Raising a wife? The mistress of the Hou family divorced and remarried her younger uncle

Chapter 293 Adding makeup
When Su Qingwan instinctively tried to avoid him, Lu Jing grasped her wrist and gently pulled her towards him. Su Qingwan was slightly startled and was about to move away when Lu Jing approached her. His movements were slow, an involuntary touch, and a test. Su Qingwan watched him approach, and a warm kiss landed on her lips.

This wasn't their first kiss. She had used her beauty to seduce him when she was playing the role of the Southwest Princess, and she had also drunk a little alcohol at that time, so she was somewhat out of it.

Right now, the gentle touch and focused gaze give her a sense of panic from which there is nowhere to escape. She can't figure out her emotions, nor can she escape his entanglement.

Lu Jing deepened the kiss. Qingyun, who was carrying chilled fruit, turned away when she saw the two kissing in the pavilion. She cursed inwardly. The servants in the villa were all trained and strictly disciplined, so no one dared to look. The surroundings were very quiet, and occasionally the sound of fish leaping out of the water could be heard.

Su Qingwan could hear their intertwined heartbeats, each one more difficult to ignore than the last.

"Xiao Wu, wait for me at the villa. On our wedding day, I'll come to fetch you in a grand sedan chair carried by eight men." Lu Jing pressed his thumb against the lips he had kissed, his voice exceptionally gentle.

According to the customs of Dayuan, the newlyweds cannot meet for seven days before the wedding, otherwise it is considered an ominous sign. It is unknown when this custom was passed down, but it has become an unspoken agreement that everyone abides by.

"Okay!" She felt a little excited about the wedding. She had originally thought it was a political marriage, and even if there were feelings between them, she was prepared to have children with Lu Jing. However, she was also very resistant to marriage and the capital. She was reluctant to enter into an intimate relationship and was afraid that her personality would prevent her from being fully committed and disappointing others.

Lu Jing seemed very certain that they would be husband and wife for life and grow old together. His unwavering determination and sense of responsibility brought Su Qingwan a great sense of security.

After Lu Jing left, Su Qingwan sat in the courtyard in a daze. Her thoughts drifted away with Lu Jing's soul, and she couldn't help but recall many past events, including Lu Jing stabbing her at Nanfeng Tower, almost killing her. Their red thread had been tied when they were in the Southwest. It had been broken for a while, but it was often reconnected. From her relationship with her uncle and sister-in-law to that of the Southwest Princess and the Deputy Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, she had always worn a mask.

It seemed she had never truly been with him in her true self, and Su Qingwan felt vaguely uneasy. Lu Jing's affection for her stemmed from the life-saving grace he received in the Southwest. He was blind and suffering, and was forced to stay by her side. Was it transference that caused him to develop such an excessive attachment to her when he was blind, even though she was his sister-in-law, and he was willing to bear the infamy? She wasn't sure whether this feeling was just transference or if he genuinely liked Su Qingwan as a person.

Therefore, she didn't have high expectations for marriage. When she decided to marry him, she didn't care whether Lu Jing truly liked her or not. Even if it was just because of that life-saving grace, she didn't care if he wanted to repay her with his body.

All she wanted was for Huainan to be at peace, and a marriage alliance with Lu Jing was the best solution. Getting entangled in love would only trap her. After completing her studies in the Southwest, she took power and managed the affairs of her fiefdom. Anyone who has tasted the power of love will not suffer because of love and give up power. She was no exception.

Such a marriage seems more secure.

Power, interests, and emotions are intertwined in a complex web, creating a self-imposed prison where everyone is trapped.

But why did she also feel that... this marriage was not just a power struggle, but that Lu Jing was sincere towards her, which, though not as powerful as his affection, was still extremely rare.

She couldn't reciprocate his feelings with the same sincerity.

"This is fine too!" Su Qingwan thought positively.

Qingyun asked, "Young lady, are you happy to marry the prince?"

She knew the young lady wouldn't be happy going to the capital, especially since marrying the Regent would bring complicated matters and bloodshed in the court. "I'm quite happy," Su Qingwan said honestly. "Marriage is something we can't control, and I had to get married eventually. Lu Jing is the best choice. He likes me, and I like him. He has a good family background, looks, and character. He's healthy, has no bad habits, and his mother is easy to get along with. He's truly the best husband I could ask for."

"Oh, if that's what you say, Miss, it seems so." Qingyun didn't really like Lu Jing. She felt that no man in the world was good enough for her daughter. But if she really had to choose someone to marry, then it would be the prince. At least he was really good-looking and his character was acceptable.

The girl wasn't wronged!

Days passed by, and what might seem mundane to others gradually became a source of tension for Su Qingwan. The wedding was to be held at the Regent's Palace, with Lu Jing personally overseeing the arrangements. Officials from the Ministry of Rites had handled imperial weddings before, so they were quite adept at the Regent's choice of a consort. As long as such a wedding followed precedents, there shouldn't be too many mistakes.

Lu Jing wanted to give Su Qingwan a grand wedding with a ten-mile-long dowry within the bounds of regulations, making it as grand as the emperor and empress's wedding. The officials of the Ministry of Rites were extremely dissatisfied and complained to the Princess after their talks with Lu Jing broke down.

He thought that the eldest princess would not allow Lu Jing to be so arrogant. The regent's wedding had exceeded the bounds of propriety. But the eldest princess did not care about this matter. "The marriage between the court and Huainan is a major event in the court. The wedding should be grand to show respect. If the regent is paying for it, then so be it."

Since the eldest princess didn't care, the people in the Ministry of Rites had no choice but to comply.

Su Qingwan ignored the turmoil in the court, which had nothing to do with her. She stayed at home and prepared for her wedding. The day before her wedding, the Princess came to visit her.

Su Qingwan was somewhat surprised. She and the Princess had already said what they needed to say, and their attitudes were very clear. As long as Nianqing was there, she and the Princess would be the most reliable allies, and she didn't need to come looking for her before the wedding.

The eldest princess smiled and said, "Little Fifth, don't be nervous, I'm just here to help you with your makeup."

Although Su Qingwan and the Princess were allies through Nianqing, they both knew that they were wary of each other, and Su Qingwan dared not treat her as true family.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Su Qingwan spoke very politely. "I am all alone in the capital with no relatives or friends. I am really happy that Your Highness came to help me with my dowry."

The princess's maids carried over a sandalwood box. The box was very large, as if it contained something big. Su Qingwan was intrigued. The box was made of old material, as if it had been stored for a long time. The carving was exquisite and dated back more than ten years.

The maids opened the box, and instantly it glittered with gold, dazzling everyone's eyes. Inside were a magnificent set of ruby ​​headdresses, a kingfisher feather phoenix crown, two pairs of clear jade bracelets, a pair of pearls the size of a baby's fist, and many other exquisite and gorgeous pieces of jewelry. The craftsmanship was extremely delicate, clearly not from commoners.

This box was priceless, which surprised Su Qingwan.

"Your Highness? This is..."

The eldest princess smiled gently, "These were the dowry my mother prepared for me back then. Later, the Huainan Prince's Mansion was destroyed, and your brother died in battle. These things were left unused. I kept them in the old Prince's Mansion to collect dust, so as not to be reminded of the past. I never thought these things would see the light of day. Little Fifth, consider this a dowry from your brother and me. If it weren't for that tragedy, these things would have ended up in the Huainan Prince's Mansion. Since your brother couldn't send you off to your wedding, these mundane items can represent his wishes. We hope you and Lu Jing will have a long and happy marriage."