Steal my marriage? Turn around and marry the tyrant to take the throne

Chapter 1425 The wedding is scheduled for the 28th of the first lunar month next year (193 million r

"My brother is the most cunning. Showing weakness and leaving the city empty might be a venomous ploy to lure you into a trap!"

He turned suddenly, his eyes sweeping across the confidants in the study. Beneath his gentle exterior lay vigilance and ambition. "Go verify for me one by one the authenticity of the border troop deployments, the root causes of the internal conflicts within the Imperial Guards, and those officials who have submitted letters of surrender..."

"Are their backgrounds clean? Could they be bait sent by the Emperor?"

"If all this is true..."

A smile finally broke out on the corners of Prince Jin's lips, revealing a long-suppressed desire. "Then all my years of forbearance and careful planning have finally paid off."

The confidant and Concubine Qi looked stern and answered in unison: "Yes!"

Prince Jin sat back in his chair, his eyes filled with light and shadow.

The east wind seemed to be rising, but as a hunter who had been dormant for a long time, he would never rush out of the grass before seeing the trap clearly.

……

Yongshou Palace.

The warm sunshine of early autumn shines in through the long carved windows.

Fuqiu walked lightly into the inner hall and reported, "Your Majesty, the head steward Hu from the Imperial Household Department has arrived. He said he has something important to report."

Shen Zhinian said calmly: "Let him in."

"Yes."

A moment later, Hu Zhongcai bowed and entered, his whisk resting on his arm, and saluted respectfully: "Your servant greets the Imperial Noble Consort. May the Empress be blessed with good health!"

"Get up."

Shen Zhinian raised his eyes and looked at him: "What's the matter?"

Hu Zhongcai bowed his head and replied, "To answer the Imperial Noble Consort, the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Astronomical Observatory have jointly selected an auspicious date. The wedding of Princess Wenshu and Hanlin Bai will be on the 28th day of the first lunar month of next year."

"Your Majesty has approved it."

"The twenty-eighth day of the first lunar month..."

Shen Zhinian repeated it softly, counting the days: "About half a year left."

"Yes."

Hu Zhongcai said, "The eldest princess is a noble and beautiful woman. It is appropriate for her to spend half a year preparing for her wedding. This is both solemn and not too lengthy.

Shen Zhinian nodded slightly.

The eldest princess is of noble status, so she will marry out of the palace in a grand manner.

Now that the position of Empress is vacant, the burden of organizing the eldest princess's wedding ceremony naturally falls on the shoulders of Shen Zhinian, the deputy empress who is in charge of the affairs of the six palaces.

She pondered for a moment, then gave clear instructions: "Now that the date has been set, the Ministry of Internal Affairs should get moving as soon as possible."

"Princess Wenshu's wedding gown and crown are to be immediately produced by the Imperial Household Department. The materials and patterns must be made to the highest standards, and meticulous attention must be paid to perfection, without any slightest carelessness."

"Send someone to oversee the renovation and furnishing of the Princess's residence. All furnishings must reflect the royal family's generosity, but also avoid being too extravagant and causing criticism."

"Please make a list of the dowry, land, and servants for me to review."

"As for the ceremony and banquet on the wedding day, we need to communicate more with the Ministry of Rites and come up with a detailed set of regulations."

"besides……"

Shen Zhinian spoke in a calm tone, each word clearly, and had the air of someone who was in control of everything.

Hu Zhongcai listened attentively, taking note of everything. Finally, he bowed and said, "I will obey the orders of the Imperial Noble Consort and will do my best to make Princess Wenshu's marriage a grand and dignified one, without any mistakes!"

"Ah."

Shen Zhinian waved his hand and said, "Go get busy."

"Slave, please resign!"

Hu Zhongcai saluted again and then slowly retreated.

……

On July 30th, the sky was clear and blue, which was the day when the imperial concubine held a banquet in the palace to appreciate the lotus.

Before daybreak, the noble ladies and ladies who received the invitations had already risen and were dressing up, applying perfumed ointments to their faces and adorning their heads with pearls and jade.

A number of carriages with canopies were waiting in front of the gates of various mansions early in the morning, and as soon as the time came, they would set off towards the nine-story palace with gold-plated invitations in their hands.

Princess Yun'an's Mansion.

The maids were carefully arranging her crimson palace dress.

She looked at herself in the bronze mirror, her eyes showing her usual arrogance.

Princess Yun'an naturally knew that even though Myna was a prince, he could not enter the palace without an imperial edict.

Therefore, she went to ask her brother early, saying that she wanted to attend the banquet with the mynah bird to make it more lively.

For such a small matter, Nangong Xuanyu would not offend Yun Anchang Palace's face, so he agreed casually.

Princess Yun'an plans to go to Prince Jin's mansion today to meet with Prince Jin and then enter the palace together.

She was determined in her heart that today, no matter what, she would find a wife worthy of Bage among those noble ladies!

At this time, the personal maid came in quietly and reported, "Princess, Princess Wenshu's carriage has arrived outside the mansion. She said she wants to go to the palace with you for a banquet."

In the past, Princess Yun'an would have happily taken Princess Wenshu with her.

But at this moment, she instantly flashed before her eyes the scenes of Princess Wenshu and the Imperial Noble Consort's intimacy over the past few days, as well as the scenes of her repeatedly embarrassing herself in subtle ways for the Imperial Noble Consort's sake.

Princess Yun'an curled her lips, revealing a hint of undisguised sarcasm: "Hasn't she climbed up to the high position of Imperial Noble Consort now? Why is she coming to my house instead of rushing to the palace to curry favor with me?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Princess Yun'an waved her sleeves fiercely, bringing up a gust of fragrant wind, and said coldly: "No! Let her go find her soulmate on her own!"

"Yes……"

The maid didn't dare to say anything more and retreated quietly.

Princess Wenshu's carriage was still parked there quietly, its royal blue curtains swaying in the breeze.

The maid walked to the carriage window and spoke through the curtain in a panic, "...Princess Wenshu, Princess Yun'an said, please, please make yourself at your own convenience..."

As the words fell, the air seemed to freeze...

Behind the carriage curtain, Princess Wenshu sat upright, wearing a sky-blue palace dress that made her face look elegant.

She listened to the maid's cautious reply without much surprise on her face, but her fingers holding the embroidered handkerchief tightened slightly.

After a long while, just as the maid was feeling anxious, unsure whether she should ask again, she heard Princess Wenshu's voice from inside: "...I understand."

Just a few short words.

Then, Princess Wenshu knocked gently on the carriage.

The driver waiting outside understood and immediately pulled the reins.

The carriage started slowly, turned around, and drove towards the palace.

The curtains of the carriage were still drawn, completely concealing the situation inside. No one could see the expression on Princess Wenshu's face at the moment.

Only the carriage moving further and further away, in the dim light of early morning, reveals an indescribable loneliness...

……

Quhe Garden.

The palace maids had already made careful arrangements.

At the end of July, the pond was filled with green lotus leaves reaching the sky.

Lotus flowers, pink and white, stood gracefully, their petals twirling under the afternoon sun. The breeze carried wafts of elegant lotus fragrance, mixed with moisture, slightly dispelling the summer heat.

Seats have been set up in the winding corridor and open pavilion by the water.

The floor is covered with brocade carpets, and there are tables and tables displaying exquisite fruits and snacks, and steaming tea.