Phoenix Hairpin

Chapter 118

Outside Princess Jing'an's bedroom, there were three pairs of figures in neat rows.

Li Jing and Lu Mingyu stood side by side, while Li Hao and Meng Yunluo stood together.

Zhao Yu and the Fourth Prince were the most affectionate, leaning their heads together in front of everyone, not knowing what the Fourth Prince said, Zhao Yu giggled.

With the Fourth Prince and Zhao Yu around, it was not deserted at all. However, the atmosphere was still a little weird.

Li Jing smiled, and Lu Mingyu looked frank.

Li Hao didn't look at Lu Mingyu, his face was quite calm. Meng Yunluo bit her lips lightly, and glanced at Lu Mingyu from time to time, resentment mixed with jealousy in her heart swished to her heart.

When they didn't meet each other, Meng Yunluo comforted herself, there were times when everyone was young, ignorant, and frivolous. Anyway, Li Hao and Lu Mingyu were not destined to be husband and wife. There was no need to worry about the past.

As soon as they met at this time, Meng Yunluo realized how could it be possible not to worry about the past!

Seeing Lu Mingyu, she felt furious.

Fortunately, she still knew how to measure and dare not speak nonsense at this time. At most, it was just a few unkind glances at Lu Mingyu.

Soon, the Eldest Prince and the Eldest Prince Consort came out to greet each them.

The Eldest Prince Consort was obsequious in front of Concubine Meng, but she was quite a majestic Eldest Prince Consort  outside, and said with a smile: "Fourth Miss Lu, Third Miss Meng, Fifth Miss Zhao came to the palace to watch the ceremony together, I thank you in advance on behalf of Second Sister."

Lu Mingyu and the others bowed together: "I have met the Eldest Prince Consort."

The Eldest Prince Consort smiled and helped everyone up one by one, and said cordially: "No need for so much formality. In a few days, we will be proper sisters-in-law. For now, it's time to get to know each other better and grow closer."

Meng Yunluo often went to the palace to greet Concubine Meng Gui, and she was also the most familiar with the Eldest Prince Consort, so she rushed to laugh and said, "What the Eldest Prince Consort said is true."

The Eldest Prince Consort smiled and joked: "Biǎomèi (1) used to call me biǎosǎo (2), why is she being polite today and calling me Eldest Prince Consort. I got goosebumps when I heard it."

Meng Yunluo blushed from the teasing and quickly glanced at her fiancé Li Hao.

Li Hao turned his head and said playfully at Meng Yunluo: "It's okay to change your tune now and call her dàsǎo (3)!"

Meng Yunluo's cheeks were burning, and her heart was full of sweetness. The jealousy towards Lu Mingyu also dissipated a lot.

Lu Mingyu had a panoramic view of this scene, and she laughed inwardly.

Li Hao was such a person.

As long as it was useful to him, he can use all means to coax people to their hearts' content.

Su Zhaorong worked hard to ask for such a marriage for Li Hao. For Marquis Guangping and Concubine Meng in the palace, Li Hao will also treat Meng Yunluo well.

Li Jing suddenly held Lu Mingyu's hand, and said with a smile: "Xiaoyu, you haven't entered the second sister's bedroom yet, so be careful with your steps."

Everyone: "..."

Everyone's eyes fell on Li Jing and Lu Mingyu's hands held together.

Lu Mingyu glared at Li Jing calmly.

Li Jing returned an innocent smile.

The Fourth Prince was so excited after watching the show that he almost rubbed his hands.

Li Hao's eyes darkened, he quickly looked away and smiled at Meng Yunluo: "You come here often, and I'm afraid you are more familiar with the place than me. I won't help you." 

Meng Yunluo was so teased. She burst out laughing.

The Eldest Prince Consort saw everything and smiled in her heart.

Concubine Meng looked down upon her as a daughter-in-law, while Meng Yunluo carried the pride of being the legitimate daughter of the Marquis's household. Whenever she entered the palace, she did not hesitate to sow discord in Concubine Meng's ears.

What was the result?

The fiancé that Meng Yunluo was about to marry had someone else in his heart, a different woman.

