NOVEL WEB Chapter 178 - History Repeats Itself
Chapter 178: History Repeats Itself
The day before Hu Dapao got married, Su Jiu was extremely busy in the General’s Manor and at the bodyguard agency.
She was very frustrated with herself. Why did she agree to choose the same day for the two weddings?
At the General’s Manor, it was still manageable as the two were decreed to be married. Nangong Bi was a princess, so there were people in the palace to arrange the ceremonies and guest banquet for the next day.
On the contrary, it was a mess in the bodyguard agency.
A few days in advance, the bodyguard agency had been decorated nicely, and the front and backyards were decorated with colorful lights. The whole layout was lively and vibrant.
Xiao Lie had specially sent a few nannies to help Su Jiu because otherwise, the group of men who knew nothing about such matters would certainly mess it up.
At night, everyone gathered in the bodyguard agency, thinking about what else they missed out for tomorrow.
The bodyguard agency was brightly lit, and the bodyguards had changed into their new clothes and were busy with errands.
Su Jiu commanded the bodyguards to account for the team that would welcome the guests tomorrow. Suddenly, a nanny came to her and asked anxiously, “Master Su, where is the layout of peanuts and red dates on the bed of the newlyweds?”
Ah Shu asked, “What purpose does that serve?”
“It is auspicious to do so!” The nanny replied, “Did you buy them?”
“No!” Ah Shu said meekly.
Su Jiu hurriedly ordered people to go out and purchase it.
Chang Huan said, “The shops are closed at this time. I’ll bring someone to take them from the commercial house!”
Anyway, the commercial house had almost everything imaginable.
“Okay, go get them and come back quickly!” Su Jiu said.
Chang Huan and two other bodyguards drove the horse carriage and hurried into the streets.
“Nanny, can I trouble you to check what else is missing, and let me know immediately!” Su Jiu smiled and said.
“Yes, yes!” After half an hour, Chang Huan and the two bodyguards came back, each carrying a sack of red dates and peanuts.
The nanny saw them, and she did not know whether to laugh or cry. She grabbed a handful from the sacks and shared the rest to everyone.
A bridesmaid came out and asked Su Jiu, “Where is the bridal bouquet to welcome the newlyweds?”
“Bridal bouquet?” Su Jiu frowned. “I’ll go and find it!”
She hurriedly went out, but as soon as she got out, she collided with someone who was coming in.
Xiao Lie quickly held Su Jiu and smiled. “Where are you rushing off to?”
“A bridesmaid said that she could not find the bridal bouquet for the wedding day, so I’m going to ask Ah Shu!” Su Jiu said.
Xiao Lie noticed the sweat on Su Jiu’s forehead, and his heart pained for her. He then said, “The wedding is tomorrow. How come things are still so disorganized?”
Su Jiu let out a sigh and muttered, “The closer the deadline, the more problems arise.”
Xiao Lie chuckled. “I hope that when we get married, we won’t be so flustered since you would be experienced by then!”
Su Jiu glanced at him and said, “I won’t talk to you anymore. I’m going to find the bridal bouquet!”
Just then, someone suddenly shouted, “We found the bridal bouquet! It’s here!”
Su Jiu ordered quickly, “Send it to the bridesmaid immediately!”
“Yes!” The man responded and sprinted to the inner courtyard.
Xiao Lie held Su Jiu’s hand and asked, “Have you eaten?”
Su Jiu shook her head. “Not yet, I haven’t gotten the chance to.”
“It’s already late, and you haven’t eaten yet?” Xiao Lie frowned.
“Everyone hasn’t eaten yet!”
Xiao Lie sighed through his thin lips. He stopped a bodyguard and instructed, “Tell everyone to stop what they are doing right now and eat first!”
The man had a distinguished disposition, coupled with his superior prestige. The bodyguard was startled, and he subconsciously gaped at Su Jiu.
At this moment, Qian An came over. “Listen to this man! Get the kitchen to prepare dinner!”
“Yes!” The bodyguard answered, and he hurriedly went to relay the message to the kitchen.
However, at this moment, a banquet was being held in the dining hall at the outer courtyard. Everyone was seated, and the wines were brought out before the main meal.
Xiao Lie already had his dinner, but he sat beside Su Jiu as he was worried about her. From time to time, he would look over her to prevent her from drinking too much.
However, Su Jiu was jovial, and she did not listen to him at all. She mingled with the people of the Dragon Conqueror Gang while constantly refilling her wine cup. She soon drank until her eyes were red and glassy.
Ah Shu’s face was flushed. He held up a wine cup and announced, “Tomorrow, Dapao and I are going to get married. The person we are most grateful to is our Chief! I would like to propose a toast to you, Chief!”
“A toast to our Chief!” Several people from the Dragon Conqueror Gang shouted in unison.
Su Jiu picked up the wine cup and shot a look at Xiao Lie, implying that she had to drink this toast!
Helpless, Xiao Lie smiled lightly as he shook his head.
