“…This wasn’t my suggestion… It was His Highness’s own idea…”
“Me? Of course, I also agree. Who knows whether the Empress Dowager might have her wring His Highness’s neck on their wedding night.”
The argument outside ended with a loud slam of the door.
As the door opened and then closed again, a sliver of light seeped into the room. Doctor Li stood inside but paused in his steps.
“Doctor?” a maid whispered, stepping forward. “Are you going to administer acupuncture or check his pulse? His Highness just fell asleep.”
“Asleep, huh,” Doctor Li murmured softly, glancing at the draped bed curtains. “Then… it’s nothing urgent. Let’s wait until His Highness wakes up.”
The maid nodded in acknowledgment.
Doctor Li took another look at the bed before turning and slowly making his way out.
Inside the bed, Duke Jin’an slowly raised his hand, rotating a piece of wood between his fingers.
“Your Majesty, it seems His Highness finds it hard to part with her.”
In the Empress Dowager’s palace, a eunuch said with a sigh.
“His Highness’s health is failing, and he fears he may wrong Lady Cheng.”
The Empress Dowager scoffed.
“Wrong her? What is she that she should feel wronged?” she said irritably. “Countless women would fight tooth and nail to marry into the royal family, even if it meant becoming a widow. If she feels wronged, I am even less willing!”
The eunuch was immediately alarmed – he had overstepped!
“Your Majesty, you must not indulge this,” he hastily added. “You must not let His Highness depart alone… Moreover, His Highness holds such deep affection for her.”
That’s right – this ungrateful creature must accompany Duke Jin’an to the grave.
When Duke Jin’an succumbs to his illness and dies, this girl will naturally follow.
“It would only grant her a fine reputation for fidelity and martyrdom,” the Empress Dowager snorted coldly.
Remembering how her own son, Prince Huaihui, was still mocked in whispers after his death, the Empress Dowager felt even more resentment.
“Your Majesty, you mustn’t think that way. Her reputation, in the end, serves the royal family and your own standing, Empress Dowager,” the eunuch quickly said with a smile, offering her a cup of tea. “Shall I go and deliver the decree, then?”
The Empress Dowager took the tea and gave a faint hum of approval.
The Duke Jin’an residence was a hive of activity. Several eunuchs watched as workers climbed ladders to replace the gate plaque.
The characters for “Prince Qing’s Residence” were taken down, replaced by “Jin’an.”
“…Rest assured, my lord, everything here has been freshly renovated. Preparing for the grand wedding will be both simple and convenient…” several officials from the inner court and the local administration assured repeatedly.
A eunuch from the palace gave a noncommittal hum.
“What kind of talk is that? The order is to prepare everything quickly, not to take shortcuts for convenience’s sake,” he said sternly, eyebrows raised, pointing at the officials. “If you disgrace Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, can you bear the responsibility?”
Everyone hurriedly bowed and affirmed their commitment, offering repeated assurances.
Meanwhile, another eunuch smiled as he looked at Duke Jin’an lying on the bed, then handed over the imperial decree.
A eunuch beside him knelt and received it with both hands.
“Your Highness, you heard it. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has made it clear: you are not to act recklessly anymore,” the eunuch said with a smile, then sighed. “After all, this was decided long ago by His Majesty. Your Highness’s marriage will surely bring His Majesty joy. Perhaps with this happiness, His Majesty’s health might even improve.”
From his bed, Duke Jin’an lightly touched his forehead to the pillow in a gesture of bowing.
“Yes,” he said.
Only then did the eunuch smile again, turning to instruct the others.
“Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has said that since His Highness is still unwell, you must prepare everything with utmost care, but keep all arrangements simple. You must not disturb His Highness’s rest and recovery.”
Everyone in the room bowed and acknowledged the order.
On the bed, Duke Jin’an slowly closed his eyes, as if sinking into a deep slumber.
In the courtyard of the Cheng residence, Fan Jianglin led his family in kneeling to receive the imperial decree.
“The timing is rather rushed, so there’s no need for excessive preparations,” the eunuch remarked.
“But what should be prepared still must be prepared – after all, this is the great matter of marriage,” Fan Jianglin replied. “Moreover, the elders of the family have not yet arrived.”
The eunuch immediately clicked his tongue.
“Jiang-zhou is so far away. Coming and going would take a whole month,” he said, raising an eyebrow. “Besides, whose fault is it? His Majesty declared the marriage long ago – did you not know to prepare? The father and mother left in a frantic hurry, and even the uncle departed too. No one knows what they were really doing. It was all so hurried, it’s rather odd.”
These words sent a jolt through Fan Jianglin’s heart.
“It’s because the Old Madam’s health has taken a turn for the worse,” he quickly explained.
“Exactly,” the eunuch retorted, his voice sharp and high-pitched. “So shouldn’t you hurry? Are you waiting for a three-year mourning period?”
Fan Jianglin lowered his head in acknowledgment.
Only then did the eunuch grumble and take his leave, and quiet gradually returned to the courtyard.
Fan Jianglin turned around, looking at the people in the courtyard and then at the arranged chests of betrothal gifts.
Indeed, everything was to be expedited. The decree was delivered, the betrothal gifts presented, and the engagement finalized – now all that remained was the marriage itself.
