My enemies became my companions

Chapter 679 The Night Before the Wedding (Part 2)

The eleventh day of the ninth month of the Jiaxu year, the Gengchen day.

It is auspicious for marriage, praying for blessings, traveling, and construction; inauspicious for burial, litigation, and relocation.

"It's an auspicious day, suitable for all activities."

Chen Yi flipped through an old almanac, muttering to himself with a sigh.

Today is indeed an auspicious day, but it is inauspicious for matters related to the dead and lawsuits.

Such auspicious days only come a few times a year, and sometimes not even once a year. Choosing such a day to get married is undoubtedly the best arrangement.

People naturally want to find auspicious things, and this was also Chen Yi's wish.

Chen Yi took a deep breath and straightened his clothes. After going through countless hardships, this day had finally arrived. Even though it wasn't his first marriage, Chen Yi still couldn't help but feel excited.

Fortunately, she was experienced in marriage, so even when she was excited, she didn't panic.

The Prince's Mansion was already a sea of ​​lights, both inside and out.

Before nightfall, countless large red lanterns were hung high, the vermilion gate was wide open, and carriages and horses flowed in and out like a river. Officials, gentry, and representatives of sects from the southern border arrived with generous gifts. The greetings of the master of ceremonies at the gate rose and fell, intertwining with the deafening gongs, drums, and flutes inside, creating a lively atmosphere that almost lifted the roof off.

In the courtyard and under the corridors, the banquet had already been set out, with delicacies being served in a continuous stream. The maids, dressed in brand-new clothes, moved briskly as they poured wine and served dishes to the guests.

The air was filled with the rich aromas of wine, meat, and cosmetics, and laughter filled the air. The entire Dragon Tail City was bustling with activity, and children played and frolicked among the crowds, adding to the festive atmosphere.

Chen Yi could imagine such a scene without even having to go out to see it.

A soft knock on the door interrupted Chen Yi's thoughts.

He responded, and the door was pushed open. Zhu E, dressed in a formal suit and with impeccable makeup, walked in gracefully. Her gaze swept around the room before finally landing on Chen Yi, who looked even more dashing in his bright red wedding attire. A hint of a smile flickered in her eyes.

"Is everything ready?" she asked softly, her tone as gentle as ever.

"Almost there." Chen Yi nodded, but his gaze involuntarily drifted towards the door. "Your Highness, where is the Prince...?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu E's lips curved into a half-smile, her tone carrying just the right amount of reproach, "Look at you, it's only been a short time since we last met, and you're already so impatient? It's true what they say, the new bride is happy while the old one is sad... Fine, fine, you're the boss today, I won't hold it against you."

She sighed, seemingly genuinely, and pretended to be neglected.

She deliberately used the title "This Empress," but Chen Yi ignored it, simply smiling and bowing, saying, "Aunt Zhu is joking. I was just impatient. Your Majesty... Aunt Zhu, please don't take offense."

Zhu E seemed somewhat satisfied, leaned forward slightly, and lowered her voice to say, "The prince... went to the ancestral temple."

According to the ritual system, it is not necessary to go to the ancestral temple to pray for blessings when marrying a concubine who has not been granted a marriage by imperial decree. Only when marrying the principal wife will there be ceremonies of worshipping heaven and earth, paying homage to the temple, and bestowing titles. Concubines usually only have a wedding ceremony.

Chen Yi's eyes flickered almost imperceptibly.

Qin Qingluo's actions...

Whether it was mostly genuine emotion, or a form of imperial cunning, or perhaps both, on this joyous day, Chen Yi had no intention of delving into it; he was simply quite excited.

He composed himself, nodded to Zhu E, and said, "Thank you for informing me, Aunt Zhu."

"Getting married really changes everything; the words used are all more solemn than the last."

Hearing this teasing remark, Chen Yi felt a little embarrassed and could only reply, "I should be more serious. I've been a groom many times before, but this is my first time being a bride."

Not long after he said it, Chen Yi found it somewhat amusing. He had married three wives in the capital, but today he was to be taken into Qin Qingluo's household as a concubine. What was even more ridiculous was that, although he was unwilling, he was always seen as a mother by the little fox, while Qin Yue saw him as a father. He was now playing both father and mother...

Zhu E was naturally more perceptive than ordinary women, and at this moment she read an unusual emotion in Chen Yi's eyes, and said with a smile:
"My lord seems to be popular with women everywhere. It's fine here in Nanwei, but if we go elsewhere, won't we be fought over? I'll be a mother there and a father here. I have no other wish than that after we get married, you won't neglect Qingluo."

"How can a concubine neglect the prince?"

"That's true, but Qingluo is a woman after all. Although she is a bit stubborn and strong-willed, her family still treats you as their husband, although not very much."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yi recalled his days at the Prince's mansion. The prince was indeed a prince, and Qin Qingluo was indeed Qin Qingluo. On the surface, they were indeed as doting as a prince in a painting doting on a beauty, but in the bedroom, it was still mostly him on top.

