Chapter 108: Marriage

  Thank you very much okman, two pink votes for each of us... holding paws...

  "Yes, miss, I'll go call Sister Yuanyang right away. The little maid heard Qingjin's words and her eyes were filled with joy, she slightly curtsied to Qingjin and quickly ran outside."

  A moment later, Yuanyang walked in from outside. Qingjin looked at Yuanyang, who hadn't slept all night and had been exhausted for a long time. At this moment, Yuanyang looked a bit haggard and disheveled. Thinking of her past life, she was abandoned by everyone, but only this maid remained loyal to her. She really didn't want Yuanyang to follow her again and suffer with her.

  After the mandarin duck walked in, she took a look at Qingjin's expression and understood that Qingjin still didn't want her to follow. She didn't say anything, but instead walked straight to Qingjin's front, knelt down in front of him, with a haggard expression, disheveled appearance, yet firm eyes staring at Qingjin.

  Looking at the swan that had just come in and knelt down without speaking, Qing Jin swallowed back the words she was about to say, turning them into a sigh, saying: "Swan, what's the point of this?"

  "Miss, since you saved me on the street and brought me into the mansion, I've only been your swan. I don't know what I did wrong, why you must get rid of me. I'm willing to die if you no longer need me... Please, Miss, grant me permission to take my own life." The swan said with a sincere desire to die in response to Qingjin's question.

  "Nonsense, you... when did I say I didn't want you? It's just that you're also at the age of marriage now. Didn't I tell your mother to talk to you about it? If you don't want to leave the Anji Hou Mansion, then stay in your mother's courtyard..."

  "I don't want to marry anyone, I only wish to follow Miss and be her personal maid." Yuanyang interrupted Qingjin's words.

  “…………”

  "I don't know who my family is, nor do I want to know. I was saved by Miss, if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't know where I'd be now. Maybe I would have long been buried in the wilderness with no bones left. Over the years, I've grown up with Miss and considered her as my only kin. I know I'm not worthy... Now that Miss doesn't need me anymore..."

  "Who says you're not worthy, you silly girl? How can you be so obstinate and ignorant? I'm not letting you follow me for your own good. You should know that I'm going to the Jing Wang Fu..."

  "It's precisely because of the danger that I, a slave, cannot leave your side, Miss. I must follow you even more closely. Miss, I don't want freedom, nor do I wish to marry; all I ask is to be by your side forever." Yuanyang gazed at Qingjin with determination.

  "Alright, since you're so insistent, follow me to the Qing Wang Fu then..." Qing Jin couldn't help but compromise as she looked at Yu Yan's determined expression.

  "Miss......" The mandarin duck's eyes gleamed with wild joy as he gazed at Qingjin.

  "...However, after you followed me into the Jing Wang Fu, be careful and don't act rashly. Everything must be done with caution, otherwise if something happens, I might not even be able to save you." Qing Jin reminded Yuanyang, who was overjoyed.

  "I know, I'll be careful. I won't cause any trouble for Miss." Hearing that Miss wasn't chasing her away, Yuanyang couldn't hide her delight and hastily nodded at Qingjin.

  "Alright, you go down first and rest, eat something and build up your strength. Tomorrow, follow me into the Jing Wang Fu!"

  "Yes, miss, I obey!"

  Qingjin waved goodbye to Yuanyang, who left with a determined look on her face.

  The next day, Anji Houfu hung lanterns and decorated with colors, this is the second happy event for Anji Houfu after Ning Wangfei.

  Although Qingjin was only a side concubine, because she was a titled side concubine, although it couldn't be compared to the scene when Gu Qingyao got married before, it was still lively and extraordinary.

  In Qingjin's boudoir, the auspicious makeup was already done. Under the service of the palace's sent-in wedding attendants and personal maid Yuanyang, she put on a fiery red wedding dress.

  According to the rules of the imperial family, crimson red is the color representing the legitimate wife and eldest daughter. Except for the legitimate wife and eldest daughter, no one else can wear crimson red. Concubines and secondary wives can wear pink or peach-colored clothes on their wedding day. Because Qing Jin married into the royal family as a side consort with a title, she could wear a scarlet wedding dress.

  In the copper mirror, a woman in fiery red, bright and beautiful, under delicate makeup, even more stunning, with occasional ripples of light in her eyes, captivating hearts.

  Even the matchmaker who had seen many new brides next door couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, saying that a woman's wedding day is the most beautiful, and this one was the best among them. That fiery red wedding dress was stunning, making the woman in front of her look like a burning flame. No one suited the color red better than the woman in front of her, unfortunately, she could only wear fire engine red...

  "Girl, you're so beautiful!" Yuanyang couldn't help but exclaim. In the past two years, Qingjin had stopped wearing red and mostly wore green clothes, and it was rare for her to dress up like this. She almost forgot what the girl looked like in a red dress. Today, she suddenly saw her again, and indeed, the girl looked most beautiful in a red dress.

