Late Spring, Fourteenth Year of Yong’an
The day Xiao Shuwan was married, the heavens were on her side. The sky was clear and stretched endlessly overhead.
She began dressing before dawn.
Her maid, Cui’er, carefully brought over her wedding gown—a magnificent crimson robe woven with gold thread, embroidered with a phoenix soaring among peonies. Every stitch shimmered brilliantly in the morning light. Xiao Yuanshan had spent two thousand taels of silver to commission it from Suzhou. There wasn’t another wedding dress like it in the entire capital.
“Miss, you look absolutely stunning today,” Cui’er praised.
Xiao Shuwan examined herself in the bronze mirror, a faint smile curving her lips.
Reflected in the mirror was a breathtakingly beautiful face—arched brows like distant mountains, vermilion lips, and the jeweled ornaments of her phoenix crown swaying gently beside her temples.
She had used the finest rouge and the most expensive brow powder. Every stroke of her makeup had been applied with meticulous care.
After today, she would become Princess Ning.
She would walk the same path Xiao Guiwan had in her previous life—but she would walk it better.
When Prince Ning ascended the throne, she would become Empress, Mother of the Nation, exalted above all others.
The thought of Xiao Guiwan only improved her mood.
The people she had sent to spy on Xiao Guiwan had reported that the couple had already consummated their marriage.
Good.
The wife of a mud-legged peasant would spend the rest of her life buried in the dirt.
“The bridal sedan is here! The bridal sedan is here!”
A servant’s shout rang out from the front courtyard.
Taking a deep breath, Xiao Shuwan lowered her red bridal veil. Supported by the matchmaker, she stepped out of her chamber.
The gates of the Xiao residence stood wide open. Firecrackers exploded in rapid succession, scattering red paper scraps into the air.
Xiao Yuanshan stood at the entrance in a newly tailored robe, beaming with delight, while Madam Zhou smiled through tears beside him.
But when the bridal procession appeared at the end of the street, Xiao Yuanshan’s smile froze.
The sedan chair in the middle of the procession wasn’t the grand eight-bearer bridal sedan.
It was merely a small sedan with blue curtains.
Although it was slightly larger than those used by ordinary families and had brand-new curtains, it was nowhere near the standard befitting a prince’s consort. There wasn’t an eight-bearer sedan—not even a proper official four-bearer sedan.
The surrounding townsfolk immediately began whispering.
“Why is it such a small sedan? Prince Ning is marrying his princess, yet there’s not even an eight-bearer sedan?”
“Haven’t you heard? Prince Ning’s estate was robbed not long ago! Their treasury was completely emptied. They say every last piece of gold, silver, and jade was stolen. The estate is practically dirt poor now. How could they afford a grand bridal procession?”
“Really? Even a prince’s estate can be robbed?”
“Absolutely true! My cousin works at the prefectural office. He said the thieves came and went without anyone noticing. The treasury was emptied overnight—not even a feather was left behind. They still haven’t caught the culprit.”
“Tsk… then won’t this bride suffer after marrying into that household?”
Half of Xiao Yuanshan’s face darkened.
He had naturally heard about the theft at Prince Ning’s estate. He had assumed the rumors were exaggerated.
He never expected the prince to be so impoverished that he couldn’t even provide the proper wedding ceremony for his own princess.
But the imperial decree had already been issued, and the marriage contract had been signed.
There was no turning back.
Grinding his teeth, he forced a smile.
The estate steward stepped before Xiao Yuanshan and bowed politely, his tone neither warm nor cold.
“Lord Xiao, His Highness is unwell and cannot personally come to fetch the bride. He has sent this humble servant in his place. Please have the bride board the sedan.”
Unwell.
Xiao Shuwan’s brow twitched sharply.
In her previous life, when Prince Ning had married Xiao Guiwan, he had personally come.
Although he had ridden in a soft sedan and looked pale, he had still come himself.
So why had it become “too unwell to personally receive the bride” when it came to her?
Suppressing her displeasure, she reminded herself that Prince Ning had always been sickly. It wasn’t unusual for him to be bedridden.
Xiao Guiwan had simply been fortunate enough to marry him on one of his better days.
She couldn’t let such a trivial matter shake her composure.
The matchmaker helped her into the sedan.
As the curtain fell, she heard Xiao Yuanshan’s awkward laughter behind her.
“His Highness is in poor health. Sending someone to receive the bride is already a great courtesy. Quite understandable, quite understandable.”
Closing her eyes, Xiao Shuwan took a deep breath.
It’s fine.
Once I enter Prince Ning’s estate, everything will get better.
She remembered her previous life.
She knew Prince Ning would recover.
She knew he would ascend the throne.
She knew he would rule the empire.
All she had to do was wait patiently, care for him well, and when he recovered…
She would become Empress.
The small sedan swayed along for more than half an hour before finally arriving at Prince Ning’s estate.
Supported by attendants, Xiao Shuwan stepped out, crossed the ceremonial brazier, and entered the main hall.
The hall was eerily quiet.
There were no guests.
No wedding banquet.
Only a few estate servants stood silently in the corners, watching her with expressionless faces.
One person sat in the place of honor.
It wasn’t Prince Ning.
It was a woman in her forties, dressed in a dark blue jacket with a simple silver hairpin. Her features were stern and her gaze indifferent.
“This is Nanny Lu of the Prince’s Estate,” the steward introduced. “His Highness is unwell and cannot perform the wedding rites. Nanny Lu will preside over the ceremony on his behalf.”
Standing beneath her red veil, Xiao Shuwan stiffened.
