All was silent before the palace gates.
No one dared to look up, their minds filled with the image of the Crown Prince pleading pitifully for them to stay.
Then everyone understood that the Crown Prince liked her, but she wasn't very willing to enter the palace.
All these years, it's been the Crown Prince who's been coaxing and begging them!
Wow, this dramatic reversal has made everyone feel like they've learned something incredible, and they want to spread it far and wide, but they're also afraid of losing their heads.
After all, who in the entire Great Ning could believe that the Crown Prince held such a humble position in front of Xinjian?
It's all settled now. Miss Wan has rendered meritorious service by giving birth to a child and has the Crown Prince's heart in her grasp. Whether she is the Empress or not is completely unimportant.
The most shocked person was Lin Qingwan.
She seemed frozen inside the sedan chair, unable to move her body or mind.
Zhao Cong heard no sound. Even though his head was lowered and no one could see his expression, his eyes were still slightly downturned. "If you don't want me, do you not want Feng'er either?"
"If he knew you refused to enter the palace, he would cry his heart out."
"I..." Lin Qingwan's voice was hoarse and raspy, as if scraped by a razor blade, "I didn't."
Zhao Cong lifted the sedan curtain and grabbed her wrist with his large hand. "The auspicious time is almost here."
Lin Qingwan was suddenly pulled into his arms, and the crown on her head almost touched the sedan chair, but he quickly caught her.
She rarely dressed so flamboyantly; red is a color that is difficult to wear and can easily overwhelm. She was slender, and her small face, no bigger than a palm, did not appear weak under the headdress; instead, it was offset by the clear and resolute look in her eyes.
Zhao Cong's heart skipped a beat.
Lin Qingwan looked up at him, her big eyes blinking, clearer than ever before.
He helped her hold her crown, letting her see it all she wanted.
Both of them blushed deeply.
Fortunately, this realistic scenario is exactly what's needed at this time.
"Let's go, let's go to the wedding ceremony." His warm breath fell on her, and Lin Qingwan's heart began to flutter.
"I am not the Crown Princess," she said hastily. "The marriage between the Crown Prince and the Tang family is the proper one. It's not a big deal for me to enter through the side door."
Zhao Cong did not let go, staring intently at her in front of everyone. "Miss Tang does not wish to marry. I have already notified Minister Tang and his wife to handle this."
"The Ministry of Rites has made all the preparations. If you don't marry me, who else will?"
"Today is an auspicious day that I have carefully chosen."
The Crown Prince's words betrayed none of his usual cold indifference, only a cautious anticipation. It was as if Tang Yun was merely there for the spectacle, and that his wedding was solely for the purpose of marrying her.
Lin Qingwan was held protectively in his arms, not even glancing at him, how could she possibly refuse?
"good."
Her voice was very soft, but everyone could hear it.
Zhao Cong's eyes suddenly lit up, and he gripped her wrist even tighter.
It seems he had been looking forward to this day for a long time.
Lin Qingwan, dragging her long and elaborate wedding dress, was already panting after only a few steps. Zhao Cong stopped, and she caught her breath, "Crown Prince..."
Unexpectedly, Zhao Cong suddenly bent down, put his arms behind her knees, and picked her up horizontally.
Fortunately, he was tall, and the long skirt behind Lin Qingwan was just at his toes, so it didn't get in his way at all.
Lin Qingwan's surprise came one after another, without stopping.
From the moment she stepped out of the sedan chair, her eyes were glued to him, and now her voice trembled even more violently, "Crown Prince..."
"Shh." Zhao Cong's lips curled into an ambiguous smile. "This isn't the time to talk."
Lin Qingwan's fingers curled slightly as she lowered her head. "Then what would be suitable to do?"
Zhao Cong generously offered his advice, saying, "It's suitable to rest your head against someone's chest."
Lin Qingwan then leaned closer.
It was so stiff that neither of them felt comfortable; the person holding them was tired, and the person being held was also tired.
Zhao Cong was both amused and exasperated, his breath escaping his nostrils with doting affection, "You can bury your face in my arms, that will make you look a little shy."
Lin Qingwan blushed upon hearing this.
But the act of burying her face reminded her of Tong Di, and a pang of sadness struck her, calming her thoughts.
She thought Zhao Cong was really going to take her to the wedding ceremony, but she was worried that the emperor would recognize her, since he had seen her from afar once before in Consort Ning's palace.
However, Zhao Cong took her directly back to the Eastern Palace.
Everyone saw the Crown Prince carrying the little prince's birth mother back to the palace, leaving the proper Crown Princess standing outside. After hearing that Minister Tang and his wife had arrived, the whole family caused another scene in front of the palace gate.
As soon as Lin Qingwan landed, Feng'er rushed into her arms. The child cried and laughed at the same time, "Qingwan, I missed you so much."
Before Lin Qingwan could hug him, Zhao Cong patted Feng'er's head first, "What did you call her?"
Feng'er's eyes lit up, and she called out in a clear voice, "Mother."
Although Lin Qingwan was somewhat prepared, she still couldn't resist the enthusiasm. "Do I really have to call you that?"
Feng'er was very considerate, "Mother?"
All right.
With Feng'er around, the atmosphere wasn't awkward; it felt like a family of three.
At this moment, Shen Xu entered and said, "Your Highness, Vice Minister Tang requests an audience."
Zhao Cong didn't look up. "On my wedding day, what would he want to see at the Eastern Palace? I won't see him."
Shen Xu ran back, and then ran back again a short while later. "Your Highness, Minister Tang has already advised Miss Tang. Should we allow Miss Tang to enter the palace now?"
She couldn't just enter the palace without any problems, and now she has to ask the Crown Prince for permission.
Lin Qingwan glanced at Zhao Cong.
Zhao Cong remained expressionless. "Who can she blame for missing the auspicious time? Out of respect for Vice Minister Tang... I had the Ministry of Rites choose another auspicious time at 3:45 PM, and then let her in."
He hadn't even left the stool; when had he ever seen anyone from the Ministry of Rites?
Zhao Cong looked over abruptly, his gaze locking onto Lin Qingwan. "What are you looking at?"
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