"You guys don’t believe me, but you’ll understand when you get married!"
When the young ladies heard the word ’married’,
they all blushed.
The young wife, whose speech was as fast as a train, realized her slip-up and fell silent.
The crowd was bustling.
Ordinary citizens of the Capital City watched as exquisite bridal gifts were carried past them one after another.
The commotion grew even more like boiling water.
It stayed lively for more than an entire Shi Chen before gradually calming down.
When the last set of bridal gifts passed by,
the citizens sensibly dispersed.
They couldn’t enter the Prince’s Mansion anyway.
There wasn’t anything more to see, right?
...
As the excitement outside gradually faded.
The celebratory atmosphere inside the mansion was just beginning.
The giant sixteen-carriage sedan was carried all the way to the back courtyard entrance.
The Fifth Prince dismounted and personally carried the Commandery Princess over.
The crowd couldn’t help but express their amazement:
"Look at this lively couple!"
"Yes, indeed. The Fifth Prince is fortunate to marry Princess Hai Feng!"
"Exactly!"
Everyone was buzzing with opinions.
Listening to this, the Fifth Prince and Princess Hai Feng felt ironically amused inside.
"Great relationship? Fortunate? Haha!"
The main hall was quickly reached.
The upcoming ceremony was much simpler.
"First bow to heaven and earth!"
"Second bow to the family elders!"
"Husband and wife bow to each other!"
"Into the bridal chamber!"
The first few weren’t a big deal.
At last, when Hai Feng heard entering the bridal chamber,
she completely relaxed.
"Finally, can I take a break?"
Amidst the jubilance, Hai Feng was assisted by maids to the Princess Consort’s main courtyard.
When she truly sat down in the new room,
she still felt like she was dreaming.
If not for the unfamiliar smell of tung oil in the air, she wouldn’t dare believe it was real.
In her mind, there were two tiny figures fighting!
One said,
"Did you really get... married just like that?"
The other, somewhat defeated, replied,
"What else? Should I escape and let everyone die?"
The first one countered,
"But marrying him won’t make you happy, will it?"
The other smiled coldly.
"You’ve all forgotten, this is the rule of survival!"
"To gain more, you must pay!"
The first one mocked again.
"You’re such a coward!"
The other chuckled coldly again.
"So what? Even if I’m not, what can I do?"
"Continue to resist the marriage?"
The forced marriage nearly cost her life; she’s had enough.
"Even without marrying the Fifth Prince, she can’t find a better one, can she?"
"Nowadays, the Fifth Master at least resembles him in appearance, it’s almost enough!"
She dared not ask for more.
Finally, the first tiny figure was defeated by the second.
She ultimately compromised with reality.
Since she’s here, she should make peace with it, what else could she do?
Isn’t that what strategic marriages are?
...
Hai Feng waited from morning to noon, then to afternoon, without eating anything.
Finally, too hungry to bear it, she stood up abruptly, dizzy, and instructed,
"Someone, quickly get me something to eat!"
This ridiculous rule of the Great Chu Dynasty.
Back in her Western Xia, there were no such rules.
A wedding is a wedding, they never said not to eat!
But the maid thought differently.
"Commandery Princess, the Prince hasn’t returned yet; you cannot eat!"
Upon hearing this, Hai Feng’s eyebrows shot up.
"What did you say?! What does it matter to this princess if he hasn’t returned, go quickly!"
Saying that, she took out a whip from her waist.
The maid was terrified.
"Yes, yes, this servant will go right away, Commandery Princess, please wait!"
After speaking, she hurriedly left.
Hai Feng sneered and murmured: That’s more like it!
Not long after, several dishes of dumplings, buns, and snacks were brought in.
"Commandery Princess, these are snacks from the kitchen, something to tide you over while you wait for the feast to end!"
Hai Feng, somewhat unwilling, looked at the food.
She had no appetite at all, but what could she do when she was hungry?
With no other choice, she decided to eat a little.
Luckily, they tasted good; she ate three in a row.
After eating, her stomach stopped growling, and she felt reinvigorated.
"Good, reward them!"
"Yes!"
"Thank you, Commandery Princess, thank you!"
The maid serving the food kowtowed repeatedly.
"If there’s nothing else, this servant will take her leave now!"
"Go ahead!"
Hai Feng slightly waved her hand.
The maid kowtowed again before leaving.
...
The room returned to silence.
With nothing else to do, Hai Feng tossed the bridal veil aside and wandered around.
"Oh wow, this room is nice!"
"Carved beams and painted rafters, luxurious and magnificent!"
"Even the hollow carvings on this table are exquisite and ornate, almost dizzying!"
The maid beside her echoed.
"Commandery Princess has good taste; I heard the Prince specially designed this for you!"
"It’s a complete set, just to ensure your comfort."
Hai Feng smiled faintly, her gaze serene.
She thought: He dislikes me so much, would he really want me to live comfortably?