Chapter 1525: 1520: The Noble Princess
Chapter 1525: Chapter 1520: The Noble Princess
Even though she, this elderly lady, wanted to speak on behalf of Rong Yun and make amends, she felt somewhat powerless to do so at the moment.
Fortunately, Qin Muyan was able to control the situation. He took Rong Yun’s hand, went through the complicated state rituals, and did not make any mistakes along the way. Miss Rong Yun stood by his side, upright and proper, demonstrating the dignified demeanor of a princess.
This was noticed by the ministers and the royal family of the Great Wei Dynasty.
Before this, there had been various rumors not in favor of Rong Yun. After this display during the state rituals, these rumors dissipated quite a bit.
The ministers of the Great Wei Dynasty said during the banquet while clinking their cups, “This Princess Beiling is not as bad as the rumors suggested.”
“Yes, the grace of a princess is not something that common folks can match.”
“After all, she is a princess, noble and elegant.”
As the ministers said this, their families behind them naturally heard it too. Those madams and Misses could not accept it; they despised the princess from Beiling who was delicate, troublesome, and fragile!
But relying solely on a marriage alliance, she had taken away the coveted position of the Scarlet Flame King’s Princess!
Many official wives and daughters, princesses, and county lords gathered together, cursing Rong Yun severely, wishing they could drown her with their spit.
After the state rituals, a lively state banquet followed.
Rong Yun was sent back to the Scarlet Flame King’s mansion, and the chief eunuch from the palace had visited to greet Rong Yun, informing her that the ministers of Great Wei were good drinkers, Qin Muyan especially so, and might return late, so she should patiently wait.
Nanny Yan sent the person off after gifting some silver notes as a gesture of goodwill, then returned to Rong Yun’s side.
Rong Yun had been hungry all day. Nanny Yan, seeing no one around, still brought her some rose soft cakes to tide her over.
Rong Yun had craved the rose soft cakes for several days and finally, upon eating them, felt her spirits lift.
She had heard many speak ill of her today. She had to be mindful of etiquette and couldn’t create a fuss, feeling frustrated at the moment, “Nanny Yan, where have I offended them? We don’t even know each other, yet they insist on cursing me! They say I’m finicky and ugly! They say I’m troublesome! Have I eaten a grain of their rice for them to malign me like this?”
Rong Yun stomped her feet in anger, almost ruining the Cloud Brocade Jade Shoes she wore.
Nanny Yan instructed her, “Does the princess know that the Scarlet Flame King you are married to is the only young prince who was appointed by Great Wei for his military merits, a member of the royal family? He shares a deep brotherly affection with the emperor and is much favored by him. Now, with the emperor having no sons, rumors abound that, without an heir, the position is likely to be passed on to the Scarlet Flame King. His nobility is incomparable to that of other princes of Great Wei. How could those women not be jealous of you?”
“So what if he is to take the throne?” Rong Yun pouted, unconcerned.
“If he takes the throne, you are now the Princess and will in the future become the Empress! The most exalted woman of Great Wei, the rightful Empress, is the dream of all women in Great Wei, and what the Noble Consort aspires to become but can never achieve,” Nanny Yan patiently explained, “Now that the princess has become the Princess, this servant will immediately change the way I address you, no longer calling you Princess, but Princess instead, to help you establish yourself in the prince’s mansion and gain the affection of Your Highness. In the future, you and Your Highness will ascend to that glorious position together.”
Rong Yun had already heard this argument in Beiling. She had no interest in becoming the Empress; she simply disliked Qin Muyan, and the mere thought of spending the rest of her life with him irritated her even more.
Nanny Yan continued to persuade her, “Today is supposed to be your wedding night, but if Your Highness is unable to consummate the marriage due to drunkenness, the princess should not take offense. Be generous and poised, as men prefer caring women.”
“Hmph.”
Rong Yun gave a light snort. It would be better if Qin Muyan did not come back; she didn’t want to see him at all!
But Qin Muyan, considering her dignity, insisted on returning to the prince’s mansion to complete the wedding even though he was drunk.
Qin Rulie persuaded him, “Having drunk so much tonight, just rest in the palace. I’ll have the empress send someone to tell the Princess, she won’t mind.”
“Your Highness, I should still go back. It’s my wedding night with the Princess; if I spend it in a drunken stupor in the palace, it would be disrespectful to her. Tomorrow, she will inevitably be the subject of ridicule,” Qin Muyan said, leaving the palace with Wei Jue’s support.
Qin Rulie was also assisted by others, looking at Qin Muyan’s stubbornness with a trace of approval on his face, “If it is truly love, if she is truly the one you cherish, then all is well.”
“Your Majesty.”
A soft voice came. Dressed in a phoenix robe, the empress brought him hangover soup.
Qin Rulie leaned on a soft couch, the empress verbally reproaching him for not cherishing his health and drinking excessively, yet her hands tenderly and delicately fed him the hangover soup.
Qin Rulie had the empress stay the night with him.
He and the empress were childhood sweethearts, married young, and have been in harmonious matrimony for many years now. Even though they have not had a prince after all these years, he has never blamed the empress.
However, whenever the empress remembers not having an heir, she would look distressed, “Your servant and Your Majesty have the misfortune of not having children. I only hope that Mu Yan can soon sire an heir, but the Princess he married is still too young; it may be a while before there are children.”
“It doesn’t matter, there’s no need for the empress to worry. I can still be the emperor for a few more years. Mu Yan not having a legitimate son for a year or two, I can still pass the throne to him later. Time is on our side, our Imperial family of the Great Wei Dynasty won’t fail to have successors,” Qin Rulie comforted the empress softly, holding her in his arms.
Every time they spoke of this, the empress couldn’t help but feel heartbroken and shed tears, “It’s all your servant’s fault for being useless and not able to bear a son for Your Majesty.”
Qin Rulie also filled the harem through selection drafts, but even such a diligent emperor as he has not been blessed with an heir after many years on the throne, not even a princess.
At the thought of this, Qin Rulie’s eyes dimmed.
He knew well that it was not the empress’s fault, nor the fault of the ladies in the harem; he was the one who couldn’t have children. He had been wounded in battle many years ago, which affected his vitality, and the court physician had told him he would likely remain childless thereafter.
At that time, he had no wish to ascend to the throne, but Qin Muyan was only in his teens then, extremely obstinate. Even knowing this, when his father wanted to designate him as the Crown Prince and let him ascend to the throne, he wouldn’t agree.
Kneeling before his father, he made a solemn vow, saying he would never covet the throne meant for his elder brother. Even in death, he would remain a subject and serve loyally all his life.
His father had no choice but to make him the Crown Prince and to succeed the throne.
Still, the future of Great Wei would ultimately be handed over to Qin Muyan.
No one could give him more peace of mind than Qin Muyan.
Scarlet Flame King’s mansion.
By the time Qin Muyan returned, it was past midnight. He had already sent word not to wait for him and that Rong Yun could go to rest first. But to his surprise, when he returned to their wedding chamber, Rong Yun hadn’t slept; she was still waiting for him.
Qin Muyan rubbed his aching head and lifted Rong Yun’s veil.
She was still wearing a thick face cover.
Qin Muyan smiled, “Aren’t you hot?”
Rong Yun murmured, “A little hot.”