Mu Mingtang said ruthlessly that if she did not have the same amount of dowry as Jiang Mingwei, she would wring her hair. Madame Jiang was so angry that her heart ached, but she did not dare to take the risk.
Mu Mingtang already had no parents and no attachments. If she was really pushed, who knew what this scoundrel would do? Now that the Emperor had said in front of all the civil and military officials that he wanted to marry a wife for Prince Qiyang, if something happened to Mu Mingtang at this time, where would the Jiang family find another Second Miss?
The Jiang family had already run away from a marriage once, and could not withstand any more testing of the imperial power. That night, Madame Jiang told Jiang Honghao about Mu Mingtang's request. Jiang Honghao gritted his teeth and said, "Money is, after all, a worldly possession. Compared to the future of the entire family, it is really insignificant. Just do as she said and prepare the dowry according to Mingwei's share. It is worth spending money to buy the position of the head of the three departments. "
When Madame Jiang heard this, she was extremely unwilling, but since Jiang Honghao had spoken, she could not refute and could only sullenly agree.
Later, when the Jiang fu prepared gold and silver wares, clothes and jewelry, and mahogany furniture, they were all prepared in double amounts. The Jiang family only had one child, Jiang Mingwei. After Madame Jiang gave birth to Jiang Mingwei, she could not get pregnant again. Over the years, the concubines in the inner courtyard also did not have any children. In the early years, Jiang Honghao still wanted to have children, but in the end, he gradually gave up on the idea of having a son and threw himself wholeheartedly into his official career.
With one as a wangfei, it was very likely that she would become the Empress's daughter in the future. It was much better than having eight or ten good-for-nothing sons. As long as his official position was high enough, he would not have to worry about not having someone to take care of him in the future.
The Jiang family only had one child, Jiang Mingwei, so one could imagine how extravagant Madame Jiang was when preparing the dowry. However, the Jiang family only had so much money. Now that there was one more child, Mu Mingtang, the Jiang family could not take out extra money for a while. They could only cut Jiang Mingwei's share in half and distribute it to Mu Mingtang.
Mrs. Jiang didn't dare to tell Jiang Mingwei about these things. In the end, when she looked at the dowry list, Mrs. Jiang vomited blood in her heart. However, there was nothing she could do. No matter how disgusting Madam Jiang was, she still had to force a smile and happily send Mu Mingtang off.
Mu Mingtang was going to marry Prince of Qiyang, while Jiang Mingwei was going to marry Prince of Jin. Prince of Qiyang was the eldest, so naturally Prince of Qiyang's wedding would be arranged first. On the day of the wedding, Mu Mingtang was wearing a phoenix coronet and a wedding gown. He sat on the wedding bed and listened to the women combing his hair say auspicious words that even they themselves did not believe. The phoenix coronet on her head was so heavy that she couldn't even lift her neck, but Mu Mingtang still sat upright, waiting for the wedding procession to arrive.
Which woman didn't yearn for a grand and solemn wedding? Mu Mingtang would obviously only have this once in her life. The groom was in a coma. The guests seemed to be giving their blessings, but in fact, they were all watching a joke. Even the matron of honor was perfunctory.
If others did not give her dignity, then she would give it to them herself. No matter what others did, for her, this wedding would definitely be sacred and perfect.
When the auspicious hour arrived, the wedding procession stopped at the entrance of the Jiang family's residence. Mu Mingtang boarded the bridal sedan chair with the help of her maidservants.
Hsieh Hyun-chen obviously couldn't attend the wedding because he was still in a coma. However, there were many ceremonies that couldn't be performed without people. Even if many of the steps were cut, there were still a few that were necessary. In the end, Xie Xuanji could only come forward as the younger brother and the Prime Minister to complete this part of the Jiang family's ceremony for Hsieh Hyun-chen.
The bridal sedan chair circled around the capital before finally being sent to the Prince of Qiyang's residence. Mu Mingtang sat in the swaying bridal sedan chair, thinking that this show was really grand. She was afraid that in the eyes of the common people, she was going to be married and become a princess in a grand manner.
Obviously, the further they went, the louder the sound of the suona outside, as if they were deliberately hiding something. Even if Mu Mingtang couldn't see, she could guess that it was because they were getting closer to the Prince of Qiyang's residence. No one dared to go near the Prince of Qiyang's residence. There were no pedestrians on either side, and it was even quieter than a graveyard. Therefore, the people playing the music deliberately increased the volume to add to the festive atmosphere.
This was the place where she would live for the rest of her life. Mu Mingtang sighed silently, lifted her skirt, and slowly walked out of the bridal sedan chair.
After entering the Prince of Qiyang's residence, she could clearly feel that the atmosphere was completely different. Compared to the Jiang family's bustling with guests and the bustling streets and alleys, it was like a completely different world.
