The eighth day of the first lunar month was a rare, auspicious day according to the almanac, favorable for weddings, funerals, and long journeys. At the first light of dawn, Shen Miao was awakened by Jingzhe and Guyu to prepare her for the wedding.

Originally, Shen Miao had thought that she wouldn’t be able to sleep at all the night before, but surprisingly, when the day arrived, she slept exceptionally well. It felt almost like returning to her carefree childhood days.

Having slept well, her face looked especially radiant, and her complexion was excellent. Bailu and Shuangjiang brought her some exquisite pastries, all made in small, delicate portions. Bailu said, “Miss, please eat a little to fill your stomach. Today’s wedding ceremony is complex, and you mustn’t go hungry during the proceedings.” She also brought a small bowl of porridge, saying, “This is the winter porridge that Madam woke up early to cook specially for you. Drinking it brings good fortune!”

Shen Miao took the bowl and slowly began to drink. She couldn’t help feeling emotional.

In her previous life, when she married Prince Ding, she had argued and cried to defy her family, forcing General Shen to reluctantly agree. But that marriage had more onlookers than well-wishers. Luo Xueyan had been so upset that she fell ill, barely managing to attend the entire wedding ceremony—how could she have had the heart to cook porridge?

Unlike now, when the entire household was joyful, working wholeheartedly for her. Shen Miao herself felt as if this marriage might be a good one.

Just as she finished eating, Luo Xueyan entered, followed by a middle-aged woman. Though the woman’s appearance wasn’t particularly outstanding, she naturally drew people’s gazes. Her attire was also extremely elegant, leaving a lasting impression on anyone who saw her.

“This is Madam Mei from the capital,” Luo Xueyan smiled. “She’s come specially to be your bridal attendant today.”

Shen Miao was slightly surprised.

Madam Mei was a very famous person in the capital. Born to an official family, she had defied her family’s objections and gone into business from a young age. Her business was in cosmetics, clothing, and accessories. The capital raised countless delicate daughters, and officials’ daughters didn’t lack silver—they only needed to satisfy their love of beauty.

And Madam Mei’s clothing, accessories, and cosmetics happened to be the best, unique, and unparalleled. Though Madam Mei was a merchant, no one looked down on her.

However, Madam Mei’s most outstanding skill was in applying makeup and dressing others. Once, when a prince of Ming Qi married a consort, the consort had some acquaintance with Madam Mei, so Madam Mei served as her bridal attendant. Afterward, people said that the princess consort’s bridal appearance was perhaps the most beautiful since the founding of the Ming Qi.

But Madam Mei had become that person’s bridal attendant only because they had a prior relationship. Others weren’t so fortunate. In all these years, Madam Mei had never been anyone else’s bridal attendant.

Shen Miao was surprised but smiled and said, “I never expected Madam Mei would honor me with her presence.”

Madam Mei smiled and replied, “Your Highness shouldn’t say that. Upon meeting you, I felt quite a connection and wanted to come seek some good fortune. I’m the one who boldly came forward. If Your Highness doesn’t mind my skills, I’ll be more than satisfied.”

Merchants had always been smooth-talkers, saying whatever suited their audience. Shen Miao naturally didn’t believe the talk about “connection.” She wondered if General Shen had paid Madam Mei a hefty price, but then thought that Madam Mei didn’t seem to lack silver; she ran her business based on her mood, so why would she care about such material benefits?

While she was thinking, Madam Mei had already stepped forward, smiling, “Your Highness, a bride’s attire is quite complex. Please change into the wedding dress first, and then I can help with your makeup.”

Luo Xueyan hurriedly urged Shen Miao to go.

After changing clothes, veiling her face, arranging her hair, and changing accessories, layer upon layer of powder was applied.

As Madam Mei arranged Shen Miao’s wedding attire, she smiled and said, “Over the years, I’ve seen many young ladies. The daughters of official families have all bought accessories and cosmetics from me. I’ve seen all the young ladies in the capital, yet none can match Your Highness’s bearing.” She smiled again and said to Luo Xueyan, “Madam, please don’t mind my frankness, but Your Highness doesn’t look much like you. Madam, you are forthright and straightforward, while Your Highness is dignified and noble—even the noble ladies in the palace pale in comparison.”

Hearing someone praise her daughter, Luo Xueyan was naturally pleased, but since the conversation had turned to the palace, Luo Xueyan modestly replied, “How could she be that good? It’s just that Jiao Jiao has always been steady, much more advanced than her father.”

