Rebirth of the Excellent Daughter of the Marquis Household (REDMH) - Chapter 152

Her hand was extremely cold, but his was warm.

As he clasped her hand tightly, Gu Yu Qi almost instinctively wanted to pull hers away. Yet, he held on firmly, refusing to let go.

How could he let her slip away again? This time, he would never let go.

An overwhelming sense of fulfilment and joy surged through Yun Ke, making every cell in his body feel alive and brimming with happiness.

For a moment, Yun Ke was at a loss for words.

Standing to the side, Gu Si Yang noticed Yun Ke gazing intently at his eldest sister. Teasingly, he said, “Brother-in-law, Eldest Sister’s head is covered with a veil. Can you really see anything beneath it?”

Yun Ke snapped out of his daze. The bridal attendants approached, placing a red silk ribbon in Gu Yu Qi’s hand, the other end meant for His Highness Imperial Prince An to hold and lead her out of the residence. However, Yun Ke wrapped the ribbon around his hand and to everyone’s astonishment, he swept Gu Yu Qi into his arms, “This prince’s bride does not need to be led. This prince will carry her out directly.” With that, he strode out of the Ding Yuan Marquis’ residence, holding Gu Yu Qi securely. He did not place her in the bridal sedan. That sedan, crafted according to the specifications for a secondary consort, was much smaller and less grand compared to the eight-carrier sedan reserved for a primary consort. It seemed a bit too inferior.

Instead, Yun Ke leapt onto his horse with Gu Yu Qi in his arms, settling her in front of him.

Everyone on the street as well as those from the Ding Yuan Marquis’ residence stood dumbfounded… What was this? Of all the weddings they had seen, this was the first time they saw a groom personally carry his bride onto a horse to ride together.

Gu Si Yang was the first to react. He realised that his brother-in-law’s gesture was to spare his eldest sister from any slight. After all, marrying two princesses into the same household on the same day, with such disparities in bridal arrangements, could easily show who was favoured.

Gu Si Yang could not help but clap his hands enthusiastically at the gate and cheer, causing Yun Ke to turn back and smile faintly.

That smile was like the spring sun breaking through a wintry landscape, melting ice and awakening all life. Everyone at the gate of the Ding Yuan Marquis’ residence was momentarily spellbound. Imperial Prince An truly possessed an extraordinary countenance.

Bai Fu was utterly captivated. Meanwhile, Gu Si Yu stood behind Liu Yue, her face darkening.

Originally, she had relied on the fact that she was the primary consort of Prince Fu to feel superior to her eldest sister. But now, it seemed that her eldest sister had really surpassed her in every aspect, utterly and completely overshadowing her.

Prince Fu could never do as Prince An had done and personally lift her up. It was even more impossible for them to ride together on the same horse.

Gu Yu Qi was horrified. Beneath her red bridal veil, she could not see the world around her, but she could keenly feel Yun Ke’s arms wrapped tightly around her, holding her firmly against his chest. His grip was so strong that it left her a little short of breath.

She knew she was on horseback. Was he truly planning to bring her back to his palace like this?

Gu Yu Qi smiled bitterly. In her previous life, she sought to be high-profile and wanted to attract attention in everything she did. In this life, she strove for humility and discretion, yet time and time again, she was thrust into the centre of the storm. Even her wedding was no exception. As a secondary consort, being personally received by him was already enough of a slap in the face to the primary consort. Now, she was riding with him on the same horse. Was he trying to make Xia Ying despise her? He must be doing this deliberately. Perhaps he felt she did not have enough adversaries and thus sought to create more trouble for her, right? Having spent her previous life in the imperial palace, she naturally understood well how a favoured concubine was viewed by others.

Even though she had no intention of fostering a harmonious relationship with Xia Ying, she had not planned on becoming her mortal enemy either. Yun Ke’s actions today would undoubtedly make Xia Ying regard her as a thorn in her side and a nail in her flesh. The days ahead would surely be fraught with challenges.

Well, so be it. Let him do as he pleased. After all, he was the “boss” now, and she was merely the “employee.” It was the employee’s duty to comply with the boss’ wishes, especially when it made him happy.

