The Emperor looked at his favorite daughter with a mixture of confusion and unconcealed worry.
He knew clearly of her affection for that Zhao family lad. He wondered how distressed the girl must be by this scandalous affair.
Yet, she had sent him a letter, asking him to bless that pair of dogs and bitches. He couldn't fathom what she was plotting.
"My ungrateful child, you've grown too accustomed to life outside the palace and don't even think of visiting your old father often."
"Your daughter is here now, isn't she? I think of Father Emperor constantly. I even remembered to bring you delicious treats on my way to the palace."
The Emperor laughed heartily, "You do have some conscience. These pastries taste rather good."
The Emperor put down the pastry in his hand and looked at Jun Jiuli, wanting to say something but hesitating.
"I know what Father Emperor wants to say. You feel my attitude has changed a lot recently. But I am your daughter, and I cannot mistreat myself."
"It's good that you've come to your senses. You are a princess of Chu; what kind of good man can you not find? I think that Zhao lad is foolish. Marrying him might even affect our grandson's intelligence in the future."
Jun Jiuli chuckled at his words, and the father and daughter chatted merrily. Seeing her demeanor, the Emperor's doubts were dispelled. This was his daughter, after all.
He had expected her to be heartbroken for quite some time. Truly his daughter, resilient and unburdened.
When Jun Jiuli returned to her residence, she brought with her a large pile of imperial rewards. Dong Yi, her attendant, was beaming.
Recently, some audacious individuals had been gossiping about her princess, saying that no matter how precious her status, she was still abandoned. They claimed she had lost all face by having her future consort snatched away by a commoner girl.
Hmph, Dong Yi thought, as long as she had His Majesty's backing, the princess could marry two consorts if she wished, no, even ten!
Dong Yi was in high spirits. Her steps were light as she alighted from the carriage, her head held high like a victorious rooster.
"Why are you so happy? Did you find money?"
"This servant is happy for the princess. Now that we've made this trip to the palace, let's see if those people dare to gossip anymore."
"They are just gossiping rats who don't know their place. Little Dong Yi doesn't need to pay them any mind. Look, who among them dares to gossip in front of me?"
"I know all of this, but... but I feel wronged for Your Highness. It's clearly the fault of that Young Master Zhao. She is so lacking in etiquette and shame, and she even implicated the princess's reputation."
"The broken engagement doesn't affect me in any way. It was I who broke off the engagement."
"Mhm, mhm."
Zhao Guanjin recuperated in bed for half a month. Although still in pain, his walking showed no visible signs of his injury.
Wei Qianrui's pregnancy could not wait any longer. Although everyone knew she was pregnant, the Marquis of Wu'an's manor could not afford to lose face. They hurried to arrange the wedding between them before the pregnancy became too obvious.
Wei Qianrui had no family. In the nights preceding the wedding, the Marchioness settled her into a small courtyard she owned in the capital.
On the wedding day, Zhao Guanjin and his entourage went to pick her up with much fanfare. There was not a single dowry chest following the procession, making the wedding banquet the talk of the entire city.
Wei Qianrui felt extremely humiliated. She deeply resented the Marchioness for not giving her any face, for not even sparing some possessions to at least adorn her.
However, she had to maintain a proper smile. Only after the red veil was placed over her head did she breathe a sigh of relief, her entire face collapsing.
This wedding, apart from Zhao Guanjin and the spectators who were there to watch the drama unfold, was not a truly happy occasion for anyone.
Despite her reluctance, the Marchioness busied herself attending to the various ladies. After the banquet, she was too exhausted to move.
Marquis of Wu'an: "You've worked hard today, my dear."
"What is there to say about hard work? It's all what I should do. Who wouldn't when they have such a disappointing son?"
"I noticed that several families who received invitations did not come."
"Alas, what can I do? Those ladies all claimed to be busy and couldn't come. I also sent invitations to several princely estates and marquisates, but there was no reply."