Everyone lifted their heads and finished their wine in a gulp. Hu Dapao grinned and asked, “When will we get to drink at the wedding of Chief and Your Royal Highness?”
Xiao Lie held Su Jiu’s hand and answered gently, “Soon!”
Chang Huan’s eyes dimmed, and he pursed his lips. “There’s still me and Master An, what’s the hurry, Chief?”
“Yes!” Ah Shu slapped Chang Huan’s shoulders loudly. “There is still yours and Master An’s! Our Dragon Conqueror Gang will have many more wedding events to come!”
A bodyguard came over to toast. Everyone was elated, and nobody refused. Xiao Lie shared half of Su Jiu’s wine cup. Ah Shu and Hu Dapao drank too much in a short time, causing them to become drunk. Chang Huan was also drunk, leaning on Ah Shu’s body, and laughing incessantly. Xiao Lie finally understood why these people would eat so late. After eating, they would drink until dawn.
They drank until midnight. Hu Dapao was then carried back to the General’s Manor by several bodyguards, while Ah Shu was also sent back to his room.
Su Jiu’s eyes were tipsy, and she held her chin with one hand, smirking.
Xiao Lie poured some tea for her, but Su Jiu shoved it away. “It’s okay, I’m not drunk!”
She spoke as she stood up, but her body wavered and immediately fell to the side. Xiao Lie promptly stretched out his arms and held her waist, embracing her.
“The Chief is enjoying herself. I have never seen her so drunk before!” Qiao An grinned.
“I will take her back to bed. Send Chang Huan to the room!” Xiao Lie hugged Su Jiu and said softly.
“Your Highness, be rest assured!”
The rear court had arranged a room for Su Jiu. At this time, the candlelight in the room was extinguished. The crescent moon seemed to be hooked on the treetop, and there was a faint glimmer of light inside the room.
After putting Su Jiu on the bed, the nanny came in with some tea, changed the candle and lighted it.
“Your Highness, you can go back to your palace! I will take care of the young lady!”
“No, I don’t need to go to the court tomorrow, so I’ll take care of her. You can go and rest!” Xiao Lie then removed Su Jiu’s outerwear and pulled the blanket over to cover her.
Seeing this, the nanny said no more, and she left the room.
Xiao Lie poured tea, wrapped Su Jiu in his arms, and tried to feed her gently. “Ah Jiu, drink a little before going to sleep.”
“…Xiao Lie?” Su Jiu opened her eyes and stared at him groggily. “When did you come?”
Xiao Lie chuckled, his heart softening. He said softly, “Drink some tea first, and then I’ll tell you when I came.”
“Oh!” Su Jiu was probably thirsty. She obedient gulped down half a jar, stretched out her hand, and fell back onto the bed.
Xiao Lie put down the teacup, blew out the light, and laid on the bed. He gazed at the sleeping woman, and eventually could not help but hold her in his arms.
He embraced her softness in his arms. Her fragrance permeated his nose, and the man’s fingers caressed her tender and smooth face. His eyes were dazzled by her.
Ah Jiu, we should get married soon. I could not wait any longer.
It was another chaotic dawn the next morning. After Ah Shu put on his groom’s red robe, rode on his valiant horse, and went to fetch the bride with his bridal team, the courtyard slightly quietened down.
As Hu Dapao’s side was full of royal relatives, along with hundreds of esteemed officials, Su Jiu did not participate in his side. Instead, she was at Ah Shu’s side, waiting to witness the wedding ceremony.
“It’s a pity that I could not see Nangong Bi and Hu Dapao get married!” Su Jiu said regrettably.
“After the ceremony here, I’ll take you to see Nangong Bi!” Xiao Lie whispered in Su Jiu’s ear amidst all the commotion.
“I can go and see Nangong Bi?” Su Jiu raised her eyebrows happily.
On this day, only the bridesmaids from the General’s Manor could accompany Nangong Bi. Normally, they would not allow commoners to enter the bridal chamber.
“Of course! To let you witness this, the time for Hu Dapao to escort the bride is a little later than Ah Shu’s side. When Ah Shu performs the marriage ceremony, we will immediately go over. We might even be able to make it on time for their marriage ceremony!” Xiao Lie chuckled.
“That’s great!” Su Jiu’s eyes beamed. Her facial features seemed to be carefully sculpted, and her being was bright like a multitude of stars.
It seemed as if his whole vision tunneled, and Xiao Lie only had this woman in his eyes. “As long as you are happy, we can do anything!”
Su Jiu grinned happily and turned her eyes away, waiting for the bridal team to arrive.
After waiting for an hour, the drums and loud music could be heard getting closer and closer. It sounded as if the birds were painting homage to the phoenix.
Everyone immediately rushed out and stood at their door fronts.
After seeing Ah Shu’s majestic figure on the horse, they ignited the firecrackers. They all began exploding, resulting in a deafening sound.
Xiao Lie held Su Jiu in his arms and covered her ears with both hands.