Unlike the chivalrous Min, who always seemed intent on slaying the dragon with her sword, Qin Qingluo was outwardly defiant but inwardly indifferent.

Just then, the door was gently pushed open a crack.

The old woman led Qin Yue in by the hand.

The little girl was dressed especially festively today, wearing a bright red brocade jacket and two little pigtails tied with red ribbons in her hair.

She clutched a big, red apple tightly in one small hand and carefully held a hard-boiled egg in the other. With her short legs, she ran up to Chen Yi, stood on tiptoe, and held the things in her hands high.

"Daddy, eat!" she said in her childish voice, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Chen Yi.

Looking at his daughter's adorable appearance, Chen Yi's heart softened. He bent down and smiled as he accepted the apple and egg, still warm from her little hands. "Thank you, Yue'er."

Seeing him smile, Qin Yue's little face immediately lit up with a smile as well. She took the opportunity to open her arms and called out, "Hug! Daddy, hug me!"

Chen Yi naturally complied, bending down to easily pick up the little dumpling and even happily spinning her around twice, making Qin Yue giggle and fill the room with her silvery laughter.

Qin Yue was having fun and habitually reached out her little hand to tug at the front of Chen Yi's wedding dress. However, the dress was made of thick material and was tied tightly. She tugged at it twice but couldn't budge it, and her little brows furrowed involuntarily.

Just then, the light at the doorway dimmed, and a tall figure walked in.

It was Qin Qingluo, who had returned from the ancestral temple. She had changed into a more formal and solemn auspicious robe, with a black base and a golden python coiled around it, exuding majesty. However, her face showed some weariness from the journey, which was diluted by her deliberately restrained joy.

She glanced at Qin Yue, who was clinging to Chen Yi and trying to pull at his clothes, and her brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Today's wedding is a grand affair, with the utmost emphasis on auspiciousness and propriety.

Qin Yue is still Zhu E's daughter in name. Her playful banter with Chen Yi, though unintentional, may seem undignified to those with ulterior motives, and could even diminish the solemnity of the auspicious day.

"Yue'er, come down," Qin Qingluo said in a steady voice, "Don't be rude."

Qin Yue was having a great time when she was suddenly scolded. Her little mouth immediately pouted, she twisted her body, and buried her face in Chen Yi's neck, clearly unwilling.

Upon seeing this, Qin Qingluo's majestic snake eyes narrowed slightly, and she raised an eyebrow.

Chen Yi felt the resistance of the little body in his arms and saw that Qin Qingluo's expression was slightly gloomy. He quickly smoothed things over, gently patted his daughter's back, and smiled at Qin Qingluo, "Alright, alright, she's happy today, let her stay here, it's fine."

Qin Qingluo glanced at Chen Yi and her daughter, and when he spoke, her displeasure dissipated. She said nothing more and simply gave a soft "hmm".

Qin Yue secretly peeked out from Chen Yi's shoulder, cautiously glancing at Qin Qingluo's expression. Seeing that she was no longer staring at her, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

She always felt that her father was sometimes very fierce, even... even when he occasionally let her drink milk, it still made her a little scared. Her real father was much better; he let her do whatever she wanted. Thinking this, her little thoughts started to stir again, and her little hands once again grabbed Chen Yi's clothes restlessly, this time with a little more force, as if she wanted to try again.

Chen Yi felt the little girl's movements in his arms and felt both amused and helpless. He could only hold her more firmly to prevent her from tearing the carefully prepared wedding dress.

Qin Qingluo shifted her gaze from Qin Yue, who was nestled in Chen Yi's arms, to Chen Yi. Her expression returned to its usual composure, though a hint of gentleness lingered deep in her eyes.

“The auspicious time is approaching,” she began, “and there are some procedures that I need to explain to you again.”

Chen Yi, holding Qin Yue who was still struggling against his clothes, nodded to indicate that he was listening. Zhu E, who was standing to the side, also stopped smiling and listened quietly.

"According to the rules, there is no need to offer sacrifices to Heaven and make ancestral rites when welcoming a concubine into the mansion, nor is there any ceremony of investiture." Qin Qingluo said slowly, her tone calm, but every word carried weight. "The main procedures are welcoming the sedan chair, bowing to the altar, the nuptial cup ceremony, and the bridal chamber."

She paused, then continued, "The main gate of the Prince's Mansion is closed. You will need to leave the mansion first, and then enter through the east gate. The sedan chair will be carried directly to the main hall, where I will be waiting for you."

Chen Yi listened, and he roughly knew these things. The etiquette for a concubine was much simpler.

"I understand," Chen Yi replied, without asking any further questions.

"Hmm." Qin Qinglu nodded slightly, seemingly satisfied with his response. "As for the other minor etiquette, the master of ceremonies and the matrons will guide you. Just follow their instructions."

After giving her instructions, she glanced at her youngest daughter, who was still in Chen Yi's arms. Seeing that her little fingers were still unconsciously picking at the gold-threaded python pattern on the wedding dress, she finally couldn't help but step forward and flick Qin Yue's forehead lightly.