“That’s not quite right,” Madam Mei said as she drew Shen Miao’s eyebrows. “Some people may have noble status, but they lack the weight of character. They merely put on airs. Once they remove their clothes and accessories, they’re no different from ordinary people. Others are different—even in simple clothes with thorn hairpins, without anything, they sit and remain high above. I observe that Your Highness is the latter.” She smiled. “It seems you’re destined for great wealth and nobility. But Madam, rest assured, today won’t be a day of simple clothes and thorn hairpins. With such a beautiful wedding dress and such fine accessories, if I, Madam Mei, don’t do Your Highness’s makeup well, I’d be sabotaging my reputation. I must make Your Highness the finest in the capital!”

While allowing Madam Mei to arrange her appearance, Shen Miao listened to her speak. Thinking that Madam Mei seemed quite skilled at reading people, she found it interesting and listened carefully to their conversation.

The bridal makeup took a full half hour to complete.

Even with seemingly light powder, it had to be carefully applied with small brushes made of sheep’s wool. The rouge was most natural, eyebrows like new moons, lips like flower petals. What looked most beautiful were the eyes. Shen Miao’s eyes were naturally clear and distinct, giving her the pure look of a newborn fawn. Today, Madam Mei had lightly traced the corners of her eyes. They remained pure but gained a dignified quality.

She looked almost like someone who could preside over the entire world.

Luo Xueyan was startled by this sudden thought. Madam Mei smiled and said, “There’s not much to do right now. Soon, the people bringing wedding gifts will arrive. Madam, please stay here with Her Highness while I go find some fragrant leaves. We need to make fresh scented sachets for Her Highness to wear.”

Luo Xueyan agreed.

Shen Miao sat at the table. Luo Xueyan looked at her enchantingly beautiful daughter in the mirror, feeling both happy and reluctant to part. She tightly held Shen Miao’s hand and said, “Jiao Jiao, today you’re getting married. Mother has a few words to say to you.”

Shen Miao replied, “Mother, speak. I’m listening.”

“When a daughter gets married, mothers always have a few things to tell them. But when I married your father, your maternal grandmother had already passed away. I only had brothers, no sisters, and my sisters-in-law were young, so no one told me these things.” Luo Xueyan sighed. “So these words are ones I’ve figured out myself. I don’t know if they’re right, but I still want to tell you.”

“The way of husband and wife depends on honesty. All these years with your father, we’ve never kept secrets from each other. If you find your partner has a secret, don’t rush to question him. Wait a bit, be patient, and he will tell you.” Luo Xueyan lovingly patted Shen Miao’s hand. “Mother knows your temperament is steady, which is good. You’re not easily affected by external things. But in matters of love, patience alone cannot solve everything. If you like him, you’ll care about his every move, you’ll unconsciously follow your heart, and you won’t be so steady anymore.”

“Be frank, be direct. Don’t feel shy, and don’t be afraid. He is your husband, the person you’ll spend your life with.” Luo Xueyan paused, then continued, “Xie Jingxing promised me that after having you, he wouldn’t take other concubines or bedchamber maids. To be honest, I don’t trust him. As royalty, how could there be only one woman in his back courtyard? But things have reached this point, so we can only take it one step at a time.”

Shen Miao lowered her eyes, listening as Luo Xueyan continued, “But as a daughter of the Shen family, you must never compromise yourself. If your husband has other women in his back courtyard, you can be jealous, you can get angry, you can argue with him. All that talk about virtuous wives being magnanimous is nonsense—it’s just an unfair deal that society imposes on women. If that day comes, you don’t need to think of him as your husband anymore. You may not control others’ hearts, but you can control your own. As for the rest, if you want a divorce, your father and I will help you.”

Shen Miao first looked at Luo Xueyan in surprise, then inwardly smiled. Of course, the Luo family had no concubines or bedchamber maids. Having grown up in such an environment, Luo Xueyan believed in one life, one spouse. These words might shock others, but Shen Miao found them heartwarming.

Luo Xueyan was always considering her feelings, not wanting her to be wronged. As for what others thought, what did it matter?

Thinking back to how Prince Ding’s birth mother, Consort Dong, had constantly demanded this and that from her, insisting she be virtuous and magnanimous, even actively recruiting side concubines for Prince Ding shortly after their marriage—the contrast was stark.

Luo Xueyan suddenly pulled out a small booklet from her sleeve and said, “Jiao Jiao, take this. Keep it safe and find time to read it after the wedding ceremony is complete.”

Shen Miao was curious. She took it and asked casually, “What is this?”

Luo Xueyan’s face reddened, and she stammered, “Things you need to understand.” Seeing Shen Miao about to open it, she quickly grabbed Shen Miao’s hand and said, “Don’t look now… look at it later when you’re alone.”

