Inside the Zichen Palace, Yun Beiye wore a sorrowful expression.
Zhao Zhongquan poured a cup of tea and presented it to Yun Beiye. "Your Majesty, is it because the Ninth Princess is about to get married?"
"Are you reluctant to part with it?"
Yun Beiye shook his head. "I am at ease knowing that Duoduo has married into the Jibei Prince's Mansion."
"I just saw this memorial. There's trouble again in the northern border and with Wusun. They're really a handful..."
Yun Beiye threw the folded document in his hand onto the table.
“In the northern border region, when Lao Jin was in charge, there weren’t many problems. He has experience in this matter.”
"But tomorrow, I'm marrying off my daughter, and his son is getting married. It wouldn't be right to let Old Jin lead the Zhenbei Army there, would it?!"
“If the father goes, his son will definitely have to go with him.”
"That Duoduo's marriage..."
"Alright then, Zhao Zhongquan, issue my decree to send Xue Guangjin and Xue Deyi to the northern frontier!"
Yun Beiye was about to write the imperial edict when he paused, suddenly remembering that Yun Duoduo's wedding was tomorrow, and the capital city could not be left unattended. Xue Deyi was the garrison commander of the capital, and the security of the city was under his jurisdiction.
"Forget it, Xue Deyi still needs to patrol the capital. Let's send Xue Deyi and Xiao Jinyu together!"
...
The next morning, the courtyard was noisy from early morning, with the chirping of birds outside the window and the busy sounds of palace maids and eunuchs mixed together.
"Be careful, everyone, and pay attention while you're working!"
"This is the Ninth Princess's wedding. Watch your claws, or you'll lose your heads!"
The steward of the Imperial Household Department, Gong Gong, shouted in a high-pitched voice, which seemed to have become somewhat hoarse.
Yun Duoduo was always very curious: the eunuchs of the Imperial Household Department always spoke in such a high-pitched voice, didn't their throats hurt?
When cleaning or repairing the palace, people had to shout at the top of their lungs. When the imperial kitchen prepared and served food, they also had to shout at the top of their lungs. Now, with her wedding, the palace was in complete chaos.
The palace maids outside the palace were busy making arrangements, while the palace maids inside the shop were busy helping Yun Duoduo dress and do her makeup.
Dongshuang and Qiuju walked to Yunduoduo's side, closed the window, and dressed her in the red wedding dress prepared by Jinjinzhi, putting on a red robe embroidered with mandarin ducks and a shawl over her shoulders.
Ah Xiang dressed Yun Duoduo in a pair of red satin shoes embroidered with gold thread, styled her hair into a beautiful bun, and put on a crown studded with pearls and jade.
"Ah Xiang, don't rush, there's still time. It's not the auspicious time yet, look how anxious you are, you're even sweating!"
Yun Duoduo felt a little dizzy watching Ah Xiang walk back and forth in front of her.
"Yes, this servant will not leave. This servant has annoyed the princess."
Yun Duoduo smiled and patted A Xiang on the shoulder.
"Princess, today is a joyous occasion. Once the veil is on your head, you must not take it off yourself!"
Granny Liu placed the veil on the dressing table.
"We must wait for the prince to arrive so that he can personally lift the veil; that would be auspicious."
"Granny Liu, you've said this over a hundred times already."
"Don't rush around like that. My hand shakes when you talk, and if it shakes, I'll draw the princess's eyebrows crooked!"
Ah Xiang said angrily.
"Ah Xiang, Granny Liu, don't be too nervous."
Yun Duoduo chuckled. Today was her wedding day, but the people around her were more nervous than she was.
Soon, Ah Xiang calmed down and began applying rouge and powder to Yun Duoduo.
Yun Duoduo looked at herself in the mirror. Her eyebrows were delicate and her face was exquisite. She wore a golden phoenix crown, and several full pearls were embroidered on the front of her dress. The collar was decorated with delicate patterns. She smiled faintly and was truly charming.
Wow, this glittering gold, and these large, lustrous white pearls.
So beautiful!
"Your Highness, you look absolutely stunning!"
"Quickly put on this jade bracelet engraved with lilies, may you have a long and happy marriage..."
Ah Xiang kept chattering away.
Even the usually composed Winter Frost showed a happy expression on her face today.
"Ah Xiang, can you please shut up for a bit? The princess has to step over the saddle and the fire basin later. Your incessant chatter is giving me a headache!"
Granny Liu patted Ah Xiang on the shoulder.
"Yes, yes, I'll shut up, okay?!"
Yun Duoduo patted their hands.
With everything prepared, Yun Duoduo went to bid farewell to the Empress Dowager, Yun Beiye, and Empress Zhaoyuan.
The family couldn't help but shed tears, but the Empress Dowager said that this was a joyous day and the family should be happy. Only then did Empress Zhaoyuan and Yun Duoduo stop crying.
When the auspicious time for her wedding arrived, Dongshuang helped Yunduo put on the red veil, and the wedding procession left the palace in a grand procession.
Yun Duoduo noticed that behind the wedding procession were eunuchs carrying the dowry. Six carriages were used to transport the dowry, and red cloth and red flowers were hung on the carriages and horse bridles. Boxes of dowry were continuously being loaded into the carriages.
Pearls from the South China Sea, glass from Northern Chu, rubies from the Western Regions, jade from the Northern Desert, gold bars from Western Zhou...
How impressive!
Waaah, my grandmother and father must have been worried I wouldn't have enough money, so they gave me such a huge dowry!
The Empress Dowager and my father have been so good to me!
Yun Duoduo felt a warmth in her heart; this must be what it feels like to be cared for!
The Empress Dowager not only found two personal maids, Dongshuang and Qiuju, to serve her as her dowry maids, but also ensured that she had trustworthy people by her side and guidance in everything she did.
Fearing she would have difficulty managing money after marrying into the Prince of Jibei's household, they prepared such a generous dowry for her.
...
After returning to Shouchang Palace, the Empress Dowager stood by the window and watched the maids and eunuchs count the dowry and carry it away to the Prince of Jibei's mansion, box by box.
Standing behind the Empress Dowager, Zhang Mama couldn't help but ask, "Empress Dowager, are you planning to move the Shouchang Palace there?"
"The dowry sent out from the palace is truly making everyone inside and outside the palace green with envy."
Granny Zhang couldn't help but sigh.
The best items from the palace were first sent to the Empress Dowager's Shouchang Palace, then to Yun Duoduo's Fushuang Palace, then to Empress Zhaoyuan's Zhaoyang Palace, and finally to the concubines in the palace. Each year, only a few items were given as rewards.
"The gold, silver, jewels, and rare items that His Majesty the Emperor presented to you have all been included in the princess's dowry!"
"I'm an old woman now. Those red, green, yellow, and glittering gold items, no matter how beautiful they are, are no longer of use to me."
“This girl has encountered many things since leaving the palace, and there are places where she needs money.”
"Besides, I don't care what people inside and outside the palace think."
“These princes all have their own mothers, and naturally their mothers will make plans for them. I only need to prepare my share.”
"But what about Duoduo? Duoduo has nothing, so naturally I have to worry about her more."
...
Inside the Zichen Hall.
Yun Beiye felt his eyes welling up with tears. He instructed Zhao Zhongquan, "Prepare brush and ink. Today is Duoduo's wedding day, such a joyous occasion, I shall grant a general amnesty!"
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