eurekapd Chapter 349 Jingrou's Wedding (1)
Chapter 349 Jingrou's Wedding (1)
As the sun began to set, a different scene unfolded in the warm pavilion of Prince Qing's mansion. Red silk wrapped around the beams, and phoenix patterns embroidered with gold thread covered half of the dowry bed. The candlelight made the jewels dazzle, but it could not dispel the melancholy between the woman's brows on the couch.
Jing Rou clutched an embroidered handkerchief in her fingers, the twin lotus flowers on it deformed from her pinching. She looked up at herself in the mirror, dressed in a crimson wedding gown, her brows and eyes filled with resentment.
"It's just a case of a concubine being murdered in the harem. Why should I be implicated? I've lost my title as a princess and can only marry as my maternal grandfather's granddaughter. If word gets out, won't I be ridiculed by the people of Qi?"
Her voice was urgent and resentful, startling the birds outside the window into flapping their wings and flying away.
Princess Qing walked in carrying a bowl of bird's nest porridge. Seeing her daughter's appearance, she sighed helplessly, placed the bowl on the dressing table, and reached out to stroke the pearl flower in her daughter's hair. "Silly child, you are going to marry Qi Zhi, the Crown Prince of Qi, and you will become the Queen of Qi. When your father accomplishes his great task, what does the status of a mere Princess of Jing mean?"
Princess Qing straightened the collar of her wedding dress for her, her tone filled with certainty, "The Qi Kingdom is powerful, and the Crown Prince of Qi is infatuated with you. Once you marry into the Qi Kingdom, you will be a noble and precious Crown Princess."
"Once you've established yourself, who will remember your grievances today? The royal status of Jing Kingdom is nothing more than icing on the cake for you."
Jing Rou's gaze fell on the dazzling red in the mirror, and the annoyance in her heart gradually faded away.
Yes, once we reach Qi, Qi Zhi will send troops to help my father. At that time, even Jing will belong to my father, and I will be a princess. There is really no need to worry about these things for now.
Thinking of this, her brows finally relaxed a little, but her hand unconsciously touched her lower abdomen, and her brows furrowed instantly again, "But this child..."
Princess Qing knew what she meant, of course. The child was Murong Peifeng's. Jing Rou was worried that Qi Zhi would find out. She grabbed Jing Rou's hand and said in a serious tone, "Don't mention this matter again. This child is Qi Zhi's, and he is the bloodline of Qi Kingdom. You must keep this to yourself."
Jing Rou knew this, but lately she had been feeling irritable and her mind was often in a state of confusion. She thought of Murong Peifeng and began to worry again, "Mother, do you think Murong Peifeng will take revenge?"
As a woman herself, Princess Qing naturally understood Jingrou's worries. She patted Jingrou's hand and said, "Don't worry, your father sent people to look for him. Although they didn't find him, he doesn't dare to show his face. Tomorrow you will be getting married at your maternal grandfather's residence. If he is really not afraid of death and dares to come, your maternal grandfather's men are not to be trifled with."
Hearing Princess Qing say this, Jing Rou nodded in relief, "Mother is right, I was just being stubborn."
Princess Qing smiled with relief when she saw that her attitude had changed. "Don't worry, just look forward to your wedding tomorrow."
The thought of Jingrou marrying far away filled Princess Qing with sadness, and her eyes welled up with tears.
The mother and daughter looked at each other, and both felt distressed.
"Mother, don't worry. Once Rou'er marries into the Qi Kingdom, I will make sure the Crown Prince of Qi sends troops to help us complete our grand plan as soon as possible, and then we can reunite. At that time, I will bring you over to live with Rou'er."
Prince Qing chuckled, then wiped away his tears with his handkerchief, smiling through his tears as he said, "Silly child, that's not true. As a mother, I naturally hope that you will marry a good husband and live a peaceful and happy life."
Dawn breaks.
Princess Yongping is now seriously ill in bed, and Jingrou has been stripped of her title. Many people dare not attend her wedding. Only Ji Kun's former subordinates, Prince Qing's men, and some minor officials' families attend.
Since retiring from the court, Ji Kun's residence has been kept in a courtyard that merely conforms to etiquette and is not particularly luxurious in order to avoid suspicion. However, because it was Jing Rou's wedding, some decorations were added, but it still could not be described as grand.
Qi Zhi also felt extremely humiliated. How could a prince of a country be so shabby? He had been tricked by Jing Rou and her father, and now he had to play the role of a happy groom.
Looking at the jubilant Prince Qing and Princess Qing sitting in front, and then at the unknown minor officials who had come to offer their congratulations, Qi Zhi felt as if he had swallowed a fly.
Jing Anle, Jing Fengyao, and Jing Fengyu naturally wouldn't come. After all, Qi Zhi had injured the empress and the imperial heir. As for the other princes who studied with him, they weren't very close to each other anyway. They were all in Jing Kingdom, so it wouldn't be appropriate for them to openly take sides. Yelü Yuanxiu had also become his enemy, so none of them came.
At first glance, it really did look like an ordinary minor official marrying off his daughter.
Contrary to Qi Zhi's dissatisfaction, Jing Rou felt both nervous and excited. Once the ceremony was complete, she would be the Crown Princess of Qi Kingdom. In her excitement, she did not notice that a pair of eyes in the crowd were staring at her.