The Mo Residence was very busy even before the day began. Lingxi was not spared as well. She was awoken from her sweet sleep to prepare for the wedding. From bathing to dressing she was accompanied by two maids and a nanny. Looking at the heavy wedding dress, Lingxi could not help but heave a stressed sigh. After the dressing and make over, the wedding crown was placed over her head. She felt as though they had put the weight of the world on her head. She struggled trying to keep her head up.
"Nanny Zhao, is such a heavy crown compulsory? There should be lighter ones, right? It feels like my head is about to fall off".
Lingxi couldn't help but complain.
"Of course, it's heavy. You are marrying the grand prince. Does the title sound light to you?" Nanny Zhao explained with a smile.
"It sounds like I'm going to war", Lingxi joked.
She struggled to stand up and the two maids helped steady her. She went on to the ancestral hall to pay her respects. She found Mo Qinshan standing there in deep thought.
"Father", she called.
He turned to see Lingxi, and time seemed to pause as he saw the little girl from sixteen years ago. The first time he had seen her, she wore a red dress as well.
"Xi'er", he called softly.
Lingxi smiled and walked up to him. She knelt down with her face touching the ground to pay her respects to him.
"Stand up". Mo Qinshan lifted her up.
"You've grown up now", he said with his face laden with emotion.
"No matter how big I get, I am still my father's child, right?" Lingxi asked.
"Right, no matter how big you are, you are still my child", he turned to face the tablets on the ancestral shrine, "hurry and pay your respects to your mother".
Lingxi lit an incense stick and knelt down.
She bowed, "mother, today I'm marrying the grand prince. I won't be able to come see you often. Mother, you need not worry about me. He Yu is a good man. He won't let me suffer. If you can't trust him, surely you trust your daughter. I won't let myself get bullied. All you need to do is give me your blessings", she said and bowed before offering the incense sticks to her mother.
She bowed one more time before standing up. Mo Qinshan rubbed her head. He then took out a slightly curved dagger. The sheath was black and grey in color with silver stones. He placed it in her hand, "this belonged to your mother. Keep it - for self-defense. Although I hope you never get to use it"
Lingxi looked at the dagger and then, at Mo Qinshan whose face was laden with emotion. She smiled and nodded and buried herself in his embrace.
"Second miss, Young Master Mu has arrived", Nanny Zhao called from outside.
Lingxi disengaged from the hug and went outside with Mo Qinshan.
"Brother Qingzhou", Lingxi called spreading her arms, "do I look pretty?"
Mu Qingzhou, young master Mu, smiled as he scanned Lingxi from her head toe, "not bad. The money you spend can now be reflected in your dressing"
Lingxi's expression changed, "what do you mean?"
"He means you spend money recklessly but dress poorly", Qin Yan explained with a blank face as if he couldn't tell he was being sarcastic.
"Enough. Qingzhou, how have you been?" Mo Qinshan asked.
Qingzhou gave a bow, "Uncle, I have been fine" "How is the madam doing?"
"Grandmother has not been in good health lately but the physician has said she would get better with proper rest"
He turned to Lingxi, "I have a gift for you", he said.
Lingxi looked eager as he reached for the gift beneath his sleeves. It was a hairpin as clear as water shaped as a phoenix. He handed it to her and Lingxi looked at the hairpin with keen interest. She accidentally touched the tip of the hairpin and it injured her.She winced slightly.
"Careful. This is no less sharp than a sword. It is also used for writing. You can use it for both writing and defense"
"Interesting"
Everyone was intrigued.
He gestured for Lingxi to come closer which she did, "hold it in the dark and you will see the magic ", he whispered.
The loud beats of drums sounded in the air and the echoes of footsteps were not far away.
"How bold of you to go so close to the imperial grand consort", they heard a voice. It was He Xuan.
"Your highness", all bowed except Lingxi. He Xuan gave Lingxi a bow.
"On behalf of imperial granduncle, I am here to escort imperial grandaunt to the palace. Please."
He Xuan gestured with his hands to make way for her but Mu Qingzhou blocked Lingxi with his hand using his flowing robes.
"Your highness, this can't be right. Our Xi'er is the not just the daughter of the imperial censorate but the daughter of our Mu family. Aren't you going to give us face?"
He Xuan smiled, "of course, that is why I have prepared a grand gift".
He gestured to his attendant who handed him a small scroll.
Qingzhou opened it and was a bit surprised but hid it quickly. "This is....."
"Recently, there have been rumors about your Mu family's difficulty in acquiring this piece of land in Nanning. As the presiding lord of Nanning, of course, it is a piece of cake", He Xuan said fanning himself.
"All right, you may take her", Qingzhou said making way.
Lingxi turned to look at him with an expression of feigned anger, "why does it feel like you're selling me?"
"This is a deal between men. You are not involved", he responded, "the carriage is waiting for you"
Lingxi sneered at him before turning to Mo Qinshan. She gave a final curtsy which he acknowledged with a nod and she followed He Xuan to the carriage. The others followed behind.
The wedding procession was anything but simple. He Xuan seemed to have arrived earlier because the sedan had not yet arrived.
A loud sound of horns followed by chiming sounds of jade bells on the musician's sleeves announced its arrival. They were followed by dozens of attendants scattering flower petals across the road until the entire street seemed to be covered in red and gold.Then the dowry carriages appeared, one after another, endless. Treasures that ordinary people could not see in seven lifetimes were in more than seven rows. The people lining the streets whispered that even imperial princesses had rarely been married with such grandeur. Then finally, Lingxi's bridal carriage emerged.
The carriage itself looked unreal. It was the phoenix carriage used by the late Empress. Golden tassels hung from the roof and every movement caused the tiny jade ornaments to chime softly like rain. Eight carefully chosen bearers carried it in flawless synchronization. They set the carriage down.
"I must say, this grand prince is truly generous", Mu Qingzhou commented.
Lingxi looked at the luxurious procession meant for her. She suddenly wondered whether this grandeur was meant for the empire… or for her.
"Please", He Xuan directed her.
Lingxi paused for a long while looking at the sedan. "Grandaunt, hurry up", He Xuan whispered softly. Without looking back, she walked straight to the sedan and sat inside. "Go", she ordered. He Xuan repeated the order and the carriage was lifted up and turned in the direction of the palace.
With people kneeling and bowing, Lingxi did not look back, not even once.