Unparalleled Beauty

Chapter C056 pt2

Because of the misfortune of Mei Wuxia's marriage, it also had a certain impact on Mei Chang and Mei E, causing them to worry about their own futures. What would they do if they encountered an unsuitable man in the future?

Originally, Wushuang was not worried, but as her wedding date approached, she could not help but feel nervous.

Every day, she would ask Linglong and the others if this item was prepared and if that item was ready. Thus, everyone in Ruyi Pavilion knew that the Princess Consort was nervous.

That night, Wushuang cried out in her sleep.

Ji Yang was awakened by her cries, and he pulled her into his arms, asking what was wrong.

"I dreamt that I married you, and you treated me badly. Not long after our wedding, you took a beautiful concubine and gave me the cold shoulder…"

It wasn't that Wushuang was being dramatic; she had truly had such a dream. In it, she relived the events of her previous life when she had first married into the Zhao family, except in the dream, her husband was not Zhao Jianzhi, but Ji Yang.

Ji Yang scoffed at her, "This Prince doesn't even have a palace maid by his side; all those who serve me are eunuchs. Where would I find a beautiful concubine?"

By now, Wushuang was fully awake, and she felt a little embarrassed. She said, "How would I know? I heard that after a Prince marries his primary wife, he can still take secondary consorts. If His Majesty bestows a beautiful secondary consort upon you, you'll like her even more and dislike me..."

The more she spoke, the more distressed Wushuang became. She couldn't help but cover her eyes and pretend to cry, "When that time comes, you'll surely be like you were in my dream, not loving me anymore, only doting on others, and giving me the cold shoulder. I'll be so miserable, so very miserable..."

Ji Yang looked at her with disdain, reaching out to pull her hand away, "What strange behavior is this? You're even pretending to cry?"

"I'm not pretending to cry."

When her hand was pulled away, there were indeed tears, but she hadn't wiped away the tears from when she had cried in her sleep, so it was impossible to tell if she was truly crying or not.

Ji Yang used his thumb to wipe away the tears on her face, "There will be no secondary consorts. This Prince has no interest in those women."

But you had them in your previous life, and so many concubines, Wushuang thought, her heart full of unspoken words. On the surface, however, she wrapped her arms around his neck and said, "Then if you take a secondary consort in the future, I'll divorce you."

Ji Yang lay back down, and she was right on top of him. He casually pinched her cheek.

"Where do you plan to go after a divorce?"

"There are many places I can go. Anyway, I have silver, and I'll take half of your guards with me. I can go anywhere."

This show of defiance was like a kitten baring its claws, not at all intimidating. So Ji Yang scoffed at her, roughly wiped her face with his sleeve, and then pressed her face into his chest to continue sleeping.

"There are only three days left," Wushuang sighed.

Yes, there were only three days left until their wedding.

It was the night before the dowry was to be sent that Cao shi finally came to Ruyi Pavilion to ask if there was any help needed.

To ask at this time was rather late, even if help was needed. Granny Gong said that they only needed two stewards to help watch the main gate tomorrow. It seemed that even the people to carry the dowry had already been prepared.

After Cao shi left, Granny Gong told Wushuang that Cao shi was both clever and not clever. Her cleverness lay in her ability to be flexible, but her lack of cleverness was evident in many ways. For example, she had tried to curry favor with Wushuang before, but when Mei Wuxia's marriage went awry, she had no time for Wushuang.

Of course, one could say that she was upset and in a bad mood, but to only come and inquire about the dowry delivery the day before was clearly because she harbored a grievance. It wasn't directed at Wushuang specifically; if someone else were getting married the day after tomorrow, she would probably be the same, with a sense of resentment that she was the only one who was not doing well.

Wushuang liked listening to Granny Gong talk about these things. In her previous life, Granny Gong had taken the opportunity to give her pointers about people and events, and she hadn't changed this habit in this life.

After listening, she talked with Granny Gong and Linglong for a while before going to sleep.

Ji Yang would not come tonight. According to custom, the bride and groom should not meet for a month before the wedding. They had broken the rules so badly that they had finally changed it to him not coming for these last three days.

The next day, before dawn, a group of people arrived at the Marquis Changyang's mansion. Only after hearing their purpose did they learn that they were sent by Prince Wei's mansion to help Wushuang with her dowry, fearing that there would not be enough people on this side.

These people were all dressed in red shirts with black belts, and the head wraps they wore were also red, looking very festive, clearly having been specially dressed.

When the sky was bright, and everything was ready, after a series of deafening firecrackers, the Marquis Changyang's mansion began to send out the dowry.

In addition to the two people carrying each item, dozens of carriages, also wrapped in red silk, were used to transport the dowry. Naturally, the imperial gifts and the imperial decree of the marriage were at the front. After these imperial gifts passed, there were the rare and precious items that Su shi and great aunt had left for Wushuang, such as a red coral that was over three chi tall.

