The Crown Prince Chases His Wife
Chapter 134 The Wedding
At Fengyu Palace in Xishan.
Taizi Feng Zhan strode into the council hall, his eyes immediately catching sight of Qin Yan, who was sitting at the head of the table, gently tapping her fingers on the nearby table.
Upon seeing this, Feng Zhan felt slightly reassured. His sword-like brows relaxed, and he continued to step forward.
Although he had a rough understanding of the situation on his way here, it wasn’t until he saw Qin Yan safe and sound with his own eyes that he could truly put his mind at ease.
At this moment, several servants were kneeling on the ground, held down by hidden guards. Feng Zhan walked past them and approached Qin Yan, his voice deep and heavy as he asked, “Are you alright?”
Qin Yan shook her head. However, her gaze remained fixed on a woman who was kneeling on the floor in front of her, dressed in a pale moon-white robe, her head lowered in silence.
Feng Zhan turned and sat in the large chair beside Qin Yan. He coldly addressed Ji Nanfeng, who was standing beside Qin Yan, “What happened?”
Ji Nanfeng bowed his head slightly in respect to the Taizi before replying, “Today, a bowl of bird’s nest soup sent to Master’s study was found to contain ‘Shachilán,’ a type of poison from the Western Regions. It is said to be colorless and tasteless, but once ingested, it seals the throat and is fatal.”
“Because I have been dealing with drugs and poisons for many years, I am particularly sensitive to toxins. Fortunately, at that time, I was in the study handling official business with Master. When I received the tray with the soup bowl from the maid, I immediately sensed that something was wrong.”
“After verifying the properties of the poison, I confirmed it is indeed a deadly poison from the Western Regions, ‘Shachilán’.”
Feng Zhan’s narrow black eyes suddenly narrowed, a cold, sharp light flashing from them.
The wedding was tomorrow, and yet someone had dared to attempt to poison the Taizifei today in Fengyu Palace!
——–
Ji Nanfeng continued, “I immediately ordered the secret guards to seal off all of Fengyu Palace and control everyone who may have handled the bowl of soup today.”
“According to the maid, the only unusual thing that happened was that on her way from the kitchen to deliver the soup, she accidentally bumped into Young Lady Qin Lin of the Qin Mansion, who was in a hurry.”
“The secret guards also went outside Fengyu Palace and brought Young Lady Lin back…”
“Ah…” At this moment, a sudden agonized scream rang through the hall, interrupting Ji Nanfeng’s words.
The servants who had been kneeling in the hall immediately dispersed in the direction of the sound, leaving only Qin Lin, who was still being restrained by two hidden guards.
Qin Lin’s body twisted unnaturally as she struggled, crying out in agony.
Before long, Qin Lin’s body suddenly expanded, and her robe split open as her body grew larger, leaving everyone in the hall stunned.
Although Qin Lin, now taller and more imposing, still had a slender build, it was clear that she was no longer a woman but a man.
This is…
Bone Shrinking Technique?
Ji Nanfeng immediately stepped forward and ordered the secret guards to check behind Qin Lin’s ears.
Sure enough!
The secret guard tore off the special mask from Qin Lin’s face, revealing the true identity of the person beneath.
It was him!
Su Qing, the qin master!
Once performing at Qianshui Lake’s Hongxiao Pavilion, now playing the qin at Shuyu Lane, Su Qing.
This person could actually perform the Bone Shrinking Technique and had mastered the art of disguise so well that even those who were not extremely familiar with him had not noticed a thing.
A strange smile suddenly appeared on his face. Ji Nanfeng made a gesture, and the secret guards immediately stepped forward, gripping his jaw and forcing him to spit out a small pill he had hidden in his teeth. The pill dropped to the floor.
It was likely poison he had prepared in advance. He wanted to die.
One of the secret guards quickly pulled a rope from his waist and tied it around his mouth to prevent him from biting off his tongue and committing suicide.
After seeing off Princess Xinyue at the Taizi Mansion, Song Zhi, who had rushed over, observed the secret guards’ skilled and seamless operation, silently praising them in his mind.
It seemed the Taizifei’s subordinates had dealt with such situations before.
As for Su Qing, his face turned ashen. He truly hadn’t expected to be caught today.
