Chapter 10: The Duke's Residence’s Young Miss from a Collateral Branch 5
A few more days passed, and news broke from the palace that a selection of concubines would be held.
The selection, which had been suspended for ten years, was to resume this year. However, this time it was a small selection, meaning that suitable marriageable women from official families in Kyoto could all sign up. The Dingguo Duke, having received frantic hints and clear instructions from Eunuch Su, registered the names of both his niece and his own daughter.
Seven days later, all the selected maidens entered the palace.
Learning etiquette and rules exhausted Ning Yan greatly. One evening after dinner, she took Cui'er for a stroll in the Imperial Garden and happened to encounter Pei Che, whom she had met once before.
Just as she was about to turn and avoid him, she heard the eunuch beside Pei Che say, “Whose maiden is this? Why have you not yet greeted His Highness the Crown Prince?”
Ning Yan:… …It was the Crown Prince! But it made sense; at this age and time, no one else but the Crown Prince would appear in the palace.
After all, the Second Prince was only thirteen.
“Greetings, Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”
Pei Che walked a few steps forward and stopped in front of Ning Yan. After a moment of hesitation, he still extended his hand to help her up, “You may rise.”
His fingertips touched the soft hand of the woman, and the warm, smooth sensation made the Crown Prince quickly withdraw his hand.
Soon, the Crown Prince left in a hurry, not even saying an extra word.
Three more days passed. Four of the selected maidens were bestowed upon other princely mansions to become secondary consorts or concubines, while all other maidens were sent back.
Then, Duke Dingguo's Mansion received an imperial decree of marriage.
Ning Yan became the Crown Princess.
The Emperor and Empress were particularly “eager for the marriage,” and the wedding date was set for just half a month later.
Ning Yan hadn't expected to be favored by the Crown Prince, but since she was about to marry, it was time to avenge the Dingguo Duke's Madam.
That day, Cui'er, who was keeping an eye on the main courtyard, returned to report, “Miss, the Madam has gone to the pond to feed the fish.”
Ning Yan immediately rose, “Then let’s go too.”
Cui'er quickly grabbed the fish food she had prepared earlier and followed.
By the pond, the Dingguo Duke's Madam was leaning over the railing, watching the fish in the pond. She heard footsteps and glanced in Ning Yan’s direction.
Ning Yan bowed and greeted her. She had inquired beforehand: the four maids around the Madam could not swim, and on the day the Original Host had her accident, Cui'er had been sent away. It was only when Cui'er realized something was wrong and returned to find the Original Host that the Original Host was rescued.
Therefore, she also sent away the Duke's Madam’s two maids.
“Yanyan, you will be getting married in a few days. Your maternal aunt is truly happy for you.”
“Maternal aunt, in a few days you will have a princess for a daughter-in-law. Yanyan is also happy for you.”
The Dingguo Duke's Madam’s face stiffened. Ning Yan was still so tactless; no wonder she had never liked her.
“Is maternal aunt unhappy? Then perhaps Yan'er can help maternal aunt be happy.”
After speaking, she grabbed the Dingguo Duke's Madam’s arm and pulled her closer to the railing. Then, with a strong push, she shoved her into the pond.
With a “plop,” a large splash of water rose from the pond. The Dingguo Duke's Madam shrieked in fright, “Help, help me… …!”
Ning Yan watched coldly, seeing the Dingguo Duke's Madam’s eyes widen with increasing terror, watching her slowly approach death.
Cui'er was utterly terrified by this scene, “Miss, what, what if the National Duke or the Heir Apparent finds out what you’ve done?”
“If they find out, I’ll tell them the truth. She did the first, I do the fifteenth. Fair and just.”
Moreover, she was now the Crown Princess; even if her maternal grandmother found out, she wasn't afraid. Would they dare to spread the word?
Seeing the Dingguo Duke's Madam swallow a few mouthfuls of dirty water and grow weaker, Ning Yan’s lips curved into a smile. Just then, footsteps came from afar; it must be those two maids returning. Ning Yan thought to herself: Her good maternal aunt was quite lucky.
“Cui'er, let’s go back.”
“Ah? Ah! Go, we’re going now.”
Ning Yan returned to her room and lay down on the small couch to rest. She soon fell asleep. When she woke up, she heard a servant reporting that the Madam had fallen into the water and, after being rescued, remained unconscious. The National Duke had called an imperial physician who used acupuncture to revive her, but it was said she had been suffocating for too long and might be paralyzed in bed from now on.
“Also, those two personal maids serving the Madam were beaten to death today.”
Ning Yan hummed, “Who gave the order?”
“It, it was Old Madam.”
