jdhmnovel Chapter 186 Li Hongzhuang
Chapter 186 Li Hongzhuang
Prince Duan rolled his eyes at him: "There are no 'what ifs' anymore. She has chosen me now, hasn't she? Today, I'm just too excited and thrilled. I can hardly believe that Zisu is going to be my bride! So, I'm a little nervous and want to go see her, say a few words to her, and confirm her feelings!"
Dongfang Han rolled his eyes at him: "Look at you, so pathetic. Princess Yulin is definitely your bride. You're not dreaming, it's real! You even had to ask the Emperor for a marriage decree!"
"Yeah, I know, I just can't quite believe it!" Prince Duan chuckled foolishly.
Song Mo couldn't help but shake his head and smile.
In the end, Prince Duan did not get his wish and was unable to meet Zisu.
After lunch, both the wedding procession and the wedding party set off.
The dowry was carried out of the General's mansion, one load at a time.
Shangguan Mufeng and Madam Yu prepared a large dowry for Zisu, which, together with the nearly two hundred loads of betrothal gifts originally sent by Prince Duan, truly made it a magnificent ten-mile-long red bridal procession.
The groom rode a tall horse adorned with red ribbons, followed by a bridal sedan chair carried by eighteen men. Behind the sedan chair were the bride's maids and servants, as well as her sisters who accompanied her, such as Hua'er, Fang Qiong, Yue'er, and three cousins from Wuliping. Further behind them was the ten-mile-long procession of red bridal procession.
From the General of the Protectorate's Mansion to the Prince of Duan's Mansion, it would take about an hour to walk along the busiest street in the capital. A grand procession of ten miles of red bridal procession naturally couldn't travel along such a busy street, lest it cause traffic congestion. Moreover, the Prince of Duan worried that the journey would tire Zisu, so he ordered that they bypass the busiest street and take a slightly quieter one, which took nearly half an hour.
However, even the usually quiet streets became incredibly lively on this day. Rumors spread that Princess Yulin was getting married today, and to Prince Duan no less, so the entire capital city was deserted as people flocked to the streets to watch the spectacle.
A magnificent procession of red bridal processions stretching for miles—such a spectacle is not easily witnessed. The last time I saw it was on the day the Crown Princess got married! Some people may never see it in their entire lives. Few people wouldn't be moved by the opportunity to witness such a grand occasion.
Fortunately, the Emperor had dispatched 500 Imperial Guards, 100 Jinwu Guards, 300 soldiers from the Five City Garrison, and 500 soldiers from the Western Suburbs Camp beforehand to maintain order on the streets and prevent any disturbances or assassinations. Thanks to their intervention, the people were spared from being trampled to death, and the wedding procession and the escorting procession were able to proceed smoothly and joyfully from the General's Mansion to the Prince Duan's Mansion.
The vast Prince Duan's mansion was adorned with red decorations everywhere, creating a joyous and lively scene. Walking through the festive mansion, everyone felt an overflowing happiness, as if every blade of grass and every tree in the mansion was flowing with notes of joy—it was so warm and so exciting.
The bridal sedan chair stopped in front of the wedding hall. Prince Duan gently lifted the curtain of the sedan chair, grasped Zisu's hand, and said tenderly, "My lady, please get out of the sedan chair. I'm here, don't be afraid!"
Zisu was overwhelmed with emotion and let him lead her down from the bridal sedan chair.
Prince Duan took her hand and led her to the brazier. He then swept her up in his arms in a princess carry and used his lightness skill to leap over the brazier.
With a joyful smile on her face, Consort Qin sat at the head of the wedding hall, waiting for her son and daughter-in-law to kneel and pay their respects.
The Emperor was unwell and sent the Empress to offer his congratulations. The Empress and Consort Qin sat side by side, with the Empress, being of higher status, on the left and Consort Qin on the right. Even so, Consort Qin showed no displeasure; on the contrary, she was quite pleased.
