Jin Jinzhi reminded Jin Zhuangzhuang and reached out to wipe the dirt off her face.
"Oh dear, brother, there are bugs in the ground, they're bound to get on your face."
"Brother, Zhuangzhuang wants to eat jade bean cake."
"Jadeite Bean Cake? That's something only found in the palace."
"Brother, shall I go buy you some other pastries?" Jin Jinzhi stood up to buy pastries, but then suddenly remembered that Qinxiang Pavilion and Pinxiangzhai would be closed on the first day of the Lunar New Year.
"Sister Duo, she has someone make this for me every morning."
Jin Zhuangzhuang pursed his lips, seemingly feeling that there was nothing there when he returned to his own residence, and there were many things he was not used to.
"Brother, do you have any crickets?" Jin Zhuangzhuang looked up at Jin Jinzhi.
Jin Jinzhi shook her head. In this freezing weather, where would there be any crickets?
“Sister Duo already has them in her palace.” Jin Zhuangzhuang sighed deeply.
Jin Jinzhi was taken aback. In the palace, perhaps crickets were kept in heated stoves so that they could play with them in the freezing winter.
But what ordinary, respectable family would raise crickets in the dead of winter?
Sister Duo, Sister Duo...
Looking at her younger sister, Jin Jinzhi felt that she understood her less and less.
"Brother, you should go now, Zhuangzhuang wants to play by himself."
“Back in the palace, Sister Duo always prepared lots of fun things for Zhuangzhuang.”
Jin Jinzhi sighed. [Was she being rejected?]
It makes me seem a bit superfluous.
"Zhuangzhuang, how about I send you back to the palace in a few days?"
"Go find your sister Duo?"
Jin Zhuangzhuang, who had been squatting on the ground with his butt sticking out, suddenly beamed with joy. "Go find Sister Duo?"
"Brother, let's go now!"
Jin Jinzhi sighed and smiled wryly, truly at a loss with her younger sister.
...
Inside the northwest corner pavilion of the Nanyang Imperial Palace.
After a few days of rest, the palace staff arrived at the eighth day of the month. The weather was getting better and better, and the entire palace began to get busy again.
Shangguan Qin'er pushed open the paper window, letting the sunlight stream in. Listening to the chirping of birds outside, she closed her eyes and felt the warmth around her.
The courtyard was noisy early in the morning, with nannies and maids bustling about making preparations. A few days ago, Yun Beiye had already given instructions that her wedding day was today.
Everyone in the palace was on tenterhooks, and they all had to be careful and meticulous in handling this bestowed marriage, so as not to make the slightest mistake.
"Princess, please sit down. Don't stand by the window in the wind."
What should I do if I catch a cold on my wedding day?
Tuya, the personal maid Shangguan Qin'er brought from Loulan, walked to Shangguan Qin'er's side and closed the window.
"Princess, put on this wedding dress."
Tuya dressed Shangguan Qin'er in a red, fitted dress with a front opening, a satin red robe embroidered with magnolias, flying saucers, and mandarin ducks, and a red gauze overlay.
"I wonder how Father and Mother are doing." Shangguan Qin'er looked out the window, lost in thought.
"Princess, rest assured, the King and Queen are in good health."
Tuya comforted Shangguan Qin'er.
"Oh dear, Princess, why are you still wearing these shoes? This old servant is so worried!"
A shout came from behind her, and Shangguan Qin'er turned around to look.
The old woman inside the building glanced at Shangguan Qin'er's feet, frowned, and helped Shangguan Qin'er to sit down in front of the dressing mirror. She took off her old, light pink embroidered shoes and put on a pair of red satin embroidered shoes with gold thread.
"Thank you for your trouble, Granny."
“Your Highness, you are too kind to this old servant.”
"It is my great honor to be able to escort the princess to her wedding!"
As she spoke, the old woman walked outside, observing whether there was anything that hadn't been prepared properly.
Looking at herself in the mirror, Shangguan Qin'er had delicate features, fair eyebrows, and wore a golden phoenix crown. Several full pearls were embroidered on the front of her dress, and the collar was decorated with exquisite patterns. She smiled faintly, looking absolutely charming.
"Princess, you look so beautiful today!"
Tuya looked at Shangguan Qin'er with a smile.
"Quickly put on this jade bracelet, oh, and take this peach blossom handkerchief too. This pearl hairpin is also nice, but alas, I already have a phoenix crown on my head, so it won't fit..."
Tuya chattered on and on.
"Why are you talking so much today? You're almost as talkative as the old matriarch of the household who's been around for decades."
"Anyone who didn't know better would think it was your wedding day! Look how excited you are!"
Shangguan Qin'er joked, patting her shoulder.
"The princess is getting married, and I am happy for her too."
"Alas, Prince Zelda is likely to be saddened."
Tuya suddenly thought of something, she sighed, her eyes filled with loneliness and sorrow.
"The prince and the princess were childhood sweethearts..."
"Tuya, Zelda's name, don't mention it again."
Shangguan Qin'er turned around, took Tuya's hand, and said seriously.
"Now that we're in Nanyang, let's just stay here peacefully and not think about those unfounded things."
"Yes, Princess."
“Princess, I have heard that the First Prince is an avid reader, and must be a virtuous gentleman.”
"But that day in the main hall..."
"I was too hasty that day in the main hall."
“My father sent me to Nanyang for a marriage alliance, so I naturally have to choose the eldest son of the emperor.”
"This servant understands. This servant just doesn't want the princess to suffer any injustice."
"Since we've already come to Nanyang, why talk about feeling wronged or not?"
"No matter what, I am the legal wife."
"Besides, I don't expect the eldest prince to be devoted to me. I'll be content as long as I can stay in Nanyang safely and not cause trouble for my father and mother."
Shangguan Qin'er tidied the hair behind her ear.
Today is a wonderful day for our wedding. We should be happy and joyful, because this is a once-in-a-lifetime occasion.
...
Inside the Fu Shuang Palace, Yun Duoduo, with the help of A Xiang, tidied her appearance.
Today is my eldest brother's wedding day. As his younger sister, I must give him a proper send-off.
"Royal sister, are you done yet?"
Yun Yishu and Yun Yizhong were waiting outside.
"Almost there!" Yun Duoduo shouted from inside.
"Second brother, do you know what our eldest sister-in-law looks like?"
"It's not like you're getting married, why are you so curious?" Yun Yizhong looked at him with amusement.
As they were talking, Yun Yishu's gaze fell on a lump of flesh on the ground.
The lump of flesh seemed to be digging in the dirt, and its pretty red dress had turned dark red.
"Oh dear, the floor is so dirty!"
Yun Yishu grabbed Jin Zhuangzhuang by the collar and lifted her up.
"Ah, it's you, you silly little thing!"
"Who is the idiot?!" Jin Zhuangzhuang waved his little paws in the air.
"Look at you, you can't even speak properly. If you're not a little fool, then who is?" Yun Yishu looked at her with a smile.
"You're being mean to me!" Jin Zhuangzhuang glared fiercely at Yun Yishu.
"You're finished!"
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