Chapter 5

Chapter 5

◎Wedding Reception◎

The Winter Solstice was one of the most important days in the Da Ye Dynasty apart from the Lunar New Year. It was the only time when all family members gathered. Huiyin and her younger brother accompanied their parents to pay respects to Madame Xu, their grandmother.

Despite disliking Ji Shi, Madame Xu doted on the family’s only male heir, Zheng Wuheng. Before he finished his bow, she called out, "Heng-ge, come to Grandma quickly."

However, Zheng Wuheng replied, "Grandmother, I’ll just sit here; I won’t take your spot."

He wasn’t foolish; he knew the old lady’s affection for him was because she saw him as the future heir to his father’s title and military power. A few days ago, she had urged him to get closer to his elder sister, saying they were all one family. But who was family? His second sister was his true sibling. Usually, they had bullied his mother and sister, and now they remembered they were family?

Huiyin looked around and then stood up to present a headband she had embroidered to Madame Xu, saying, "Grandmother, this is a headband I embroidered for you. My skills are not excellent, so please forgive any shortcomings."

In her past life, she truly believed that her mother had usurped Madame Xu’s rightful place, so she had been more tolerant of her elder sister. Although her embroidery skills were not inferior, she never showed them off publicly. Even after becoming empress dowager, she had invited her elder sister to the capital, fearing her sister would be bullied in the fief.

Now that she knew the truth, she realized that Madame Xu had created her own web, and Zheng Deyin had taken someone else’s life. She would no longer be the younger sister who yielded in everything.

Everyone could see that the headband was unique. One part featured a phoenix among peonies on a brow band, and the other part was a dark blue satin base embroidered with cranes and auspicious clouds. The craftsmanship was intricate, and the symbolism was auspicious.

Those with discerning eyes could see it was excellent, but Madame Xu, being biased, thought Huiyin was trying to curry favor with her to pave the way for herself in the Prince of Wei’s court.

Indeed, Ji Shi was only the daughter of a commandant from Pingyang County. Their Xu family of Donghai had served as high officials for generations, assisting the Prince of Wei, who governed as the emperor’s younger brother. They were the legitimate authority. With her limited skills, Huiyin could, at most, deceive her son, who was soft-hearted, but not real aristocratic sons.

However, in front of her son, Madame Xu couldn’t say much and only lightly remarked, "There’s no need to go through all this trouble for these things."

Huiyin wasn’t upset and only smiled, "It’s not troublesome to show heartfelt respect to elders. I learned this from my elder sister. My elder sister made kneepads to show filial piety to our father, so I thought I’d do some needlework to show respect to our elders."

Yes, you didn’t stop Zheng Deyin from showing filial piety.

When Zheng Deyin heard Huiyin mention her, she recalled her visit to her birth mother, Madame Xu, a few days ago. Madame Xu had been depressed for years. Initially, she was happy to hear that she had become a Liangdi (a concubine of the Crown Prince). As a Liangdi, she would become an imperial consort or imperial noble consort when the Crown Prince ascended the throne. However, upon hearing that Huiyin had married the Prince of Huaiyin, with her uncle acting as the matchmaker, she felt it was a bargain for Ji Shi and her daughter.

"Back then, Ji Shi behaved humbly in front of me, considering herself a concubine, but secretly conceived a child with your father, leaving me, the legitimate wife, with no peace. Now her daughter is to become the legitimate princess, and you are to be beneath the Crown Princess..." This was what Madame Xu cared about the most.

De Yin could only say, "The Prince of Huaiyin is just a prince, how can he be compared to the Crown Prince? Moreover, there are many complexities in the Huaiyin Mansion. I heard that the Prince of Huaiyin has someone he admires and that she will have a hard time."

Only then did Madame Xu say, "I am trapped, and seeing the children of my enemies rise in status fills me with anger. What you say eases my frustration a little."

In De Yin’s view, there was no great enmity between her and Huiyin. Ji Shi had not mistreated her; at most, she had favored her own children, which was understandable. In the future, she would marry into the Eastern Palace and, in a few years, become Empress Dowager. It would be easy to bring her mother out then.

Ji Shi could have her moment; there was no need to argue.

Secrets lead to success, while leaks lead to failure; those who achieve great things keep their mouths shut!

Bringing her thoughts back, seeing Huiyin say this, she smiled and said, "Your skills are really good, but I haven’t seen you embroider much before. In the future, we sisters can do needlework together."

What she actually meant was that Huiyin had never shown this kind of filial piety to the old lady before and was only doing so now to compete. Huiyin understood this and smiled, "Elder sister is right. If you like, come to my room. It’s been a while since you’ve visited."

De Yin thought that Huiyin was being sarcastic, pretending to be close but not actually being intimate. She looked up at her grandmother for help, knowing that many times, she didn’t need to fight because her grandmother always sided with her.

Sure enough, Madame Xu said, "Second girl, you are the younger one. You should often visit your elder sister. How can you let your elder sister visit you?"

Huiyin immediately respectfully said, "Grandmother is right. I will remember that."

Only then was Madame Xu satisfied. Ji Shi saw her daughter giving gifts to this old woman, who was scolding her daughter, and she deeply resented it. Not to mention Zheng Wuheng.

Ji Shi just didn’t understand why her daughter was offering warm faces to cold backs.

