Chapter 71: The Crown Prince’s Wedding

 

Weddings and funerals have always been important events, and the wedding of the Crown Prince was a national affair.

 

The six rites of the royal family differed slightly from those of the common people, and were divided into six steps: Nacai (proposal), Wenming (asking for the bride’s name), Nazheng (betrothal gifts), Gaoqi (setting the wedding date), Cefeng (the conferral of titles), and Qinying (the groom personally fetching the bride). Afterward, Chu Jinyao would also need to pay homage to the Emperor and Empress, make offerings at the Ancestral Temple, and accept the congratulations of officials and noblewomen. The rules were intricate and endless.

 

Preparations for the Crown Prince’s wedding officially began in April, yet it wasn’t until winter that Chu Jinyao was formally bestowed her title.

 

A grand procession of ceremonial officials departed from the Hall of Heavenly Purity (Fengtian Hall), led by the Imperial Guard (Jin Yi Wei), who opened the way. The grand spectacle of the Crown Princess’s crown and robes being delivered to the Changxing Marquis’s residence caused onlookers to gasp in awe at the grandeur and authority of the royal family.

 

Upon receiving the crown and robes, after the appropriate kneeling ceremonies, they were immediately taken to Chu Jinyao’s room. Under the service of numerous female officials, she donned the complete Crown Princess attire. The Diyi (Crown Princess ceremonial robe) was a deep blue color, adorned with 138 pairs of pheasants. The outfit was simple yet solemn, exuding an ancient grandeur. With a solemn expression, Chu Jinyao donned the attire with reverence, surrounded by kneeling or squatting female officials and maids adjusting the hems of her robes, fastening her bib, belt, and jade pendants. Finally, she put on the Crown Princess’s Four Phoenix Crown, completing the heavy ensemble. Chu Jinyao carefully maintained her balance, walking step by step toward the main hall with dignity.

 

A female official tasked with reading the imperial edict stood to the left of the incense table. Upon seeing Chu Jinyao, she first bowed deeply four times before slowly and lengthily calling out, “Crown Princess Chu, receive your title.”

 

With the support of female officials, Chu Jinyao knelt down, listening to the female official read the decree. After the recitation, the female official presented the decree to Chu Jinyao with both hands. Chu Jinyao thanked her and handed it to the female official on her right before being helped to stand up.

 

As soon as she stood, a deafening shout erupted inside and outside the hall, “Congratulations to the Crown Princess! May the Crown Princess live long and be blessed!”

 

From that day onward, even though Chu Jinyao had not yet completed the wedding, she was now the legitimate and only Crown Princess of the Great Yan Dynasty.

 

After Chu Jinyao was formally conferred her title, the six rites had reached their final step. All that remained was to wait for the Crown Prince to come and personally fetch her.

 

The day of the wedding procession was chosen with great care by the Imperial Astronomer and the Ministry of Rites. However, while the officials treated it seriously, the Emperor, as the father, appeared rather indifferent. After several discussions, the cabinet carefully presented a few auspicious dates to the Emperor. The Emperor glanced at them and casually picked one, saying, “We’ve been preparing for this for a year already. Let’s have him bring her back before the end of the year. This one will do.”

 

Grand Secretary Fan, seeing that the Emperor had chosen the earliest date, December 8th, felt it was, for once, a sensible decision.

 

When Qin Yi heard this news, it was the first time he felt the Emperor had done something right.

 

From the start of December, the atmosphere in the entire capital changed. Chu Jinyao, who had been nervous for months, like a bowstring stretched to its limit, suddenly felt at ease. While the bride herself relaxed, those around her began losing sleep in anticipation.

 

The day before the wedding, when Chu Jinyao went to pay her respects to the Old Madam Chu for the last time, the Old Madam Chu, with mixed feelings, had her stay a little longer. “In the blink of an eye, you’re about to be married.”

 

Over the past year, to make time for Chu Jinyao’s wedding, Third Young Lady and Second Young Master had married in quick succession. The Old Madam Chu felt as though she had closed her eyes and opened them again, and suddenly there were far fewer girls in the household. Now, only Sixth Young Lady and a few younger girls remained.

