Rebirth of the Excellent Daughter of the Marquis Household (REDMH) - Chapter 150

The Marquis’ residence was draped in red inside and out. Whether the joy was genuine or feigned, the entire estate exuded an air of festivity.

In the Danxia Courtyard, the lanterns were brightly lit, with strings of crimson lanterns hanging in clusters, casting a rosy glow over the entrance.

The maids had all changed into cheerful red attire to suit the occasion. Around Gu Yu Qi were several attendants who had come to help her prepare for her wedding. They meticulously freshened up her face, washed her, and dressed her up.

Gu Yu Qi sat on a pearwood stool like a lifeless figurine, her expression devoid of joy or sorrow. She resembled a puppet that was being controlled by others, moving only when called to her and sitting still when no one did.

She had already visited her mother who was still peacefully asleep. His Highness Imperial Prince An had specially assigned someone to protect her. She heard that he was an elder among the secret guards.

In her past life, her mother had already passed away by the time of her wedding. But now, though alive, she was like this.

Across two consecutive lifetimes, her mother had never seen how beautiful her daughter was when she got married.

The Marquis’ residence had been ransacked by bandits. In order to avoid losing face before the Imperial Prince An, Gu Huai Zhong, clenching his teeth, sold two farms to scrape together enough money for a decent dowry. These two farms felt like a dagger to Liu Yue’s heart and she agonised over it for several days.

She had wanted to tell Gu Huai Zhong that Gu Yu Qi was only a secondary consort anyway, so it was fine to just make do. However, Gu Huai Zhong was a man who cared about reputation. Moreover, with the primary consort being from the Xia family, Gu Huai Zhong could not bear for their daughter’s dowry to appear vastly inferior.

Gu Yu Qi’s wedding dress and headpiece jewellery were newly made. As a secondary consort, she was not permitted to wear the primary red colour, so her dress was vermillion instead. Since Gu Yu Qi did not like embroidery, the dress was only adorned with a few coral beads as embellishments which made it look very plain.

As a secondary consort, she was also not allowed to wear a phoenix coronet. Instead, a small phoenix hairpin was placed on the side of her hair bun. Once fully dressed up, her appearance was radiant but it lacked the grandeur of a bride. It was only slightly more elaborate than her usual attire.

Looking at her reflection in the mirror, Gu Yu Qi smiled self-deprecatingly before allowing the attendants to place the red bridal veil over her head.

As a secondary consort, everything was kept modest. Her veil bore neither dragons nor phoenixes. It did not even have mandarin ducks. It featured only a single begonia flower, a modest touch of decoration.

Today marked the Imperial Prince An’s grand wedding, as he was welcoming both a primary consort and a secondary consort into his palace. The usually low-key Imperial Prince An’s residence was uncharacteristically ostentatious. The long street in front of the Imperial Prince An’s palace was adorned with red lanterns, and a scarlet carpet extended from the residence’s gate to the end of the street. From time to time, maids from the residence emerged with small baskets, scattering sweets which delighted the street children who laughed and played with unbridled joy. The scene was indeed lively.

According to tradition, Imperial Prince An should have gone directly to the An Le Marquis’ residence to escort his primary consort, Xia Ying.

However, the wedding procession from Prince An’s residence had barely set out and had not yet reached the Xia residence when an incident occurred at the Xia family’s gate.

A young man in plain clothing approached the entrance of the Xia residence unnoticed. Taking advantage of the lively bustle, he neared Xia Shuang Cheng, who was busy welcoming guests.

The youth’s features were delicate as if painted, but his eyes burned with unrelenting fury. His slender arm shot up, revealing a blade that gleamed coldly. With a muffled sound, followed by a scream of agony, Xia Shuang Cheng collapsed into a pool of bl00d. A long gash stretched across his back, spraying crimson droplets that splattered onto the stone lion at the gate of the Xia residence. It was clear that the attacker had no intention of killing him and just wanted him to suffer. The wound was long and extended almost from the middle of Xia Shuang Cheng’s back down to his waist. Bl00d poured out quickly, soaking his Xia Shuang Cheng’s clothes.

The Xia residence descended into chaos. After wounding Xia Shuang Cheng, the young man neither fled nor hid. Instead, he threw the knife to the ground with a clang, tilted his head back, and laughed maniacally, his behaviour utterly deranged.

Xia Yan panicked immediately. He hurriedly ordered people to carry Xia Shuang Cheng inside for treatment and simultaneously demanded that the youth be seized.

The young man’s delicate arms were forcibly twisted by several burly servants, yet his head remained high. “I hail from the Ping An Earl’s residence and hold a scholarly honour. Even before an official, I need not kneel. How dare you lowly servants lay hands on me!”

The youth’s declaration of identity startled the servants. In a city like the capital, where every stone might crush a noble, a person who openly revealed their background after committing violence likely had strong backing. One of Xia Shuang Cheng’s attendants soon recognised the youth and quickly released him. This… This was the young man whom their young master had forcibly taken to a secluded courtyard just days ago.

It was over. The victim had come for revenge… The other servants looked at each other when they saw one of their own back down. Hesitantly, they followed and released their grip.

“Rubbish! Where did this evil person come from? How dare you harm my son! Someone come and beat him to death!” Xia Yan was so angry that he nearly fainted on the spot. Imperial Prince An’s wedding procession would arrive soon, yet such a thing had happened here. With his son gravely wounded and his survival uncertain, how could he still focus on his daughter’s wedding?!

