On the night before the wedding, everyone in the palace was busy and no one could sleep well. Only Li Rong slept until dawn. She was full of vitality and radiant.
She had nothing to worry about. The only thing she was worried about was the news from the Princess Residence last night that Pei Wenxuan wanted to give her a gift and asked her not to thank him.
When she heard this, she panicked a little. She felt that Pei Wenxuan was going to do something unreliable.
However, since she was already here, she did not think too much about it.
When she woke up in the morning, she started to dress up and then went to visit the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the Empress. After lunch, she changed into her wedding dress and waited for the auspicious time.
Everything was not much different from her previous life. However, in her previous life, she did not know who she was marrying. She was nervous, expectant, and somewhat fearful of the future.
Therefore, she always asked the people around her what kind of person Pei Wenxuan was. Was he really as good looking as he was in the painting? How was his family, he …
Thinking of her previous life, Li Rong could not help but laugh. At this time, the sound of ceremony officials singing auspicious words came from outside. Jing Lan walked in and said with a smile, "Princess, it's time. You may rise."
Li Rong responded and raised her hand to block her front with a golden round fan embroidered with peonies.
The round fan blocked her view. Li Rong lowered her eyes and felt people helping her up from both sides. Li Rong moved forward. If it was a normal person, they would have trembled from the pressure. However, Li Rong was very relaxed. Her body was like bamboo, her steps were like lotuses, and her posture was dignified and elegant. She had a luxury that normal people could not hope to achieve.
The imperial family was a noble family with a hundred years of history. The gentry were mediocre. Usually, one would not be able to see the difference, but the moment they put on their clothes, they would be able to see the subtle difference. It was like boiling tea from a clear spring. Wherever the mountains and rivers were, there would be a difference in quality between the lips and the teeth.
Li Rong followed the crowd and walked forward. She felt as if she was stepping on a soft red carpet. She felt as if there were petals falling on her body. She heard the ceremonial officers standing on both sides of the carpet chanting blessings as she walked past. Not far away, there was a joyous and distant sound of music.
She walked for a long time and stopped somewhere. The Jing Lan next to her reminded her, "Your Highness, we're in front of the palace gate."
Li Rong responded, and then the ceremonial officer told her to thank the Emperor and the Empress.
Li Rong was supported by a maid beside her. She turned around and faced Li Ming and Shangguan Yue, who were dressed splendidly. Then, Li Rong was supported by someone beside her. She slowly knelt down and kowtowed to Li Ming and Shangguan Yue.
Her movements were very steady. Even when she bowed her head and bent her waist, the ornaments on her body did not move at all. Li Ming looked at Li Rong kowtowing. He said the blessings he had prepared in advance in a hoarse voice.
Then, the ceremonial officer chanted "Greetings to Shangguan Yue" again. Li Rong bowed to Shangguan Yue once more.
Shangguan Yue looked at Li Rong and her eyes turned red. However, she still cared about her bearing and read the blessings to her daughter with a sobbing tone.
After the ceremonial officer finished reading the blessings, the attendants helped Li Rong up. Li Rong had just stood up and was about to turn and leave when she felt someone come forward and suddenly hold her hand.
"Rong 'er," Shangguan Yue said in a choked voice, "You have to live well. Promise Mother that you have to live well."
When Li Rong heard this, she couldn't help but feel sour. She controlled her emotions and said gently, "Don't worry, Imperial Mother. I can come back to visit Imperial Mother every day, just like before. Imperial Mother, don't be too sad and lose your manners."
After hearing Li Rong's consolation, Shangguan Yue slowly let go of her hand.
Li Rong turned around and was helped to the front of the horse. She felt a pair of steady hands reach out to support her and said, "Older Sister, I'll block the carriage for you."
The wedding banquet was to be held at the princess's residence. Pei Wenxuan would bring the Pei family to the princess's residence in advance to make arrangements.
According to Da Xia's customs, on the road from the palace to the princess's residence, there would be commoners blocking the carriage. The palace would specially send someone to clear the path for these commoners. Li Rong originally thought that a ceremonial official would be arranged. She didn't expect that the Crown Prince would personally block the carriage.