Gu Yu Qi sighed softly and sat upright on the horse.

The grand wedding procession wound its way toward Imperial Prince An’s residence. Along the way, crowds of astonished and delighted onlookers in the capital watched the beautiful pair atop the white horse. Cheers erupted endlessly. To the common folk, Yun Ke was a hero who had led his troops to quell the Gengzi Rebellion. And when they learned that the woman riding with him was Gu Yu Qi, the daughter of the Ding Yuan Marquis who had discovered a cure during the plague outbreak and saved the people of the Qi dynasty, their cheers grew even more fervent.

Of course, all of this was by Imperial Prince Yun Ke’s deliberate design.

In his previous life, he had failed to give Gu Yu Qi a grand wedding. In this life, he intended to make up for it. He wanted the entire world to know that today, he, Yun Ke, was marrying Gu Yu Qi!

Compared to Gu Yu Qi’s calmness, Yun Ke felt as excited as a child. His gaze softened as it swept across the crowd.

Even though he had been the emperor in his past life, he had never felt so excited and jubilant. Although it could not be seen on the surface, internally, his heart was soaring with elation.

The cheers of the people were genuinely from their hearts, and he could tell.

Before the procession reached the prince’s palace, the sky was already filled with the sounds of firecrackers and gongs. Yun Ke brought the horse to a steady halt at the gates of his residence, then dismounted gracefully while still holding Gu Yu Qi in his arms. Under the astonished gazes of the onlookers, he personally carried Gu Yu Qi over the fire basin, crossed the threshold, and made his way towards the main wedding hall.

At that moment, Wang Yan approached briskly, leaned in, and whispered something into Yun Ke’s ear.

Yun Ke’s expression shifted slightly. He gave Wang Yan a glance laden with meaning.

Wang Yan nodded in understanding before hurrying off again.

Xia Ying’s sedan chair, carried by eight bearers, was nearing the street outside Prince An’s residence.

Xia Ying anxiously clutched her skirt, the golden thread of its intricate embroidery pressing sharply into her palms and causing a faint sting.

As a newlywed bride, it was humiliating to be sent off by her own family without her husband coming to personally receive her. But what choice did she have? She never imagined such a commotion would erupt at her family’s gates earlier in the day. It was all because of her reckless younger brother, who had foolishly provoked the illegitimate son of an earl’s household.

Xia Ying’s heart ached, and her body felt faintly numb. Should she really be marrying into Prince An’s household? The closer the sedan chair drew to the residence, the more her initial composure gave way to mounting unease.

How was she going to get through her wedding night?

She was still terrified by what those bandits had done to her. She could not fathom enduring such acts again, even from her husband.

And if she could not… Xia Ying dared not even entertain the thought.

Suddenly, the sedan chair jolted and came to a gradual stop.

Xia Ying’s heart clenched. What now? She instinctively wanted to lift the curtain and look outside but quickly remembered that as a bride, it was improper to peek out without permission.

“Nanny, what is happening?” Unable to see, Xia Ying could only ask softly.

“Miss, it appears a carriage has overturned ahead, blocking the road,” Nanny Li replied with a frown.

Was today truly an auspicious day? Why did the Xia family’s daughter encounter so many mishaps on her wedding day? Everything had seemed fine moments ago and now, out of nowhere, a carriage had to overturn right in front of their procession.

“Oh.” Xia Ying’s heart settled slightly. No matter what, everyone in the family wanted her to become the Princess Consort of Imperial Prince An. Her father had even used the jade pendant granted by the Emperor to secure this marriage. If she refused, she would be deemed the Xia family’s sinner.

What she did not know was that if not for the Virtuous Consort’s coercion, Xia Yan would never have wanted to use that jade pendant. After all, it was a symbol of the Emperor’s promise. Provided it did not violate the laws of Da Qi or harm others, no matter what it was, His Majesty would agree.

“Shall we take a detour?” Xia Ying asked.

“If we detour, we may miss the auspicious hour,” Nanny Li said with a frown. Yet, the overturned carriage showed no signs of moving.

