After those words, more people arrived from the palace—this time not the same group as before, but attendants sent by Empress Dowager Zheng.
Leading them was Nanny Zhao, her face stern and impatient.
Madam Liu, wife of the Vice Minister of Rites, hurried forward.
Nanny Zhao said coldly: “Since His Majesty has bestowed Miss Wei upon the Fifth Prince, she is to be sent to his residence this evening. Prepare her things.”
Even Wei Ruxuan’s expression changed at this.
Madam Liu could hardly believe her ears. But since these were people from the Empress Dowager’s household, she dared not protest loudly. She quickly forced a smile: “Nanny, surely there must be some mistake? Why so rushed? Wasn’t it agreed for later this year? We haven’t even prepared the dowry yet.”
Nanny Zhao sneered: “A secondary consort is, in the Empress Dowager’s eyes, no more than a concubine. Must a concubine enter with eight sedan chairs, music, and fanfare? What dowry? This evening, she will be sent to the Fifth Prince’s residence. She cannot enter through the main gate—she must go through the side door.”
Wei Ruxuan felt the world spin, nearly unable to stand.
Madam Liu was not wrong—everyone had thought Wei Ruxuan’s marriage to the Fifth Prince would be held later in the year. Her wedding robes were not yet finished, nor had the dowry been prepared.
Once Nanny Zhao departed, Madam Liu scrambled to open the storerooms and hastily gather a dowry for Wei Ruxuan.
Wei Ruxuan sat pale and defeated in her chair. She vaguely remembered how the heroine’s wedding had been grand and magnificent—music and celebration, ten miles of red dowry procession, envied by all the girls of the capital. But when it came to her own marriage, she would be carried in a small sedan chair to the Fifth Prince’s residence.
All because of that wretched Emperor! If not for his meddling, how could she have ended up like this?
No wonder, she thought, that in the end the Emperor died in resentment, poisoned to death.
Wei Ruxuan took a deep breath and ordered her maids to help her dress.
Meanwhile, the Duke Zhen’s household was overjoyed. Madam Jiang’s face had already healed from the swelling. After all, the Shao family was a renowned medical household. In earlier times, before their ancestor followed Emperor Taizong to conquer the realm, they had run an apothecary. Even after the family rose to prominence, the descendants never forgot their ancestral teachings and passed down strict family rules.
The Shao family’s medicines were especially effective. In just one day, Madam Jiang’s face lost its redness and swelling. Only the split at the corner of her mouth had yet to heal, which would take a few more days.
But this did not stop Madam Jiang from laughing heartily. Standing beside her, the brothers Shao Junliang and Shao Junshou reported the latest news: “The sedan chair has already left the Wei residence, followed by more than fifty chests of dowry.”
Madam Jiang chuckled. “Oh my, a mere concubine going out in marriage, and they send so many chests of dowry? How shameless!”
Shao Junliang added, “I truly don’t understand what His Majesty is thinking. This Wei girl, engaged to Prince Qin yet secretly consorting with the Fifth Prince—that disgrace should have been punished with death to preserve everyone’s honor. If our family had such a shameless sibling, I’d be the first to ask our ancestors to enforce family law.”
Madam Jiang waved her hand. “Don’t speak so. The girls of our family are all well-bred and proper; they would never commit such disgraceful acts. I’ll go see your sister later and tell her about this—it will cheer her. Have you seen Prince Qin these past days? What sort of man is he?”
Shao Junliang shook his head. “I haven’t met him. Junshou saw him once.”
Madam Jiang grew curious. “And how was he?”
Shao Junshou gave an awkward smile. “I couldn’t speak with him. We haven’t moved in these circles for years, and the noble clans of the capital hardly notice us. At Prince Rui’s residence, a crowd of princes and heirs surrounded Prince Qin. He is strikingly handsome, taller than our Third Master by half a head. Standing there, he was truly imposing.”
Madam Jiang thought for a moment. “That is quite tall. And his temperament? You didn’t exchange a single word?”
Shao Junshou shook his head. “Prince Qin is His Majesty’s favorite son. Ordinary people cannot get close enough to speak. I heard he is difficult to deal with. If our sister marries him, she may suffer.”
Madam Jiang’s brows furrowed.
Shao Junliang quickly reassured her. “Aunt, don’t worry too much. Our sister has always been blessed with good fortune. She will surely turn misfortune into a blessing.”
Madam Jiang sighed. “You boys don’t understand. For us women, marriage is the most important matter under heaven.”
At that moment, messengers arrived from the palace.
Both the Emperor and the Empress Dowager had suddenly bestowed many gifts upon the Wen family’s young lady, saying that since the Duke Zhen had passed away, they feared she might suffer injustice, and so they added to her dowry.
Madam Jiang hurried to bring the Wen girl out, dressed anew to give thanks.
The Emperor’s chief eunuch, Gu Guangliang, looked kindly, his eyes narrowed in a smile as he gently supported Yanyu. “Miss Wen, no need for excessive courtesy. You are now the betrothed of Prince Qin, the future daughter-in-law of His Majesty. It is only right that the Emperor rewards you.”
Yanyu replied softly, “His Majesty’s grace is boundless. This humble daughter is deeply grateful.”
Nanny Zhao, the Empress Dowager’s attendant, looked her over kindly and smiled as she helped Yanyu rise. “The Empress Dowager loves young ladies most. Since your health has improved, you should often enter the palace to accompany her. Will you be free tomorrow?”
Yanyu answered, “These past days I have been taking medicine, and tomorrow the physician will come again for acupuncture. I fear my illness might spread to Her Majesty. Once my health improves, I will certainly attend upon her.”
Nanny Zhao smiled and spoke a few more words before departing with her entourage.
Seeing that Yanyu had not agreed to enter the palace the next day, Madam Jiang finally breathed a sigh of relief.
After they left, Madam Jiang clasped Yanyu’s hand. “Good child, before your marriage, do not enter the palace lightly. Prince Qin’s faction and the Fifth Prince’s faction are mortal enemies. Now that the Fifth Prince has suffered such disgrace, he will surely seek to drag you down with him.”
Yanyu nodded. She understood well. Though her health had indeed improved, she could not let it be known.
The waters of the capital ran deep—one careless step could drown a person.
The Emperor’s gifts were mostly gold, silver, and jewels. Empress Dowager Zheng sent pastries, fruits, and tea.
Madam Jiang had already prepared Yanyu’s dowry these past days, and now ordered the Emperor’s gifts to be placed among the dowry chests.