He Yi stood on tiptoe in front of the Prince Yu's Mansion, eagerly waiting. She hoped that the girl she liked would truly become her sister - in - law once she stepped through the door.
That young girl, who always treated her well, gave her hope and recognition, was going to marry her elder brother today.
These days, the emperor had been hinting that after Prince Yu's wedding, he would no longer return to Liuzhou. The emperor was old and increasingly yearned for his sons to be by his side.
Regardless of the reasons, all the princes were now in the capital.
She planned that after the wedding, she would ask the emperor for permission to leave the palace often to meet Song Jinyu.
"The bride is coming! The bride is coming!" As the palace servants rushed in, the emperor and the empress, sitting upright and gracefully on the high seats in the wedding hall, exchanged a smile.
Concubine Shu did not come today. In any case, the royal rules of the Great Xia Dynasty could not be violated. The empress was the legal mother, so she should accept the worship of the bride and groom together with the emperor.
The empress felt a sense of pleasure. No matter how much the emperor doted on Concubine Shu, her son and daughter - in - law still had to be under her control.
Concubine Shu, on the other hand, was in the palace praying for the newlyweds. The emperor had once asked her if she wanted to go to Prince Yu's Mansion to receive the wedding etiquette in person.
After much thought, she declined the emperor's kindness.
She just stayed in the palace to pray for them.
Zhongli Mingye held the red silk, and the other end was in her hand. Suppressing the joy in his heart, although his face was calm, his steps were still a bit unsteady when he entered the hall.
He Yi snickered. Her fourth elder brother... was acting clumsily. This man, who was always cold, calm and steady, finally had such a day.
During the mutual bowing of the couple, Zhongli Mingye tightly held the red silk and slightly raised his phoenix - like eyes. He stared at the charming figure.
Fortunately... she didn't hesitate at all.
After the wedding ceremony,
Many noble ladies in the court surrounded the new princess, Song Jinyu, and sent her to the bridal chamber.
It was originally Prince Yu's bedroom.
People whispered. Usually, in wealthy families, a special courtyard would be set up for the mistress. Why didn't Prince Yu's Mansion do so? The noble princess didn't even have her own courtyard.
Was the bride out of favor? Or did Prince Yu have other arrangements?
He Yi remembered that the last time Song Jinyu came to the capital, her fourth elder brother didn't even let her stay in the guest room. She always stayed in his bedroom. He would rather sleep in the study himself than let Song Jinyu sleep anywhere else.
Even after they got married, he still didn't arrange an extra courtyard for Song Jinyu.
She couldn't help laughing. She quietly approached Song Jinyu, who was sitting upright on the bed, and said, "I must say, my fourth elder brother is truly the number - one wife - spoiling man in the capital!"
No wonder Concubine Jia said when she came to Prince Yu's Mansion the other day that the sun and the moon were the highest and brightest, while husband and wife could be the closest and the most distant.
If a couple could be together day and night, their affection would surely remain strong.
Hearing this, Song Jinyu blushed instantly. "What are you talking about!"
Before she could react, Zhongli Mingye walked in. Amid the teasing of the crowd, he lifted the delicate red veil.
"..."
When their eyes met, Song Jinyu lowered her head, while Zhongli Mingye was lost in a daze. Compared with the shock he felt when she tried on this red wedding dress last time,
this time,
In her grand attire, her unparalleled beauty was fully displayed. The once lively and unrestrained young girl had, after reaching the age of adulthood, become even more charming, with bright eyes and a graceful figure, fair cheeks like fresh lychees, and lips as red as cinnabar.
He Yi was stunned. She had known that Song Jinyu was a beauty, but after not seeing her for half a year, she had become so elegant and peerless. She couldn't help looking at herself.
Even though the emperor had three thousand beautiful concubines in his harem, at this moment, no one could match Song Jinyu's beauty.
Ming Ruyi saw Song Jinyu in her bridal attire and remembered a line from "Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River": "Viewed from afar, she is as bright as the sun rising from the morning glow."
She left the bridal chamber dejectedly.