Mu Mingtang was covered with a red veil, and her line of sight was fiery red. She couldn't see the outside world, but she could at least hear that there was no sound on either side. If it weren't for the tall threshold under her feet and the flat square bricks, she would have thought that she was in a ghost town.
Xie Xuanji had replaced Hsieh Hyun-chen to complete the rites in the Jiang family, but it wasn't easy for him to do the latter part. The Prince of Qiyang's residence was a strange place, and even Xie Xuanji didn't want to stay any longer. Mu Mingtang had no choice but to enter the main hall by herself. According to the rites officer's chanting, she first bowed to Heaven and Earth, then to her parents, and finally, to the empty air, she slowly bowed.
The rites officer immediately sang, "The ceremony is complete. Send her to the bridal chamber. "
He shouted so urgently, as if he was afraid that if he was a little late, he would delay something. The other people accompanying Mu Mingtang also breathed a sigh of relief, and quickly helped Mu Mingtang walk to the bridal chamber.
No one dared to walk into the Prince of Qiyang's residence, and it was even more impossible to specially arrange a bridal chamber. Therefore, the so-called bridal chamber was actually Hsieh Hyun-chen's sleeping chamber.
Mu Mingtang couldn't see the road, but she could clearly feel the air becoming more and more tense. In the end, she could even hear the sound of swords clashing against armor. As she walked deeper into the palace, the maidservants supporting Mu Mingtang breathed rapidly, and their hands began to tremble. When they reached a door, the two of them unexpectedly let go and hurriedly jumped back two steps, "Wangfei, the bridal chamber is in front. It's not convenient for us to enter the hall, Wangfei can go in by yourself. "
After they finished speaking, the two of them didn't even salute, turned around and ran away. One of the maidservants ran too fast, and even tripped.
Mu Mingtang sighed. Now that things had come to this, she didn't have to worry about whether it was auspicious or not. She took off her veil and looked at the palace hall in front of her.
The palace door was tall and heavy, and there were coiled dragons engraved on it, baring their fangs and brandishing their claws, majestic and awe-inspiring. No one had been here for a long time, and the engravings on the door were covered in dust, but the half-new and half-old dust did not affect the murderous aura that shot out from the coiled dragons' bell-like eyes.
Mu Mingtang was frightened by those vicious dragons. She encouraged herself, her hand on the door handle. She calmed herself before she had the courage to push open the door.
The palace door was heavy, but when it was pushed open, there was no creaking sound. It could be imagined that the craftsmanship and materials used were very good. After pushing open the door, it was very quiet inside. The room was very deep, as though even the sun couldn't shine in.
Mu Mingtang's courage that she had worked so hard to gather suddenly dissipated. She turned around with the luxurious phoenix coronet on her head, but no one was looking at her. The fully armored soldiers were standing straight. Looking closely, their bodies were stiff, and the veins on their hands were bulging.
Mu Mingtang knew that no one would help her. She could only silently recite, "After surviving a great disaster, there will be good fortune." She recited it three times before she had the courage to lift her skirt and silently step through the door.
After Mu Mingtang entered the palace, she quietly closed the door and then walked forward in small steps. She didn't look like she was getting married at all. She was more careful than a thief.
After Mu Mingtang entered, she found that Prince Qiyang's mansion was very luxurious, especially the main hall where Prince Qiyang lived. It was partitioned by deep wood and had many curtains. When there were many servants, it was incomparably noble, but now there was no one. It was too scary.
Mu Mingtang always suspected that a tiger would pounce out from behind the curtains and bite her to death. Mu Mingtang was scared by her own imagination. She stopped, hugged her arms, and called out in a low voice, "Your Highness Prince Qiyang?"
Her voice dissipated in the depths of the house. Naturally, there was no response. At this time, Mu Mingtang took out the optimism of a small citizen and comforted herself. She had never seen such a big house in her life. If she could sleep in such a luxurious and big house for one night, it would be worth it even if she died.
Thinking of this, Mu Mingtang immediately calmed down. She cleared her throat and called out again, "Your Highness Prince Qiyang, my name is Mu Mingtang. I came here today to get married to you. If you marry a chicken, follow the chicken; if you marry a dog, follow the dog. I will stay here like this. If you don't say anything, I will take it that you agree. "
The room was still quiet. Mu Mingtang immediately found a small cubicle that she found pleasing to the eye. She used all her strength to pull a couch in, and that was how she settled in. She finally had time to take off the extremely heavy phoenix coronet and put it away. Then she rummaged around in her small space, trying to find a scrubbing tool to dust the house.
Even if it was the luxurious main hall of a prince's mansion, it would still be dusty if no one lived in it for so long.
Mu Mingtang took off the cumbersome large sleeves and veil. Wearing only a green dress, she wiped the dust off the furniture around her. Hsieh Hyun-chen's bedroom was on the middle road of the Prince of Qiyang's mansion. It was called Jade Qilin Hall and had seven rooms. There was an eaves house in the front and a hall in the back. There were connecting corridors on both sides that connected to the rooms on the left and right. It occupied a very large area.
