Chapter nine
East Palace.
Crown Princess Yi Shuzhen sat lazily in front of the mirror, letting her maids apply makeup and tie her hair.
The curly-haired maid was about to put a hairpin on the Crown Princess, when the smooth green hairpin suddenly slipped from her hand and fell on the Crown Princess's forearm. The princess immediately hissed in pain.
"This slave deserves death!" The maid immediately knelt down.
The Crown Princess raised her eyebrows: "Get out!"
Several palace maids quickly exited in small steps, leaving only the Crown Princess's confidant maid A Ying in the palace. Aying walked over and pulled the princess's sleeve. Under the splendid clothes, the princess's arms were covered with old and new whip marks. If it weren't for these scars, the fallen hairpin wouldn't hurt her.
Needless to say, the only person who can whip a whip at the Crown Princess is the Crown Prince.
Aying knelt down and gently rubbed the princess's arm to relieve her pain.
"Okay. Help me comb my hair. Don't miss the time to go to the wedding banquet." The Crown Princess said somewhat upset. The wedding banquet she was going to with the prince was naturally the wedding banquet of Shi Yunlin and Qi Shanlang.
"Yes." Aying stood up and combed her hair.
The Crown Princess suddenly sighed and said, "I thought Princess Xiang would marry into the East Palace. What a pity." There was regret in her tone. The original wish to torture and abuse the Xiang princess came to nothing.
Her royal brother died in the hands of the eldest prince of Xiang. If her imperial brother had not died, she would not have had to marry her and come to Qi. She often suffered inhuman abuse from Qi Jiazhi...
Aying thought for a while and comforted: "The Qishan wolf is not a good man, and the princess of Xiang will suffer."
The terrifying look of the Qishan Wolf with a cold face appeared in front of the Crown Princess's eyes, and she frowned. It was really a monster that was scary even when it came close. The prince at least has some dignity, but Qishanlang does everything and doesn't care about face. Who knows if he will suddenly suffer from the wolf disease and bite anyone on sight... The princess felt a little more comfortable when she thought that her enemy's sister would be worse off than she was.
After getting her hair done, the princess went to the prince. When she saw Qi Jiazhi during the day, the Crown Princess was not afraid. During the day, Qi Jiazhi was polite to her and gave her enough face, not to mention beating her.
The Crown Princess went to the Prince's room and had breakfast together before setting off to Tong Rui Palace.
Different from ordinary weddings, today's wedding ceremony between Qi Shanlang and Shi Yunlin was officiated by the Emperor. The wedding banquet was held in Tongrui Hall, with all civil and military officials present.
When the officials who lived far away set off to Tongrui Palace, Qishanlang also set off to pick up the bride in Changqing Lane.
During the last moment when Shi Yunlin went out, Fu Wendan kicked everyone else out and took Shi Yunlin to talk alone.
"Did you remember everything I taught you last night?" Fu Wendan repeatedly stroked the back of his little daughter's hand with some distress. This is not a good marriage. Everyone in the family is smiling, but everyone is worried in their hearts.
Shi Yunlin was stunned for a moment, then nodded.
"That's good." Fu Wendan stood up, "I'll go take a look..."
Shi Yunlin held her hand and refused to let go. Fu Wendan turned around and saw Shi Yunlin holding her mouth, her beautiful eyes a little wet, and she was obviously holding back tears.
"Child, don't be afraid." Fu Wendan didn't know how to comfort him for a while. This congenial couple will explore and care for each other when they are newly married. But Shi Yunlin's marriage was special, and the other party was such a "person", so Fu Wendan was really worried.
Although Fu Wendan regarded all the princes and princesses in the palace as his own children. But Shi Yunlin's mother-in-law died of dystocia when giving birth to Shi Jing, and she felt particularly sorry for the two children, Shi Yunlin and Shi Jing.
Shi Yunlin took the initiative to let go. She pursed her lips and smiled, saying, "It's okay. I can handle it."
"I will live well until..." Worried that the walls have ears, she lowered her voice, "Wait until father takes me back to Hunan!"
On today's wedding day, I am still looking forward to returning to Hunan. I am really treating this marriage as a prison. Fu Wendan felt uncomfortable, and she immediately suppressed her discomfort, smiled, shook her little daughter's hand, and said, "Okay, I want to be happy today and don't shed tears. Marriage is a turning point. Maybe Yun Lin will be happy from now on." It’s been a blessing since the beginning.”
