In the restaurant beside the road that Princess Zhaohua’s bridal procession had to pass through, there was a slender young man sitting by the window. He was holding a wine cup in his hand and his figure was as tall and straight as a pine tree. Young women would flush after seeing his handsome appearance. It was said that he was Baili Jinchuan who had recovered from his injuries.
Baili Jinchuan’s face was still a little pale. He raised his head and drank all the wine in the wine cup. The pain on his forehead caused the look in his eyes to sink. He couldn’t help but raise his hand to caress his forehead. There was a scar on it. The wound was so deep that it was impossible not to have a scar. When he heard this news, the pain in his heart was almost unbearable.
What made it even more difficult for him to believe was that most of the anger and heartache that was almost unbearable to him didn’t arise from the fact that he would no longer be qualified for the throne from now on, but from Shen Ninghua’s disgust and rejection of him.
Baili Jinchuan poured another cup of wine and raised his head to drink. He tightly pinched the wine cup in his hand, but he was no longer able to break it now. His wrist was so badly injured that it was almost impossible for him to recover his previous strength and skill.
Closing his eyes, he recalled the scene when he first saw Shen Ninghua. His heart was filled with poignancy and sullen pain. Shen Ninghua… Shen Ninghua… This name was deeply engraved in his mind like an imprint. However hard he tried, he couldn’t forget it.
After the sound of firecrackers ended, the faint sound of festive music could be heard. Baili Jinchuan clenched his fists. A wave of hatred surged out from his heart. “Shen Ninghua!”
Inside her mansion, Shen Ninghua finished dealing with the servants who wanted to murder Old Lady Xiao and turned around to return to Ruixi Courtyard.
Shen Xuanhua and Shen Xuanlin were standing face to face, almost on the verge of fighting.
Shen Ninghua looked at Baili Anning who was watching aside. “What happened? Weren’t they just getting along well a moment ago?”
Baili Anning covered her lips and chuckled. “What other reasons could there be? It is because of you. You are the bride today. When you set out to get on the bridal sedan, your feet cannot touch the ground. The two brothers are vying to be the one who carries you out.”
Hearing this, Shen Ninghua also laughed.
Shen Xuanhua hurriedly walked over and said, “Eldest Sister, my mother told me to come. She asked me to carry you out on my back.”
Shen Ninghua nodded. Before she could say anything, Shen Xuanlin ran over and grabbed her arm. “Eldest Sister, you don’t have to choose him, right? I’m your younger brother, so naturally, you shall choose me!”
Shen Xuanhua was extremely unconvinced. “You are so young. Go and play. Don’t forget, I’m also Eldest Sister’s younger brother.”
Shen Xuanlin patted his own chest, and his voice was exceptionally loud and resolute. “Younger as I am, I am Eldest Sister’s younger brother. It is up to me to carry Eldest Sister. I am closer to her than you!”
“I won’t mess around with you. Eldest Sister, will you choose me or him? Who do you think is closer to you?”
Looking at the two pairs of hopeful eyes, Shen Ninghua felt warm in her heart. “Xuanlin, your elder brother Xuanhua is right. You are still young, this time…”
“Eldest Sister!” Shen Xuanlin’s face blushed and it was full of cautious prayers. Even his voice suddenly choked a little. Seeing this, Shen Ninghua had to stop her sentence.
“Eldest Sister, I’m not a child anymore. I’ve grown up to be a man now. I’m able to carry you!” Shen Xuanlin clenched his fists tightly and his eyes turned red.
He always remembered the time when Eldest Sister reached out her hands to him. Those slender but warm hands were the warmest part in his cold memories.
Shen Ninghua opened her mouth and looked at the very serious youth in front of her. “Speaking of which, I didn’t even notice. Unknowingly, you are already taller than me. In that case, I will choose you to carry me.”
Looking at the youth’s appearance, she could not bear to hurt him. After all, he was a good child with pure thoughts.
“Alright!” Shen Xuanlin’s eyes were still red, but his face was filled with joy. He looked at Shen Xuanhua proudly and even raised his fist to show off his strength.
Shen Xuanhua curled his lips and quietly mocked him, “Humph, Eldest Sister chose you because she saw you were anxious and about to cry. Otherwise, she wouldn’t do that. Be cautious. If you can’t carry Eldest Sister steadily and fall down, you know how I will punish you!”
“I won’t!”
“Humph, I gave this chance to you.”
“Eldest Sister chose me!”
Looking at the two brothers quarreling, Baili Anning couldn’t help but laugh. A trace of faint envy arose in her heart. “Ninghua, your two brothers have such a good relationship.”
Shen Xuanlin and Shen Xuanhua turned around at the same time and said in unison, “Who has a good relationship with him?”
Baili Anning laughed. “Look at your tacit understanding. Do you still say that your relationship is not good?”
Shen Xuanlin and Shen Xuanhua turned to look at each other and snorted. “Humph! That’s not the case.”
Nurse Quanfu walked in and greeted Shen Ninghua and Baili Anning with a smile, “Greetings, Your Highnesses.”
“Nurse, as you were.”
The nurse smiled and said to Shen Ninghua, “Your Highness, it’s time to get on the bridal sedan.”
“Yes.”
When Shen Ninghua nodded her head, other nurses behind Quanfu moved forward to gently pluck the fine hair on Shen Ninghua’s face, comb her hair, and put on makeup for her.
Normally, she didn’t use any makeup. Today, she was dressed splendidly and her appearance was exceptionally stunning.
