Chapter 19 The Wedding Night
Then the Emperor and Empress spoke, giving their final instructions and admonitions.
"My son, today you are officially appointed and leave my family. I have a few words to say to the Empress. I hope you will remember them."
"The fundamental principles of loyalty between ruler and subject must be upheld, and the proper rites must not be disregarded."
"They are gentle and cautious, and should not be domineering."
"He instructed her to assist her husband's family and bring glory to their lineage."
Empress Du followed closely behind, her voice becoming extremely gentle at this moment.
“My son, remember your father’s wise words. From now on, your clothing and attire must not deviate from the prescribed rules.”
"Expenditure should not be extravagant or excessive."
"Treat your parents-in-law with kindness and filial piety, and be harmonious with your brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law."
...
After listening to her parents' long, rambling words, Huiyi's head started to spin.
After finally enduring the lecture, Huiyi bid farewell to her parents and followed Lin Lanting out of the Lizheng Hall like a wooden doll. When she saw the red silk and gold-decorated Yanzhai carriage not far away, her emotions surged again.
At this moment, she finally realized that she was about to leave home, leave her parents, and go to the home of a man she didn't know well, and that this man was Lin Er.
Overwhelmed by emotions, she stopped abruptly in front of Yan Zhai's car, tears streaming down her face, accompanied by faint sobs.
Lin Lanting was walking beside the willful princess and was the first to notice something was wrong.
The person paused, stopped in their tracks, and then a soft, whimpering sound, like a kitten, could be heard.
Lin Lanting immediately turned his head to look and saw that the person was crying with tears streaming down their face, unable to catch their breath.
Lin Lanting was stunned for a moment, and almost dropped the jade tablet.
Gradually, this anomaly was noticed by others, who all began to peer into the area.
The official in charge of ceremonies noticed it, but he didn't dare to say anything.
It's only natural for a new bride to cry before leaving home.
Moreover, the person in front of him was Princess Chang Le. How could he dare to interrupt and tell the princess not to cry? He carefully chose his words, hoping to coax her into the wedding car first, and then let her cry as she pleased.
"Today is a joyous occasion for the princess, so please don't let your little face get all stained with tears!"
The official tried desperately to persuade her, but found that the princess ignored him completely, only shedding tears and still refusing to get into the carriage.
The official in charge of ceremonies looked at the imperial son-in-law, Lin Erlang, with a pleading expression, almost kneeling down before him.
Aside from the princess's family, the prince consort was the most suitable person in the area to offer words of comfort and advice to the princess.
Lin Lanting then seemed to wake up from a dream, awkwardly approached the willful princess, hesitated for a moment, and said stammeringly, "Don't cry, everyone's watching."
No matter how dangerous the situation on the battlefield was, it was not as troublesome as the scene before him. After holding back for a long time, Lin Lanting could only utter this dry sentence, and for the first time, he felt what embarrassment was.
But his words carried more weight than the official's. The sobbing young woman immediately turned her head and whimpered, "Waaah, I don't want to get married anymore, and I don't want to go to your house. Go back by yourself, waaaah~"
Because he was speaking while shedding tears, he stammered out the sentence, and Lin Lanting listened with great difficulty until the veins on his forehead throbbed.
Listen to what he's saying! On the wedding day, just as he was about to get into the wedding car, he said he didn't want to get married anymore, and then he was told to go back by himself?
Is this human language?
Lin Lanting laughed, his expression revealing a strange quality.
Suppressing the surging emotions in her chest, Lin Lanting moved closer and reached out to grasp her slender shoulder, holding it tightly as if afraid she would turn away and run away.
"I know this marriage is not what either of us wanted, but if you throw a tantrum and call it off now, both our families will become a laughing stock in the world, and the Emperor and Empress will be driven to their deaths by your anger, do you know that?"
"I know you hate me, but don't cause trouble now!"
"Look at all these civil and military officials watching us. If you turn back now, this marriage will be ruined..."
Lin Lanting tried to persuade him earnestly, feeling that even fighting a war was more exhausting.
"Alright, shut up!"
Before anyone could say anything more, the person suddenly cursed, his voice thick with a nasal tone.
Lin Lanting was also annoyed. He slid his hand down and silently grabbed Huiyi's hand holding the fan, ready to prevent her from turning around and running away.
If they wanted to say something more, or simply put the person into the sleigh, they heard the woman muttering to herself.
"What are you babbling about? I'm not really not leaving. I'm just venting and crying a little. Is it really necessary to keep me locked up like this?"
Huiyi flinched, shook off Lin Er's burning hand, and sobbed.
Although she was using the finest makeup today, she was still afraid that her tears would fall on her cheeks, so she lowered her head when she cried, and her tears fell straight to the ground, her eyes as red as a rabbit's.
It's not uncommon for daughters to shed tears when they get married.
