Gu Shuang's mouth curled up slightly as she teased, "Big, very big."
Gu Ying's cheeks flushed slightly. "Then let the Prince in earlier, don't let him stand outside in the cold."
"Alright, alright. Don't worry, sister, we will never mistreat your brother-in-law." Gu Shuang covered her head with a large red veil and immediately smiled, pulling the stiff Gu Wan to the door.
She said she was going to stop the new official, but how could she really stop him?
What’s more, the one outside was currently His Majesty’s favorite, a new noble with high status and power in the court.
Gu Shuang laughed and extended her fair palm to Zhao Changdu, "Brother-in-law, if you want to see my sister, you have to show your sincerity."
Being called brother-in-law made Zhao Changdu feel happy. He lazily gave Huai An a look.
Huai An immediately presented the large red package he was holding, "Good girls, let our Prince in quickly, and don't let the bride wait anxiously."
Gu Shuang blushed. "My sister is not anxious at all."
Huai An said, "Alright, alright. It's our lord who is anxious. Our lord is anxious to marry the young lady and take her home, right?"
Gu Shuang laughed. "That's right!"
Laughter sounded around them. The few eunuchs who followed the Prince took the opportunity to tease their master.
"Then, please come in, Your Highness." Taking advantage of the steps, Gu Shuang cleverly smiled and moved her body to the side, catching a glimpse of Fu Xunzhi among the crowd of gentlemen behind her.
The sound of joy arose. Zhao Changdu lifted his robe and strode into the room. At first glance, he saw the little girl sitting in front of the bronze mirror. She was sitting there quietly, as if she had been waiting for him for many years.
Zhao Changdu's eyebrows were heavy, and there was an indescribable feeling in his heart, as if after crossing the long river of time, he finally found this person.
An imperceptible smile appeared on his face as he walked over and swept her horizontally into his arms.
Gu Ying's body floated up. Her small hands nervously hooked around his neck. "Prince, I'm very heavy now..."
The man chuckled softly. "How is this heavy? You're not heavy at all, it's very easy for me to carry you."
Gu Ying's cheeks grew hot. Her whole body, wedding dress and phoenix crown together, weighed at least ten catties.
She didn't expect him to carry her effortlessly.
Her heart suddenly beat faster for no reason. Although she had already been through a great deal, at this moment, her heart was still thumping loudly.
Zhao Changdu carried her out. As they walked through many corridors, she couldn't see anything with the large red wedding veil over her head, only hearing the noisy hubbub around her.
She leaned against his broad and mighty chest, the chaos outside, but she could clearly hear his powerful heartbeat, thump after thump, as if it was beating on the tip of her heart.
Gu Ying didn't know what happened next. She only remembered that he carried her into the large red bridal sedan, and whispered in her ear, "Be good and wait for me."
After dropping the sedan curtain, he leaped onto his spirited horse.
Having been coaxed like a child for the first time, Gu Ying was still in a daze in the bridal sedan when Yanzhi and Yin Lan returned at some point and stood on both sides of her sedan.
"Miss, it's done."
"Jiang Yin was thrown into Gu Wan's yard by Yin Zhu. I'm afraid Gu Wan hasn't found out yet. The third young lady is really something. I didn't realize she had such a vicious mind before. If it weren't for the young lady's foresight, I'm afraid she would have killed you in front of so many people today!"
"That's right." Yin Lan also said, "You can never truly know someone. I wonder if her calm and uncontending mother has any other tricks up her sleeve."
Yanzhi nodded. "So we have to be more careful. Stay close to the young lady when we get to the Duke's Residence."
Hearing no sound from the sedan, Yin Lan asked doubtfully, "Miss?"
"Mmm..." It took Gu Ying a long time to react. She was holding an exquisitely carved small hand warmer that the Prince had given her just now, and her palms were filled with warmth.
She didn't really hear what Yin Lan and Yanzhi were saying.
Her mind was completely focused on the Prince's care for her.
Thinking of her miserable past life, she laughed wryly for a moment.
Men don't really have no time or are too busy with work. They just don't care about you, don't pay attention to you, and don't love you.
"Miss, it's really lively outside. The Prince is very good to you." Yanzhi sighed as she walked, she had never seen such a spectacular wedding in a prominent family before.
The welcoming procession was long and lively. The dowry was abundant, the scene magnificent, and the momentum great. The bridesmaids distributed cakes, pastries and red envelopes to the common people along the way, turning the long street into a lively and joyous one.
The bridal sedan swayed all the way, circling the city from the street where the Marquis Residence was located to Changning Street, and finally stopped at the gate of the Duke's Residence. The Duke's Residence was filled with guests, most of the senior officials in the court came today to congratulate the Duke. Gifts flowed like water into the Duke's Residence. Whether they were high officials, princes or prominent families, who wasn't looking forward to this grand wedding?
The maids and servants craned their necks and squeezed at the gate to see the bride.
"The bride exits the sedan!" The bridesmaid shouted, and firecrackers exploded in response.
Gu Ying was still in a daze when a long arrow decorated with flowers shot at her sedan door, followed by someone lifting the sedan curtain. A tall, sturdy figure bent down and picked her up again.
"Prince..." She trembled and nervously grasped his shoulder.
"Don't be afraid."
"I'm not afraid."
Just nervous. Marrying into a prominent clan, with so many people and countless eyes watching her. Going from the Marquis Residence to another tiger's den, there would still be many days ahead where she had to tread on thin ice.
"I'm here."
The man's clear, low voice came from above her head, unusually gentle and reassuring.
Gu Ying took a deep breath. Her heart warmed. "Okay."
No matter what she encountered, she would face it with equanimity.
After entering the main gate of the residence, Gu Ying was finally set down by the Prince. She was quickly led by the bridesmaid to the bridal hall for worship.
Without Zhao Changdu by her side, Gu Ying felt uneasy for a moment, but soon calmed down.
The bridesmaid handed her a section of the large red silk ribbon. The originally lively bridal hall suddenly quieted down for a short while, followed by the sound of rustling and discussions.
"Huh? The Prince left suddenly just before worshipping heaven and earth. Isn't that maid who came to summon him look a bit familiar? Wasn't she with Miss Huo before?"
Someone else said, "On her wedding day years ago, Miss Huo abandoned the Prince. Could it be that Miss Huo can't let go of the Prince now, and wants to take him away on his wedding day? This would be big news!"
"Impossible, right? She's been married for ten years, old and faded. How could she still be longing for the elegant Prince?"
"Who said Miss Huo is old and faded? I was fortunate enough to see her from afar at the winter hunt some time ago. Although she's thinner now and lost some of a maiden's lushness, she is still as beautiful as before, just as she was. Now there's a touch of the sickly beauty of a Western woman, even more pitiful and charming." Unabashed, someone raised their voice and sneered, "If you ask me, it's not that Miss Huo can't let go of the Prince, but that the Prince still hasn't let go of Miss Huo."