 

Duan Yinghua, standing beside the Old Madam Chu, smiled and said, “Children marrying is a sign of a flourishing family. It’s a blessing! Let alone that Fifth Sister is marrying into the royal family.”

 

Now, everyone called Chu Jinyao the Crown Princess, except Duan Yinghua, who still referred to her as Fifth Sister.

 

Because of Chu Jinyao’s impending marriage, Second Young Master’s and Duan Yinghua’s wedding had been rushed. Fortunately, the Duan family was understanding and didn’t mind, cooperating with the Changxing Marquis’s family to expedite the six rites. Duan Yinghua had already been married for a month, still wearing her bridal attire, and now looked at Chu Jinyao with a smile.

 

Chu Jinyao had a good impression of this Second Sister-in-law. She knew how important one’s family was. Her relationship with Madam Zhao had reached a freezing point, so she needed to find other allies. Fortunately, Duan Yinghua was smart and capable.

 

Unlike Chu Jinyao, who appeared quiet and reserved, Duan Yinghua radiated confidence from the moment they met. Although their personalities were polar opposites, one being active and the other passive, the two sisters-in-law got along well. Duan Yinghua made efforts to build rapport with Chu Jinyao, and Chu Jinyao, in turn, allowed her to call her Fifth Sister.

 

“I’ve only been married for a month, and now Fifth Sister is leaving. I’ll miss you so much,” Duan Yinghua said with a smile.

 

Chu Jinyao smiled and replied, “Second Sister-in-law, if you want to see me, you can always visit the Eastern Palace. It’s not like we’ll never meet again.”

 

Duan Yinghua clapped her hands and laughed, “That’s great! I’ve never been inside the palace, so thanks to you, I can finally have a look around!”

 

Everyone laughed at her words, though they all knew in their hearts that entering the palace wasn’t as easy as that. Without Empress Wenxiao, Empress Xiao Qi held all the power, and with her fondness for placing her own people in key positions, Chu Jinyao likely wouldn’t have a peaceful life after entering the palace, let alone regularly hosting family visits.

 

But with the wedding so close, no one wanted to mention anything that would spoil the mood. Duan Yinghua glanced at the sun outside and said, “I think the Crown Prince is busy with his purification rituals in the palace today.”

 

“The wedding night is one of the four great joys in life. Even if His Highness is busy, I’m sure he’s still quite eager,” someone joked.

 

Everyone turned to Chu Jinyao, who blushed at once. Just thinking about the inexplicable “manuals” handed to her by the palace maids the day before made her feel awkward and embarrassed.

 

The Old Madam Chu was fond of Duan Yinghua’s bold, capable personality. She already had it in mind to hand over the household’s responsibilities to Duan Yinghua in a few years. Now, seeing Duan Yinghua getting along well with Chu Jinyao, the Old Madam Chu was pleased. She took the opportunity to double-check tomorrow’s arrangements. “Are the banquet tables and ceremonial items ready for tomorrow?”

 

“We’ve checked everything up and down multiple times, Old Madam Chu. There will be no mistakes.”

 

“That’s good.” As the wedding drew near, the Old Madam Chu grew more anxious, afraid that the slightest mistake would ruin everything. After calming herself, she turned to Chu Jinyao and said, “Tomorrow, you’ll be married. The royal family has strict rules, especially for the Crown Prince’s wedding. Tomorrow is going to be a long day, so rest while you can.”

 

Chu Jinyao agreed and bowed before taking her leave.

 

Yet, after returning to her room, she didn’t rest long before being fussed over once again.

 

That evening, shortly after dinner, palace maids pushed her into a bath. They surrounded her, adding flower petals and scrubbing her down with all sorts of substances. Chu Jinyao felt like a peeled egg, with the maids sprinkling seasonings over her.

 

Her strange thoughts made her uneasy. As soon as the bath was done, they urged her to bed.

 

A senior palace maid reminded her, “Crown Princess, tomorrow’s ceremonies are very demanding. We’re asking you to rest early for your own good.”

 

Linglong also added, “Crown Princess, please rest. The palace maids are already at the palace preparing your bed. Everything will be ready by the time you arrive tomorrow.”

