Chapter 30: Second Princess’s Grand Wedding

After Wei Jing Mo’s conversation with Shen Ruo, the number of noble ladies coming to the Grand Tutor’s residence to propose marriage gradually decreased.

It’s unknown whether Shen Ruo had another private conversation with the old Grand Tutor.

In any case, after that, the smile on Shen Ruo’s face returned to its former appearance, with lively and spirited eyes.

Seeing this, Wei Jing Mo gradually felt at ease.

On the fifth day of the tenth lunar month, the Imperial Astronomer Bureau divined it as an auspicious day, suitable for marriage.

The wedding day for Second Princess Feng Bai Zhi and the eldest son of the Prime Minister’s family, Xu Kong Qing, was set for this day.

Feng Bai Zhi and Feng Bai Kuan’s birthdays were both in early October, and they had both undergone the coming-of-age ceremony, allowing them to leave the palace and establish their own residences.

Because the princess’s wedding was more complicated, Feng Bai Kuan’s wedding day was set for the tenth day of October, with a five-day interval between the two.

On the fifth day of October, due to Second Princess Feng Bai Zhi’s wedding, all princesses took a day off from their duties.

There was a custom in the Feng Ling Empire for princesses’ weddings: other princesses would act as escorts and go together to welcome the groom.

This time, Feng Bai Su didn’t need Cong Bai to wake her up; she got out of bed before the Chen hour arrived.

She wasn’t particularly concerned about Feng Bai Zhi’s wedding, but because Sixth Princess Feng Bai Jiang would also be going along to welcome the groom this time. Her body had always been weak, so Feng Bai Su naturally wanted to arrange everything for her to be at ease.

Today, to match the joyous occasion, she specially wore a dark red robe, which didn’t overshadow the main characters but made her look spirited. Her smooth black hair was tightly secured by a jade crown, and her entire appearance was neat and tidy. It was completely different from her usual casual demeanor. When she pressed her lips together, it gave her a somewhat serious look.

After Feng Bai Su was dressed, she directly led Cong Bai out of Qing Feng Palace, walking towards Han Feng Palace.

When the two arrived at Han Feng Palace, Feng Bai Jiang had just gotten up.

Perhaps to match Feng Bai Zhi’s joyous day, she wore a brightly colored outfit for once. It somewhat reduced the sickly paleness of her face, making her whole person appear more vibrant.

Feng Bai Su didn’t rush in, but leaned against the doorframe with a smile in her eyes. Her flirtatious peach blossom eyes were half-curved, looking somewhat flirtatious and unrestrained. It made the serious air around her instantly disappear, making her look a bit like a cultured rascal.

Hua Luo, who was standing behind Feng Bai Jiang arranging her hair, was the first to see her. Her eyes lit up, and she was about to call out.

Feng Bai Su immediately made a gesture to silence her, winking at her.

However, Feng Bai Jiang, sitting in the chair, still sensed something unusual from Hua Luo behind her. She asked softly, “What’s wrong, Hua Luo?”

At the same time, she turned around.

Then she saw Feng Bai Su leaning against the doorway.

Feng Bai Jiang immediately stood up, a faint smile appearing in her plain eyes: “Little Seven, how long have you been here? Why didn’t you call out to me?”

Seeing that she had been discovered, Feng Bai Su walked into the room.

Looking at her unusually bright appearance, she complimented, “Sixth Sister looks quite handsome today. I was almost stunned at the door.”

“Cheeky!”

Feng Bai Jiang immediately laughed and scolded, then looked at her and asked, “Why did you come over? Is it time to leave?”

Feng Bai Su sat down in a chair, her slender fingers lightly tapping the table surface, “It’s still early. I was worried you haven’t been out for a long time, so I came to accompany you.”

She casually poured herself a cup of tea, her voice unhurried: “Sixth Sister, just go about your business, don’t mind me. I’ll just sit here.”

Hearing this, Feng Bai Jiang shook her head lightly, a smile hanging on her pale face. Her gaze at Feng Bai Su was somewhat helplessly fond.