When he came to the front, Ah Shu smiled, dismounted from his horse, and went to the front of the sedan. He lifted the sedan curtain and brought Zhao Shan out.
There was a burst of cheers from the crowd, and Ah Shu’s face turned red. Zhao Shan, who was wearing a red wedding dress, strode across a brazier and went into the inner courtyard.
The crowd immediately followed the clamor.
At the assembly hall, the master of ceremonies was waiting at his position. There was a huge double happiness symbol (1) pasted on the wall, with a table and chairs underneath. A red carpet was laid in the middle, and both sides were packed with people.
“The auspicious time has arrived!” the master of ceremonies shouted.
Ah Shu suddenly asked, “Why is the seat empty?”
He was an orphan, so the seat reserved for his parents was naturally left empty.
The hall suddenly fell silent, and everyone looked over in suspense.
Ah Shu shouted, “Chief!”
“Chief!”
“What’s wrong?” Su Jiu squeezed out from the crowd.
Ah Shu grinned and pulled Su Jiu to the seat. “We will pay our respects to you during the ceremony!”
Su Jiu stood up again. She smiled and remarked, “How is this appropriate?”
She was younger than Ah Shu. How could she take the place of his parents?
“Just sit here!” Ah Shu pressed her down again.
“Sit, Master Jiu!”
“Yes, sit Master Jiu!”
The bodyguards in the crowd all shouted in unison!
Xiao Lie looked over, smiled, and nodded gently at Su Jiu.
As a result, Su Jiu no longer shirked the offer, and she sat down calmly.
“Bride and groom, bow down to the heavens and earth!”
The two bridesmaids held Zhao Shan and bowed down with Ah Shu.
“Next, bow down to your parents!”
The two turned around and bowed deeply at Su Jiu!
Su Jiu’s eyes were gleaming, and her face was exquisite. She smiled from her heart as she watched the couple.
“Bride and groom, please bow to each other!”
“The marriage ceremony is concluded! Send them to the bridal chamber!”
The crowd cheered again. Ah Shu watched Zhao Shan, who was in a red wedding dress, being escorted by the bridesmaid. He then turned and grinned at the crowd. “Everyone, let’s all go and drink! You are not allowed to go home if you are not drunk!”
“Today, we will make sure that Ah Shu gets so drunk that he can’t even enter the bridal chamber!” Zhang Mazi yelled from within the crowd.
The rest echoed the same sentiments and took Ah Shu to the backyard banquet.
Su Jiu told Chang Huan about her departure, and she rode on a horse to the General’s Manor with Xiao Lie.
The manor was also very lively. At this time, they were worshipping the heavens and earth, surrounded by esteemed military officials. When they saw Xiao Lie coming, they all bowed and greeted him.
Su Jiu took the opportunity to squeeze to the front.
Hu Dapao was in the groom’s red robe. He looked dashing and had a dignified appearance. On the opposite was Nangong Bi, who was wearing a colorful phoenix wedding dress, veiled and looking exquisite and festive.
Seeing Su Jiu, Hu Dapao’s eyes lit up suddenly, and he grinned at her.
In that instant, Su Jiu felt very satisfied!
After the marriage ceremony, Nangong Bi was escorted to the new chamber. Hu Dapao came over, smiled, and asked, “Chief, how was Ah Shu’s side?”
“They finished the ceremony, and now they are getting him drunk!”
Hu Dapao grabbed Su Jiu. “Chief, don’t go back yet! Stay here for the wedding feast!”
“Alright!” Su Jiu patted him on the shoulder. “You finally got what you wished!”
Hu Dapao’s face flushed red. He looked down and smiled foolishly.
“Go and accompany the guests, I will go and see Nangong Bi!” Su Jiu said.
“Alright!”
Hu Dapao turned to look at Xiao Lie and said respectfully, “Your Highness, please!”
Xiao Lie nodded, held Su Jiu’s wrist, and said, “I will be at the banquet room. Come find me there if you need me.”
“Alright!” Su Jiu laughed and walked towards the rear court.
At the bridal chamber, Nangong Bi was sitting on the bed with her face veiled, with her maidservant at the side attending to her. The rest of the bridesmaids were sitting at the side, discussing how handsome and upright the groom was.
Su Jiu knocked on the door. One of the bridesmaids exclaimed, “Who is it? Come in!”
Su Jiu pushed open the door and smiled. “I’m here to see the bride!”
The few bridesmaids looked at Su Jiu, who was dressed in men’s clothes. However, she also had a beautiful face, which caught them by surprise. As they questioned who she was, Nangong Bi suddenly cried out happily, “Su Jiu!”
Nangong Bi stood up and raised her hand to lift her veil.
The maidservant next to her hurriedly stopped her. “Miss, we cannot lift the veil now!”
Nangong Bi said, “You all can retreat first. Su Jiu and I will have some alone time for a while!”
“But…” The bridesmaids hesitated.
“Retreat!” Nangong Bi commanded.