Originally, if he could just get a little further from the gates of Fengyu Palace, change into the clothes he had already prepared in the woods, and restore his male appearance, how could the people of Fengyu Palace capture him?
But he never imagined that the hidden guards of Fengyu Palace would act so quickly.
———–
Qin Yan looked at him in the hall, curling her lips into a cold smile.
“Su Qing?”
“In Hongxiao Pavilion, you were specifically called for by He Xiao, yet you went straight to my and Princess Jingyi’s private room seeking help.”
“After entering our private room, you told Feng Yuyao that you were originally from Lingnan, which piqued her interest in you.”
“Feng Yuyao is kind-hearted, worried that He Xiao might retaliate against you, so she offered to take you with her. And here, you asked me if my mansion was in need of a qin master.”
“After being sent away by the Taizi and Shen Ci, you then approached Qin Xi and Qin Lin. That day on Qianshui Lake, you were not the only one who had close contact with them.”
“After becoming familiar with the Qin sisters, you must have learned more or less about their dealings with me. You must also know that I occasionally allow Qin Lin to come to the library to read.”
“You disguised yourself as Qin Lin and smoothly entered Fengyu Palace, intending to strike at me.”
“Your backers were very clever in using you for this task. If my people had been just a little later, who would have suspected that a man disguised as Qin Lin was the one they were after?”
Qin Yan extended her fair hands and gently clapped them together.
“For many years, there have been plenty of people who wanted my life.”
“But today, you’re the first one to come so close to succeeding, almost getting the job done. Truly impressive.”
Standing in the hall, Ji Nanfeng and the other subordinates of Qin Yan felt a deep sense of guilt and fear.
If they hadn’t discovered the problem with that bowl of bird’s nest soup today, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Taizi Feng Zhan coldly ordered Song Zhi, “Take this person to the dark prison of the Taizi Mansion and interrogate him severely.”
“Investigate everything related to this person and find out who is behind him.”
“Have the officials from the Ministry of Works, including those from Qin Mansion, come to the Taizifei Mansion for questioning immediately.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” Song Zhi replied, accepting the order.
————
On the way back to the city from Xishan, Princess Xinyue sat in the swaying carriage, her brows furrowed in thought.
She wondered if her actions toward Taizi Feng Zhan today had been noticed by him.
It was a pity that she had failed. If she had succeeded, then…
“Your Highness.” A voice from behind interrupted Princess Xinyue’s thoughts as someone on horseback approached.
Princess Xinyue ordered the carriage to stop.
The report came from outside, “Your Highness, the person has not returned. The one sent to retrieve him said he was seen being brought back to Fengyu Palace, but it is unclear whether the mission was successful.”
The carriage continued forward, and Princess Xinyue furrowed her brows in deep thought.
Su Qing had been one of her most trusted operatives in Great Xia for many years, and he was quite capable. Escaping today should have been easy for him, yet the response from Fengyu Palace was so swift.
It seemed that Qin Yan’s strength was truly unfathomable.
However, that ‘Shachilan’ poison, if it went down her throat, would be deadly. It all depends on whether Qin Yan had fallen victim to it.
From the events of this trip to Great Xia, it seemed that Taizifei Qin Yan was adamantly pro-war. She won’t back down on matters related to the border in the slightest. Qin Yan didn’t even spare the mighty Turkic forces any face; what more could be said about their Southern Xinjiang?
And now, Qin Yan’s mother is about to become the Empress of Northern Liang, which would only further bolster her power.
As for Taizi Feng Zhan, his defenses were like an iron wall, with no openings to exploit. After so much preparation, they finally found a small opportunity with Taizifei Qin Yan.
Hopefully, Su Qing’s mission will succeed. Losing one capable operative would be regrettable, but not a total waste.
If Taizifei Qin Yan were to die, it would likely slow down Great Xia’s hardline stance on the border.
And as for Taizi Feng Zhan…
Princess Xinyue closed her eyes, forcibly pushing away the fleeting thoughts that suddenly filled her mind.
Shiyue, in this life, other than serving Southern Xinjiang with all your heart, what else can you possibly hope for?
