Chapter 73 and the Wang Mansion

  Yuan Longqi, wearing a golden crown and red robe, hastily arrived from the inner courtyard, followed closely by Yuan Longqiao, Yuan Longkui, and Yuan Longquan.

  A peacock's majestic canopy, imperial flowers dotted about, a group of palace maids and eunuchs thronged around a beautiful woman in purple clothes who walked slowly into the mansion. With every step, her jade pendants jingled, as she moved, fragrant vapors wafted, supported by flowers, weak willows swayed, and her beauty was born.

  "See Empress Zhen." Everyone paid their respects.

  Xiatian's movements were noticeably slower than others, fortunately she was standing behind Yuan Longlin, only Yuan Longqi saw her flustered hands. Feng Mou arched his eyebrows and took a few steps forward to more tightly cover her: "I didn't know that Zhen Fei Niangniang had arrived, Longqi has failed to welcome you from afar."

  "Hurry up and get up." Zhen Fei smiled sideways. "Today, the fifth prince is getting married, and His Majesty is afraid that he will not be taken care of properly by the servants in the palace, so he specially sent me to take a look. Fifth Prince, is there anything that doesn't meet your expectations?"

  "Hmph, the Emperor Father is indeed overly doting on Fifth Brother, even personally inquiring about something as trivial as taking a consort." Yuan Longkui snorted disdainfully through his nose.

  Yuan Longqi smiled faintly, "Thank you, Emperor Father, thank you, Empress Zhen. Everything is fine here with Longqi, please convey to the Emperor that he can rest assured."

  "Good." Zhen Fei smiled and replied. The two of them seemed as if they hadn't heard Yuan Longkui's words at all, each speaking in turn.

  The beautiful eyes swept across the crowd, passing through the summer, and stopped directly on Xia Jingting's face. "It turns out that General Xia is also here, I pay my respects." Zhenfei slightly nodded her head.

  "I dare not, I have seen Concubine Zhen."

  "Today, the Fifth Prince married Princess Situ, and in a few days, he will marry your family's Xia Yu as his concubine. One family with two princesses is a rare honor for our dynasty. I hereby congratulate you, General."

  "Your Majesty's great kindness, I, your subject, will remember in my heart and dare not forget."

  The corners of her mouth slightly hooked, Zhen Fei said with a moderate tone: "General Xia, just remember that."

  A flash of displeasure darted through Xia Jingting's downcast eyes, and he cupped his hands in a salute: "Your servant obeys."

  Yuan Longkui let out a cold laugh and turned his head to speak to Yuan Longquan, whose face remained expressionless the entire time.

  "Ah!" Zhen Fei raised her hand to smooth out the perfectly arranged hair at her temples, and the purple skirt of her dress fluttered up a wisp of purple mist. "Hasn't the Princess's flower carriage arrived yet?"

  "It should be arriving soon, Princess Zhen Fei, please enter and rest first."

  "Hmm." Zhen Fei smiled and nodded slightly at Yuan Longqi. The palace maids and eunuchs on both sides saw this and quickly made way, with some hurrying to lead the way. Zhen Fei slowly raised her hand, her jade-like fingertips stained with bright red lip color, gently placing them on the arm of a nearby palace maid. After walking a few steps forward, she suddenly turned back and swept her gaze over the crowd, asking: "Where is the Fourth Prince?"

  Yuan Longqi thought for a moment and said somewhat hesitantly: "Fourth Brother has arrived, perhaps he is resting in the inner chamber at this time!"

  "Is it!" Zhen Fei's face suddenly turned a few shades colder, she snorted and continued on her way.

  Everyone followed in, and Xia Tian hadn't moved yet. A strong arm had already wrapped around her waist. "Why are you so happy?" Warm breath brushed against her neck, and she shrank back, tilting her head to glance at him with a scolding gaze: "Of course I'm happy seeing Father, unlike you, who becomes cold as ice the moment you return, not happy at all." Actually, she suddenly reached out to hook his neck, biting her lip and whispering in his ear with a sly smile, "Husband, you look very handsome when you smile."

  Yuan Longqiao's eyes instantly overflowed with warmth, and he smiled slightly, embracing her arm, unable to help but tighten his grip again, his mood suddenly becoming bright and clear.

  Two people walked at the end, and a few small movements were not noticed by many people. Xia Jingting was originally afraid that Xia Tian would be rude again, but inadvertently glanced at their intimate actions and couldn't help but feel greatly relieved in her heart, and smiled as she walked. Xia Feng walked beside Yuan Longyun, occasionally saying a few words. Suddenly, he saw his footsteps pause, and just as he was about to ask, he saw his expression, which was complex and indescribable, with a mix of joy, sorrow, relief, and entanglement. Perplexed, he turned back, but the three princes behind him and Xia Tian were not unusual. Xia Feng became even more puzzled, looked at Yuan Longyun again, shook her head, and gave up.

  Watching the ceremony, having a meal, offering wine, and celebrating. Zhen Fei sat upright in the first position from start to finish, with Yuan Longkui brothers sitting around her on both sides. The officials sat together, while their families sat separately on one side.

  Yuan Longkui was gloomy, Yuan Longchun was arrogant and overbearing. Yuan Longquan and Yuan Longkui were on the same side, singing in harmony with Yuan Longchun in a battle of wits. Although Yuan Longji sat among the crowd, he had no presence at all. Yuan Longlin was too lazy to endure this strange atmosphere, so he picked up his wine jug and went to sit next to Xia Feng. Only Yuan Longqiao was drinking wine as if nothing was wrong, occasionally exchanging a few words with his brothers.

  In the summer, this table is filled with the wives of the imperial family. The first wife of the emperor, Empress Hui, is slightly older and has a rich appearance, but the excessive jewels and jade on her body make her look somewhat vulgar. The second wife of the emperor, Empress Zhang, is quick-witted and speaks rapidly, forming a sharp contrast with the taciturn Emperor. The fourth wife of the emperor, Empress Jing, is the most reserved in nature. Xia Tian can only exchange a few words with her.

  Looking at a group of unfamiliar people gathering together, having to smile and respond to a group of people who didn't know each other, Xia Tian found it really boring. Yuan Longqiao was sitting too far away from her, not even making eye contact; her father was surrounded by people wearing official robes with various flowers, almost invisible; Long Xiaosi and Xia Shuang were talking about something exciting, laughing and chatting as if no one else existed. Xia Tian pouted, feeling very depressed, scanned the surroundings, saw that the people around her didn't pay much attention to herself, so she quietly left her seat.

  As soon as he walked out of the hall, there were servants from the Wang's mansion who came forward to attend to him. Xia Tian found it annoying and dismissed them one by one, with only one person following him to a quiet place.

  Unlike the heavy courtyards of Ling Wangfu, He Wangfu's layout is more natural and casual, with pavilions and buildings built against the terrain. She came out in a hurry without wearing her cloak, and although she felt chilly now, she didn't want to go back. Walking alone slowly, she would stop wherever she liked. As she walked further forward, the noisy sounds grew fainter, and before she knew it, she had already entered the inner garden of the mansion.

  "Third sister? Be careful!"

  Xiatian was startled and subconsciously turned around, her feet slipping and almost falling. She patted her chest and looked at the "culprit" who was walking towards her in a hurry.

  "Are you okay? It's my fault, I scared you." Beautiful Danfeng eyes had worry and self-blame, the mouth that always had a smile was lightly pursed, with a peach-colored luster.

  "Is that you!" Xia Tian rubbed his frozen and slightly stiff hands together, breathed out a mouthful of air, and asked: "Has your injury healed?"