Chapter 448 Turning the Tables

"Duke Rong and Madam Cai have been very good to me as well. I will surely honor and care for them in the future, and you too, Empress Mother."

The Empress patted Luo Qingge's head with a gratified expression. "Then I can rest assured!"

Unlike Luo Qingge's side, Consort Li said to Luo Qianxue, "Xue'er, you are of noble status, a princess by birth. Once you marry into the Xue family, you must take control of the household management and financial power into your own hands. Only when a woman holds real authority can she make everyone in the mansion obey her every command."

"And as for Xue Cheng—he is a man of questionable character, extremely lecherous, and I've heard he's also prone to violence. Once you go there, you must discipline him well. Never allow him to take concubines in the mansion or do anything that would harm you."

Luo Qianxue picked up some lip rouge and pressed it to her lips, then turned to Consort Li with a smug look. "Mother, don't worry. Xue Lang has already promised me that once I marry him, he will hand over all the keys to the storehouse and the account books to me for safekeeping. He'll also let me manage the Xue family's businesses. From now on, the Xue family's money will be this princess's money, and this princess will be the Lady of the House of the entire Xue estate."

"As for what you said about Xue Lang being of bad character, lecherous, and prone to violence—those are all falsehoods, deliberately fabricated by outsiders."

"They're just jealous of Xue Lang's brilliance and courtesy. They see him as easy to bully, so they spread rumors to slander him and speak ill of him."

"Poor Xue Lang—his family's standing is low, not comparable to other nobles in the capital. He has no way to clear his own name. If he hadn't met this princess, he might never have escaped these rumors for the rest of his life."

As she spoke, Luo Qianxue raised her chin proudly. "Once this princess marries into the Xue estate, I'll make everyone open their eyes wide and see just how outstanding the husband I, Luo Qianxue, have chosen truly is."

"This princess believes that as long as I'm by Xue Lang's side, supporting and helping him, he will surely catch the Imperial Father's eye in the future and become a rising star in the court."

Luo Qianxue had already thought it through—it didn't matter that the Xue family's official rank was low right now. As long as she helped him, it was only a matter of time before Xue Cheng caught Emperor Jingyang's attention.

Their good days were still ahead!

Consort Li let out a soft sigh, unsure whether Luo Qianxue inheriting her own romantic foolishness was a good thing or a bad thing.

But since things had come to this, she could only hope that Xue Cheng would pull himself together in the future and become a new favorite at court.

That way, he could also help Luo Jingshen.

Just then, a palace maid came in and said, "Consort Li, Princess Jiu, the auspicious hour has arrived. The brides must depart for the bridal sedan!"

Luo Qianxue's heart leaped with joy. She quickly picked up her red veil and covered her head, then was helped out by the palace maids.

She didn't say a single word of reluctance to Consort Li, nor did she shed a single tear.

Luo Qingge was also helped out by her maids. Two magnificent red bridal sedans, each carried by eight bearers, stood in the center of the palace courtyard.

Luo Qianxue quickly stepped forward to block Luo Qingge's path, lowering her voice to taunt, "You picked up the man I didn't want, and you're getting married on the same day as me. I wonder how Princess Jiu feels about that. Aren't you ashamed and humiliated?"

Mocked by Luo Qianxue, Luo Qingge didn't get angry. Instead, she smiled and said to her, "I wonder who it was that chased after this princess's husband relentlessly. He didn't like you, yet you still threw yourself at him shamelessly. After being rejected, you turned love into hate and came to drive a wedge between us. Could it be that you still can't forget this princess's husband?"

Before Luo Qianxue could respond, she clicked her tongue and continued, "Well, that's understandable. Xie Liuzheng is handsome, comes from a good family, and treats me well. It's only natural you can't forget him—after all, your husband can't hold a candle to him."

Luo Qianxue's face turned cold in an instant. She scoffed, "Ridiculous! Do you think this princess needs to stir up trouble in your marriage?"

"Everyone knows Xie Liuzheng suffers from a strange illness—he can't touch women. The moment he does, he'll vomit all over you. Marrying him means you'll be a wife in name only. This princess would laugh at you, not pine after him!"

"Luo Qingge, did marrying a man addle your brains?"

Luo Qingge cast her a contemptuous glance, her eyes full of mockery.

"You're the foolish one, not this princess. You had a good man to marry but chose a sanctimonious hypocrite instead."

"I forgot to tell you—Xie Liuzheng's strange illness has no effect on me. The two of us can kiss, hug, and even lift me up high. The Xie Liuzheng you can't touch, this princess can touch freely. The Xie Liuzheng you can't kiss, this princess can kiss whenever she wants."

"So, are you angry?"

Luo Qianxue: "..."

Luo Qianxue: "!!!"

She was furious. "Impossible! This princess doesn't believe it!"

Ji Yuntang, as a physician and his nominal sister, couldn't even take Xie Liuzheng's pulse directly. How could Luo Qingge possibly touch him?

This was fake. It had to be fake.

Luo Qingge rolled her eyes silently beneath her veil. "Whether you believe it or not, when Xie Liuzheng comes to fetch the bride, just open your eyes wide and see whether he can touch this princess or not."

With that, she shoved Luo Qianxue aside and bent down to enter the bridal sedan.

Luo Qianxue was completely stunned. She had intended to mock Luo Qingge thoroughly on their wedding day, but instead, the other woman had turned the tables on her.

She was furious and stomped her foot in fury.

"Impossible! This princess doesn't believe Xie Liuzheng can touch a woman. You must be lying to me!"

"Luo Qingge, we'll see about that!"

With that, Luo Qianxue climbed into her own bridal sedan in a huff.

"Both princesses are seated in their sedans—raise them!"

At the wedding matron's loud command, the two bridal sedans slowly lifted and made their way out of the palace.

At the palace gate, Xie Liuzheng sat astride a white steed, clad in a red wedding robe, glowing with youthful radiance. A bright smile lit up his handsome, refined face, and the large red flower on his chest shone vividly, making him look even more radiant and spirited.

Not far from Xie Liuzheng, Xue Cheng was also dressed in red wedding attire. His delicate features bore a cold, menacing look, his gaze locked unwaveringly on Xie Liuzheng.

Two grooms wedding two princesses on the same day—today, Xue Cheng and Xie Liuzheng were unquestionably the focus of the crowd.

Watching the onlookers crowd around Xie Liuzheng, voicing their congratulations to him, Xue Cheng felt a quiet resentment welling up inside him.

Both were grooms marrying princesses—why did everyone fawn over Xie Liuzheng?

Was it simply because he was the heir to the Duke of Rong's mansion?

Xue Cheng seethed with resentment. Standing next to Xie Liuzheng, he was clearly overshadowed, feeling that his thunder had been completely stolen.

------------