———-
On the evening of the fifteenth of the third lunar month, Taizi Feng Zhan, escorted by the personal guards of the Taizi Mansion, arrived in the imperial city and took residence at the Eastern Palace.
The next day, the sixteenth of the third lunar month, was the Taizi’s wedding.
In the morning, Taizi Feng Zhan and Taizifei Qin Yan each performed the sacrificial and ritual vows at the Fengtian Hall in the imperial city and at Fengyu Palace in Xishan, respectively.
After completing the consecration ceremony, the Imperial Music Bureau played grand music, and Taizi Feng Zhan, dressed in the Nine-Chapter Imperial Robe, mounted his horse outside Fengtian Hall. He was escorted by personal guards from the Taizi mansion and the Southern Yamen Imperial Army, accompanied by the imperial guards for the Taizifei. The wedding procession then left from the Noon Gate, heading toward Fengyu Palace to personally welcome the Taizifei.
The capital was bustling with people, and the streets were crowded as thousands of citizens gathered to witness this grand occasion.
It was truly as the rumors said the Taizi personally went to welcome the Taizifei. This showed just how much he valued her.
In the early morning, Taizi Feng Zhan performed the ritual of offering a pair of live geese at the incense table in the main hall of Fengyu Palace. The geese, known for their lifelong pairing and loyalty to each other, symbolized the Taizi and Taizifei’s vow to remain unwaveringly devoted and to accompany each other for life.
Taizifei Qin Yan wore a golden crown adorned with jewels and green feathers, shaped like four phoenixes, and a ceremonial robe embroidered with golden dragons and phoenixes, with a trailing cloud-patterned sash. She was sent out of Fengyu Palace by the members of the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion, and boarded a palanquin, heading toward the imperial city.
In the mid-morning, the wedding procession entered the imperial city through the Noon Gate and proceeded to the Eastern Palace, where the ritual of the marriage ceremony was held.
In the inner hall of the Eastern Palace, the throne for the Taizifei was placed to the east, facing west and the seat for the Taizifei was placed to the west, facing east. There were also designated positions for bowing to the south of their seats, with a wine table set up in the middle, where two wine cups and two marriage cups were placed.
The Taizi and Taizifei took their places for the ceremonial bowing. Taizi Feng Zhan bowed twice, while Taizifei Qin Yan bowed four times. Afterward, the couple ascended their thrones in the hall.
Two female attendants entered with trays of food and placed them before the Taizi and Taizifei. The senior female official took a golden cup, filled it with wine, and presented it to them.
After the Taizi and Taizifei each drank from their cups, the female attendants brought forward the food, which they each accepted.
The female official then presented the wine again in the golden cup. The Taizi and Taizifei drank, and once more, the attendants brought forward food, which they lifted in unison.
Following this, the female official brought the marriage cups filled with wine and offered them in unison. The Taizi and Taizifei drank, and the attendants then presented the food again, which they raised and ate.
After three rounds of wine and food, the attendants removed the trays.
With that, the marriage ceremony was complete.
The Taizi and Taizifei then proceeded to the bridal chamber.
No one dared to cause a ruckus at the Eastern Palace, that would be courting death.
————
The following day, Taizi Feng Zhan and Taizifei Qin Yan visited the Emperor and the Empress at the Qianqing Palace to perform the customary hand-washing and gift-offering ritual. Afterward, Qin Yan and Feng Zhan returned to their mansion at Fengyu Palace in Xishan.
Taizi Feng Zhan’s choice to marry Taizifei Qin Yan at the Eastern Palace was, on one level, to officially acknowledge her status and elevate her reputation. The grand ceremony held there was not just for the marriage itself, but to make a statement about Qin Yan’s position.
However, the reasons for holding the ceremony at the Eastern Palace were also practical. First, both Feng Zhan and Qin Yan had a myriad of responsibilities to manage, and with their subordinates constantly in and out of the palace, the Eastern Palace was more convenient for official matters than their private mansion at Xishan.
Second, Feng Zhan was reluctant to have Qin Yan leave the comfortable and personalized space she had crafted at Fengyu Palace. Qin Yan had put much effort into the design and renovation of the palace to suit her tastes, making it feel more like home. Therefore, despite the wedding taking place in the Eastern Palace, the couple decided to continue living in Fengyu Palace after the marriage, where they could be at ease.
