Sun Xingjian was quite adept at changing the subject; with just one sentence, he made Wei Shu forget his desire to rest and ask questions again. After taking a sip of tea, he returned to his Fuqu Pavilion to continue making various preparations for entering the palace the next day.
After being tossed around like a doll by her mother and several maids for several hours, the room finally quieted down. Wei Shuwan glanced at the dress and headdress that had been chosen last, sighed, and turned to go into the bathroom to take a bath.
She fell asleep while soaking in the warm water. Later, Miaoxiang came in and woke her up, helped her wipe her back, changed her nightgown, and went back to bed to sleep.
The next day, at the crack of dawn, Wei Shuwan was awakened by Zi Qiao and began to burn incense, wash, comb her hair, and do her makeup.
This memory overlapped with the day she got married in her previous life, and indeed only that day could compare to it.
Zi Qiao, Miao Xiang, and several maids kept praising her. Wei Shuwan glanced at the bronze mirror in front of her. Indeed, her makeup today was much more exquisite and elaborate than usual, but she couldn't muster any interest in it.
After marrying Li Qingchen, Wei Shuwan knew that such troublesome matters would be inevitable. Every now and then, there would be various things for her to attend to and socialize with. Just thinking about these things made Wei Shuwan feel a little apprehensive.
She enjoys parties and having fun, but what she likes is the carefree and relaxed atmosphere among young women, not something like this.
After boarding the carriage, Sun Xingjian rode ahead on horseback, with Wei Shuwan's carriage following behind. The uncle and nephew headed together towards Daye Palace.
After passing through the Ziying Gate, Sun Xingjian saw Pan Wei, dismounted, and greeted him: "Protector!"
Pan Wei immediately stopped him and said with a smile, "You are now the Marquis of Pingyang County, a third-rank official. How can you still bow to me as you did in the past?"
Sun Xingjian scratched his head and smiled sheepishly. The two quickly skipped the pleasantries and started talking about serious matters at the border.
When Wei Shuwan got off the carriage, she saw her uncle chatting enthusiastically with Protector Pan. Not wanting to disturb him, she was led by a palace maid and left a message before heading to the inner palace.
Although there is no separation between men and women at the annual Thousand Autumns Banquet, and everyone can share in the joy under the emperor's throne, noble ladies and daughters still have to stay in the Noble Ladies' Courtyard before the main banquet begins, and can only enter the Jiying Hall after the banquet starts.
Wei Shuwan followed the palace maid along the endless palace road. The ochre-red palace walls were somber and towering, blocking out the sky above in a narrow strip, making one feel an involuntary sense of oppression.
As they were walking, a eunuch hurried towards them, stopped in front of Wei Shuwan, and nodded slightly: "Madam Wei, His Majesty summons you. Please come with me."
"His Majesty wants to see me?" Wei Shuwan asked incredulously, only then remembering that the reason she was allowed to enter the palace to participate in the Autumn Festival was because His Majesty wanted to meet the Crown Prince's consort chosen by Li Qingchen.
She nodded hastily and followed the eunuch's steps, thus changing her route.
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