However, given the situation with the spoiled princess and hearing such words, it was difficult for Lin Lanting not to be on guard.
Before Lin Lanting could react, her hand was flung away, and she saw the person slowly and deliberately get into the Yan Zhai carriage.
The carriage was yellow, with vermilion-painted wheels, decorated with pheasant feathers, lined with purple lacquer and vermilion, and covered with red brocade. It was a special carriage for princesses when they went out or got married.
After slipping inside like a bird, the brocade curtain fell, concealing everything, and the wedding ceremony returned to calm.
Lin Lanting breathed a sigh of relief, mounted his horse, and led his entourage out of Chengtian Gate and Zhuque Gate, heading towards Chongren Ward, where the Lin family lived.
Before the chariot of the Yan Zhai, forty pairs of screen fans and twenty pairs of candle lanterns led the way, with a hundred guards and a cavalry escort.
Finally, hundreds of palace maids, carrying love knots and spreading red felt, led the way, accompanied by the sounds of silk and bamboo instruments, creating an atmosphere of extreme splendor.
The Lin family's residence, Chongrenfang, was very close to the palace, but this journey allowed Huiyi to compose herself.
Biqing found some ice to apply to Huiyi's eyes, and Huiyi, knowing she had to see people later, obediently did as she was told.
Soon, they arrived at the Lin family's residence.
The master of ceremonies loudly invited the princess to alight from the carriage. Huiyi threw down the ice block, picked up the round fan from the corner, and stepped down from the Yanzhai carriage.
I thought it would be Biqing waiting by the car, but a red figure suddenly appeared. It was Lin Lanting standing there with a half-smile.
With so many people watching, Huiyi reluctantly took his outstretched arm and stepped down.
The matchmaker handed over a red silk ribbon symbolizing unity, and the two of them each held one end, stepping onto the red carpet that was gradually laid out as they entered the Lin residence.
As darkness fell, candlelight bearers crisscrossed to illuminate the way, leading the newlyweds to the green hut that had been prepared in advance in the southwest of the house.
Inside was a tent with a hundred sons, and in the center was a bronze mirror reflecting the image of a newlywed couple who had just entered.
"On this auspicious night, Your Highness and Your Highness have achieved a blessed union. May you live a long and prosperous life together!"
As the matchmaker recited her scattering prayers, she tossed down fruits, coins, and ornaments, her face beaming with joy.
Huiyi covered her face with a round fan, unable to see clearly ahead, only knowing that it was time to look in the mirror and pay homage.
The current wedding custom is that the man kneels but the woman does not. In addition, since she is a princess of the imperial family, she only needs to put her hands together in front of her chest and bow at this time.
Lin Lanting, however, was different.
Huiyi glanced sideways as if watching a joke, seeing the other person huffing and puffing as they knelt down and prostrated themselves.
Even though it was such a trivial matter, Huiyi felt very happy.
Lin Lanting, who had stood up and looked over, caught the undisguised smile and hesitated for a few moments.
He discovered that this spoiled princess was indeed childish and petty, just like a three-year-old child.
When it was time to fold the fan, Huiyi deliberately tormented him, exhausting all the poems Lin Lanting had prepared beforehand. Only when Lin Lanting said with a pale face that he had no more did Huiyi reluctantly let him go.
"You wait."
He left those words with resentment, but Huiyi didn't take them to heart.
Is she afraid of Lin Er?
He wouldn't dare to harm a single hair on her head even if he had eight lives!
Next came the shared meal, the union of the two families, and the tying of the hair.
Despite the solemn and intimate ceremony, Huiyi was facing Lin Er, making every movement of hers extremely awkward.
Lin Er must have been the same; his movements were extremely unnatural throughout. He even forgot to stop when drinking the Heqin wine, and Huiyi's half of the golden gourd was almost pulled away by the other party, making a fool of himself.
"idiot."
Unable to hold back, Huiyi muttered a curse under her breath, and Lin Lanting's face visibly darkened.
When the hair was tied, Huiyi watched with great reluctance as a lock of her hair was cut off, tied together with Lin Er's hair, and placed in a brocade pouch, which was then stored in a brocade box.
She'll have to take her hair back when no one's around, so it won't be mixed up with Lin Er's smelly hair.
Huiyi watched helplessly as the brocade box was taken away.
After doing all this, Huiyi finally entered the new room and got some rest.
Lin Erze still needs to go to the front yard to host a banquet and will not be back for a while.
This was exactly what Huiyi wanted.
As soon as the door closed, Huiyi waved to Biqing and the others, cheerfully saying, "Quick, help me take off my crown, I need to wash up!"
Although she had showered before coming, the weather was hot in June, and after sitting in the carriage all the way and going through such a complicated wedding ceremony, her back was already covered with a layer of sticky sweat.
She couldn't take it anymore.