The Empress herself attended her son's wedding—what an honor that was for the Prince Duan's residence! She wasn't someone who couldn't handle things, so naturally she wouldn't be unhappy.
Prince Yan, who was in charge of the royal family, acted as the master of ceremonies and loudly proclaimed, "First bow to Heaven and Earth!"
Prince Duan, holding Zisu's hand, knelt together on the prayer mat and bowed in unison.
The Prince of Yan then shouted loudly, "Second bow to our parents!"
The two of them then knelt and bowed to Consort Qin and the Empress.
The King of Yan then shouted loudly, "Husband and wife bow to each other!"
Zisu and Prince Duan adjusted their positions and bowed to each other.
The King of Yan chuckled and said, "Send them to the bridal chamber!"
The last four words were drawn out with a long tone, overflowing with intense joy and excitement.
Prince Duan was his nephew, his most beloved and cherished nephew. This nephew was already in his twenties and had always refused to marry, causing him great distress. Now, he was finally willing to marry, and the bride was the very one he had fallen for—the renowned Princess of Yulin. It was an excellent match!
Prince Duan and Zisu each held one end of the red silk ribbon as they walked towards the bridal chamber, both filled with excitement. Of course, Prince Duan was especially excited; he was so happy that he felt as if he were plucking clouds from the sky with every step he took, making it all seem so unreal.
Zisu let him lead her, walking step by step from the wedding hall to the bridal chamber, which was Rongrui Hall where Prince Duan used to live. It would take about fifteen minutes to walk there.
The entire route was covered with a large red carpet, and every five steps a guard in a new uniform stood watch, maintaining strict security. Anyone who intended to cause trouble or attempt an assassination would absolutely fail.
These imperial guards were among those who participated in the wedding procession, responsible for carrying the dowry along the way. Those responsible for maintaining order along the route were now scattered throughout every corner of the Prince's mansion, openly or covertly watching every suspicious visitor, protecting the safety of the Prince's master and his guests.
Rongrui Hall has been renovated and is decorated with red and colorful decorations everywhere, filling the air with a strong festive atmosphere.
Prince Duan stopped and walked alongside Zisu, saying softly, "My lady, we're almost at our new house, Rongrui Hall, which is where I used to live. The decorations and furnishings here are all arranged according to your preferences; I'm sure you'll love it when you see it!"
He knew that Zisu must be extremely nervous at this moment. The fact that her head was covered by a veil, preventing her from seeing what was happening outside, would only amplify her anxiety. So, he made an excuse to chat with her, hoping to ease her tension.
Zisu didn't say anything, but with her support, she moved forward steadily.
Finally, they entered the bridal chamber. He helped her sit on the wedding table, and with the matchmaker chanting blessings, he picked up the scale rod and lifted the veil from her head.
Dressed in a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, she looked so beautiful, so pure, so captivating that one couldn't look away.
What a beautiful bride!
This was the shared sentiment of everyone present.
Prince Duan was quite surprised. He hadn't expected that Zisu, dressed in her finest attire, would be so beautiful. Normally, the Zisu he saw was always without makeup, her face bare. Her clothing was also very simple, prioritizing comfort and avoiding any extravagance. Especially in Wuliping, she dressed extremely plainly, only slightly better than the girls there.
Zisu, dressed in a magnificent gown, was breathtakingly beautiful, like a celestial maiden fallen from the heavens. She was so beautiful, so pure, so radiant.
For a moment, Prince Duan was stunned.
The matchmaker quickly reminded him, "Your Highness, it's time to drink the nuptial wine!"
Prince Duan smiled slightly, personally filled two cups of wine, handed one to Zisu, and then picked up a cup for himself and drank a toast with her.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, his face was full of joy, while Zisu's face turned bright red.
"You may all leave!" Prince Duan waved his hand, dismissing everyone. He then closed the door and said considerately to Zisu, "My lady, this phoenix coronet and wedding gown must be very heavy, right? Here, let me help you take it off!"
