Chapter 88: At the Tip of the Storm

 

February, the palace was decked out in lanterns and decorations; today was the day of the Eldest Princess’s marriage, and naturally, it was a grand and lively affair.

 

Chu Jinyao wore the crown princess’s ceremonial attire, smiling as she gently patted the Eldest Princess’s hand. Then, she stepped aside to let the wedding matron drape the red bridal veil over the Eldest Princess’s head. Once the palace ceremony concluded, Chu Jinyao boarded the carriage and headed to the Princess Ru Ning’s residence.

 

The Eldest Princess had been titled Princess Ru Ning, and she was to marry the son of the Marquis of Yichun, Chai An. Being the first princess of the royal family, her wedding was a matter that even the emperor had personally overseen multiple times, ensuring it would be nothing short of grand. Chu Jinyao, as the crown princess and the Eldest Princess’s sister-in-law, was essential to the occasion. She personally went to the Eldest Princess’s residence, helping her prepare for the wedding, don her bridal robe, and then accompanied her to the princess’s residence to set the scene. Having the crown princess personally escort the bride was an extraordinary honor, something rare in the history of princesses’ weddings.

 

Even though Chu Jinyao was the Eldest Princess’s sister-in-law, she was primarily the crown princess, so her arrival had to be appropriately timed—not too early. By the time her carriage and procession reached the Princess Ru Ning’s residence, many guests had already arrived. The Chai family had been informed of her arrival well in advance, and they were waiting at the second gate.

 

This was the distinction of marrying into royalty. Typically, weddings and banquets were held at the groom’s home, but this was different for a princess. She had her own princess residence and did not live with her husband’s family. Thus, on the wedding day, the true honored guests were at the princess’s residence, while the Marquis of Yichun’s mansion also hosted a banquet but had to send people to the princess’s residence to greet and entertain the royal guests.

 

In the banquet hall, the women were chattering away in high spirits, but when someone announced that the crown princess had arrived, the room suddenly fell silent, and all eyes turned toward the door.

 

Chu Jinyao, adorned in the bright red ceremonial attire befitting a crown princess, walked gracefully, accompanied by the main wife of the Chai family. The ladies inside saw that it was indeed the crown princess, and immediately they and their daughters stepped forward to greet her, “Greetings to the Crown Princess.”

 

Voices of greetings overlapped as one lady noticed the crown princess smiling in her direction and felt honored. In reality, there were so many people that Chu Jinyao couldn’t possibly remember all their faces.

 

After visiting the bride in the bridal chamber, Chu Jinyao returned to the banquet hall. The auspicious hour had not yet arrived, and the banquet hadn’t started, making this a prime time for the women to socialize.

 

Everyone wanted to speak with Chu Jinyao, and as the crown princess, she had to uphold her sister-in-law’s dignity. Throughout the event, she smiled graciously at Madam Chai, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Chai family, and even engaged with a few young ladies from the Marquis of Yichun’s household who came forward to greet her.

 

For a moment, the members of the Marquis’s family basked in the glow of the crown princess’s attention, their young daughters elated to have earned such distinction. After all, being related to the royal family came with significant advantages; in the past, they would never have had the opportunity to converse with the crown princess.

 

Noblewomen came forward one after another, bringing their daughters to present themselves to Chu Jinyao. She was introduced to so many well-dressed young women that her eyes began to blur. Seizing a moment when the crowd had dispersed slightly, she excused herself for a bit of rest.

 

These noblewomen were certainly skilled at conversation, leaving Chu Jinyao, who was merely listening, feeling exhausted. Taking a break in a quieter spot, she finally felt her ears had recovered. But just as she began to relax, a voice called out from outside the pavilion, “Crown Princess.”

 

Hearing the voice, Chu Jinyao froze for a moment, then stood up in surprise and delight. “Eldest Sister!”

 

Chu Jinxian approached with a smile. She was about to perform a formal curtsey but was stopped by Chu Jinyao. “Eldest Sister, what are you doing!”

 

“Etiquette must not be neglected. You are now the crown princess; we can’t afford to be careless.”

 

“But you’re pregnant, how could I let you bow to me?” Chu Jinyao scolded softly, then happily called for her maid Jiegeng to fetch a blanket and helped her sister sit down carefully.

 

“Sister, your child must be five months along now?”

