Chapter 329: Combing All the Way to the End

The next day, the day of Chen Yan and Li Lizhi's grand wedding arrived.

At dawn, when the sunrise broke and sunlight poured down, the Imperial Palace was filled with an unusually lively scene.

Li Chengqian and Li Tai, along with the Crown Princess who was eight months pregnant, all donned slightly festive attire; numerous concubines, princes and princesses, appearing harmonious, gathered together chatting about daily life, their faces bearing happy expressions.

Meanwhile, in Princess Gao Yang's chambers, Xiang Lan walked to the couch, crouched down, and softly called to the Princess Gao Yang who was turned away from her:

"Princess, Your Highness, the hour is late, you should get up."

"I won't, I, the Princess, want to sleep!"

Xiang Lan was quite embarrassed, "But Your Highness, today is His/Her Highness of Chang Le's wedding day, and according to protocol, you are supposed to attend..."

"A wedding?" Gao Yang turned around, irately saying, "Yes, today is her wedding, but the groom is my husband!"

"How?"

"She married my husband; I've already said nothing about it, and she still wants me to attend in full dress?"

"Just say she's pregnant, it's inconvenient, and I won't go!"

Hearing this, Xiang Lan's face was full of sorrow, yet she dared not say anything.

She slipped out of the chambers lightly.

Regarding the affairs of the three masters, she dared not comment, after all she was merely a maid.

Honestly, she understood Princess Gao Yang quite well, though not entirely.

That may sound contradictory, but this is the norm of the era.

In principle, Gao Yang is a noble princess, the ruler, while Chen Yan is the subject.

Gao Yang need not abide by the civilian saying "the wife is the husband's support"; for other imperial sons-in-law, it is almost always the husband who is the support, and not only is remarriage to another wife impossible, even taking a concubine is unthinkable.

At most, when the princess is inconvenient, a close maid would step in.

However, this is not absolute; first, the emperor's will supersedes the rules. If an imperial son-in-law is exceptionally outstanding and the emperor greatly admires him, tacitly approving his remarriage, the princess can only accept.

Second, the princess's own will: if she is gentle and has a good relationship with the son-in-law, even if he cannot remarry, taking a few minor concubines, the princess will usually turn a blind eye.

In Xiang Lan's view, she could understand Gao Yang because Gao Yang is a strong-willed princess.

What she could not understand was why Gao Yang was so averse.

An outstanding man having three wives and four concubines seemed perfectly normal to her.

Even a noble Empress Changsun would not have to accept Li Shimin's harem of beauties, would she?

Xiang Lan let out a slight sigh, tidied her garments, and while the hour was still early and Lord Bo was still on his way into the palace, she had to quickly inform His Majesty and Her Majesty of the matter.

Otherwise, if anyone asked later, it would be a loss of face.

She entered the wedding reception hall, head lowered, passed a group of dignitaries, and after being summoned, relayed Princess Gao Yang's excuse to His Majesty and Her Majesty.

Li Shimin and Empress Changsun exchanged a glance, their eyes showing considerable helplessness.

"You go down first and take good care of Tang'er."

"Yes, the maid bids farewell!"

Xiang Lan slowly withdrew, and Empress Changsun whispered, "Er Lang, don't blame Tang'er; that's just her nature, returning to the palace likely means she wants to avoid something."

"Moreover, Tang'er is indeed pregnant."

"I understand," Li Shimin nodded, sighing, "Actually, Tang'er's fate has already been good; when she was young we spoiled her, after marrying her to Zi An, it may seem they quarrel, but Zi An is actually accommodating her."

"As for Tang'er, Li Lizhi, and Zi An, we won't intervene; let the young handle it themselves. After today, we won't need to worry about the three of them."

At the end, Li Shimin laughed.

"That's true," Empress Changsun also laughed, "Descendants have their own blessings; we have done what we should, said what we should, and now all that remains is to bless them."

Li Shimin nodded and brought up another matter, "Enough of that; I wonder... should I go to Zi An's place?"

"Zi An's parents have passed; should I go over and act as an elder?"

He was referring to the ceremony of paying respects to the parents during the wedding.

Empress Changsun pondered briefly, shook her head, "Let's forget it; last time Gao Yang married we didn't go, but we did for Li Lizhi's wedding. How would Tang'er feel?"

"Let it be then; the children's harmony matters more than any formality."

"Fine, I'll follow your lead!" Li Shimin actually thought the same, but he had to consider Empress Changsun's opinion, which is why he raised it.

Now that Empress Changsun says so, there's naturally no problem.

"Come, help me inside; I'll go see Li Lizhi!"

Empress Changsun beckoned two female officials and then gestured for Li Shimin to enter.

After asking the exact time, Li Shimin agreed, but instead of having the officials assist, he personally supported Empress Changsun into Li Lizhi's chambers.

At this moment, Li Lizhi had already put on the wedding dress sewn by Empress Changsun herself, sitting upright before a bronze mirror, awaiting the officials to style her.

"You all go down; I'll come myself!"

"Mother?" Li Lizhi was startled, then tried to stand, but Empress Changsun signaled her to sit again.

Li Lizhi pursed her lips, "Mother, let the officials handle these matters; your delivery is imminent, how could you do this?"

Empress Changsun looked at her poised daughter, her gaze indescribably gentle, "Li Lizhi, you've grown up; you're no longer the little girl who once demanded the Empress feed her. Unnoticed, you're now to become a wife, and from now on, Mother may no longer be able to help you much."

"Today, may Mother help you with your hair once?"

Li Lizhi's heart trembled, and her eyes reddened in an instant.

"Alright..."

Empress Changsun gave a slight smile, ordered a stool to be brought and placed behind Li Lizhi, and sat herself upon it.

She took the comb from a palace maid and first tidied Li Lizhi's hair.

Looking at herself and her daughter in the bronze mirror, she murmured softly as the comb slowly slipped down.

"Comb through to the end!"

"Second comb, raise the tray to eye level!"

"Three combs, grandchildren fill the hall!"

Li Lizhi heard the familiar words, and the tears that had been swirling in her eyes finally burst; the tears slowly slid down her face, but the corners of her mouth lifted slightly, revealing a sincere smile.

Unconsciously she began to recite along with Mother Empress.

"One comb to the top, wealth and honor need not worry!"

"Two combs to the top, no illness and no worries!"

"Three combs to the top, many children and long life......."

The ever‑silent Li Shimin listened to the mother and daughter speaking in unison, and his heart grew increasingly uneasy.

Yet he also knew that when his daughter grew up, she would inevitably have to be married off.

Zi An is wonderful, and his daughter also likes her.

He should feel glad about it.

Li Shimin could only comfort himself in his heart this way.

"......"

"....... Ten combs to the end, perfect in every way, joy!"

Reciting to the end, Empress Changsun also reddened her eyes......

"......."