Thus, the two entered with the crowd.
Upon entering, a butler stood at the doorway holding a new wooden dou.
Inside were grains, beans, copper coins, and fruits. He spoke auspicious words while tossing items outward. The children waiting at the door scrambled to pick them up, speaking pleasantries as they did.
The matchmaker, holding a red silk ribbon, led the bride and groom into the main hall of the Kang Prince's manor for the wedding ceremony.
The old Kang Prince had already retired, so Xiao Muqian and his wife were now the acting Kang Prince and Kang Princess. To their left sat elders, and to their right sat the Kang Prince's heir and his wife, with several children from the heir's branch standing behind them.
Following the rites, they knelt and bowed. First to heaven and earth, second to their parents, and then the couple bowed to each other. After the matchmaker declared, "The rites are complete," the marriage was considered successfully concluded.
They were then escorted to the bridal chamber. The matchmaker loudly announced, "Sit in wealth and honor," and Bai Siruo sat on the bed.
Feng Jinyao and Xu Mingyue followed them in, exchanged a few words, and were then "chased" away, told that as unmarried young ladies, they should go to the ladies' banquet in the front to drink.
Bai Siruo remained alone in the bridal chamber, attended by servants of the Kang Prince's manor.
As Feng Jinyao and the others entered the ladies' banquet, they passed through the Kang Prince's manor's flower hall. From a distance, they saw Prince Ding, Xiao Tingyi, seated among the men.
Around him, people were toasting and conversing, but his area was remarkably quiet.
As if by telepathy, he looked up from his seat and saw Feng Jinyao.
A single glance across the distance felt like an eternity.
Although they had met just yesterday, the thought of waking up to find himself alone made his Prince Ding's manor feel desolate.
He was always finding ways to seek her out, wanting to feel the calming presence of Feng Jinyao.
Therefore, the matter of the imperial decree for marriage could not be delayed any longer; it had to be settled in the next few days!
With this thought, he watched Feng Jinyao's receding figure, his mind drifting away with her.
"Your Highness is truly devoted. Look at his eyes; they haven't left you."
Xu Mingyue whispered into her ear.
Feng Jinyao smiled faintly. She also felt a sense of stability in this hard-won affection.
She hoped everything could end soon. Once her elder brother returned from Qingzhou, all matters should be concluded.
The wedding between the Kang Prince's manor and the Bai family was lively until late into the night, with guests departing with smiles.
Who would have thought that behind this festivity, someone was secretly watching, revealing a different emotion?
After the Sixth Prince was promoted to Prince Heshen, his manor was greatly expanded, incorporating the two adjacent residences, thus occupying half a street.
However, he was not in his manor at the moment but in a cemetery outside the city.
His subordinates dug rapidly, and soon a coffin was unearthed.
"Open it!"
"Yes!"
The subordinates immediately got to work. The tightly sealed coffin lid was soon pried open at one corner, and then everyone worked together to push the lid aside.
The Sixth Prince approached and saw that indeed, it was empty inside!
A cold smile played on his lips.
"I knew it. Little Nine wouldn't die so easily. He even carried poison with him; how could he have died!"
Under the moonlight, the coffin in the grave was empty, exuding an eerie aura.
The Ninth Prince had committed suicide for treason, so he was not buried in the imperial mausoleum but was hastily interred in a location on the outskirts of the city.
Fortunately, this was the case, otherwise, it would have been difficult for them to sneak into the imperial mausoleum to investigate!
He ordered the grave to be restored and then left quietly with his men.
He thought he had uncovered a shocking secret, unaware that his own lair had been thoroughly ransacked.
Xu Lin watched from the shadows as he exhumed the coffin and reported it to Prince Ding, Xiao Tingyi.
He was not surprised by this turn of events.
"A cunning rabbit has three burrows, let alone the Duke of Wei. He was paving the way for the Ninth Prince with his life, fearing we would scrutinize the details. Without a doubt, the person has been taken out of the city. As for their destination, Qianzhou is a good place."
Xiao Tingyi offered his conclusion. Xu Lin suddenly understood why the Prince had asked Yang Zhao to remain in the southwest.
On the surface, it was to deal with the flood, but in reality, it was to secretly monitor the movements of the Wei family and Prince Yu in Qianzhou. No matter where the Ninth Prince went, as long as he set foot in Qianzhou, Yang Zhao would find a way to follow and uncover many of the underlying matters.
One had to admit, the Prince was truly cunning when it came to leaving contingency plans.
Fortunately, he had pledged his allegiance to Prince Ding's manor. If he had inadvertently stood on the opposing side, wouldn't he have been so thoroughly outmaneuvered that he wouldn't even have his clothes left?
Terrifying!
"Make arrangements. Let the Sixth Prince's men also follow this lead. Let him know that Qianzhou has hidden troops of the Ninth Prince and the Wei family. Let them fight amongst themselves."
"Yes!"
Under the moonlight, Xiao Tingyi picked up a pot of wine from his side and savored it.
This was buried by Feng Jinyao herself before the New Year. It had been dug up some days ago, and Feng Er had only managed to get one bottle; the rest had all been pilfered by him.
It was clearly ordinary wine, incomparable to the celestial nectar in the palace.
Yet, in Xiao Tingyi's mouth, it tasted infinitely superior, better even than the sweet dew of the Jade Emperor.
It was truly a case of love making the eyes see beauty.
After a day of festivities, Bai Siruo and Xiao Muqian, after drinking the cross-cupped wine and performing the money-scattering ceremony, could finally rest.
With their hearts full of affection for each other, they naturally slept soundly and sweetly.
Three days later, when Bai Siruo returned to her maiden home, her face was radiant with the good complexion of a married woman.
Lin Shi and the others were both happy and satisfied to see this.
After paying respects to her elders according to custom, Bai Siruo was taken aside for private conversation, while Xiao Muqian remained in the front hall, talking with the men.
As they departed, the young couple's gazes were so intertwined that even Princess Wenyi, her mother, couldn't help but chuckle.
Her matchmaking had not been in vain. Fortunately, her daughter was happy, and that was all that mattered.
Old Madam Bai, Lin Shi, and Princess Wenyi, pulling Bai Siruo along, began to ask her about matters of married life.
"You are now a wife, so you must learn to be considerate in all things. However, since you are in the Kang Prince's manor, and will eventually be the heir's wife, you will have an easier life."
Old Madam Bai spoke, and her two daughters-in-law also agreed.
Bai Siruo rose and bowed to Old Madam Bai.
"Grandmother's teachings, your granddaughter will keep them in mind."
"Good, good. This old woman is waiting to hold her great-grandchildren. You and the young master should hurry. If there is good news before the year is out, that would be wonderful. I will personally go to Fahua Temple to pray for your peace and well-being."
Even though Bai Siruo was usually cheerful and generous, she still felt a bit shy at such times.
Her gaze drifted to Bai Sihan beside her, and it was then that her attention was drawn to her.
After a few days of instruction from the governess at home, she was much more composed than before.
She was naturally talented, and with a relaxed mind, she learned quickly.