Chapter 103: The Grand Wedding of Ning Wang

  The day after Ning Wang Long Shu sent the betrothal gifts, Jing Wang Long Han's betrothal gifts also arrived at Anji Hou Fu under the leadership of Long Xingfeng, Long Han's personal bodyguard.

  However, unlike the grand scene of Ning Wang Long Shu yesterday, Jing Wang is not marrying a proper wife, and Qing Jin is only the concubine of Long Han Yuan, so no matter in terms of the lineup or etiquette, it cannot be compared to the scene of Long Shu's arrival yesterday. Moreover, the most important thing is that Long Han Yuan did not come in person.

  The onlookers saw that the one who had been sent to deliver the betrothal gifts was not the King of Jing himself, but just an ordinary guard from the King of Jing's mansion. Some were envious, some sympathetic, and others gloated over his misfortune, all discussing it among themselves.

  Yuan heard the news that Guan Jia had someone pass on, that Jing Wang Fu was sending a betrothal gift, and when she learned that the gift was only sent by a single guard, her eyes flashed with indignation. She was taking offense for her own daughter's sake. Originally, she already felt it was unfair that Fourth Miss was Ning Wang's wang fei, while her own daughter was just one of Jing Wang's concubines. Upon hearing what Guan Jia had just said, she felt even more indignant on behalf of her own daughter.

  With a sense of grievance and discontent, Yuanyang walked into Qingjin's room. At this time, Qingjin was standing in front of the desk by the window, wearing a light blue dress like water, holding a pen in her hand, carefully drawing something, with a calm and serene expression.

  Qing Jin didn't notice Yuanyang entering, she had recently picked up painting again which she hadn't done since before crossing over. This period of time, she was infatuated with ink wash landscape paintings and at this moment Qing Jin was fully immersed in her art.

  The sunlight outside spilled onto her, and she basked in its warmth, a faint smile playing on her lips. Qing Jin was completely absorbed, her slender figure calm and composed, like a rare orchid blooming in a secluded valley, untouched by the world.

  Although they are not far apart, the mandarin ducks feel that it is an unbridgeable distance and cannot bear to disturb each other.

  Qingjin stood in front of the desk, using the brush in her hand to carefully draw, her expression meticulous, with just a few strokes, she drew the distant mountains. The green bamboo by the water's edge, the small boat on the river, the fisherman poling the boat, and the lush aquatic plants.

  A simple ink painting is completed, with not much ink used, but winning in the subtlety of its application. The dense and light shades are well-balanced, the dense parts being vivid without being clogged, while the light parts are elegant without being obscure.

  Looking at the completed ink painting, that kind of landscape pleasure, a natural feeling. Made Qingjin couldn't help but relax with a smile, put down the pen in her hand, and stretch comfortably...

  "Yuan Yang, why are you standing at the door?" Qing Jin asked, seeing Yuan Yang standing at the entrance.

  When Yuanyan heard Qingjin's voice, she came back to her senses and only then remembered the purpose of her visit. However, looking at the young lady's smiling face at that moment, thinking about what she had to tell her next, Yuanyan's mouth was filled with bitterness, and in her heart, a thread of resentment towards Jing Wang emerged. Suddenly, she didn't know how to say the words that the steward had instructed someone to pass on.

  Qingjin picked up the ink painting in her hand from the table and examined it carefully, not hearing Yuanyang's voice for a while. She put down the painting in her hand, fixed her eyes on Yuanyang, "Yuanyang, do you have something to say?"

  "Replying to the young lady's words. The steward just sent someone over and said that... said that..."

  "What did the housekeeper's messenger say? You're being so ambiguous. If there's something, just say it directly..."

  "The Prince's mansion has sent over the betrothal gifts, and the steward has sent someone to say that Master wants Miss to show her face in the main hall." Yuanyang said in one breath, her eyes fixed intently on Qingjin.

  "Oh..." Hearing Yuanyang's words, Qingjin's calm smile faded away, and then she continued to ask: "Who brought the betrothal gift?"

  "It's... it's... the personal wind guard beside King Jing." Yuanyang replied somewhat nervously.

  "Is it him?...... I see." Qing Jin's expression was calm and indifferent, unable to discern any joy or anger.

  "Miss, if you don't want to go, we won't go out. I'll let someone inform the master that you're not feeling well." suggested Yuyang.

  "It's nothing." Qing Jin raised her head and replied to Yuanyang.

  "Miss..." Yuanyang wanted to persuade Qingjin a couple more sentences.

  "Swan goose, I know you're taking my side, but don't forget that Fourth Sister is marrying the Ning King as his official consort. Of course, the Ning King would personally come to deliver the betrothal gifts, whereas I'm just a secondary consort..."

  "But...you're a titled imperial concubine!"

  Even a titled concubine is just a concubine, let alone... If I didn't go out today, and compared to what happened with Fourth Sister yesterday, it would be spread to those who care about such things, and they would definitely say that this quiet king's concubine has an even bigger temper than the Ning King's wife! Qing Jin said to Yuanyang with a thorough analysis.

  "That girl will be under Fourth Miss from now on. I feel indignant for you, miss." Yuanyang's eyes were slightly red.

  "Silly girl, what's there to be wronged about? Although Fourth Sister is the official wife and I'm a secondary wife, I married Third Prince while she married Sixth Prince. In terms of seniority, I am still her elder sister and she is my younger sister... You're acting like this..." Qing Jin sighed.

  Seeing Qing Jin sigh, Yuanyang's eyes were no longer red-rimmed. She looked at Qing Jin and said: "Miss, it's all my fault. I've caused you distress. Originally, I should be the one to comfort you, but now I'm letting you comfort me instead."