 

“Yes,” Chu Jinxian’s smile softened as she spoke about her child, her face glowing with maternal warmth. “I didn’t dare send word to the family until after three months because the pregnancy was unstable at first. That’s why I missed your wedding.”

 

Though Chu Jinxian couldn’t attend her wedding, a slight regret for Chu Jinyao, it was insignificant compared to the precious child in her sister’s belly. Since Chu Jinxian’s marriage, the two sisters had seen each other less frequently. After Chu Jinyao’s royal wedding and move to the capital, their meetings became even more rare, making it almost a year since they had last seen each other.

 

Chu Jinyao felt both regretful and satisfied. “Now that brother-in-law has been transferred to the capital, we can see each other more often. By the way, sister, how have you been lately?”

 

Chu Jinxian understood what she was asking. Her struggle with conceiving had been difficult—nearly two years before she finally got pregnant. Had it not been for their grandmother’s oversight and the fact that Chu Jinyao had married the crown prince, Chu Jinxian might have suffered greatly at her in-laws. She sighed softly and said, “There’s no point dwelling on the past. I’m doing fine now; there’s nothing to worry about.”

 

That was true—people had to move forward. Not wanting to bring up her sister’s painful past, Chu Jinyao changed the subject, excitedly asking about the baby. Normally reserved, Chu Jinxian had much to say about this topic. “This pregnancy was so difficult. I had to take medicine for an entire year before conceiving. I have a naturally cold constitution, and the pregnancy was unstable at first. For the first three months, I couldn’t even leave my bed… but after the toughest part passed, things improved. Now that the baby is bigger, my appetite has also returned.”

 

Chu Jinyao was both shocked and heartbroken by what her sister had endured. She had known that it wasn’t easy for Chu Jinxian to conceive, but she hadn’t realized how severe the situation was. Thinking back to that time, their family had just relocated to the capital, and Chu Jinxian was alone in Taiyuan. She didn’t know how her sister had managed to get through it all.

 

However, it was a joyous day, and Chu Jinyao didn’t want to say anything that might dampen the mood. Instead, she said cheerfully, “It’s okay. They say hardship is followed by good fortune. If the baby is this energetic now, he’ll surely be a lively little boy in the future.”

 

Chu Jinxian smiled too, and neither of them mentioned what would happen if it was a girl. Though in truth, Chu Jinyao wouldn’t mind either way. If it was a girl and resembled her sister, she would be even more delighted. But having a son was still the safer option, given how hard it had been for her sister to conceive.

 

Chu Jinxian likely understood her sister’s thoughts but didn’t mind either way. She reassured Chu Jinyao, “I’m fine. No one in the Zhao family dares to mistreat me. And your brother-in-law understands what I’ve been through. He hasn’t rushed to take concubines just for the sake of having a child. Now that the family has moved to the capital, it only strengthens my position. Who would dare to slight me because my family wasn’t around? The better things go for you, the more respect I receive. It’s only a pity that I couldn’t see you get married, missing the grandeur of a royal wedding. I regret that greatly.”

 

The sisters shared their thoughts, their bond deepening as they finally unraveled the year of knots between them. After talking about the baby for a while, Chu Jinxian asked about Chu Jinyao’s life: “And you? How have things been for you lately?”

 

Seeing the concern in her sister’s eyes, Chu Jinyao knew that her sister was genuinely worried, but didn’t want to tread on sensitive topics. She smiled and held her sister’s hand, saying, “I’m doing well, too.”

 

In a low voice, Chu Jinxian asked, “Have there been any developments?”

 

At this, Chu Jinyao felt deflated and shook her head slightly. Seeing this, Chu Jinxian sighed with concern. “I was born with a cold constitution, making it hard for me to conceive. Do you think you might have the same issue?”

 

Chu Jinyao honestly didn’t know. At first, she hadn’t been worried—both she and Qin Yi were young, and there was no rush. But as the people around her became increasingly anxious about her lack of pregnancy, she had gradually started feeling pressured too.

 

But pregnancy wasn’t something that could happen just because one wanted it to. Normally, a wife struggled to conceive because her husband didn’t spend nights with her, but that wasn’t the case with Qin Yi. Considering that both her mother and sister had struggled with fertility, could it be a family issue?

