Chapter 452 The Crown Prince Arrives

The wedding bow ceremony followed the same ancient tradition, with the ritual master calling out the steps for the newlyweds to bow to heaven and earth, to their parents, and to each other.

Luo Qingge's wedding dress was too long, making it awkward for her to turn during the ceremony, so Xie Liuzheng personally crouched down to help adjust it for her, without a trace of impatience.

The Empress watched Xie Liuzheng with a smile, and the more she looked, the more pleased she became with him.

The fact that he noticed such small details and patiently helped her arrange them showed that he genuinely loved Luo Qingge.

When you truly love someone, you notice every little thing they do.

The Empress felt at ease in her heart, knowing Luo Qingge was marrying him.

Duke Rong and his wife were grinning from ear to ear. After all their hoping and waiting, they had finally witnessed the day Xie Liuzheng married and brought his bride home.

They couldn't have been more pleased with Luo Qingge as their daughter-in-law, as if a burden had been lifted off their shoulders.

Over at the Xue residence.

Compared to the liveliness of Duke Rong's mansion, Luo Qianxue's wedding scene looked far more subdued.

Its scale couldn't hold a candle to Duke Rong's mansion, and it had fewer guests as well.

Even the fifty tables the Xue family had so carefully prepared were less than half full.

Almost all the big shots just sent a gift with a servant and then headed off to attend Luo Qingge and Xie Liuzheng's wedding.

She was the Empress's most beloved daughter, and she was marrying the sole heir of Duke Rong's mansion. Compared to Luo Qianxue and Xue Cheng's wedding, there was simply no contest.

Anyone with half a brain could see which one mattered more.

Consort Li and the Xue couple sat at the head table. The Xue couple was all smiles, feeling that their son Xue Cheng marrying a princess was a huge honor for their family.

Consort Li, however, wore a scowl the whole time, deeply unhappy with this marriage.

Not only because Luo Qianxue was marrying down, but also because Luo Qianxue and Luo Qingge were getting married on the same day, yet she'd been totally upstaged.

Emperor Jingyang hadn't bothered to show his face today, and Luo Qianxue's nominal elder brother, Luo Junhe, was bedridden and couldn't even get up.

Ji Yuntang, as his sister-in-law, had gone straight to Duke Rong's mansion without even sending a gift.

Now, the only relatives who had come for Luo Qianxue were just her and the Cao family.

Consort Li was furious, cursing Ji Yuntang and Luo Junhe out in her head a thousand times.

Those two bad omens had no sense of decency at all. It was a real shame that Luo Qianxue still called them brother and sister-in-law. They were truly cheap and petty.

It wasn't until the ritual master came over to announce the bowing ceremony was about to start and asked them to get ready that Consort Li finally managed a strained smile.

Luo Qianxue and Xue Cheng slowly walked out, each holding one end of a red silk ribbon with a big red flower tied in the middle.

The two stood in place, and the ritual master began the ceremonial calls.

"First bow to heaven and earth..."

Just then, a voice rang out from outside, grabbing everyone's attention.

"His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, has arrived!"

Consort Li, who had been rather unhappy, shot to her feet in excitement the moment she heard this, her eyes glued to the entrance.

Luo Jingshen was here?

Was this real?

Deep down, she felt a mix of hope and dread—hope at seeing Luo Jingshen, and dread that he might be holding a grudge and had come to stir up trouble at Luo Qianxue's wedding.

If Luo Qianxue's wedding were ruined, all of them would be in big trouble.

Consort Li's hands clenched beneath her sleeves, her emotions all over the place.

It wasn't until she saw Luo Jingshen stride in wearing a robe of deep purple and black that a smile finally appeared on her lips.

Because she saw Luo Jingshen take a gift from his attendant's hands, step forward a few paces, and speak slowly and deliberately.

"Today, as my tenth sister and Young Master Xue tie the knot, I've prepared some gifts especially for this occasion to congratulate the newlyweds."

"I didn't know what my tenth sister might like, so I've brought these glazed lanterns from the Western Regions and a night pearl from the Eastern Sea. I hope my tenth sister and Young Master Xue will do me the honor of accepting them."

Luo Qianxue's brow furrowed slightly under her veil. These two items were clearly extremely valuable, and she couldn't figure out what the Crown Prince was up to now.

Previously, they'd never gotten along.

Because Consort Li had favored Luo Jingshen, she'd grown to hate the Crown Prince deeply. When they ran into each other, they wouldn't even say a word.

Yet today, he had actually shown up in person with such expensive gifts?

No matter how she looked at it, Luo Qianxue couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

Wasn't Luo Jingshen Luo Qingge's brother? Why would he come here instead of going to Luo Qingge's wedding?

But there was no doubt that Luo Jingshen's arrival was a huge honor for the Xue family, causing all the guests present to light up with pride and jump to their feet in excitement.

Xue Cheng's parents rose to greet him, looking extremely respectful.

"This humble official pays his respects to the Crown Prince. Your Highness's presence at my son's wedding banquet today is a tremendous honor for our Xue family. I'm truly overjoyed!"

Luo Jingshen glanced at him and said coolly, "Lord Xue, Lady Xue, please don't stand on ceremony. Treat me like any other guest."

"I'm afraid I interrupted the ceremony. Please, go ahead and continue."

With that, Luo Jingshen moved to find a place to sit, but Consort Li quickly spoke up. "Your Highness, please hold on a moment."

Meeting everyone's puzzled gazes, Consort Li gave a faint smile and said, "The Emperor was shaken by an assassination attempt and couldn't attend Xue'er and Cheng'er's wedding today, but he's always adored Xue'er."

"Since the Crown Prince has come today, surely he's here on behalf of the Emperor. Why doesn't he sit with me in the Emperor's seat?"

"That way, when Xue'er and Cheng'er bow to their parents, there will be someone there to receive their bows."

At these words, everyone's expression changed, and Luo Qianxue's face went completely dark.

Bowing to parents meant bowing to both the bride's and groom's parents. Was Consort Li even aware of what she was saying, asking Luo Jingshen to sit in her father's seat and receive her bow in his place?

She thought such an absurd request would definitely be turned down by Luo Jingshen.

To her surprise, he agreed on the spot.

"Since Consort Li puts it that way, I'll gladly accept."

"Since the Tenth Princess is at least a half-sister to me, and Father couldn't be here today, it's only right that I step in to share his burden."

With that, he swept his sleeve aside and sat down directly.

Luo Qianxue's face turned green with rage. How dare he sit there?

What right did he have to occupy that seat and receive their bows?

Luo Qianxue felt this was an insult from Luo Jingshen. In all her life, she'd never seen a wedding where, with the parents absent, a half-brother sat in to receive the couple's bows.

Father didn't go to Duke Rong's residence either—so why didn't Luo Jingshen go there and have Xie Liuzheng and Luo Qingge bow to him?

It was clear he was targeting her because she was an easy pushover!

Beneath her bridal veil, Luo Qianxue's face was twisted in rage. She was about to say something when Xue Cheng gave her a tug.

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