 

Taking a deep breath, Chu Jinyao responded, “I understand. It’s late; you all should rest too. We have a long day ahead tomorrow.”

 

The attendants all complied. Dingxiang pulled the curtains of the bed, and two maids took up their positions outside to keep vigil through the night.

 

In the past, Chu Jinyao never allowed others to keep watch over her while she slept—first because of Qi Ze, and later out of habit. Having someone sleep just outside her room made her restless. However, ever since the palace maids arrived, her routines had changed, including the requirement to have people keep watch near her bed. This, they claimed, was for the safety of their masters, as was customary in the palace.

 

Chu Jinyao usually slept well, but tonight, she found herself tossing and turning. She suddenly realized that this might be her last peaceful night in her own bed. After tonight, she would wake up in a strange place, surrounded by unfamiliar people every day.

 

As her thoughts wandered aimlessly—from Empress Xiao Qi to the glazed tiles of the palace—Chu Jinyao slowly drifted into sleep, her mind weighed down by tomorrow’s lengthy ceremonial schedule.

 

That last night before leaving her home passed without the gentle guidance of a mother, without the comfort of sisters. All that remained was a room full of strict palace servants and the cold light of the moon.

 

After much tossing and turning, Chu Jinyao finally fell into a sound sleep. But just as she settled into slumber, she was abruptly awakened.

 

A stern palace maid stood at her bedside, unceremoniously saying, “Crown Princess, it’s time to wake. Putting on makeup and dressing will take two full hours, and today’s ceremonies require you to change twice. If you don’t get up now, you’ll miss the auspicious hour.”

 

The Crown Prince’s wedding was no trivial matter. The Emperor and court officials would be waiting in the Hall of Supreme Harmony for the right time, and missing that time was no small issue. Hearing this, Chu Jinyao couldn’t sleep any longer and forced herself to get up.

 

Still groggy, she allowed herself to be dressed in the heavy, formal robes for the wedding—first a dark ceremonial gown, then a large red silk robe. Once she was fully dressed, the palace maid presented the Crown Princess’s ceremonial crown. The crown was adorned with pearl flowers and gold phoenixes, with strings of pearls and beaded tassels dangling from all sides. After the crown was placed on her head, Chu Jinyao didn’t dare move her neck. The slightest motion would cause the intricate beads and ornaments to sway awkwardly.

 

With her neck stiff, Chu Jinyao went to pay her respects to her parents and to the family shrine. Standing in the ancestral hall, she followed the instructions carefully, offering wine and bowing before the ancestral tablets. After what seemed like forever, the ceremony finally ended.

 

Next, Chu Jinyao was taken to the main hall where her father, the Marquis of Changxing, and her mother, Madam Zhao, were waiting. Under the guidance of the palace maid, Chu Jinyao knelt and bowed deeply to them four times.

 

The Marquis of Changxing, looking at his daughter, who had endured so much hardship in her life, was filled with emotion. He still remembered when Chu Jinyao had first returned to the family, thin and frail, with timid eyes that were hardly befitting a marquis’s daughter. Yet now, just three years later, the once-overlooked Chu Jinyao had become the Crown Princess. The future prosperity of the entire family now rested on her shoulders.

 

Life’s twists and turns were astonishing. The Marquis, overwhelmed with sentiment, advised, “As you enter the palace, be diligent, cautious, and respectful.”

 

Suddenly, Chu Jinyao felt a wave of emotion well up in her. Holding back her tears, she then turned to bow deeply to Madam Zhao.

 

Madam Zhao, too, didn’t know how to feel about Chu Jinyao. She had once believed that both Chu Jinyao and Chu Jinmiao were her daughters and that loving them equally would suffice. But in the end, she lost both daughters overnight—Chu Jinmiao was gone for good, and Chu Jinyao had become estranged from her.

 

Yet now, seeing Chu Jinyao, fully grown and about to marry, Madam Zhao felt an unexpected pang of sadness. She held back her tears and said, “Your father has spoken well; you must heed his words.”

 

Chu Jinyao acknowledged this deeply. Before she could fully gather herself, she was led away again to bid farewell to her other relatives.