  Upon hearing Yuanyang's words, Qingjin smiled faintly at Yuanyang, and that one smile overturned the world, wantonly entrancing all.

  Quiet Royal Palace

  A festive atmosphere, Murong's busy figure, with a dignified and elegant smile on her face, but in the depths of her eyes, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. Which woman could remain unmoved, watching her own husband marry someone else with such fanfare?

  Taking advantage of the guests' arrival, after inviting everyone to take their seats, Murong brought her personal maid, Le Maid, back to her own courtyard. The smile on her face faded away, and her face was filled with unconcealed resentment and jealousy: "Le Maid, what's going on here? Just because she's a side consort, they're making such a big fuss, it's as if they're marrying the main consort! Isn't this just slapping me in the face?! I won't stand for it, I'm the main consort... I'm the main consort!"

  "Miss, you mustn't do this, I know your grievances, but you must endure it, can't let others laugh at you. You are the master's legitimate wife and the princess of Jing Wang Fu, that woman is just a concubine. Even if the occasion is grand, she can only wear bright red, only you can wear crimson openly. I dare to say something presumptuous, after a hundred years, the one who will be buried with the master is also only you. You are the most legitimate one. Moreover, Miss, we still have young master!"

  "I still have my dignity, I am the quiet Wangfei, the nanny is right, today I absolutely cannot lose my composure, cannot lose my poise, I want to let Ronghui enter with a smile." Hearing her personal nanny's words, Murong Shi suppressed her out-of-control emotions, opened her eyes and regained her elegant demeanor.

  "That's right, Miss. It's good that you think so. A concubine is a concubine, no matter what her family background is. Once she marries into our Jing Wang Fu, she must be subject to Your Highness's rule and kowtow to serve tea..." Seeing Mu Rong calm down, Le Jie continued to press on, hoping that Mu Rong wouldn't be affected.

  "Alright, I understand. Don't worry, I just lost my composure for a moment. From now on, I will show the dignity and elegance of the Queen. Those people in the backyard...I can tolerate them...and so can I tolerate Gu Qingjin..."

  "You can rest assured if you think it's open-minded, have a cup of tea!" Upon hearing Mrs. Murong's words, Le Jiajia picked up a teacup and handed it to Mrs. Murong.

  Murong drank the tea handed over by Le Jiaojiao and a dignified smile reappeared on his face, saying: "Thanks to Jiaojiao's advice, otherwise I might have lost my composure in public today."

  "Master, what are you saying? I'm just a humble servant who has been by your side since childhood. In my heart, you're like my own daughter, and it pains me to see you like this... it pains me... of course, I also want to advise you..."

  "Grandma..."

  "Miss suffered a great injustice today, I know it, but we have to endure..."

  "I understand, Laoye. Let's change our clothes quickly and go out. If we make people wait too long, they might say I'm not magnanimous." Murong said to Le Yao, adjusting her mood.

  Ler's mother heard Murong's words, nodded in satisfaction, helped Murong change into good clothes, and after putting on good makeup for Murong, said to her: "Alright, Princess!"

  She glanced at herself in the copper mirror, her hasty makeup, Murong's mother led Le'er out.

  At this time, a little maid rushed in from outside and whispered a few words to Le Jiaojiao's ear. After listening, Le Jiaojiao waved her hand to dismiss the little maid, but her face couldn't help changing color.

  "What's wrong, Auntie? Has something happened?" Mu Rong asked, unable to help but speak up upon seeing the change in her aunt's complexion.

  When Mu Rong heard her question, Le Jiaojiao opened her mouth but couldn't say anything.

  "Auntie, what's going on? Are you saying... Could it be that even you..." Seeing Auntie's expression, Muyong Shi immediately realized something and couldn't help but raise her voice.

  "The prince has gone to welcome the bride!" Laer's nanny finally couldn't help but speak up as she looked at Murong.

  "What?" Murong's voice rose in incredulous protest at what Lao Lao had just said.

  "...the king himself went to Anji Marquis's mansion to welcome the bride!"

  "Despicable... person..." Murong's voice was hoarse from shouting, his face twisted in a scowl, and after he finished speaking, it seemed like he was about to collapse.

  The old lady hurried forward and supported Murong, saying in a low voice: "Your Highness, you must hold on!"

  "Mother, how could he...how could he...treat me like this...I am his legitimate wife!" Mu Rong's eyes couldn't hide her resentment and indignation.

  "Your Highness, don't think too much, the Anguo Hou Mansion is now favored by the Emperor, and His Majesty went to welcome him in person, just because of the Emperor's favor. His Majesty's favor towards Young Master is also in his heart. The concubine is after all a concubine, as long as you stabilize her and teach Young Master well, what does it matter if His Majesty favors that lowly woman? Moreover, what kind of person do you think His Majesty is? You should be the most understanding, Your Highness. Do you think His Majesty has any feelings for that lowly woman? It's all just because of the Anguo Hou Mansion behind her." La Yini comforted Murong Shi while enduring heartache and stabilizing her mind.