PFC Chapter 221 Universal Celebration (Part 2)
Chapter 221 Universal Celebration (Part 2)
"Doesn't His Highness the Crown Prince need to entertain the guests?"
“Yes, let’s take a look at A-Yuan first.” The Crown Prince helped her sit up, first removing the bridal veil, then the hairpins from her hair. He was very skilled, as if he had practiced many times. Lu Zhiyuan grabbed his hand, looking at him suspiciously: “Does Your Highness often help people remove hairpins? Also, it’s our wedding day, why don’t you even look at me? Is my makeup not pretty enough today? I think it’s fine, I’m stunningly beautiful.”
The Crown Prince smiled and placed the phoenix hairpin he had just removed aside: "Let me answer A-Yuan's first question first. Apart from A-Yuan, I have only helped the Empress Dowager and Grandmother remove their gold hairpins. As for the second question, it's not that I don't care about A-Yuan, nor that A-Yuan's makeup isn't good enough, but rather that I feel sorry for A-Yuan and am afraid that she will get tired. The process of the Crown Prince marrying a concubine is extremely complicated. Not to mention A-Yuan, even I find it a bit too much to handle."
“His Highness the Crown Prince is really weak.” Lu Zhiyuan blinked.
Without the messy hair on her head and that seemingly beautiful but actually suffocating dress, Lu Zhiyuan felt completely relaxed. She rubbed her shoulders, twisted her waist, and stretched her arms, just about to start a conversation when she noticed the Crown Prince staring at her abdomen. As soon as she looked down, she heard a series of gurgling sounds.
"Are you hungry? Should we have Qingzhi and the others bring some food in?"
"I don't want to eat anything cold."
"Don't worry, it's all hot." The Crown Prince walked to the door and gave Qingzhi a few instructions. Qingzhi looked at Liuying, who curtsied to the Crown Prince and then pulled her to the small kitchen to get some food.
Besides Qingzhi and Liuying, two guardian figures stood at the entrance. One was Lu Yun, and the other was Han Ting. Lu Yun was acquainted with the Crown Prince and was used to his behavior. Han Ting, entering the palace for the first time, had been staring intently at the Crown Prince from the moment he appeared. The Crown Prince smiled slightly and extended his hand: "Han Ting, an assistant to the Qinghe Gang, and also the extremely handsome man A Yuan described. I know you. Don't worry, I won't bully A Yuan."
"Your Highness, would you dare to try bullying one?"
Han Ting had no regard for the Crown Prince, which didn't surprise the Crown Prince. He patted Han Ting's shoulder and said, "Too many people are protecting A Yuan. I dare not, nor can I bear to. I have ordered a banquet to be held at Ronghua Palace. You and Lu Yun can attend together. There are no outsiders. They are all old servants who have been with A Yuan in Ronghua Palace for seven years, many of whom come from the Xie family. Outside the palace, the Xie family, the Prime Minister's residence, the General's residence, and the Marquis's residence are all A Yuan's maternal homes. Inside the palace, Ronghua Palace is her maternal home."
Before she finished speaking, Qingzhi and Liuying returned with the food.
Unaware that Lu Zhiyuan and the Crown Prince were not a real couple, and fearing that the two, especially Han Ting who had just returned, might cause trouble, they put down the food and each dragged one of them to Ronghua Palace. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess were having their wedding night, and the Eastern Palace was filled with the Crown Prince's confidants, so there was no need to worry about any unexpected events. The Eastern Palace was for the imperial relatives, while Ronghua Palace was their own private space, where they could eat and drink more freely.
After Qingzhi and the other three had gone far away, the Crown Prince returned to his room. Lu Zhiyuan had already started eating, her cheeks bulging, as if she had stuffed something in them. The Crown Prince sat down, took out a handkerchief, and wiped the corners of her mouth.
"The night is long, and no one's going to take it from you. What else would you like to eat? Let the kitchen make it for you."
"Your Highness is not going to the social engagement?"
"It's alright. Someone will help me with the socializing. If I go, they'll feel uncomfortable."
“That’s true, nobody wants to eat with their young master.” Lu Zhiyuan took a sip of fruit wine, her cheeks flushed. “I’m sleepy, I want to sleep. Your Highness, please make yourself at home.”