 

She said her goodbyes to the Old Madam, her second and third uncles, aunts, and various other family members. Though there had been past grievances, today they were all set aside, replaced by sincere bows of respect. From this day forward, her return home would mark her as a guest.

 

After bidding farewell to her family, Chu Jinyao was whisked away to change into her official wedding gown, the Crown Princess’s pheasant robe. This was the second time in a single day that she had to undergo the process of being dressed and groomed, and by now, she was already feeling exhausted.

 

Yet the most important part of the wedding was only just beginning.

 

Clad in her heavy pheasant robe, with a towering four-phoenix crown on her head, Chu Jinyao sat rigidly on the bed, waiting for Crown Prince Qin Yi to come and greet her. She had to admit, her crown was absolutely beautiful—decorated with over a hundred rubies and thousands of pearls. It was undoubtedly a magnificent piece, dazzling and resplendent, but it was also unbearably heavy.

 

Chu Jinyao could only hope that the Crown Prince would arrive soon.

 

She waited for what felt like an eternity before finally hearing the sounds of celebratory music from outside. The bustling commotion that followed made Linglong and the other maids beam with joy. A palace maid quickly yet gracefully entered the room and bowed, announcing, “Crown Princess, His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived.”

 

Before Chu Jinyao could react, her vision was suddenly obscured by a red veil, and she could see nothing at all. Perhaps it was the sudden loss of sight that heightened her nervousness, as her heart began to race, pounding faster and harder with each passing moment. Her palms grew damp with sweat.

 

After what felt like ages, someone came to her side and helped her stand, guiding her forward. Chu Jinyao was utterly confused, knowing only that she was being led to someone’s side, where she heard a goose being released and some chanting. Everything about the wedding felt so unclear to her; it seemed that everyone else knew what was happening while she, hidden under the veil, remained clueless.

 

When the blessings were finally over, Chu Jinyao was guided forward once more. She was still disoriented when, all of a sudden, she sensed someone stop beside her.

 

Startled, Chu Jinyao tried to sneak a glance through a small gap in her veil, only to catch a glimpse of the hem of a crimson robe.

 

It was the Crown Prince.

 

Chu Jinyao froze for a moment, and by the time she regained her composure, the official had already finished the formalities. The person beside her stepped forward, and Chu Jinyao was led down the steps. At that moment, she realized she was about to leave.

 

She was helped into a sedan chair, and soon after, the procession began, accompanied by festive music as they made their way to the palace.

 

Chu Jinyao clutched the jade pendant in her hand, unsure how to feel.

 

The rest of the ceremony continued in a blur. She was moved from place to place, following instructions to get off the sedan chair, lift her foot, and enter what seemed to be a palace. Chu Jinyao assumed this must be Ciqing Palace—the famed Eastern Palace.

 

Next came the final part of the wedding ceremony: the wine-sharing ritual.

 

By now, Chu Jinyao was thoroughly exhausted. But the ordeal wasn’t over yet—this final ceremony was filled with various rules and requirements. She was once again assisted through the process of sitting, standing, and bowing deeply to objects she couldn’t see. Meanwhile, the Crown Prince, standing beside her, completed each ritual with swift efficiency. Chu Jinyao couldn’t help but admire his patience.

 

Finally, Chu Jinyao was seated on the bed. As soon as she felt the soft touch of the silk bedding, a part of her couldn’t believe that the ceremony was finally over.

 

Just as she began to relax, the veil over her head was suddenly lifted, filling her eyes with light. Having been veiled for most of the day, her eyes squinted reflexively at the sudden brightness.

 

Given the pace of the ceremony up until this point, Chu Jinyao had expected some chanting or recitation of well wishes before the Crown Prince would lift the veil. But why had it happened so abruptly? She wasn’t prepared for it at all. If she hadn’t been so exhausted, she might have embarrassed herself by reacting too visibly.

 

With a thud, Qin Yi threw the ceremonial steelyard back onto the tray and impatiently waved his hand. “That’s enough. We’re done here. Everyone, leave.”

 

The palace attendants who had been organizing the ceremony were momentarily stunned into silence. Chu Jinyao now realized that while she had admired the Crown Prince’s patience earlier, in truth, he had been thoroughly fed up with the whole ordeal.

