Chapter 7

Chapter 7

◎Li Cheng◎ (Prince of Huaiyin)

After passing through Qingzhou, it took only a few days to arrive at Xuzhou. Xuzhou has long been a strategic location for military contention. Originally, Lü Wei had briefly taken control of it. In his younger years, Lü Wei was fond of the lifestyle of a wandering hero. He often performed righteous deeds in places like Liangzhou and Suzhou, earning the admiration of the locals. Later, he achieved numerous military successes but was temporarily dismissed from his post. Fortunately, he received a recommendation from General Cui Xun of Boling, and with the opportunity, he quickly seized control of the court when the late emperor passed away and the current emperor fell ill.

As Lü Wei entered the capital, he dispatched Wang Song to take control of Xuzhou. Wang Song was even more ruthless than the prefect of Qingzhou. He treated the military and civilians of Xuzhou like servants, built new terraces extensively, and abducted women, inciting public outrage.

Seizing the opportunity, the Prince of Wu sent the Prince of Huaiyin, Li Cheng, to capture Xuzhou. Though young, Li Cheng had grown up in the military and was skilled in warfare, often achieving victory through unconventional strategies. After driving Wang Song's army away, he garrisoned the area.

He was twenty years old and had been stationed here for less than a year but already commanded great respect and authority.

After setting up camp in Xuzhou, Li Cheng did not stay in Wang Song's mansion, finding it too luxurious and distracting. Instead, he chose the residence of the former Prince of Donghai County. The Prince of Donghai had been a brother of the late emperor, and his state was dissolved after his death due to the lack of an heir.

Huiyin was helped down from the horse by Nanny Nan and the servants, and she had to cover her head with a veil, preventing her from enjoying the scenery along the way. Everything here was unfamiliar to her, and Nanny Nan was not much more familiar with the place either. Although the mansion had assigned two elderly women to take care of them, they were not particularly close. One was Granny Chao, Li Cheng's wet nurse, and the other was Nanny Fan, who served the Empress Dowager Wu, the grandmother of Li Cheng.

Both women said, "The young prince had been waiting here for the arrival of the princess for some time. However, an urgent matter arose in Xiapi, and the young prince led his troops there. He sent a message yesterday saying that it might be some time before he returns to finalize the wedding. In the meantime, please make yourself at home in the mansion, Your Highness."

Nanny Nan looked troubled, but since they were already on the prince's territory, everything had to follow the husband's arrangements.

Huiyin then settled in the mansion. The former Prince of Donghai had been fond of gardening, so the mansion was adorned with various flowers and plants in full bloom.

She particularly loved the view outside the northern window. Not far away stood a large pear tree with pure white flowers that brought a sense of coolness in the hot summer. Next to the pear tree were a few green banana plants. To avoid monotony, vibrant crape myrtle flowers were planted under the window, dotted with elegant jade hairpins.

These so-called neglects didn't matter much to her. Granny Chao and Nanny Fan were not particularly warm towards her, but they didn't show any deliberate hostility or bullying either. The daily provisions were ample, and her servants were well-arranged.

Nanny Nan, however, was quite anxious: "Miss, is the groom still fighting in Xiapi? What if he doesn't come back? How can it be that a couple gets married but delays it? If things don't go smoothly from the start, the future may not go smoothly either."

"Mother, it's better not to rely too much on others. When my mother married Pei Shuo, they were deeply in love. She even rode to save someone while pregnant for him. But what happened later? How did Pei Shuo treat my mother? It ended in such a disaster. Too much love can lead to possessiveness, and that's when things go wrong." Huiyin, having experienced a past life, initially didn't know Li Heng's intentions and truly believed he had fallen for her at first sight. Later, she realized that all that sweetness was laced with poison, which led her to decisively plan her own course of action.

Nanny Nan sighed: "Miss, you're still so young, but your thoughts are more insightful than many adults. However, you're just starting now; there might still be hope, right? Not every couple is the same, and not every man is like General Pei."

Huiyin smiled and shook her head, then reminded, "In the future, you need to pay attention to the titles. In the land of Wei, the Prince of Wu is called Great King, and the Prince of Huaiyin is called Young Prince. You should no longer call me Miss or Young Lady; just call me Princess or Your Highness."

Titles are significant. Although she had not yet held the grand wedding or the ceremonial rite, they were already husband and wife in name.

She didn't talk much with the people from the Prince of Huaiyin's mansion. Sometimes, maintaining a bit of mystery makes others wary of you. Once you start asking questions, you might reveal your impatience.

No one is born knowing these things; only those who have made mistakes understand the need for change.

Before she knew it, ten days had passed. The servants who had come with her from the Zheng family were getting restless, but Huiyin remained calm and composed, reading a book while leaning on a couch. Today, it was Granny Chao who brought the meal, which was quite unusual.

Huiyin rose to greet her: "Why are you the one bringing the meal today? My maids could have fetched it."

Granny Chao, who had been Li Cheng's wet nurse since his childhood, smiled and said, "It's my duty to serve the master. I'm here today to inform you that our young prince has sent a message saying he will return in three days to complete the wedding."

