Married Woman

  "Your Highness?" Xī Zhì's eyes suddenly lit up, his heart surging with waves that could no longer be calmed, as he slowly turned back around with an air of nonchalance.

  Zheng Yunhao's eyes narrowed as he leaned in close to Situ Bi, his voice barely above a whisper. "Among the seven princes, only three have been granted kingships. Apart from the third and seventh princes, there is another - the fifth prince, Wang Yuanlong. Although he is not the emperor's biological son, he has managed to keep pace with those born of imperial blood. Why? Because he is the emperor's most beloved child, holding a special place in his heart. Today's elaborate selection process for the princess must mean that the emperor is also torn between the two princes when it comes to the throne. If the fifth prince were to gain the support of the teacher, with the teacher's influence and power in the imperial court, it's still uncertain who will ultimately claim the throne."

  Nodding with a big smile, Si Tu Bi patted Zheng Yunhao's shoulder. "Yunhao, you, the Langzhong of the Ministry of Punishment, have not disappointed me as your teacher. Don't worry, one day when I fulfill my wish, I will definitely not treat you unfairly."

  "Thank you, Master." Zheng Yungao bowed respectfully and stood up straight, thinking for a moment before saying: "However, the Fifth Prince is a humble and unassuming person who doesn't care about fame or wealth, and never associates with the high-ranking officials in the court. I'm afraid he may not have the ambition to seize the throne!"

  "Hmph, since he's going to marry my daughter, Xiāo Tú Bì, then whether or not he becomes emperor is no longer up to him."

  That night, Zhou Song, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Palace, brought the imperial physician to General Hu Guo's residence to treat Xia Tian. The servant reported, and Xia Jingting personally led Xia Yang to greet them, but when he saw the imperial physician behind Zhou Song, his face suddenly showed displeasure, even with a hint of anger.

  Zhou Song seemed to have anticipated Xia Jingting's reaction, and with a wave of his hand, he smiled humbly but not obsequiously: "The Ling King has a few words for the general. He said that the general must have already invited famous doctors to diagnose Miss Xia, and if it weren't for the emperor's orders, he wouldn't have sent someone over. Because no matter whether Miss Xia can speak again in the future or not, the king won't mind. So please put your mind at ease, General."

  Her face slightly flushed, Xia Jingting bowed slightly: "Thank you, Your Highness Ling Wang."

  Zhou Song hastily bowed and returned the courtesy: "I will definitely pass it on."

  "Well, let Yang Er take the two of them to Xiao Nu's boudoir then."

  "Yes, thank you, General."

  He took two steps forward, and with a faint wave of his hand, Xia Yang said, "Please, both of you."

  It's really unjust to mention the harm she suffered in summer. According to her maid Feng Lai, on that day, she was attacked by someone with a blackjack in the garden and fainted for three days and two nights, which led to this "summer" Li Daotaoji. As for the reason why? And who was it that laid the poisonous hand? Was it to vent, revenge, or take her life? She didn't know anything at all, and Feng Lai couldn't figure it out either.

  For this reason, the government had conducted a thorough investigation, but it wasn't long before everything suddenly quieted down again. Xia Jingting even declared that if anyone dared to mention this matter again, they would be dealt with according to family law.

  She could only pretend to be mute as a helpless choice, after being forced to accept the fact that she had "crossed over". She thought and thought but couldn't come up with a foolproof plan. Amnesia? Pretending to be crazy? Holding on for dear life? Fabricating? These were the leftover tricks of her predecessors, which she knew she wasn't capable of pulling off flawlessly. In the end, she could only shake her head three times and refuse to speak. Anyway, it was an undisputed fact that she had been frightened out of her wits!

  The wound behind her head had basically healed, and she didn't speak because she didn't want to. Even the most skilled imperial physician couldn't find any reason for it. After examining her through observation, questioning, and pulse-taking, the imperial physician just made some excuses and left with Zhou Song.

  Ling Wang... She couldn't forget that face. Angular and defined, with deep-set features. He must rarely smile, as there wasn't a single laugh line on his lips; His eyes were very dark and bright, hiding a profound and subtle wisdom. Although he didn't have any expression at all, she somehow sensed an intense oppressive feeling. And five days later, what kind of new situation would she face again? Just when she was about to get used to the General's mansion, just when she started to like her father and brother a little bit, everything had to start all over again.

  She didn't want to, how could she be willing! But what can be done if she's not willing? Nothing can change. It's not that she hadn't thought of running away from the marriage, but where could this unfamiliar person go? Don't look at her as a transmigrated female lead, but she absolutely isn't that kind of female lead who can turn the clouds and rain upside down, on this point she still has some self-awareness.

  It seems hasty to outsiders that a wedding is prepared in just five days, but the efficiency of the Temple of Rituals and the Ling Wang Fu is indeed high. On the third day, they sent over the big red wedding dress embroidered with peony flowers, including embroidered shoes, embroidered handkerchiefs, headdresses, and veils to the Guardian General's Mansion. In these five days, Xia Tian was either taught by the wet nurses in the mansion about the etiquette rules for the wedding day or listened to Jing Fei talk about the way of being a wife, and also had to accept Xia Jingting's "ideological education" from time to time.

  Finally, the big wedding day arrived.

  The gentle breeze blew, the sun was setting in the west, and the grand wedding of the Ling King's mansion was held at dusk.

  She lightly swept her eyebrows and carefully painted her eyes, the peony gold crown on her head was majestic and beautiful, the crystal tassels hanging down covered half of her forehead and hid at the side of her cheek. With every movement, it seemed as if a million moonlights were flowing and pouring onto the rippling lake surface, making her delicate face even more mysterious and extraordinary. In the summer, staring at herself in the mirror, she always felt like everything was just a dream. She used to think that no matter what, she would have to be over 25 years old before getting married, but unexpectedly, she became a bride so quickly, and on top of that, an ancient bride who had to marry some prince, it's really frustrating!

  She bade farewell to her family before leaving home.

  Feng Lian and Xi Niang supported her on either side as she slowly walked into the main hall of the mansion. Since Xia Tian's mother had passed away early, only Xia Jingting sat in the middle, while his concubines and children stood on both sides.

  Xiatian bowed her head three times to Xia Jingting, and before Fengliu and others could support her, Xia Jingting had already come forward to help her up. What he had instructed and entrusted, he had repeated countless times in the past few days, but at this moment, he was still worried: "Tian'er, after getting married, you must not be as willful as you are at home. As long as you are diligent and virtuous, Ling Wang will definitely not mistreat you. Do you understand?"

  Her eyes were red-rimmed, she bit her lip and nodded obediently with a gentle smile.

  Xia Jingting felt a sharp pain in her heart, like a tearing apart, and her eyes also became moist.

  "General, don't miss the auspicious moment, the flower car from the Ling's mansion is already waiting outside." The matchmaker reminded him in a timely manner.

  Xiafeng raised an eyebrow and quietly took a step back. According to custom, the bride should be carried out by her brother on a flower sedan chair. He didn't want to do it! But what if his older brother wasn't willing either... As he looked up, not only him, but also Xia Yu and Xia Xue were all stunned there.