The wife of the Minister of Rites said with a smile, "Your Highness, the princess, is so charming. No wonder Prince Yu begged so hard to marry you."
Only then did the others react and kept congratulating them. Remembering her sister - in - law's instructions, Song Jinyu rewarded them generously.
After the laughter and fun, only Zhongli Mingye and He Yi were left.
Holding the specially - made gold fruits, He Yi leaned closer to her and said, "If I were a man, I would definitely snatch you away..."
"You..."
Song Jinyu was amused by her. This smile in Zhongli Mingye's eyes made him even more unable to control his emotions. He Yi finally realized that this was their bridal chamber.
After some teasing, she left.
Zhongli Mingye walked up to her and reached out to hand her a box of candied plums. "If you're hungry, eat some first."
"Okay..."
She was getting more and more shy today because so many people were watching. Before the wedding, the two of them had had many disagreements, but at this moment... the atmosphere was subtle and intoxicating.
Not long after, Zhongli Mingye led her to see off the emperor and the empress back to the palace.
In the spring of April, the night sky was filled with stars.
The moon was hidden in the clouds, as if shy, leaving the stars to shine brightly in the dark blue sky.
In the bridal chamber, Song Jinyu looked around. She sighed in her heart. This room was still the one she had stayed in before, Zhongli Mingye's bedroom.
The bridal golden crown on her head was really heavy on her neck.
Niaoniao was about to take it off for her, but Zhongli Mingye took over. "Today..."
"You're so beautiful!"
Yes, Song Jinyu lowered her eyes and let those hands carefully remove the complicated golden crown from her head. Suddenly, he lowered his head, held her pretty face in his hands, and kissed her red lips passionately.
The hot kisses fell densely on her face, smudging some of her rouge. The bride's eyes were moist, looking like a fairy who had fallen into the mortal world.
Suppressing the amorous feelings in his heart,
he stopped. "Go to bed early!" Then he turned around and walked out. His steps were a bit heavy. Song Jinyu was surprised but also understood.
She had just lost her master and Yan Fei, and her heart knot was still there, with grief pent up inside.
Zhongli Mingye, he must know her so well.
Niaoniao and Micui came in to help her change clothes. Micui whispered, "The prince is sleeping in the study."
Early the next morning, Niaoniao woke up Song Jinyu. "Today you have to go to the palace to pay respects to the emperor. You must be careful..."
Micui comforted her, "With the prince around, Your Highness just needs to perform the etiquette with peace of mind."
She really didn't care about those people in the palace. She and Zhongli Mingye had once talked about life in the palace. Song Jinyu thought that no matter how much wealth and honor there was in the palace, it was not as comfortable as the simple daily life of ordinary people.
Zhongli Mingye had been waiting for her early. The two of them tacitly didn't mention what had happened last night. However, those who were interested in the mansion still knew the news that they hadn't consummated their marriage.
Naturally, the people in the palace also knew about it.
Sure enough, the empress would never let go of this opportunity. After the tea - offering ceremony, she kept probing about this matter. But Zhongli Mingye's words silenced everyone.
"The princess was ill some days ago. She needs to take good care of herself..."
She was really seriously ill.
"Moreover, Jinyu is still young. If she conceives a child too early after consummating the marriage, it may harm her body." Feeling a bit embarrassed by what he said, Song Jinyu firmly remembered in her heart that this man... really cared about her.
She didn't need to explain anything. What Zhongli Mingye said was what it was. She just let her beautiful eyes fall gently on the handsome man in the bright red wedding dress.
Hearing this, many royal relatives sighed that Prince Yu really doted on his wife.
Taking a closer look at the new princess, who was beautiful but looked thin, they naturally believed his words and didn't pursue this matter anymore.
After that, Zhongli Mingye and Song Jinyu went to pay respects to the empress dowager.
Empress Dowager Ming was with Ming Ruyi. Seeing the newlyweds, she naturally bestowed treasures on them.
After leaving the palace, Song Jinyu rotated her neck and rubbed her face. In front of those people, she had to act submissively. Her neck had really suffered a lot.
Her face was also sore from smiling.