, I don't need to get up and get dressed so early."
"Fifth Miss, you'll have to get up even earlier when you get married. Bride is supposed to get up at midnight, but it's already dawn now."
Lan Zhi had already laid out all the rouge and face powder she was going to receive on the table.
Ji Qingwu's eyes widened slightly as he said, "It's the fifth watch, still the hour of Yin! It's still early, I'll go back to sleep for a bit."
Lanzhi quickly grabbed her and dragged her back onto the stool.
"Fifth Miss, the First Madam instructed me to make sure you are dressed up to be beautiful and charming."
Ji Qingwu understood what the Qiao family was thinking.
After all, she and Li Chengxun had almost reached the point of marriage negotiations, and now that he had become the Empress Dowager's son-in-law, as members of the Ji clan, they were obliged to attend the wedding banquet.
When she met with an "acquaintance," Mrs. Qiao wanted her not to lose face.
However, for her, Li Chengxun was already like a cloud over Wushan Mountain, or rather, a dark cloud.
What she feared most about attending the wedding banquet was... running into Wei Ting.
Because it was a joyous occasion, Ji Qingwu chose a dark blue dress with a shimmering floral pattern of crabapple blossoms and auspicious symbols, which was neither too flashy nor lacking in fresh color.
The color, as deep as a sapphire, shimmers with a cool, ethereal glow due to the shimmering brocade, both bright and pure.
When Qiao saw Xiao Wu, her eyes lit up and she kept praising him.
When they arrived at the princess's residence by carriage, Princess Qingyun and Li Chengxun were still in the palace and had not yet returned.
According to etiquette, the princess and her husband would first pay their respects to the emperor and empress dowager, and then, accompanied by noblewomen, leave the palace and return to the princess's residence to perform the mutual bowing ceremony and the nuptial ceremony.
Inside the princess's residence, a banquet with ninety tables was held, and all the prominent families of Lin'an City were present.
The Ji family members were seated at the head table. As soon as Ji Qingwu sat down at the banquet for the female guests, she felt that many people were staring at her.
One of their gazes made her feel like she was sitting on pins and needles.
Ji Qingwu immediately turned her head and looked around, but there were so many guests today that she couldn't tell whose gaze was coming from.
The eldest princess and Princess Yong were also going to the palace first and were not present at the moment.
Ji Qingwu was not familiar with the other noble ladies, so she sat quietly at the table, listening to Qiao Shi and the other ladies talk.
Occasionally, when they mention themselves, I'll put on a smile in response.
After all, these wealthy women could become her patients in the future, and she still needed to salvage her reputation.
After sitting for a while, someone from the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence arrived.
Ji Qingrong got married and became the wife of the heir of the Marquis's mansion. She was to sit with the Grand Madam Cui.
As soon as Lu Juan entered the door, he was surrounded by his colleagues. After Cui Shi and Ji Qingrong took their seats, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law turned their heads away and remained silent.
Sister-in-law Feng Shuang would say something from time to time, and Cui would respond with a few words.
On the other side, Ji Qingwu's face was almost frozen from smiling, and she kept looking in the direction of her elder sister.
Unable to resist, she said, "Mother, my eldest sister is here. I'd like to go over there."
Qiao was pleased to see the two sisters getting along so well, and said with a smile, "You haven't seen Qingrong in a long time, go ahead."
Ji Qingwu got up and walked to her elder sister. Along the way, many people's eyes fell on this dark blue figure again.
Ji Qingrong rubbed her eyes and asked, "Who are you?"
Seeing that she pretended not to recognize her, Ji Qingwu's eyes flickered, and she said reproachfully, "They say pregnancy makes you stupid for three years, big sister, are you already starting to get confused?"
"This voice sounds so familiar."
Ji Qingrong covered her mouth with her handkerchief and laughed: "So the fairy princess in front of me is actually my fifth sister. It's been more than a month since I last saw her. I wonder what kind of miraculous medicine my fifth sister has developed. Her fairy-like beauty makes me dare not look directly at her."
Cui also glanced sideways.
At a glance, it was clear that Ji Wu's appearance was even more refined and elegant than when they last met at Ninghua Hall.
Feng Shuang also offered a compliment, but was immediately glared at by Cui Shi and dared not say another word.
Cui had also heard about the affairs of the court; the daughter of the Ji family was sought after by many families.
"What's so good about Ji Qingwu?" Cui thought to herself. "She's just a born vixen." Then she turned her head away disdainfully and started chatting with the woman next door.
The two sisters pretended not to see Cui's displeasure.
Ji Qingwu smiled brightly and said, "In my opinion, it is the eldest sister who is truly radiant."
Ji Qingrong touched her face with her hand, her eyes smiling.
"Fifth Sister, are you praising your medical skills? I've been using the prescription you gave me, and even though I'm pregnant, I don't feel tired at all. On the contrary, my blood and energy are much better."
Ji Qingwu sat down next to her elder sister and told her about the upcoming opening of her clinic. Ji Qingrong's eyes lit up as she listened, and she repeatedly said that she wanted to stay at her clinic to give birth.
Cui had her back to them, but she heard the sisters' conversation.
She turned around, her face darkening, and said, "The lady of the Heir Apparent, giving birth outside instead of at home, is that proper?"
In front of so many guests, Ji Qingrong didn't want to argue with her mother-in-law and put Lu Juan in a difficult position.
She continued to pretend she hadn't heard anything.
Cui pointed to Feng Shuang beside her and said, "When your second sister-in-law gave birth, she hired a midwife to deliver the baby at home. Now, Song Ge'er is also growing up healthy and strong."
Feng Shuang nodded in agreement: "Qingrong, giving birth at home, surrounded by familiar surroundings and servants, will make her feel more comfortable."
Cui added, "Your second sister-in-law suffered a postpartum hemorrhage and difficult labor. If it weren't for the experienced midwife, she might have lost her life."
Before Ji Qingrong could speak, Ji Qingwu nodded and said, "Childbirth has always been a life-or-death ordeal for women, where their lives hang in the balance. Nothing is more important than the safety of mother and child."
It was rare for her to say something she wanted to hear, so Madam Cui frowned and scolded, "Since you know this, don't try to persuade your sister to act recklessly."
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