Chapter 22 – The Wedding: So impatient? Couldn’t wait for me to lift it?

Princess Guang’an squeezed in, elbowing Shen Xingwan aside and grabbing Shen Yunchao’s sleeve. “Didn’t you see the letter I wrote you? Didn’t we agree I’d meet you at the city gate?”

Shen Yunchao’s sword-like brows furrowed slightly. He subtly stepped back and cupped his hands in greeting. “This humble general is only returning to the capital to escort the bride. How dare I trouble Your Highness with such an esteemed status?”

Princess Guang’an pouted in dissatisfaction and clung to his arm, shaking it petulantly. “It’s only been two years, and you’ve become so stiff and distant? I always called you Brother Yunchao, and you used to call me Yue’er.”

She continued to shake his arm. “Please?”

“This humble general does not dare.”

“Brother Yunchao! Brother, brother…”

Shen Yunchao’s head was throbbing from her shaking. He cast a pleading look at Shen Xingwan.

Shen Xingwan shrugged her shoulders, indicating she was powerless and just watching for amusement. She turned away, leaving the sticky pair behind and slipped back into the manor with a snicker.

Princess Guang’an, Wei Liyue, was the treasured daughter of Consort De and deeply favored by the Emperor. Her noble status and the affection she received allowed her to live a willful and pampered life from childhood. Whatever she liked, she had to obtain.

But there was one thing she could not get—her obsession born from a single glance at Shen Yunchao.

She had first met Shen Yunchao when she pestered her father to take her along to watch the military examination. The candidates that year were robust and fierce-looking, most of them resembling Zhong Kui or Zhang Fei, which made her eyes hurt just from looking.

Just as she was about to leave in boredom, a crisp sword hum sliced through the air. A youth in white appeared on the stage, a mischievous smile at the corners of his mouth, his eyes bright and intense, pure and fearless as he leapt into battle, defeating one opponent after another.

He was like the rising sun, radiating youthful vitality. His jet-black hair was tied into a ponytail that danced wildly with his swordplay. Each movement was graceful and full of daring, brimming with passion and fearlessness.

His agility and fluid sword techniques—lunging, spinning, parrying, stabbing—stabbed right into the young girl’s budding heart.

Wei Liyue immediately clutched the arm of Shen Xingwan, who was standing beside her. “Quick, within the time it takes to burn one incense stick, I want to know who he is, his full name, and whether he’s married.”

Shen Xingwan glanced at her and replied, “Oh, it won’t take that long. That’s my brother, Shen Yunchao.”

From that moment on, Shen Yunchao became an indelible figure in Wei Liyue’s heart.

Yet no matter how she tried to please him, Shen Yunchao remained like a block of wood, unmoved and unresponsive, leaving her often heartbroken.

Shen Xingwan could do nothing about it. Matters of the heart are guided by fate, not by will. Whatever was between them had to be resolved by themselves.

Thinking this, Shen Xingwan headed back to her own courtyard. She needed to check on Wei Zihui and tell him to prepare for relocation.

As she passed by Tang Lin’er’s courtyard, Shen Xingwan saw a servant carrying several finely decorated gift boxes inside.

The patterns on those boxes were clearly of Western Region style, obviously gifts Shen Yunchao had brought back and specially ordered to be sent to Tang Lin’er.

Shen Xingwan sighed inwardly and withdrew her gaze, continuing toward her own courtyard.

She had long known of her brother’s feelings for Tang Lin’er. But in her past life, Tang Lin’er had clung strictly to moral principles and never responded to Shen Yunchao’s affections.

Thinking about it now, it wasn’t about morality at all. She had simply set her sights on Wei Zilin from the start. With her heart and eyes set on him, she could hold no room for anyone else.

A doomed entanglement…

Shen Xingwan felt a twinge of discomfort in her chest. She began considering how she might play matchmaker between her brother and Princess Guang’an.

Lost in thought, she entered her back courtyard, only to hear cheerful laughter. Looking up, she saw Xiaolingdang leaning against Wei Zihui’s knee under the covered walkway, the two of them working on a puzzle ring together.

Xiaolingdang was flustered, red-faced from failing to solve it. Wei Zihui, using his only good hand, guided her fingers a few times and easily unlocked a key segment.

“Wow! Amazing!”

Xiaolingdang stared at him with wide eyes and clapped her hands like a little seal. “Brother, you’re amazing!”

Wei Zihui laughed uncontrollably, looking very pleased with himself.

Shen Xingwan hadn’t meant to disturb the warm scene, but Wei Zihui’s safety was a higher priority now.

She stood for a moment before walking over and calling out with a smile, “Xiaolingdang, stop bothering your brother now. He needs to rest. Why don’t you go find Mother and eat some fruit?”

Xiaolingdang reluctantly turned to look at Shen Xingwan, then back at Wei Zihui, before nodding obediently. “Okay.”

She put down the puzzle ring and stood up to leave. Wei Zihui stopped her, removing the thumb ring from his hand to give her. After thinking for a moment, he put the ring back on his finger and handed her the puzzle ring instead. “Here, you can have this.”

“Thank you, Brother!”

Xiaolingdang beamed with joy and skipped away like a butterfly, clutching the toy.

Shen Xingwan couldn’t help but admire the young Fourteenth Prince’s keen mind and maturity beyond his years.

She deliberately commented, “It’s good to give children toys. That ring is a bit too precious.”

