Chapter 18

Xu Duanyi couldn’t figure out what the blush on her face was, and in the end, Xie Qingya never managed to confirm it either.

The finger she had just raised.

Before it was fully suspended, it was promptly restrained by Xie Qingya, who had quickly regained his composure.

So, when Xu Duanyi felt like Xie Qingya was looking at her and turned to glance at him, all she saw was his tight, indifferent side profile.

From Xu Duanyi’s perspective.

All she could see were Xie Qingya’s furrowed brows and his thin lips pressed tightly together into a straight line, faintly revealing his impatience.

Her slender fingers, which had been resting gently on the fan’s handle, immediately tensed.

Her heart seemed to miss a beat.

But in just a moment, Xu Duanyi regained her composure. She wasn’t particularly affected by Xie Qingya’s attitude. She turned back around, as if she hadn’t noticed anything, lowered her gaze slightly, and sat quietly on the bridal bed.

This scene.

Naturally, it was also noticed by the others in the room.

Except for the children who were still laughing and playing, the lively crowd now looked at the silent couple on the bridal bed, and the noise gradually quieted down.

People glanced at each other.

Those close to Xu Duanyi, like Ming Shi and Xiao Baozhu, even changed their expressions.

Xiao Baozhu had always been unable to tolerate such behavior.

Seeing Xie Qingya act this way, she wanted to speak out, but Ming Shi quickly grabbed her.

“Don’t make things difficult for Duanyi.”

Ming Shi whispered to Xiao Baozhu.

Xiao Baozhu pouted, still looking upset, but she remembered what Xu Duanyi had told her a few months ago.

Even though she was unhappy, she didn’t dare to cause a scene at this moment.

Fortunately, the bridal matron was experienced. She worked in the palace’s marriage department and had organized many weddings.

What kind of situations hadn’t she dealt with?

There had even been royal relatives who were dissatisfied with the marriage arrangement and left halfway through the ceremony without completing the process.

Although she disapproved of the Southern An Prince’s attitude, the bridal matron smiled and continued with the process.

The last part was the eating of the “children’s rice dumplings.”

The bridal matron led a servant holding the dumplings to Xu Duanyi.

“Please, Prince and Princess, eat the children’s rice dumplings.”

There weren’t many dumplings in the bowl, so the matron asked Xu Duanyi to eat first.

Xu Duanyi handed her fan to the matron without hesitation, took the spoon handed by the servant, and scooped up one of the dumplings, taking a bite.

The dumplings were made of chestnuts, peanuts, and red dates…

They were made undercooked to symbolize prayers for children and prosperity.

Food made from flour is hard to eat when undercooked, but Xu Duanyi still ate it.

She didn’t look at Xie Qingya.

When the bridal matron smiled and asked, “Will there be children?” Xu Duanyi softly answered, “Yes.”

The matron smiled and responded.

She turned to speak to Xie Qingya, but before she could finish her sentence, Xie Qingya grabbed the bowl from the servant’s hands and ate all the remaining dumplings in one go.

He devoured them greedily, not caring how unpleasant they tasted.

The bridal matron, though seasoned with experience, had never witnessed such a scene. She froze for a moment, and only when the sound of the jade bowl with its painted mandarin ducks was placed back on the redwood tray did she snap out of it.

She wanted to say some cheerful words.

But looking at Xie Qingya’s displeased face, even the bridal matron couldn’t bring herself to say the usual auspicious phrases.

“Are you done?”

Xie Qingya finally swallowed everything.

The dumplings were undercooked.

The flour slid down her throat, making her feel uncomfortable.

Xie Qingya’s voice now sounded even more hoarse than before.

He didn’t look at Xu Duanyi.

His hand, hidden beneath the ceremonial robes and pressed against his knee, had veins bulging at the moment.

He was eager to leave.

He didn’t want to continue facing Xu Duanyi at that moment, completing the wedding ceremony that had nothing to do with them.

“Your Highness…”

The matchmaker, who was from the palace and appointed by Empress Dowager Zhao Yu, had a hard time keeping her composure. Even though she knew what kind of person the Prince of Nan’an was, she was starting to lose her calm. She pressed her lips together, about to say something, but just then she heard Xu Duanyi call out to her: “Aunt.”

The matchmaker quickly looked over.

The woman in ceremonial robes shook her head at her.

The matchmaker understood and had to restrain her temper, replacing it with a smile and saying, “The ceremony is complete.”

This was to prevent the Prince of Nan’an from leaving in anger and damaging the reputation of the Princess.

The matchmaker spoke first: “Your Highness, please go attend to the guests.”

Xie Qingya said nothing.

As his eyes briefly flicked to the green figure by his side, his steps faltered. But he only paused for a moment before continuing, silent, toward the exit.

