Do not lean against the west railing to lock in the clear autumn - Chapter 172
Shen Zexuan smiled, concealing the bitterness in his eyes.
Turning to look at Shen Tingxuan standing to the side, she smiled brightly, full of anticipation: "Brother Ting, are you going to give me something too?"
Shen Tingxuan shook his head and chuckled: "No, I'm afraid there will be too many gifts and Huai En won't be able to carry them all later, so I won't give any gifts. Let me comb your hair instead."
Both the old woman beside me and I were astonished.
Shen Tingxuan picked up an ivory comb from the dressing table and began to comb my hair, saying, "Huai'en has no mother, so Brother Ting is shamelessly taking on her role and combing Huai'en's hair." Similar images flashed through my mind. I still remember the day I turned 18, when Zinuo clumsily styled my hair. Now, would Zinuo still be in that white palace offering blessings?
Before she knew it, tears had already soaked her cheeks. The old woman quickly picked up a handkerchief and carefully wiped them dry. She said to Shen Tingxuan, "Your Highness, you'd better not do your hair. If this young lady gets too emotional, her makeup will be ruined, and all the effort you've put in will be wasted."
Shen Tingxuan awkwardly stopped combing my hair, unsure whether to comb it or not. I wiped my eyes and smiled at Shen Tingxuan in the mirror, "Brother Ting, you comb it. Let's see how good your skills are. I'm not crying anymore."
Shen Tingxuan then began to comb my hair again, softly reciting: "One comb to the end, two combs to white hair reaching the eyebrows, three combs to a house full of children and grandchildren..."
After I finished dressing up, everyone else was driven out of the bridal chamber, except for Shen Tingxuan, who remained in the room as an elder of the bride's family and insisted on seeing me off to the bridal sedan chair. Afraid that I was hungry, Shen Tingxuan secretly brought me some pastries and let me eat them secretly without the help of the nanny. She made sure to wipe my mouth clean and reapply rouge.
Finally, as the auspicious hour approached, someone outside shouted that the sedan chair was almost there. Inside, they placed the heavy phoenix crown, inlaid with many bright pearls, on my head. Then, a bridal veil was put over my head, and all I could see was a bright red blur. I couldn't see anything else.
Hearing the lively sound of firecrackers outside, the matchmaker and Shen Tingxuan helped me up and led me step by step outside.
My left hand was gripped tightly in Shen Tingxuan's calloused palm, and I could feel Shen Tingxuan trembling slightly. Amid the commotion, Shen Tingxuan whispered in my ear, "Huai'en, your brother Ting will make you the most glamorous bride."
Marquis Qi Yun himself said his treasury was empty, and his dowry was not even as generous as Mu Hanyan's. What wealth did Shen Tingxuan have? Besides, I don't care about those things. After going through so much, I still have so many people who love me by my side. I am already very, very content. Yet, she still whispered, "Thank you."
I was helped into the sedan chair, and as it was lifted, another round of cheers erupted outside. My face was covered by a red veil, so I couldn't see the festive scene outside, only the shouts of encouragement from both sides. Unable to resist my curiosity, I lifted the veil and peeked through the wind-blown curtain. I saw a wide, smooth stone path carpeted with bright red flowers, stretching as far as the eye could see. Many young women in red, carrying flower baskets, scattered petals like a shower of blossoms. How could I forget? Today was the Spring Flower Festival, a day when all the flowers were in full bloom!
The voices faded, and the sedan chair finally stopped. The matchmaker helped me out of the sedan chair, and the music was even more cheerful than before. I felt that the other end of the red silk had been picked up, and I knew that it must be Shen Haoyu on the other end. My heart was instantly filled with sweetness.
Looking down at the tips of her shoes, she followed Shen Haoyu cautiously with small steps, occasionally catching a glimpse of a corner of his red wedding robe.
The wedding ceremony was held in the Phoenix Palace. Upon entering, I misjudged the height of the threshold, kicked it, and stumbled forward uncontrollably, only to fall into a broad and warm embrace. There must have been guests in the palace, for first came a gasp, then a burst of laughter.
I nestled in Shen Haoyu's arms, and even though no one could see, I still blushed with embarrassment, and a sharp pain shot through my toes.
"Yu'er, what are you still standing there for? The auspicious time is almost over." Prince Qing's voice came from above, with a hint of amusement in his words.
Shen Haoyu helped me up: "How are you?"
"It's okay." My right foot is a little sore.
Shen Haoyu took my arm and we walked slowly toward the palace.
As the master of ceremonies chanted in response, Shen Haoyu helped me complete all the rituals. It wasn't until I heard the words "Send me to the bridal chamber" that I truly felt that I was getting married to Shen Haoyu.
However, I didn't actually wait for the groom's return in the bridal chamber like other brides. Shen Haoyu followed me into the bridal chamber, lifted the veil, took off the phoenix crown, and changed into a lighter dress. Shen Haoyu put the eight-treasure glass hairpin that Shen Tingxuan had once given me into my hair, and grumbled unhappily, "Those people actually want us to drink the nuptial wine in front of them. Really, when they get married, they'll make things difficult for us too."