Wei Zihui lowered his head and rubbed the carved patterns on the ring, smiling faintly with a hint of helplessness.

“It’s not that it’s so valuable. It’s just that this ring carries my mark. Given my current situation, giving it to her might not be a blessing.”

Shen Xingwan fell silent. Wei Zihui looked up, his youthful face marked by a somber expression that didn’t match his age.

“Thank you, Miss Shen, for your care these days. If I live to see another day, I will repay you.”

Realizing he had guessed her purpose in coming, Shen Xingwan didn’t beat around the bush. “Your whereabouts have been discovered by Wei Zilin. The Prince Regent believes it’s best to relocate you as soon as possible.”

Wei Zihui nodded. “Alright.”

There was no need to hammer the point with someone so sharp. The two of them quickly settled the details for the relocation that night.

After settling Wei Zihui, Shen Xingwan decided to check on her brother. It had been a long time, and she had much to say to him.

When she arrived at Shen Yunchao’s room, Princess Guang’an was nowhere to be seen. Shen Yunchao was sitting at his desk, looking dazed and lost in thought.

Shen Xingwan approached and saw several unopened brocade boxes on the desk—clearly the same ones that had been sent to Tang Lin’er’s courtyard earlier.

It was obvious—his gifts had been returned to him, untouched.

Shen Xingwan felt a pang of sorrow but didn’t try to comfort him directly. Instead, she casually reached for the boxes, forcing a light tone. “Brother, are these what you wanted to show me?”

Shen Yunchao snapped out of his daze, his large hand pressing down on the boxes as he forced a smile.

“No, yours is inside. I’ll go get it.”

Shen Xingwan followed him excitedly and played with the trinkets he had brought her, chatting and joking to distract him.

In the days that followed, Princess Guang’an came to visit nearly every day, constantly finding new ways to cling to Shen Yunchao. He had no choice but to entertain her with horse polo games, tea, and opera, unable to offend her.

Time passed quickly. Soon, the day of the grand wedding arrived.

Before dawn, the Shen household was already ablaze with lights. Both young ladies were marrying on the same day—one to the powerful Prince Regent, the other to the newly crowned Crown Prince. Twin sisters marrying into such prestigious families was the envy of all.

Madam Shen personally adorned Shen Xingwan with a bridal crown and veil, smoothing the tassels on her forehead as tears welled in her eyes.

“As a wife, treat your husband well. Respect him and love him. But always remember—your maiden home will always be your support. May your life be smooth, full of joy, and free of worries.”

“Yes.”

Shen Xingwan replied solemnly. Madam Shen then placed the bridal veil over her face and led her to the front hall to receive her parents’ parting words.

Tang Lin’er, also dressed in splendid wedding attire and supported by Ruyi, came to the hall to receive the same teachings and bid farewell to Prime Minister Shen and Madam Shen.

Afterwards, Shen Yunchao came to escort his two sisters to their bridal carriages.

Amidst deafening drums and firecrackers, Yan Jinghuan arrived in full ceremonial dress, leading a grand procession on horseback to escort Shen Xingwan.

Since Wei Zilin had to personally welcome his official wife, Lu Yuzhi, from the Grand Commandant’s residence, he couldn’t come for Tang Lin’er himself. Instead, the Ministry of Rites arranged for a side consort’s carriage to fetch her.

Tang Lin’er couldn’t hide her disappointment but had no choice. She boarded the carriage silently.

Shen Xingwan, accompanied by Shen Yunchao, boarded the Prince Regent’s bridal carriage.

The elaborate ceremonies lasted all day. Due to the high status of the Prince Regent and the Crown Prince, all the brides had to enter the palace to receive teachings from the Empress.

As the Empress’ seat was vacant, the Imperial Noble Consort delivered the teachings on her behalf.

Shen Xingwan, Lu Yuzhi, and Tang Lin’er all bowed to the Imperial Noble Consort and listened to a few ceremonial words before being sent to their respective bridal chambers.

Strangely, while kneeling before the Imperial Noble Consort, Shen Xingwan suddenly felt dizzy, nearly fainting.

She forced herself to remain conscious and listened to the teachings. When she stood, her steps were unsteady as if walking on cotton.

She tried to call for Feiyun, but before she could react, two matrons came forward and supported her firmly, leading her out.

Shen Xingwan looked back for Feiyun, but her eyelids grew heavy, and everything went black.

When she woke up, all she saw was red.

She was lying on a bridal bed, the red veil still over her head. Everything within sight was bright red and festive.

She sat up and looked around. It was clearly the bridal chamber, the night deep outside the window, a pair of dragon-phoenix candles flickering quietly. The room was silent.

Rubbing her temples, she figured she had fainted from exhaustion and hunger after not eating or drinking all day.

Luckily, nothing seemed out of place. She was here, safe.

“Feiyun,” she called softly, thinking Yan Jinghuan was probably still entertaining guests. She wanted Feiyun to bring her something to eat.

But no one responded.

She frowned, thinking the maids and matrons might be waiting outside. She stood up slowly, feeling her way forward. “Feiyun, are you there?”

With her vision blocked by the veil, she couldn’t see clearly and tripped on her skirt, stumbling forward. With a startled cry, she fell—only to be caught by a firm embrace.

She thought it was Yan Jinghuan—but the scent of dragon musk at her nose told her otherwise.

Her heart clenched. She lifted the veil—

And saw Wei Zilin’s face.

“So impatient,” he said with a soft laugh. “You couldn’t wait for me to lift it?”