On the day of the wedding.
The Tang family's imposing presence made Lin Qingwan appear quite frail as she emerged from the small courtyard.
The streets were packed with onlookers, their chatter almost drowning out the joy.
"The Tang family is powerful and well-equipped, and Miss Tang has her father's support. Although she is not favored now, she has a long life ahead of her."
“That’s right. How long can an imperial family rely solely on favor? Even Consort Ning relied on her family background, but she became arrogant because of the favor, and in the end, she only ended up shooting herself in the foot.”
"After all, love and affection cannot be compared with the weighing of interests."
“I don’t think so. The Crown Prince has kept the young prince’s birth mother hidden for so long, and then specially made her his concubine and allowed her to enter the palace with Miss Tang on the same day. This is clearly to suppress the Tang family.”
"Miss Tang suffered a loss at the jewelry shop a couple of days ago, didn't she?"
"So what if he has a family background? It is the emperor who values the Tang family, not the crown prince. But sooner or later, the world will belong to the crown prince."
These people got so into talking that they almost started arguing.
Lin Qingwan, dressed in a heavy wedding gown, sat in the sedan chair and couldn't help but chuckle as she listened.
These people really overestimate her.
Once the Crown Prince takes military power from the Tang family, he will naturally no longer need her.
This was merely her way of repaying the Crown Prince for saving her several times, and for the kindness the young prince had shown her.
Lin Qingwan repeatedly reminded herself of this, but her mind couldn't help recall Zhao Cong's gentleness towards her, especially that day in front of the Tang family mother and daughter...
The Crown Prince seems to genuinely care for her and like her very much.
With mixed feelings and chaotic thoughts, Lin Qingwan arrived at the palace gate and bumped right into Tang Yun's sedan chair.
Whether it was due to the Ministry of Rites miscalculating the timing or the guards' deliberate actions, both sides stopped at the palace gate at the same time, making it difficult to decide which one should go first.
The old woman from the Tang family put her hands on her hips and said, "Is this difficult? Our young lady is the principal wife, and only the principal wife has ever been allowed to enter through the main gate."
"You'll be in deep trouble if you miss the auspicious time!"
The guard ignored her and instead ran to Lin Qingwan's sedan chair to bow to Shen Xu, saying, "Guard Shen, I didn't expect it would be you personally escorting the bride."
Despite the Tang family's large entourage, the combined number of people welcoming the bride was less than that of Shen Xu alone, not to mention that the people carrying Lin Qingwan's sedan chair were all Imperial Guards.
"The Crown Prince values the young prince's birth mother and is afraid she will be bullied, which is why he sent us on this trip." Shen Xu showed no respect to the Tang family.
The muffled sound of chiseling against the wall came from Tang Yun's sedan chair.
The old woman understood and stepped forward, saying, "What does Guard Shen mean? Who bullied her for no reason?"
Shen Xu raised an eyebrow. "I wasn't talking about you, so what's the rush?"
The old woman choked up. Although she was afraid of the sword at his waist, today was about whether her young lady could hold her head high in the East Palace in the future, so she was willing to risk her life and said frankly, "If the Crown Princess doesn't go in soon, the auspicious time will be missed. Of course, I'm anxious."
“Miss Wan has waited for so many years, what’s a little longer?”
"Furthermore, there is no rule in the palace that says a concubine's sedan chair can travel in front of the principal wife's."
Since the Tang family and the Crown Prince haven't completely broken ties, Shen Xu can't go too far. "But the rules also say that the sedan chairs of the principal wife and the concubine should enter together."
The old woman glared. "Two sedan chairs can't enter through one palace gate at the same time, so of course we go first."
Shen Xu couldn't stand the nanny's arrogant attitude. "I don't know if the Ministry of Rites sent the wrong time, or if your sedan chair was moving too slowly, and you were deliberately making things difficult for Miss Wan?"
Tang Yun's voice came from inside the sedan chair, sounding annoyed, "Who's making things difficult for whom?"