Shen Miao nodded. She was about to ask a few more questions, but seeing Luo Xueyan’s unnatural expression, she suddenly understood, and her face burned hot.

Spring pictures—she had never seen them. In her previous life, when she got married, the entire Shen household had been in chaos, and they had forgotten to give her this small booklet. Later, on her wedding day, Prince Ding hadn’t consummated their marriage, so there was even less reason to look at it.

Her consummation with Prince Ding had been hurried, with Prince Ding being extremely perfunctory. Although Shen Miao had never seen spring pictures, she had later heard others talk about newly married couples studying spring pictures together and exploring experiences she had never had.

She hadn’t expected that in this second marriage, even the regrets of her previous life would be fulfilled.

Just as Luo Xueyan and Shen Miao were both feeling awkward, footsteps came from outside. Luo Tan, pulling Feng Anning along, entered. Seeing Luo Xueyan there, she said, “Aunt, we’ve come to bring wedding gifts to our little cousin!”

Luo Xueyan, feeling awkward, was relieved to see the two of them providing a distraction. She smiled and said, “Then you chat for a while. I’ll go out and come back in a bit.”

After Luo Xueyan left, Luo Tan circled Shen Miao, exclaiming, “Little cousin, you’re so beautiful today! You’d put even fairies to shame!”

“Indeed,” Feng Anning, who was usually critical and nitpicking, actually nodded in agreement and said, “She’s the finest in all of Ming Qi.” Since being coldly rejected by Shen Qiu, Feng Anning had visited less frequently, but with Shen Miao’s wedding, despite her fear of Shen Qiu, she had mustered the courage to come.

“I heard Madam Mei is your bridal attendant,” Feng Anning said. “No wonder you look so good. I almost didn’t recognize you.”

“Little cousin has always been beautiful,” Luo Tan grinned and took out a box from behind her back, saying, “This is my wedding gift for you.”

Shen Miao opened the box to find what looked like an iron lump, though she wasn’t sure what it was. Before she could speak, Feng Anning spoke up first, asking, “What is this? Giving something like this to Shen Miao is too shabby!”

“What do you know? This is called a compass!” Luo Tan said. Unlike the ones used in military camps that only give a general direction, this one is very precise. It’s something brought from the eastern seas. They say it’s currently only used by ship fleets. Cousin Ling brought back ten of them and said he wanted craftsmen to make more for the army. I barely managed to get one. If you don’t want it, forget it!”

Shen Miao quickly closed the box and said, “Thank you.”

Luo Tan pouted, “I figured little cousin already has everything she needs, and Prince Rui sent such a large betrothal gift, so you’re even less in need. If I sent gold or silver accessories, they wouldn’t compare to Prince Rui’s, and it would just be humiliating myself. So I thought I’d send something more practical. With this compass, if you ever get lost in the unfamiliar land of Da Liang, it might come in very handy.”

Shen Miao smiled, “That makes a lot of sense. This is more special than gold or silver accessories.”

Luo Tan looked triumphantly at Feng Anning, “Miss Feng, what did you bring? Show us and broaden our horizons. If it’s just some gold or silver trinket, don’t bother—how boring.”

Feng Anning glared at her, not to be outdone, “A compass is nothing. My Feng family has everything. We wouldn’t send such vulgar things.”

She opened her box and took out a small bottle, saying, “Inside are three Guiyuan Pills. You know about Guiyuan Pills, right? They were created by a great physician from the previous dynasty to extend life—priceless and hard to find.” She put the bottle and box into Shen Miao’s hands, saying disdainfully, “With your unlikeable personality, people tried to kill you in Ming Qi, let alone in Da Liang. If you’re ever in mortal danger, take one pill, and it might save your life.” She added, “Though I imagine disasters last a thousand years, and you’ll probably live a long time.”

Shen Miao smiled gently, “Thank you.” Feng Anning’s words were awkward, but her intentions were good. Shen Miao knew the value of the Guiyuan Pills. Prince Ding had once used a single pill to recruit an advisor he very much wanted to attract. One pill was worth a talented person—that’s how valuable it was. For Feng Anning to give her three pills was incredibly generous.

Hearing this, Feng Anning’s eyes reddened, and she said, “After this parting, I don’t know if we’ll ever meet again in this lifetime. You don’t have many friends in Ming Qi, and since I know you, I naturally can’t let you lose face. The wedding gifts I bring can’t be inadequate.” As she spoke, she choked up, but still tried to say, “I’m not reluctant to part with you. I just think that after giving you such a big gift, you won’t be able to give me wedding gifts, which is not worth it!”

