Xie Jingchu frowned perceptively.
Since the Ninth Uncle couldn’t fetch the bride himself, such matters had to be entrusted to others.
If it were Shen Yao, she would most likely want Xie Jingchu to go.
How could he not know her little schemes?
She claimed to admire the Ninth Uncle and was determined to marry him, but in reality, these were merely tactics she used to capture his attention.
Today, Xie Changyou’s visit to the palace was likely because she feared he would refuse and had specifically invited him to act as a mediator.
In earlier years, Xie Changyou had always been fond of Shen Yao because he loved the pastries she made.
However, Xie Jingchu would never agree to fetch the bride from the General’s Mansion.
A palace maid brought in tea, and Xie Changyou took it, blew on it gently, and took a small sip.
Without waiting for him to speak, Xie Jingchu frowned and spoke first, “As for fetching the bride, any member of the imperial clan can do it. I have neither the time nor the interest.”
Xie Changyou was slightly taken aback. He raised his head and looked at him with confusion. “But…”
Xie Jingchu glanced at him. “What?”
Xie Changyou swallowed his tea, scratched his head, and carefully chose his words. “Originally, Her Majesty the Empress thought that since the Crown Prince has not yet married, it would be most appropriate for you to fetch the bride from the General’s Mansion on behalf of the Ninth Uncle.”
Xie Jingchu let out a scoff.
What did he say?
“But Miss Shen said it would be better not to trouble the Crown Prince. So, Her Majesty summoned me to the palace and said I could go when the time comes.”
Xie Jingchu suddenly froze.
Shen Yao said she didn’t want him?
He did despise the idea of Shen Yao asking him to fetch the bride, but hearing that she truly didn’t want him didn’t bring him any sense of relief. Instead, it even… stirred a sense of irritation.
Xie Changyou observed his expression, which didn’t seem particularly pleased. He thought hard for a moment and said, “Perhaps Sister Shen feels that you’re usually very busy with affairs, and fetching the bride would be quite taxing. Unlike me, I’m just an idle person with nothing much to do every day.”
Xie Jingchu remained silent.
Xie Changyou sensed the atmosphere growing increasingly awkward. The teacup in his hand seemed to grow scalding hot. Unable to sit still, he set the cup down and stood up. “Brother, I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave now…”
Xie Jingchu responded indifferently with a hum, not bothering to see him out.
Xie Changyou took two steps toward the door but couldn’t hold back some words he wanted to say. He paused, turned back, and said softly, “Brother, about that incident back then… Sister Shen was actually quite innocent. It’s unfair for you to dislike her because of it. Now that things have come to this, you’re not happy, and Sister Shen is also…”
“Xie Changyou.”
Xie Jingchu interrupted him, his brow furrowed and his tone tinged with faint displeasure. “Didn’t you say you had other matters to attend to?”
Xie Changyou didn’t dare to meet his gaze. He lowered his head, muttered a subdued “Yes,” swallowed the rest of his words, and left Donggong.
Soon, the third day of the sixth month arrived—the day of the grand wedding.
The first thing Shen Yao did upon waking was look out the window.
The sunlight was faint, the sky clear and bright, without a trace of rain.
She breathed a sigh of relief. It truly was a perfect day.
She got out of bed, washed, dressed, and did her makeup, sitting obediently before the dressing table as the matrons and maids meticulously attended to her from head to toe.
Perhaps because she had already experienced this once, she wasn’t nervous, and her heart remained calm.
She would simply go through the motions.
Once everything was ready, Xie Changyou arrived.
According to custom, the bride should first be carried out of the house by her brothers from the Shen family. However, most of the male members of the General’s household had already died on the battlefield, and the only one still alive was a five-year-old child. With no other option, Xie Changyou took on this duty as well.
Xie Changyou carried Shen Yao on his back as he slowly walked outward. Amidst the joyful laughter and congratulations, he suddenly whispered, “Sister Shen, Crown Prince brother couldn’t come today.”
Shen Yao was taken aback, not understanding why he would mention such an inauspicious matter on this joyous day.
“He… fell ill. Ever since I returned from the palace that day, brother has been sick and hasn’t recovered yet. The palace has locked down the news, forbidding it from spreading…”
Xie Changyou seemed about to say more, but Shen Yao sighed and said, “Changyou, I haven’t cared about His Highness the Crown Prince for a long time. I know you mean well, but some things, once they’re over, they’re over. People’s eyes are in the front, they can only look forward.”
