A Precious Pearl in the Imperial City-Chapter 72

Letting her hair down, Lady Shen gently combed her daughter's locks from root to tip with a wooden comb, smiling through tears. "Over the years, I've often bought hair ornaments for young girls, but sadly, they've gone unused all this time."

"Mother, could you style my hair in twin buns? You made me so lovely—the hairpins you bought back then would surely look beautiful on me now." Jiuzhu turned and hugged Lady Shen's waist, cooing like a child. "I adore those cute, pretty accessories."

"Of course." Lady Shen bent down, patting her daughter's back as if soothing a toddler. "Whatever hairstyle you fancy, Mother will do it for you today."

Ming Jiyuan watched the embracing pair, turning his head to hide his glistening eyes before quietly stepping out and closing the door behind them.

After a long embrace, Lady Shen brought out an intricately carved wooden chest. When opened, it revealed rows upon rows of delicate ornaments for a young girl—gold necklaces, tinkling bells, longevity locks, hairpins with dangling pendants, and jade-adorned tassels, each radiating childlike whimsy.

"So beautiful," Jiuzhu murmured, running her fingers over the treasures. This chest, filled to the brim—how many years had her mother spent yearning for her return?

"Take ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‍them all with you," Lady Shen said as she styled Jiuzhu's hair. "May you and Prince Chen grow old together in harmony, united in love and devotion."

Her movements were slightly unpracticed, yet every gesture brimmed with tenderness. "The royal family's path isn't easy, but with a steadfast heart, no challenge in this world can defeat you."

The twin buns—a maiden's classic hairstyle.

Lady Shen secured red-bean-shaped hairpins on either side. "Do you like it?"

The world speaks of lovers' yearning through red beans, but none fathom the depth of a parent's love.

"It's perfect." Jiuzhu nodded emphatically at her reflection. "Thank you, Mother."

"Jiuzhu." Lady Shen rested her hands on her daughter's shoulders. "Never force yourself to endure hardship. The Ming family will always be your sanctuary."

"Mother." Jiuzhu clasped her hands. "Please don't grieve."

"I'm not grieving." Lady Shen forced a smile. "I’m just reluctant to let you go."

The evening sun crept through the window lattice, playful as a child, spilling onto the dressing table.

Jiuzhu hugged Lady Shen’s waist again. "Mother, this will always be my home."

A warm tear traced her cheek and lingered at the corner of her lips.

Prince Chen awoke from his dream, staring into the pitch-black night outside. Sitting cross-legged on the bed, he frowned. Dawn hasn’t broken yet?

A eunuch attending the outer chamber heard the rustling and whispered through the bed curtains, "Your Highness, you’re awake?"

"Light the lamps." Prince Chen rose. "Fetch water. I need to bathe."

"Your Highness, you just bathed last night—"

"I dislike repeating myself."

"At once, Your Highness."

Prince Chen touched the scented balm on the table, then recalled Jiuzhu’s allergy to perfumes. Worried she might dislike this fragrance too, he wiped his fingers with a handkerchief.

Spring mornings take forever to brighten.

Sun Caiyao, still half-asleep, was roused by the clamor from the neighboring courtyard. Concerned the noise might disturb His Highness, she summoned a maid. "Why the commotion outside?"

This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.

"Prince Chen is preparing for his morning bath. The servants are all attending to him." The maid hesitated. "Your Highness, today is his wedding day. Please... bear with it."

Bathing at this hour?

Sun Caiyao frowned. "The auspicious ceremony is hours away. Isn’t His Highness starting too early?"

"Rumor has it Prince Chen plans to personally fetch his bride from the Ming residence, hence the early preparations," the maid explained. "The Ministry of Rites initially objected, but His Highness insisted, forcing them to concede."

In royal weddings, princes rarely visited the bride’s home. A prince who valued his consort might greet her at the palace gates—as Yun Yanze had done for her. By strict protocol, the couple need only join hands after the bride entered the palace, holding a red silk ball as they crossed the inner threshold.

For Prince Chen to marry Jiuzhu at Kirin Palace yet insist on fetching her from the Ming household—what need was there for such extravagance?

Noticing her mistress’s silence, the maid ventured, "Shall I ask Prince Chen’s servants to quiet down?"

"No need." Yun Yanze lifted the door curtain and entered. "Let the fifth brother’s wedding day be lively."

"Your Highness, you’re awake?" Sun Caiyao rose to greet him.

"Sit, my love. Between husband and wife, formalities are unnecessary." Yun Yanze guided her back, then turned to the maid. "You said Prince Chen insisted on fetching his bride personally?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

Yun Yanze chuckled wryly at Sun Caiyao. "That’s just like him. What other prince would dare act so boldly?"

Sun Caiyao’s heart eased. True, Yun Yanze had already honored her by meeting her at the gates. No other prince would recklessly defy conventions like Prince Chen.

Fresh from his bath, Prince Chen donned his elaborate wedding robes. The crimson silk accentuated his jade-like complexion, making him appear even more striking.

"Why haven’t the Ministry of Rites officials arrived?" He paced the hall, resisting tea to avoid bloating—today must be flawless for him and his "Little Pig."

"Your Highness, the ceremonial procession is ready, and the Imperial Guards are in position," a eunuch reported. "But the ministry officials request Your Highness to wait—the auspicious hour hasn’t yet come."

Prince Chen clicked his tongue. Time crawls today.

"Fifth Brother, congratulations!" Prince Huai entered with Princes An and Jing. Their eyes lingered on Prince Chen’s robes, a pang of envy unavoidable.