Mu Mingtang was a commoner and had never seen such a large room. She only found a small room surrounded by a floor-to-ceiling cover in the first main hall on the west side of the central hall. Inside, there was a set of chairs, a couch, and an extremely large wardrobe in the corner. There was also a very spacious walking space in the middle. Mu Mingtang was already very satisfied.
However, this was only a small space casually surrounded by the west side of the seven main halls of Jade Qilin Hall. It was probably used for servants to rest and rest. She didn't know how big the entire bedroom was.
As Mu Mingtang scrubbed, she sighed that it was really good to be rich. She tidied up her future resting place. Knowing that she couldn't avoid it anymore, she finally walked inside slowly.
Mu Mingtang had already taken off her phoenix coronet and floor-length gown, so it was much easier for her to walk. Generally speaking, sleeping rooms were arranged in the west side. Mu Mingtang continued to walk inside. She carefully lifted the hanging curtain and poked her head inside.
"Prince Qiyang?"
Mu Mingtang's voice was nervous. Even her back unconsciously straightened. She was prepared to run outside at the slightest movement. After she shouted, there was no response for a long time. She gathered her courage and took two more steps inside.
There was a vague figure on the bed, but she couldn't see the face clearly. Perhaps the silence made people numb. Mu Mingtang didn't know where her courage came from, but she unexpectedly took a few more steps forward.
This time, she finally saw the face of the person on the bed clearly.
Mu Mingtang felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She stood on the ground for a long time before she felt her soul return to her body. She no longer cared about being afraid. She quickly ran to the front and knelt on the foot of the bed. Her fingers trembled as she lifted the bed curtain.
At such a close distance, she couldn't be mistaken. Mu Mingtang's eyes widened. After a long time, she blinked and tears suddenly fell.
"It's you. It's actually you."
With tears falling down, Mu Mingtang couldn't hold it in anymore. She covered her mouth and cried.
When she was young, she was also the apple of her parents' eye. She was also pampered by her parents and didn't have to worry about food and clothing. She didn't have a wild character from the beginning.
But when she was twelve, everything ended. Xiangyang was surrounded by Jie people. The governor was greedy for life and afraid of death. He abandoned the common people and ran away. Xiangyang fell without being attacked. Jie people entered the city to burn, kill, and rob. They didn't shrink from any evil. The Mu family, as a small family of merchants, was naturally the meat in the eyes of these hungry wolves.
Her parents died in this accident. When her parents learned that the city had fallen, they left behind the family's property that they had accumulated for half their lives. They only took some belongings and escorted Mu Mingtang out of the back door and ran out of the city. However, the completely open Mu family didn't satisfy the pack of wolves. They quickly chased out and chased down the back alley.
Many people knew that the Mu family had a young lady. Although she was young, she was very beautiful. Mu Mingtang was only twelve years old. There were already many people who came to her door to propose marriage. But her parents felt sorry for her young age, so they rejected all of them.
But at this moment, beauty became Mu Mingtang's curse. Seeing that the Jie people were about to catch up, her father stuffed the bag he was carrying into her mother's arms and asked his wife to run with their daughter. Mother Mu heard the sound of swords piercing flesh behind her. She cried and ran with Mu Mingtang.
They ran for their lives, but the two womenfolk were quickly caught up by the pursuers. Mother Mu pushed Mu Mingtang hard. She didn't even have time to give her money. Mother Mu told her not to turn back and run forward. Mother Mu changed to another alley and deliberately made a sound to lure the Jie people away.
Mu Mingtang cried until her whole body twitched. She didn't know why she had to run, why she had to live. Her parents were dead. What was she living for? Mu Mingtang turned back to chase after her mother. But just as she came out of the alley, she happened to meet a group of Jie people.
When the Jie people saw her face, they immediately shouted excitedly. Mu Mingtang used all her strength to hit them, but she was slapped away. One of the Jie people who looked like a leader was approaching Mu Mingtang with a sinister smile. Suddenly, an arrow whistled from behind and pierced through the Jie person's neck.
Then, there was a shout to kill. Mu Mingtang curled up on the ground in a daze. It wasn't until the Jie people's blood splashed on her face that she raised her head in a daze. She saw a white horse pass by in front of her. The horse's legs, which were originally white without a single strand of mixed hair, were covered in blood.
The person riding on the horse nimbly killed a Jie person. He lowered his head and looked at her. He seemed to raise his eyebrows. "Can you walk?"
Mu Mingtang was completely stunned. She trembled as she got up. She only knew how to nod her head. The young man reined in the horse and changed direction. In an instant, he started to run. "As long as you know how to walk, then walk forward. It's not easy to live, but it's too easy to die. "
When the young man said this, his eyes were cold and sharp. The mole at the corner of his eye was filled with endless ruthlessness. He was full of vigor and was indomitable.
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