 

Once her eyes had adjusted to the light, Chu Jinyao could finally see the person standing in front of her. Every time she had seen him before, he had always been dressed in narrow-sleeved, deep-colored robes—indigo or crimson—giving him an air of solemnity that made people wary. But today, he wore bright red, and the warmth in his expression softened his usual aloofness. His sharp, handsome features now appeared more gentle, radiating a brilliance that lit up the entire room.

 

At this moment, Qin Yi was also looking at Chu Jinyao. He didn’t know whether to call her stoic or to praise her for her calm composure. Even on her wedding day, when her husband lifted her veil, aside from the reflexive squint at the light, she showed no sign of shyness or panic.

 

Sensing the awkwardness, a palace matron quickly stepped forward with a beaming smile and said, “Congratulations to the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. It’s now time for the wine-sharing ritual.”

 

The matron presented a red tray with two wine cups. Chu Jinyao carefully held down her wide sleeves and reached for her cup.

 

The sleeves of Qin Yi’s robe were also wide, and while drinking individually would not be an issue, this part of the ritual required them to loop their arms together and drink from each other’s cups. Chu Jinyao was momentarily unsure how to proceed, but before she could worry, Qin Yi had already moved closer, leaning slightly toward her to loop his arm with hers.

 

Chu Jinyao hadn’t expected the Crown Prince to adjust so quickly. Caught off guard, she hesitated for a split second, but Qin Yi was already prepared, leaving her momentarily stiff. As he glanced up at her from close proximity, their eyes met, and Chu Jinyao quickly snapped back to her senses, hurrying to lift her cup and drink.

 

Though she tried to appear composed, her cheeks flushed unknowingly.

 

After the wine ritual, the palace servants erupted into cheers, loudly proclaiming auspicious blessings. The chief eunuch stepped forward, offering his congratulations to the couple. “Congratulations to the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. It’s time for you both to change out of your ceremonial attire.”

 

Upon hearing this, Chu Jinyao let out a genuine sigh of relief—she could finally take off the heavy phoenix crown. Still, she remembered that now that she was married, things were different from when she was a maiden, so she didn’t immediately rise. Instead, she turned her head and asked, “Your Highness?”

 

Qin Yi glanced at her in her elaborate bridal attire, recognizing that while she looked stunning, she also seemed utterly exhausted. He could tell that she was worn out from the day’s events.

 

Qin Yi stood and said, “You go change first. I’ll change to something else and then head out to attend a banquet.”

 

Unlike Chu Jinyao, who could rest now, Qin Yi still had to attend to the banquet with the emperor and officials outside.

 

The palace attendants were briefly taken aback. The Crown Prince was explaining himself to the Crown Princess? Of course, it was customary for a husband to inform his wife if he had to attend a banquet. But this was the Crown Prince!

 

However, Chu Jinyao wasn’t aware of these subtleties. Hearing Qin Yi’s words, she rose and politely saw him off as he went to the inner chambers to change. When she turned back around, she noticed the palace servants were all standing there, looking stunned. Chu Jinyao called out, “Chief Eunuch?”

 

The chief eunuch snapped out of his daze and quickly smiled, offering his congratulations again. “Congratulations to the Crown Princess. Is there anything you would like?”

 

Chu Jinyao nodded slightly in acknowledgment and smiled. “Thank you, Chief Eunuch. You’ve worked hard today. Linglong?”

 

Understanding immediately, Linglong stepped forward to distribute rewards to the attendants. Although the Crown Prince had already given out rewards once, it was still necessary for Chu Jinyao to make her mark on her first official appearance in the palace. The attendants were more than happy to receive double rewards, and the hall was soon filled with joy. Once the other palace servants had cheerfully left, leaving behind only Chu Jinyao’s personal maids, Chu Jinyao finally allowed her exhaustion to show.

“Miss,” Linglong quickly approached and said, “Let me help you remove your makeup and take off the phoenix crown. You’ve been wearing it all day.”

 

Chu Jinyao nodded in agreement, but a palace maid reminded her, “You should address her as the Crown Princess now.”

