The Reborn Princess Has Turned Evil

Chapter 341 Wedding Night

Meanwhile, in the Empress Dowager's palace...

The Empress Dowager's forehead was contorted with rage, veins bulging, and her thin, red nail polish, painted with henna, looked particularly menacing.

"Who are you looking for!"

Su Rong's expression was also unpleasant. This was something she had asked her own younger brother to do, and she had trusted him too much. She never expected that he would do such a bad job and actually find a palace maid from the Cold Palace.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me!" Su Rong knelt on the ground with a thud and begged for mercy.

If Su Rong hadn't served the Empress Dowager for so many years, given the Empress Dowager's personality, Su Rong would probably have suffered quite a bit today.

"Get up." The Empress Dowager propped her head up with her hand, leaning against the soft couch, her expression irritable.

Knowing he was in the wrong, Su Rong quickly got up to serve tea to the Empress Dowager, and said humbly and ingratiatingly, "It was all my negligence, but fortunately Your Majesty did not punish me too much."

"However, if we want to sow discord between the Prime Minister's residence and the First Prince, there is still a long way to go. We can think of other ways."

"There's plenty of time in the future?" The Empress Dowager's squinted eyes suddenly snapped open, and the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes were even more pronounced due to the thick makeup.

"How much longer do you think you can drag this out?" The Empress Dowager's tone grew increasingly sharp.

"Once Rou'er's marriage is settled and she returns to Qi, we should prepare for the event. Although Prime Minister Chu is a civil official, he has many admirers. As long as we sever their ties, the number of people supporting the Crown Prince will naturally decrease."

Prince Qing also told her that he wanted to bring the plan forward, which he estimated would be within the next year or two.

"It was my oversight," Su Rong said, taking a half-step back. "If it really doesn't work out, perhaps..."

Having been master and servant for a lifetime, how could the Empress Dowager not know Su Rong's meaning? This was simply discarding the donkey after it had served its purpose.

Su Rong noticed the Empress Dowager's doubts and leaned closer, whispering, "Although she is the Crown Princess, who can say for sure what will happen with natural disasters and man-made calamities?"

The master and servant exchanged a glance, but before they could speak, the Empress Dowager had already made up her mind.

The sun was setting over the First Prince's residence.

Chu Mingyue sat upright on the edge of the bed, but a lingering sense of unease remained between her brows and eyes beneath the bridal veil.

She knew Jing Fengyao would come—just now a palace maid reported that His Highness had sent someone to inform Qin Zhihua that she would be resting at Qionghua Courtyard tonight.

She was not unaware that his actions were intended to soothe the grievances she had suffered that day; they were a matter of imperial discretion and respect, not a display of romantic affection.

Chu Mingyue was always noble and would naturally disdain the pity of others, but when the palace door was gently pushed open and that figure stood against the light, her heart still skipped a beat.

This is someone she likes; she simply can't say no.

Jing Fengyao smelled faintly of alcohol, suggesting he had come directly after entertaining the guests. He had changed into another wedding outfit, his dark hair loosely tied back with a jade hairpin, and although there was a hint of fatigue in his eyes, his handsome features were still undeniable.

After all the procedures were completed, the two sat facing each other. His gaze fell on her slightly tense face, and he said in a gentle tone, "I'm sorry you had to go through this today."

Chu Mingyue lowered her head slightly, somewhat shyly, and said softly, "Your Highness is too kind. It is Mingyue's blessing to have Your Highness's protection."

Today, Jing Fengyao's generous protection of her made Chu Mingyue even more fond of him.

Although she knew that his gentleness was compensation for the "victim" and an attempt to appease the Prime Minister's Mansion, it had nothing to do with "liking" him. She also knew that her marriage to Jing Fengyao was a move by His Majesty to win over the Prime Minister's Mansion.

The room fell silent for a moment, with only the crackling of the candlelight. Jing Fengyao's gaze swept over her slender figure, a complex feeling passing through his heart.

He had never hidden his feelings for Qin Zhihua, but today Chu Mingyue was unjustly slandered. If he went to Zhihua's room now, it would seem too cold-hearted. It would not only chill the hearts of the Prime Minister's Mansion, but also make the Empress Dowager feel that she had an opportunity to take advantage of him.

He had to let everyone know that Chu Mingyue belonged to his Crown Prince's residence and that no one would tolerate her being bullied.

"It's late, let's rest."

The sound wasn't loud, but Chu Mingyue stiffened, her fingertips clenching the hem of her nightgown. She knew what was about to happen; it was her duty as a wife and concubine, and also an inescapable bond between her and him.

She didn't look up, but just shyly hummed in response.

Chu Mingyue lay on the bed, her body tense, and could clearly feel the presence of the person beside her. Jing Fengyao lay beside her, not moving immediately, but quietly looking at the phoenix and dragon embroidery on the ceiling, lost in thought.

After a long while, he slowly turned to look at her. Her eyelashes trembled slightly, like a startled butterfly.

He raised his hand and gently brushed away the stray hairs on her forehead; the warmth of his fingertips made her tremble slightly.

"Don't be afraid." His voice was low, carrying a hint of barely perceptible reassurance.

Chu Mingyue opened her eyes and met his deep gaze. There was no intense love in them, only calm respect and a trace of responsibility. But it was this calmness that made her uneasy heart begin to sink little by little.

She knew he might never treat her the way he treated Qin Zhihua, but she would still try. She closed her eyes, reached out, and gently wrapped her arms around his waist.

Jing Fengyao froze, clearly not expecting her to do such a thing.

He looked down at the top of her head, which was buried in his chest, and felt a mix of emotions. He didn't push her away, but simply raised his hand and gently patted her back. Since he had married Chu Mingyue, he would not let her suffer. He couldn't give her love, but he would give her the utmost respect and protection.

Meanwhile, inside Zhiyun Courtyard, all was deathly silent.

Qin Zhihua sat in front of the dressing table, still wearing her bright red wedding dress, but the jewels in her hair had been removed and were casually piled on the table.

She looked at her pale face in the bronze mirror; the smile in her eyes had vanished, leaving only deep loneliness.

Although Jing Fengyao's bodyguard reported early on that His Highness was resting at Chu Mingyue's place tonight, she appeared outwardly composed and even had someone reward her with golden melon seeds, but inwardly she felt a deep bitterness.

Before she got married, her grandmother had repeatedly told her that she and the eldest prince were in love, but the stakes involved were extraordinary. However, when she actually faced all of this, she still couldn't help but feel sad.

She understood Jing Fengyao's actions. Chu Mingyue had suffered such a great injustice today. If he insisted on coming to find her, it would be too heartless. Not only would he be criticized for being cold-hearted, but he would also cause the Prime Minister's Mansion to lose face.

He was a prince; he had his considerations and his responsibilities, and she understood.

Understanding doesn't mean you're not sad.

She raised her hand and gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes. Her fingertips were icy cold. She knew that from the moment she stepped into the First Prince's residence, she was destined to face endless complexity and helplessness.

"Miss..." Qiu Tong, standing to the side, felt a pang of pity.

Wiping away her tears, Qin Zhi made a firm decision, "Qiu Tong, from now on you must call me Master."

Now that she had decided to accompany the eldest prince, Qin Zhihua knew that she could no longer regard Jing Fengyao as someone who belonged only to her.

She knew that Chu Mingyue's appearance was not just about having another concubine.

The Empress Dowager's刁难 (diāonán, making things difficult for them), the power struggles in the court, and the influence of the Prime Minister's mansion—all of these things were like an invisible net, tightly binding the three of them together.