“Yes!” The bridesmaids and the maidservant hurriedly replied and made their way out.
When they were gone, Nangong Bi lifted her veil to reveal a bright and beautiful face. She smiled and said, “Su Jiu, you finally came! I’m bored to death!”
Su Jiu walked over and chortled. “Don’t worry, Dapao is coming soon!”
Nangong Bi suddenly remembered what her nanny had told her about the wedding bridal night last night, and her face blushed like a cooked shrimp. She rebuked, “Who misses him? Su Jiu, even you tease me as well!”
Su Jiu laughed, and she glanced at the table full of food. She asked, “Are you hungry?”
“Yeah!” Nangong Bi nodded her head.
Su Jiu picked up a plate and filled it with some pastries. Nangong Bi then took some and ate them.
After eating, Nangong Bi wiped the crumbs off her lips and leaned on Su Jiu’s shoulders. She blushed and said, “Su Jiu, I’m a little nervous!”
Su Jiu glanced at her. “What are you nervous about?”
“I don’t know!” Nangong Bi bit her lip and shook her head. “Su Jiu, am I stupid? If I had known that today was going to happen, I should not have chased Hu Dapao to Northern Xinjiang!” Nangong Bi mulled over the time she was naive and regretted deeply in her heart.
“Nangong, do you still hate Dapao?” Su Jiu asked.
“No, I don’t! He is very good!” The woman in red answered softly with clear eyes.
“Then do you like him?” Su Jiu chuckled.
Nangong Bi hesitated for a moment, before saying abashedly, “A little bit!”
Su Jiu smiled and patted her shoulder. “Dapao will treat you well!”
Nangong Bi rolled her eyes, with a sly expression on her face. “With you backing me, he will not dare to treat me badly!”
“Yes! If he dares to bully you, I will find him to settle the scores!”
“Su Jiu!” Nangong Bi looked up and asked, “What about you and Prince Rui? When are you both planning to get married?”
Su Jiu shook her head. “I don’t know, I haven’t thought about it!”
“You must grab him tight! I heard from my father that the Emperor intends to betroth Princess Yu Long to His Royal Highness,” Nangong Bi frowned as she said.
Su Jiu’s eyes flashed. “Isn’t Prince Zhao pursuing Princess Yu Long now?”
“Yes, Prince Zhao was going to marry Teacher Zhang’s granddaughter, but after Princess Yu Long came along, he now clings onto Yu Long every day, so Teacher Zhang’s granddaughter will probably not marry him anymore. Lord Yun Nan has not returned to Diannan City yet, because he wants to lock in Princess Yu Long’s marriage. Whether it is Prince Zhao or Prince Rui, Yu Long will have to choose between the two princes,” Nangong Bi explained.
Su Jiu nodded. “Alright, thanks for letting me know!”
Su Jiu accompanied Nangong Bi until the sky turned dark. The ruckus of the banquet outside was still going strong. Just then, someone knocked on the door, and the bridesmaid outside shouted, “Princess, the general is coming over!”
Su Jiu got up, but Nangong Bi pulled her arms down. “Su Jiu, don’t go!”
“Don’t be afraid! Dapao will be gentle with you!” Su Jiu leaned over and whispered in her ear mischievously.
“Su Jiu!” The woman’s pink cheeks were even rosier as she bit her red lips and exclaimed.
Su Jiu giggled, put down her veil, and made her way out.
After opening the door, the bridesmaids were escorting Hu Dapao over. When he saw Su Jiu, his half-drunken face blushed a little bit. “Chief!”
“Nangong is waiting for you! Treat her well!” Su Jiu said.
“I will!” Hu Dapao replied solemnly.
Su Jiu nodded and made her way to the outer courtyard.
Outside the inner courtyard, Xiao Lie was standing there, waiting for her along the corridor.
The lights were dim, and the prince resembled a jade!
“Ah Jiu!” Xiao Lie stretched out his hand to Su Jiu, his face warm and gentle.
Su Jiu walked over, reached out for his hand, and was immediately held tightly by him. The two of them then walked out side by side.
In the room, Hu Dapao entered through the door and glanced at the woman in a red wedding dress sitting on the bed. All of a sudden, realization dawned upon him.
All the red surrounding him, and the red candles shining brightly; it was all so surreal to him.
The person he liked, the woman who had always been lofty, had married him. She had become his wife and would raise their children for him.
Everything was just perfect. This was so unreal!
“Go over there! The groom must be dumbfounded!” the bridesmaid teased.
Nangong Bi slightly lowered her head as her hands slowly clenched into fists.
Hu Dapao slowly walked over and sat down next to Nangong Bi, only to find that the bed was as soft as cotton, and the fragrance of the woman beside him was mesmerizing, sending him to cloud nine.
“May we ask the groom to lift the bride’s veil! Once lifted, may this couple live auspiciously, and keep each other company till old!” the bridesmaid announced as she handed the veil lifting stick to Hu Dapao.
