“This is the only woman my son will ever have in this life, Qiao Ci. There will be no one else, and I will not take any concubines,” Li Su stated, looking directly at the Empress, his gaze filled with a shocking stubbornness.
“How can a prince only have one woman? If you are capable and ascend the throne in the future, having three thousand beauties in your harem would not be excessive. You are truly foolish. There is no room for negotiation on this matter. When you get married, Qiao Ci and Jiu Ge will be brought to your mansion simultaneously. On the wedding night, you must favor Jiu Ge first. It is already unfair to her to not be the primary wife,” the Empress stated, giving him no chance to argue and making a final decision.
“Mother is only doing this for your own good. You will understand Mother’s well-intentioned efforts in the future.”
“I regret it.” Li Su’s eyes were filled with disappointment as he looked at his domineering and autocratic mother.
“What?” The Empress didn’t understand.
“I should never have searched for my origins, nor should I have returned. That way, she, who worked so hard to find my parents, would not be subjected to such humiliation now!”
The Empress’s eyes widened as she looked at him. “What nonsense are you speaking? She has already been made your principal wife, how can she be wronged?”
“Heh.” Li Su no longer wanted to say anything more to her. He knelt before her, saying, “I will not be this prince anymore. I beg you to allow me to return to the common people!”
The Empress let out a cold laugh. “You actually say such heart-wrenching words to Mother for a woman. Do you think that if you return to the common people, Qiao Ci can also return to Tenglong Kingdom? She was bought back by Mother with ten thousand taels of gold. If you are not a prince, other princes will naturally marry her.”
Hearing his mother so devalue his beloved, a wildness surged uncontrollably within Li Su’s heart.
Seeing Li Su’s dark expression, Yin Lihua softened her voice. “You have not yet recovered the memories from before you were ten years old. Mother can understand your gratitude towards Qiao Ci. However, people always look forward and upward. Qiao Ci’s identity as a princess of an enemy country will hinder you from reaching higher positions. Alas, go back and think it over. Your wedding is tomorrow, don’t be childish.”
Li Su did not reply and turned to leave the palace. As a prince, he had his own mansion for his wedding.
Qiao Ci learned of Li Su’s conversation with his mother from Xiao Shuzhi. As soon as night fell, she went to his residence. When Qiao Ci arrived, Li Su was standing by the window, gazing at the moon in the sky with a pensive expression, lost in thought.
“Why the long face? Did someone bully you?” Qiao Ci pressed the pressure points of the palace attendants at the door, pushed the door open, and walked in.
“Princess.” Li Su quickly concealed his gloomy expression and walked towards Qiao Ci. He didn’t know how to tell her about Yun Jiuge. With expectant eyes, he looked at her. “Princess, I don’t want to be a prince anymore. Let’s elope?”
“Elope where? We are already engaged, so it wouldn’t be eloping, would it?” Qiao Ci looked at him with a smile in her eyes.
Li Su then explained the entire situation, and to prove his innocence, he said, “I am not familiar with Yun Jiuge at all. I always kept my distance whenever she approached. I can’t even remember what she looks like!”
Qiao Ci, however, appeared completely unconcerned. “Mm, if they dare to bring that Yun Jiuge in, they have commendable courage.”
Li Su looked at Qiao Ci in confusion.
Qiao Ci patted his shoulder. “Rest well tonight, and be a handsome and charming groom tomorrow~”
“But…”
“No buts. I’ll handle everything.” For some reason, Li Su’s heart pounded intensely as he looked at the confident and spirited Qiao Ci.
Yun Manor,
Grand Tutor Yun Qingzhi watched Yun Jiuge bashfully select hair ornaments and couldn’t help but sigh. “Jiuge, why are you doing this to yourself? There are so many princes whose principal wives you could choose from, yet you want to be a concubine to someone else.”
Yun Jiuge immediately retorted, “It’s not a concubine, it’s an equal wife. Moreover, Her Majesty the Empress said that if the Second Prince is established as the Crown Prince, I will be directly made Crown Princess.”
Yun Qingzhi, seeing his daughter being used without realizing it, felt a sense of disappointment. Without his knowledge, an imperial decree had already been issued, and there was no room for reversal.
“It is you who will live your life, so I cannot say too much. After marrying, raise the children well and do not do anything out of line, understand?” Since the Empress had made a promise, it would be as such for now.
Yun Jiuge was unusually playful. “Your daughter understands, Father. Please rest assured, I will not disgrace you. The Second Prince is intelligent and has an extraordinary bearing. Father, you must teach him well in the future. Whether I can become the Crown Princess depends entirely on you.”
“You are truly growing up quickly, not even married yet and already leaning outwards~”
Mother Yun, standing by, watched the father and daughter with a smile in her eyes; they were truly a harmonious sight.
Early in the morning, two eight-bearer sedan chairs arrived simultaneously at the entrance of the Second Prince’s mansion. The onlookers marveled.
“What’s going on? Wasn’t it said that the newly found Second Prince was marrying the Princess of Tenglong Kingdom? Why are there two sedan chairs appearing at the same time?”
“I recognize the maidservant by the sedan chair on the right. She’s the maidservant Xiaocui of the foremost talented woman, Yun Jiuge. Could that sedan chair carry Yun Jiuge?”
“Heh heh, I know about this. The person inside is indeed Yun Jiuge. She’s coming to be the Second Prince’s equal wife.”
“Ah, this… wouldn’t it be too much of an insult to the Princess of Tenglong Kingdom to enter on the same day?”
“This shows that our Fengming Kingdom has confidence! Moreover, a married daughter is like spilled water; the Tenglong Kingdom cannot control our Second Prince taking concubines.”
“Not concubines, but equal wives. It’s truly too unfair for our foremost talented woman to be relegated below a princess from another country.”
According to custom, Li Su waited for Qiao Ci’s sedan chair to arrive and then eagerly came out. He didn’t even look at the one on the right, heading directly towards Qiao Ci’s sedan chair. He had personally chosen the sedan chair; he recognized it! Kicking the sedan door lightly, Li Su’s eyes curved with a smile, and his voice was clear. “Princess, I’ve come to marry you.”
Then, a slender hand reached out from the sedan chair, and Li Su quickly and gently clasped it. Following this, Qiao Ci emerged from the sedan chair, her head covered with a red veil. Li Su led her forward, holding her hand. The red carpet was strewn with fresh flowers. The groom was handsome, and the bride was graceful; they were a perfect match. As the two reached the entrance, a palace attendant reminded Li Su that after entering the main gate, the other bride could also be welcomed in.
Li Su said coldly, “I will only marry the Princess. As for how others arrived, they will be sent back.” If they wanted a scene, let it be a big one. In any case, he would not marry any other woman.
Upon hearing this, the palace attendant knew this would not do. Seeing that Li Su was unwilling to welcome Yun Jiuge in, they began to implement the second plan, directing the Yun family’s procession. “Quick, quick, quick! Follow the Second Prince and carry the sedan chair in.”
At this moment, the bride from the Princess’s sedan, who had already crossed the threshold, suddenly stopped. She turned to face the crowd outside the mansion and lifted the red veil from her head. Li Su was startled. Seeing that she was still wearing a red veil, he was unsure of the princess’s intentions. However, he said nothing and stood beside the princess, looking at her with eyes full of love and trust. No matter what she intended to do, he would support her. Regardless of the outcome, be it good or bad.