It was a sunny day in the third lunar month.
The city of Shengjing had been preparing for this grand ceremony for a long time.
Shen Qing was dressed in a deep crimson wedding dress. The phoenix feathers embroidered with peacock feathers on it sparkled brightly under the sunlight, looking vivid and lifelike. She was like a phoenix spreading its wings and rising from the ashes, extremely dazzling.
In front of the Taiji Palace, the emperor and the empress stood hand in hand. The empress watched her daughter slowly walking towards them and kneeling down to kowtow. She tried her best to hold back her emotions so as not to lose her composure.
"Your daughter is getting married today. I come to bid farewell to Father and Mother. I'm going to a far - away place and won't be able to serve you filially. I wish Father and Mother good health and everlasting happiness."
Emperor Jiang Jing was also deeply touched. The empress picked up the feather fan on the plate beside her and said softly, "This is your choice. Mother supports you. Go."
Shen Qing took it with both hands and covered her face with it. Then, following the guidance of the maids and the wedding attendants, the group walked towards the wedding carriage in a mighty way.
The envoy for seeing off the bride this time was the newly - appointed Prince Ning, Shen Sizhi. And Prince Qin, Shen Liangzhi, would lead the army to escort the bride - seeing - off team to the border between the Jiang Kingdom and the Jing Kingdom. He would return along the original route only after handing over the team to the envoy for welcoming the bride.
As for Shen Sizhi, he would start his journey back to Shengjing only after finishing all the matters related to the marriage alliance in the capital of the Jing Kingdom.
The other people seeing off the bride could only go as far as the long pavilion thirty miles outside Shengjing.
She didn't have many friends here, so there weren't many people coming to see her off.
She quickly spotted a familiar white figure.
"Stop the carriage."
Liyue also saw Meng Hanqing. Knowing that they had something to say, she accompanied Shen Qing over and then consciously stood not far away to keep watch.
"Your Highness." Meng Hanqing bowed.
She was so beautiful today that he hardly dared to look directly at her.
"Why didn't you come to see me off in the palace, Dr. Meng?"
Meng Hanqing tightened his five fingers under his sleeve slightly. "There are too many people in the palace. Moreover... I have something for you, Your Highness."
He stretched out his hand, and there was a small jade bottle in his palm.
"This medicine was made by me after more than ten years of hard work. In a critical moment, it can protect your heart meridian. Each pill can buy you seven days."
Shen Qing stared at the small jade bottle and was momentarily speechless. "... This is too precious."
Meng Hanqing curled his lips slightly and held the medicine bottle out a bit further. "Take it. I know you need it, Your Highness."
Shen Qing had to admit that he was right. She really couldn't refuse something that could save her life.
"... Why are you so good to me?"
Meng Hanqing put the thing in her hand and said calmly, "Even if we weren't betrothed, we are still relatives connected by blood. There's no need to be so polite between relatives."
The medicine bottle in her palm still carried his body temperature. Shen Qing didn't know what to say. She could only hold his kindness tightly and put it away carefully.
"What are you going to do next, Dr. Meng?"
Seeing that she had taken it, Meng Hanqing finally felt relieved. His mood also improved a lot. "I'm going to travel around the world and cure the sick."
"That's great."
After Shen Qing said this, she didn't know what else to say. From the time they first met until now, he had helped her a great deal, but she didn't know how to repay him.
His simple word "relative" meant a great deal to her.
"Then I wish Dr. Meng peace, joy, and may all your wishes come true."
Meng Hanqing bowed in return. "Take care, Your Highness."
The farewell to Meng Hanqing wasn't long. It was just a small episode for the bride - seeing - off team. Only Shen Liangzhi and Shen Sizhi exchanged a look and shook their heads in unison.
...
The bride - seeing - off team didn't walk too fast, but neither did they go slowly. Finally, after a month, they arrived at the border between the Jiang Kingdom and the Jing Kingdom.
Ji Junye had set off back to the Jing Kingdom after Si Bao's birthday. Firstly, both countries had the custom that the bride and groom couldn't see each other before the wedding. Secondly, there were some things that he had to go back and prepare in person.
He wanted to give her the best.
The one who came to welcome the bride was Zhui Yun.
When Shen Qing saw the whole magnificent Jinwu Guard behind him, she didn't know what to say.
Using the Jinwu Guard to welcome the bride was not like using a cauldron to cook a chicken; it was like using it to cook an egg.
Shen Liangzhi also clicked his tongue a few times. He secretly thought that his brother - in - law really attached great importance to his sister. Then he exchanged the official documents with Zhui Yun, bid farewell to Shen Qing, and then turned back to the capital to report.
After entering the territory of the Jing Kingdom, a familiar feeling welled up in Shen Qing's heart. Maybe this was a sense of belonging. Even though her parents and relatives were from the Jiang Kingdom, she couldn't forget this land where she had grown up.
"Mother, when will we arrive?"
Si Bao looked listless. She was very excited when they first set off from the Jiang Kingdom and got on the carriage, but this excitement faded away in the bumpy ride of the carriage after just a few days.
She thought she would never want to ride in a carriage again in her life.
Shen Qing stroked Si Bao's head. "Soon. If you're bored, just ask Zhuxing to take you horse - riding."
She was also annoyed by riding in the carriage. Not to mention Si Bao, who was at an age full of energy. It was already very obedient of her not to cry and make a fuss along the way.
The team was carrying too many things, so they couldn't go fast. After another month of slow traveling, the carriage finally arrived at Shen Qing's princess mansion.
This princess mansion was funded by the Jiang Kingdom. It was her maternal home in the Jing Kingdom, and she would also get married from here.
Ji Junye originally planned to build a new one for her, but there wasn't enough time. So he renovated an old prince's mansion from the inside out.
Although it was just a renovation, its luxury was even greater than Ji Junye's own bedroom.
After such a long and tiring journey, Shen Qing fell into a deep sleep as soon as she lay on the soft big bed.
Ji Junye knew the moment the bride - welcoming team entered the capital city. From that moment on, he couldn't concentrate on anything. He just wanted to see her.
The Prince Rong beside the desk sighed faintly. "Brother Emperor, you're holding the memorial the wrong way."
Only then did Ji Junye suddenly come to his senses. He found that the memorial in his hand was really upside - down and quickly corrected it, looking rather like he was trying to cover up his embarrassment.
"Maybe I should go and discuss with the Imperial Observatory and the Ministry of Rites to change the wedding date to tomorrow?"
When Ji Junye looked over, the teasing smile on Prince Rong's face hadn't had time to fade away.
The next moment, he got a knock on the forehead.
"You even dare to tease your brother Emperor."
Prince Rong covered his forehead. "I know I'm wrong, Brother Emperor. But I just saw that you're here in the imperial study, but your heart has already flown to the princess mansion."
"Let me remind you, Brother Emperor. The bride and groom can't see each other for a month before the wedding. Don't break this taboo because you can't hold back."
Ji Junye gave him a sidelong glance. "You know so much. If you don't get married soon, it will be a waste of your good memory."
Prince Rong grinned. "Then I'll have to trouble Brother Emperor and Sister - in - law to find a suitable wife for me."
Looking at the young man in front of him who was joking with him with a big smile, Ji Junye felt a bit dazed. The thin and weak little boy in the past had now reached the age to marry a princess consort.
"That's not difficult. There are plenty of eligible girls in the capital."
...
On the second day of the sixth lunar month, it was an auspicious day for marriage.