The day after the wedding, the Taizi and Taizifei visited the Great Ancestral Temple to pay their respects, as was customary.
On the third day after the grand wedding ceremony, foreign envoys and officials came to offer their congratulations in the Fengtian Hall, while women from noble families paid their respects at the Eastern Palace. They also held a banquet at the Fengtian Hall in the imperial city to entertain the envoys, officials, and women from various countries.
At the banquet, many guests were seeing the newly appointed Huayang Princess, Taizifei Qin Yan’s mother, Shen Shiying, for the first time.
The attendees were in awe at the pair of mother and daughter. Both women were strikingly beautiful, with noble air, their presence enough to make one believe they were indeed favored by the heavens themselves.
Despite the occasion, there was a marked calmness in the atmosphere. Even the envoys from the Turkic and the Western Rong did not stir trouble, and the event passed without incident.
However, Princess Xinyue’s heart sank when she saw Taizifei Qin Yan sitting on the seat next to Taizi Feng Zhan in the palace.
Qin Yan was indeed quite fortunate.
It seemed that Su Qing had little hope left.
Qin Yan noticed the probing look Princess Xinyue had cast at her earlier, and she raised her gaze to return the stare.
According to Feng Zhan, Princess Xinyue had once attempted to use illusion magic on him at the Taizi Mansion.
Could it be that this person had a hand in the matter of Su Qing as well?
———-
At today’s banquet, although the foreign envoys had behaved, there was another kind of scheming at play.
Empress Dowager Xiao voiced a suggestion that, at first glance, seemed reasonable, but upon further thought, it contained hidden malice.
“The Taizi is now married. The marriages of the other two princes and the princesses should also be put on the agenda.”
“The Second and Third Princes have already passed their coming-of-age. It is time to grant them titles and assign them fiefs.”
“Your Majesty, what do you think?”
The issue of princes being assigned fiefs had been discussed before, both between Emperor Hui and the Taizi, and also with Qin Yan. The conclusion reached had been to delay the matter due to the instability along the borders.
No one expected Empress Dowager Xiao to bring this up at this time. Was she trying to rally the court officials to support her?
However, the officials were all weighing the pros and cons, and before anyone could speak, the envoy from the Kingdom of Goryeo spoke up first, “Your Majesty, Ning Wang was granted a fief long ago. Shouldn’t he also be allowed to leave the capital and take up his fief?”
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall fell into silence.
The birth mother of Ning Wang, Imperial Concubine Li, was a member of the Goryeo royal family, so it made sense for the Goryeo envoy to speak on his behalf.
Empress Dowager Xiao shot a cold, sharp look at Ning Wang, who was drinking wine on his own.
Ning Wang taking up a fief? Absolutely not!
Those ministers who had intended to support the idea of assigning fiefs to the princes quickly swallowed their words and fell silent.
If Ning Wang were included in the assignment of fiefs, that would cause trouble…
Empress Dowager Xiao didn’t bring it up again. Emperor Hui finally spoke, “This matter will be discussed later.”
And with that, the issue was left unresolved.
————-
After the banquet, the imperial family members left first, followed by the envoys from various countries and the wives of the officials.
Recently, Xie Changyuan had grown more silent and reserved. He hadn’t glanced at the Taizifei Qin Yan even once throughout the entire banquet, focusing entirely on his duty to escort Emperor Hui back to the Qianqing Palace.
In the recent banquets, only the wives of officials had been invited, but the Left Prime Minister Mansion, Wang Jingyi, now a sixth-rank Imperial Censor, had been granted a seat outside the Fengtian Hall today.
A few days ago, after the polo match at the Shanglin Garden, Han Shuangling had returned to the Marquis of Guannei Mansion in the capital. Wang Jingyi had also heard that her sister-in-law had proposed to divorce her brother.
As Wang Jingyi and her mother lamented for her brother, she couldn’t help but think that with their father’s style of handling things, once the bond between Han Shuangling and the Third Prince was severed, it was likely that her father and the Third Prince would seek out another kind of connection.
In other words, one of the two legitimate daughters of the Left Prime Minister Mansion would marry the Third Prince, Feng Yi.