A queen’s son indeed—even his wedding attire outranks ours.

"Thank you, elder brothers." Prince Chen arched a brow and clasped his hands. "Perfect timing. I’ve a favor to ask."

The trio instinctively retreated. Since when did Yun Duqing ever show them such courtesy?

This reeks of trouble.

Princes An and Jing silently nudged Prince Huai forward. Swallowing hard, he spoke. "Name it, brother. We’re family."

Lies. This is absolutely a trap.

"In common weddings, grooms have kinsmen accompany them to fetch the bride. Would you three honor me with your presence?" Prince Chen beamed. "Father often praises your maturity and brotherly devotion. Surely you won’t refuse?"

The three princes: "..."

You shamelessly barging into the Ming household is one thing—but dragging us along? Know some decency!

"Wedding processions thrive on joy and festivity. Eldest brothers, please wear these red sashes for good fortune." Prince Chen handed each of his three elder brothers a sash: "Brothers, the auspicious hour approaches—shall we set off now?"

The three princes stared blankly at the hideously bright red sashes in their hands.

Had he even given them a chance to refuse?

"Eldest Brother..." Prince An turned to Prince Huai, silently pleading for him to bravely reject Yun Duqing's shameless demand.

Prince Huai avoided his younger brothers' hopeful gazes, tying the sash firmly around his waist. "We are family. As elder brothers, it's only right we assist our younger brother in fetching his bride. The more, the merrier."

Prince An and Prince Jing exchanged resigned glances before fastening their own sashes.

Whoever said "the eldest brother is like a father" clearly hadn’t met theirs.

Their eldest brother’s affection for them was more like a landslide—unpredictable and treacherous.

When the Ministry of Rites officials saw Prince Chen arrive not only with his own entourage but also accompanied by the three other princes, one whispered to his colleague, "Did the other three princes owe His Highness a great deal of money?"

"Ahem." The colleague cleared his throat. "At least they're family."

Prince Chen was one of their own—the Ministry of Rites' man. The bride was the daughter of a Ministry official, making her family too. So if their own man "teased" the other princes, could it really be called bullying?

"Such profound brotherly affection among the princes moves us deeply!" the officials loudly praised, ignoring the other princes' grim expressions as they continued extolling virtues like fraternal harmony, unbreakable bonds, and unity. Their flattery reached new heights of eloquence.

Before long, the three princes found it impossible to keep scowling.

"The auspicious hour has arrived! Lift the bridal sedan!"

Prince Chen sat astride his horse, its mane adorned with red silk flowers, gazing up at the crimson paper and blossoms drifting down from the palace walls. His grip tightened on the reins.

He was going to bring his bride home.

At the Ming residence, Jiuzhu stood surrounded by eight noble matrons and ten "auspicious ladies" blessed with complete fortune. The estate was guarded by imperial soldiers. Holding a fan in her right hand and a jade scepter in her left, she dared not move her head too much.

The phoenix-and-dragon wedding crown was breathtakingly beautiful—but unbearably heavy.

Outside, firecrackers erupted, followed by a rising clamor of voices. As the noise drew nearer, the noble matrons exchanged uneasy glances.

Royal weddings usually followed strict protocol: the bride’s family escorted her to the sedan, which then proceeded directly to the palace.

Why was there so much commotion outside?

Before they could ponder further, a voice—unmistakably Prince Chen’s—boomed through the door, reciting a traditional poem urging the bride to emerge.

Had Prince Chen come personally to fetch his bride?

The matrons exchanged stunned looks. One peeked through the door crack and gasped—not only was Prince Chen there, but he was flanked by Princes Huai, An, and Jing as groomsmen.

She inhaled sharply, composed herself, and turned to the others. "The groom has finished his poem. The bride must now bid farewell to her parents and proceed to the sedan."

The highest-ranking matron dipped a brush in vermillion and traced a delicate mark between Jiuzhu’s brows. "May you dwell together like paired swallows, a harmonious match sung in verse."

"County Princess, hold your fan to shield your face—let none glimpse the bride’s beauty prematurely."

The doors swung open. The matrons and auspicious ladies lined the path, one reaching to steady Jiuzhu’s hand as she held the jade scepter.

"I’ll do it." Prince Chen stepped forward, taking Jiuzhu’s hand. In a low voice meant only for her, he murmured, "I’ll accompany you to bid farewell to your parents."

"Your Highness, this is not—"

Not proper protocol.

The matron’s protest died under Prince Chen’s sharp gaze.

In the main hall, Ming Jingzhou and Shen Ying sat in solemn attire. At the sound of firecrackers, Shen Ying’s tears nearly spilled—until she saw her daughter approaching, hand-in-hand with Prince Chen, followed by eight matrons and three princes.

Her tears froze in bewilderment.

What was Prince Chen doing?

"Your unfilial daughter bids farewell to Father and Mother." Jiuzhu passed the jade scepter to the nearest matron, clasped her fan with both hands, and knelt.

"First bow!"

As Jiuzhu bowed, Prince Chen bent at the waist in a deep, respectful salute.

A prince could not kneel before subjects—but as a junior paying respects to elders, a bow was permissible.

Every Ming family member present watched Prince Chen’s gesture with thoughtful silence.

Ming Cunfu moved to assist him, but Ming Jinghai held him back.

"Second bow!"

Another deep salute.

After the third bow, Shen Ying helped her daughter rise, while Ming Jingzhou steadied Prince Chen.

With this, Prince Chen had single-handedly raised the standard of sincerity for royal weddings.