The two matrons exchanged a glance, and at once became deeply reticent.
It turned out that they had merely happened upon someone who looked alike. In order to resolve the Wuning Marquis’s Residence’s predicament, it had taken Madam only a moment to think of how to bluff the little girl.
Nanny Liu thought, Even I was fooled!
The Marquis of Wuning suddenly turned back. “As for what happened today…”
The two matrons hurriedly bowed. “We would never dare reveal a single word. If this gets out, may this old woman’s mouth and hands rot, and may none of our children or grandchildren meet with a good end!”
The Marquis of Wuning gave a faint “Hmm,” then said to Chu Zhen, “Go back and continue pretending to be your loving mother. Make sure you give her all the instructions she needs.”
He lifted his chin. “She looks like a maid, so it’s inevitable that she’ll seem somewhat provincial. Don’t let her offend someone at the Commandery Prince’s Residence. Otherwise, they’ll blame our Wuning Marquis’s Residence for failing to educate her properly.”
Chu Zhen’s tone was displeased. “I know.”
She led the others back while issuing orders. “After the wedding banquet, if anyone from another residence sends someone to ask, say that we have never seen a maid like this.”
After all, no one would pay attention to a maid.
*
Cheng Nianying undressed by herself and carefully hid every item she carried close to her body inside a box.
The maid had just brought the box over, saying that it contained the private money Madam had prepared for her.
There was even a small lock hanging from the outside of the box, making it perfect for hiding things.
It was made of huanghuali wood, with carvings on either side depicting magpies perched on plum blossoms and a qilin delivering a child. It was an exceedingly exquisite object.
Cheng Nianying had never owned anything fine, and she lovingly ran her fingers over it twice before the maids pressed her down to comb and dress her hair. Everything was done in a great hurry.
“All right, all right. Hurry and put on the veil.”
The maids all rushed to help Cheng Nianying out of the room.
“Young Master! Here.”
Cheng Nianying could not see anything. Lowering her gaze, she could see only a pair of cloud boots.
“Elder Sister, I’ll carry you out of the bridal chamber.” After saying this, the owner of the cloud boots turned around and carried her on his back.
It was wonderful to be the legitimate daughter of the Wuning Marquis’s Residence.
She lived in a large room, had both a father and a mother, and even when she married, her family carried her out.
In the assassin organization Cheng Nianying belonged to, where was there such a thing as “marriage”? One either died or was sold.
“Elder Sister, don’t be afraid.” The owner of the cloud boots lowered his voice and coaxed her again.
Then, step by steady step, he carried Cheng Nianying to the bridal sedan.
This young master of the Marquis’s Residence did not leave immediately. Instead, he choked up from beside the sedan and said, “Elder Sister, take care.”
Chu Zhen came down the steps and pushed her son to one side.
Then she forced a frightened smile at the wedding procession and explained, “The siblings are deeply attached to each other, so he’s reluctant to part with her.”
The wedding procession from the Commandery Prince’s Residence stretched the entire length of the street.
Because the Emperor had specifically issued an order, the carriages, accompanying palace servants, musicians, and guards all exceeded the regulations for a commandery prince’s wedding. The spectacle was truly magnificent.
It was clear how much importance the Emperor placed on this marriage.
It was just that the commandery prince was seriously ill, so today it was his cousin, Fu Ruiming, who had come in his place to escort the bride.
Fu Ruiming served in the Imperial Guard Command and was a genuine confidant of the Son of Heaven.
He did not even dismount. In a cold tone, he said, “It’s fine. If there’s anything to say, say it quickly.”
How could Chu Zhen dare say anything else?
Thinking that a maid ought to understand the rules best, she simply waved her hand. “Raise the sedan.”
At that moment, however, the curtain beside the sedan was lifted from within by Cheng Nianying.
She stretched out her hand. “Give me the box. I’ll hold it myself.”
Chu Zhen froze for a moment. “Quickly, quickly, give it to the young lady.”
Cheng Nianying hugged the box to her chest again. Feeling completely at ease, she leaned against the side of the sedan and began to rest.
She did not know that outside, Fu Ruiming took another look at the sedan.
This legitimate daughter of the Marquis’s Residence did not seem as unwilling as the rumors claimed.
Fu Ruiming gave the palace servant a meaningful glance.
The palace servant immediately called out in a ringing voice, “Raise the sedan!”
Music began to play. Gold and silver paper flowers were tossed high into the air before drifting back down, and the procession set off.
*
The Commandery Prince’s Residence.
The Emperor came all the way through the covered corridor, while the servants filling the courtyard hurriedly bowed before they could even do so properly.
“How is the commandery prince today?” he asked as he entered the room.
The old nanny bowed and replied, “A little better.”
“You always say he’s a little better, yet he couldn’t even complete the wedding rites. On this auspicious day, he alone, the master of the house, cannot partake in the festivities.” Deep wrinkles furrowed the Emperor’s face as he let out a heavy sigh. “It’s all my fault!”
“As long as Your Majesty is safe, that is all that matters. The assassins are the ones to blame. How could a subject presume to hold Your Majesty accountable?” A voice came from behind the screen.