The question was that Huiyin was proving that she would no longer yield to De Yin. In the future, if she married the Prince of Huaiyin, she would never let her brothers help this person.

When Madame Ji asked this question, Huiyin smiled and said, "Mother, I've noticed recently that Grandmother has been drawing Brother and Elder Sister closer, revealing her plans today. She wants Brother to serve Elder Sister loyally, and at heart, she still looks down on us. I believe the Empress deliberately married into the Zheng and Lu families, intending to provoke conflict between the two sides. Father is weak-willed, but he still listens to you. Don't let him charge into battle. If she really ascends to the imperial throne and brings her mother out, what will happen to Brother and you?"

It's not that Huiyin is narrow-minded; she can only focus on her own family right now.

Just yesterday, Madame Ji received a pair of pouches from Deyin, who thanked her for preparing the dowry. Madame Ji is easily moved by kindness, and Huiyin wanted to reveal the truth to her today.

"I heard that she visited Madame Xu a few days ago. You know best what kind of person Madame Xu is and whether she respects you."

Madame Ji then understood her daughter’s well-meaning intentions and deeply agreed.

After the Winter Solstice, the family was almost entirely occupied with preparing the dowry—horses, carriages, servants, and trousseaus, all had to be arranged. The Great Yi Dynasty has always placed great importance on wedding dowries, with grandeur and splendor.

As a noble family, the Zhengs were no exception.

By the time the New Year arrived, Madame Ji had been the busiest in the household. Huiyin was frequently being measured for clothes, as her spring dresses, winter coats, fur garments, and skirts were being made at different tailor shops.

She also had to embroider some pieces, such as fan cases and pouches. Naturally, Deyin had to do the same. The elders knew that whether marrying into the royal family or an ordinary household, while etiquette was important, gifts for the elders were also necessary.

At this moment, Princess Xinning invited the Zheng sisters to a poetry gathering in the capital. Despite ongoing wars elsewhere, the nobility continued to live luxuriously.

In her previous life, Huiyin didn't get along with this princess. Li Heng’s strategy of feigning indifference to show affection, favoring her while being cold to his true love, Lu Xiao, made the warm-hearted princess dislike her.

Obviously, Princess Xinning truly wanted to invite Zheng Deyin this time. Princess Xinning had always been close to Li Heng, and since Zheng Deyin was about to enter the Eastern Palace, she wanted to meet her future sister-in-law as a favor to Li Heng.

The two sisters traveled to the capital together. The splendor of the princess's mansion was beyond description. Huiyin even saw Lu Xiao there. They had been companions in misfortune when they fell into the water together.

This naive girl quietly said to Huiyin, "Though it's not appropriate to say, I saw the Prince carrying you away. Are you upset?"

Huiyin pretended not to understand, "Upset? Upset about what?" She hadn't fallen for him at this point in her previous life, and in this life, she found it even more disgusting.

Seeing that Huiyin didn't seem to mind, Lu Xiao awkwardly changed the subject, "I heard you're betrothed to the Prince of Huaiyin. Is that true?"

Huiyin nodded, "Yes, my elder sister will be married next month, and I will be married in May, going to Jianye. I haven't had the chance to pay my respects to you as the Crown Princess yet."

Even in her previous life, Huiyin didn't dislike Lu Xiao. She truly lived up to her name, always smiling. It was surprising that someone as ruthless as Lu Wei had such an innocent and naive daughter.

Lu Xiao was very candid, "What Crown Princess? It's just a political marriage. Li Heng seems to dislike me a lot. I married him for my father's sake."

Lu Wei loved power, but he wanted even more to control the emperor under the guise of legitimacy.

In this setting, Deyin was more adept than Lu Xiao. Although Lu Xiao was Lu Wei's daughter, she wasn't skilled in court etiquette or socializing. Huiyin, aware she wasn’t the main focus, quietly ate in a corner.

Deyin glanced at Huiyin, who was sitting in a corner eating, while she was being honored by everyone. Originally, Lu Xiao should have been the center of attention, but she was so clumsy and unreliable that it was no wonder the Crown Prince didn't like her in the previous life. Deyin didn't want to overshadow the Crown Princess but felt some sympathy for Lu Xiao, though she couldn't stop others from engaging with her more.

Several of her former close friends also came to talk to her, women of similar age, most of whom were betrothed. Some were married off to Yuzhou, and others to their fathers' subordinates. Each had their own troubles.

She hesitated about whether to tell her sister the truth that the Prince of Huaiyin had someone he loved, but decided against it. Perhaps, by not telling her, she could stay happy for a few more days.

In early March, Deyin was about to be married and enter the Eastern Palace as a new Liangdi.

In May, the Prince of Huaiyin sent Guo Qishan, the Chief Secretary, and Yuwendang, the Commandant, as marriage envoys to present betrothal gifts. There were a hundred carriages, twenty horses, a dowry of a thousand jin of gold, and various precious items and fabrics.

The Zheng family didn't fall behind. After the death of Madame Ji's husband, Pei Ye, she inherited most of the Pei family's wealth. Some was used for Pei Shuo's marriage and estate, and some for purchasing land. Much of it went to Huiyin. Additionally, Zheng Fang was a feudal lord, so the dowry was abundant and extravagant.

Huiyin covered her head with the veil and boarded the bridal sedan, heading towards a path she had never experienced in her previous life.