Li Rong didn't know what was wrong with her. She clearly felt that she shouldn't have so many emotions after living for so many years. But when she heard Li Ming's hoarse voice, felt Shangguan Yue holding her hand, and was helped into the carriage by Li Chuan, she suddenly felt like she was 18 years old again.
She thought that she would be doted on and would be happy or sad because of a few words from her family.
She sat in the carriage as the palace gates creaked open. She was trying her best to control her emotions. She forced herself to think about things that would calm her down and make her happy.
For example, when the palace gates opened, Pei Wenxuan would stand in front of the palace gates and wait for her.
Pei Wenxuan, that dog, would say something nice to her later.
In fact, Pei Wenxuan's brothers should be the ones to escort the bride. Pei Wenxuan could lead the Pei family to kneel in front of the princess's residence to welcome her.
However, in her previous life, Pei Wenxuan didn't have a reliable brother. Pei Wenxuan didn't dare to entrust such an important matter to his brothers. Perhaps because no brothers were willing to do it, Pei Wenxuan came himself. He wrote a widely circulated poem, "Welcoming the Phoenix", and recited it in front of the palace gates. The general idea was that it was a blessing from the heavens to marry her. He didn't dare to let down this blessing, so he wanted to personally come and receive her.
At that time, she didn't think too much about it. Now that she thought about it, what kind of nonsense logic was this?
At that time, she sat in the bridal sedan and listened to him recite the poem. She felt shy and happy, so she didn't think too much about it.
If she thought more about it, she would know how difficult it was for Pei Wenxuan at that time.
If he wasn't alone, how could he play to the gallery like this?
Li Rong thought to herself. For a moment, she felt that Pei Wenxuan was somewhat pitiful. This kind of emotion slightly diluted her sadness. She took a deep breath and heard someone roll up the curtain in front of her. Then, she heard a familiar voice in front of her: "This humble subject, Su Yongqing, is here to welcome Princess Ping LE on behalf of my adopted younger brother, Pei Wenxuan."
Hearing this, Li Rong's eyes suddenly widened. She froze in place. Then, she heard Su Yongqing begin to recite Pei Wenxuan's poem of praise.
Since Su Yongqing was here, Pei Wenxuan naturally wouldn't write a poem like he did in her previous life. Instead, Su Yongqing quietly recited the poem in front of her.
From the initial surprise, Li Rong quickly calmed down. She listened to Su Yongqing recite the poem of praise for her. At the end, she heard Su Yongqing's voice pause, but he quickly continued to recite: "Yearning can chase after the sun and moon. Wishing for next year's peach blossoms."
Pei Wenxuan had incorporated the love poem Su Yongqing gave her in her previous life into this poem.
Although the poem wasn't written by Su Yongqing, it carried the shadow of Su Yongqing.
Li Rong didn't know what to feel in her heart. Regret, sorrow, mixed with a bit of indescribable helplessness, and a vague, indescribable sense of satisfaction.
In her previous life, she had accompanied Su Yongqing for twenty-five years. She didn't understand what kind of relationship it was.
But occasionally, she would feel a bit of regret.
She would feel that perhaps she should give Su Yongqing an identity.
However, this regret, at this moment, seemed to be filled in an invisible way. It also seemed to be a farewell.
These emotions were too complicated, and they overlapped with the emotions from before, causing her mind to be in a mess.
Fortunately, she didn't need to do too much. She just held the circular fan in her hand and sat quietly in the carriage. After listening to the protocol officer and Su Yongqing ask and answer questions according to the procedure, the curtain in front of her was lowered.
Before the curtain was lowered, she quietly lowered the circular fan and saw Su Yongqing not far away.
He was the same as in her memory, wearing white clothes and a jade crown. He quietly watched her carriage.
He seemed to have noticed that she was peeking at him. Li Rong hurriedly resumed her movements, feeling a bit flustered.