"The Prince Consort hasn't returned yet. Isn't that against the rules?"
Yu Niang was a cautious and steady person, and she asked a question hesitantly after hearing this.
Huiyi didn't care. It was her wedding night, and there would only be her and Lin Er in the bridal chamber. Why would she be afraid of him?
"Never mind him, just listen to me. This day has been so tiring and hot, I can't take it anymore!"
Ultimately, he sided with his own princess. Upon hearing Huiyi complain of being tired, he immediately stopped talking, took Biqing, and began to undo her hair. He then instructed the Lin family's servants to prepare a hot bath.
After a flurry of activity, Huiyi finally freed herself from all her restraints, took a relaxing bath, and ate a meal.
So when Lin Lanting returned reeking of alcohol, he saw Huiyi reclining on the chaise lounge, soaking her feet and getting a massage.
After closing the door, Lin Lanting took off his wine-smelling outer robe, raised an eyebrow and smiled, "You're resting already? Aren't you going to wait for your husband?"
Huiyi couldn't stand that word and snorted coldly, "If I don't wait, what are you going to do about it?"
She had an arrogant and fearless demeanor, but the spoiled princess certainly had the confidence to back it up.
Who can blame them when she's the apple of the saint's eye?
Thinking of this, Lin Lanting gritted her teeth in resentment, feeling helpless against the other party.
"Nothing much, I was just asking."
Lin Lanting smiled, and his posture became more respectful, which pleased Huiyi greatly.
They're quite sensible.
The sound of water being stirred in the wooden tub reminded him of the stickiness on his body, and he said to Huiyi, "I'm going to take a bath."
"oh."
Huiyi kicked the water around a bit and gave a perfunctory reply, finding Lin Er to be a strange person.
Why bother talking to her about bathing? She didn't tie his hands or feet.
Lin Lanting nodded. As he passed by Huiyi, he heard the clear sound of water. He glanced over unconsciously and his eyes were immediately drawn to her delicate, fair skin.
Unexpectedly small and fair, like soft white porcelain clouds, it was a sight Lin Lanting had never seen before.
It's so different from his.
He was stunned for a moment, but luckily the spoiled princess was so comfortable that she closed her eyes and didn't notice his strange behavior.
On the contrary, her maid looked like she was guarding against a thief.
What a joke! He's a legitimate prince consort!
With a cold laugh, Lin Lanting entered the bathhouse, stripped himself completely naked, and without even getting into the tub, poured a bucket of cold water down his neck, washing away all the dirt and sweat from his body.
Perhaps because the spoiled princess had bathed before him, the bathhouse was filled with an unfamiliar, faint fragrance that smelled somewhat cloying and made him feel uneasy.
Outside, Huiyi, having finished soaking her feet, climbed into bed, complaining about the bright red brocade curtains.
We need to replace this gaudy house completely tomorrow.
"Oh, by the way, bring me the booklet that my aunt gave me today, and then you can go and rest."
She was tired today, and Yu Niang, Bi Qing, and the others were also exhausted. Thinking that there was nothing else to do, Huiyi told them to rest in the afternoon.
Biqing was fine with it, and went downstairs after responding. Only Yu Niang stammered a few words before leaving.
"If you wish to have a harmonious marriage with the prince consort, Your Highness should treat him with kindness tonight."
After saying that, Yu Niang felt that she had said something pointless, so she simply said no more and took her leave.
Huiyi was still in a daze when she saw Lin Lanting emerge from the bathhouse, looking disheveled.
She wore only a thin undergarment, which was still damp from the water droplets that hadn't been wiped off her body. The neckline was open, revealing large areas of skin that gleamed strangely under the lamplight.
Your clothes look terrible, it's really inappropriate!
Huiyi looked away, and said impatiently, "Can't you put your clothes on properly? It's so rude of you to be dressed like this!"
Startled, Huiyi didn't even have time to open the booklet her aunt had given her.
Under the dim light, Lin Lanting looked at Huiyi, who was currently occupying his bed and cursing him, and said with amusement, "I am in my own home, in my own room, what is wrong with dressing like this?"
Huiyi was speechless and unable to refute for a moment.
In order not to lose face, Huiyi wanted to say a few more harsh words, but then she saw Lin Er stride towards the bed.
Huiyi panicked and asked hastily, "What are you doing here?"
Lin Lanting replied matter-of-factly, "Of course I'm here to sleep, just like you!"
The boy's tall figure loomed over Huiyi, who was sitting on the bed, and an overwhelming sense of oppression washed over her, making Huiyi's heart pound and her mind uneasy.
A note from the author:
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Update [heart emoji]
I misjudged; the next chapter will be even more exciting! [heart emoji]
One more thing I need to tell you all: this story is going to be short, it's destined to be short, otherwise it would kill me [crying emoji]
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