Shen Miao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, so she said, “When you get married, I’ll have someone bring wedding gifts back for you. I’ll also write to you often. I won’t let your gifts go unrequited.”

This made Feng Anning feel a bit better.

Shen Miao suddenly remembered something and took a letter from her sleeve. She said to Feng Anning, “Here’s one now. After today’s events are over, read this letter and then let your brother read it.”

Luo Tan and Feng Anning were both surprised. Luo Tan grinned and said, “Is little cousin feeling sorry for not accepting Master Feng’s proposal, so she wrote a letter to apologize? But why have Anning read it?”

“Never mind about that,” Shen Miao said. “If you have trouble in the future, go to the Shen residence and find my brother. He will always help.” Shen Miao remembered that in her previous life, the Feng family hadn’t ended well. Feng Anning had married a man who was beastly at heart, and she had died young. Now, in this reborn life, she and Feng Anning were considered friends, so she could only write down in the letter what warnings she could give to the Feng family. If this letter came from Feng Anning, Master Feng might think she was being foolish, but if it came from Feng Zixian, it would be different. Feng Zixian had already entered official service, and Master Feng believed in his abilities, so he would take the matter seriously.

As for Shen Qiu, with Shen Miao not in Ming Qi, she could only trouble her brother to look after the Feng family.

Hearing this, Feng Anning blushed and muttered, “He’s so fierce, who wants his help?”

But Shen Miao didn’t hear these words.

Shen Miao had no sisters, and she had few friends in Ming Qi. Most of those who came with wedding gifts did so for Luo Xueyan’s sake, hoping to please Shen Miao. Most of the gifts were gold and silver accessories. Meeting her, some were jealous, some were envious, but all praised Shen Miao’s wedding dress and bridal makeup.

Not long after these ladies finished speaking, the auspicious hour arrived. The wedding procession had already reached the front gate of the Shen residence.

Luo Xueyan and Madam Mei both came in. Madam Mei covered Shen Miao with the bridal veil, and Shen Miao was supported on both sides by the two women as she slowly walked outside.

The front of the Shen residence was especially lively today.

The streets of the capital were empty, as everyone had come to see the Shen daughter’s wedding. The entrance of the Shen residence was surrounded by layer upon layer, with no way through. The common people discussed among themselves.

The scale of the fifth Miss Shen’s fifth wedding is grand. Look at the carriages outside—they’re not what ordinary people could afford.”

“Look at the sachets they’re giving out—they contain silver fragments, not copper coins. You can tell this is no ordinary wedding.”

Another person interjected, “How could the scale not be grand? Aside from the Shen family’s prestige, look at who the fifth Miss Shen is marrying—that’s a prince of Da Liang. I heard Da Liang is a fertile land, and I didn’t believe it before, but now I have to. A prince of Da Liang marrying a wife with greater pomp than our Emperor’s wedding—isn’t that a slap in the face to our Majesty?”

“Shh, you can’t say such things carelessly. Just know it in your heart.” A middle-aged woman said, “I heard that the betrothal gifts sent by the Prince of Da Liang amounted to ninety-nine carriers. I wonder if that’s true or false.”

“Hey, hey, hey, look, they’re coming!”

In Ming Qi’s wedding customs, there was a tradition of “sending betrothal gifts.” On the wedding day, people would carry the betrothal gifts one by one to the bride’s family, letting everyone see. The more abundant the betrothal gifts, the more face both the bride’s and groom’s families gained. On such an occasion, presenting so many betrothal gifts in front of all the common people made the bride look good, the groom proud, and everyone happy.

Therefore, some people, for the sake of appearances, deliberately used empty boxes as betrothal gifts on their wedding day.

But today was different.

Because each carrier of betrothal gifts had its box wide open, letting people see clearly what was inside.

Antiques, paintings, calligraphy, accessories, furniture, jewelry, clothing, silver—everything one could think of, packed densely in boxes without any padding. It was enough to make people’s eyes red with envy.

But no one dared to reach out, not even the most brazen thieves or robbers. Because around the servants carrying the boxes stood soldiers from Da Liang. The soldiers wore thick armor, with swords drawn at their sides, intimidating without showing anger. Their steps were orderly, and it seemed that if anyone harbored ill intentions, they would immediately be dragged out and executed.

This formidable reputation made people afraid to approach. The crowd spontaneously opened a path to let these people carrying betrothal gifts pass through.

Someone curiously pointed and counted one by one: “One, two, three, four…” The long procession seemed endless, with gasps rising and falling through the crowd. When they reached the last one, someone shouted, “It’s ninety-nine carriers! Ninety-nine carriers of betrothal gifts!”