Fortunately, the carriage slowly moved forward, so she didn't have time to panic. She heard the people around her shouting her name. She didn't look sideways. She only heard Li Chuan in front of her seem to be happy. He was throwing money and saying auspicious words, asking the people to move out of the way.
When it was dusk, she finally arrived at the entrance of the princess' residence. She sat in the carriage and heard Pei Wenxuan's familiar voice: "This humble subject, Pei Wenxuan, greets Your Highness."
As he spoke, she heard a group of people kneel down.
Li Rong didn't move. She heard the curtain in front of her being pulled open. Then the maids came forward and helped her down the carriage. Pei Wenxuan came forward and put a piece of red silk in her hand. Pei Wenxuan led her in the front. The maids at the side supported her on both sides. He led her over the brazier and into the main hall.
Then they stood side by side, each holding a piece of red silk. Pei Wenxuan lowered his voice and whispered: "This is my gift to you. Do you like it?"
"We'll talk about it when we get back."
When Li Rong heard that his tone had a hint of wanting to take credit, she became angry. She controlled her emotions and coldly warned him.
Pei Wenxuan's heart thumped. He had a bit of an ominous premonition. But when he thought about it seriously, he felt that Li Rong probably didn't think it through. This was something that needed his guidance, so it was normal for her to blame him now. Once he explained it, Li Rong would understand.
He sighed silently and listened to the ceremony officials. Just like in his previous life, he and Li Rong bowed to heaven, earth, monarch, and relatives, then bowed to each other.
Pei Wenxuan clearly remembered that when they bowed to each other in his previous life, Li Rong's phoenix coronet pierced his head. So this time, he was prepared and distanced himself from her.
Li Rong wanted to vent her anger, so she bent her waist a bit more than normal. She tried to push the phoenix coronet forward a bit. Thinking that she could poke him like in his previous life, he had no choice but to endure it.
Pei Wenxuan sensed her intentions when she bent her waist. He wanted to take a small step back, but Li Rong directly lowered her voice and said, "You dare?!"
Pei Wenxuan also knew that they were in public, so he didn't dare to move. He could only brace himself and receive Li Rong's phoenix coronet.
Li Rong knew that she had pierced him and immediately felt better. She stood up and went to the rear courtyard with the help of her maidservants. Pei Wenxuan was then let out to accompany the guests. Pei Wenxuan couldn't help but raise his hand to cover his forehead. Li Chuan walked behind him and glanced at him. "Why are you covering your head? Is there something wrong with your brain? "
Pei Wenxuan: "… …"
This pair of brother and sister really were the same. No wonder they came from the same womb.
"Your Imperial Highness is joking." Pei Wenxuan put down his hand. "Your Imperial Highness, please take a seat first. This official will entertain you later."
"Entertain what?" Li Chuan rolled up his sleeves. "Let's go. Today, I will help you entertain them. You must control yourself. Don't get drunk and go see my older sister."
As he spoke, Li Chuan pulled Pei Wenxuan up. Together with Su Yongqing, who was already chatting with others, they invited everyone to take a seat.
Today, almost all of the civil and military officials in the imperial court were present. Su Yongqing was invited by Pei Wenxuan to be the Prime Minister. He was familiar with everyone in the imperial court, and with Li Chuan, no one dared to make things difficult for Pei Wenxuan. They also didn't deliberately force him to drink too much. However, there were too many people who came. Su Yongqing and Li Chuan were the first to collapse, leaving Pei Wenxuan alone. He toasted the last table one by one.
At the beginning, he still took it easy. However, once Su Yongqing and Li Chuan left, no one tried to persuade him. After that, as long as he listened to others toast him and Li Rong, he didn't know why, but he finished the entire cup without slurring.
When he drank, no one could tell whether he was drunk or not. He always had a smile on his face, and his expression was calm. He looked as if nothing had happened. After a round of toasting, everyone was amazed at Pei Wenxuan's alcohol tolerance. Pei Wenxuan knew that he was a little drunk, but it shouldn't be anything serious. After greeting everyone, he went to see Li Chuan and Su Yongqing, who were resting at the side. Su Yongqing felt a little better. Li Chuan was still holding his head in discomfort. Pei Wenxuan looked at the two and couldn't help but say, "You two rest first. I'll go back first."
