"Tong’er, Lin’er, today is your big wedding day. From today onwards, you will be adults. You must respect your elders in your husband’s family, treat your husband with love and reverence, and honor each other as guests."
"Yes." Xie Ruotong and Xie Ruilin both eagerly agreed, "Tong’er/Lin’er will heed grandmother’s teachings."
"Nanny Zhang." Xiao Qinghui suddenly called out to the old nanny beside her.
"This servant is here." The nanny hurriedly responded.
"Bring the two gifts I have prepared for the eldest miss and the second miss."
"This servant will fetch them immediately."
Nanny Zhang then brought over two exquisitely crafted jewelry boxes.
She handed them to Xie Ruotong and Xie Ruilin respectively.
Inside Xie Ruotong’s jewelry box was a smooth Jade Bracelet, and in Xie Ruilin’s, there lay a golden hairpin.
Xie Ruilin’s sharp eyes immediately noticed that the jade bracelet was the dowry from when her grandmother was young, given by the previous Empress Dowager. It was not only immensely valuable but also of extraordinary significance.
A surge of jealousy arose in that instant.
Indeed, grandmother favored Xie Ruotong more.
The best was always given to Xie Ruotong.
Xie Ruotong was also aware of the immense value and extraordinary significance of the jade bracelet.
Her heart was deeply touched.
In the future, the sight of this bracelet would likely evoke memories of loved ones.
"Tong’er thanks grandmother." Xie Ruotong expressed her gratitude.
"Lin’er also thanks grandmother, Lin’er really likes this golden hairpin," Xie Ruilin said insincerely.
"If you like it, that’s good. From now on, you must take good care of yourselves," Xiao Qinghui cautioned, "You two sisters should also look after each other in the future."
"Lin’er will definitely respect my sister and get along well with her," Xie Ruilin promised.
"Tong’er will also take good care of her younger sister."
"In that case, grandmother is relieved," Xiao Qinghui said emphatically, "Time is getting on; you still need to pay respects to your parents. I won’t delay your auspicious day any further."
Xie Ruotong and Xie Ruilin hurriedly knelt down to perform the kowtowing ritual.
They were then urged to leave.
As they were leaving.
Xie Ruotong ultimately couldn’t help but look back at her grandmother.
Xiao Qinghui’s eyes were somewhat red.
Naturally, Xie Ruotong also felt an overwhelming sense of reluctance.
Xie Ruotong and Xie Ruilin paid their respects to their parents in turn and then donned the red bridal veils. They sat in the bridal chamber, waiting for Song Yanqing to come and escort them to the wedding.
There was a custom for the bride’s family to prepare a morning banquet.
That is to say, when the groom’s wedding procession arrives, a festive banquet must be set up to welcome them.
After the groom arrives, he will pay respects to his in-laws and then with the bride, pay tribute to the bride’s ancestors and elders. Only then will they board the bridal sedan and depart.
Ye Qichi attended the morning banquet as a guest on behalf of the bride’s family, arriving early at the Duke Mansion.
Naturally, all the elders of the Duke Mansion came out to welcome him.
Ye Qichi handled the greetings and went straight to Xie Ruotong’s bridal chamber.
Xie Ruotong was dressed in a bright red wedding gown, adorned with the Phoenix Crown, sitting properly on the bed.
"Ruotong." Ye Qichi called her.
Upon hearing the voice, Xie Ruotong was pleasantly surprised, hastily about to lift her veil.
"That won’t do, that won’t do," Qiao’er hurriedly stepped forward, "Eldest miss, once the veil is on, only the groom can remove it. You mustn’t do it yourself."
Xie Ruotong was on the verge of tears.
Ye Qichi was also somewhat amused.
She quickly said, "Don’t take it off, there are some customs that need to be respected."
"Okay." Xie Ruotong thus did not lift her veil.
She was extremely easy-going.
"How are you feeling now? What’s on your mind?" Ye Qichi asked Xie Ruotong.
Xie Ruotong smiled faintly, "It’s alright, I suppose. In the end, I was always going to marry."
"I heard that Xie Ruilin will marry Song Yanqing along with you," Ye Qichi said bluntly.
"Yes." Xie Ruotong nodded, "I never expected it would come to this."
"Song Yanqing likes Xie Ruilin, right?" Ye Qichi spoke directly.
"Then how do you feel about it..."
"Marriage is the command of the parents and the matchmaker’s word," Xie Ruotong seemed to have little control over her own life, "Accepting my parents’ arrangement is the filial piety a child should express."
"Aren’t you afraid that after getting married, Song Yanqing will treat you coldly?"
"I’ve prepared for that as well," Xie Ruotong said.
"I don’t even know what to say to you," Ye Qichi was somewhat speechless, "You know the marriage won’t be happy, yet you still accept it."
"I cannot let down my grandmother."
"So you’re sacrificing your own lifelong happiness?"
"Not exactly," Xie Ruotong smiled, but there were things she did not voice aloud.
Ye Qichi obviously knew that Xie Ruotong liked Song Yanqing.
It’s just that affection could lead to even greater unhappiness.
"There isn’t much I can advise you on now, and I understand that people here value etiquette and reputation more than life itself. I’m just here to tell you, if you really can’t bear it anymore, come to me. I’ll take you to wander the world."
"Wander the world?" Xie Ruotong was astonished, "Didn’t the Emperor decree that you and the Prince could never separate?!"
Xie Ruotong was naturally aware of the significant events that had occurred in the court.
"Anyway, just listen to me, don’t live a life of hardship for the sake of a man," Ye Qichi advised.
"Alright," Xie Ruotong agreed readily.
Even though she never thought such a day would come.
Yet in the unpredictable nature of life, that day did come.
"I won’t bother you anymore, I’ll take a walk outside," Ye Qichi stood up, "The groom should be arriving soon."
"Princess Consort of the Prince," Xie Ruotong called out to her.
"Thank you," Xie Ruotong said sincerely.
Thank you for coming specially to accompany me at my wedding.
Since returning to the Duke Mansion, there have been many more family members around, but her bond with Ye Qichi felt entirely different.
"Don’t thank me, I’ve come to whisk you away," Ye Qichi joked.
What could be more wonderful than galloping through the realms with a like-minded best friend by one’s side?!