Hu Dapao gripped the stick, his chest pounding furiously. He faced the woman, took a deep breath, and lifted the veil with the stick.
The woman’s beautiful face was uncovered behind the headdress. Her cheeks looked so soft, and her eyebrows were fine and delicate. Her apricot eyes looked like silver stars, and her lips resembled cherry petals. Her skin was smooth, and she had a look of shyness on her face. Her beauty was unparalleled.
Hu Dapao’s heart was awash with amazement, and he forgot everything around him.
“Our bride is too beautiful, and the groom is infatuated!” The bridesmaids around them smiled gleefully.
Hu Dapao quickly recollected himself, his heart thumping violently.
The maidservant brought the wine over and smiled. “Can I get the Miss and son-in-law to drink a glass of wine? May the two of you respect each other as husband and wife and have an offspring soon!”
Hu Dapao took a cup and carefully handed it to Nangong Bi. He also took a cup in his hand and looked at the girl with glistening eyes.
Nangong Bi looked up and saw that the man was wearing a bright red cotton-padded robe. His face was handsome, his posture was magnificent, and his eyes were looking at her deeply. His burning gaze caused her to quiver.
They hurriedly lowered their eyes, and the two of them intertwined their arms around their necks, keeping their bodies close together. They finished their cup of wine.
There was a faint sound coming from the other person’s throat. The familiar feeling of the wine heating her throat caused her entire body to start feeling hot.
“It’s done! We, servants, wish for the general and the princess to respect each other and grow old together!”
The bridesmaid laughed and congratulated, put down the red gauze curtain, and made their way out merrily.
The door closed, and the room suddenly became quiet as the candlelight flickered. There was a lingering fragrance, and the red theme made the surroundings look luxurious and festive. A sense of ambiguity flowed silently.
“Are you hungry?” Hu Dapao asked with a dry voice.
Nangong Bi shook her head gently.
“It’s getting late! Let’s rest!” Hu Dapao said.
Nangong Bi nodded her head. She lifted the phoenix crown off her head, put it aside, and lay on the bed with her robe on.
Hu Dapao did not remove his clothes. He only took off his boots and placed them at the side of the bed. He was lying a distance away from the woman, staring at the top of the bed with his eyes opened.
The large red bed curtain embroidered with dragons and phoenixes fell, and the light within it dimmed. The shadows outside flickered, and there was a moment of silence.
“Sorry to have you put up this marriage with me!” Hu Dapao abruptly blurted out.
Nangong Bi shook her head slowly, her face red.
“I know why you married me. No matter what, I will be good to you after our marriage!” the man continued and promised.
“Okay!” the woman said shyly.
The man did not move for a long while. Nangong Bi did not know what was underneath the mattress that made her feel flustered and unable to sleep.
Was the newlyweds’ night supposed to be like this?
Nangong Bi suddenly felt disappointed and quietly gazed at the man. She saw him stretching away from her, not intending to touch her at all.
Nangong Bi turned sideways towards the man, biting her lips. Her face was rosy.
Having sensed the woman’s movements, Hu Dapao cleared his throat and shifted his body outwards again.
Nangong Bi was annoyed. She turned around and buried herself in the bed, clutching the blanket in her hands and feeling aggrieved.
The night got deeper. The banquet in the courtyard was cleared up, and the spring night was gradually calming down.
Hu Dapao closed his eyes, but there were no traces of sleepiness in his mind. A faint fragrance permeated his nose. His body was tight, and his chest was pounding. He wanted to move, but he was afraid he would startle her, so he did not dare to move.
After some time, shallow snoring sounds could be heard. Hu Dapao took a long breath and turned slightly. He looked at the woman’s back, which caused him to involuntarily lean forward.
His fingers gently touched the dark hair behind her, and the man’s lips slowly curled into a smile.
Su Jiu was right, he finally got his wish. He married his beloved wife, and had no regrets in this life!
Early the next morning, Hu Dapao was no longer in bed when Nangong Bi woke up. Staring at the empty bed beside her, she felt disappointed.
The nanny told her that the wedding night was supposed to be the most intimate night for men and women. She had also told her many embarrassing stories, so why did nothing happen last night?
All they did was sleep separately.
Didn’t he like her? Why did he not touch her?
As her thoughts ran wild, a maidservant came in and placed the basin that she was carrying on top of the table, before walking over to help her get dressed up. She smiled and said, “Miss, it must have been hard for you last night!”
Nangong Bi looked at the basin with a puzzled expression.
The maidservant smiled shyly. “The general got up early to practice his sword.”
“Oh!” Nangong Bi got up to wash up. She sat at the dressing table to do some makeup.
…
As April approached, the sky was bright, the spring was unabated, and everything was vibrant.
Xiao Lie once again brought up the matter of bringing Su Jiu into the palace to see his mother concubine.
Su Jiu pushed it two days later. As a result, Xiao Lie took a break that day, came over for breakfast, and directly brought Su Jiu in a horse carriage.
