Chapter 164: Gifts, Promises, the Heart's Desire

Xiao Jingyuan naturally wouldn't do anything to Pei Zhi at the moment; the other side deliberately came in red clothes, first to cause trouble, second to provoke him.

He knew Pei Zhi's calculations all too well.

The case in Jiangting County involves Prince Rui, originally a hot potato; Pei Zhi would love to find an excuse to extricate himself.

If he were to strike today, given Pei Zhi's cunning, he would surely use the pretext of suffering humiliation and injury to resign before the emperor, naturally dropping the case at hand, which would instead let the other side get exactly what he wanted.

"Heir Apparent, the Junior Tutor over there..." Qingfeng said, his tone full of resentment. Pei Zhi dared to spoil the Heir Apparent's wedding, simply hateful!

Xiao Jingyuan said calmly: "Just a clown stirring trouble, no need to pay attention."

Pei Zhi merely wanted to see him lose composure; he wasn't that impatient.

Still, he had noted this debt.

Pei Zhi's existence was like a thorn lodged in his throat, constantly reminding him of something.

Xiao Jingyuan's expression unchanged, his mood somewhat affected, he had drunk a few more cups.

Half of the officials had come; usually there were few chances to talk with Xiao Jingyuan, but now seeing him pleased, everyone gathered to toast him, taking the opportunity to chat and curry favor.

The Crown Prince also seized the opportunity, insisting on getting Xiao Jingyuan drunk.

Xiao Jingyuan was pulled by a crowd into idle chatter, feeling extremely displeased; though today was a joyous occasion and he couldn't openly lose his temper, he could only endure patiently.

As the hour grew late, Xiao Jingyuan could no longer hold back, giving Qingyun a subtle glance behind him without changing his expression.

Qingyun, who had been by his side for years, instantly understood, quietly nudging Qingfeng beside him with his elbow, then leaned in to whisper two sentences.

The two immediately stepped forward, one on each side, naturally supporting Xiao Jingyuan's arms.

Qingfeng bowed to the crowd and laughed: "Lords, the Heir Apparent has drunk too much, he's drunk! Look, his steps are unsteady, so stop urging him. Soon he must enter the bridal chamber; we can't let the bride wait anxiously, can we?"

Xiao Jingyuan lowered his head, shoulders slightly slumped, his steps even staggered a bit, appearing quite drunk.

Seeing this, the crowd also didn't dare to detain him further; on a joyous day, one shouldn't truly intoxicate someone to insensibility.

Seeing Xiao Jingyuan "drunk," the Crown Prince, though somewhat unwilling to let go, could only laugh: "Forget it, for the bride's sake, I'll let you off today!"

Qingyun and Qingfeng hurriedly thanked the lords, half-supporting, half-carrying Xiao Jingyuan toward the bridal chamber.

Just after turning the corridor, away from the crowd's sight, Xiao Jingyuan instantly straightened, his eyes clear—where was any trace of drunkenness?

Qingfeng chuckled secretly: "Heir Apparent, your acting is too good not to be a storyteller."

Xiao Jingyuan raised his hand and slapped him on the back of the head: "Even daring to mock the Heir Apparent himself."

Qingfeng laughed, lowering his head: "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare."

Ordinary families usually have the wedding‑room prank, but in Prince Yan's Manor no one dares to be so bold; thus all the way to the wedding room it was quiet, with no troublemakers popping out.

Shen Shuangning's dowry maids were still Aheng and Ahzhao; the two stood at the gate, and upon seeing Xiao Jingyuan approach, they both performed a respectful salute.

Ahzhao was mute and could not speak; Aheng called out, "Son‑in‑law."

Xiao Jingyuan merely glanced at the silent Ahzhao.

If he remembered correctly, this maid had drowned in the Lotus Pond of Prince Yan's Manor in her previous life, grieving Shen Shuangning for a long time.

But Shen Shuangning didn't know that the loyal servant she trusted had secretly contacted Prince Rui, been caught in the act by him, and out of guilt drowned herself.

Without Xie Yan's guidance behind this, Xiao Jingyuan would not believe it.

Ahzhao is someone close to Shen Shuangning; Xiao Jingyuan won't move against her, but if she remains dishonest in this life, don't blame him for being impolite.

Ahzhao sensed the Young Master's gaze fall on her, though only for a moment, yet inexplicably felt fear, thus lowering her head further.