"Behave yourself." Her tone wasn't exactly stern, but it carried a certain authority. "Don't miss the auspicious time."

Qin Yue winced in pain, clutching her forehead with a cry of "Ouch!" and looking at Qin Qingluo with teary eyes. She then buried her face in Chen Yi's arms, finally behaving herself and not daring to move again.

Qin Qingluo took one last look at Chen Yi. Their eyes met, and it seemed as if a thousand words were unspoken, but in the end, they were summed up in one sentence: "See you later."

After saying that, she turned around, the hem of her black and gold python robe drawing a neat arc, and left the room first to prepare for the welcoming ceremony.

Chen Yi took a breath; it was time to go out and prepare for the wedding. He then put Qin Yue down.

When Qin Yue saw herself being put down, she panicked and burst into tears.

When his daughter suddenly burst into tears for no apparent reason, Chen Yi paused for a moment, trying to recall if he had any sudden ideas in the past few days to have the silly girl scare Qin Yue, if he had tried to trick Qin Yue with salt again, and if he had come up with any new tricks.

But I didn't expect anything.

Qin Yue burst into tears, and seeing that Chen Yi still wouldn't remove his clothes, she cried even harder.

Chen Yi was at a loss for words to comfort her, as he had no experience with this. Zhu E tried to pick her up, but Qin Yue pushed her away and started to move towards the outside.

It looks like it has a few tough bones.

"Are you leaving?" Chen Yi asked in surprise.

"...Goodbye."

"I'm leaving now, but I don't want Yue'er to leave so soon."

"I'm leaving because I'm unhappy."

You could tell from her voice that she didn't like being with him.

"Daddy loves Yue'er, Yue'er, please don't leave so soon, okay?"

"I don't like it... If you don't like it, goodbye."

"There's sugar here."

"Candy...candy?!"

She turned around abruptly and, swaying slightly, quickly ran over to check on them.

Chen Yi burst into laughter, took out a piece of wedding candy from his pocket, and stuffed it into Qin Yue's mouth. Qin Yue immediately stopped crying and started laughing along with him.

The room was filled with a joyous atmosphere.

Seeing this, Zhu E smiled slightly, said nothing more, and quietly left the room.

The appropriate gentle smile on her face faded slightly the moment the door closed.

Zhu E did not immediately go to oversee the wedding. Instead, she walked slowly along the corridor to a secluded corner, where a trusted maidservant dressed in the uniform of a royal guard, with a capable expression, was already waiting with her hands at her sides.

Upon seeing Zhu E approach, the trusted maid immediately stepped forward and whispered a few words of report.

As Zhu E listened, her eyebrows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

"Is the information accurate?" Her voice was very low, almost a whisper, but her gaze swept sharply over the person who had just arrived.

"It's pretty close," the confidant replied, bowing his head. "When our men were patrolling the mountains outside Dragon Tail City, they caught a glimpse of a figure that looked very much like Lady Min. She was loitering near the old forest area west of the city, seemingly... watching the direction of the Prince's Mansion. But the person was extremely fast and disappeared in the blink of an eye, so we couldn't be completely sure."

Min Ning? Wasn't she already gone? She actually came back? At this critical juncture…

Zhu E's heart sank slightly. She knew Min Ning's personality: straightforward, strong-willed, and loyal. If she did something outrageous today because of her turmoil, whether it was questioning Chen Yi on the spot or having a conflict with Qin Qingluo, it would be enough to ruin this carefully prepared wedding and even shake the reputation of the royal family.

This must not be allowed.

Zhu E quickly composed herself, her face regaining its usual calm and indifference. After a moment's thought, she whispered, "Send more men to keep an eye on all the main roads leading to the Prince's Mansion in the west of the city."

If their whereabouts are discovered, do not make a fuss, and absolutely do not initiate any conflict. Simply try to stop them; all other matters can be discussed later.

The trusted confidant immediately accepted the order: "Yes, Your subordinate understands."

Zhu E's eyes turned slightly cold. "Today is a joyous occasion. The marriage between the Prince and Consort Chen must not go wrong in any way. If anyone dares to cause trouble, do not hesitate to speak up. Do you understand?"

"Understood, I will convey the message now and will not fail in my mission!" The confidant replied solemnly, then quickly turned and left, his figure soon disappearing at the end of the winding corridor.

Zhu E stood alone in place, the distant sounds of music and voices faintly drifting over, making this corner seem even quieter. She raised her eyes and looked towards the west of Dragon Tail City, her gaze deep and unfathomable.

Min Ning, Min Ning, are you still unable to let go of your resentment? She sighed inwardly.

But in any case, today, the sky over this Prince's Mansion must be clear and cloudless; no wind or rain is allowed.

She straightened her sleeves and adjusted her expression, completely concealing any trace of worry beneath her dignified demeanor. She resumed her steps, a smile returning to her face, and walked towards the brightly lit, bustling scene.

(End of this chapter)