After these important items passed, the furniture followed.

The furniture was all made of yellow rosewood, from tables and chairs to screens, low tables, a noble consort's couch, dressing tables, to chamber pots, bath tubs, and footstools—everything was there. The most eye-catching piece was the yellow rosewood thousand-work canopy bed, because this bed was so large that the largest cart had to be used to transport it.

Originally, there were not many onlookers, but this marriage procession stretched from beginning to end, attracting countless passersby.

At this time, the soldiers of the Five Cities Military Commission were dispatched, having cleared the road in advance. It was said that Prince Wei's mansion had given prior notice to maintain order on the streets and also to protect the dowry.

Facts proved that Prince Wei's mansion was indeed prescient, because as more and more people gathered to watch, the roadsides were soon so crowded that not even water could seep through, nor a needle could be inserted.

After the furniture passed, came the gold ware, which once again dazzled the eyes of many onlookers.

Some busybodies were even counting on the side, "How many palanquins are there? Are there one hundred and twenty-eight?"

Nowadays, when wealthy families marry, the dowry is mostly made up of auspicious numbers, either thirty-two, sixty-four, or at most one hundred and twenty-eight palanquins. Of course, marrying a princess was not included in this.

"This is Prince Wei marrying his Princess Consort, do you think it would stop at one hundred and twenty-eight palanquins?"

"It's not possible to send the entire Marquis's mansion as dowry, is it?"

Facts proved that Marquis Changyang's mansion seemed to have truly sent the entire mansion as dowry, and more. Because the dowry procession continued from morning until afternoon, the busybodies lost count in the end.

Because of the extravagance of this dowry, many people in the capital were discussing the wealth of Marquis Changyang's mansion, praising how wealthy a family must be to give so many things as dowry.

When the news reached the mansion, Cao shi's face was full of bitterness. It was said that teacups were smashed again in Changqing Hall. Only those who knew the inside story knew that the mansion had not given a single coin for the dowry; these were probably the family assets that the second branch had saved up before.

"She is truly willing to part with it, sending it all as dowry!" Old Madam Mei said with a twisted mouth in anger.

The servants did not dare to speak, but thought in their hearts, if it wasn't sent as dowry, would it be left in this mansion? They are not fools.

Marquis Changyang's mansion gathered once again.

This time, the relatives who had come when Mei Wuxia got married all came, even more than that day.

Because it was her turn to get married this time, Wushuang had nowhere to hide, and she was dazed all day long. It was not until after lunch the next day, when Linglong and the others prepared water for her to bathe and helped her put on a red undergarment, that she realized she was truly getting married.

A woman of good fortune came to comb Wushuang's hair, cleanse her face, and apply makeup.

Wushuang looked at the person in the mirror, so beautiful that she could not recognize herself. Linglong and the others brought her wedding dress on a tray.

According to regulations, the Princess Consort's wedding dress, which was actually her ceremonial attire, consisted of a dark cyan-colored, large-sleeved robe, woven with nine grades of pheasant patterns. The collar and sleeves were trimmed with wide red borders and decorated with golden cloud and phoenix patterns. It was paired with a matching colored lower piece, as well as a jade leather belt, a large belt, and a large ribbon.

The crown was a nine-pheasant crown, with its surface covered in jadeite, inlaid with a dazzling array of pearls and gemstones, and decorated with four golden phoenixes, two hairpins, and nine large and small pearl flowers each.

After wearing the entire set of ceremonial attire, Wushuang felt as if she was carrying tens of pounds on her body, but there was no way around it; she had to wear it at least until she entered the bridal chamber.

Mei Chang, Mei E, and others came, as well as some female relatives from families Wushuang knew and did not know. Mei Wuxia also came, which made Wushuang somewhat surprised.

Mei Wuxia, dressed as a married woman, was completely different from who she was before. The former Mei Wuxia liked plain colors, but after marrying, she had started wearing red and green.

"Today is your auspicious day, I came to see you off," Mei Wuxia said with a stiff smile.

Wushuang had nothing to say to her, so she could only smile.

After a round of praise and excitement, seeing that the sun was already setting in the west, someone hurriedly ran in to report, "They're here, the wedding procession is here."

The people in the room all rushed out with a bang, leaving only Wushuang and a few servants.

Wushuang's heart was pounding. Linglong and the others quickly helped her to sit on the bed and covered her head with a red veil embroidered with golden phoenixes.

Faint sounds of firecrackers could be heard. Wushuang could not help but wonder what her wedding was like in her previous life?

There was no such liveliness, nor such a crowd of people surrounding her. Only a few servants accompanied her until the welcoming procession arrived. Even through the veil, she could see Zhao Jianzhi's cold face...

In a daze, many people entered.

It was not until a pair of large hands took hers that Wushuang vaguely realized he had come.