Shen Shuangning thought she'd have to wait a long time, but Xiao Jingyuan returned just then; she looked up and their eyes met.

Shen Shuangning had just been thirsty, lifted her veil to drink tea, and hadn't had time to replace it when Xiao Jingyuan entered.

Shen Shuangning hurriedly lowered her veil, sat properly, as if nothing had happened.

Xiao Jingyuan blinked, then couldn't help laughing.

Suppressing his smile, he took the scale‑bar and lifted one end of the red silk, slowly raising the veil.

As the red silk slipped away, Shen Shuangning's face gradually appeared in the candlelight.

Though he had been perfectly sober moments before, now gazing at the person before him, he actually felt a slight tipsy dizziness.

"Seeing the Madam, I finally understand what 'heavy makeup, light makeup—both suitable' means."

Shen Shuangning's cheeks flushed under his gaze; she instinctively wanted to lower her head, but he gently lifted her chin.

"Ningning, you are truly beautiful."

Xiao Jingyuan leaned in, the strong wine rising over him; Shen Shuangning's lashes trembled as she asked, "How much have you drunk?"

Hearing this, Xiao Jingyuan paused, looking at the woman close at hand, at her soft lips, and whispered: "Thinking of coming to see you, I dared not drink much."

"What I want?" Shen Shuangning lightly pushed him and asked.

Xiao Jingyuan knew what she meant; his eyes dimmed slightly, then he smiled: "Accompany me in drinking the nuptial wine, and I'll give it to you."

It was merely a formality; Shen Shuangning did not refuse.

After drinking the nuptial wine, Shen Shuangning reached out, urging him to hand over the divorce deed he had promised.

Xiao Jingyuan then took something from his sleeve and placed it in her palm.

It was a white jade hairpin.

Shen Shuangning looked at him doubtfully: "Xiao Jingyuan, this isn't what I wanted..."

"This is what the His Majesty personally gave me at my coming‑of‑age ceremony." Xiao Jingyuan's voice was low and solemn.

Shen Shuangning's heart jolted.

She naturally knew the rules for a man's coming‑of‑age ceremony—at twenty one must undergo it, with a father or respected elder placing the cap. A bundle of hair and a cap signify the transition from youth to adulthood, bearing the family's burden.

But Xiao Jingyuan's coming‑of‑age ceremony was a special case known throughout the Great Liang Dynasty.

He was the first, and so far the only, scion of an aristocratic family to have the Emperor personally place his cap.

What's more astonishing is that his ceremony was not held in the prosperous mansions of Jingcheng, but completed in the austere Northern Border military camp.

When the news spread back to Jingcheng at the time, it practically caused an uproar throughout the court and populace.

Who doesn't know the emperor attends to myriad affairs day and night? Not to mention granting a crown to a subject—even ordinary nobles seeking a single verbal edict find it as hard as climbing to heaven.

Yet Xiao Jingyuan, not yet twenty, followed his father to garrison the frontier; in a surprise attack he personally led light cavalry to destroy the enemy camp, earning extraordinary merit. As the capping ceremony approached, the emperor unusually issued an edict, traveling thousands of miles from Jingcheng to the northern frontier, and performed the capping rite before his military tent.

At the moment the gold crown was placed on his head, the whole army shouted "Long live!"

For a time, all nobles and officials in the capital envied him; countless scions of aristocratic families looked up to him as a benchmark, yet no one could replicate that glory.

Precisely for this reason, later, no matter how outstanding the noble youths who emerged in the capital, they unconsciously felt three-tenths shorter in Xiao Jingyuan's presence.

This glory personally granted by the Son of Heaven had long become his most dazzling mark, and also a height others could hardly reach.

Shen Shuangning lowered her gaze to the white jade hairpin in her palm; beneath its icy cool jade lay a weight of a thousand jun.

She instinctively moved to return it to him: "This is too precious; I cannot accept it."

Xiao Jingyuan pushed her hand back and said: "When the Son of Heaven crowned me, he said, 'The cap is the beginning of rites; having undertaken the duty of family and state, one must also guard the heart's direction.' Now I give it to you, as if entrusting you with my past, my glory, and my promise to protect you completely hereafter."

Xiao Jingyuan raised his hand, gently brushing the hairpin on her bun, his gaze firm and tender: "Ningning, accept it; you are my heart's direction."