When the others in the room saw Xie Qingya leaving, all the men followed him out.

The women remaining were first greeted by Ming Shi, who smiled and spoke, “It’s time for the banquet, everyone go ahead and eat.”

No one objected.

With Empress Dowager Zhao’s protection, they had no desire to stay and watch the spectacle. They didn’t want trouble later, so they quickly left after speaking to Xu Duanyi.

All the attendants, except the matchmaker, left the room.

In the room, only the matchmaker, Ming Shi, Xiao Baozhu, and Bixi remained.

Without exception, all four of them had unpleasant expressions.

Xiao Baozhu was the first to walk to Xu Duanyi’s side. She wanted to scold Xie Qingya, but then realized that she was the one who had pushed Xu Duanyi into this situation, so she couldn’t say anything.

Ming Shi also had a worried look on her face.

“Don’t worry, Princess. I’ll tell everything to Aunt, just like it happened…” The matchmaker started to speak.

But before she could finish, Xu Duanyi interrupted gently.

“Please keep today’s matter a secret, Aunt. Don’t let my aunt find out.”

“Why?” Xiao Baozhu asked, furrowing her brow, looking displeased. “If Xie Qingya is acting like this, Aunt should teach him a lesson!”

Ming Shi didn’t stop Xiao Baozhu this time and also spoke, “Duanyi, Baozhu is right. Xie Qingya is indeed acting recklessly. Aunt should teach him a lesson.”

“Otherwise, you’ll suffer at his hands in the future.”

Xu Duanyi shook her head, “Aunt has been having headaches recently. If she knows about this, she’ll only be more upset.”

The three of them fell silent upon hearing this.

The matchmaker sighed, “But this is too unfair for you. Did you see how the Prince of Nan’an was just now? He couldn’t wait… We were all here, and he acted like that. What would he do if we weren’t here?”

She wanted to say more, but feared upsetting her.

She fell silent.

Xu Duanyi wasn’t heartbroken.

Ever since she learned she was going to marry Xie Qingya, she had anticipated such an outcome. So, there was nothing to feel sad about.

“I’m fine.”

“You all go ahead and eat. I want to rest for a while.”

“I…”

Xiao Baozhu opened her mouth, wanting to say “I’ll stay with my cousin,” but Ming Shi grabbed her hand and stopped her.

Xiao Baozhu looked back at Ming Shi, confused.

Ming Shi didn’t look at her. She simply said to Xu Duanyi, “Then you should rest well.”

Xu Duanyi smiled and said, “Alright.”

She then instructed Ming Shi, “Aunt, when you go out, make sure to tell the eldest cousin not to keep giving the prince wine.”

Ming Shi nodded.

“Don’t worry, I’ll tell them.”

No matter how reckless Xie Qingya acted, today was still the wedding night. If he got completely drunk and made a fool of himself, it would be Xu Duanyi who would suffer the embarrassment in the end.

Ming Shi didn’t stay any longer and led Xiao Baozhu out.

The matchmaker also curtsied to Xu Duanyi, saying she needed to return to the palace to report to Empress Dowager Zhao.

Xu Duanyi had Bixi bring out the prepared silver and told the matchmaker, “Thank you for your hard work today.”

“You’re sent by my aunt. If she asks, just say that everything is fine with me, don’t let her worry.”

The matchmaker accepted the silver, but her gaze toward Xu Duanyi was full of complex emotions.

In the end, under Xu Duanyi’s gentle gaze, she relented, “I understand.”

She couldn’t bear to leave her.

The matchmaker said again, “But don’t really suppress yourself, if the Empress Dowager finds out, she will surely be heartbroken.”

Xu Duanyi smiled and said, “Alright.”

She then instructed Bixi to see the matchmaker out.

When the room was left with only her, Xu Duanyi finally relaxed after a day of tension.

Exhausted, Xu Duanyi closed her eyes and leaned against the bedpost.

Until the footsteps returned, gradually drawing nearer, Xu Duanyi opened her eyes and saw Bi Xi kneeling beside her, looking at her with a sorrowful expression.

Xu Duanyi smiled at her.

She reached out and patted Bixi’s head, saying nothing else, “Please help me remove the hairpin, it’s pressing on my neck.”

Bixi would never disobey her.

She nodded quietly.

Bixi helped Xu Duanyi sit on the bed and began removing the hairpin.

“The servant has asked Shiyu to prepare your dinner in the kitchen, and hot water has also been arranged. I will help you with your bath shortly…”

“Mm.”

Xu Duanyi softly replied.

After a day of fussing, she was indeed a little tired.

Before she knew it, she had fallen asleep, leaning against the headboard.