Baili Anning looked at Shen Ninghua’s increasingly soul-stirring appearance. A trace of gloom flashed through her eyes, and a thought suddenly surged in her mind. If such a beautiful woman was born in a chaotic era, she would definitely bring disaster to the country and the people. When she lived in a peaceful dynasty, she would be a rare treasure that the nobles or princes fought for. No wonder her second brother was unable to forget about her and used all means to obtain her.
However, Shen Ninghua was now about to marry someone else, but her second brother was still obsessed with her. How was he going to face and handle the situation?
Baili Anning suppressed the worry in her heart and sighed slightly.
The four of Shen Ninghua’s most trusted maids all put on festive clothes today. Bai Ruo, who had always been steady, was so nervous that she didn’t know what to do.
Because Shen Ninghua had separated from the Shen family, her marriage was handled solely by the Internal Affairs Department. Therefore, things like covering her head with a red veil cloth were done by Nurse Quanfu.
“Bai Ruo, take good care of the mansion. Don’t make any mistake. When an emergency occurs, you know what to do.”
“Yes, Miss.”
After warning her of something else, Shen Ninghua took a deep breath and looked at Nurse Quanfu, who was waiting aside. “Thank you for your help, nurse.”
“My pleasure!” Nurse Quanfu bowed and respectfully put the red veil cloth on the phoenix coronet worn by Shen Ninghua. “Her Highness is now getting on the bridal sedan!”
Shen Xuanlin clenched his fists and stiffly walked over to Shen Ninghua, whispering, “Eldest Sister, don’t worry, I won’t let you fall down. I have the strength.”
With her head covered by the veil, Shen Ninghua curled her lips and said, “Alright, I trust you.”
Her gentle voice seemed to carry magic power, and Shen Xuanlin suddenly calmed down. He bent down to let Shen Ninghua clutch to his back. Then, he steadily stood up with Shen Ninghua on his back.
After crossing the door of the room, Shen Xuanlin walked steadily, and his slightly childish face was filled with seriousness. “Eldest Sister?”
“Yes?”
“If brother-in-law bullies you, I will definitely avenge you.”
“Alright.”
“Eldest Sister, I know that although you are a princess, you are not always happy. If you are willing to be always a princess, I will work hard to join the army and make a great career to back you up. If someday you don’t want to be a princess any more, then I will work hard to practice martial arts and become the most powerful martial arts expert. I will take you away from the imperial court and do whatever you want to do.”
“Alright.”
“Eldest Sister, if brother-in-law were not faithful to you, don’t be too sad. When I grow up, I will definitely beat him. If I still can’t beat him by that time, I will devise a plan for him to kill me, and then you can use my death as an excuse to kill him to vent your anger!”
Shen Ninghua’s eyes reddened, but the smile on her lips deepened. “Silly child, don’t underestimate me. Don’t forget that I know medical skills. If your brother-in-law treats me badly, I have various ways to kill him myself.”
“En, Eldest Sister, don’t be soft-hearted.”
“Alright, I promise you.”
Shen Xuanlin was full of joy and revealed a big smile. Then, perhaps he felt that this wasn’t serious, so he tried his best to conceal the smile. After arriving at the bridal sedan, Shen Xuanlin carefully placed Shen Ninghua into it.
“Eldest Sister, I can’t bear to part with you.”
Although the youth’s back was immature, his footsteps were exceptionally steady. She would definitely protect such a child for the rest of his life.
“What are you reluctant to part with? You are still a child. After I get married, you will still live in my newly-built princess mansion.”
Seeing that the sedan curtain fell down, Shen Xuanlin stared blankly for a moment. Then, he understood what she meant. Eldest Sister did not abandon him and she let him live in her new mansion. Haha, he jumped excitedly. Then, he mounted his horse and escorted Shen Ninghua’s bridal sedan to the princess mansion.
Chu Junyi was dressed in red auspicious clothing. His hair was tied at the top of his head with a golden headdress decorated with jade and ribbon. His handsome face was flawless like a carved work of art. His usually cold eyes carried warm joy as if they were filled with spring sunshine. They were warm, lovely, and multicolored.
Suddenly, he felt a chill on his back. The light in his eyes flickered. Then, he smiled. “It must be Ninghua thinking about me…”
Baili Jinchuan stood at the window of the restaurant, his gaze calm and distant as he watched the grand bridal procession downstairs. Then, he waved his hand and a stealthy guard dressed in black jumped out. “Master.”
“Is there any movement on the side of the Crown Prince?”
“Master, they have already taken action.”
“Alright, let’s wait and see what will happen. Go up and help them at the critical moment.”
“Yes, Master.”
The newly built princess mansion was exceptionally gorgeous. It was nearly twice the size of the mansion of the Shen family where Shen Ninghua originally lived. On the towering gate hung a large golden plaque. His Majesty had personally written down the inscription that read Princess Zhaohua Mansion Built at Imperial Command.
The towering pillars were wrapped with a piece of red silk cloth. Chu Junyi was dressed as a bridegroom and rode a tall horse to welcome the bride. Because Shen Ninghua was a princess, there was no need for the customary procedure of kicking the door of the sedan. Instead, Chu Junyi must go forward to greet her.
“Chu Junyi greets Your Highness.”
When the bridal sedan stopped, the joyous music became even more vigorous. However, Chu Junyi could tell the voice that carried a clear and cold intent. “As you were.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
When the curtain was lifted, Shen Ninghua dressed in red was helped out of the bridal sedan.
Chu Junyi’s pupils abruptly shrank, his eyes flashing with astonishment. Her wedding dress was red like fire, and her appearance was exceptionally beautiful. Having a wife like this, what else would he ask for? As he thought about it, the tenderness in his eyes even intensified.
“Ninghua, it’s my fortune to have you as my wife.”