  "All right, now that you've come to your senses, go get me a set of clothes. After I change, let's hurry to the main hall!" Qingjin instructed Yuanyang.

  "The slave will go get clothes for the young lady now." Yuanyang turned around to fetch clothes for Qingjin.

  Qing Jin lowered her head to look at the newly painted ink landscape painting, then brought over the previously painted ones, looking through them one by one. She gazed at the scrolls filled with natural scenery, and finally threw these paintings into the fire pit beside her, polished the flint, tossed it into the fire pit, and watched as those paintings turned to ashes in the flames.

  "Cough...cough...cough, miss, what are you burning?" Yuanyang walked in with the clothes she had picked out and asked, sniffing at the burnt smell in the room.

  "It's nothing, I was just dissatisfied with the ones I drew earlier and thought they were useless, so I casually burned them to save space." Qingjin replied offhand.

  Qingjin changed her clothes under Yuanyang's service and took Yuanyang to the main hall of Anji Marquis's mansion.

  In the hall, it was already filled with betrothal gifts sent by Jing Wangfu. Qing Jin made an appearance in the hall and was then dismissed back to the courtyard by Jun Shi who was also in the hall.

  Afterwards, all matters of betrothal gifts were handled by Jun Shi with full authority, and Qing Jin was happy not to worry about it.

  Time flies, and half a month's time has passed in an instant. The grand wedding of Gu Qingyao and Ning Wang Longshu is also approaching.

  Prince Ning married his consort, it was the first big happy event after the imperial son was enfeoffed as a king and established his estate. With the tacit consent of Emperor Ming, the wedding ceremony was grand and luxurious.

  The Anji Marquis's mansion was decorated with lanterns and streamers early in the morning. Gu Huaiyi and Gu Huaili stood at the gate of the Anji Marquis's mansion, welcoming the officials who came one after another, looking worried but beaming with joy.

  Gu Qingyao's Boudoir

  Gu Qingyao sat elegantly in front of the copper mirror, allowing the imperial palace's maid to help her with her makeup and dressing. Her soft and beautiful face began to show a hint of radiance under the maid's hands, adding a touch of nobility to her demeanor.

  Next to her, Gu Qingxia and Gu Qingqi saw Gu Qingyao finish her makeup and immediately came over. After seeing the slightly more beautiful face under Qingyao's makeup, Gu Qingqi spoke up first: "Fourth sister, you look so pretty today!"

  Gu Qingyao had never really felt anything for this younger sister of the same father, but on her big wedding day, when she heard this usually inconspicuous younger sister praise herself as beautiful, she couldn't help but feel happy in her heart. She turned around and gave Gu Qingqi a rare smile, saying: "Sixth sister will also be very beautiful in the future."

  Upon hearing Gu Qingyao's words, Gu Qingqi was visibly taken aback, but quickly regained her composure and gave Gu Qingyao a sweet smile.

  "Yes, Fourth Sister, you're really beautiful today. I originally thought that Second Sister was the prettiest in our family, but now I realize that you just don't usually dress up. Now that you've dressed up, even I almost can't recognize you! When Brother-in-law sees you later, he'll definitely be shocked. Second Sister, don't you think so?" With her last sentence finished, Gu Qingxia's gaze shifted to Qingjin's face.

  "Wu's words are quite good, but Si's beauty today is indeed exceptional!" Qing Jin retorted with a clever comeback to Gu Qingxia's intentionally provocative and divisive remark.

  Gu Qingxia heard Qingjin's words, her eyes rolled over, and she continued to speak: "That's not it, and Fourth Sister is married to the Ning King as his official consort! That's a real Ning King's Consort!" The last sentence was full of meaning.

  Yan Ruoyu beside Qing Jin heard Gu Qingxia's words, excitedly took a step forward, just about to say something to Gu Qingxia. Qing Jin looked at Yan Ruoyu who was excited and rushed out, pulling her back from the front.

  Gu Qingxia didn't even glance at Gu Qingxiao, but instead spoke to Gu Qingyao beside her: "Today, our fourth sister is marrying the Ning King, a perfect match made in heaven. I'd like to be the first to wish our fourth sister and the Ning King a lifetime of happiness together, may they grow old hand in hand!"

  "Thank you, Second Sister!" Qing Yao's face turned red as she heard Qing Jin's words and thanked her.

  Gu Qingxia saw Gu Qingjin ignoring her, just as she was about to speak again. At this time, the nanny who had gone out to fetch the phoenix coronet and cloud hairpin for Gu Qingyao walked in. Gu Qingxia also stopped saying anything provocative when she saw an outsider enter, and stood aside watching the nanny and a group of maidservants help Gu Qingyao put on the phoenix coronet and cloud hairpin.

  The phoenix coronet and cloud cape worn by Qing Yao were specially bestowed imperial palace gifts of the princess rank, exceptionally gorgeous. Qing Xia looked on with envy, her heart filled with jealousy, and couldn't help but want to tease Qing Jin a few sentences, seeking balance.

  But before she could speak, Qingjin's warning gaze came over, and Gu Qingxia's heart trembled. The words that were about to come out of her mouth somehow got swallowed back down.

  Sisters watched as Gu Qingyao put on the phoenix crown and red veil, covered with a large red cover, and was escorted out by the palace's appointed matron. Except for Qingjin, both Qingxia and Qingqi felt some indescribable envy and jealousy.

  "This person and that person, are just not the same. You say they're both legitimate daughters, why can some become the main consort while others can only be a secondary consort? Why is that?" After everyone left, Gu Qingxia thought about how she was actually intimidated by Gu Qingjin's gaze earlier, and looking at Gu Qingjin's face again, she saw not a hint of envy or jealousy, and couldn't help but stir up more trouble.

  She just can't stand Gu Qingjin and wants to annoy her.