I shook my head and chuckled. I actually liked this arrangement. Otherwise, sitting alone in the room, I wouldn't even know who the guests were.
Hand in hand with Shen Haoyu, we returned to the Phoenix Palace, where another burst of laughter filled the air. Marquis Qiyun and Prince Qing sat side by side on the high steps, with Shen Tingxuan and Shen Zexuan seated on either side below. Huangfu Xuan sat close to Shen Zexuan, and beside Shen Tingxuan stood none other than Zi Nuo, with white hair and a golden crown. I was so excited that I almost rushed forward, but Shen Haoyu gently squeezed my fingers, stopping me in my tracks, still glancing frequently at Zi Nuo.
Zinuo was also looking at me, a smile on her lips, but her expression was indistinct in the light and shadow.
He finally came to see me.
I sat down side by side with Shen Haoyu at the table next to Prince Qing. Everyone raised their glasses to congratulate Prince Qing and Marquis Qiyun. Then Shen Haoyu and I drank a toast together before things quieted down.
Shen Tingxuan suddenly stood up from his seat, strode down the jade steps, and presented a silver plate covered with a red cloth with both hands. On the plate were two strangely shaped objects, which were of unknown shape, whether metal or wood.
"This is a wedding gift from Tingxuan and his father to Huai'en. Please accept it on his behalf, Prince Qing," Shen Tingxuan said loudly. Several people in the hall changed their expressions, and Prince Qing stood up somewhat agitatedly: "What did you say?"
"Tingxuan and his father are offering 200,000 naval troops and 250,000 soldiers from the southwest as Huai'en's dowry, and we wish to honor Prince Qing as emperor!" Shen Tingxuan's words were powerful and shocked everyone, including me. So, what he meant by making me the most glorious bride was actually handing over hundreds of thousands of troops and honoring Prince Qing as emperor, abandoning years of struggle.
This move seems wise to me. Otherwise, chaos will surely ensue, and the Western Xia and Jinque will grow even stronger. No one can guarantee whether Youjing will still bear the surname Shen. However, in this era where royal power reigns supreme, Shen Tingxuan's actions are truly unexpected, leaving me shocked and speechless with emotion. When did he and Marquis Qiyun agree to this?
While everyone was still in shock, Shen Zexuan stood up gracefully and said coolly, "Second Brother, with such a grand gift, doesn't it make my gift seem too meager?"
Everyone then came to their senses, and Prince Qing descended the jade steps: "Is this truly the decision?"
Shen Tingxuan smiled frankly and said, "That's right."
Prince Qing ordered his men to accept the tiger tally, and he and Shen Tingxuan returned to their seats. The people in the hall then quickly congratulated Prince Qing, and did not forget to praise me as a daughter-in-law of a prosperous family.
As the hall gradually quieted down, Shen Zexuan spoke calmly: "It seems that my gift was too meager; I must have someone make up for it." The implication was self-evident.
As this scene unfolded, Huangfu Xuan raised his wine glass, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.
As night deepened, the guests gradually dispersed. Having risen so early, I was exhausted and felt an urge to fall asleep. Shen Haoyu bid farewell to everyone before taking me back to Hanzhang Palace.
After removing her hairpins and bathing, she sat opposite Shen Haoyu. She reached out and touched the corner of his upturned lips, fearing that all of this was just a beautiful dream.
Shen Haoyu put his arm around my shoulder: "From now on, nothing can separate us except life and death."
On March 20th, Shen Zexuan also handed over the military power in the Northwest to Prince Qing, and from then on lived in seclusion in the Northwest, rarely going to the capital.
On the eighth day of the fifth month, Prince Qing was crowned emperor, changed the era name to Tiancheng, and enfeoffed Marquis Qiyun as Prince Zhennan, Shen Tingxuan as Prince An, and Shen Zexuan as Prince Ding. Shen Yixuan, who had been imprisoned, was also released and enfeoffed as Prince Ning. Other civil and military officials were also rewarded, but the fiefdoms and powers of the various princes and marquises were greatly reduced, and most of the real power was firmly in the hands of Prince Qing.
From then on, although the Kunpeng Continent was divided into three kingdoms, it enjoyed nearly a hundred years of peace.
Do not lean against the west railing to lock in the clear autumn, an extra chapter on Marquis Qiyun (Part 1)
Chapter word count: 10221 Update time: 09-09-25 08:03
As the only son of the Grand Secretary of the court, I was sent to the palace at the age of eight to accompany the Second Prince in his studies. At that time, there was also a little palace maid named Su Su who was often with the Prince. She was only six years old and had just been sent to the palace. She didn't understand anything and would happily circle around the Prince all day long. The Prince liked her very much and kept her by his side. Although I was ashamed, I never said much.
It wasn't until one day, when little Su Su accidentally bumped into Consort Li, who was visiting His Highness and was His Highness's mother, in His Highness's palace, that my impression of Su Su changed.