Su Yongqing nodded and waved his hand without saying anything. Pei Wenxuan hesitated for a moment, then bowed and said, "Thank you, Brother Su."
"Go."
Su Yongqing finally opened his mouth and said, "Don't let the beauty down."
Pei Wenxuan smiled and said, "I won't let her down."
When Su Yongqing heard his words, he looked up blankly. Pei Wenxuan bowed and turned to Li Chuan and said, "Your Highness, this humble subject will take his leave."
"Treat my sister well," Li Chuan said in a hoarse voice, "I only have one sister. Treat her well, do you understand?"
When Pei Wenxuan heard this, even if he knew that Li Chuan was drunk, he still raised his hand in front of him and solemnly bowed and said, "This humble subject obeys the decree."
Li Chuan was a little uncomfortable. He turned his head and waved his hand, indicating that Pei Wenxuan should leave quickly.
Pei Wenxuan was led to the rear courtyard by a servant holding a lamp. In fact, he was very familiar with the princess's residence, but everyone treated it as if it was his first time here and carefully guided him. He felt that it was a little strange.
When he arrived at the entrance, he saw Jing Lan and Jing Mei waiting at the door. When they raised their heads and saw him, the two of them smiled. This scene overlapped with his previous life. Pei Wenxuan couldn't help but be stunned.
The maid next to him called out softly, "Prince Consort?"
Pei Wenxuan came back to his senses and nodded, saying, "Go and report."
"Your Highness," Jing Lan turned his head and said, "Prince Consort is here."
"Come in."
Li Rong's voice came from inside. Pei Wenxuan didn't know why, but when he heard Li Rong's voice, he suddenly became nervous.
Jing Lan pushed open the door and led Pei Wenxuan inside. Then, a group of people came in, carrying many plates and standing at the side.
Pei Wenxuan was led to Li Rong. He looked at the girl in front of him. She was wearing a different wedding dress from her previous life. The original peony was changed to a phoenix. This change made him feel that this wedding wasn't a repeat. It seemed to be a brand new, different wedding. Because it was similar to Pei Wenxuan's memory, but also different, Pei Wenxuan suddenly felt a little expectant. He looked at Li Rong and couldn't help but be a little stunned.
Everyone smiled and looked at each other. The maid brought the first plate, which had a brush, ink, and paper, and placed it in front of Pei Wenxuan.
"Prince Consort," Jing Lan said respectfully, "Please write a poem and fan."
When Pei Wenxuan heard this, he came back to his senses. Li Rong raised his fan and said indifferently, "Write well. If you don't write well, I'll teach you a lesson."
Hearing this, the girls in the room burst into laughter. Pei Wenxuan was a little helpless. He took a brush, hesitated for a moment, and then put it down.
Half awake, half drunk, half living a dream. The bright moon, the bright heart, and the bright moon.
If I can get the beauty to look back, I won't leave Cang Mountain until it's old.
Pei Wenxuan originally wanted to write casually, but after he put the brush down, he couldn't control himself. After he finished writing, the maid beside him came to take it. Pei Wenxuan couldn't help but press down on the paper. The maid looked up in confusion, "Prince Consort?"
Pei Wenxuan stiffened and didn't move. He felt a little awkward, as if someone was prying into his heart. But he also felt that his current actions were even more awkward.
He didn't move, and the maid didn't dare to move either. Li Rong saw that there was no movement beside him, so he directly said, "Finished writing the poem?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, it's finished."
The maid said, then looked up at Pei Wenxuan and cautiously said, "Prince Consort?"
Pei Wenxuan was somewhat at a loss and withdrew his hand. Li Rong already knew that he had finished writing, so if he wrote again, it would seem too deliberate.
It was just that fan poems generally praised a girl's beauty. He always felt that if he made a pledge of eternal love, it would be a little too awkward.