Her mother had been urging her to settle her own marriage soon, and Wang Jingyi had indeed been giving it some thought lately.
At this moment, in a corner of the corridor outside the Fengtian Hall, Wang Jingyi finally found the man she had been looking for.
She silently rehearsed the words she was about to speak to him in her mind and took a step forward, preparing to approach. However, she noticed that the direction the man was gazing toward was…
It was the direction where the Taizi and Taizifei had just left. And the expression on Xie Zhao’s face…
Wang Jingyi felt a chill in her heart. Did Xie Zhao have those kinds of feelings for the Taizifei?
At this moment, Xie Zhao seemed lost in thought and didn’t notice Wang Jingyi’s probing gaze from a distance.
Wang Jingyi withdrew the foot she had just raised, staying where she was. Her gaze remained fixed on the man not far away.
After the autumn hunt last year, Wang Jingyi had looked into Xie Zhao.
A few years ago, Xie Zhao had gone to the northwest to join the Pingxi Army. At that time, the Shizi of the Marquis of Yongding Mansion, Xie Changyuan, had pursued Xie Zhao to the Pingxi Army’s main camp over the matter of Princess Anyang. However, there were rumors that Qin Yan had protected Xie Zhao, and Xie Changyuan, unable to capture him, had returned without achieving anything.
Wang Jingyi couldn’t help but smile bitterly to herself. When she had worked with Xie Zhao on cases before, he had treated her with great respect, and at times, she had wondered if he might have feelings for her.
Yet, Wang Jingyi had also seen through Xie Zhao’s ambitions. She had enough leverage to convince him to agree to their marriage.
Wang Jingyi had prided herself on her composure and self-control for years. She had finally decided to allow herself to be a bit more open and actively pursue something, but she hadn’t expected it to be like this.
If Xie Zhao had no interest in other women, Wang Jingyi felt she still had a chance. But if, as she suspected, he had feelings for someone else, then even if the marriage were to happen, she would be humiliating herself.
At that moment, on the other side of the corridor, another man dressed in a crimson ceremonial robe was watching Wang Jingyi.
Ji Mu did not remain standing in place for long. He slowly walked over to Wang Jingyi’s side, and that woman, usually so sharp and perceptive, was so lost in thought that she didn’t even notice someone had approached.
Seeing the unusual expression on Wang Jingyi’s face, Ji Mu followed her gaze and then curled his lips into a cold smile.
Oh, this woman is still pining after him?
Ji Mu had worked with Wang Jingyi and Xie Zhao on cases before, so how could he not see through Wang Jingyi’s feelings for Xie Zhao, feelings that she had tried so hard to hide. Even Xie Zhao, the deputy commander, might not have been unaware of her feelings, perhaps he was just pretending not to notice.
And even if Xie Zhao had feelings, how could they be hidden? Based on Xie Zhao’s actions, it was clear he had no interest in Wang Jingyi.
Wasn’t this just one-sided love on her part?
As he thought about this, Ji Mu couldn’t help but mock himself. What does that make you, then?
“Want to have a drink?” A voice suddenly rang out in his ear, and Wang Jingyi turned to look.
It was him, Lord Ji.
At the same time, Xie Zhao also withdrew his gaze and glanced in their direction.
Xie Zhao’s expression was impassive, his eyes briefly sweeping over the pair of them before he nodded slightly and then turned to leave.
————
As the evening dusk settled, Ji Mu hired a moderately sized boat and instructed the boatman to row it to the center of Qianshui Lake. He then asked the boatman to leave in a small boat, leaving only himself and Wang Jingyi to drink and converse in solitude.
By now, the visitors on the lake had gradually dispersed, while the lanterns along the Qianshui Long Corridor by the lakeside were lit one by one, signaling the start of the lively night.
Wang Jingyi drank cup after cup as if she was drowning all the years of repression and frustration in the wine. She was usually moderate with her drinking, never indulging in excessive alcohol, but tonight she became drunk very quickly. Fortunately, her tolerance was decent; aside from occasionally muttering a few incoherent words, she showed no signs of becoming disorderly or out of control.
Ji Mu, on the other hand, sat quietly across from her, refilling her cup whenever it was empty, while occasionally taking a small sip of his own drink.
