Chapter 131: Song Xizhi's Wedding

Until Shen Shuangning admitted she had something going on with Xiao Jingyuan, Su Ran stopped pressing about that "three days later" matter and turned to ask something else.

Shen Shuangning said everything she could, and what she couldn't say she kept deep in her heart.

What Su Ran learned from her was that on the spring hunt they encountered an ambush, Xiao Jingyuan sacrificed himself to save her, and afterward Shen Shuangning tended to him carefully, which is how they developed an unusual bond.

After hearing her finish, Su Ran was shocked to realize that her close friend had gone through such a major event and had even been dragged into the rebel faction, leaving her heart overwhelmed.

Su Ran couldn't help but say: "Heavens, Ningning, I admire you so much—you went through this and still act like nothing happened! If it were me, I'd have been scared to death!"

Shen Shuangning startled, then slowly realized what it was.

Yeah, how many times in a normal person's life can they experience such perilous and bloody moments?

But why did she feel little afterward? She didn't even have a nightmare.

What's more, when she tried to recall it, the scene of that day grew hazy—only flashes of blade light and sword shadows passed through her mind, plus the image of Xiao Jingyuan kneeling after his severe injury...... Yet she clearly had killed someone.

At this moment Shen Shuangning suddenly remembered that after she returned in a daze that day, Pei Zhi had someone send her a bowl of medicine.

After drinking it she fell into a deep sleep, having no bad dreams at all, and afterward she rarely thought back to that day.

Right now, telling Su Ran about it even feels like she's talking about someone else's affair......

A warm breeze blew in from the side, yet Shen Shuangning felt a delayed chill rising in her bones.

Three days later, it was June 18, the day the Crown Prince welcomed Song Xizhi into his household.

Although it was merely taking a secondary consort, the proceedings were extraordinarily grand—even livelier than when he first took his primary consort.

All civil and military officials turned out to offer congratulations, and the Eastern Palace was bustling to the extreme.

Shen Shuangning was among the invited guests; she accompanied her mother to prepare a gift and came along, making her way through the throng and exchanging pleasantries all the way.

Coincidentally, that day she ran into Bai Xiaosheng, the Young Master Bai.

This time, when facing Shen Shuangning, his usual frivolous and flirtatious demeanor vanished instantly without a trace.

Even stepping forward a few paces seemed to make him hesitant; he merely bowed from a distance and then hurried away.

A chill ran down Bai Xiaosheng's spine: if he had known beforehand that the girl he teased was likely his future sister-in-law, he would never dare to approach, even if beaten to death.

Shen Shuangning only later learned of this Young Master Bai's relationship with Xiao Jingyuan; aside from being a little surprised, she didn't really care.

After the gift was registered by the Chief Eunuch of the Bureau of Rites, Shen Shuangning and Lady Liu followed the palace maid's directions, weaved through the crowd, and took their seats outside the Main Hall.

Palace maids passed by carrying gold trays; the silver cups overflowed with candied fruit, and every face was flushed with joy.

Shen Shuangning's gaze swept across the crowd, but she never caught sight of the Crown Princess.

Until the third quarter of the morning period, an attendant eunuch droned out a long announcement, the Emperor Xuanwen and Empress arrived, and after waiting for the auspicious moment, the newlyweds in their festive robes entered side by side, yet the place meant for the Crown Princess remained empty.

Shen Shuangning's heart sank slightly; the Crown Princess was always meticulous and observant of propriety—there was no reason for her to be absent from such an important occasion without cause.

Now that she still hasn't appeared, the only possibility is that she is too ill to get out of bed.

Though the Crown Princess was absent, few noticed, and everyone tacitly avoided mentioning it.

After all, it was clear that the Crown Prince now cherished the Secondary Consort most.

Empress Wang sat beside the Emperor, merely casting a faint glance at the empty seat; her face still bore a dignified, proper smile, but when she looked at the Crown Prince, a hint of mockery flickered in her eyes.

The Crown Prince glanced at the vacant seat, furrowed his brow slightly, said nothing, then turned and took Song Xizhi's hand.

Shen Shuangning turned her gaze to Song Xizhi, dressed in bridal attire.

The Primary Consort's robe features a phoenix crown and rosy clouds, with embroidered golden phoenixes with outstretched wings on the hem; the Secondary Consort's attire, no matter how splendid, bears only embroidered peacocks.

This subtle yet clear difference is like a fine needle lightly pricking the eye amidst this noisy celebration, conveying an ineffable meaning.

The Secondary Consort wore a red veil; no one could make out her expression at that moment.

The guests sized up the bride, their expressions varied, but sighs prevailed: the Crown Prince and the Song family clearly had a grudge, yet he favored the daughter of his enemy and married her—who would have thought the royal household also harbored a romantic.

Considering the Song family's present situation, one couldn't tell whether to say Song Xizhi was fortunate or unfortunate.

But Shen Shuangning knew that, compared to her previous life, Song Xizhi was far better off now.

The Song family was not confiscated or exiled; Song Xizhi did not need to bind herself to Prince Chen, and although she entered the Eastern Palace as a Secondary Consort, her husband is none other than the current Crown Prince.

Now the Crown Prince has Pei Zhi assisting him, having seized the initiative, so he may not fall into the same predicament as in his past life.

If the Crown Prince eventually ascends to the highest seat of the Forbidden City, Song Xizhi will become an imperial consort, and it is highly likely she will rise to be the Empress Dowager, honored beyond measure.

Thus the Song family also gains a chance to make a comeback. By then, who would remember that Song Xizhi was once the daughter of a traitorous official?