Cannot perform the wedding rites?
In other words…
There wouldn’t even be a formal wedding ceremony?
In her previous life, Xiao Guiwan had at least gone through the wedding rites.
“This is according to protocol,” Nanny Lu said evenly. “His Highness is in poor health and must not overexert himself. Newlywed Madam, please do not overthink it. Kindly proceed directly to the bridal chamber.”
Xiao Shuwan bit her lip so hard her fingernails dug into her palms.
Endure.
I’m here to become Empress—not to argue over petty slights.
Prince Ning is ill. That’s simply the truth.
She couldn’t hold a sick man accountable.
The matchmaker escorted her into the bridal chamber.
The room itself was beautifully decorated.
Bright-red Double Happiness characters adorned the windows. Dragon-and-phoenix wedding candles burned brightly. The bed was covered with a quilt embroidered with blessings for countless descendants, and the pillows featured mandarin ducks playing upon the water.
But the room was empty.
There was no groom.
Xiao Shuwan sat on the edge of the bed and waited.
A quarter of an hour.
Half an hour.
An entire hour.
The wedding candles had burned halfway down.
The door never opened.
Her legs had gone numb.
Her back ached.
The heavy phoenix crown made her neck throb with pain.
Hidden beneath the bridal veil, she couldn’t see anything.
She could only hear the occasional chirping of insects outside the window.
Finally…
Footsteps approached.
Xiao Shuwan immediately straightened her back.
The door opened.
But it wasn’t Prince Ning.
It was Nanny Lu, followed by two maids carrying a tray.
“Please eat first, Newlywed Madam,” Nanny Lu said, as though merely completing another routine task.
Lifting one corner of her veil, Xiao Shuwan looked at the tray.
A bowl of plain rice porridge.
Two small side dishes.
It was so meager that even the servants’ meals back at the Xiao residence were better.
“Where is His Highness?” she asked, keeping her voice remarkably calm.
“His Highness is unwell and has already retired for the night,” Nanny Lu replied expressionlessly. “After you’ve finished your meal, you should also rest early. Tomorrow morning, you must enter the palace to offer thanks for the imperial grace.”
Xiao Shuwan’s face instantly turned pale.
On their wedding night…
The groom had already gone to bed?
Then what was she?
She abruptly stood up, nearly knocking her phoenix crown off.
“I want to see His Highness.”
Her voice rose several degrees.
Nanny Lu looked at her with calm, indifferent eyes, as though she were watching an immature child throwing a tantrum.
“Please do not upset yourself, Newlywed Madam,” she replied without the slightest trace of servility. “His Highness’s health is frail and cannot withstand any disturbance. The imperial physicians have instructed that he must rest quietly and avoid exertion. This old servant will convey your sentiments to His Highness.”
With that, she gave a slight curtsy, turned, and left with the maids.
The door shut behind them.
Xiao Shuwan stood frozen, trembling uncontrollably.
She looked down at the bowl of porridge.
Suddenly, she swept it violently onto the floor.
The porcelain shattered, its sharp crash echoing through the empty room.
“Why…” she whispered, her voice shaking.
“Why…”
When Xiao Guiwan had married into this estate in her previous life, Prince Ning hadn’t consummated the marriage either.
But at least he had been present.
At least they had bowed before Heaven and Earth.
At least he had given her the dignity she deserved.
So why…
Why did she receive nothing?
She collapsed onto the edge of the bed.
Her phoenix crown tilted crookedly.
Her carefully arranged hair came loose.
Her red bridal veil slipped onto the floor, where a shard of broken porcelain sliced a long tear through it.
Cui’er crouched silently to clean up the fragments, scarcely daring to breathe.
Night deepened.
Prince Ning’s estate fell completely silent.
Xiao Shuwan lay alone on the large wedding bed covered with the quilt symbolizing countless descendants.
The space beside her was empty.
The quilt was newly made, soft as clouds.
The pillows were freshly sewn, carrying a faint floral fragrance.
Yet no matter how fine they were…
They couldn’t warm an empty bed.
She stared blankly at the canopy overhead, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
Her thoughts were in complete turmoil.
One moment she pictured Xiao Guiwan sitting upon the Empress’s throne in her previous life.
The next, she remembered today’s shabby little sedan chair.
Then Nanny Lu’s stern, emotionless face.
The beginning had been the same.
So why had everything turned out differently once it became her turn?
Could it be because Xiao Guiwan cured Prince Ning earlier?
No.
That couldn’t be right.
In her previous life, Xiao Guiwan had only begun treating him after entering the estate.
Prince Ning had also been extremely weak on their wedding day.
Yet he had still given her the basic courtesies due to a bride.
He had personally come to receive her.
They had held the wedding ceremony.
The next day, they had entered the palace together to offer thanks.
But what about her?
No groom to receive her.
No wedding ceremony.
No consummation.
She hadn’t even seen his face.
Something was wrong.
Something had clearly changed.
Biting her lip, Xiao Shuwan turned over and buried her face in the pillow.
Suddenly, she remembered something.
In her previous life, when Xiao Guiwan married Prince Ning, the prince’s mother had still been alive.
Though she had also been in poor health, she had at least been able to uphold the dignity of the royal household.
But in this life…
The prince’s mother had passed away the previous winter.
“It’s alright…” she whispered into the darkness.
“As long as I cure his illness, everything will get better.”
“He’ll be grateful to me…”
“He’ll treat me well…”
“He’ll make me Empress…”
She repeated those words over and over, as though trying to convince herself.
Only after a long while did she finally drift into an uneasy sleep.