She sat back down and instructed Hua Luo behind her to continue arranging her hair.

By the time the two left Han Feng Palace together, it was past the Chen hour, and the welcoming party was about to depart.

The two walked side by side, with Feng Bai Su deliberately slowing her pace to match her steps. Cong Bai and Hua Luo followed not too far behind the two.

After passing through a bamboo grove and then through fake mountains and rocks, they finally arrived at Feng Bai Zhi’s Lan Xi Palace.

She had already been granted a mansion by the Emperor, and in the future, except for paying respects and attending court, she would no longer live in the palace. The groom would be welcomed directly to the Second Princess’s mansion.

As for her personal servants and concubines, they had already been moved into the Second Princess’s mansion the day before.

When Feng Bai Su and Feng Bai Jiang arrived, Feng Bai Ying, Feng Bai Kuan, Feng Bai Shao, Feng Bai Wei, and Ninth Princess Feng Bai Kou were already there. Except for Feng Bai Zhi, who had gone to pay respects to the Emperor and Male Empress, they were the last to arrive.

Seeing the two arrive, the others had various expressions.

Except for the young Ninth Princess Feng Bai Kou, whose face was full of innocence, the expressions on the others’ faces were somewhat cold.

Especially the usually arrogant and domineering Feng Bai Shao. After seeing Feng Bai Jiang, she glanced at her disdainfully and said with a sarcastic tone: “Oh! Look who’s here? Isn’t this my Sixth Princess sister who’s almost dying? What? Are you feeling better now?”

Hearing this, Feng Bai Jiang stood quietly, her lightly lowered eyes not saying a word.

The grudge between the two was somewhat trivial. During the Crown Princess Feng Bai Ying’s husband selection banquet, Feng Bai Shao had taken a liking to a young man, but that young man had shown interest in Feng Bai Jiang instead.

In a fit of anger, Feng Bai Shao had pushed Feng Bai Jiang into the lake, and she remained unrepentant, always coldly mocking Feng Bai Jiang whenever she saw her.

Feng Bai Jiang’s body had actually been improving, but after that falling incident, it seemed her body had developed a chronic condition. Her health, which had been improving, began to deteriorate rapidly again.

This was also the reason why Feng Bai Su detested Feng Bai Shao. In fact, the reason she had intervened to save Wei Jing Mo at the last husband selection banquet was because she had heard Feng Bai Shao’s voice and didn’t want her to succeed.

Feng Bai Su stepped forward to stand in front of Feng Bai Jiang, her lazy peach blossom eyes carrying a hint of coldness, looking at Feng Bai Shao with a half-smile.

Her voice was characteristically casual and nonchalant: “If Fourth Princess doesn’t know how to speak, then keep your mouth shut. No need to pollute our ears here.”

“You!”

Feng Bai Shao immediately glared, her face turning ugly.

She and Feng Bai Su had clashed numerous times over Feng Bai Jiang’s issues, and each time she was left speechless and fuming.

This time she couldn’t hold back, mainly because her plans had been ruined at the Grand Tutor’s birthday banquet last time, and she still hadn’t found out who was responsible.

Feng Bai Shao could only swallow this grievance!

Until now, she had been harboring resentment, with a fire in her heart that she couldn’t release.

“Enough! Today is Second Sister’s joyous day. Do you want to make a scene in front of Mother Emperor before you’ll stop?”

Crown Princess Feng Bai Ying intervened in time, frowning as she looked at the two confronting each other.

Hearing this, Feng Bai Shao finally snorted lightly, flicked her sleeves, and didn’t continue to pursue the matter.

After all, if it really reached the Emperor’s ears, she wouldn’t gain any advantage either. She had just gotten out of confinement and didn’t want to be grounded again!

Thinking of the taste of her last confinement, Feng Bai Shao turned her head to glance at the cold-faced Feng Bai Wei, her expression becoming unpleasant again.

