Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 570: The Grand Wedding (Part 4)

Jiang Shaohua was already dressed, her expression as usual.

She possessed this calmness. Even if the situation was rather awkward, she remained composed: "Have the kitchen prepare a meal."

Tu Bai asked in a nosy manner, "Should I prepare breakfast or lunch?"

Jiang Shaohua: "..."

Yin Zhu quickly tugged at Tu Bai’s sleeve, Tu Bai coughed and took the order to prepare the meal.

Jiang Shaohua’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she turned back inside.

Yin Zhu habitually followed her master, and upon entering the bedroom and seeing another familiar face, she had a sigh of the Commandery Princess’s domain being invaded.

Cui Du, unaware of Yin Zhu’s mock complaints, skillfully found new bed linens and replaced them all. At the very least, the bed looked decently tidy.

As for the previous bedding, he had quietly hidden it away, planning to wash it himself when he had the time.

"Let’s go eat first," Jiang Shaohua said, looking at Cui Du with an especially gentle gaze, her tone much softer than usual: "After eating, I’ll take you to pay respects and offer incense to Grandfather."

Cui Du nodded in agreement.

Yin Zhu whispered, "Wutong Courtyard sent a message early this morning, saying they are waiting for the Commandery Princess and Elder Changning."

Living at Wutong Courtyard were Lu Xuan’s Aunt Mei. Lu Ying and Lu Ruohua had originally been studying elsewhere and returned specifically for Jiang Shaohua’s wedding.

By blood, they were indeed Jiang Shaohua’s closest family. According to current customs, Cui Du, having entered as a son-in-law, should go to serve tea and recognize them.

Jiang Shaohua said calmly, "Go to Wutong Courtyard, convey the Commandery Princess’s oral decree, and have them come to recognize."

This was, of course, not very conventional, and it lacked the respect due to Lu Xuan as a father.

However, in the Prince Mansion, Jiang Shaohua was the authority. What she said was the rule of the mansion.

Yin Zhu immediately took the command to deliver the message.

Jiang Shaohua and Cui Du went hand in hand to the dining room to have a meal together.

After a night of exertion, Jiang Shaohua was starving and had a big appetite. Cui Du was the same. They practically devoured the entire table of dishes.

After eating, Jiang Shaohua led Cui Du to the ancestral hall.

Cui Du solemnly knelt before the memorial tablet of the Prince of Nanyang, respectfully kowtowing. Then to the Princess Nanyang and Jiang Yan, who passed away years ago.

"Grandfather, Grandmother, Mother," Cui Du said softly, "I am Shaohua’s husband, Cui Du, and I come today to pay my respects."

"I will wholeheartedly treat her well, never failing, never doubting, never betraying, always following, until the moment I close my eyes."

"Please be at ease, Grandfather, Grandmother, Mother, in the afterlife."

Jiang Shaohua gazed at her newly wedded husband: "The words you said today, Grandfather, Grandmother, and Mother all heard. I heard them clearly too."

"Cui Du, my heart towards you is the same."

Never failing, never doubting.

Cui Du’s heart warmed intensely, and after rising, he grasped Jiang Shaohua’s hand tightly.

In the ancestral hall, closeness was inappropriate. Jiang Shaohua and Cui Du clung to each other for a moment and soon parted.

After leaving the ancestral hall, the newly-entered son-in-law Cui Du went to serve tea and recognize the family.

The entire process was uneventful. Cui Du cupped his hands in greeting, addressed his father, and offered a cup of tea. Lu Xuan initially had lots to say, but upon seeing Jiang Shaohua’s indifferent expression, automatically chose to skip the reprimands, smiling as he drank the tea and gave Cui Du an appropriate meeting gift.

As for Aunt Mei, as a concubine, she didn’t have the qualification to sit and receive tea.

