The crowd suddenly burst into a commotion, discussing fervently.
"No way!"
"Impossible!"
"Isn’t Prince Wu supposed to marry the Third Miss Xia?"
"How could it be the eldest Miss of the Zhu Family?"
"That’s right, could the rumors that have been spreading for so long be false?"
"Impossible, wasn’t this news spread by the Third Miss Xia herself?"
"Exactly, it’s said that Princess Consort Zhe and the Third Miss Xia have always been close!"
"But there was never any mention of any connection with Miss Zhu, how could things change so suddenly!"
"Indeed, how could things change just like that!"
The crowd found it hard to believe their own eyes.
Yet Prince Wu’s wedding procession had already arrived.
The grand wedding sedan draped in red phoenix silk had also been carried to the entrance of Zhu Mansion.
Servant boys in red attire appeared from Zhu Mansion, lighting strings of red firecrackers to welcome the future son-in-law.
The suona and ceremonial music were played loud and jubilant.
The crowd was also in high spirits, the scene buzzing with excitement.
Prince Wu, adorned with a flower on his chest and dressed in a festive robe, dismounted his horse with a look of immense pride and walked towards Zhu Mansion with his entourage.
Although his walking posture was not graceful,
the joyful expression on his face made it clear he was satisfied with the bride-to-be.
The onlookers congratulated him exuberantly on the surface, but whispered among themselves.
"So it has been the Third Miss Xia’s wishful thinking all along?"
"That’s what I think too?"
Just as they were about to mock, someone questioned.
"Wait a minute!"
"I heard the Xia Residence is also holding a wedding today for their daughter!"
"If it was indeed wishful thinking, then who is she marrying?"
The crowd realized the logic in this, and they became confused once more.
Then someone else spoke up.
"Could it be that both the main wife and the concubine are being married at the same time?"
The crowd was taken aback by this.
"Could it be that Miss Zhu is the main wife, while Miss Xia is the concubine?"
After all, Prince Wu appeared at Zhu Mansion at the auspicious hour, and the grand sedan was also welcoming Miss Zhu.
"Makes sense! I think that’s the case!"
The crowd nodded in agreement, and someone mocked.
"Miss Xia boasted for such a long time, only to suddenly become a concubine, quite humiliating!"
"Indeed, Miss Zhu’s low-key approach, not saying a word, suddenly becomes the Princess Consort! What luck!"
While they were discussing, someone quietly remarked.
"It’s not luck, it’s her good family background!"
The crowd was puzzled.
"The Zhu Family’s elder is just an official of the fifth rank, where’s the good background?"
The person continued.
"Don’t you remember that Consort Zhen in the palace, oh no, Empress Dowager Zhen, her maiden name is Zhu, and this Miss Zhu is her maternal cousin!"
"So, Prince Wu and this Miss Zhu are maternal cousins!"
The crowd was once again shocked.
"So that’s the case!"
"How could we forget that detail?"
The informer quickly explained.
"It’s normal if you don’t recall, Empress Dowager Zhen was the Favored Consort of the Late Emperor, and after his passing, she has been in seclusion in the palace for years!"
After all these years, who would still remember her!
"True enough!"
"Truly eye-opening today."
The bystanders, filled with gossip from early morning, left satisfied.
Any revelation here would be enough to stir up the entire Capital City!
Heh, they got to know in advance.
Indeed, being close to the source gets you benefits!
...
Meanwhile, Prince Wu had already brought the bride out from the mansion.
The bride, dressed in a bright red phoenix crown and robe, was carried by her brother, her feet not touching the ground.
Prince Wu, leading from the front holding a red flower ball, the bride also grasped a red flower ball behind him.
Her figure was that of a beauty, matching Prince Wu, truly a pair of talent and beauty.
More people gathered outside the mansion to watch.
Seeing the newlyweds emerge, they congratulated them loudly.
Amidst the fireworks and ceremonial music, the air was filled with festivity.
Sixth Prince seemed very pleased.
He hurriedly ordered the servant boys to distribute bags filled with copper coins, wedding candies, and melon seeds among the crowd.
The people, thrilled by their windfall, cheered even more enthusiastically.
Surrounded by everyone, the bride boarded the sedan chair.
The wedding procession resumed, leaving with music and drums playing.
Out of curiosity, the crowd followed behind.
They wanted to see what exactly Prince Wu was up to?
Is he really going to marry two ladies?
...
The curious crowd followed the procession all the way to the Prince’s Mansion.
They watched as Prince Wu and the bride entered through the main gate.
Then the main gate closed.
Apart from the esteemed guests, the rest of the well-wishers entered through the side gate.
The onlookers waited outside from morning to noon, but never saw a sedan from the Xia Family arrive.
"Hey!"
"Didn’t I say, Miss Xia was just delusional!"