But Shi Yunlin thought unoptimistically that she might have enjoyed all the sweetness in her time as a princess and would only have bitterness in the rest of her life.
The sound of the wedding convoy came from afar, and it sounded like a reminder to Shi Yunlin's ears. However, time passed very quickly, and the sound of the motorcade was immediately close at hand.
Fu Wendan pushed the window open a crack, and Shi Yunlin quietly looked out. I was surprised to see Qishan Wolf standing in the courtyard!
Xi Niang stood on tiptoes next to Qishanlang and explained the process.
Qishanlang lowered his head and listened carefully. He shaved today and his jawline is clean and smooth. The warm sun fell on his shoulders.
After just one glance, Shi Yunlin quickly looked away.
The next time seemed to be riding a fast horse and passed quickly.
Shi Yunlin heard her father talking to Qishanlang outside the door, and faintly heard a few words: "My little girl is young and willful, please forgive me, General..."
The door to the outer room was pushed open, and Qishan Lang stepped in. Shen Tanxi endured her fear and stepped forward to stop her, saying, "General, wait a moment, Yun Lin is dressing up, she will be fine soon."
Shi Yunlin knew she couldn't wait any longer and took the tassel wedding crown from her mother. The hairpins on both sides of the wedding crown go into the hair, and long tassels hang down, half covering the face.
The tassels swayed and the light and shadow flickered, reflecting Shi Yunlin's beautiful face with colorful charm. Shi Yunlin breathed a sigh of relief, held her mother's hand, straightened her back and stepped out.
Everyone outside was waiting for her. As soon as she came out, Xiniang said auspicious words like a dustpan in a festive voice.
Shi Yunlin didn't listen to a word.
Shi Yantong said: "Yun Lin, you are married. In the future, you will..."
Those words that should have been given to his daughter when she got married to be a husband and raise children in the future were stuck in Shi Yantong's throat, making it impossible for him to say it out. He paused and said with a smile: "It's getting late, let's go. Don't miss the time."
Shi Yunlin's nose felt sore but she quickly endured it.
"Father and mother, take care." Shi Yunlin lifted her skirt, knelt down towards her father and mother, and kowtowed three times solemnly.
There were tears in his eyes when he lowered his head, but he had a docile face when he raised his face.
"Farewell parents, let's start a new life from now on!" Xiniang smiled and helped Shi Yunlin up.
Xiniang took the red silk with a concentric knot in the middle from the maid's hand, put one end into Shi Yunlin's hand, and then handed the other end to Qishan Lang. "The young couple tied the knot and have been one heart ever since!"
Qishan Lang glanced at the red silk handed over by Xi Niang, but did not take it. He took a step towards Shi Yunlin, held her hand directly, and turned her around.
Shi Yunlin was unprepared, staggered, and hurriedly stood still. She raised her eyes and looked through the gap between the swaying tassels to see Qishanlang holding her hand.
Xi Niang didn't dare to talk, so she hurriedly gave the red silk to the maid.
Shi Yunlin looked back at her family again.
"The bride should look forward." Xi Niang urged with a smile.
Shi Yunlin turned her head silently and was led out by Qishan Lang.
Fu Wendan looked at the newlyweds walking out side by side. The youngest daughter and the hair crown on her head were only as high as Qishanlang's shoulders. The back view of these two people walking together... is really not harmonious. Fu Wendan looked at it, really worried.
The wedding chariot was parked outside the courtyard, with four horses draped in red silk holding their heads high and majestic. Many people gathered in the previously deserted alleys to peek in and see the excitement.
When she walked to the wedding hall, Shi Yunlin glanced at Qishan Lang's hand that had not let go from the corner of her eye. She turned her wrist slightly to signal him to let go.
Qishanlang lowered his head, his eyes fell on the hands held by the two people, and he did not let go.
Xi Niang smiled on the side and continued to joke in her festive voice: "The groom can't bear to let go of his hand!"
Qishan Lang glanced over, and Xi Niang smiled awkwardly, then she didn't dare to say anything anymore, for fear that Qishan Lang would become impatient.
Shi Yunlin used more strength to break free from Qi Shanlang's hand, stepped on the wedding stool covered with red silk, and boarded the wedding carriage.
