Сhаpter 9: А Double Вlеssing оf Imреriаl Mаrriаgеs
Prinсe Duаn quickly knеlt tо beg fоrgivenеss. “Yоur Мajеstу, plеаsе fоrgivе mе. I did nоt intend fоr this to hарpen.”
“It’s just that this datе is a rаre аusрiсiоus day. If wе miss it, we’ll havе tо wаit sеverаl morе months. Xu’еr is аlsо аn imрatiеnt child… Since thе twо уоung lаdies of the Хuе fаmily аre sistеrs, having their grеаt jоуs on the sаmе day сan be соnsidеrеd a dоublе blessing and a wonderful story…”
Нe Liаn rеmаinеd silеnt.
Prinсe Duan might not bе a quаlified subjеct оr a devoted husband, but to Helian Xu, he was a rare and good father.
“If that is the case, then let it be as my royal uncle requests,” He Lian said. “I will issue an edict, bestowing marriage upon Helian Xu, the heir of Prince Duan, and Xue Wan, the adopted daughter of the Pingyang Marquis Estate.”
Prince Duan bowed his head, kneeling in gratitude. “Thank you for Your Majesty’s great grace!”
After Prince Duan left, He Lian stared at the imperial marriage edict, falling silent for a moment.
He absolutely would not allow Huai Jin’s wedding to be inferior in any aspect to that of that old fool Prince Duan’s son!
“Defu,” he suddenly spoke. “I feel the betrothal gift list is still too meager. Go to the treasury again and see what rare treasures are there, add them all.”
Watching as the betrothal gifts were piled on with another twenty-some loads, Defu’s eyes began to twitch.
Oh, his Majesty! It’s just a wedding, not a competition to stuff dowries. There’s no need to empty the national treasury, is there?
If those old fellows in the Censorate found out, they’d probably remonstrate bluntly again, saying things His Majesty doesn’t want to hear… Then His Majesty would get angry, start chopping off heads, and the reputation of a tyrant would spread even further.
It was simply a vicious cycle.
…
On the way back to the estate.
A trusted advisor who had long been Prince Duan’s confidant cautiously spoke up: “Your Highness, there is clearly a more auspicious date in the eighth month. Why must you set our heir’s wedding date for the eighteenth of next month, clashing with the Rui Prince’s day?”
Royal weddings are grand ceremonies with extremely complex procedures, taking anywhere from several months to two or three years.
Now, with only about a month left, it really is too rushed.
The Rui Prince is marrying to ward off misfortune; he’s already so ill, with little time left, so naturally the sooner the better. But for our esteemed prince’s heir to marry his principal consort, there’s no need for such haste.
Prince Duan walked ahead with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression dark as water, his face no longer showing the amiable deference he displayed before the Emperor.
“No need to ask further. This prince has my own considerations.”
“Yes.” The advisor dared not ask more and quickly changed the subject. “Our heir is sincere and pure-hearted. Now that his wish is fulfilled, he will surely be happy. In the future, he will certainly strive diligently, and Your Highness can worry less.”
Thinking of his simple-minded, somewhat foolish son at home who didn’t understand subtleties, Prince Duan heaved a deep sigh.
“I hope so.”
He only hoped that Xue Wan knew what was good for her, would be content with her lot in the future, and treat Xu’er well. Otherwise… hmph!
…
For the Pingyang Marquis Estate, recently it was truly a “double blessing.”
First, the recovered biological daughter was bestowed in marriage to the Rui Prince, who currently enjoyed great imperial favor. Now, the family’s adopted daughter would soon marry the heir of Prince Duan.
Even though the biological daughter was a widow carrying a “posthumous child,” and the heir of Prince Duan was a well-known good-for-nothing, Xue Hongyuan recently still felt triumphant, walking with a spring in his step.
He had been trembling with fear for a long time, not daring to breathe heavily during court sessions, afraid that the Emperor would find fault with him. Now that the wedding dates were set, everything was settled and certain.
Further buoyed by the flattery of his colleagues, he felt that the rise of the Marquis Estate was just around the corner.
As the wedding dates approached, betrothal gifts from both estates began to arrive one after another at the Pingyang Marquis Estate.The betrothal gifts from the Rui Prince arrived first, with a grand procession that stretched as far as the eye could see. Sandalwood chests tied with red silk nearly blocked the entire street.
Onlookers gathered, marveling at the sight.
“Heavens, it looks like half the national treasury has been moved here!”
