The sixth day of October was the day for the marriage between the Song Manor and Prince Yan's Mansion.
No matter how neglected by his parents, Baili Chongyan was a Prince of the current dynasty, and the royal clan would preside over the grand occasion. Song Ying was the legitimate daughter of the Minister's Manor, so this marriage could not be too shabby.
Unfortunately, Baili Chongyan could not be exposed at the moment, so he could only come to escort the bride in his wheelchair.
Most of the attendees felt that he was forced to come due to the Emperor's oppression. A minority knew that he had visited the Minister's Manor before and thought he had come willingly.
The Emperor did not attend in person, nor did the Empress. It was Consort Shu, who had raised Baili Chongyan, who came.
The princes and princesses, except for the second prince, all came.
The second prince was gravely ill and had only sent his newly enfeoffed concubine to attend the ceremony. Among the many royal nobles, a concubine sent to bring good fortune was quite inconspicuous. She presented her gift and left.
Zhu Ying, while going through the motions, overheard others' discussions. When she heard that the Emperor had personally arranged for the second prince to have a concubine to bring good fortune, she couldn't help but laugh inwardly. This was from Susan Novels Network.
Song Ying was deeply in love with the second prince, even willing to die for him. The Emperor granting the second prince a concubine – was he afraid he wouldn't die fast enough?
Baili Chongyan sat in his wheelchair, pushed by someone. Zhu Ying stepped back half a pace, led by a maid. This should have been an event solely for the two of them, but due to the "masterpieces" of that group, two more people were forcibly involved.
Zhu Ying was displeased and gave a look to the Crown Prince, who stood ahead with a cold gaze.
Immediately, under the watchful eyes of everyone, the Crown Prince, as if drunk, took a step forward and fell straight to the ground.
The guards beside him tried to catch him but were pulled down with him, landing on top of him.
The atmosphere instantly froze.
After a long while, someone "snickered," and others who had been holding back burst into laughter.
The Crown Prince was helped up, turned, and raised his hand to slap the guard he had just fallen with.
"Slap!"
Blood seeped from the corner of the guard's mouth, but he dared not touch it. He immediately knelt and begged for the Crown Prince's forgiveness.
The Crown Prince's face darkened. He turned, drew the sword of another guard, and was about to strike down the person on the ground.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, show mercy!"
Someone couldn't help but shout, but the Crown Prince showed no intention of retracting his hand.
The person kneeling on the ground also closed his eyes.
"Clang!"
A cup flew through the air, striking the raised long sword. The sword broke in two, and the broken part flew out. The Crown Prince's hand went numb from the impact, and he was injured.
The broken sword fell to the ground, and only then did the guard on the ground dare to open his eyes.
The Crown Prince, filled with rage, looked towards where the cup had flown from. Zhu Ying, holding the bridal veil, stared at him with sharp eyes.
Her gaze was like that of someone looking at a dying man. The Crown Prince suddenly felt a chill run through him, his body trembled, and he lowered his eyes slightly.
The scene fell silent again.
A moment later, Consort Shu spoke, "Miss Song has great skill."
Zhu Ying silently put on the bridal veil. Baili Chongyan's guards came out, "Today is the auspicious day for the Prince and Princess's wedding. I request Your Highness the Crown Prince to restrain his anger, or to take this servant out and kill him. Do not tarnish the grounds of the Prince's Mansion and bring bad luck."
These words showed no regard for him.
But the Crown Prince still remembered the cup and the look. He snorted coldly and, in the end, did not cause further trouble.
As for Consort Shu, the people of the Prince's Mansion wished her dead, and naturally, they paid her no heed.
Consort Shu was naturally displeased, but today was the wedding day for these two. Many civil and military officials were present. Even though she was unhappy in her heart, she could not show it and embarrass them.
The interlude passed. After Zhu Ying acted, she had always felt a gaze upon her.
Upon investigation, she found it was the young master of the Prime Minister's Manor, her rumored childhood sweetheart cousin.
This was, of course, just a rumor. The original owner of the body was in love with the second prince and had almost eloped with him, so there could be no connection with her own cousin.
As for why he would look at her...
Quite a few people at the scene had watched her just now.
After the ancestral worship, it was time for the ceremony of bowing to heaven and earth. Consort Shu thought she would have her seat, but upon closer inspection, a memorial tablet was placed on that seat.
It was the memorial tablet of Baili Chongyan's birth mother.
When he was enfeoffed as a Prince, his birth mother was posthumously honored as a Noble Consort.
A higher rank suppressed a lower one. Consort Shu could only stand aside, gritting her teeth in anger.
On the other side sat Minister Song, with Madam Song standing beside him, looking at the couple with a smile.
"First bow to heaven and earth!"
...