Free Web NovelChapter 222: Chapter 222: Drinking the Wedding Wine, Entrusted to the Wrong Person
Ji Qingwu linked arms with her elder sister, her bright eyes sparkling.
"The Grand Dowager can rest assured. With you giving birth at my clinic, Big Sister, there’s no chance of a difficult delivery."
Ji Qingrong smiled dotingly. "I knew you were capable. Having you here is the only thing that puts my mind at ease."
Mrs. Cui had been about to ask Ji Qingwu where she got her confidence.
But then she immediately recalled Ji Qingwu’s accomplishments. If Ji Wu could even restore a woman whose health had been fundamentally damaged, perhaps she really could pull this off.
Mrs. Cui was forced to swallow the words on the tip of her tongue.
Just then, a large family arrived at the entrance.
Mrs. Cui took a closer look, then quickly stood and said, "Second Daughter-in-law, come with me and greet them."
Feng Shuang followed, leaving just the two of them at the table. Ji Qingrong finally relaxed her posture a little.
Ji Qingwu turned and looked in the direction they had gone, seeing that the arrivals were the ladies of the Wei Family, led by the solemnly dressed Madam Wei.
Mrs. Cui was far more enthusiastic toward the unrelated Miss Wei than she was toward her own daughter-in-law.
Because of her own sister, who had died long ago, Mrs. Cui harbored a bitter hatred for the Ji Family and treated her enemy’s enemy as an ally. Madam Wei, for her part, was merely lukewarm toward Mrs. Cui.
Ji Qingrong glanced over, unfazed by the sight, and turned back indifferently to bring up another topic.
"Fifth Sister, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you."
Ji Qingwu ran through the recent events in her mind. Quite a lot had happened, and she wasn’t sure which incident her elder sister was curious about.
"Go ahead, Big Sister. Ask me anything."
Ji Qingrong asked softly, "You and Wei Ting... was there really something between you in the past?"
Ji Qingwu gave a dry cough. Just as she was about to speak, she sensed a mountain-like presence standing behind her, casting a shadow over her.
The man standing behind them replied with a warm smile, "That’s right."
Ji Qingrong was left speechless, staring at the man behind them who was as tall and straight as a pine yet moved without a sound.
Ji Qingwu took a deep breath and said, "This is—"
"I am Wei Ting. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Big Sister."
Hearing him use that form of address, Ji Qingwu let out another breath.
’This is the Princess’s wedding banquet,’ she told herself. ’Countless eyes are on the Ji Family. If I lose my composure, I’ll become a laughingstock, and Mrs. Qiao will lose face along with me.’
Ji Qingwu masked her feelings with a smile. "You certainly get familiar quickly, General Wei."
Ji Qingrong had met Wei Ting before, but only from a distance, back when they were young.
Back then, he had been a gentle, refined young lord whom countless ladies had secretly admired. Why had he developed such a brazen personality now?
Ji Qingrong said, "You must be joking, General Wei. I’m a year younger than you; how could I possibly accept being called ’Big Sister’?"
Wei Ting’s eyes seemed to be fixed on Ji Qingwu as he spoke. "It’s about our relationship, not our age. I’m just calling you what Qingwu calls you."
Beneath the table, Ji Qingwu’s hands clenched into fists.
’If I were to punch Wei Ting, here, in front of all these people...’
’Knowing how troublesome he is now, he’d probably grab my hand and use the opportunity to take liberties with me.’
’Forget it!’
’I can’t give him the chance.’
This was the women’s section, after all. Under the displeased gaze of Old Mrs. Wei, he didn’t end up staying for long.
But it was more than enough to attract attention.
Wei Ting had specifically gone over to Ji Qingwu’s side to exchange a few cheerful words, an act witnessed by all the noble ladies of Lin’an City.
’The astrologers said Miss Ji poses a threat to the imperial heir, yet Wei Ting still can’t let her go. Is he planning to defy the Emperor’s decree? He can’t marry the woman he loves, and his official career is floundering. It seems this ruler and his subject are truly about to have a falling out.’
The conversation at the banquet now revolved entirely around Ji Qingwu and Wei Ting.
Ji Qingwu felt her ears burning. Fortunately, the ceremonial officer’s announcement drew everyone’s attention just then.