Especially when he wrote "half awake, half drunk, half living a dream." In Li Rong's eyes, could it be a hint of their previous lives?
The more Pei Wenxuan thought about it, the more flustered he became. He didn't dare to think too much about it, so he pretended to be calm and waited for Li Rong to take the poem. Li Rong held the fan in one hand and looked at the poem with the other. Pei Wenxuan rarely wrote such poems, so it was different from his usual standards. But for some reason, when she saw it, she still had some indescribable emotions.
Perhaps it was the phrase "half awake, half drunk, half living a dream" that made her feel sympathetic.
Or perhaps it was the phrase "I won't leave Cang Mountain until it's old" that made her yearn for it.
Li Rong restrained his emotions and said with a smile, "It's really not bad."
As he said this, Li Rong slowly put down the fan.
The first thing that was revealed was her eyes. She had a pair of lively and beautiful eyes that seemed to be outlined by ink, and there was a hint of a smile on her face.
That smile was different from his previous life. In his previous life, when she looked at him at this moment, there was a hint of shyness and joy. Now, she looked at him as if he was an old acquaintance, and there was a hint of teasing.
Then, there was her tall nose, her thin, dyed lips, and the contours of her face. She was beautiful and luxurious, and for a moment, Pei Wenxuan couldn't help but stare blankly.
The maid next to them wanted to laugh, but didn't dare. Li Rong looked at Pei Wenxuan who didn't speak for a long time and couldn't help but laugh, "Are you satisfied with the marriage?"
"I'm satisfied." Pei Wenxuan subconsciously came back to his senses and blurted out.
The people next to him immediately laughed out loud. Li Rong picked up peanuts from the bed and threw them at him, laughing, "How dare you speak to this princess like that."
Pei Wenxuan heard Li Rong's laughter and slowly came back to his senses. He hurriedly said, "It's my fault." As he said this, Pei Wenxuan smiled and bowed, "I hope the princess will forgive me."
"I'm too lazy to talk to you."
Li Rong glared at him and stood up. The maid next to her brought a tray over. Li Rong raised his wine cup and raised his chin at Pei Wenxuan. Pei Wenxuan lowered his head and chuckled. He walked over and also raised his wine cup. In front of everyone, the two of them clasped hands and raised their cups to their lips.
Pei Wenxuan looked up at Li Rong, who was close to him. Li Rong saw him looking at her and raised her eyebrows, "Why are you looking at me?"
"A beauty is offering wine." Pei Wenxuan smiled gently, "How can I not look at a beauty?"
"Then do you want to drink a few more cups?" Li Rong smiled and asked again, "I'll offer you a jar, okay?"
"Forget it, forget it." Pei Wenxuan hurriedly said, "One cup is enough."
After saying this, the two of them drank the wine in one gulp.
Then, they followed the process and said some auspicious words. Finally, the whole process was completed and everyone left.
As soon as everyone left, the two of them immediately deflated. Li Rong's entire body went limp. She directly sat on the bed and leaned against the bed frame, sighing, "I'm so tired."
Pei Wenxuan sat next to her and leaned on the other side, sighing, "Me too."
The two of them were silent for a while. After a while, Li Rong couldn't help but ask, "Why didn't they help me remove the phoenix coronet and take off my clothes so that I could sleep well?"
"This is probably something for the husband to do."
Pei Wenxuan blurted out. When Li Rong heard this, she couldn't help but look over.
Pei Wenxuan noticed Li Rong's gaze and turned to look at her. When their eyes met, Pei Wenxuan felt an ominous premonition, "What do you want?"
"Do you know how much my phoenix coronet weighs?"
"Do you know," Pei Wenxuan raised his finger and pointed at his coronet, "how much the one on my head weighs?"
"Is it heavier than me?"
After Li Rong asked, Pei Wenxuan fell silent. Li Rong leaned against the bed frame and waved her hand, "Come on, remove it."
"Oh my god."
Pei Wenxuan cried out in pain, but he still accepted his fate. After all, they didn't want to call anyone in to help them remove their coronet and clothes.
