The wedding of the Crown Prince of Liang was set on the tenth day of the tenth lunar month, an auspicious day for marriage.
The Gu family was bustling with activity. Although they always advocated simplicity, since they had only sons and Gu Liyue was their precious only daughter, they were going to make the wedding as grand as possible.
Old Master Gu grumbled discontentedly, “The eldest daughter-in-law doesn't know how to handle things. I've said that I want to keep my granddaughter for a few more years. Why did she betroth her so early?”
Jiang didn't get angry but patiently explained, “Father-in-law, Liyue is already eighteen. It's time for her to get married. If we keep her for another two years and the King of Liang doesn't return, the Crown Prince will have to observe mourning. Won't Liyue be delayed then?”
Old Master Gu pouted like a child, “Then just one year. We can betroth her next year.”
Jiang helped her father-in-law to sit down gently, “Father-in-law, the royal family gave two dates, one in August and the other in October. Which one do you think I should choose? Or should I go against the imperial edict and refuse to marry her off?”
Old Master Gu was unhappy and mumbled, “I was just saying. You've got so many words for me. You're so unfilial.”
Jiang coaxed him like a child, “Yes, I'm extremely unfilial. Father-in-law, don't be angry. Liyue will be back soon. If she sees you like this, she'll be worried.”
Hearing this, Old Master Gu immediately changed his expression and nodded, “Go and get busy. Don't let Liyue notice anything.”
Gu Liyue sat beside Jiang, watching Jiang, Qin, and her two sisters-in-law bustling around for her. She was extremely shy and surprised.
Back in Yangxin Town, Liu Qinting's dowry of four taels of silver was considered quite good. But now, just over two years later, everything had changed. Four taels of silver was just pocket money for her to buy snacks.
Qin asked her a couple of times but didn't get a response. She patted Gu Liyue on the head, “Liyue, what are you daydreaming about? Which set of the tall and short vase decorations do you like?”
Gu Liyue blushed and smiled, “They're both nice.”
Qin nodded, “Okay, then we'll put both sets in.”
Gu Liyue was stunned and quickly waved her hands, “Second aunt, the blue-and-white porcelain set is nicer.”
Qin nodded again, “The blue-and-white porcelain is nice, but the glazed one is also good. We'll put both in. When you get to the prince's mansion, you can use whichever one you like.”
“But my dowry is really too much. You see... I went to the Prince Qingling's mansion yesterday. Lu Yunxi's dowry was even less than mine, and she complained that it was too much.”
Qin smiled and said, “Her dowry is not just the one from the prince's mansion. There's also the one from the palace, from the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the Empress. Altogether, it's much more than yours.”
After the Prince Qingling returned, the Emperor, in order to show his appreciation, conferred the title of princess on Lu Yunxi, built a princess mansion for her, and betrothed her to Gu Chengzhi, the fourth son of the Gu family.
But the Prince Qingling and his princess had only been back in the capital for one and a half months. In a few days, they would have to set off on their journey. So during this period, the Emperor allowed Lu Yunxi to stay in the Prince Qingling's mansion to accompany the prince and princess and didn't need to enter the palace to attend on him.
Gu Chengzhi had met the Prince Qingling several times, and each time he was severely scolded. The prince either thought he wasn't strong enough or his martial arts were not good enough.
After Qin heard about it, she complained to Gu Zhongxian in private, “The Prince Qingling doesn't like Zhi'er at all. But now Yunxi is a princess, not a princess consort. In the future, Zhi'er will have to live in the princess mansion...”
Gu Zhongxian sneered, “Zhi'er is like that. The prince scolds him well. Every time I see the Crown Prince of Liang, I don't like him either. I'm afraid Liyue will be wronged in the future.”
Hearing this, Qin nodded. It made sense.
Gu Zhongxian continued, “Moreover, the Prince Qingling only has one daughter. When he leaves the capital, Princess Yunxi will be alone again. Even though the Empress Dowager and the Emperor in the palace dote on her, after she gets married, she'll live in the princess mansion. It's not like Zhi'er will live in the palace under the noses of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.”
Hearing this, Qin agreed deeply and immediately said, “Yes. Zhi'er is so reckless. When I meet the concubine of the Prince Qingling, I'll have to talk to her. She should teach Yunxi well. If she has any grievances, she must speak up. Don't let Zhi'er bully her.”
...
The wedding day arrived in a blink of an eye. Yuanzi blinked her eyes and watched the four young masters, all dressed up, and whispered to Danju, “It's our young lady's wedding today. Why are the four young masters so grandly dressed? It's as if they're the bridegrooms.”
Danju laughed naively, “The four young masters are happy.”
As the auspicious time was approaching, the wedding maid helped Gu Liyue come over to bid farewell to her grandparents, uncles, and aunts. Old Master Gu and his wife were sitting in the main seats. The seats beside them, which were originally for the parents, were empty. Lord Gu and his wife, as well as Gu Zhongxian and his wife, were sitting on the side. On the left side of the upper seats, beside the empty seat, sat Yunniang.
The whole family was smiling and looking at Gu Liyue. Yunniang was so excited that she clenched her hands tightly, and there were tears in her eyes.
Inside the room, there were earnest instructions, while outside, there was some commotion.
Gu Junzhe, the second elder brother, puffed out his chest, “Elder brother, don't compete with me. It's my turn to carry our sister out for marriage. I've been in the palace all year round and rarely see our sister.”
Gu Cheng'an, the third elder brother, was dissatisfied, “Why? I'm usually so busy that I rarely see our sister either. It should be me who carries our sister out!”
Gu Chengzhi pulled his third elder brother aside, “No no no. Sister and I have the best relationship. Naturally, it should be me...”
The two elder brothers immediately bombarded him, “You? You spend the most time with our sister. How dare you compete with us?”
They were arguing so fiercely that Gu Junyan was just standing there calmly, seemingly not caring at all.
Yuanzi curiously came over and asked, “Eldest young master, don't you want to carry our young lady? You're the eldest brother after all.”
Gu Junyan's ears turned red. He glanced at his three younger brothers, “I'm the eldest brother. How can I compete with them?”
Just then, they heard the crying sound from inside, and the wedding maid also shouted.
Before the other three younger brothers could react, Gu Junyan quickly walked in and said, “I'm the eldest brother. It's naturally the eldest brother's duty to carry our sister out for marriage.”
The other three younger brothers rushed over, wanting to scold their elder brother, but they were glared at by Lord Gu. All three of them didn't dare to say a word. They just gritted their teeth and watched their elder brother strut out of the door with their sister on his back.
Today's wedding was held in the Prince Liang's mansion. The Emperor, who never showed up for the weddings of the Crown Prince and the other princes, actually came to the mansion with the Empress in person. They were sitting in the upper seats, smiling at Lu Jinchen below.
Just as the attendant beside was about to loudly announce the ceremony, they heard a commotion outside.
The Emperor looked displeased and said to the eunuch beside him, “It's Chen'er's wedding day. Who is making such a ruckus? Go and have a look.”
The eunuch took the order and walked to the door. But he staggered and his voice was full of tremors and joy, “Your Highness, the King of Liang? Your Highness... Your Majesty, His Highness is back!”