"So the young prince is returning." Huiyin smiled but added, "Granny Chao, you are the young prince's wet nurse. If he has any taboos, you must tell me so I don't accidentally offend him."

Granny Chao, with her kind and gentle demeanor, spoke in the soft tones of a southern woman, but her words carried a hidden sharpness: "Princess, there's no need to worry. Our prince is a man of great tolerance and integrity, and he keeps his promises. Rest assured, I sincerely hope for a harmonious marriage between the young prince and you."

Huiyin didn't ask further, just said, "Then I thank you for your kind words."

Granny Chao had expected Huiyin to ask more questions. After all, the young prince was quite the sensation among the girls and women in Wei. Some women would even go so far as to eat beans and fart just to get him to glance their way. But this princess of the Zheng family didn't seem as interested in the young prince as expected. Granny Chao thought perhaps it was because Huiyin hadn't met the young prince yet.

Once she meets him, she will surely be captivated.

Lunch was a local Xuzhou dish, and the Pengcheng fish ball soup was especially delicious. Huiyin, being a northerner, generally disliked river fish, finding them too fishy. Even with a dish like squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, she preferred it not too tender, fearing the fishy taste might remain.

The fish balls were very refreshing to eat, made from silver pearl fish, with no fishy taste at all.

She had an extra bowl, while Mama Chao was having her meal at the small table, secretly observing the etiquette of the young princess consort. Seeing that she ate without any pretension, enjoying her food with good posture, Mama Chao couldn't help but nod in approval.

After Mama Chao brought this news, Nanny Nan and the others visibly relaxed.

Though it was said he would return in three days, Huiyin didn't actually expect Li Cheng to come back so punctually. However, Mama Chao and Nanny Fan began their preparations. They replaced the bed curtains with a new four-joy embroidered canopy featuring a qilin sending a child motif, adorned with pearls at the corners and long tassels. On the table, several ruyi scepters were placed, and next to it stood a peony-painted dressing table inlaid with gold. The armchairs and daybed were covered again with dragon-phoenix auspicious cloth.

A pair of copper crane lampstands held two dragon-phoenix wedding candles as thick as a baby's arm. Even the wedding cakes had been bought.

"The young prince has returned, the young prince has returned..."

Huiyin was sitting nearby reading a book when she heard the servants in the mansion spreading the news. Before long, Mama Chao came in and said, "Young princess consort, please freshen up and dress. This evening at dusk, the young prince will perform the wedding rites with you."

Nanny Nan had Le Yun and Fugui come over to help her with the hair and makeup. Perhaps because the wedding day had been delayed for too long, the Zheng family was determined to make sure Li Cheng saw their young lady, the most beautiful woman in Jizhou, in all her glory.

Her jet-black hair was neatly coiled up, with a pearl-inlaid golden mandarin duck hairpin with interwoven patterns in the center of the bun. On both sides were adorned with gold filigree gemstone hairpins, from which hung coral and jade tassels. Standing up, with the help of the servants, she changed into a double-layered crimson silk wide-sleeved jacket, the edges embroidered with gemstone pomegranates. Over it, she wore a hundred-birds-to-phoenix cape, paired with a twelve-panel hundred sons and hundred blessings skirt. The train of the skirt trailed five feet behind, embroidered with various colored beads, and her waist was adorned with a jade pendant that jingled softly as she walked.

...

On the hot summer day, Li Cheng returned and, after a brief moment, handed over his duties to his subordinates. Only then did he remove his armor.

Ever since the campaign began, Li Cheng had always led from the front, charging ahead in battle. This time, he had taken an arrow to his right shoulder. Fortunately, the wound wasn't deep, but because he had galloped back, sweat had soaked the wound, causing some rot. Gritting his teeth, he had the military doctor come and change his bandages again.

The military doctor, who had once been an imperial physician in the mansion, advised, "Young prince, the wound must not come into contact with water. And please, don't wear such heavy armor anymore. Now that you've returned victorious, it's a good time to rest and recover."

Li Cheng pondered for a moment. "I will remember what you said, Doctor."

Seeing the red decorations around, the military doctor lowered his voice further, "Young prince, it's best to abstain from alcohol, and also... from marital relations. Wait until the wound has healed before..."

Li Cheng was taken aback.

After the military doctor left, Mama Chao entered.

Clearly having overheard the doctor's advice, she quickly said, "Young prince, should I speak to Princess Zheng? I'm sure she'll understand. Your health should be the priority. After all, this marriage was arranged by the Prince of Wei, and you didn't wish to marry her."

In Mama Chao's eyes, after observing Princess Zheng these past few days, she seemed quiet and unintrusive. But still, Princess Zheng couldn't compare to the young prince she had nursed.

Unexpectedly, Li Cheng said, "Mother, marriage is no trivial matter. In the future, I may have many women, but she will only have me as her husband. The wedding has already been delayed for several days. If we don't consummate the marriage now, how will others view her?"

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Chao (second tone)