Shen Yunya didn’t even bother to look at her as she continued patting the ointment gently on her face. “Mother, if she marries my brother, I won’t be able to marry hers. Isn’t it better for me to become a royal daughter-in-law instead?”
“You have a point. But my heart hurts looking at your face. You’re about to get married. If not for this ointment, it’ll be hard to apply makeup on your wedding day. Princess Zhaoyang was so vicious.” Yuan Fangfei’s heart ached at the sight of that tender and delicate face. “What are we going to do if your looks are ruined and the Crown Prince takes issue with it on your wedding night?”
At the mention of her wedding night, Shen Yunya’s blushed in embarrassment and shyly turned away. “Mother,” she admonished.
When Yuan Fangfei witnessed her reaction, she chuckled. Her little girl was all grown up now. “Alright. Try to stay home a little more these days. You don’t want to end up as the talk of the town. After all, the Empress really doesn’t like you. It’ll be horrible if she takes this opportunity to get the Crown Prince to marry some more secondary consorts.”
Shen Yunya looked at the phoenix coronet hanging on the rack behind the bronze mirror and started to imagine wearing it and having Brother Jin remove her veil. She giggled happily to herself. Considering she was about to be married soon, she decided to put the incident out of her mind for the time being.
Once she was married and her position in the East Palace was firm, as long as Xi Lin didn’t cross her again, she would forgive her for this slap on account of Brother Jin. However, if Xi Ling ever offended her again, she would make certain that she was forced to marry someone in a far-off land.
Having Princess Zhaoyang marry someone in a far-off land as the sole punishment was already considered merciful.
*
April 12th was the wedding of Prince Jin of the Dongshu Nation and Shen Yunya, the second daughter of the Shen family. Emissaries from various countries arrived to convey their best wishes. The Emperor of Xi Yuan Nation even came personally to congratulate him. The heads of the three major alliances were invited, as was the headmaster of the Shang Institution. It could be said that this was the grandest wedding to be held in the entire century.
Describing the bride’s clothing as grandiose was not an exaggeration at all, and all the women in Lin’an City couldn’t help but be envious.
Shen Yunya was wearing her phoenix coronet with a veil across her face as the wedding attendants led her out of the door. Then, her brother carried her onto the fancy sixteen-carrier palanquin. As she met the bridal party, festive cheers rang out, and the procession made its way to the East Palace.
Seated inside the palanquin, Shen Yunya couldn’t resist removing her veil and pulling the curtains back. Quietly, she looked at Xi Jin, dressed in resplendent red robes while seated atop the huge stallion, and she blushed in embarrassment as she quickly lowered the curtains again.
Three years had passed, and she was finally about to marry Brother Jin.
It had been three years!
Today was the memorial for Shen Qingdai death. Could she see her marrying Brother Jin? Was she rolling in her grave because her most beloved Brother Jin was about to become Shen Yunya’s husband?
Shen Qingdai’s last words had been to curse Shen Yunya with a horrible death. What a joke! In this life, Shen Qingdai would never get the chance to decide what her fate would be. As for the next life… well, she wasn’t going to have a next life. Her soul had already shattered.
At the very thought of the anniversary of Shen Qingdai’s death being the day of her wedding to Brother Jin, Shen Yunya became especially excited and elated.
Xi Jin was riding on horseback, looking at the cheering onlookers. All their faces were beaming, and they looked even happier than he – the actual groom. To him, the sound of the festive music and firecrackers were too noisy for his ears. All he wanted was some quiet — the sort of quiet he used to experience when riding in the past. Dai’er would be riding on a galloping horse in front of him and smiling at him as she waved. “Brother Jin!” she used to say, “You’re too slow! Come and catch me! If you catch me, I’ll let you have my whip! If you can’t, you’ll have to walk to my favorite stall to buy me some candied chestnuts.”
The smiling red figure slowly faded from his eyes and was replaced by the merry citizens. He retracted his gaze as a single tear escaped his eye and dripped on the horse’s back before disappearing without a trace. He retrieved a small object from his chest pocket and popped it into his mouth. “Dai’er, wait for me,” he said.