Princess Qingyun and the Prince Consort’s carriage had arrived at the gate.
The wedding ceremony was elaborate and solemn. Princess Qingyun wore a Nine Phoenix Crown and a wedding gown embroidered with chicks. She was followed by eight page boys holding Square Fans, and behind them were twenty maids carrying palace lanterns.
Li Chengxun was also in red. Unlike the Champion Scholar Robe he wore when he passed the examinations, his wedding robe today was trimmed with gold, giving him an air of indescribable nobility.
Prince Yong, who had been escorting them on horseback, dismounted at the gate. He walked over to the carriage behind his and held out his hand, waiting to help Tao Wanyin down.
Tao Wanyin lifted the carriage curtain and stared in surprise at the hand extended before her. She hesitated for a long moment.
Losing his patience, Prince Yong urged, "What are you spacing out for?"
He then took her hand himself. Frowning at how cold her palm was, he said, "What were you so nervous about at the palace? It’s not like the Emperor and the Empress Dowager were going to eat you."
Tao Wanyin had long known the Empress Dowager disliked her. Previously, Her Majesty had shown some restraint out of respect for Mr. Tao, but now she no longer bothered to hide her aversion. How could Tao Wanyin possibly remain composed?
Amid the boisterous cheers of the crowd, Princess Qingyun and the Prince Consort entered the mansion.
Prince Yong gazed after them and asked, "Do you still remember?"
The topic changed so abruptly that Tao Wanyin asked in confusion, "Remember what?"
Prince Yong squeezed her delicate hand. "On the day we were married, I held your hand just like this as we walked into the Prince Mansion."
Tao Wanyin stopped in her tracks. She had forgotten they had ever been so close.
Watching her reaction, Prince Yong asked, holding his breath, "You’ve forgotten?"
She replied in a low voice, "Your Highness knows that’s in the past. One must always look forward."
As soon as she finished, Tao Wanyin watched Prince Yong fling her hand away and storm off in a rage.
The hand he had held was now warm. She placed it on her lower abdomen.
’The child in my womb,’ she thought, ’is my only way out.’
The wedding ceremony commenced.
Ji Qingwu joined the crowd of onlookers.
It was only then that she learned Li Chengxun’s only remaining family was his elderly mother, who had been brought from Xianyang to Lin’an specifically for the occasion.
The ceremony involved only a few bows, no kowtows, for as a princess, she was a sovereign and was not required to kneel before her mother-in-law.
Finally, the ceremonial officer announced loudly, "The rites are complete!"
Deafening cheers erupted around Ji Qingwu.
The wind billowed the couple’s vibrant red brocade robes. Next, they would proceed to the bridal chamber for the nuptial wine ceremony.
Ji Qingrong hadn’t been out in a long time, and excited by such a lively event, she pulled Ji Qingwu along toward the bridal chamber.
By the time they arrived, they were a little late, and a large crowd had already gathered inside.
As a princess consort and the bride’s own sister-in-law, Tao Wanyin naturally stood at the very front. As soon as she saw Ji Qingwu, she immediately waved her over.
Ji Qingrong said, "Qingwu, you go on ahead. I’m pregnant and worried about getting jostled, so I’ll just watch from the edge of the crowd."
Since they were inside the room and Chun Xing was there to look after her sister, Ji Qingwu made her way to Tao Wanyin’s side.
In a room filled with red, Ji Qingwu’s bright blue attire was especially conspicuous at the front of the crowd.
Li Chengxun, clad in his wedding robe, glanced at her for a moment before looking away.
The newlyweds sat on the large, red bed, each holding one end of a red silk ribbon.
The red silk veil was lifted, revealing Qingyun’s shy expression. As they drank the wedding wine, the wedding grandma rattled off an endless stream of auspicious phrases.
The crowd cheered and clapped. It should have been a joyous scene.
But at that moment, a pang of sadness washed over Ji Qingwu. ’Because Qingyun has entrusted herself to the wrong man.’
After the ritual teasing in the bridal chamber, Li Chengxun was dragged away to drink with the men, and the rest of the crowd began to disperse.
Ji Qingwu had already reached the doorway when she was asked to return by one of Princess Qingyun’s maids.