As she watched the horse carriage turned in the direction of the palace, Su Jiu knew that it was time to see Imperial Concubine Rong. She asked, “Xiao Lie, are you sure your mother will accept me?”
Xiao Lie held her hand, his gaze fixed on her. “How will we know if we don’t try?”
Su Jiu shrugged and laughed. “The fact that the former Young Mistress of the Ji Manor was a bandit has spread in Shengjing City. Maybe other people don’t know that Master Su Jiu is Young Mistress Ji, but your mother has seen me before. Are you sure that your mother can accept a woman who had been a mountain bandit, and the Young Mistress of the Ji Manor, to be Concubine Rui?”
“Ah Jiu, you are my wife. No matter how many people object, they can’t change my mind!” Xiao Lie caressed Su Jiu’s cheek and smiled. “Stop finding excuses to avoid my mother! Even an ugly daughter-in-law will have to meet her in-laws sooner or later. What’s more, my Ah Jiu looks so beautiful!”
Su Jiu raised her eyebrows and replied, “I’m not trying to avoid anything! I just don’t want a conflict between you and your mother!”
“As long as we are together, everything can be overcome!” Xiao Lie and Su Jiu crossed their fingers together.
“Okay!” Su Jiu grinned with a wink.
The carriage stopped outside the palace gate, and Xiao Lie brought Su Jiu to the inner palace.
It was spring. The catkins were flying all over the sky, and the flowers in the palace were like pieces of cotton. Additionally, the blue lake was sparkling. Inside, the willows were pink, the palace walls were majestic, and the cornices were magnificent.
In Yulan Palace, Imperial Concubine Rong was pruning flowers in the garden.
The servants at the palace stood beside her with a big fan, and the rest were standing by. The Imperial Concubine was wearing a colorful palace attire with cloud patterns. Her head crown was high and majestic, and her features were gentle and pleasing to the eye. She looked very engrossed as she held a pair of gold scissors.
“Greetings, Your Royal Highness!”
Several maidens saw Xiao Lie coming over and bowed to greet him.
Imperial Concubine Rong’s lips slightly curved, and she raised her head and smiled warmly under the spring sunlight. “Lie’er!”
Before her words fell, however, Imperial Concubine Rong spotted Su Jiu behind him, and a look of consternation flashed in her eyes. “…Young Mistress Ji.”
“Greetings, Imperial Concubine Rong!” Su Jiu said calmly, looking delicate. She looked neither haughty nor humble.
“Mother!” Xiao Lie smiled.
Imperial Concubine Rong recalled that Su Jiu was no longer Young Mistress Ji, so she was even more surprised by her entrance with Xiao Lie. She said with a smile, “I haven’t seen you for a long time, Miss Su!”
Xiao Lie took Su Jiu’s hand and smiled lightly. “Yes, I specially brought Ah Jiu to meet Mother today!”
Ah Jiu?
Imperial Concubine Rong’s eyes gradually dimmed, and her eyes fell upon the hands that were clasped together. When she saw the glass bracelet on Su Jiu’s hand, she instantly understood everything.
“All of you may retreat!”
Concubine Rong put the golden scissors on the tray and called out to the servants behind her.
“Yes!”
The servants answered, and they all retreated.
“Sit here!”
Despite her realization, Imperial Concubine Rong still had a light smile on her face. She took the two of them to the side pavilion.
The pavilion was built on the lotus lake, adorned with hexagonal eaves, carved beams, gold teak tables, and chairs. It was also surrounded by wooden fences, begonia flowers, and green bamboo. The flowers and trees cast a shade over it, creating a magnificent scenery.
They sat down, and the servants immediately brought over refreshments, before retreating to the outside of the pavilion.
“Lie’er, how did you know Miss Su?” Imperial Concubine Rong smiled and asked softly.
Xiao Lie had been holding Su Jiu’s hand, but he still did not let go. His eyes were warm as he answered, “I’ve known her since a long time ago!”
Imperial Concubine Rong smiled faintly. “Miss Su was previously Young Mistress Ji. She had come to the palace several times, so we are quite familiar with her. Even the Empress Dowager had asked about her before, and she heard that Miss Su was no longer in the Ji Manor.”
“Yes, Ah Jiu’s marriage to the Ji Manor was just a misunderstanding. She has no relationship with the Ji Manor now!” Xiao Lie explained.
“So, what do you two want to tell me today?” Imperial Concubine Rong asked.
Xiao Lie’s tone was neither hasty nor slow. Rather, it was firm and persistent. “Mother, I would like to marry Ah Jiu and take her as my concubine!”
Imperial Concubine Rong changed her expression and gawked at him blankly for a while. She then laughed lightly and said, “I still do not know where Miss Su comes from, and what her parents work as.”
Su Jiu answered frankly, “I am an ordinary businessman, and I don’t have any parents!”
“Then how did you get married to the Ji Manor before this, Miss Su? According to what I know, the Young Mistress of the Ji Manor should be from the Su Family!” Although Imperial Concubine Rong’s lips still wore a smile, her eyes were now sharp and vicious.
