Chapter 72: Wedding Date

Yu Lingxi did not want to go to hell with Ning Yin.

In this world, with so much beauty – romantic encounters, snowy landscapes, vast mountains and rivers – she wanted to walk through it all with Ning Yin and turn the regrets from their past lives into fulfillment.

However, Yu Lingxi still felt a tiny bit of anger. Not just because of the arrow aimed at her elder brother but also because of Ning Yin’s paranoid and chaotic thoughts. She had no intention of letting this matter slide.

“In the future, I will often inform my family that I am doing well here, until chaos reigns in the world four days later.”

Seizing the opportunity, she made a request, telling him, “If you are worried, you can open and read the letters, but you are not allowed to stop me, understand?”

Ning Yin remained expressionless, pinching her waist.

“That’s enough.”

His voice carried a relaxed and lazy tone, and he chuckled gently. “Ordinary people speaking to me like this would have their tongues pulled out.”

Yu Lingxi snorted, turning in his embrace. She gathered the scattered spices, red beans, and paper into a sachet, tightened the drawstring, and elegantly hung it back on Ning Yin’s belt.

“I will only give you this once; make sure to keep it safe.”

She was dressed lightly, and having just come in from the wind, her fingertips were slightly reddened from the cold.

Ning Yin did not reply; he simply raised his arm slightly and said in a low voice, “Come into your lover’s arms.”

Facing him, Yu Lingxi rested her chin on his shoulder. Ning Yin took the opportunity to embrace her, unbuttoning his clothes with one hand and grabbing her hand to press it against his chest. He used the warmth of his own rapid heartbeat to warm her fingertips.

The icy palm suddenly touched the position of his heart, and the cold sensation was piercing. It must have been uncomfortable. However, Ning Yin pressed her hand even tighter against his chest, chuckling low in his chest. The vibration made half of Yu Lingxi’s face numb.

He slowly stroked Yu Lingxi’s hair, imprisoning her with his body. The warmth in his chest curled her fingertips.

The day before the grand wedding.

Ning Yin still came and went early and late, busy day and night. During busy times, he was nowhere to be seen, and during leisure times, he called her to accompany him for tea and leisure. It seemed like he had forgotten about the marriage arranged by the emperor for the Xue and Yu families.

Subordinates came in and out to report on state affairs. From the sudden death of the favored consort to the one-year-old little prince being adopted by the empress, and even the transfer of officials in the Imperial Censorate, every detail was discussed. However, not a single mention was made about canceling the marriage.

Yu Lingxi dipped her brush in ink and could only console herself with annoyance: let’s see who loses patience first.

She wrote a letter to her family, informing them that she was doing well. The decorations for the wedding should proceed as planned to avoid any potential trouble. After finishing the letter and drying the ink, she handed it to a servant outside the door and lay back on the bed, letting go of all concerns.

After a cup of tea, the letter reached Ning Yin’s hands.

He rested one hand against his temple, carefully examining the thin sheet of paper. His gaze lingered for a moment on the line that read, “Proceed with the wedding decorations as planned.”

Several trusted subordinates stood silently, waiting for orders.

Since the Crown Prince coup incident, numerous positions in the court have become vacant, with no shortage of lucrative positions in the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War. However, what Ning Yin planted first were the chess pieces in the Imperial Censorate.

He did not see immediate benefits, but by controlling the Imperial Censorate, he could control the direction of the court.

After some time, Prince Ning calmly folded the letter and instructed, “Prepare a memorial for the Imperial Censorate.”

In the Empress’s Palace, Cui An bowed as he entered the hall. Seeing the Empress coaxing the young prince to sleep on the bed, he casually took the hairpin from a palace maid’s hand and began to comb the Empress’s hair.

The infant in the swaddle was not yet a year old, unaware that he no longer had a biological mother, sleeping peacefully. The Empress, without changing her expression, sat up slightly, lifting a finger to dismiss the palace maids.

Cui An then whispered, “Your Majesty, the newly appointed Imperial Censor Liu left his home in official attire two quarters of an hour ago, preparing to enter the palace for an audience.”

The Empress, glancing at the slanting sunlight casting on the remaining snow outside, asked, “At this hour, what could he have to report?”

Cui An replied, “It is said that he has some unfavorable evidence against Prime Minister Xue, and he is seeking my intervention…”

“Send a message to the Xue family. There’s no need for us to wade into this murky water.”