She rolled her eyes at him: "Who's your wife! You keep calling her 'wife,' can't you even call her Zisu?"
Prince Duan chuckled and said, "My wife is you! My wife, my wife, my wife! Hehe, Zisu has finally become my wife!"
It's rare for him to be so childlike.
Zisu couldn't help but smile, letting him remove the heavy phoenix coronet and wedding gown. Even if he hadn't said anything, she would have eagerly taken them off anyway. However, she was still very happy that he was being so considerate.
After removing his phoenix coronet and wedding robes, Prince Duan said, "Shall I have Hongcha come in to help you bathe, change, and remove your makeup?" He wondered if she would feel uncomfortable and dislike having such elaborate makeup on her face. Most importantly, he really wanted to kiss her, but he didn't want to kiss her mouth full of rouge and powder.
Zisu: "Okay, thank you!"
Prince Duan lowered his head and kissed her lips: "No need to thank me, I am your husband, and you are my little wife!"
Upon hearing this, Zisu glared at him and said, "Wife is wife, what do you mean by 'little wife'? Do you want to marry a first wife and make me a concubine?!" Although she knew he didn't mean it that way, Zisu was still very unhappy to hear his words.
Prince Duan quickly explained, "No, my lady, it's just because you're about ten years younger than me. In this life, I will never have another woman besides you. I swear to you!"
Zisu quickly interrupted him, "Alright, no need for oaths. If you have another woman in the future, I will definitely leave you! In this world, no one can die from leaving someone else!"
Prince Duan immediately became anxious: "I can't live without you! So don't worry, I will definitely treat you well in the future, and I will never let you down or do anything to hurt you! If I do anything wrong, please remind me in time, and I will definitely correct it!"
Zisu: "Why say these things on such a joyous day? As long as you are devoted to me, I will not interfere with you and will let you live a relaxed and happy life!"
She would never do anything foolish like bossing a man around or controlling him. That would only lead to more harm than good, and ultimately a miserable end.
Men are like kites, and your control over them is like the string. Whether it's too loose or too tight, too long or too short, you have to be very precise. Otherwise, the man will leave you, or he will become dejected and lose his manly spirit because of excessive control.
Prince Duan couldn't help but smile, feeling very happy.
Excellent. This is exactly the kind of wife he likes and admires, the kind of wife he wants to see. No matter how much he loves Zisu, he wouldn't want her to control him so tightly, nor would he want to become a person who has lost his freedom. Of course, he will be absolutely devoted to Zisu, will not have any extramarital affairs, and will certainly not take a concubine.
He will try his best to give Zisu the happiness she wants, but on the condition that he is not controlled to the point of losing himself.
“Okay, thank you! Now, have Hongcha come in to help you remove your makeup. I still need to go to the banquet hall to toast everyone. The Empress hasn’t left yet!” Prince Duan looked at Zisu and discussed with her.
Zisu: "Go ahead, but just one thing, don't get drunk! Otherwise, I won't see you for three days!"
Tonight, they definitely can't consummate their marriage. Otherwise, she'll threaten to prevent him from entering the bridal chamber. Before the wedding, she had discussed it with him, and he would temporarily live in the study for a year. For this reason, he specially modified the structure of Rongrui Hall, opening up the study and connecting them together.
Whether she slept with Prince Duan at night was unknown to anyone except a few of her personal attendants. This way, they could avoid a lot of gossip. However, the two did not intend to hide it from Consort Qin, because it was Consort Qin herself who proposed to marry first and then consummate the marriage.
Therefore, it's acceptable to be frank with Consort Qin. Otherwise, Consort Qin would keep urging them to have a child. Or, if they can't produce the bloodstained handkerchief, Consort Qin might suspect that Zisu isn't a virgin.
Prince Duan earnestly assured her, "I will not get drunk. I have never been drunk since I met you."