When she woke up, she was lying on the bed, still in her ceremonial clothes, but her head felt much lighter.

Her scalp no longer hurt.

It was clear that while she was asleep, Bixi had gently massaged her scalp with a jade comb.

Just as she was about to call for someone, she faintly heard Shiyu and Bixi arguing in hushed tones.

Though they were a bit distant, the room was quiet, and after listening for a while, Xu Duanyi understood what they were arguing about.

It was nothing more than Shiyu being upset about how Xie Qingya had treated her.

Xu Duanyi’s eyes showed a hint of helplessness.

She didn’t speak immediately, to avoid them noticing she had overheard and feeling sorry for her.

Some things, when said too many times, lose their meaning.

Better to let them sort it out on their own.

Since she was still a bit tired, she just continued to lie there.

There was nothing beneath her, likely cleaned up by Bixi, but deeper inside, she could still feel some peanuts and red dates…

Xu Duanyi traced her fingers over the peanuts, thinking about Xie Qingya’s earlier behavior.

She had guessed that he would be uncomfortable with the marriage.

But she hadn’t expected him to dislike it this much, refusing even to put up a façade.

But he had always been like this.

If Xie Qingya were willing to put on a facade, he wouldn’t be Xie Qingya.

Xu Duanyi shook her head with a smile.

As the voices outside quieted, Xu Duanyi knew Bixi must have comforted Shiyu.

After a while, Xu Duanyi checked the time and was about to call someone in. But before she could speak, a voice came from outside.

“I’ve brought food for the princess. Is she resting?”

Shiyu, barely controlling her temper, couldn’t hold it back when she saw people from the Xie family.

“What does it matter if our master is resting or not to you?”

“Weren’t you not welcome? Why act so fake!”

Xu Duanyi furrowed her brow.

Bixi immediately scolded, “Shiyu!”

Shiyu pouted, feeling a little wronged and upset, but she didn’t speak again.

Xu Duanyi sighed and ran her fingers through her long hair before getting up and walking outside. Just as she lifted the curtain, she heard Bixi apologizing to someone.

Xu Duanyi recognized the person.

“Aunt Deng.”

She called out gently.

Aunt Deng was still telling Bixi that it was nothing. Upon hearing the voice, she quickly looked up.

It had been years since they’d met.

The young woman in her memory was now more composed and graceful. She didn’t dare look directly at her and quickly lowered her head to greet her.

Shiyu and Bixi hurried to Xu Duanyi’s side as she came out.

“Your Highness.”

They both greeted her.

Xu Duanyi glanced at Shiyu.

Seeing her looking down, not daring to meet her gaze, Xu Duanyi moved to help Aunt Deng up and spoke to her: “The servant was disrespectful and offended you.”

Aunt Deng quickly said, “It’s nothing.”

“Besides, Shiyu has reason to be angry. I just heard about what the prince did…” Aunt Deng looked apologetic and nervous. “It was the prince who offended you. I will speak to him properly. Please don’t be upset.”

She really hadn’t expected the prince to act this way.

She had repeatedly warned the prince with Steward Sun to treat the princess well and not make any mistakes.

Though the prince had agreed earlier, she didn’t know what had happened today.

She felt helpless but didn’t know how to address it with the woman in front of her.

The princess was of high status and a favorite of Empress Dowager Zhao Yu. Just thinking about how the matter would be reported to the palace made her anxious, worrying about what kind of reaction the Empress Dowager might have.

The South An Wang really couldn’t afford to go through any more turmoil.

“Your Highness, I will certainly speak to the prince. Please don’t let his actions spoil your mood…”

She didn’t know what to say, so she could only mumble and try to comfort her.

“It’s nothing.”

Xu Duanyi softly reassured her. “There are many rituals, and the prince must have been tired.”

“I’ve already spoken to the matchmaker, and she won’t mention it to Auntie. There’s no need for you to worry, Aunt Deng,” Xu Duanyi said quietly.

Aunt Deng had been struggling to figure out how to speak to the princess, but upon hearing this…

She suddenly looked up.

Seeing the gentle face of the woman in front of her, Aunt Deng couldn’t hold back the tears and choked up: “…Thank you, Your Highness.”

She said, her voice trembling.

Xu Duanyi smiled and changed the subject. “Aunt Deng, are you here to bring food? I happen to be a bit hungry.”

“Ah, yes!”

Aunt Deng hurriedly said, “Please try it, and if there’s anything you don’t like, just let me know. I’ll have them improve it.”

She quickly gestured for the food to be brought in and personally helped Xu Duanyi sit down.

The dishes were excellent.

Four dishes and a soup.

What surprised Xu Duanyi was that all the dishes were ones she had liked before.