"You're not calling me Crown Prince anymore?" the Crown Prince teased her. "There's hot water in the side hall, would you like to take a bath?"
Lu Zhiyuan shook her head: "I'm sleepy, I'll shower tomorrow!"
The prince's lips twitched involuntarily, but he patiently said, "Washing your feet will help you sleep better at night. Don't let them serve you; I'll wash them for you."
Lu Zhiyuan shook her head with drooping eyelids: "You are the Crown Prince, how can you wash my feet? I wash them myself, I'm not used to being served."
The Crown Prince tapped the tip of her nose: "I am the Crown Prince, and you are the Crown Princess. It is only natural for the Crown Prince to wash the Crown Princess's feet."
By the time the palace maid brought the hot water, Lu Zhiyuan was already snoring softly. She had gotten up before dawn to dress, and what others saw as her opulent and elegant appearance was the incredibly heavy headdress, the terribly heavy gold hairpins and ornaments, the pendants around her neck and wrists, and the elaborately crafted wedding dress—it was more grueling than any assassin training camp.
Bearing heavy loads while marching, one must maintain decorum; this grand wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event.
He ordered the food to be removed and the candles to be dimmed, then sat quietly by the bedside watching Lu Zhiyuan. Once she was fast asleep, he tiptoed out of his coat, pulled over another quilt, and lay down beside her.
For others, their wedding night is a precious moment, but he can only watch his Crown Princess with longing eyes… In a few more days, he might not even be able to see her anymore. Thinking of this, he felt a pang of disappointment and turned away to look at her quietly.
Her makeup today was rather glamorous, making her resemble a winter plum blossom, dazzlingly beautiful. He reached out and meticulously traced her eyebrows, eyes, nose, and lips. His gaze fell on her lips, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily. He cautiously approached, then abruptly pulled back just before touching her, closing his eyes and quickly turning away.
How could he take liberties with her while she was asleep?
The red candle burned slowly, and Lu Zhiyuan had a dream—a dream of a vast, colorful garden. The Crown Prince kept his eyes open until dawn, because closing them would make him think about things he shouldn't.
The Eastern Palace, Laiyi Pavilion.
The Eastern Palace had no concubines, maids, or chambermaids; only a group of palace staff led by the steward. According to palace rules, they were required to pay their respects to the Crown Princess!
After waiting for almost half an hour, the Crown Princess still hadn't arrived. Someone couldn't help but ask the steward, "Your Highness, is she still not awake?"
The butler glanced at the sky and gently shook his head.
"Please wait a moment, everyone, while I go and ask Qingzhi and Miss Liuying."
Upon arriving outside the bedchamber, the steward saw Miss Liuying carrying water into the room. He bowed and said, "Has Your Highness awakened? Everyone in the palace is waiting for Your Highness to give you instructions."
Liu Ying returned the greeting: "Thank you for making this trip, Steward. Her Majesty has already woken up and is washing up. Her Majesty said that everyone except Steward and the stewards of various departments may go back. Her Majesty wants to check the account books, so please have the stewards of various departments bring them to her. Also, it is not that Her Majesty is lazy, but rather that His Highness is concerned about Her Majesty's health and has granted her permission to get up an hour later."
As they were talking, Qingzhi had already gone back into the house and brought out the seal and the storeroom key.
“It’s not that my lady wants to take charge, but she saw these things as soon as she opened her eyes. His Highness trusts her and wants to entrust her with the management of the Eastern Palace. She will do her best. There are many people and many things to do, so Qingzhi will go with the steward.”
The steward knew Lu Zhiyuan's capabilities. All the unusual and unusual shops in the capital were owned by the Empress, earning at least a hundred taels of gold a day, if not a thousand. Although the Empress had entered the palace, the Pingnan Marquis's residence and the General's residence were both supported by her. Others might not know, but he and His Highness were perfectly aware of it; they recognized every single pigeon that flew out of Ronghua Palace.
With Her Majesty's abilities, managing not only the Eastern Palace but also the entire harem would be more than enough. He had watched His Highness grow up, and seeing that there was someone in charge of the Eastern Palace naturally brought him joy and relief.