Chapter 447 Marriage

Chapter 447: The Wedding

To avoid arousing suspicion, he stabbed the consort again, making it look like the consort had been attacked, before carefully leaving.

Back at the Eastern Palace, he handed over the blood he had collected to Luo Jingshen.

"Your Highness, I have obtained the Emperor's blood!"

Luo Jingshen dismissed him, "Get out. No one comes in without my order."

Linchuan withdrew, and Luo Jingshen fetched a bowl of water, letting the blood drip into it.

Then, he pricked his finger with a needle and let a drop of his own blood fall into the water as well.

Holding his breath, he watched the two drops intently, hoping they would merge.

But to his disappointment, the two drops did not blend together.

Only then did Luo Jingshen realize Consort Li had not deceived him—he really wasn't Emperor Jingyang's son.

He slumped there, his mind a mess.

The next day, word spread through the palace that Emperor Jingyang had been attacked the previous night. The princes rushed to the palace to see him.

Luo Jingshen also went. As he looked at Emperor Jingyang lying on the dragon bed, eyes closed, the longer he looked, the more he felt they didn't look alike.

Before, when he didn't know, he was calm and unafraid. Now that he knew, he was scared to face Emperor Jingyang, always afraid he'd be found out.

In the end, Luo Jingshen found an excuse to leave, his retreating figure looking like he was fleeing.

He thought about Miss Xuehua. Three days had already passed, and he still hadn't gone to the Flower Pavilion to buy her out.

Lately, he'd been seeing the imperial physician every day, but there was no improvement in his condition.

Luo Jingshen knew he couldn't put off buying Xuehua's freedom any longer.

He immediately handed Linchuan fifty thousand taels of silver, telling him to bring Miss Xuehua back to the Eastern Palace and set up a courtyard for her.

Linchuan went to the Flower Pavilion and used the silver to buy Hua Feixue's freedom. The Madam cried tears of joy, staring at him like he was a savior.

She finally understood what it meant to say, "Easy to invite, hard to get rid of."

Before they left, the Madam pulled Hua Feixue aside and handed her twenty-five thousand taels in banknotes.

"Like we agreed, half each. Take this and don't ever come back!"

Hua Feixue took the notes with a smile, but she wasn't about to let it go.

"Madam, what are you talking about? When I first got here, you said this place would always be my home and I could stay as long as I wanted. Why are you so eager to kick me out today?"

The Madam was at a loss for words.

She had no idea Miss Xuehua could be such a handful!

In just a few days, she'd charmed all the girls in the brothel, who now refused to see clients or perform, constantly begging to see Miss Xuehua.

With that in mind, the Madam steeled herself and pulled out another five thousand taels, shoving them into Hua Feixue's hands.

"Take this five thousand as well, and never come back!"

Then she pushed her out the door.

Hua Feixue pouted, "Women really are heartless!"

But she still stuffed all the banknotes into her clothes.

When she saw Linchuan, she asked, "Why didn't your Crown Prince come in person?"

"The Crown Prince is busy and sent me to bring you back. Please get in the carriage, Miss Xuehua."

Hua Feixue silently rolled her eyes and got into the carriage.

At the Eastern Palace, she didn't see Luo Jingshen for three straight days, but she did manage to hit it off with his concubines and chambermaids.

From what they said, Hua Feixue learned that the Crown Prince hadn't visited them in a long time, not since that night with Ji Qingqing.

Lately, he'd been locking himself in his room all day, or leaving early and coming back late, and no one knew what he was up to.

Hua Feixue had a feeling Luo Jingshen was dealing with something big—something even worse than his impotence.

But she couldn't see him for now, so she had no way to find out.

Meanwhile, at the Duke Rong's mansion,

Xie Liuzheng and Luo Qingge's wedding was coming up, and Ji Yuntang had been at the Duke Rong's residence for the past few days, helping set up the wedding venue.

She ditched the traditional setup, pulling out ribbons, balloons, and bouquets from her storage space to blend Western and Chinese styles into a dreamy scene.

Both of them were dear to her, and she wanted to give Luo Qingge and Xie Liuzheng a wedding they'd never forget.

Ji Yuntang also designed their wedding outfits herself, in both Chinese and Western styles, and made them a unique set of diamond rings.

She even hand-cut the welcome poster at the entrance into cute cartoon figures of the couple.

Madam Cai came over with a bowl of bird's nest soup, smiling as she grabbed Ji Yuntang's hand.

"Tang'er, I've never seen a wedding set up like this. It's gorgeous."

Ji Yuntang smiled softly, "Mother, I want to give Brother and Qingge a wedding experience that's different from the usual."

"You've worked so hard. I just made this bird's nest soup in the kitchen. Drink it up first."

Madam Cai had noticed all of Ji Yuntang's hard work. She handed over the soup, and Ji Yuntang took it and sipped it slowly.

Madam Cai felt a pang of sympathy, "Ah, when you and Prince Ye married, it was so hasty—no guests, and at night. If there's ever a chance in the future, I'll make sure to hold a proper ceremony for you two."

Ji Yuntang laughed, "Mother, A He and I are already married. Whether we have a ceremony or not doesn't matter, as long as he's by my side."

Once Luo Qingge and Xie Liuzheng's wedding was over, she planned to head to the Xishu Kingdom with Hua Feixue to obtain the Dragon Scale Herb to heal his legs.

The chill faded, and warmth arose as sunlight streamed through the carved windows into the room.

Inside, red window decorations, red candles, and red wedding attire filled the space, with laughter and chatter echoing all around.

Half a month had passed, and finally, the day of Luo Qingge and Xie Liuzheng's wedding arrived.

It was also the day Luo Qianxue married Xue Cheng.

They were roused early by the palace maids, dressed in fiery red bridal gowns, adorned with golden crowns and jade hairpins, and after completing their makeup, they sat quietly in their rooms, waiting for their grooms to arrive.

The Empress, looking at Luo Qingge's resplendent attire, was overjoyed, yet tears couldn't help but gather at the corners of her eyes.

The girl she had raised herself was getting married today, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of reluctance.

Luo Qingge naturally noticed the Empress's unusual demeanor and stepped forward to ask, "Mother, why are you crying?"

The Empress took out a handkerchief to dab at the corners of her eyes, forcing a gentle smile.

"Qingge, from today onward, you are the Heir Consort of the Duke Rong's mansion. Without your mother by your side, you must now serve your in-laws alongside Heir Xie, and help Madam Cai manage the inner courtyard. You must never cause trouble as you used to."

Luo Qingge nodded lightly, a smile curling at her lips. "Mother, I know. Third Sister-in-law has already told me all this. As long as no one provokes me, I'll try to keep my temper in check."

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