The Empress’s vacant gaze fell on the sleeping baby, and she asked, “What about the concubines from the Eastern Palace who were pregnant before?”

“The Emperor, considering their pregnancies, did not execute them. Instead, they are confined in the Palace. Now, nearing the end of their pregnancies.”

Cui An paused for a moment and continued, “Once the child is born, they will serve the generations as slaves.”

“In that case, it’s better not to have the child. Avoid causing discomfort for His Majesty in the future.”

The Empress patted the swaddle of the little prince, her tone calm, “Take care of it.”

In the Yu Mansion’s western mansion, servants were hanging red silk with joyful characters. Seeing Xue Cen arriving, Yu Huanchen was somewhat surprised.

Regardless of the current strained relationship between the two families or the “fiance” status he currently bore, Xue Cen should not be visiting at this time. Xue Cen appeared a bit thinner, but still scholarly and handsome. He spoke with just one sentence, “Ah Chen, how is Second Sister doing?”

Yu Huanchen’s heart tightened, almost thinking that Xue Cen had already learned about his youngest sister staying overnight in Prince Ning’s mansion.

But soon, he dismissed that thought.

Xue Cen’s gaze seemed clean and gentle, as if he was only worried about her due to the lack of news about Yu Lingxi for so long.

“Sui Sui is doing well,” Yu Huanchen replied.

Xue Cen sighed in relief and said, “Could I trouble Ah Chen to convey my message to Second Sister, asking if she could spare a moment to meet me?”

Certainly not!

“At this time, it is inappropriate to meet. Tomorrow is the wedding date…”

Speaking of this, Yu Huanchen subtly paused.

He was well aware that there might not be a wedding tomorrow, only a chaotic upheaval. Sui Sui’s heart was entirely focused on the Seventh Prince, whether it was for him or to escape for him. But Xue Cen knew nothing. He only frowned slightly but made a concession.

“My apologies for being impulsive. But Ah Chen, please take care of Second Sister these two days. My mind has been uneasy, always worrying that something might happen to her.”

He smiled and said gently, “I hope I am just overthinking. There shouldn’t be any accidents in the general’s residence.”

“Ah Cen…” Yu Huanchen’s mood was complicated.

He had a friendship with Xue Cen for over a decade, from their childhood squabbles as ‘scholars meeting soldiers’ to the time they spoke about everything as teenagers and adults. No one understood what kind of person Xue Cen was better than him.

He was too pure, living under the protection of three generations, pure to the point of being a bit foolish. This was what Yu Huanchen admired most about him; such people had no schemes and wouldn’t let his sister down. Yet, until now, Xue Cen still naively believed that there could be a win-win solution, that no one would harm anyone.

Yu Huanchen understood Xue Cen’s innocence but would never forgive the Xue family. That was his bottom line.

“Nothing.”

Seeing Xue Cen’s puzzled look, Yu Huanchen changed his statement, “Sui Sui is safe, rest assured.”

“Ah Chen.”

For some reason, Xue Cen suddenly had an urge, almost blurting it out.

He cleared his throat and, after a while, asked, “No matter what happens in the future, are we still friends?”

Yu Huanchen pondered for a moment and said, “Of course.”

Xue Cen nodded, earnestly saluted, then turned to walk towards the carriage. Inside the carriage, Xue Cen closed his eyes against the carriage wall, gripping his fingers tightly.

Just now, he wanted to confess that his brother had conspired with Cui An in the “relief grain” case, but thinking of his grandfather and father, the words that were about to come out were forcibly swallowed back.

After a moment of bewilderment, a heavier sense of self-blame swept over him. He felt ashamed of his own despicable thoughts. As night fell, the wind brought down snowflakes, and the entire mansion was adorned with red silk and joyous characters.

At the hour of the rooster, the Xue Mansion was bustling. Countless maids and servants were busy, and the air was filled with the fragrance of fruits and decorations. They were preparing for the grandest wedding in the capital in recent years.

Xue Cen stayed up all night. The neatly arranged crimson wedding attire on the wooden frame shimmered with a light golden sheen in the candlelight, and the auspicious clouds and birds on the clothing seemed vivid and lively.

Immersed in this splendid and joyful dream, he briefly set aside his worries, carefully bathed and changed clothes, and followed the customs to receive teachings from his grandfather in the hall.