Xie Changyou felt as if something was stuck in his throat.
Shen Yao gently patted his back, her voice soft, “Today is my wedding day, be happy. Also, next time we meet, remember to call me Auntie.”
Xie Changyou lowered his eyes, feeling both sorrowful and happy.
Outside the General’s residence, drums and gongs filled the air with noise and excitement.
The wedding procession from Jingwangfu had already been waiting for a long time.
This marriage was arranged by His Majesty and organized under the Empress’s direction, making it exceptionally grand.
But whether it was Shen Yao’s imagination or not, she felt that Jingwangfu’s wedding procession today was much more magnificent than Donggong’s in her previous life, as if the Prince’s household had been waiting for this day for many years.
Since Prince Jing remained unconscious, the wedding ceremony was simplified.
After completing the rituals, Shen Yao was escorted to the bridal chamber.
Passing through the courtyard gate, Shen Yao caught a glimpse of the guards on both sides out of the corner of her eye. Their right hands rested lightly on their waists, where iron swords were sheathed.
She had long heard that security at Jingwangfu was strict. Her father once told her that this precisely proved how many people wanted Xie Yuan’s life.
The bridal chamber was spacious and elegantly decorated, filled with the bright red colors of celebration.
In her previous life, Donggong had been far less festively adorned. After drinking the ceremonial wine, Xie Jingchu went to receive guests, leaving Shen Yao alone.
He was gone for a long time, and she sat idly in the room for hours, her neck and shoulders aching under the weight of the heavy phoenix crown, finding it difficult even to breathe.
This life would certainly not be like that, Shen Yao thought as she looked toward the wedding bed.
Xie Yuan lay on his back with his eyes tightly closed.
The Xie imperial family, whether men or women, often produced great beauties.
Compared to Xie Jingchu’s jade-like beauty, Xie Yuan possessed a different kind of sharp, striking handsomeness—cold and aggressive, like a sharp sword sheathed in its scabbard.
“This humble one, Qiushan, pays respects to the Princess Consort.”
A burly man stood guard nearby.
Shen Yao knew him—Xie Yuan’s longest-serving deputy general, who now also seemed responsible for caring for Xie Yuan.
He was blind in his left eye, usually covered with a leather patch. Today, because of the wedding, he had specially replaced it with red silk, looking quite festive.
There were always rumors about Jingwangfu in the outside world. Some said Qiushan was nine feet tall and could eat human flesh raw.
At this moment, Qiushan slightly lowered his head and spoke respectfully to Shen Yao: “His Highness has been unconscious for over half a year. Although he has grown thinner, he is actually doing well… Now, he needs to be fed medicine every morning, and since the weather is hot, his body must be wiped clean every other day.”
Shen Yao remained silent. Qiushan thought she had misunderstood something and hurriedly explained, “These tasks are all handled by this humble servant, no need for the Princess Consort to trouble herself! I have also prepared a bed in the room opposite, where the Princess Consort may rest.”
Shen Yao, however, shook her head.
Qiushan appeared somewhat uneasy. “Then… does the Princess Consort wish to move to a different courtyard?”
Ever since the Prince fell unconscious, Qiushan had arranged for many servants and maids to attend to him, but they always paid lip service while shirking their duties in practice—too lazy to administer medicine or wipe his body, thinking that since the Prince was unconscious and unable to speak, they could simply get by with minimal effort.
In the past, the Prince, bold and unrestrained, had earned the admiration of all. But now that he had fallen into a coma and become “half a cripple,” that admiration had vanished entirely, replaced only by endless disdain.
If even ordinary maids and servants behaved this way, how much more so a young lady from the General’s household?
Though she had married into the Prince’s residence, in the end, she must feel distant from the Prince in her heart, right?
So Qiushan thought.
“There is even less need to change courtyards.”
Shen Yao spoke, her voice soft and gentle, like the mild spring breeze of the third month. “The Prince and I are already husband and wife. There is no talk of separate courtyards or separate beds. From tonight onward, I will share the same bed and pillow with the Prince.”
Qiushan was stunned, his eyes filled with shock.
“It is getting late. Let me remove my makeup and wash up.”
Shen Yao smiled gently, then turned and left.
Thus, she did not see that on the bed, Xie Yuan’s fingers, resting at his side, suddenly twitched.