“Let me see who dares to make a move!” The youth broke free from the servants’ hold and drew a token from his waist. Xia Yan’s eyes widened. Oh heavens, it was the jade token from the Eldest Princess’ residence! Damn that old widow!

Why was such a significant item not being properly safeguarded in the Princess’ palace and was instead being handed out so carelessly?!

Since the Gengzi Rebellion, the Eldest Princess’ palace had only grown more influential. It was the surrender of the Eldest Princess’ command seal that allowed Imperial Prince An to mobilise the city’s garrison and end the siege of the capital. Now everyone knew that in this city, the Emperor was supreme but the Eldest Princess was second only to him. The Empress and the Imperial Consorts all paled in comparison, no one could rival the bond between siblings!

Although the young man held the Eldest Princess’ jade pendant, which was not as valuable as the seal, seeing the token was akin to the princess herself being present, a matter of utmost importance.

“I will take responsibility for injuring your son, but right now, I am here with the Eldest Princess’ jade token to take your son before His Majesty!” The young man’s gaze was resolute.

Ah, what on earth was this?

How had the Eldest Princess’ jade pendant ended up in this young man’s hands? Xia Yan could no longer make sense of it. Within the capital and its surroundings, the pendant’s authority was undeniable. With it, the young man could take Xia Shuang Cheng away..

However, his son was already injured, how could he go with him? The Eldest Princess’ jade token was not fake, leaving Xia Yan as agitated as an ant on a hot pan. This young man had clearly hurt his son, but he could not retaliate and detain the attacker. Instead, he was now being threatened by him.

“Marquis! Marquis!” A Xia household servant came running over, kneeling before Xia Yan.

Xia Yan turned to look, recognising him as the servant he had sent to keep watch on the street. As soon as Imperial Prince An’s wedding procession arrived, he was supposed to light the firecrackers to notify them so that preparations could be finalised.

“What now?” Xia Yan stomped his foot in frustration.

“Imperial Prince An’s wedding procession has reached the end of the street, but they refuse to come closer!” the servant said, panting heavily.

“Why?!” Xia Yan, feeling as though he had failed to light the proper morning incense, demanded angrily.

“Imperial Prince An heard there was bloodshed at the Xia residence’s entrance. He said it is an ill omen and has redirected the procession to Ding Yuan Marquis’ residence! He seemed extremely displeased and said we should sort this matter out ourselves!” the servant explained hastily, wiping the sweat from his face, his frantic sprint nearly having cost him his soul.

“Argh!” Xia Yan let out a deep sigh, as though he might cough up bl00d. What the hell was going on?! This was supposed to be Xia Ying’s wedding day! Yet, it had devolved into this. Now, even Imperial Prince An considered the Xia household tainted by bl00d and refused to come and pick up his daughter.

What could he say? What could he do?!

His daughter was clearly meant to be the centre of today’s grand occasion, but the sudden chaos caused by the unknown youth had ruined everything. Now, not only was the Xia household marred by bad luck, but there was bl00d. Imperial Prince An’s refusal to enter was entirely reasonable. Even if Xia Yan wanted to take this matter to the Emperor, he would have no grounds for complaint.

“Marquis, what should we do now?” The servant glanced nervously at the onlookers gathering to watch the spectacle, wiping the sweat from his brow discreetly.

Today, the An Le Marquis’ residence had been utterly disgraced.

“What else can we do?” When Xia Yan saw the situation, his scalp prickled with anxiety. He stomped his feet and wrung his hands while the young man remained unrelenting, loudly insisting on taking Xia Shuang Cheng to the Emperor to face justice.

Inside the Xiu Pavilion, where Xia Ying was waiting to get on her wedding sedan chair, she heard the commotion outside. She quickly sent her personal maid to find out what was happening.

The maid hurried out and soon returned with a panicked expression. She recounted the events to Xia Ying. Hearing this, Xia Ying’s pretty face lost all its colour.

Taking a deep breath to compose herself, she turned to a nanny dressed in a red jacket standing by her side. “Nanny Li, in this situation…” she asked, lowering her voice.

“Miss, do not worry,” Nanny Li said with a curtsey, her tone calm and measured, “Today is Miss’ wedding day, and everyone in the capital knows you are Imperial Prince An’s primary consort. Even if Prince An refuses to come to the Xia residence because of the bloodshed, Miss is still the rightful primary consort of Prince An’s palace. These are mere accidents and no fault of Miss’. However, we must not miss the auspicious hour. If we fall behind the Ding Yuan Marquis’ procession, then we truly lose face.”

“Nanny Li is right.” Xia Ying gradually steadied herself, maintaining her composure as she sat gracefully on her embroidered bed.

As expected from someone sent by her aunt from the palace, her knowledge and poise were exceptional.

“Ying’er.” Madam Xia rushed into her daughter’s room from the front hall frantically, “Something terrible has happened!”

“Mother, there is no need to panic,” Xia Ying replied slowly, “I already know what has happened outside.”

Madam Xia, who had been about to pour out her grievances to her daughter, was slightly startled when she heard this, “You know?” Having heard about her son’s injury, she had been terrified out of her wits. After going to see him and realising that, although the wound was long and frightening, it was only superficial, she had been a little relieved. But now the young man outside was relentlessly annoying.

However, all of these could be put aside for now. So what about entering the palace to see the Emperor? Even if he saw the Emperor, what could he do? The Emperor was Xia Shuang Cheng’s uncle!

Madam Xia was not worried about these things. What made her panic was that the Imperial Prince An was not coming to the Xia residence to pick up his bride!