Chapter 95: Wedding Preparations

Chapter 95: Wedding Preparations

The Grand Princess left Yaohua Palace in a soft palanquin. Jiang Hui, having washed her face again, asked Imperial Physician Liu, "Is it really just a cough?"

Imperial Physician Liu bowed and replied, "To respond to Noble Consort Zhao, the Grand Princess indeed shows signs of lung deficiency. Emotional agitation can easily trigger coughing. She should rest peacefully, avoiding stress and overexertion."

"Would this condition affect her lifespan?" Jiang Hui inquired further.

"It does have some impact, but it's not too severe. Proper care and nourishment should suffice," replied Liu directly. After a pause, he added, "However, I noticed from the Grand Princess's pulse that she has recently taken quite a few qi-boosting medicines, leading to excessive yang energy."

Jiang Hui’s heart sank, but she managed a strained smile to Liu, "Thank you, Imperial Physician Liu."

Shan Zha stepped forward, leading Liu out of the floral hall and out of Yaohua Palace.

"Qiu Kui," Jiang Hui called softly.

Qiu Kui approached, gently holding her hand, and whispered, "My lady, you must take care of yourself for Nian'er and the baby."

Jiang Hui murmured, "Whose happiness is this joyous event meant to counteract? Whose joy are we celebrating?"

Qiu Kui remained silent, and Wan Song stepped forward, wiping away the unwittingly shed tears from Jiang Hui’s eyes, softly coaxing, "Let’s go rest for a while, my lady. You haven’t had your afternoon nap yet."

Jiang Hui didn’t respond, looking down at her slightly protruding belly, she muttered, "If they don’t want me to know, then I won’t know."

Lifting her head, she said to Wan Song, "I don’t want to sleep yet. Bring some food, I suddenly feel like having Jin Yu Geng."

"Alright!" Wan Song responded, her own eyes brimming with tears she didn't bother to wipe away, quickly leaving with a smile.

By the end of May, the Ningyuan Marquis House and Lin House rapidly completed the remaining two rituals of the six traditional marital ceremonies, seizing the last auspicious day of the month. On the 29th of May, the final ritual, the wedding procession, was held.

Although the auspicious time was in the evening, Jiang Hui got up early to dress and prepare, planning to leave the palace early for the Ningyuan Marquis House.

The Emperor had already agreed to Jiang Hui attending Jiang Yun's wedding feast. However, due to her being over five months pregnant, he insisted on accompanying her for reassurance.

The Emperor's travel, even just within the capital for a wedding, was no small matter. The Imperial Guards and the Prefect of the Capital were mobilized to clear the way for the Emperor and Noble Consort Zhao.

Today, Jiang Hui wore an exquisite crimson gauze upper garment with a chestnut-purple skirt embellished with silver and white, her hair styled in a flowing-cloud bun, adorned with clustered pearl palace flowers and a golden jade-inlaid tassel, exuding festivity without overshadowing the bride.

The Emperor dressed simply in dark casual attire, holding Nian'er, who was clad in pomegranate red, in one arm, while assisting Jiang Hui into the carriage with his other hand. In public, Jiang Hui preferred not to share a ride with the Emperor, opting instead for a consort's palanquin.

Before the palanquin curtains were drawn, Emperor Xiao Sheng bent slightly outside, reminding Jiang Hui, "If Hui'er feels unwell inside, send someone to inform me."

"I'm fine," Jiang Hui assured with a soft smile, "Qiu Kui and Wan Song are here with me, Your Majesty need not worry."

Emperor Xiao Sheng then lowered the curtains, instructed the attendants to take good care of the Noble Consort, and then boarded the imperial carriage with Nian'er. The procession departed from the Chaoyang Gate towards Chengxian Street, where the Ningyuan Marquis House was located.

Upon their arrival, the main gate of Ningyuan Marquis House was wide open, bustling with guests who crowded forward to greet the Emperor and Noble Consort Zhao.

After exchanging formalities, Jiang Hui took Nian'er from the Emperor's arms, handing him to Pomegranate, and entered the inner courtyard with Qiu Kui and Wan Song's assistance, heading first to Songshou Garden to visit her grandmother.

Despite her ill health, the old lady of Ningyuan Marquis House, spirited by her grandson's wedding day, was propped up on her bed, chatting with visiting ladies.

Knowing of the old lady's frail condition, most ladies quickly paid their respects and left, so when Jiang Hui arrived, Songshou Garden was relatively quiet.

The old lady’s cloudy eyes brightened upon seeing her granddaughter, whom she hadn't seen in a long time. She patted the bed beside her, "Hui Hui, come, sit beside your grandmother!"

"Grandmother!" Jiang Hui hastened to her side, sitting next to her and covering her wrinkled hands with her own, "I’ve missed you so much!"

"Ah, my dear Hui Hui!" the old lady leaned closer to Jiang Hui, scrutinizing her for a while, then breathlessly said, "You’ve lost weight."

"Where have I lost weight?" Jiang Hui gently replied, "I've actually gained quite a bit."

The old lady laughed, "Eat more, Hui Hui, you won’t turn into a little piggy!"

As a child, Jiang Hui loved the treats from Songshou Garden and, being beauty-conscious, often worried about eating too much. The old lady would hug her and say, "Hui Hui is the most beautiful girl in the world; eating more will make you grow taller, not into a little piggy."

Jiang Hui then nestled into her grandmother's embrace, murmuring an agreement after a long pause.

After a quiet moment, Jiang Hui sat up from her grandmother’s embrace, beckoned Pomegranate to bring Nian'er over, and said to her grandmother, "Grandmother, this is Nian'er, your great-grandson."

"Nian'er, here!" Hearing his mother call him, Nian'er lifted his head and responded.

The old lady smiled, fondly stroking Nian'er's head, "He looks so much like Hui Hui when she was little!"

Jiang Hui also smiled, telling Nian'er, "Nian'er, this is your great-grandmother. Say 'great-grandmother'."

"Grea', grr," Nian'er jumbled the words together. After Jiang Hui taught him twice more, he slowly said, "Great, grand, mother!"

"Yes!" exclaimed the old lady joyfully, hugging and caressing Nian'er. After a while, she suddenly said, "Your father and mother are busy entertaining guests in the front. Ah Yun has already gone to the Lin family with the bridal gifts. Have you seen the bridal chamber, Hui Hui?"

Jiang Hui softly replied, "Not yet."

"Then go have a look," the old lady said with a smile. "Let Nian'er roll on the bed too, to wish Ah Yun an early addition of a great-grandson for me."

The bridal chamber, located in Cuiwei Garden where generations of Ningyuan Marquis’ heirs resided, had been prepared by the Lin family the previous day and was now filled with brand-new furniture.

A long red silk ribbon hung over the doorframe, an auspicious item for guests to 'compete' for when the bride entered.

Inside, the room was festooned with celebratory red, the bridal bed adorned with a mandarin duck quilt and silk bedding, embroidered with auspicious double happiness symbols. A small table beside it held a tray of longan and peanuts, to be used later in the 'bed scattering' ceremony.

Though a designated child was arranged for the bed-rolling ritual, Jiang Hui still let Nian'er crawl on it for a few rounds before Pomegranate picked him up again.

As Jiang Hui left Songshou Garden for the bridal chamber, the female guests naturally gathered to compliment her. Seeing Jiang Hui's actions, a fair-complexioned lady commented, "With the esteemed Crown Prince rolling on the bridal bed, the future couple of Ningyuan Marquis will surely enjoy a harmonious marriage and bear many healthy children!"

This was Madame Chen, the wife of Duke An.