However, a Prince’s marriage is unlike other families. This month, Jin Xiaoran is marrying Lin Qianqing, and next month he will welcome two Consorts and four noble concubines at the same time.
Speaking of these Consorts, their status and background are not inferior to Lin Qianqing’s. The reason they couldn’t secure the position of the official wife is that they don’t have the Empress as their patron. Who doesn’t know that Lin Qianqing’s mother comes from the same family as the Empress?
Whether one is the official wife or not, it’s just a matter of current glory. In the future, whether one can truly become the master of the Crown Prince Residence depends on one’s own schemes.
Underneath the big red bridal veil, Lin Qianqing was not as happy as the bustling scene outside suggested.
She rubbed the handkerchief in her hands with a worried look. Her cousin went to Qi Mountain and didn’t even come to her wedding. What on earth is going on?
In the eyes of these people, the Dao Family is an existence not to be offended. Even high-ranking officials of the Imperial Court would not dare to compete with the Dao Family for people.
Madam Lin originally told Lin Xingyi that since Qianqing was getting married, he should speak to the Dao Family and ask Youyou to come back and send her off, as the two cousins had a good relationship.
But Lin Xingyi outright refused on the spot, saying, "The person was taken away right from under the Emperor’s nose. Do you think I can demand her back?"
"But how will you know if you don’t ask?"
"The marriage of the Crown Prince and Qianqing is a big event known throughout the land. If they intend to send her back, they will do so without you having to ask. If they don’t intend to, asking will be of no use."
A few words thwarted Madam Lin.
"That’s far too overbearing and unreasonable!" Lin Qianqing muttered under her breath.
Her maid, Long Luo, quietly reminded her, "Miss, we’re almost there. Please don’t speak."
It is said that a bride under the bridal veil must not speak during the marriage procession, or she will be laughed at.
Lin Qianqing closed her mouth. They should be arriving at the Crown Prince’s residence outside the palace soon.
Both the Crown Prince and the second Prince have not yet been granted royal titles. According to the rules of Zhuzhao Country, only after princes have established their residences and married their official wives can they be conferred royal titles.
The wedding procession was grand, spanning ten miles.
Figures dressed in black watched the nuptial parade from above and sneered coldly.
The glory that accompanied such an occasion should have been his by right. How could a usurper be worth it?
He gestured to his men, and suddenly, amid the ten-mile-long procession of splendor, countless figures in black emerged, disrupting the dazzling array of colors.
"Assassins..." Someone in the crowd bellowed, and immediately the procession descended into chaos.
"Assassins, protect the Crown Prince and his wife!"
In no time, the guards were entangled in battle with Jin Ziyuan’s men, creating a chaotic melee.
Lin Qianqing tore off the red veil from her head and lifted the curtain to peek outside.
Her maid, Long Luo, hurriedly pushed her back into the palanquin, saying anxiously, "Miss, you can’t come out; it’s dangerous outside."
"How could there be assassins?" Lin Qianqing’s voice was fearful but tinged with excitement.
With assassins present, she couldn’t help thinking that it would be good if they took her away.
Only by this means could she leave the Lin Family forever and avoid implicating them.
"Miss, don’t be afraid. General Xiao is here; we’ll be fine," Long Luo said, nearly crying and hugging Lin Qianqing as she trembled.
General Xiao? Xiao Jinyan? Such a dandy!
He’s one of the second Prince’s men.
With this thought, Lin Qianqing’s excitement grew even more.
People of the second Prince’s faction would rejoice at the Crown Prince’s misfortune, wouldn’t they? If the Crown Prince’s bride were to be captured by bandits, they wouldn’t be able to contain their joy. Perhaps these assassins were arranged by the second Prince himself.