Chapter 208

Xiao Yuanhang looked at her and gave a cold laugh: "You are a side consort, yet you have relations with two outside men, and you don't even know whose blood Shu'er carries, yet you have the nerve to ask me to make her the legitimate heir?"

Fang Qingyan's face turned deathly pale.

Xiao Yuanhang stepped closer step by step, and Fang Qingyan collapsed into her chair.

Xiao Yuanhang stared into her eyes: "In the Ning Prince's mansion, the only legitimate daughter is Tuan Tuan."

"Shu'er will never become this prince's legitimate daughter in this lifetime—give up that thought."

Fang Qingyan forced herself to speak: "Your Highness, don't you want to know who is behind this?"

Xiao Yuanhang turned and walked out: "Even if you don't tell me, do you think I can't find out?"

Fang Qingyan instantly lost her composure: "Your Highness! Is Shu'er alright? Let me go see her, please, Your Highness!"

Xiao Yuanhang didn't even look back: "Just grow old and die in here—don't even think about taking half a step out!"

The small door closed again, and the sound of a lock being engaged came from outside.

Fang Qingyan's tears slid down her cheeks: "Shu'er! My Shu'er!"

That night, Xiao Yuanhang informed Cheng Ru'an of today's events.

Cheng Ru'an hesitated for a moment: "Although Madame Fang's request cannot be granted, Shu'er is growing older, and keeping her confined in the mansion all day is no long-term solution."

"Recently, the caretaker grannies at Defying Frost Pavilion reported that she has become much more well-behaved, calmer and more sensible than before."

"Why not find a prosperous farming family far away and marry her off, leaving Jingcheng? What do you think, Your Highness?"

Xiao Yuanhang nodded: "You may decide the internal household affairs; that mother and daughter harbor ill intentions and bear resentment toward Tuan Tuan—send her far away, and she need never return to Jingcheng in this lifetime."

Cheng Ru'an nodded silently.

Not long after, they settled on a marriage prospect.

The other party was the head of a farmstead in Linyang County, several hundred li outside Jingcheng, surnamed Zhao; they owned over a hundred mu of good farmland and also ran two silk shops—though not immensely wealthy, they were quite well-off.

Zhao's son was a scholar; though he had not succeeded in the examinations, he was learned and reasonable, his household small, and after Cheng Ru'an looked into it carefully, she was very pleased.

She instructed Granny Liu: "Go to Defying Frost Pavilion and tell the Fourth Miss about this marriage prospect. Say the Prince's mansion will provide a full dowry so she may prepare properly for marriage."

"Yes," Granny Liu replied, receiving the order, and entered Defying Frost Pavilion.

Xiao Ningshu was sitting by the window, staring blankly at a corner of the eaves.

Granny Liu made a bow: "Congratulations, Fourth Miss."

"The Princess Consort has arranged a good match for you: the Zhao family of Linyang County, with good fields and shops, and the son is a scholar; if you marry into that family, you will be a properly wedded principal wife."

"From now on, you will be the proper mistress of the household."

Xiao Ningshu's heart jumped, but she showed no change in expression: "Thank you, Mother, for your concern."

"Granny Liu, may I go out for a walk? Where is my mother recuperating? Since I am to be married, I ought to visit her to show filial piety."

Granny Liu's expression remained unchanged: "Fourth Miss, just stay at ease and prepare for your wedding."

"Madame Fang the side consort is presently recuperating outside; everything is fine, so it's not convenient to disturb her."

"The Princess Consort has ordered you to remain here awaiting your wedding." Having said that, she turned and left.

The two caretaker grannies stepped forward and bowed: "Congratulations, Fourth Miss! Fourth Miss, great joy!"

Xiao Ningshu's face flushed with bashfulness: "Grannies, you're teasing me. I'm a bit tired; I'd like to lie down—feel free to do as you wish."

The two caretaker grannies withdrew.

Xiao Ningshu's face changed dramatically.

She reached out, intending to sweep everything on the table onto the floor.

She paused, then drew her hand back.

"No, not now; if word got to the Princess Consort's ears, I dread to think how she would torment me again."