At this point, the Marchioness's mood became somber.
"You don't need to be sad or upset. We sent the invitations, which fulfills our obligation. We don't need to worry too much about whether they come or not."
Seeing his expression, how could the Marchioness not care? All these were valuable connections and resources.
By offending the Grand Princess, the entire imperial family had ceased to associate with their manor.
If Zhao Guanjin were to inherit the title in the future and fail to gain the favor of the new Emperor, their manor would truly be finished.
"Go to sleep, don't think about it too much."
Zhao Guanjin eagerly lifted the red veil. Looking at Wei Qianrui, who was smiling and radiant, his entire heart fluttered.
"Qianrui, I've finally married you. Today is the happiest day of my life."
Wei Qianrui tightly gripped the apple in her hand, her eyes filled with affection as she replied softly:
"It is my greatest honor to marry Your Highness the heir. Today feels like a dream. Qianrui is truly so fortunate."
Zhao Guanjin stroked her head, "Silly girl, why are you still calling me heir? From now on, we are husband and wife. You should call me husband."
Wei Jingrui's face immediately flushed like a ripe peach, and she shyly called out "Husband."
Zhao Guanjin's heart felt as if it would melt from her call, and he felt buoyant.
Just then, Granny Song cleared her throat, and the two finally realized there was a living person present whom they had overlooked.
The atmosphere became somewhat awkward. Under Granny Song's guidance, they completed all the wedding rituals.
Before leaving, Granny Song reminded them not to consummate their marriage that night, for the sake of the child in her womb.
Zhao Guanjin came back to his senses. He then remembered the injury on his backside. His desire for intimacy during the bridal chamber was immediately dampened. After washing up, he held Wei Qianrui and slept for the night.
Early the next morning, someone came to call them to get up. In a place Zhao Guanjin could not see, Wei Qianrui's difficult days began.
The Marchioness vented all her anger on her. While those methods could not harm the child in her womb, they could drive a person mad.
She didn't even have a chance to complain, as Granny Song watched her constantly. She intentionally exposed herself, and Zhao Guanjin looked moved.
"Mother is willing to keep you by her side to learn etiquette. You should be grateful. Mother is doing this for our own good; she has good intentions. Don't be willful."
"Husband, but no matter what I do, Mother is never satisfied? She scolds me in front of a crowd of maids and servants if I don't do well. I am your wife, after all."
"Then you must be more diligent. If you learn properly, Mother won't criticize you. Do you want to be ridiculed by others when you go out and socialize in the future?"
"Sob, sob, sob, husband, do you dislike me for embarrassing you? Do you regret marrying me?"
"Can you stop being unreasonable? If you can't learn well yourself, do you blame others? Which noble lady in the capital learned this way? It's just you being melodramatic."
Wei Qianrui was so shocked that she forgot to cry. "You actually call me unreasonable and melodramatic? If those noble ladies are so good, why didn't you marry them? Let them be your heir's wife."
Zhao Guanjin rubbed his temples, utterly impatient. Qianrui had changed; she was no longer the charming, adorable, gentle, and kind person she used to be.
Now she was hysterical, like a shrew, and had lost all her former serene grace.
"You are truly impossible to reason with."
With that, Zhao Guanjin stormed out. Granny Song, standing outside the door, revealed a triumphant smile.
"Madam Heir, it's time for us to go to the Marchioness's to learn etiquette. If we're late, we'll have to copy books."
Her address of "Madam Heir" was filled with sarcasm. Wei Qianrui's chest heaved with anger, but she dared not show it.
Wiping away her tears, she tidied her appearance and walked out the door. As she entered the Marchioness's courtyard, many people stared at her uniformly.
They were all trying to find fault with her to earn favor. Wei Qianrui straightened her back even further, looking straight ahead, each step measured and steady.
She thought that as long as she worked harder and did better, she would eventually be in charge of this Marquis's manor.