 

Linglong hurriedly apologized. She had grown used to calling Chu Jinyao “Miss” over the years, and in her flustered state today, she had slipped back into the old habit.

 

The Eastern Palace was vast, with plenty of private rooms. After changing into more comfortable clothing in another chamber, Chu Jinyao learned that Qin Yi had already left.

 

Since the Crown Prince was out, Chu Jinyao didn’t feel the need to rush. She returned to her room, letting down her hair and taking a long bath. It wasn’t until she had fully washed away the day’s weariness that she emerged, feeling much more relaxed.

 

By the time she finished bathing, Chu Jinyao had already passed the point of hunger. The palace matron had kept a meal prepared for her, heating it up with water. Once Chu Jinyao came out, the maids began serving her dinner.

 

Chu Jinyao sat down and was about to start eating when she suddenly remembered that she was now married. She asked, “Where is His Highness?”

 

“The Crown Prince is still outside at the banquet with His Majesty and the officials. He won’t be back for a while. Please eat first, Crown Princess.”

 

That made sense, but after eating a few bites, Chu Jinyao put her chopsticks down. “Never mind, let’s prepare some food for His Highness too. If he comes back late, it might be too late to make anything fresh.”

 

She even asked the palace maids what foods the Crown Prince liked and set some aside for him.

 

Although it was likely that the Crown Prince didn’t need such arrangements, Chu Jinyao wanted to be cautious. After all, what if he returned late or drank too much at the banquet and needed something light to eat?

 

After dinner, Chu Jinyao, worn out from the day’s events, started to feel sleepy. At first, she tried to stay awake, but eventually, she couldn’t hold on any longer and dozed off, leaning against the bedpost.

 

Chu Jinyao was startled awake by the sound of commotion outside. Before she could fully gather her thoughts, the door to the inner hall was pushed open. Now fully alert, she scolded herself for having dozed off and quickly rose to greet the Crown Prince.

 

“Your Highness, you’ve returned.”

 

The cold winter wind outside was biting. After a long day of wedding ceremonies and drinking at the banquet, Qin Yi had developed a slight headache. However, upon entering the room and seeing Chu Jinyao in her simple attire, her face still drowsy as she came to greet him, his headache seemed to ease.

 

“Did you fall asleep?”

 

Embarrassed, Chu Jinyao wondered if it was that obvious, but she firmly shook her head. “No, I didn’t.”

 

“You have creases on your face from sleeping,” Qin Yi teased.

 

Chu Jinyao instinctively reached up to touch her face, only to realize halfway that Qin Yi was tricking her. But by that point, lowering her hand would have been too conspicuous. She wasn’t sure how to react, and when Qin Yi saw her expression, he couldn’t help but laugh.

 

“Alright, you’ve had a long day. You should go rest now. It’s cold out here, and don’t catch a chill.”

 

As he spoke, Qin Yi gently placed his arm around her shoulder, guiding her back inside. Despite the thin layer of fabric separating them, Chu Jinyao could feel the coldness emanating from him and the unique, commanding presence of a man that she had never experienced before.

 

Her entire body stiffened.

 

Qin Yi didn’t notice her reaction. After settling her down on the edge of the bed, he went to the adjacent room to wash up and change. Chu Jinyao sat there, rigid and motionless, for a long time.

 

Tonight was not only their wedding day but also their bridal chamber night.

 

When Qin Yi emerged from the washroom, he noticed that Chu Jinyao was still sitting exactly where he had left her, seemingly frozen in place. Her expression was unreadable, but when he approached and sat beside her, it only grew more strained.

 

Qin Yi knew what was going through her mind. He wanted to laugh but held back, silently watching her. One sat there calm and collected, while the other tried her best to maintain composure. Finally, it was Chu Jinyao who gave in first.

 

“Your Highness…”

 

“Hmm?”

 

Chu Jinyao attempted to speak but found herself at a loss for words. She could feel Qin Yi’s gaze intensifying, his lips curving slightly as if he found her situation amusing. Unable to bear it any longer, she clenched her teeth and blurted out, “Your Highness, I have something to tell you!”

 

Author’s Note: Successfully paused at the bridal chamber scene! 🙂