“I have already told you that it was a misunderstanding before, Mother. As for its specific reason, it involves Ah Jiu’s privacy. It is better that you stop asking her about it, Mother!” Xiao Lie said, and his protective tone towards Su Jiu was self-evident in the discourse.
Imperial Concubine Rong merely smiled and lightly sipped some tea. After a while, she got up and said, “Miss Su, please wait here. There is something I would like to say to Lie’er, so please excuse us!”
Su Jiu did not seem to be surprised by Imperial Concubine Rong’s attitude at all, and her expression remained unchanged. She smiled and replied, “Please help yourself, Imperial Concubine Rong!”
“Wait here for me. I’ll come back soon!” Xiao Lie patted Su Jiu’s shoulder as he said with a soft voice.
“Alright!” Su Jiu smiled.
Imperial Concubine Rong looked at the intimacy between the two of them and frowned slightly as she stepped out.
As she entered the inner hall, Imperial Concubine Rong stopped and suddenly turned around. “Lie’er, this is a huge matter! Why did you not tell me about this before?”
Xiao Lie looked at her respectfully. “I am not asking for your opinion, I am bringing Ah Jiu to meet my mother!”
Reading between his lines, Imperial Concubine Rong realized that he had already made his decision, whether she agreed or not.
Imperial Concubine Rong frowned and said, “Lie’er, I do not want to exert status, but the woman comes from an unknown background, and she had also been the Young Mistress of the Ji Manor. In the future, she will not be able to help you get the title of the Crown Prince in any way! On the contrary, she may even drag you down. Do you understand?”
Xiao Lie was not surprised by what she just said. “As long as I can be with Ah Jiu, I would rather not take the throne!”
Imperial Concubine Rong retreated in stupefaction, and she sneered, “Lie’er, as the prince, you have no right to give up the throne!”
Born into the royal family, there were many things that they could not do independently. Even the civilians lived more freely than them. It was not about being ambitious, but giving up could sometimes translate to death!
“I will try my best to fight for what needs to be fought, but I have to choose between the throne and Ah Jiu one day, I will certainly choose Ah Jiu!” Xiao Lie’s face was dark, but his voice was firm.
Imperial Concubine Rong stared at him in a daze, thinking about a similar scene in the past.
20 years ago, she had fallen asleep while waiting for the Emperor behind the folding partition in the Royal Study. When she woke up, she had heard what the Emperor had said to the teacher.
At that time, the Emperor had told Teacher Zhang that he had wanted to marry Bai Jingrou and make her queen.
Teacher Zhang disagreed. He stood up and said that it was a matter of great importance. Therefore, the Emperor should think twice.
However, the Emperor was exceedingly determined. He told Teacher Zhang that he was already planning to promote Bai Jingrou’s maiden family into the imperial court and build on the power of the Bai Family. If things did not work out, he would rather take the risk of not being the Emperor and be married to Bai Jingrou.
In the cycle of the events of the world, she heard this again 20 years later. Only this time, it was coming from her own son’s mouth.
“Mother, I am saying these things because I want you to understand that I must marry her, and only her. Thus, I hope that Mother can support me! Even if you decide not to, you can’t change my decision, which means you will only let things go towards a worse direction! I have never wanted anything in particular, except for her! I hope Mother can give us your blessings!” Xiao Lie looked down as he explained slowly and resolutely.
Startled, Imperial Concubine Rong nodded slowly. “I understand! What about your father, the Emperor? Does he know?”
“I haven’t told my father, the Emperor, yet. I am bringing Ah Jiu to see you first. I will find a suitable opportunity, and then talk to my father, the Emperor.”
Imperial Concubine Rong did not reply. However, she grew worried.
It seemed that his son’s affection for Su Jiu had grown and reached a point of obsession.
She loved her son and could come to terms with it, but would the Emperor agree?
When the two of them went out, Su Jiu was standing at the wooden corridor, admiring the lotus flowers in the lake. There were no signs of constriction or tension on her face.
“Miss Su, you have waited for a long time!” Imperial Concubine Rong smiled lightly, having returned to her previous gentleness.
“It’s okay!” Su Jiu glanced at Xiao Lie, and she smiled when he nodded gently to her.
“To be honest, from being the Young Mistress of the Ji Manor to the person that Lie’er likes, I am quite surprised! But since Lie’er’s intentions have been cemented, I will not insist on objecting. I hope that we can become a family in the future!” Imperial Concubine Rong chuckled softly.
“Thank you, Imperial Concubine Rong!” Su Jiu smiled.
Xiao Lie embraced Su Jiu’s waist and whispered, “I told you that I will make my mother agree, so be rest assured!”
Su Jiu raised her eyebrows and glared at him. “When did I worry?”
“You still don’t want to admit it!” Xiao Lie raised his hand and gently flicked the tip of her nose, smiling indulgently.
