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Until Mu Nijing, exasperated, lashed out at the ground with her whip, laughing as she ran away, shouting, "Our Crown Prince and his Princess are a match made in heaven, a perfect couple!"

This left Rong Shu in a state of bemused laughter.

Rong Shu remained in Da Tong until July. Every day, she was occupied with selecting horse foals, arranging for fodder, and establishing rules for the ranch, so busy that Shen Yizhen shook her head in amazement.

"You and Yunzhi may be marrying for the second time, but you can't treat it lightly. No later than the end of July, we must return to the capital!"

With that decision made, as soon as July arrived, she sent word to prepare the carriage.

Mu Nijing accompanied Rong Shu back to the capital. Two years ago, when Rong Shu had married, Mu Nijing was unable to attend due to being in Da Tong. This time, she could not miss it for anything.

Shen Yizhen had originally planned to prepare a grand mansion in the capital for Rong Shu's grand wedding procession. However, Rong Shu felt that marrying from Minglu Yard would be just fine, and there was no need to waste money on an extravagant residence.

Their group arrived at Minglu Yard just before the end of July. Upon entering the yard, they were astonished by the list of dowry items sent from the palace.

These gifts were prepared by Empress Qi, known for her efficiency. She had started accumulating the dowry in the Purple Imperial Palace two months prior.

Mu Nijing, a little money-minded, couldn't help but smack her lips in awe. "How come I didn't know that the dowry for the Crown Princess is so lavish?"

She pointed at the dowry list and said, "These are the finest estates in the royal domain. Even when Concubine Shun married Prince Shun back then, she didn't get her hands on them. And these imperial fields are the most fertile, yielding countless grains and silver from tenant farmers every year. Not to mention these shops... This is the kind of treatment one would receive when marrying a princess!"

The speaker had no intention, but the listener took it to heart.

Rong Shu knew that this was specially prepared for her by Empress Qi. She didn't put on airs and insist on rejecting the dowry.

After all, these gifts were once purchased with the state treasury's silver. Since they came from the people, she would use them for the people once she became Crown Princess.

Days passed by, and before they knew it, it was the third day of August.

Chang Ji came early that morning to report to Rong Shu, "The Master has returned from Liaodong. Her Majesty the Empress says that the bride and groom cannot see each other a month before the wedding. Therefore, the Grand Historian of the Eastern Palace has stopped the Master from coming to see you."

Not only the old Grand Historian of the Eastern Palace was blocking Gu Changjin from seeing her, but Shen Yizhen would also forbid him.

This was a customary tradition in Great Yin. It was believed that meeting each other a month before the wedding would bring bad luck.

Rong Shu smiled and said, "Tell him that even if he comes, Mother won't let him see me. Tell him to rest well. There aren't many days left. I'll be waiting for him to come and fetch me at Minglu Yard."

Chang Ji immediately conveyed the message back to the Eastern Palace. Gu Changjin hadn't slept for several days.

To rush back to the capital, he barely paused for rest. Yet, upon arriving, he couldn't even catch a glimpse of her.

When he married Rong Shu last time, he had no desire to meet her beforehand, nor did he inquire about any wedding customs. Given his nature, even if he knew, he likely wouldn't have taken it to heart.

This time, however, upon hearing that an early meeting might bring bad luck, he forcefully suppressed his longing to see her and waited patiently for the 15th of August to arrive.

Not only was he waiting, but the entire capital was eagerly anticipating the event.

How could the people not be excited about the grand occasion of the Crown Prince marrying his Crown Princess, especially since it signified a reunion and reconciliation of past affections?

Rong Shu's reputation in the capital was now impeccable. Her previous benevolent actions in saving the people of Yangzhou and providing grain, followed by the Shen family's act of justice in eliminating their kin and generously contributing their wealth to aid the border, had earned her admiration.

Rong Shu knew that someone was deliberately building momentum for her, besides Gu Changjin, there were others involved.

Any influential families or high-ranking officials with connections in the palace would easily guess who was behind this campaign to boost her image.

In an effort to win favor with these esteemed individuals, they too contributed to amplifying Rong Shu's momentum.

Under such circumstances, who would dare to mention the affairs of the Rong family?

And who would dare to claim that Rong Shu is the daughter of a traitor?

Thus, even before she married into the Eastern Palace, Rong Shu's reputation had spread far and wide among the common folk.

Shen Yizhen was delighted by this turn of events. Most of her own dowry had been poured into her family's businesses, so she could no longer present an extravagant array of dowry items as she once could.

The betrothal gifts prepared in the side palace were indeed abundant, leaving her worried about not being able to give Zhaozhao a grand wedding procession with a crimson trail stretching for ten miles.

Now, with the entire capital knowing that the Shen family had "spent all their wealth" for the sake of Great Yin, who would dare mock Zhaozhao's dowry as inadequate?

As a result, Shen Yizhen could finally sleep soundly.

For the past half-month, Rong Shu had spent every day in the East Courtyard, sharing a bed with Shen Yizhen as if they had endless stories to share.

On the night of the fourteenth day of August, the two women talked until late into the night.

Rong Shu dozed off around midnight, only to be nudged awake by Shen Yizhen before dawn. "Someone from the palace has arrived."

The marriage of the crown prince represented the royal family's prestige. Two months prior to the wedding, a palace governess should have been sent to the future crown princess's side to teach her about court etiquette and rules.

The palace regulations essentially dictate that one must regard the Crown Prince as supreme, treating him with utmost respect and harmony, like a harmonious married couple. Yet, Empress Qi seemed to have entirely forgotten this, not bothering to send anyone to establish rules for Rong Shu.

But weddings, especially those involving the future heir to the throne, were inherently complex and required meticulous attention to detail.

Thus, on the day of her marriage, Empress Qi still dispatched a group to Minglu Yard.

All those who arrived were familiar faces.

Aside from Grandmother Gui, the most trusted aide by Empress Qi's side, there was Zhu Jun, the chief palace maid of the Eastern Palace, along with two ladies-in-waiting from the Bureau of Ceremonies, one of whom was Xu Li'er.

Since Xu Li'er entered the palace, Rong Shu had not seen her again. Reuniting with her today filled Rong Shu with extraordinary joy.

Xu Li'er performed a graceful bow, smiling through her tears as she greeted, "Li'er pays her respects to Miss!"

In less than two years in the palace, this young lady had undergone a remarkable transformation, no longer the vulnerable and oppressed woman she once was.