Chapter 70: Who Is This Concubine For?

This Imperial Edict was written by Qi Zhaodi's own hand and stamped with his personal seal when Lin Qingyue went to the palace to see him a few days ago.

Lin Qingyue had intended to give it to Xie Shouzheng long ago, but it was delayed by the affairs of the Gu family, dragging on until now.

The main content was to have Xie Shouzheng follow Lin Qingyue to the Chiying Land to perform a soul-search on the Crown Prince; however, nothing was said about Xiao Hua, which was not the priority anyway.

Qi Zhaodi's original intention was to hope that Lin Qingyue would bring more men, but Lin Qingyue felt it was unnecessary; if too many people went, it would be eye-catching, and secondly, they would be of no use.

Yet if she brought no one at all, Qi Zhaodi would certainly be uneasy, so she selected Xie Shouzheng's troops.

After reading it, Xie Shouzheng was so excited that his hands began to tremble: "His Highness the Crown Prince... is there hope for His Highness? That is wonderful, that is wonderful!"

He asked Lin Qingyue urgently: "When do we depart?"

Lin Qingyue had a plan long ago: "Tomorrow night. While there is still time, arrange the affairs within the Profound Mirror Division. This matter is of great importance and must not be leaked."

"It will absolutely not be leaked!" Xie Shouzheng was unreliable in small matters, but he was very clear about major ones, and he immediately burned the Imperial Edict.

Suddenly, he remembered something else, turned around, and said: "By the way, isn't tomorrow night the day His Highness the Prince of Jin takes a concubine? He is taking a concubine, yet you, Deputy Envoy Lin, the legal wife, are leaving the capital on official business. The key is that the official business cannot be spread around for now. If this gets out, won't it become a case of you favoring a concubine and destroying your wife?"

Lin Qingyue smiled slightly: "Favoring a concubine and destroying my wife? Then I shall remove the 'favor' and see what ability she has to stir up trouble."

Dongfang Yan had originally only wanted to hold a simple ceremony for taking a concubine—a Secondary Consort is equivalent to a concubine.

But for the past two days, Lin Qingyue had been leaving early and returning late, ignoring him completely, which made him feel extremely annoyed.

Was she silently protesting his taking of a concubine? Since she didn't like it, why didn't she know how to come over and soften her stance toward him?

Shouldn't a woman coax her husband more?

Dongfang Yan felt he could not continue to spoil Lin Qingyue like this; he had to let her know the importance of him, her husband.

He recalled that on the night of his wedding night with Lin Qingyue, he had hinted to her with a cold face that the position of legal wife would be reserved for Lin Ruzhen in the future.

At that time, Lin Qingyue still knew how to be submissive, rather than being sharp-tongued the moment she opened her mouth as she did later.

After thinking it over, he decided to let Lin Qingyue feel the threat to her status once more, so that she might learn to please her husband.

Thus, he deliberately raised the specifications for taking the Secondary Consort, not only sending many betrothal gifts to Lin Ruzhen but also welcoming her in person.

That day, he specifically had Zhao An notify Lin Qingyue to attend the ceremony.

Lin Qingyue spent the day at the Profound Mirror Division arranging matters for after her departure from the capital.

After receiving Dongfang Yan's notification, she had just finished arranging the matters at hand, so she returned to Jin Wangfu, preparing to give the newlyweds a big surprise.

As the lanterns were lit, Jin Wangfu was decorated with lights and festoons; guests—well, none were invited. But the honor guard was grand, showing the importance placed on the newcomer.

Dongfang Yan was wearing a bright red wedding robe, looking decent enough, and was crouching... standing at the main gate to welcome the bride.

A Secondary Consort is not a legal wife, so by rights, he did not need to come out to welcome her himself, but to highlight his importance of Lin Ruzhen, he came out to welcome her personally.

Just as Lin Qingyue dismounted, the bridal sedan chair arrived; it was a bit too coincidental.