Ning Yan raised an eyebrow. That meant the Duke's Madam, upon waking, was unwilling to accept it and told the truth, so Old Madam directly silenced the serving maids.
Of course, it could also be pure anger, just like how the maids who served her were beaten to death. In ancient times, the lives of servants were worthless.
Although her good maternal aunt didn't die, the current outcome pleased Ning Yan even more.
Living a life worse than death was far more agonizing than simply dying.
Soon, the day of the Crown Prince’s wedding arrived.
Pei Che personally came to escort the bride, showing the Crown Prince’s Pay attention to for this marriage. The Dingguo Duke and his son were smiling from ear to ear. Finally, it was Song Rui, the cousin, who personally carried her onto the bridal sedan chair.
After that, they entered the Eastern Palace for the wedding ceremony. Soon, Ning Yan was sent to the bridal chamber.
Today, the Emperor and Empress were particularly happy. Not only did they preside over the entire wedding, but at the banquet, they specifically instructed that the Crown Prince should not drink too much. After toasting two tables, they had him sent back to the bridal chamber.
Ning Yan heard footsteps and moved her head slightly, “Your Highness.”
“Mm.”
Pei Che walked over and lifted the bridal veil from Ning Yan’s head.
Truly, a hibiscus could not compare to the beauty’s face. Pei Che was utterly captivated, “Everyone, leave.”
The matchmaker had no choice; the ceremony wasn't finished, but she was dismissed. But dared she disobey the Crown Prince’s words?
Pei Che’s gaze was somewhat impure, but he still remembered that his Crown Princess was hungry. “Are you hungry? I’ll have someone prepare food for you.”
Ning Yan smiled, “Thank you, Your Highness, for your concern.”
Pei Che’s face turned red again. His Crown Princess truly possessed the charm to captivate a city with one smile and a nation with another. He felt that if she smiled again, he would truly lose control.
Soon, the food was brought up. Ning Yan invited Pei Che to eat with her, but in truth, neither of them was focused on eating. They hastily filled their stomachs and then had the food removed.
After they had both washed, Pei Che pulled her onto the bed.
Ning Yan expected to face a passionate storm, yet, this man couldn’t even find the way in.
Ning Yan grabbed Pei Che’s wrist, “Your Highness, have you never looked at erotic paintings?”
Pei Che remained silent. He would feel nauseous looking at those, so he had only flipped one page before throwing it away.
Ning Yan directly pushed Pei Che aside, then rolled over and pressed him down.
Pei Che still tried to resist. Ning Yan found him disobedient, so she simply tied his hands with her sash.
“This Consort will personally teach Your Highness.”
Du Momo, sent by the Empress, and Chief Eunuch Su, sent by the Emperor, both pressed their ears against the door, listening intently. When they heard ambiguous sounds from inside, they were more excited than on their own wedding nights!
About two quarters of an hour later, a request for water came from inside. The two even secretly peeked into the inner chamber and saw several discarded nightclothes on the floor, indicating a fierce battle.
The two quickly withdrew their peeking heads but still didn’t leave. That night, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince called for water a total of four times, and each time the duration was longer than the last. When the room finally fell silent, the two returned to report to their respective masters.
The Emperor, who had taken three days off because of his son’s marriage, laughed heartily, “Good, good! Now I can finally rest assured!
Su Fu, go to my private treasury now and move six boxes of items that the Crown Princess can use.
Mm, pick them out and prepare them first, but by no means disturb the young couple’s rest. They can come to offer tea whenever they like; no one is allowed to rush them.”
The Empress likewise said, “Du Momo, you also go and select a few boxes of jewelry and ornaments. The Crown Princess is beautiful; any kind of jewelry will suit her. Just choose the most valuable ones and send them all to her.”
Both received their orders and immediately went to prepare the rewards.
The Empress then said to the Emperor, “Yesterday, Consort Wan even wanted me to bestow several concubines upon the Crown Prince, saying something about letting the Crown Prince have many descendants early. I casually asked if she had any candidates, and it turned out she said her illegitimate younger sister could.”
The Emperor immediately showed displeasure, “Don’t listen to her. Don’t interfere with the Crown Prince’s bedroom affairs either. What I want is a legitimate grandson. Both the young couple are beautiful; any child they have, regardless of gender, will definitely be a peerless beauty!”
The Crown Prince’s situation was special; perhaps cultivating one plot of land might yield sprouts. If flowers bloomed everywhere, he might get nothing at all.
Furthermore, back then, he had so many concubines in his harem not because he wanted them, but because when he was a prince, the late Emperor bestowed them upon him, and he couldn’t refuse them, nor could he avoid sleeping with them. Even when he was just a prince, how many children were lost in his backyard?