Though the voice was weak, it still possessed a metallic resonance that could not be concealed.
Hearing it, the Emperor hurried around the screen. “Huaiyan, you’re awake?”
The Commandery Prince Danshuo’s personal name was Fu Yi, and his courtesy name was Huaiyan.
“Dan” signified utmost sincerity. “Shuo” signified a beginning, as well as the meaning of being the foremost of all.
The Emperor had bestowed such a title upon him in the past, which showed his status.
“Yes. I should at least go and meet the bride.” The Commandery Prince Danshuo acknowledged him.
He was sitting propped up against the bed, already dressed in his wedding robes.
He was just as his name suggested, as though he had gathered every beautiful word in the world into one person. He was peerlessly handsome, with an imposing and radiant bearing.
Moreover, his talents were exceptional. He was skilled at handling state affairs, and in recent years his position had grown increasingly honored and prominent.
If not for the serious injuries he had suffered while saving the Emperor, how could it have been the Wuning Marquis’s Residence’s turn to form a marriage alliance with him?
The Emperor said solemnly, “The Wuning Marquis’s daughter is somewhat lacking. But the Marchioness of Wuning has four sons and one daughter, so her family line is flourishing. Her younger sister is also very capable when it comes to raising children. I thought that, with such a family tradition passed down through the generations, she might be able to give you descendants sooner.”
“I understand Your Majesty’s painstaking intentions.” Fu Yi displayed a standard smile.
“That’s good, that’s good.” The Emperor relaxed. “Today, I presided over the wedding banquet in your place. You should focus on recuperating.”
He ordered someone to set down the precious medicinal herbs he had brought, and only then did he leave.
After the Emperor had gone far away, Fu Yi’s trusted aide finally came before him. Unable to hide his shock, he said, “Master, shouldn’t this legitimate daughter of the Marquis’s Residence have died in her chambers? How is it that she was still sent here to marry into the Commandery Prince’s Residence?”
Fu Yi covered his lips and gave a light cough. His expression was gentle, but his eyes were utterly indifferent.
“Since she has come, let her stay. The position of Commandery Princess must be occupied by someone.”
His trusted aide frowned. “But this daughter of the Wuning Marquis has another man in her heart…”
“If she isn’t allowed to leave the residence, what trouble could she possibly cause?” Fu Yi said mildly. “Tell me after she has completed the wedding rites and entered the bridal chamber.”
“Yes.”
The Emperor had already taken his seat in the place of honor at the front, and Cheng Nianying was also helped to the ceremonial hall.
The Commandery Prince Danshuo was ill, after all, not dead.
His cousin Fu Ruiming could escort the bride in his place, but he could not perform the wedding rites for him.
Thus, Cheng Nianying alone held the red silk and obediently first bowed to Heaven and Earth.
“Second bow: to the Son of Heaven,” the master of ceremonies called.
The Son of Heaven? That meant the Emperor, right?
Under her veil, Cheng Nianying blinked, then bowed deeply.
She was nothing more than a blade of grass, a person wanted by the authorities, yet she had unexpectedly been fortunate enough to see and bow to the Emperor! She had never even dared imagine such a thing before.
This marriage must be extraordinarily important.
It had to be extremely, extremely good!
Then, once the legitimate daughter of the Marquis’s Residence recovered, she could return it to her.
Yes, and as for her… regardless of whether the Marquis’s Residence considered her family or not, it would be good if they could give her some money. Then she would be able to ransom herself from the organization.
Thinking this, Cheng Nianying felt that she had found a new goal in life!
Thus, she happily turned around and, amid the master of ceremonies’ calls, completed the “worship between husband and wife” toward the empty air.
The Emperor watched her straighten up with satisfaction. Although she was a little slender, she looked full of vitality.
The Emperor spoke. “Bestow the rewards.”
“His Majesty bestows ten ingots of gold, two jade ruyi, four bolts each of Heavenly Splendor Brocade and Flower-and-Butterfly Variegated Treasure Brocade, one hundred sheets of silver squirrel fur…”
As Cheng Nianying listened to the long list being recited, she clenched her fingers.
Whom would these things belong to?
It would be wonderful if they belonged to her.
When the palace eunuch finally finished reading, a nearby nanny pressed Cheng Nianying down to express her gratitude. Then several palace servants rushed over together and hurriedly helped her away.
“Commandery Princess, please sit here.” The nanny pressed her down onto a stool, then instructed her, “The commandery prince has not arrived yet, so the veil cannot be lifted.”
As an assassin, the thing Cheng Nianying had learned most was patience.
Thus, she obediently nodded.
The nanny smiled in satisfaction. “Please wait here for the commandery prince.”
Then she led the others out.
Wait? Wait for that commandery prince?
Cheng Nianying was very hungry.
Fortunately, she had always been able to endure hunger. She licked her lips, then began worrying about another matter.
Would she have to substitute for the legitimate daughter of the Marquis’s Residence and consummate the marriage with the commandery prince tonight?