Passing by the study, he heard a low reprimand from his father inside.

“Did you fail?”

He asked, his voice unusually stern.

“There were many eyes on the street, and our people couldn’t stop them.” A hoarse voice, clearly belonging to his elder brother.

Xue Cen couldn’t help but pause his steps.

There was silence in the study for a long time before the father’s voice came, “Investigate. Find out who was behind this.”

“No need.”

The hoarse and elderly voice of the grandfather sounded, carrying a rare exhaustion. “Since the second son is getting married, I, this old bones, should step aside. The foundation of the Xue family will eventually be handed over to those two young people.”

Then the door opened, and Xue Lao Ye, dressed in official robes, leaned on a cane and walked out slowly.

Xue Cen immediately stepped aside and respectfully said, “Is Grandfather going to the palace?”

Xue Ruo took a deep breath, nodded, and said, “Yes.”

“Today is the joyous day for your grandson. Is there something urgent…”

“You don’t need to worry about these things.”

Xue Ruo interrupted him, “The only thing you need to do is to smoothly marry Miss Yu’er into the family. Don’t disappoint the Emperor’s favor.”

Xue Cen watched his grandfather enter the palace, feeling a vague uneasiness. Fortunately, in half a day, he would be able to marry the person he loved.

He didn’t expect to gain the love of his second sister, but if only power could protect his beloved, he was willing to learn the ways of officials, strive to become stronger, and spend his life respecting and protecting her.

This was what he owed her. 

On the day of the grand wedding. Before the morning court.

The Emperor had a headache all night. First, the officials from the Imperial Censorate jointly accused the Xue family of having a close relationship with the deposed Crown Prince. Then, General Yu, father of Yu Lingxi, came to the palace, petitioning to resign from his military position to accompany his family.

How could the Emperor willingly let General Yu Yuan resign and return to his fields?

As he was already troubled by this, then came the eunuch’s report, “Your Majesty, Prime Minister Xue is kneeling outside the hall, requesting an audience.”

Prime Minister Xue, nearing his eighties, and with the harsh weather, the Emperor, showing some concern, coughed a few times before wearily saying, “Let him in.”

Prime Minister Xue’s knees were wet, and frost from ice and snow clung to his hair and beard. As he entered the hall, he trembled and knelt down, supporting himself with a cane.

Touching his forehead to the ground, he kowtowed and said, “This old minister is old and confused, finding it difficult to bear high responsibilities. Now, he willingly resigns and hopes Your Majesty will permit it!”

As soon as these words were spoken, the Emperor’s heart sank halfway. It seemed that the Xue family’s clandestine dealings with the deposed Crown Prince were almost certainly true, and those letters that were not burned were undoubtedly genuine.

This old fox, Prime Minister Xue, was trying to abandon the chariot to save the pawn, voluntarily stepping down to preserve the career paths of his two grandsons.

Thinking of this, the Emperor let out a long sigh. For more than twenty years on the throne, in the end, loyalty was not loyalty, and betrayal was not just betrayal. Almost everyone deceived him, turned away from him…

Could it be that this was heaven’s punishment for him?

…

Another person who had not slept all night was Yu Lingxi. The day had already dawned, and there was still no movement from Ning Yin’s side. He had not returned all night.

Today was her wedding day; she was about to marry Xue Cen!

Yu Lingxi turned over forcefully. Even if Ning Yin did not make a move, the Yu family would never allow her to blindly marry.

But Ning Yin was different.

At the morning hour, the time for dressing and preparing for the wedding, Ning Yin finally arrived, late. As soon as Yu Lingxi heard the noise of his return to the mansion, she quickly got up and went to the study following the sound.

Seeing her enter, the subordinates silently bowed and retreated. Ning Yin, draped in a large cloak, his face immersed in the lingering cold of the night, was burning a document in the brazier, the contents of which Yu Lingxi couldn’t identify.

As the flames flickered, he rubbed a familiar piece of jade in his hand.

After standing alone for a while, Yu Lingxi couldn’t help but sit across from him and said with a mournful tone, “Today is my wedding day, but you cut my wedding dress.”

Ning Yin raised his eyes to look at her.

The more Yu Lingxi thought about it, the more wronged she felt, furrowing her brows and said, “You have to compensate me!” 

Previous

Next