Due to his mother’s humble origins, the Prince of Xiang was the least prominent among the princes. He had always been very polite to Cui Mingyue, who was considered a heavenly maiden. However, this politeness was due to Cui Mingyue’s status. Now that she was to become his Princess Consort, his feelings of humiliation and anger flared up like oil on fire.
Among the princes recently betrothed, his Sixth Brother was marrying the most outstanding young lady from the Marquis Shouchun’s family, and his Seventh Brother was marrying a great beauty. Why was he stuck with Cui Mingyue?
Cui Mingyue may have saved the Empress Dowager, earning great merit in the eyes of the world, but to him, she was still an improper woman. She had once been intimate with another man, and now he was expected to play the fool just because she saved the Empress Dowager?
The more the Prince of Xiang thought about it, the angrier he became. Years of restraint had made him gradually face reality, and he laughed bitterly at himself, still clutching the broken brush.
What good would it do to be dissatisfied? His mother was only a dancer, now merely a consort with no family backing. Although he was a prince, a wang, he had no one to rely on. Could he refuse instead of gratefully accepting?
Refuse… The Prince of Xiang realized these two words held an immense temptation for him. If only he could refuse outright like Seventh Brother had done with the palace maid sent by Consort Xian… But he wasn’t Seventh Brother.
Seventh Brother could be scolded by Father Emperor for growing up outside the palace and not knowing better, and it would be forgotten. He couldn’t do that. If he dared, Father Emperor would be the first to punish him.
“Your Highness—” called out a palace maid who had grown up with the Prince of Xiang, her voice filled with concern.
The Prince snapped back to reality, dropping the broken brush.
“Clean this up. Don’t let anyone see any traces,” he ordered.
“Yes, Your Highness,” the maid bent down to tidy up the mess in the study.
The Prince stared at the maid, lost in thought.
She was a few years older than him, at the prime of a woman’s beauty. Her demeanor was gentle, her figure full, and as she bent over, her alluring curves were accentuated.
The Prince suddenly embraced the maid, pressing her against the desk.
The brush rack rolled to the floor with a series of clatters. The maid, her face flushed red, called out, “Your Highness.”
“Don’t speak. I’m troubled,” the Prince said, burying his face in the maid’s fair neck.
The maid stopped struggling, allowing the man on top of her to have his way. Having grown up with the Eighth Prince, she had long been his.
Soon, muffled gasps filled the study, embarrassing even the birds perched on the branches outside, causing them to flutter away.
The news of the Emperor decreeing the marriage between the Prince of Xiang and Cui Mingyue quickly spread throughout the capital, naturally reaching Jiang Si’s ears as well.
Aman was particularly excited: “Miss, that shameless Cui young lady will be your sister-in-law from now on!”
Jiang Si, sitting on a swing in the courtyard, smiled faintly. “Yes, this is truly unexpected.”
In her previous life, the Prince of Xiang’s Princess Consort was not Cui Mingyue.
At this point, Jiang Si had to admit that a single change often led to a series of alterations. For instance, Ji Chongyi hadn’t died, and now Cui Mingyue had suddenly become the Prince of Xiang’s betrothed.
But thinking it through, it wasn’t so strange.
In her previous life, Cui Mingyue’s scandal hadn’t been exposed. She had remained one of the top noble ladies, effortlessly securing a good future. Now, everything was different. As long as she wasn’t the type to accept her fate passively, her struggles would naturally lead to changes.
Footsteps approached, and Jiang Zhan arrived like a gust of wind.
“Second Brother isn’t on duty today?” Jiang Si asked, looking up at her suddenly arrived brother from the swing.
After serving in the Imperial Guard for over half a year, Jiang Zhan had changed noticeably. He had grown taller, his shoulders broader, and there was a hint of steadiness in his brow, showing signs of young adulthood.
However, this newfound steadiness disappeared when it came to matters concerning his sister.
“Fourth Sister, have you heard? That Cui young lady has become the Prince of Xiang’s betrothed. She’ll be your sister-in-law in the future!”
Jiang Si couldn’t help but smile. “Yes, it’s truly unexpected.”
Beside them, Aman silently looked up at the sky. Her mistress had just said the same thing, yet showed no signs of anxiety.
Jiang Zhan, however, was anxious. He gripped the swing’s rope and said worriedly, “Fourth Sister, Cui Mingyue hates you to the bone. You’ll both be marrying into the royal family, but she’s the daughter of Princess Rongyang and the granddaughter of the Empress Dowager. She has all the advantages. I’m worried you’ll be at a disadvantage…”
Jiang Si chuckled.
“What are you laughing at, Fourth Sister?”
Jiang Si looked up at Jiang Zhan, her lips curved in a smile. “Second Brother truly deserves to be in the Imperial Guard, even knowing about having all the advantages—”
Jiang Zhan was a bit annoyed. “Fourth Sister, I’m being serious!”
Jiang Si stood up from the swing, facing Jiang Zhan with a composed and confident expression. “Don’t worry, Second Brother. Your sister may eat many things, but she never eats losses.”
“But—”
Jiang Si asked with a smile, “If you don’t trust me, don’t you trust A’jin?”
“A’jin?” Jiang Zhan was stunned, staring oddly at Jiang Si.
Jiang Si realized her slip of the tongue and said sheepishly, “The Prince of Yan.”
Jiang Zhan felt quite displeased.
A’jin? His sister’s way of addressing him sounded too intimate!
Hmph, she wasn’t even married yet, why call him A’jin? It must be that shameless Prince of Yan who coaxed her into calling him that.
“Just call him the Prince of Yan. What’s with this ‘A’jin’? It sounds improper,” Jiang Zhan scolded with a stern face.
“You’re right, Second Brother.”
Jiang Zhan felt like he was punching cotton, unable to do anything about Jiang Si. He touched the scabbard at his waist and left.
Why did the thought of his sister getting married make him feel so uncomfortable?
Damn that A’jin!
Soon, it was June, and the wedding day was approaching. It was time for the trousseau to be prepared.
The Eastern Peace Earl’s Manor was considered a lower-tier noble family in the capital. Because Jiang Si’s second uncle was a civil official, their social circle was larger than those of some declining noble families, but still ordinary in the context of the entire capital.
However, Jiang Si was marrying into the royal family, which made things different.
On the day of preparing the trousseau, families who had caught wind of the news sent gifts. A’qiao was busy calculating accounts but still couldn’t keep up, so she had to ask for help from the manor’s accountant.
Old Madam Feng felt elated.
She had finally lived to see the day when her fourth granddaughter would be married.
Although she knew the imperial decree wouldn’t change over the past few months, her heart had still been unsettled. What made her even happier was that after this trousseau preparation, some previously unreachable families now had a legitimate reason to associate with them.
In the realm of social connections, once there was a “coming,” there could be a “going” if one was inclined.
Marrying a daughter into a high-ranking family—this was the obvious benefit.
In the Begonia Residence, there was hardly any room left for gifts.
“Miss, this is from Miss Chuchu,” Aman handed over a small box, and soon after, picked up a long box, saying, “This is from the eldest Miss Xie.”
Lu Chuchu was now helping in the cosmetics shop Jiang Si had opened, having found her footing in the capital. The eldest Miss Xie from the neighboring Yongchang Baron’s Manor was still in mourning and couldn’t appear on such occasions, but her trousseau gift was quite valuable.
Thinking of her close friend Xie Qing’e, Jiang Si felt a pang of guilt, knowing she could only properly socialize with her after the mourning period ended.
Amid all the joy and excitement, three days passed in the blink of an eye, and it was time for Jiang Si’s wedding day.