At this moment, Lin Qingwan also spoke up, her voice gentle and soft, "Guard Shen, let the Crown Princess go first."
Shen Xu stepped aside. "Please."
The old woman breathed a sigh of relief, but Tang Yun was even angrier. Why should the guards listen to her? This really proved what the Crown Prince said that day: whether she could enter the palace depended on her!
"Wait!" Tang Yun said, "The auspicious time was approved by the Crown Prince through the Ministry of Rites, and your sedan chairs were also sent according to the Crown Prince's orders. In that case, why not let the Crown Prince decide who goes first?"
The old woman frowned and pressed against the sedan curtain, saying urgently, "Miss, if the Crown Prince really comes out, we'll definitely suffer. Why do this?"
Tang Yun bit her lip. "If the Crown Prince embarrasses me in front of so many people, I won't marry him! I'd rather be an old maid for the rest of my life. I want to see if the Crown Prince can afford to lose face."
"Miss, please bear with it for now. They've already made concessions over there, let's go in."
The old woman offered heartfelt advice, because once the crown prince emerged, they truly had little hope.
Tang Yun refused no matter what she said, "Go and invite the Crown Prince. If he doesn't come out, no one is allowed to enter today."
This stumped everyone.
Compared to her, Lin Qingwan's soft and calm voice was like heavenly music, "Guard Chen, let's enter through the side door. It's a joyous occasion for Miss Tang and the Crown Prince, let's not cause any unhappiness."
Before Shen Xu could answer, Tang Yun said sternly, "I don't need you to give way! It's not like I'm bullying you or kicking you out the side door."
Lin Qingwan said calmly, "I feel sorry for the Crown Prince."
Tang Yun was defeated in just a few words, and was so angry that she almost lifted her veil. "Fine, fine, you two are deeply in love, and I'm the bad guy who forced my way in."
"Granny, let's go back to the manor. I'm not going to the East Palace again!"
The old woman was stunned. "Miss, this...this won't do."
The Tang family's wedding procession was in an uproar. The imperial palace was not an ordinary family's residence. If they turned back to their own home, it would be disrespectful to His Majesty and the Crown Prince, and they would lose their heads.
Lin Qingwan scoffed, "The marriage was arranged long ago, and Miss Tang knew my identity a long time ago. She didn't say she wouldn't marry me for so many days, but she only said it when we arrived at the palace gate."
"Could it be that you guys are really slow and deliberately waited for me to come over so you could cause this mess?"
Tang Yun's outburst turned his reasoning into one of injustice.
“Miss Tang doesn’t like me. I’ve already told you I came in through the side door. What more do you want?”
The old woman from the Tang family was on the verge of tears. "Miss, calm down! You can't go back to the manor!"
Tang Yun hadn't thought that much about it, but he got angry just talking to her, and now he was in a difficult situation!
If she really went back, her father would probably beat her to death as an apology.
Seeing that Tang Yun remained silent, Lin Qingwan sighed, "Guard Chen, don't make things difficult for the Crown Prince, please take me back to my courtyard."
Shen Xu was at a loss this time. "Miss Wan, the Crown Prince..."
Before he could finish speaking, Zhao Cong rode out of the palace, dressed in a bright red wedding robe and a gleaming golden crown, appearing at the palace gate like a god descending from heaven.
Everyone knelt down in a sea of black, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Zhao Cong didn't even glance at the Tang family's sedan chair. He dismounted and walked directly to Lin Qingwan's sedan chair, bowing his head and reaching out with his large, well-defined hands.
Her tone was soft, tinged with grievance, "You dare try going back to the courtyard!"
Everyone could tell that the Crown Prince was afraid she would leave.
Lin Qingwan's throat tightened. She saw his outstretched hand through the sedan curtain and remembered the feeling of him massaging her wrist that day. Her thoughts froze.
Zhao Cong continued, "I only just agreed to stay in the capital, to stay by my and Feng'er's side. If you go back on your word..."
"I'm not finished with you!"
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