 

Feeling disheartened, Chu Jinxian reassured her. “It’s alright. Cold constitutions are common among women, and while it can make conception difficult, it’s just a matter of degree. I’ll give you a few remedies to help balance your health, and with some care in your daily meals, it will come naturally.”

 

That was all they could do. Both their personal maids were quick to exchange tips and remedies. Afterward, Chu Jinyao and Chu Jinxian continued to talk about the affairs of the Changxing Marquis family. Although Chu Jinxian was naturally reticent, she listened attentively.

 

As they chatted, a small commotion came from the direction of the banquet hall. Both sisters looked up as Linglong came over to report, “Crown Princess, the Princess of Rong’an and Miss Zhao have arrived.”

 

So, it was Zhao Lanhui.

 

Chu Jinyao exchanged a look with Chu Jinxian, and both saw the gravity in each other’s eyes. In January, the imperial decree for Zhao Lanhui’s marriage had already been issued, with the wedding scheduled for June. Zhao Lanhui was now officially set to become the Second Prince’s consort. Even though the wedding hadn’t taken place yet, her status had changed, and she no longer held the same rank as the other young ladies. Today, she had even arrived later than the crown princess, which could be attributed to the Princess of Rong’an, but it was undeniably arrogant.

 

Along with the marriage decree came the decree for the conferring of the Second and Third Princes. The emperor, perhaps not wanting to make a fuss over it twice, had granted both titles simultaneously. The Second Prince was made Prince Su, with his fief in Qingyang Prefecture, while the Third Prince was made Prince Lu, with his fief in Luoyang.

 

Both were prime locations.

 

Chu Jinyao had little interaction with the Second and Third Princes. From her perspective, the Second Prince was modest and humble, while the Third Prince was proud and straightforward. Each had their own strengths, making them the kind of princes society expected. But now that they were officially titled princes, it was different.

 

Compared to them, Qin Yi could seem more aloof and domineering.

 

The more Chu Jinyao thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. How was this path becoming increasingly similar to those tragic tales of crown princes in the history books? Prince Su was known for his humility, but with the growing influence of his future consort’s powerful family—thanks to the Princess of Rong’an and the Prince Wei’s family—he was quickly gaining prominence.

 

As for Prince Lu, he had always been the favored son, a focus of attention since birth, and his rise was less conspicuous.

 

Chu Jinyao hadn’t fully grasped these matters before entering the palace, but after living there for a while, she could now discern at least some of what was going on. Prince Su’s sudden rise couldn’t simply be attributed to Zhao Lanhui’s bold personality. There were clearly forces at work, deliberately pushing him into the limelight.

 

And their intentions weren’t hard to guess.

 

While the emperor certainly had no desire to replace the crown prince, as a father, he wanted to ensure that all his sons lived in prosperity and glory. He may have no intention of deposing Qin Yi, but what about his favored sons who enjoyed his grace?

 

Chu Jinxian watched Chu Jinyao with concern, clearly feeling that Zhao Lanhui had overstepped her bounds. But Chu Jinyao reassured her sister with a hand on hers, signaling that there was no need to worry.

 

Zhao Lanhui had come to show off today, but Chu Jinyao wouldn’t let her get away with it. She didn’t immediately return to the banquet hall, instead sitting a while longer before leisurely making her way back.

 

Since her arrival, Zhao Lanhui had been surrounded by admirers—young noblewomen who had always fawned over her and even some older ladies eager to gain her favor. With the wedding date set, Zhao Lanhui was now officially the future Princess Consort Su, and everyone wanted to curry favor with her.

 

She handled their compliments with ease, entertaining her admirers effortlessly. The banquet hall buzzed with activity. Just as Zhao Lanhui was about to respond to the daughter of a marquis, the hall fell into a sudden hush. Everyone’s attention shifted to the entrance.

 

In an instant, all conversation stopped, and people moved aside to make way for the new arrival.

 

“Greetings to the Crown Princess.”

 

Chu Jinyao, accompanied by Chu Jinxian, walked slowly into the hall, returning the many greetings with a gentle smile. The moment Chu Jinyao entered, Zhao Lanhui was reduced to a mere girl. No matter how prestigious her family or how high her mother’s status, it could not surpass the rank of a crown princess.