Imperial Concubine Rong had never seen Xiao Lie so gentle. Looking at how joyful he was, she could not help but smile as well. Only, her smile was masking her worries.
She knew that the Emperor always had high hopes for Xiao Lie. Would he agree to let him marry a commoner as his concubine?
Furthermore, this woman seemed to have a very complicated background.
Xiao Lie and Su Jiu stayed with Imperial Concubine Rong for lunch, and the two of them left after the meal. Imperial Concubine Rong wanted to lie down for an afternoon nap, but she kept feeling uneasy.
She then got up and headed towards Fushou Palace.
When she entered the palace gate, she spotted a woman walking towards the inner hall with a tray in the distance.
As she drew closer, the woman bent down and greeted her. “Greetings, Imperial Concubine Rong!”
Imperial Concubine Rong quickly stepped up to hold up the woman. “How many times have I said this? Sister Rou, don’t be so polite to me!”
Bai Jingrou nodded. She looked delicate, and her face was as beautiful as a lotus.
“Is this for the Empress Dowager?” Imperial Concubine Rong glimpsed at the bird’s nest soup on the tray. “Sister Rou, walk with me! Let the servants bring this to the Empress Dowager!”
After that, she ordered the servants behind and instructed, “Send this to the Empress Dowager!”
“Yes!” The servant answered, stepped forward to take the tray from Bai Jingrou’s hand, and turned to walk into the inner hall.
After getting the servants behind them to retreat, Imperial Concubine Rong took Bai Jingrou’s hands and strolled along the long corridor.
The gardenias and cherry blossoms outside the corridor were bountiful and fragrant. As the breeze blew, it brought along the heat of the early summer.
“Sister Rou, I am very upset today. However, I can’t vent anywhere, so I want to talk to you about it!” Imperial Concubine Rong was dressed luxuriously in the palace attire. She looked exquisite, but her eyes were in distress.
“Imperial Concubine Rong, you are favored by the Emperor, and you also have Prince Rui as a filial son! What could be bothering you?” Bai Jingrou was wearing a light blue dress. She had a gentle temperament and an indifferent aura.
“Sister, do you remember? You and I entered the palace together the same year and were originally showgirls. Later, someone framed me, and I fell into the lake. It was you who saved me without regard for your own life. I was safe, but you had caught the flu and missed the selection instead.” Imperial Concubine Rong reminisced and said softly.
“It is all in the past, I have already forgotten about it!” Bai Jingrou turned and looked at the falling flowers outside the corridor.
“Sister, you said you’ve forgotten, but I did not forget it for a single day! At that time, you did not participate in the selection, and you entered Fushou Palace to serve the Empress Dowager. Even though I was just a low-status commoner, you still treated me like a sister. There is nothing we couldn’t talk about, and whenever the other concubines find trouble with me, you would help me out of such tricky situations. I will always remember it!”
Bai Jingrou’s eyes were bland, and she remained silent.
“Later, Sister left the palace to get married, and you stayed away from Shengjing City. I haven’t seen you in two decades, and we have drifted apart since then. Deep down, however, I understand that it’s not the years that alienated us, but it’s because Sister is resentful towards me!” Imperial Concubine Rong said hoarsely as her eyes reddened.
Bai Jingrou turned to look at her. “I don’t resent you, Imperial Concubine Rong!”
“No, I know Sister hates me! I had overheard the conversation between the Emperor and Teacher Zhang, and I knew that the Emperor was going to abolish the queen and appoint Sister as the new one. The Emperor had even wanted to promote Sister’s family into the imperial court. After hesitating for a day, I told the Empress Dowager about it. Because of that, the Empress Dowager sent Sister out of the palace to marry other people, on the grounds of your older age!”
Imperial Concubine Rong stared at the woman with tears and choked, “I’m sorry, Sister!”
Bai Jingrou’s eyes were composed, and there was a smile on her lips. “I’ve already said that I don’t hate you. I didn’t know that the Emperor wanted to do those things. If I did, I would have stopped him myself!”
“When Sister was sent out of the palace, I felt guilty in my heart, knowing that I can’t repay my sister’s gracefulness in this life, and I can’t compensate for the harm that I’ve caused you.” Imperial Concubine Rong laughed self-deprecatingly and took a deep breath. “I can only repay you in my next life!”
Bai Jingrou slowly shook her head. “There is no need to mention the past!”
“Yes, no matter what Sister thinks of me, I will always treat you as a loved one!” Imperial Concubine Rong held Bai Jingrou’s hand and smiled sincerely.
Bai Jingrou smiled. “The Empress Dowager should have woken up. Let’s head back!”
“Alright!”
Seeing that Bai Jingrou was still close to her and not as alienated as before, Imperial Concubine Rong’s heart unknotted. The two then walked hand in hand to the inner hall.
(1) Double happiness symbol: The symbol comprises two 喜 words combined to form 囍, which means ‘double happiness’ to coincide with the new couple. Chinese culture also believes that “happiness comes in twos”, and weddings especially follow the auspicious sayings.