“The Rui Prince truly lives up to being the Emperor’s most beloved cousin. Such extravagance is rare in the world…”
While some admired, others couldn’t help but voice their envy and bitterness. “Tsk, the Pingyang Marquis’s household is indeed well-bred. A widow remarries while pregnant, a woman of tarnished reputation actually becoming a princess consort—truly unheard of…”
“What’s wrong? Men are allowed to have three wives and four concubines, embracing left and right, so why can’t a woman remarry?”
“Exactly! Even Empress Dowager Dou of the previous dynasty kept male favorites, yet she was still revered by thousands.”
“Besides, the Rui Prince is a sickly man. If the wedding fails to bring him luck, whoever marries him will end up a widow. In my opinion, it’s better to let a widow marry him than to create another widow in the world…”
“That… actually makes some sense.”
Amidst the lively discussions, the betrothal gifts from Prince Duan’s household arrived later. Though they were also lavish and respectable, they paled in comparison to the earlier display.
Prince Duan was indeed the current Emperor’s uncle, but the wedding arrangements for his son could never surpass those of a prince.
As the ceremonial official loudly recited the list of betrothal gifts, which included many rare treasures no one had ever heard of, not only did Xue Wan feel uneasy, but even Xue Hongyuan was stunned and bewildered.
Once again, he realized deeply: the Emperor truly adored this cousin to the core…
Everyone was happy, or at least pretended to be, except for Xue Wan.
Whether from anger or inner turmoil, she caught a cold and fell ill, appearing even more fragile and pitiful.
…
Ning Heng had been living quite comfortably lately.
With A Chan by her side, she had once again become a carefree idler, with clothes handed to her and meals served, not having to worry about anything.
On this day, the Marquis’s household held a family banquet.
Xue Wan looked at Ning Heng, seated above her, and found the sight particularly grating.
Not only was Ning Heng herself dazzlingly eye-catching, but she had recently been accompanied by an unfamiliar face—an exceptionally striking young woman with sharp, intimidating features, said to be her personal maid.
But what kind of maid was this?
As soon as she arrived, everything Ning Heng used was replaced.
Her chopsticks, bowls, and dishes were all different from others’. Before meals, the purple-clad girl would even take out a silver needle to test each dish for poison, her movements so practiced it seemed she had rehearsed them a thousand times.
And Ning Heng, as if accustomed to such service, remained calm and composed, as if it were only natural.
Such extravagance and demeanor nearly made everyone present suspect that this true heiress had not grown up in the countryside but had been raised as a delicate flower in some imperial palace!
Otherwise, why would she put on such a grand display?
The meal proceeded in silence, the atmosphere strangely tense.
Liu Shi felt particularly unsettled. This girl was her own flesh and blood, yet her attitude toward the household felt utterly alien.
Logically, after eighteen years of wandering outside, returning to the household should have stirred some emotions—anxiety, joy, or caution.
Yet she was like an emotionless puppet, always indifferent. She had even refused to change her surname back to “Xue,” as if the Marquis’s household were merely an inn for her to spend the night.
When in the mood, she would wander around for a while, barely speaking a word.Especially two days ago, when Liu Shi wanted to go to the Pear Blossom Courtyard to speak with her, intending to teach her some royal etiquette to avoid missteps after marrying into the royal household and bringing shame to the Marquis’s estate.
Who would have thought that a maid named A Chan would coldly block her at the door, saying, “The young lady is resting and is not receiving guests.”
Since when does a mistress need to announce her visit to her own daughter’s chamber, let alone be stopped? This was simply unheard of!
Yet, faced with the maid’s icy and sharp gaze, Liu Shi felt an inexplicable sense of dread and dared not force her way in. She returned seething with anger.
After leaving the Pear Blossom Courtyard, Mama Gui couldn’t help but mutter.
“Madam, the eldest young lady is truly… You are her birth mother. How could she treat you with such disrespect?”
Liu Shi’s expression darkened, and the already thin bond of mother-daughter affection grew even fainter. “After all, she wasn’t raised by my side since childhood. She can’t compare to Wan’er in closeness and thoughtfulness… Forget it. Since she lacks such manners, there’s no need for me to trouble myself further.”
She waved her hand, her tone tinged with disappointment and detachment. “It seems this mother-daughter bond is nothing more than this.”
Just as Liu Shi was about to visit the bedridden Xue Wan for some comfort, she suddenly heard excited shouts from outside the door.
“Master, Madam, the eldest young master and the second young master have returned!”