Song Xizhi's marriage to the Crown Prince brings nothing but benefit.

Shen Shuangning merely hadn't expected that, in this life without her interference, Song Xizhi and Xiao Jingyuan would still not end up together.

A sudden sense of relief welled up in her heart; it seemed their fate simply wasn't deep enough, not that she had torn them apart.

As a close attendant of the Emperor, Xiao Jingyuan naturally came as well; at this moment he sat to the left of Emperor Xuanwen.

After all, it was the day of the Crown Prince's great joy; unlike his usual somber dark brocade robes, he now wore a stone-green brocade robe with silver-thread cloud patterns along the hem, giving off a warm, moist sheen.

Although his brows and eyes remained aloof and indifferent, this slightly brighter hue lent him a touch more mortal air than usual, yet the aloof aura about him still kept those nearby from daring to approach.

He sat upright, playing with a white jade thumb ring in his hand; his gaze seemed to fall on the bustle within the hall, yet also as if he saw nothing at all.

Pei Zhi, the Junior Tutor of the Crown Prince, was also seated nearby, not far from Xiao Jingyuan.

Clad in a snow‑white long robe, his expression carried an air of transcendent detachment, as if the whole hall's festivity were separated from him by an invisible barrier.

Though they stood only a few steps apart, their auras gave a clear sense of separation.

The former was like cold jade reflecting light; the latter resembled a lone pine standing in snow.

Though both were rising stars, in this modest space they displayed, through utterly different bearing, their respective weight in the court.

Lady Liu's gaze first landed on Xiao Jingyuan, then swept past him and went straight to the Junior Tutor of the Crown Prince, her eyes taking on a hint of scrutiny.

Lady Liu recalled the letter her husband had sent not long ago; it actively mentioned this person, full of praise throughout, and went on to say: "If Pei Sanlang were to become my daughter's son‑in‑law, that would be excellent as well."

At that time the Yongning Marquis's manor had not yet encountered any change, and Lady Liu was satisfied with Xie Lin, so she did not consider anyone else.

But now, with the times changed, the situation is altogether different.

Lady Liu could only look for another match for her daughter.

In this way, the person her husband approved of in his letter naturally became her primary consideration.

The marriage of the duke's daughter had always been decided by Madame Liu, and since Shen Shuangning was her only daughter, she naturally paid special attention.

At this moment, she completely set aside her husband's opinion in his letter, relying solely on her own feelings, and earnestly sized up Pei Zhi.

Just from this scrutiny, the usually exacting Madame Liu could find nothing fault with.

The Pei family of the Duke of the State's mansion had a respectable standing, and moreover, Madame Pei had previously considered a marriage alliance......

Madame Liu pondered for a moment, then said to Shen Shuangning, 'Ningning, what do you think of that Young Master Pei?'

Shen Shuangning instinctively glanced toward the not‑far Pei Zhi.

How could she not know what her mother was scheming? She hurriedly dispelled that idea.

'Mother, you forgot—when I served as the princess's attendant reader in the palace, I still had to address the Junior Tutor as "Sir." Teacher and student have their proper order; how could we overstep?'

Madame Liu then realized and said, 'It was Mother who forgot.'

It's no wonder she forgot—Shen Shuangning's total time as an attendant reader in the palace was less than a month; although Pei Zhi had incidentally taught her and she called him "Sir," he really couldn't be considered a proper teacher.

Seeing Shen Shuangning so earnest, Madame Liu also found it hard to say anything more.

At the same time, she knew Shen Shuangning harbored no other thoughts toward Pei Zhi.

In the main hall, the Crown Prince and Song Xizhi performed the wedding bows, then kowtowed to the Emperor and Empress; after that, the rites were complete.

The consort, surrounded by palace attendants, first returned to the bridal chamber, while the Crown Prince stayed behind to entertain the guests.

The Emperor and Empress did not linger; they left as soon as noon arrived.

Having won his white moonlight, the Crown Prince was naturally elated; he walked over to Xiao Jingyuan with a wine cup in hand, placed his hand on the other's shoulder, and seemed like a victor.

'Young Master, rest assured; I will henceforth treat her well.'

Xiao Jingyuan twitched the corner of his mouth, took the wine cup offered by the attendant, clinked it politely with the Crown Prince, and said, 'Then I, your servant, congratulate Your Highness on having your wish fulfilled.'

The Crown Prince inexplicably felt as if he were punching cotton; his smile forced a little, and he was not really happy.

That day, Shen Shuangning returned early to the Duke's mansion; as night fell, that familiar yet indescribable feeling slowly welled up from her lower abdomen.

She sat on the bed, clutching the fabric at her chest into a tight ball; her breaths were scorching heat, and her legs felt somewhat weak.

'Aheng, quick.'

Fortunately, she had prepared in advance; she had Aheng fetch a basin of cold water, half‑extinguished the lamps, and sent away the few servants in the Orchid Garden.

She immersed herself in the cold water, desperately suppressing that unbearable feeling, hoping to endure it on her own.

In the end, she was unwilling, for she did not want to become entangled again with Xiao Jingyuan over such matters.

A short dagger lay within reach beside her; she thought that if she truly could not bear it, she would try bleeding herself.

Time trickled by, yet it felt as if she were being slowly sliced apart—each second an eternity.

Shen Shuangning leaned against the tub's wall, biting her slender fingers; her eyes were already veiled with a thin mist of tears, looking most pitiable.

Just then, a soft creak sounded, and the door was slowly pushed open from outside.

A tall, slender figure stood in the doorway backlit, its silhouette stretched by the indoor flickering candlelight and cast upon the floor.