Pei Wenxuan gathered his last bit of energy and raised his hand to remove his coronet and thick coat. Then, he climbed onto the bed and knelt behind Li Rong. He began to remove the phoenix coronet for Li Rong.
This wasn't the first time he had done it. He had done it last time, so he vaguely remembered the procedure. He yawned as he removed the coronet.
Li Rong felt that he was struggling with the phoenix coronet behind her back. He held onto his last bit of consciousness and said with difficulty, "Pei Wenxuan."
"Yes?"
"Why did you ask Su Yongqing to pick me up?"
"Can we talk about this tomorrow?"
Pei Wenxuan removed Li Rong's phoenix coronet and placed it on the table along with various fixed hairpins.
Li Rong leaned on the bed and looked at Pei Wenxuan, who was exhausted, and said, "Pei Wenxuan."
Pei Wenxuan didn't sit on the bed and only responded, "Yes?"
"I still have clothes to take off."
"You want me to take off your clothes?" Pei Wenxuan looked back with a bitter face, "Why don't you take them off yourself?"
"I'm so tired."
Li Rong turned to look at him, "And you said it, it's your husband who will take it off."
Pei Wenxuan choked. Li Rong looked at him with a pitiful expression. Pei Wenxuan sighed and could only say, "Stand up."
Li Rong propped herself up and stood up. Pei Wenxuan helped her take off her belt first. Then, he grabbed a bunch of her clothes and took them off together, leaving only a single shirt underneath.
Li Rong felt that she was instantly freed and directly fell onto the bed.
Pei Wenxuan grabbed a pile of clothes and looked at Li Rong, who had climbed onto the bed of her own accord. He felt an unprecedented fatigue and couldn't help but say, "If you sleep on the bed, where am I going to sleep?"
"You can sleep wherever you want."
Li Rong crawled under the covers, "I want to rest."
He also wanted to rest!!
Pei Wenxuan felt despair when he thought about how he still had to sleep on the floor at this time.
He took a deep breath and calmed himself down. After putting Li Rong's clothes away, he turned around and rummaged through the cupboard. Li Rong heard Pei Wenxuan rummaging through the cupboard. She thought for a moment and poked her head out. She looked at Pei Wenxuan and said, "Do you want to sleep together?"
Pei Wenxuan froze and stuttered, "I … I don't think that's a good idea?"
Li Rong thought for a moment. She didn't care about these things, but Pei Wenxuan was still very cautious when it came to such matters. Now that they had agreed to be allies, Pei Wenxuan would definitely protect his chastity until the end. Although she only wanted to share half of the bed with him, Pei Wenxuan might feel that even sharing half of the bed was a stain on his chastity.
Thus, Li Rong decided to respect him and said, "Oh, then I'll rest first."
After saying that, Li Rong closed her eyes and fell asleep. She was really too tired and sleepy.
Pei Wenxuan's back was facing Li Rong. He was a little surprised. That's it?
Li Rong didn't persuade him anymore?
In fact, he still … still … really wanted to sleep on the bed.
He was really too tired now and didn't want to sleep on the floor at all. He could promise not to touch Li Rong at all. He definitely wouldn't cross the line.
Li Rong's steady breathing was quickly heard. Pei Wenxuan hesitated for a moment and made a big decision.
He decided to sleep on the bed.
Even if Li Rong kicked him out, he still wanted to sleep on the bed.
After making this decision, he suddenly felt a lot more relaxed. He hugged the quilt and happily returned to the bed.
The bed was very big. Li Rong was curled up in the innermost part of the bed. Her whole body was wrapped in the quilt. She was small and had lost her usual arrogant temperament. She looked pitiful and cute at the same time.
A kind of invisible softness slowly spread out in Pei Wenxuan's heart. He placed the quilt on the side and then fell asleep under the quilt.
There was a large distance between them. He was at the outermost part and it was like he was blocking the wind and rain for her, creating a small world for her.
In that moment, he suddenly felt a kind of sweet, proud, and hard to describe feeling that he didn't even notice.
He felt like he was protecting her.
His princess royal highness.
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