The fool has become a spirit, and she can speak

Chapter 1743 You Ning said Hong Jiutong Lao

Shang Xi thought about the half bowl of porridge that Master Wan ate today and also felt strange. "He hasn't been eating much for the past few days, but today he can eat. Is he overjoyed, or is it a final burst of energy before death?"

Yu Hua said firmly, "Of course he's happy! How could he not be happy that his eldest grandson is getting married! The Emperor even allowed the Crown Prince and Hong Jiu to get married at the Prince Pang's residence, which is a great honor for the Prince's residence!"

The next day arrived in the blink of an eye. Cheng Youning, dressed in a red wedding gown, sat in the main hall, with Qiao Rong standing behind her.

Cheng Youning's eyes were half-open and half-closed, and she looked drowsy, as if she was about to fall asleep.

Qiao Rong couldn't hide his joy. He looked down at Cheng Youning, who was dressed in wedding attire, and said, "Your Highness, you look truly magnificent today."

Cheng Youning glanced down at his clothes, then let out a long breath. "Your eyesight is terrible! I look like I'm about to be tortured! Where's the majesty?! Look at those young ladies and servants at the door, they're practically drooling over me!"

Qiao Rong grinned, "That's because everyone likes Your Highness. Your Highness, don't keep such a long face. Today is your special day, smile."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Youning raised her eyebrows. "Don't you know what time I get up? I'm so sleepy, and you're making me laugh."

"Your Highness, please keep your voice down. Today is your special day. Please don't lose your composure and do your best."

Cheng Youning pouted, "I do whatever you tell me to do. Isn't that good enough?"

Qiao Rong grinned, "Your Highness, these are all His Majesty's orders. This morning, His Majesty sent someone over to tell Your Highness to perform well and not to bring shame to the royal family."

"When have I ever lost face? By the way, where have my parents been all this time?"

"The Prince's mansion is packed with guests today, and every seat is taken. The Prince and Princess are entertaining the guests outside!"

At this time, the Hong residence was just as busy as the Pang Prince's residence.

The Hong family hired five makeup artists to do Hong Jiutong's makeup, with the request that the nineteen-year-old Hong Jiutong be made up to look like he was about ten years old. This was quite a challenge for the makeup artists, as they applied thicker and thicker powder, making the makeup more and more elaborate.

Hong Jiutong looked at his reflection in the bronze mirror and was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. "Why did you paint me like this?"

Jingjing, standing to the side, became even more anxious, "We told you to portray our young lady as younger, but why did you make her look older?! How is our young lady supposed to face anyone later?!"

One of the makeup artists said, "How about I fix the young lady's makeup again?"

Jingjing was so anxious she was almost crying. "You've been working on it all morning! You make a couple of strokes, she makes a couple of strokes, and you've already made my young lady's hair twenty-eight! The auspicious time is almost here, how can we possibly have time to fix it anymore!"

Suddenly, Madam Hong rushed into her daughter's room. "Tong'er, are you ready? The bridal sedan chair sent by the Crown Prince is already waiting at the door."

"So fast? Jingjing, hurry, where's my phoenix hairpin?!"

"Isn't the phoenix hairpin on your head? Where did it go?" Jingjing panicked, and everyone in the room panicked as well.

Madam Hong grew anxious, "Jingjing, how come you can't do anything right? Aren't you in charge of keeping Miss's phoenix hairpin? Where is it?"

"Found it, it's here, right under the young lady's butt."

Hong Jiutong took the hairpin and inserted it into her hair in front of the bronze mirror. At this moment, she absolutely could not keep the Crown Prince waiting. As a concubine, according to etiquette, she would not be entitled to the three bows, the bow to heaven and earth, the bow to her parents, or the mutual bow between husband and wife. All the ceremonies would be simplified, and her treatment would be vastly different from that of the future Crown Prince's principal wife. However, her marriage was to bring good fortune to the Pang Prince's mansion, and the Wan family attached great importance to it, not allowing any mistakes to occur.

Hong Jiutong boarded the bridal sedan chair with a secret joy; she was finally getting married at the prime of her life.

Cheng Youning couldn't sit still any longer. "I don't know when Hong Jiutong will arrive. I'm going to go see my grandfather."

"Your Highness, your concubine will be arriving soon. Prince Pang may not want to see you right now. Your Highness should wait a while and go with your concubine to kowtow and serve tea to Master Wan."

Cheng Youning wanted to refute, but then he remembered that taking a concubine this time was to bring good luck to her grandfather, so he sat back down in his chair.

Just as Cheng Youning was taking a nap with her eyes closed, a sound came from outside the door, "Qiao Rong, go and see what's happening outside."

Qiao Rong gently shook Cheng Youning's shoulder and said, "Your Highness, don't sleep, Hong Jiutong must be here!"

"Tea!"

Qiao Rong practically fed the tea directly to Cheng Youning. After a sip of the cool tea, Cheng Youning immediately perked up. "You dare give this prince cool tea?"

Qiao Rong said excitedly, "Your Highness, listen."

A eunuch outside the hall called out in a shrill voice, "Madam Hong, enter the hall—"

Cheng Youning straightened his posture and adjusted his clothes. Even at this moment, he didn't forget to scold Qiao Rong, "Why are you panicking when she comes!"

Qiao Rong's grin widened even more. "I'm happy for Your Highness. I get flustered when I'm happy."

Dressed in red, Hong Jiutong, accompanied by servants, slowly entered the hall and performed the three kowtows to Cheng Youning according to etiquette. Her voice was slightly restrained as she said, "This concubine, Hong, greets Your Highness the Crown Prince. May Your Highness live a thousand years."

Cheng Youning stood up abruptly: "Rise! Come with me to see my grandparents, father and mother."

"Yes!"

Cheng Youning strode ahead, leaving Hong Jiutong several feet behind. Qiao Rong reminded him from the side, "Your Highness, slow down, wait for your concubine!"

Cheng Youning said irritably, "Isn't she supposed to be nineteen? To me, she looks older than my mother. When I walk with her, people think I'm being followed by my mother."

Upon hearing this, Qiao Rong turned around and looked back. He was also puzzled. "She does seem to be a bit old. She didn't seem to look this old before."

Cheng Youning asked Qiao Rong, "When was the last time you saw her?"

Qiao Rong thought for a while: "It seems like it was last year?"

"What did he say last year? A year has passed, and he's already grown old!"

"Achieving immortality in just one year!" Shocked, Qiao Rong didn't believe the Crown Prince's nonsense.

"Hey, I told you long ago that you're all talk and no action, but you didn't believe me. Some people turn white overnight, so what's so strange about her aging herself in a year?"

"Your Highness... what do you mean?"

"What could I possibly mean? It's just a marriage to ward off bad luck. The Crown Prince's residence is so big, surely there's room for her! Hurry up and go see my grandparents, I'm in a rush to catch up on my sleep!"

"Your Highness, on such a joyous day, you're going to catch up on your sleep?"

"What? Is it not allowed?" As she spoke, Cheng Youning's legs moved even faster.

Jingjing, who was supporting Hong Jiutong, was almost in tears. "Miss, this Crown Prince is so inconsiderate! He walks so fast, how are we supposed to keep up!"