Marriage – the second most important event in a person’s life. Yet, as he gazed at the silent figures in the courtyard and their peculiar expressions, the contrast with the vibrant red gift chests and stands grew increasingly unsettling.
“Well then, let’s hurry with the preparations,” Fan Jianglin spoke up, his voice slightly hoarse.
His words broke the courtyard’s frozen stillness. At once, people began moving about. Maids led stewards to receive and record the betrothal gifts, while Fan Jianglin arranged for messengers to be sent to Jiang-zhou and Shan-zhou.
“…We must also send word to the northwest,” Fan Jianglin said.
Inside the room, lamps were already lit. A steward, seated with brush in hand, nodded in response.
“It’s already written,” he replied.
Fan Jianglin rubbed his forehead.
“Using the Ministry of War’s channels will ensure faster delivery,” he said.
“Of course, naturally. After all, our young lady’s intended is a duke. There’s no need to send special messages – officials in Jiang-zhou and Shan-zhou will be scrambling to deliver the news themselves,” the steward said with a chuckle.
However, his words brought no joy to the room. The steward gave an awkward smile, lowered his head, and dared not speak further.
In silence, he finished writing the letter and read it aloud to Fan Jianglin.
Fan Jianglin had no mind to deliberate over the wording; as long as the meaning was clear, it would suffice.
The steward took the letter and withdrew to arrange for its dispatch.
Lady Huang walked in from outside.
“It’s simply impossible to prepare everything in full,” she said, sitting down with a sigh. “Fields and shops are one thing, but the gold and silver jewelry, the hair ornaments – there’s no time to craft them all.”
Fan Jianglin stared at the flickering candle flame, seemingly lost in thought.
“I mentioned it to Fourth Brother before. He must have prepared everything well in advance,” he suddenly remarked.
“But even if he did, there’s no way to deliver it here in time,” Lady Huang replied.
Dowry was meant to accompany the bride on her wedding day. Any addition after that day, no matter how lavish, could not truly be considered part of the dowry.
“Then let it be. It’s not as if anyone will be scrutinizing it anyway,” Fan Jianglin said gloomily.
Lady Huang also gazed at the candle flame.
“She’s finally getting married,” she murmured. “But why does it feel nothing at all like what we imagined?”
By the time the maid stepped into the room, it was already midnight. The room was brightly lit.
“Ban Qin, you haven’t eaten yet?” she asked, glancing at the untouched food tray beside her and then at Ban Qin, who was focused on her needlework without looking up.
“I can’t spare the time. I’ll eat later,” Ban Qin replied.
The maid knelt and moved closer.
“There’s always time for a meal,” she said.
“Missing one meal is hardly a big deal,” Ban Qin said, still not raising her head.
The maid watched her, then looked at the spread-out bright red wedding dress and reached out to touch it.
“Outer shops have ready-made ones available,” she remarked.
“No!” Ban Qin stopped her work and looked up, her eyes red and wide with agitation. “Absolutely not!”
The maid stared at her, taken aback by her sudden flare of anger.
“It just won’t do,” Ban Qin insisted, tears welling up in her eyes. She lowered her head and resumed her rapid needlework. “It simply won’t do. There’s nothing else left, nothing at all. Miss cannot even have a wedding gown not made by her own people…”
As these words left her lips, the maid covered her mouth with her hand, tears streaming down her face.
“This isn’t the wedding I imagined for our lady,” Ban Qin sobbed, hurriedly wiping her tears with her sleeve while continuing her stitching. “Not like this. Not like this at all.”
The time of waiting to be married, a beloved partner, a grand wedding procession stretching for miles.
Not like this. Not like this.
And at this hour, they were not the only ones still awake.
Madam Chen once again pulled on her outer robe and sat up.
“What is it now?” Chen Shao asked.
“I still feel uneasy,” Madam Chen said. “I’ve made up my mind.”
“About what?” Chen Shao asked, somewhat confused.
“All the dowry I had prepared for Dan-niang will be sent to the Cheng family tomorrow,” Madam Chen declared. “I simply cannot bear to see a perfectly good young woman marry in such a rushed and shabby manner.”
“How could it be shabby?” Chen Shao chuckled. “She’s far wealthier than either of us.”
“But aside from money, she has nothing else,” Madam Chen replied. “And that money… it means nothing at all.”
That was precisely why the young lady never treated money as anything significant.
Chen Shao fell silent for a moment.
“Don’t dwell on it too much. Whether her married life will be happy or not doesn’t depend on the grandeur of the wedding,” he said.
“That’s an entirely different matter,” Madam Chen retorted. “You men simply don’t understand.”
Chen Shao smiled and nodded in concession.
“You’re right, you’re right. I don’t understand. Make whatever arrangements you please, my lady,” he said.
Madam Chen let out a breath.
“We must ensure she has a magnificent, honorable wedding,” she said resolutely, already getting out of bed.
“Wait, wait, it’s the middle of the night. How are you going to manage a grand affair now?” Chen Shao asked, caught between laughter and exasperation.
Ignoring him, Madam Chen called out to the matron on night duty outside.
“Summon everyone for me,” she ordered. “We’ll treat it as if our own daughter is getting married.”
