Grand Madam and Second Madam, among others, sat with Song Chuyi for a while longer. Then two nannies from the palace entered, first speaking some auspicious words to Song Chuyi before picking up the red veil that had been prepared earlier and covering her head with it.

Grand Madam Song and Second Madam Song both stood up and gave generous red packets. The two nannies accepted them and remained by Song Chuyi’s side, their faces beaming with joy.

Before long, Nanny Xu and Nanny Huang both entered happily, saying that His Highness the Crown Prince’s Grandson had arrived.

Since he had not yet been formally invested with the Crown Prince’s Grandson’s golden seal, and the Crown Prince was still living, although this grand wedding was extremely solemn and magnificent, the Ministry of Rites and Imperial Observatory had organized it with slightly enhanced specifications beyond those for an imperial prince’s wedding. Many customs were similar to marriages between Great Zhou noble families. Zhou Weizhao, despite his precious status as Crown Prince’s Grandson, still had to endure difficulties from his brothers-in-law, large and small, just like an ordinary groom.

Now that His Highness the Crown Prince’s Grandson had arrived, the noon banquet could begin. The wedding attendants and the bed-accompanying Cui Huayi and Cui Hualuan were all invited out to take their seats and dine. The room finally quieted down.

Song Chuyi sat upright on the bed, hands clasped tightly, her palms already seeping fine beads of sweat. She hadn’t been particularly nervous before, but now that the moment had arrived, she found herself belatedly afraid. Even through layer upon layer of doors, she could hear the tumultuous excitement, like the anxiously beating heart in her chest at this moment, making her restless.

Fortunately, she didn’t dwell on this for long. Old Madam Song was escorted in by Second Madam and Third Madam. She squeezed Song Chuyi’s hand and solemnly spoke words of “a harmonious union lasting a hundred years, treating each other with mutual respect,” and a teardrop fell onto the back of Song Chuyi’s hand.

Second Madam and Third Madam quickly consoled her, and the room was once again filled with sounds of sobbing. Through the red veil and phoenix coronet, Song Chuyi could only make out indistinct shadowy figures.

She suddenly began trembling uncontrollably, until Song Jue’s voice sounded above her head: “Xiaoyi, I’ve come to carry you to the sedan chair.”

Little Ren’yi followed closely behind, stumbling as he climbed up to grasp Song Chuyi’s hand resting on her skirt: “And me, and me! Auntie, I’ll see you to the sedan chair. May you and Uncle have a harmonious union lasting a hundred years and bear children soon!”

These words had been taught by his wet nurse. He had memorized them thoroughly, and his childish speech made everyone in the room laugh with delight.

Before she could pat Ren’yi’s head, the Grand Young Madam had already gently coaxed Ren’yi away, then personally supported Song Chuyi to the doorway, handing her over to Song Jue.

Song Jue bent down, letting Song Chuyi rest on his back. His usually frost-cold face actually showed faint traces of tears. Song Jie and Song Yan, who were to accompany the bride, also had reddened eyes.

Song Jue walked each step extremely steadily. Song Chuyi’s somewhat panicked heart settled considerably. She didn’t know how much time had passed when Song Jue finally stopped and steadily set her down on the ground.

The two nannies immediately took Song Chuyi’s hands securely, preparing to help her into the wedding sedan. However, Zhou Weizhao, who should have mounted his horse, personally stepped past them and grasped Song Chuyi’s hand.

Both nannies were somewhat surprised and wanted to say this wasn’t proper, but seeing Eunuch An’s attitude of turning a blind eye, they both simultaneously fell silent.

Even through the red veil, Song Chuyi could recognize this as Zhou Weizhao’s hand.

These hands, starting from the Tongzhou villa, had pulled her out of the mire time and again, dragged her out of nightmares time and again. She wouldn’t mistake them. Her anxiously fluttering heart finally settled down.

Zhou Weizhao tightened his grip on her hand, personally helped Song Chuyi into the wedding sedan, then mounted his horse.