Zisu advocated a health-preserving approach that emphasized moderation in everything, especially alcohol. He firmly believed that excess in anything, whether food or drink, would harm one's health. Furthermore, he didn't want to give anyone an opportunity to take advantage of him while he was drunk. If this reached Zisu's ears, he would never have a chance to be with her again. Therefore, he was always very self-disciplined and constantly had his personal guards remind him and keep an eye on him.
The Empress didn't leave, determined to see things through to the end, and waited until the banquet was almost over before finally taking her leave. If she didn't leave, it wouldn't be easy for anyone else to leave, would it? When the Empress left, about seven-tenths of the dishes remained on the table.
For this wedding banquet, Prince Duan invited the head chefs from the Good Days Restaurant to help. There are three Good Days Restaurants in the capital. He selected two head chefs from each of the three restaurants, plus a few chefs from the Prince's residence, which was enough.
At this wedding banquet, the chefs all displayed their exceptional skills, making the food incredibly delicious. The guests thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and they poured out basket after basket of heartfelt blessings as if they were free.
After seeing off the guests, Prince Duan hurriedly returned to the bridal chamber to see his bride. Dongfang Han and a few others wanted to make a ruckus in the bridal chamber, but Li Chun and the others firmly stopped them. The group could only shout, "This is outrageous! You can't even make a ruckus in the bridal chamber!" and were "driven out" of the palace by Li Chun and the others.
Compared to the bustling and festive atmosphere of the Prince's Mansion, the General's Mansion was much quieter.
Madam Yu was extremely reluctant: "Alas, the daughter we raised has become someone else's ghost? Alas, I really can't bear to part with her!"
Shangguan Mufeng: "Don't be sad. We're both in the capital. We can meet whenever we want." It's not like she married into the palace. If she had become a concubine, she might only see her a few times a year. She married Prince Duan. Given how much Prince Duan loves his daughter and Zisu's personality, she can meet whenever she wants, right?
Shangguan Yi chimed in, "That's right, Mother. Eldest sister said she'll be staying at Qin Garden next door every few days. She'll be able to come back to the General's Mansion for meals and chats every day, so there's nothing to be sad about!"
Madam Yu was taken aback: "This is not good. Now that she's married, she has to abide by the rules and can't just do whatever she wants. That Consort Qin is not an easy person to get along with. If she gets caught, your eldest sister will have a lot of trouble in the future!"
She wasn't afraid of anything else, but she was afraid that Consort Qin would try to give Prince Duan women while she was staying at Qin Garden. That would be a real problem!
Shangguan Yi chuckled and said, "Mother, I know what you're worried about, but the idea of staying at Qin Garden was my brother-in-law, the Prince! He will be staying here with my elder sister, so you don't need to worry!"
Hearing this, Madam Yu felt less worried, but she still said, "It's fine for her to come out during the day to visit the General's Mansion. But staying at Qin Garden is absolutely unacceptable! As a royal daughter-in-law, staying out all night is something even the Empress would punish!"
Shangguan Mufeng: "Yes, that's true. When she returns home for her third-day wedding anniversary, you should tell her properly. The Prince's mansion has a small population, only three masters now. If you have time, you can also visit your daughter at the Prince's mansion. As long as we put her mind at ease, she'll start thinking about staying at Qinyuan for a while!"
Ms. Yu: "I understand. When I see her, I will have a good talk with her!"
Grandma: "It's not just about talking to her; you, as her mother, also need to be on your guard. Otherwise, how can she not worry? All these years, the family has relied on Zisu to support it, so she'll definitely be worried for a while. You need to show the spirit of a general's wife and intimidate the servants in the house. Outside, you also need to stand tall so that no one dares to mess with you! Only in this way can Zisu stay in the Prince's Mansion with peace of mind, without worrying about the people and affairs of the General's Mansion!"
Madam Yu nodded vigorously: "Mother, I understand, I will try my best!"
Shangguan Yi: "What should I do? I miss my older sister so much! I want to see her so much!"
---Two updates today, muah! My completed novel is also a farming story, everyone is welcome to check it out, thank you!