Wang Jingyi’s voice, slightly tipsy and soft, was a far cry from the cold, clear tone she usually used in the office.
“I’ve been cautious in words and actions all these years, yet I still cannot escape the arrangement of fate. It’s really ridiculous.”
“How ridiculous… How ridiculous…”
“Having dealt with He Xiao, who will it be next?”
Ji Mu could guess the source of Wang Jingyi’s words. It should be the marriage of the prince mentioned by Empress Dowager Xiao in the Fengtian Hall today.
Was it the Third Prince, Feng Yi?
It seems this Miss Wang isn’t happy about it.
Of course, her reluctance had something to do with him…
———–
Wang Jingyi drank a few more cups and continued speaking, her words tumbling out in a disjointed manner.
“He already has someone in his heart…”
“Thank goodness… I almost did something foolish…”
As she said this, Wang Jingyi’s voice started to break, and she began to softly sob.
Ji Mu furrowed his brow, hesitating several times before he finally reached across the table. His large hand gently covered the delicate, pale one she had placed on the table, giving it a soft pat.
“You’re a good woman. You don’t need to belittle yourself.”
Wang Jingyi slowly lifted her gaze, meeting Ji Mu’s eyes. For a moment, she seemed puzzled, then tilted her head slightly, asking in a quiet, almost uncertain voice, “Lord Ji, are you… interested in me?”
At that moment, Wang Jingyi, having drunk too much, was flushed with a rosy hue. There were still unshed tears in her eyes as she looked at Ji Mu. She appeared vulnerable, a bit fragile, a sight that was truly pitiful and made one want to protect her.
Ji Mu’s throat rolled slightly, and he tried to suppress the restlessness in his heart and turned his face away.
But Wang Jingyi suddenly stood up, crossed the wine table, and fell into Ji Mu’s arms.
Ji Mu was caught off guard, and he hugged the warm and beautiful woman tightly, but his hands seemed to have nowhere to put, and his ears were red.
The woman in his arms moved, and her voice was slightly hoarse, “I heard that men are hypocritical, but their bodies are the most honest. Let me see if this is true?”
Before Ji Mu could react to what Wang Jingyi meant, the woman in his arms reached below him with a tender hand.
Ji Mu opened his eyes wide as if he couldn’t believe that Wang Jingyi, who had always been law-abiding, would do such a thing to him!
After a moment, Wang Jingyi looked up, her eyes somewhat hazy as she looked at the man’s rolling Adam’s apple and handsome chin, her tone somewhat serious, “Well, it seems like… um…” Wang Jingyi’s slightly raised mouth was suddenly blocked by the man’s thin lips, and then Ji Mu turned over and pressed Wang Jingyi under him…
At this time, the cabin was mixed with the strong aroma of wine and the smell of spring brought by the night breeze, and the boat was gently swaying in the center of the lake with the waves of the lake, swaying…
————-
That night, Madam Wang of the Left Prime Minister Mansion entered the palace to seek an audience with the Empress at Kunning Palace and the Imperial Concubine Xian in Jingren Palace. At the Imperial Concubine Xian’s palace, she threatened her life in an attempt to stop the Imperial Concubine Xian and the Left Prime Minister, Wang Xian, from pushing forward the marriage between the Third Prince and her daughter, Wang Jingyi.
The next day, several imperial edicts were issued in the Fengtian Hall.
The Second Prince, Feng Xian, was granted the title of Jin Wang and the Third Prince, Feng Yi, was granted the title of Liang Wang.
Both newly conferred princes were permitted to establish their mansions in the capital, and there was no need for them to leave the capital to govern any fiefdoms for the time being.
As a result, Ning Wang would remain in the capital, continuing to reside at the Ning Wang Manor.
The Emperor decreed the marriage of Miss Xie Qing from the Marquis of Yongding Mansion to Jin Wang as his legitimate wife, and the second daughter of the Left Prime Minister Mansion, Wang Jingyan, to marry Liang Wang as his legitimate wife.
Thus, half of the matters raised by Empress Dowager Xiao in the Fengtian Hall the previous day had been settled.
This outcome has brought joy to some, and sorrow to others.