Gongs and drums filled the sky, firecrackers exploded in unison. The capital was festooned with lanterns and decorations everywhere. All the shops along Zhuque Street hung red lanterns. People watching the excitement crowded layer upon layer. The burned shops on Zhuque Street had all long since been repaired, and they had uniformly extended flying bridges outward to connect both sides. The flying bridges were now packed with people in a lively scene.

Dozens of Imperial Guards and Yulin Guards led the way. The wedding sedan smoothly circled the city twice and finally arrived at the Imperial City.

When imperial princes who had not yet left the palace to establish their own households married, their consorts entered through the Chongde Gate. Zhou Weizhao’s current wedding ceremony was modeled on that of an imperial prince, so Song Chuyi’s sedan chair also proceeded from Chongde Gate all the way to the Eastern Palace, then entered Yong’an Palace.

—

Yong’an Palace was decorated magnificently and beautifully. The setting sun scattered on the golden glazed tiles, dazzlingly brilliant. Zhou Weizhao stepped forward to take the red silk handed over by the nanny, leading Song Chuyi into the main hall. First they bowed to heaven and earth according to ceremony, then he led her into the bridal chamber.

Under Princess Rongcheng’s urging, Zhou Weizhao used the ceremonial scale to lift the red veil, and the entire room filled with well-meaning laughter.

It was already near dusk. The setting sun gilded the window frames with a faint golden edge. Zhou Weizhao remained silent for a long time. Princess Rongcheng couldn’t help but laugh: “Seeing the bride has made him foolishly happy.”

Everyone in the room was induced to laugh. Song Chuyi felt somewhat at a loss in this laughter. She raised her head to see Zhou Weizhao staring at her intently in this hazy light.

It was as if in this heaven and earth, his eyes could only see her alone, his expression focused and earnest.

Zhou Weizhao’s gaze remained focused and fixed on Song Chuyi. When the nannies summoned palace maids to scatter items over the bed, he still knew to raise his hand to shield Song Chuyi from those dried longans, lotus seeds, and peanuts.

Princess Consort Lu couldn’t help but praise: “Our Highness knows how to cherish his wife.”

Princess Consort Su also chimed in from the side: “In the future he will certainly know how to be considerate. The bride is fortunate.”

After joking for a while, Ye Jingkuan and Prince Su came in to pull Zhou Weizhao out to toast.

Today was Zhou Weizhao’s grand wedding. Sixty-six tables were set in the Eastern Palace. All officials of third rank and above, ennobled noble families, and those with imperial honors all entered the palace to attend the banquet. It was extremely lively.

Zhou Weizhao hesitated for a moment, until Ye Jingkuan personally came to drag him away. Only then did he lower his voice and entreat Princess Rongcheng: “Aunt, please look after her more—”

Before he could finish, this provoked another round of laughter. Princess Rongcheng laughed heartily, feeling both moved and gratified. Smiling, she pushed him outward: “Don’t worry, I won’t neglect your wife!”

Only then did Zhou Weizhao turn his head to look at Song Chuyi once more before going out the door.

Princess Consort Lu and Princess Consort Su exchanged glances. From this display, they could see the Crown Prince’s Grandson’s affection for this Crown Prince’s Grandson Consort. They hadn’t expected that the Crown Prince’s Grandson raised on Longhu Mountain would be so considerate—not at all like an unromantic Daoist priest.

After Princess Rongcheng and the others had all dispersed, she lowered her head and asked: “Should I have your maids come in to serve you?”

Wearing such a heavy phoenix coronet and thick makeup while waiting for someone to return would likely tire her until her neck went stiff. Ordinarily, brides would change clothes after bowing to heaven and earth and returning to the bridal chamber.

Song Chuyi nodded. Princess Rongcheng went out and summoned Nanny Xu and the others to come in.

Seeing familiar faces, Song Chuyi felt somewhat more at ease. Noticing her nervousness, Princess Rongcheng couldn’t help but smile: “Don’t be afraid. Every woman has this day. Just remember what the nannies taught you…”