"Linyang County? What godforsaken place is that? I've never even heard of it!"

Her eyes were full of venomous resentment.

"A farming family?"

"I come from the Prince's mansion! Even as a concubine-born daughter, I deserve an official match! At the very least, I should be paired with a scholar-official from Jingcheng who has passed the examinations!"

"On what grounds do they treat me like a beggar, casting me into that poor, remote backwater to marry into a farming household!"

She recalled Cheng Ru'an's eternally dignified and gentle demeanor, and Tuan Tuan now being a commandery princess; her hatred surged like a flood.

"It's them! They are the ones who stole everything that rightfully belonged to me!"

"They are the ones who separated mother and daughter, leaving me like a prisoner trapped in this tiny courtyard!"

"What did Mother do? Where is she now?"

"Recuperating? I'd be a fool to believe your words!"

She clenched her fists tightly, her body trembling slightly.

"Do they think they can just cast me aside like this? Do they think I'll resign myself to fate? Dream on!"

Afterward, Xiao Ningshu no longer inquired about Madame Fang's whereabouts, nor did she again ask to go out; she simply stayed quietly in Defying Frost Pavilion.

Each day she looked at the wedding fabrics and jewelry samples sent over, wearing a full smile, and obediently asked the caretaker grannies for details about the wedding, her demeanor respectful, with not a single fault to be found.

Granny Liu visited Defying Frost Pavilion every day; seeing her like this, she felt greatly relieved, saying only that the Fourth Miss had grown up and finally become sensible.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Ru'an also nodded silently; now that the marriage was imminent, being mother and daughter, she devoted herself wholeheartedly to preparing the dowry, ensuring every item conformed to the standards for a concubine-born daughter, neither skimping nor exceeding the limits.

Tuan Tuan, hearing that Xiao Ningshu was to be married, watched her mother tally the dowry chest and said: "Mother! Will she no longer live in the mansion from now on?"

Cheng Ru'an nodded: "Exactly! From now on, she will be the principal wife of the Zhao family; Mother also hopes that everything will go smoothly for her from now on."

"Oh!" Tuan Tuan gave it no thought at all.

Soon, the wedding day arrived.

Early that morning, Xiao Yuanhang went to the palace to attend to affairs, Xiao Ningchen was at the suburban main camp, Xiao Ningyuan and Xiao Ningxun were each on duty, leaving the mansion with only Cheng Ru'an in charge of the overall situation.

The Zhao family's wedding procession was not particularly grand, but with gongs and drums it radiated the simplicity of a farming household.

The bridal sedan stopped outside the side gate of Ning Prince's Mansion, drawing many neighbors to stop and watch.

Cheng Ru'an, dignified and composed, led Tuan Tuan and stood inside the mansion gate to see Xiao Ningshu off in marriage.

Xiao Ningshu wore a phoenix crown and rosy robes, a large red veil covering her face, supported by maidservants as she stepped out slowly.

She came before Cheng Ru'an, bowed deeply according to ritual: "Daughter bids farewell to mother. Thank you for your years of raising and teaching me."

Cheng Ru'an reached out to help her up: "From now on, as a daughter-in-law, you must uphold womanly virtues and live modestly."

"Go, don't miss the auspicious time."

Tuan Tuan blinked her big eyes beside them, full of curiosity at the scene she had never seen before.

So this is what getting married is like! So many people, truly lively!

Xiao Ningshu walked step by step toward the somewhat plain large red bridal sedan.

The sedan curtain was lifted, and she bent to get inside.

The matchmaker shouted loudly: "Lift the sedan!"

The gongs and drums grew louder, the wedding procession moved slowly, and more and more onlookers gathered around.

"Is this the daughter of Ning Prince's Mansion getting married?"

"It seems to be a concubine's daughter from the Prince's Mansion, not Princess Jiayou."

"Nonsense! Princess Jiayou is only that young—it must be that concubine's daughter!"

Suddenly, the sedan curtain that had just been closed was flung open from inside!

A figure in bright red wedding robes rushed out of the sedan like a madwoman and snatched off the veil!