In fact, the bridal sedan chair should have arrived half an hour ago.

But at that time, Lin Qingyue had not yet returned, and Dongfang Yan had ordered: "The auspicious hour has not arrived; turn into the side alley and circle around before coming back."

As a result, they circled dozens of times, tiring the sedan bearers until they were like dogs, shouting one after another: "When will the auspicious hour arrive? We've circled so many times, we must be paid extra!"

Lin Ruzhen in the sedan chair was not having a good time either; to maintain her beautiful makeup and fresh breath, she hadn't eaten a grain of rice all day, and after being jolted for so long, she was about to collapse.

She couldn't help but ask the matchmaker: "Why haven't we arrived at the Wangfu yet?"

The matchmaker didn't know what madness His Highness the Prince of Jin was having; even though the auspicious hour had passed, he insisted it wasn't time yet, causing her, at her age, to follow the sedan chair for so long that her legs were about to break.

But the Wangfu was generous and paid well, so no matter how dissatisfied she was, she could still find a way to soothe the bride: "His Highness the Prince of Jin specially chose a new auspicious hour for you; please wait a little longer, we will be there immediately."

Upon hearing this, Lin Ruzhen became happy again: "His Highness actually chose an auspicious hour for me personally, which shows that he still loves me the most. Even if I can only be a Secondary Consort, sooner or later I can pull Lin Qingyue down from the position of legal wife!

After all, I grew up in the inner courtyard; I know how to win people's hearts, I am well-versed in those filthy tricks, and I have the Prince's favor. Within half a year, the entire inner courtyard of the Wangfu will be my, Lin Ruzhen's, world!"

In front of the Wangfu gate, Zhao An came to report: "Your Highness, the Princess's horse has already arrived at the main street and is turning toward the Wangfu!"

Dongfang Yan immediately perked up and hurriedly ordered: "The auspicious hour has arrived; you may welcome the bride!"

Lin Ruzhen, who had circled the alley dozens of times, was finally carried over, and the musicians inside the Wangfu began to play and make a scene at the same time.

Dongfang Yan even deliberately timed it to carry Lin Ruzhen out of the sedan chair himself—a treatment Lin Qingyue had never enjoyed.

The person on his back whispered delicately in his ear: "Your Highness—"

Dongfang Yan said gently: "Zhen'er, I have finally married you into my home; may we grow old together and live a smooth life!"

Lin Ruzhen was almost moved to tears: "Your Highness, to be able to marry you, I have no regrets even in death!"

Dongfang Yan turned around with Lin Ruzhen on his back and looked surprised: "Lin Qingyue, when did you return? Dressed in black, without any adornment, you truly have no dignity as a Princess!"

Lin Qingyue looked down at her clothes and said: "They are indeed a bit inappropriate; shall you all wait a while longer? I will go change my clothes?"

Lin Ruzhen was so hungry that her chest was sticking to her back, and she was eager to finish the ceremony so she could enter the bridal chamber. She was about to say something, but heard Dongfang Yan say: "Go change your clothes quickly!"

Lin Ruzhen: "..."

Did no one care about her? Did they not know that she, the bride, hadn't eaten all day?

"Your Highness, the auspicious hour has arrived; if we delay any longer, I fear it will be inauspicious."

"Whenever I perform the wedding ceremony, that is the auspicious hour!"

Lin Ruzhen: "..."

So what was the meaning of her circling the alley dozens of times just now waiting for the auspicious hour?

As for whether it was auspicious or not, Dongfang Yan truly didn't care; it was just taking a concubine, so there was no need to be too particular.

He didn't even invite guests tonight, holding only a single family banquet.

The reason he didn't invite guests wasn't because Dongfang Yan was reluctant to spend money, but mainly because he looked down on Lin Ruzhen's low birth; if it weren't for the memory of her saving his life back then, she wouldn't be worthy of standing beside him at all. Naturally, there was no need to make it known to everyone.