Ninety-nine carriers of betrothal gifts!

When the Crown Prince married the Crown Princess, there were only fifty-eight carriers. This was almost half more. Yet Prince Rui was only a prince of Da Liang. If the Emperor of Da Liang were to marry, how grand would that be? But regardless of Da Liang’s Emperor, right now, Shen Miao’s marriage was already more impressive than the Emperor of Ming Qi’s.

Exclamations erupted from the crowd. It was foreseeable that after today, Shen Miao’s grand wedding would probably become an unparalleled spectacle in Ming Qi.

Among the watching crowd were young maidens in their prime, not to mention the officials’ daughters who had come with wedding gifts—all were red-eyed with envy. Which girl wouldn’t hope for a grand wedding? Women were all somewhat vain.

But who could have imagined that the once stupid Shen Miao, who couldn’t compare to her cousin, who was often mocked and laughed at, who was disdained by Prince Ding, would marry into such a good family?

It’s worth noting that Prince Ding had been cold to Shen Miao before, yet Shen Miao had persisted despite setbacks, becoming a laughingstock throughout the capital.

So they say, misfortune might be a blessing in disguise. Who can say clearly what the future holds?

Someone said, “Didn’t the fifth Miss Shen formerly admire Prince Ding? She must be rejoicing in her heart now. You know, Prince Ding has always been frugal. If the fifth Miss Shen had married Prince Ding, the grandeur today wouldn’t even be one percent of this.”

These words, by coincidence, were overheard by Prince Ding in the crowd. His face flashed with anger before he quickly suppressed it.

His frugality was for show, merely to build a good reputation. If he had heard people say this before, Prince Ding would have been pleased, as it would have meant he had succeeded. But today, in this place, at this time, to hear about Prince Ding’s frugality caused him to feel irritated. It was as if they were saying he was far inferior to Prince Rui.

The guards sent out yesterday to investigate had not yet returned. Prince Ding knew that the matter had probably failed. He had people search for his subordinates while reluctantly attending Shen Miao’s wedding.

He wanted to see just how arrogant this Prince Rui of Da Liang could be.

But he hadn’t expected that Prince Rui would truly dare.

To use such a grand display to compare, making the Ming Qi royal family seem stingy—what was this if not blatantly slapping the royal family’s face? The worst part was that they couldn’t say anything, because Prince Rui wasn’t from Ming Qi, and Ming Qi’s rules didn’t apply to him.

He looked toward the entrance of the Shen residence, where Shen Miao was being supported by Luo Xueyan and Madam Mei as she walked out. Shen Miao was stepping over the fire basin, carefully lifting her feet to avoid burning her dress.

Her movements were careful and slow, as if she took this matter extremely seriously. While everyone around was exclaiming about how brilliant and flowing Shen Miao’s wedding dress was, Prince Ding felt an indescribable sensation welling up in his heart.

He suddenly felt this scene was very jarring.

But why? Regarding Shen Miao, Prince Ding had a strange feeling. Initially, when Shen Miao had chased after him, he had despised stupid people and only wanted to use her for the Shen family’s military power. Then, suddenly one day, Shen Miao stopped chasing him, and Prince Ding discovered that he didn’t understand Shen Miao at all. Not only was she not stupid, but she was also very cunning.

The Shen family was also strange. They had been a chess piece in his hand, but somehow, they had escaped and established themselves on the other side of the river, opposing him.

But that had nothing to do with emotion. Before his great undertaking was accomplished, Prince Ding had no intention of wasting time on romantic feelings.

Yet at this moment, Prince Ding had an impulse to kick over that fire basin because he vaguely felt that this scene was incorrect, as if something had gone wrong.

Just as he was having trouble suppressing this inexplicable thought, a commotion suddenly arose in the crowd. He turned to look and saw the crowd automatically parting to form a small path. From the end of the road, someone came galloping on horseback in bright clothes.

The person held the reins, with a bright red brocade robe as scorching as a raging fire, galloping quickly from a distance. His clothes fluttered, his bearing elegant yet passionate, almost burning the eyes of onlookers.

Everyone was in an uproar.

The man abruptly pulled tight on the reins just one step away from Shen Miao. The horse suddenly stopped, making people gasp in surprise.

The young man sat high on his fine horse, his silver mask tinted slightly red by the bright red robe. He said nothing, only leaning forward slightly from the saddle, extending a hand to the bride.

Lazily, with an irresistible posture, he spoke.

“I’ve come to marry you, Shen Jiao Jiao.”