Cui Du cupped his hands and addressed her as Aunt, and Aunt Mei was somewhat flattered, quickly avoiding saying, "I’m just a humble concubine, how could I deserve Elder Changning’s salute, please rise quickly, Elder Changning."

Lu Ying, already eleven years old this year, at an age where he was shooting up in height, was now almost as tall as Jiang Shaohua, with a maturity and meticulousness far beyond his peers.

He respectfully cupped his hands and called his brother-in-law.

Hearing ’brother-in-law,’ Cui Du couldn’t help but smile. Ma Yaosong had already prepared a suitable meeting gift for him, which he now presented: "As Ying studies diligently, I gift him a fine set of scholarly tools."

Lu Ying smiled, thanking his brother-in-law.

Then it was his sister-in-law, Lu Ruohua’s turn. Lu Ruohua, lively by nature, laughed as she called her brother-in-law: "Brother-in-law has been at the Prince Mansion for six years, and yesterday you finally officially came in, becoming my brother-in-law. Congratulations, congratulations!"

Though they hadn’t interacted much daily, living in the Prince Mansion for six years made them quite familiar.

Cui Du smiled and generously gifted his sister-in-law a set of jade-made chess pieces.

Lu Ruohua, not interested in music and painting, but loving chess, received a gift that landed right in her heart, and she gratefully thanked repeatedly.

After the smooth and short recognition, Jiang Shaohua led Cui Du to the study, gathering all the manor’s officials to come.

This was even more familiar.

However, the necessary procedures still needed to be done. Chief Historian Chen led all the officials to greet the new Commandery Princess’s husband.

Cui Du cupped his hands and returned the greetings one by one.

After the chatter and excitement, Jiang Shaohua smiled and said, "Some guests from afar have not yet left Nanyang County. The Commandery Princess plans to host a farewell banquet tonight, and asks Chief Historian Chen to arrange it."

Chief Historian Chen smiled and accepted the command.

That evening, the Nanyang Prince Mansion opened its main doors and feasted with guests, primarily to bid farewell to Mr. Zhao and Governors Fang and Xue, along with a dozen Prefectural Governors who came personally to witness and congratulate.

Mr. Zhao, being a eunuch, sat boldly at the head of the table. Governors Xue and Fang dared not and had no objection.

After the case involving Eunuchs Lan and Yuan, the reputation of Grand Empress Dowager Zheng suffered greatly, and the prestige of Jingyang Palace was not as before. However, for Governors Xue and Fang, they still had to show respect to this Chief Eunuch from Jingyang Palace.

Mr. Zhao, flattered by the officials, inadvertently drank too much and, after the banquet, was carried back to his room without further mention.

...

On the morning of the third day of the wedding, Jiang Shaohua still woke up late.

Yin Zhu and Tu Bai, accustomed to the wait, murmured a few words, "Today the Commandery Princess should accompany Elder Changning to pay a visit, should we wake her earlier?"

"Mrs. Zhang specifically instructed not to disturb the Commandery Princess’s rest. After all, the Cui Mansion is just three streets away, a horse ride’s distance."

As a result, that day, Jiang Shaohua and Cui Du barely made it to Cui Mansion just in time for lunch.

Cui Youshi and Old Master Cui didn’t mind the slightest, and Cui Ping and others were secretly delighted.

After all, the newlywed couple’s sweetness and closeness were quite natural. The Commandery Princess’s disregard for rumors indicated her true affection and sincerity for Elder Changning.

After the visit, the Cui family returned to Boling County.

Mr. Zhao also set out on his journey.

Jiang Shaohua and Cui Du accompanied Mr. Zhao to the city gates, bidding farewell with wagons full of "local specialties," and the sense of satisfaction from daily drinking. Mr. Zhao cupped his hands in farewell: "Today’s parting, one does not know when we will meet again. Please take care, Commandery Princess, and Elder Changning."

At that moment, with a smile and goodbye, Jiang Shaohua had no idea that the day of reunion would come so abruptly and suddenly.

...