The next day, the Princess was getting married.

In Zhangzhi Palace, what should have been a very joyous occasion, yet the entire hall had no red silk hangings, no red lanterns, nor any festive items related to a wedding.

After Consort Xiao’s death, this place had become cold and desolate.

Jing Xuan sat before the mirror in a bright red wedding dress, wearing a red headdress. In the mirror was her face adorned with red makeup—her starry eyes calm and deep, her features dignified, her red lips like flames.

Yet she gave a bitter laugh.

The palace maid beside her was still adding items to her attire while saying, “The Princess is truly beautiful today.”

Indeed beautiful!

The imperial family’s genes were no joke!

When the palace maid inserted a jade-green hairpin into her hair, she suddenly called out, “Wait.”

“Does the Princess not like this hairpin?”

She didn’t speak, only reached up to remove the hairpin that had been inserted into her hair bun and gripped it tightly in her hand.

She remembered—this was something her mother consort had chosen for her wedding trousseau. At the time, she had specifically come to ask if she liked it. She had clearly said she didn’t like it, but Consort Xiao had still insisted on including this hairpin among the wedding items.

Well, she had never had any right to choose anyway!

If it had been before, she would definitely have thrown this thing violently to the ground, but now…

She said, “Wear it in the most conspicuous place.”

The palace maid was stunned for a moment, then slowly took the hairpin and, following her instructions, removed the golden hairpin on the left side of her head and replaced it with this jade-green one.

Beautiful!

Truly beautiful!

Jing Xuan slowly smiled!

At this moment, the young eunuch outside bowed as he entered, saying, “Princess, the hour has arrived.”

She nodded.

The palace maid helped her rise and go outside, where many palace maids and eunuchs were waiting. They knelt in congratulation: “Congratulations, Princess.”

She looked at the scene before her and found it utterly ironic. Her expression calm, she walked forward. Ahead seemed to be a corridor with no visible end. She didn’t know where she would go, or what her future life would be like.

Completely unknown!

She could only keep walking forward along the path others had arranged.

Outside the hall, the wedding procession was very long. The wedding carriage was resplendent with gold and jade, impressive in grandeur, befitting her status as a princess.

Jingrong stood beside the wedding carriage, watching as Jing Xuan emerged from inside.

He stepped forward, saying, “Be careful on your journey.”

Jing Xuan struggled to force out a smile. “Thank you, Seventh Imperial Brother.”

“Silly girl, since you call me Imperial Brother, why speak of thanks?”

Her eyes reddened as she choked out apologetically: “What Mother Consort and Imperial Brother did to you—I apologize to you on their behalf.”

Jingrong: “The matter has passed. No need to mention it again!”

“Seventh Imperial Brother…”

“You only need to remember that no matter what happened, none of it concerns you. You need not feel guilty in your heart, nor bear any responsibility. Now that you’re marrying into Huyi, you’ll inevitably face difficulties, but all Imperial Brother can give you are these two words: take care. In the future, you must look after yourself well.”

She nodded.

Yes, previously when her mother consort was prominent in the palace and her imperial brother was prominent at court, her marriage as a princess to Huyi was adding luster to Huyi. But now, Consort Xiao was dead and Jing Yi was dead. So at this moment, what rested upon her head was not the lofty title of princess, but that of criminal! A criminal even her father emperor detested.

One must ask, how would the Huyi people treat her well?

The suffering ahead was predictable.

But—

She was already like a puppet, a dead person. What was there to fear?

Jingrong gave her much advice, then finally helped her onto the carriage. He rode his horse at the front, leading the wedding procession all the way out of the palace and out of the capital.

The weather was uncooperative—a fine drizzle began to fall again.

Ten li of red dowry, dyeing everything crimson.

Jingrong couldn’t escort her too far. Finally, he could only stop and watch her depart.

That road seemed paved with sharp blades and weapons, for Jing Xuan to tread upon.

“Xuan’er, take care.”

The wedding procession traveled along the official road for the time it takes to burn a stick of incense.

Just as they reached the Three-Li Pavilion, Jing Xuan suddenly called out: “Stop.”

Someone outside heard and immediately had the procession halt.

“Princess, what is it?”

“There’s a pavilion on the hill ahead. I want to go up and sit for a while.”

She drew aside the carriage curtain and dismounted. A palace maid immediately held an umbrella over her head.

The palace maid worried, “Princess, with such heavy rain, you should return to the carriage and rest inside.”

“I feel stifled and uncomfortable.” She looked at the pavilion on the nearby hillside, her attitude firm. “None of you need to follow.”

What?

“Princess?”

She turned to her two dowry palace maids and said, “You two accompany me. Everyone else stay here.”

“Yes.”

One palace maid supported her while another held the umbrella, slowly helping her up that hillside.

Above was a grass-thatched pavilion.

Though crude, it was sturdy.

And inside the pavilion, Ji Yinshu had already been waiting for a long time.

She had now shed her elegant men’s clothing and changed into a pale blue dress and skirt, wrapped outside with a black and white cloak. Because the wound on her neck had not yet healed, she had wrapped a thin piece of felt around it as concealment. Her long hair fell over her shoulders, held back only by a simple hairpin that lightly gathered the front hair behind her head—simple yet carrying a certain charm.

That beautiful face had exquisite features—almond-shaped eyes slightly curved, revealing intelligence; long lashes like fans trembling slightly; fine, long eyebrows gently arched like willows; a full, upright nose; small, crimson lips.

Standing there, she was beautiful as a painting.

What person seeing such a woman wouldn’t love her?

When Jing Xuan entered the pavilion, she was first startled by Ji Yinshu in women’s clothing, then ordered the two palace maids beside her: “You two withdraw further. Without my order, don’t come in.”

“Yes.”

The two palace maids left with their umbrellas.

Ji Yinshu bowed: “I greet the Princess.”

The next moment, Jing Xuan immediately grasped her arm and lifted it. “There’s no one else here. No need for formalities.” She looked carefully at the woman before her, smiled, and said, “It’s been a long time since we last parted, hasn’t it?”

“Yes.”

Indeed, it had been a long time. The last time they met was when Consort Xiao had set up that Hongmen Banquet, when she had revealed her female identity to Jing Xuan, who was crazily infatuated with her. Since that time, the two had never seen each other again.

“I never imagined that the clever and witty Master Ji would be so beautiful in women’s clothing.”

“Not as much as the Princess.”

“Time passes quickly. In the blink of an eye, it’s been almost a year since you entered the capital.” Jing Xuan sighed. “If only you were a man—how wonderful that would be. Perhaps then I wouldn’t be marrying into Huyi, and it would be you marrying me.” A smile of longing appeared at the corners of her lips as she gazed at the misty hills in the distance, then said, “No, if you were a man, what about Imperial Brother? It’s you two who should spend your lives together.”

“Yes, humans have emotions—everyone under heaven does.” Ji Yinshu smiled and said, “I must also thank the Princess for her assistance in rescuing Wei Yi.”

“Since Imperial Brother doesn’t speak of thanks with me, why should you speak of thanks with me? I’m merely atoning for the sins of my mother consort and imperial brother.”