 

Dressed in her ceremonial attire of the first rank, with her hair adorned in pearls and jade, Chu Jinyao exuded an air of calm and wealth. Her jade bracelet clinked lightly as she walked, her demeanor poised and regal. People couldn’t help but admire the composed grace that defined the royal family. In contrast, Zhao Lanhui seemed too flamboyant, her presence loud and chaotic, especially when compared to the serene entrance of the crown princess.

 

Zhao Lanhui had stirred up a lively commotion in the banquet hall, but the moment Chu Jinyao appeared, all became still.

 

The contrast was stark, as it became clear that true nobility didn’t need to flaunt itself.

 

Zhao Lanhui, standing amidst the quiet, was forced to step forward and offer her deference. “Greetings, Crown Princess.”

 

“Second cousin Zhao, you’ve come as well. Please rise,” Chu Jinyao acknowledged her with a brief glance before turning her attention to the Princess of Rong’an. “Greetings, Aunt Rong’an.”

 

The Princess of Rong’an returned a polite half-bow, warmly engaging in conversation with Chu Jinyao. The two sat at the head of the hall, while Zhao Lanhui remained standing below them.

 

At that moment, not just Zhao Lanhui, but everyone present was reminded that she was merely the future Princess Consort Su, while Chu Jinyao was already the Crown Princess. As the crown princess, Chu Jinyao could speak on equal terms with the most esteemed women in the room. In contrast, Zhao Lanhui was not yet in such a position.

 

This subtle yet unmistakable defeat stung Zhao Lanhui. Though she managed to keep her composure, her eyes betrayed her frustration at being overshadowed. Had Chu Jinyao rushed in to reclaim the spotlight, Zhao Lanhui might have taken it as a sign of insecurity. But Chu Jinyao didn’t rush. She made her way back calmly, completely indifferent to what Zhao Lanhui had done before her arrival.

 

Worse, Chu Jinyao didn’t even cast a glance in Zhao Lanhui’s direction after entering, instead seamlessly engaging with the Princess of Rong’an. It made Zhao Lanhui feel like a child trying to compete with an adult’s authority.

 

How utterly ridiculous! After all, Chu Jinyao was a year younger than her! Zhao Lanhui fumed internally. A year ago, she and Princess Baoyu had been the ones scrutinizing Chu Jinyao, yet now the tables had turned completely.

 

As the banquet proceeded, the noise level rose again, making it easier for discreet conversations to take place. Many women quietly asked their table companions, “Was that the eldest daughter of the Changxing Marquis’s family who entered with the crown princess, her biological sister?”

 

“Yes, she was just transferred back to the capital this month.”

 

“Oh my, look at those sisters,” one woman remarked, whether in admiration or envy, it was unclear. “Just look at them—graceful and stunning, like fairies descending from the heavens. Anyone who had daughters like that must be blessed.”

 

Her companions nodded in agreement. The two sisters were indeed remarkable beauties—one with a stately, composed air, and the other bright and lively, brimming with charm.

 

Meanwhile, in the palace, Empress Xiao Qi was also inquiring about the details of today’s wedding banquet for the Princess Ru Ning. “Is the bridal dowry ready?”

 

“Yes, it’s all prepared and has already been sent to the princess’s residence.”

 

As the Empress, she was responsible for bestowing a rich dowry on the princess, both to demonstrate royal favor and to emphasize the princess’s high status. These matters were typically handled by her attendants, and upon hearing that the dowry had been delivered, Empress Xiao Qi was relieved. However, she couldn’t help but muse aloud, “Being a princess is truly a fortunate life. No need to serve in-laws or cater to a husband’s whims. Once married, everything from their food to their residence is provided by the royal family. That’s what I call a blessed life.”

 

Her attendant, Lanyu, softly disagreed, her words cleverly flattering: “Your Majesty, I beg to differ. If being a princess is so fortunate, then why do so many families scheme to marry their daughters into the royal family? Clearly, Your Majesty holds the highest fortune of all.”

 

This was a cleverly worded compliment, and Empress Xiao Qi couldn’t help but laugh. Judging by her expression, she too believed that being the empress was far better than being a princess. Under the rule of the emperor, the fate and honor of everyone in the empire were tied to him alone. Naturally, being the woman of the most powerful person in the land brought more glory.

 

If her son could become the next emperor, that would be even better.

 

At that moment, Lanyu quietly informed her, “Your Majesty, we’ve received news from our informants about the Crown Princess.”