Hehe, wait and watch the excitement in the future!

...

A group of people entered the bedroom together.

Logically speaking, no matter how favored Concubine Meng Gui was, she was still a concubine, and could not have the same decoration and standards as the direct princes and princesses.

However, Concubine Meng had a special status. Everyone knew that Concubine Meng was the sharp point in Emperor Yongjia's heart, and even the First Prince and Princess Jing'an were the most favored children of the Emperor. The princes naturally have to perform the junior ceremony. After the three Li brothers saluted, they went to the main hall together with the First Prince.

Lu Mingyu and the others also saluted together.

Concubine Meng coquettishly smiled: "I am also very happy when you come into the palace to watch the ceremony. You all get up and sit down to talk."

Lu Mingyu raised her head, looked at Concubine Meng who was surrounded by the crowd, and secretly sighed in her heart.

Concubine Meng was both pitiful and detestable.

In her previous life, Concubine Meng Gui died of illness on the bed, and she was the one who was there when Concubine Meng Gui was on her last journey.

The bright and charming concubine Meng Gui experienced the pain of losing her husband and son and was tortured by Empress Dowager Su who she despised. In the end, she became seriously ill and became thin and shriveled.

When she was dying, Concubine Meng Gui was already unconscious.

She stood silently beside the bed.

Concubine Meng stretched out her hand tremblingly, waved it in the air, and called Emperor Yongjia's name mournfully: "Brother Li, have you come to pick me up? In the next life, marry me as your wife! I don't want to be a concubine, I don't want to be a concubine! You can't look at other women, you are my husband alone..." (*)

In the mournful cry, there was the most fervent and desperate love for a man.

She watched from the side, feeling inexplicably obscure and heavy in her heart.

At that time, Su Rou had already entered the palace. She and Li Hao were estranged from each other, and the husband and wife turned against each other. There was resentment and pain in her heart. However, her pride did not allow her to cry weakly.

She will never let herself collapse in despair due to a betrayal.

Lu Mingyu settled down and sat down under the guidance of the maid.

Meng Yunluo sat next to Lu Mingyu, and then Zhao Yu.

A wife is more expensive than a husband. It was only natural that the three Prince consorts who were yet to be married were seated in the order of their fiancée and future husband.

On such an occasion today, the royal family, family members, and female relatives all arrived, and all the imperial wives above the second rank in the capital came. Meng Yunluo, who is used to showing off, smiled coquettishly, and said to Concubine Meng Gui: "Today is Princess Jing'an's birthday ceremony, I don't know when Your Highness will show up?"

Concubine Meng said with a smile, "Wait a little longer."

Zhao Yu smiled and answered, "The Empress Dowager also hasn't come yet!"

This dead girl, can this pot be opened!

Empress Qiao was not on the right track with her, so why would she come early. Empress Dowager Zhao was narrow-minded, she was not happy to see Emperor Yongjia doting on her, so naturally she refused to come.

Concubine Meng Gui snorted softly in her heart, smiling as usual: "It's not appropriate for the younger generation to have their hairpin ceremony without the attendance of their elders."

The Dongping Jùnwáng fēi winked and immediately changed the topic with a smile.

Lu Mingyu sat quietly and did not speak.

Sitting opposite her was Duanning Jùnzhǔ. Since Lu Mingyu came in, Duanning Jùnzhǔ has been watching her. Lu Mingyu just didn't know why.

As soon as Empress Dowager Zhao and Empress Qiao arrived, everyone got up and went out to meet them.

 Duanning Jùnzhǔ quietly walked to Lu Mingyu's side, and said softly: "Fourth Miss Lu, do you still remember me?"

How could she not remember?

Three years ago, Princess Duanning came to Lu Mansion. She met her first, and then she met Lu Lin.

Lu Mingyu slowed down and smiled at Duanning Jùnzhǔ: "Duanning Jùnzhǔ, I haven't seen you for a long time, are you all right?"

* T/N In a way our FL and Concubine Meng were the same.

1. Younger sister from mother's side of the family

2. Wife of cousin brother

3. Wife of elder brother