They didn’t wait long before Feng Bai Zhi walked over from the distance.

On her wedding day, she had changed into wedding attire, her hair neatly and properly bound, which somewhat diluted the gloomy air between her brows.

The welcoming party, besides the princesses, also included forty guards to accompany them.

Feng Bai Zhi, dressed in wedding attire, sat on a tall horse at the front, followed by the other princesses and the guards.

Before reaching the Prime Minister’s mansion to welcome the groom, according to regulations, the welcoming party needed to circle Feng Ling City three times.

The princess’s grand wedding naturally attracted the citizens of Feng Ling City to watch.

The common people stood on both sides of the street, seeing off the welcoming party as they passed.

From time to time, young children would ask for wedding candies and money. Unmarried young men and new husbands blushed as they looked at the princesses on their tall horses, but couldn’t help but keep their eyes on them.

Some of the bolder ones even threw their personal handkerchiefs and sachets towards them, even more enthusiastically than during the top scholars’ parade.

Feng Bai Su nimbly dodged these “projectiles”, while occasionally looking out for Feng Bai Jiang beside her to prevent her from being hit.

She couldn’t help but feel exasperated, thinking that being an escort was even more tiring than being the bride, Feng Bai Zhi!

Thinking about if her own wedding would be like this in the future, Feng Bai Su felt she had found another reason not to get married.

Feng Bai Zhi, riding at the front, also felt somewhat gloomy. Today was her big day, yet those behind her were stealing the spotlight.

She looked coldly at the common people on both sides, feeling they were extremely vulgar.

Her pace, which had slowed down, quickened again, just wanting to quickly reach the Prime Minister’s mansion.

——

At noon, the welcoming party finally arrived at the gate of the Prime Minister’s mansion.

Feng Bai Zhi dismounted and called at the gate. After answering a few simple questions, she welcomed the new husband out.

After the matchmaker helped the groom into the bridal sedan, everyone began to head towards the Second Princess’s mansion.

Carrying the bridal sedan, they circled the city three more times before finally arriving at the Second Princess’s mansion.

Kicking the sedan — Welcoming the groom — Bowing to heaven and earth — Entering the bridal chamber.

When Feng Bai Zhi came out of the bridal chamber again, everyone was already eating and drinking in the courtyard.

Naturally, many officials and noble ladies attended the princess’s grand wedding, and many young gentlemen from prominent families came from the new husband’s side. Men and women were separated only by a lake and a wooden bridge, each gathering together with laughter and conversation.

Seeing Feng Bai Zhi approach, everyone immediately pulled her to join in, and they began toasting her one after another.

Feng Bai Su, pulling Feng Bai Jiang along, avoided the crowd and sat in a corner. Watching Feng Bai Zhi in the center, becoming tipsy from everyone’s toasts, she couldn’t help but shake her head and click her tongue.

Somehow, she thought again of her own future wedding day. If anyone dared to toast her like this, she would definitely drink them under the table!

“Cough cough cough!”

Suddenly, the sound of Feng Bai Jiang’s violent coughing came from beside her.

Feng Bai Su immediately came to her senses and turned her head to look, seeing her covering her mouth and bending over coughing.

She frowned, glanced at the half-empty wine cup on the table, and patted her back while saying seriously, “Why did you drink? Aren’t you just asking for trouble!”

As she spoke, she instructed the attendant standing nearby to brew a pot of hot tea.

After suppressing the urge to cough in her throat, Feng Bai Jiang straightened up and looked at Feng Bai Su with a light smile, “It’s rare to encounter such a joyous occasion, having a few sips is no problem.”

Feng Bai Su, however, looked at her disapprovingly, “You’ll have your chance to drink at your own wedding in the future. Right now, your most important task is to get your body healthy.”

“With this body of mine, marrying a man would only burden him. It’s better to live a simple life like this, rather than causing trouble for others.”

Hearing this, Feng Bai Jiang smiled again, but there was a hint of loneliness in her clear eyes.