As soon as she sat down, she used the tassels of the swaying bead curtain to avoid looking at Qishan Lang, and then peeked through the gap in the bead curtain to watch Qishan Wolf move forward and mount his big black horse.
Seize the moment and light some firecrackers. Amidst the crackling sound of firecrackers, the wedding team set off.
As soon as the convoy left Changqing Lane, Shi Jing caught up from behind.
"Sister, mother asked me to give it to you." Shi Jing ran beside the wedding bride, and he stuffed the things into Shi Yunlin. When the things were delivered, he stopped chasing them and watched his sister leave him.
Shi Yunlin looked at the two boxes her mother gave her. The boxes were no bigger than a palm and were engraved with the character "囍". She opened one and saw a stack of pancakes inside, made by her mother. She opened another small box. There seemed to be a box of ointment inside? There were gradually more people on the street in front. Shi Yunlin didn't have time to take a closer look, so she temporarily put her things away and put them in her wide sleeves.
She didn't look sideways and sat upright with a smile on her face, letting the people of Qi pass by to look at her.
——She is the princess of Xiang, so she can’t make people laugh by crying.
Tongrui Hall has already been filled with guests, even the royal family has arrived. I heard the sound of the wedding convoy returning from a distance, stopped talking, and looked sideways.
When the marriage partner stopped, Shi Yunlin glanced at the dark crowd in front of her and stood up. She lifted her skirt slightly and put her feet on the wedding stool. But before he stepped firmly, the small stool suddenly shook under his feet. Shi Yunlin was startled, and quickly retracted her feet and held onto the car wall with both hands, barely able to stand firm. She looked at the wedding stool under the car and saw that one of its legs was crooked. It looked like it had been tampered with. She thought with lingering fear that it was lucky that she didn't fall and no one would make a joke.
I was expecting the guests here to become quieter for a while.
The clever Xi Niang's eyes widened and she didn't know how to round them.
The little eunuch trotted over and said hurriedly: "Wait a minute, madam, I'm going to bring a new wedding stool!"
The wedding is about auspicious timing, leaving the bride stuck in the wedding carriage waiting?
After the little eunuch finished speaking, he turned around and walked quickly. When he passed Qi Shanlang, he was suddenly grabbed by Qi Shanlang's arm.
Before the little eunuch had time to feel the pain in his arm, he was thrown out in full view of everyone, and fell on his knees in front of the wedding bride.
Qishan Lang grabbed the red silk held in Xiniang's arms, swung it forward, and spread it on the little eunuch's trembling back.
He took a step forward, stood in front of the wedding bride, and stretched out his hand towards Shi Yunlin.
Shi Yunlin looked at him and understood in an instant that she not only represented the princess of Xiang Kingdom, but also represented Qishan Lang's wife. This is her wedding ceremony, and it is even more his. She put her hand into Qishanlang's palm and stepped on the little eunuch's back to get out of the car.
Shi Yunlin dragged her long wedding dress across the square and stood in the center with Qi Shanlang. There were so many people around, but no familiar faces. Shi Yunlin felt lonely for the first time. The excitement of drinking wine, decorating with lanterns and colorful decorations had nothing to do with her, even though it was her wedding ceremony.
She slowly lowered her eyes under the bead curtain.
After the wedding ceremony was over, she was introduced to the new house by Xi Niang and the palace maid. Everyone exited, leaving her alone in the room. It was only mid-afternoon, and it would be a long time before Qishan Wolf came back in the evening. The sudden clarity made her feel much more relaxed.
But not long after, the door was pushed open. Shi Yunlin was stunned when she saw Qishan Lang walking in, and stood up helplessly.
Qi Shanlang closed the door with his backhand and pressed the latch. He loosened the collar and took off his wedding jacket. Then he walked towards Shi Yunlin while taking off his clothes. By the time he got to Shi Yunlin, he had almost taken off his clothes.
Shi Yunlin looked at his strong chest and was frightened. She knew what was going to happen on her wedding night. But...but this is different from what is said in the book!
"I, I... will get you a glass of water." Shi Yunlin was so panicked that just as she took half a step, Qi Shanlang grabbed her wrist and threw her into the bed.
Qishan Lang stretched out his hand and pulled down the bed curtain and leaned down at the same time.