Nanny Li sent someone to urge the carriage driver to clear the road quickly. However, the driver seemed to be deaf and mute, gesturing wildly at the bridal party, shaking his head, and making unintelligible noises. After much back-and-forth, nothing was resolved.

Nanny Li’s eyes gleamed slightly as an idea formed in her mind.

How could there be so many coincidences? This was clearly a deliberate attempt to obstruct the Xia family’s bridal procession. She suspected that even the bloodshed at the Xia family’s gates earlier was no accident.

She would report all this to the Virtuous Consort.

While Xia Ying was stuck on the road, the formal wedding ceremony had already begun in the main hall of the prince’s palace.

Wang Yan executed his duties flawlessly, and Yun Ke’s mind eased only after the ceremony concluded.

He could not care less about what became of the Xia family’s young miss. In this life, the only person he intended to marry was Gu Yu Qi.

When he had married Princess Mu Rong, he had not fully understood his feelings and still harboured misunderstandings about Gu Yu Qi. Now, his heart was filled entirely with Gu Yu Qi and there was no room for anyone else.

For him, other people had nothing to do with him, whether they were good or bad.

He would definitely find a way to send Xia Ying away. Nothing and no one would be allowed to disrupt the relationship between him and Gu Yu Qi. He had already missed her in one lifetime. He would never let her slip away again.

Gu Yu Qi was escorted to the bridal chamber. Unlike her previous life, this time she did not have to wait long before Yun Ke arrived.

Under the edges of her red bridal veil, a pair of red wedding boots entered her line of sight.

Gu Yu Qi knew Yun Ke had arrived. Sitting up straight, she watched from the corner of her eye as the boots’ owner drew closer until they stopped directly in front of her.

Amid the joyous singing of the bridal attendants, a gold scale wrapped in red silk was extended beneath her veil, gently lifting it.

The vivid red of the room burst into Gu Yu Qi’s view.

Along with it, Yun Ke’s figure came into focus amidst the splendour.

Yun Ke was undoubtedly dressed to perfection today. The bright crimson Imperial Prince’s attire accentuated his jade-like complexion, while the gold-embroidered belt highlighted his slender waist and broad shoulders. His deep eyes gleamed with an unfathomable light, exuding a cool elegance tinged with nobility.

She was beautiful. Truly stunning. For the first time in two lifetimes, Yun Ke carefully studied Gu Yu Qi as his bride. Her beauty needed no adornment. Even the faintest splash of colour made her radiate brilliance. She was a vision of unparalleled elegance, her allure dazzling enough to captivate an entire empire.

Meeting his gaze, Gu Yu Qi’s throat felt a little dry. She had thought she would remain detached, but after everything that had unfolded today, Gu yu Qi had to admit she was far from composed.

It was not joy she felt but rather a deep ache that awakened from the recesses of her heart.

She could feel Yun Ke’s unwavering gaze resting solely on her.

How ironic. In her past life, she would have died for such a look… A gaze she had yearned for but never obtained. Now, that same look felt like a sharp needle pricking her heart, a scorching flame burning her skin…

To hide the panic and aversion in her eyes, Gu Yu Qi lowered her head again. She feared that if she continued to meet his gaze, she might lose control and flee the room altogether.

It was only when the bridal attendants finished their stream of auspicious words, accepted their red packets, and finally left that Gu Yu Qi let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Gu Yu Qi assumed Yun Ke would leave with them. After all, today was a day of double blessings for him. Surely, he had only come to fulfil the necessary formalities. Now that the ritual was complete, he should be heading out to greet the guests, and… Gu Yu Qi felt a hint of self-mockery in her heart, and his primary wife had yet to arrive. He would probably go and personally bring her back.

However, Yun Ke remained still for a long time. Gu Yu Qi kept her head down, staying silent. The room descended into an awkward and stifling silence.

After what felt like an eternity, Gu Yu Qi’s neck ached from keeping her head bowed. Suddenly, a golden box appeared before her. The exquisite craftsmanship was breathtaking, adorned with various gemstones that shimmered under the flickering light of the dragon and phoenix wedding candles.
“Open it and take a look,” Yun Ke said, suppressing the excitement in his heart and keeping his tone even.
In their previous life, she had given him a ring, pleading and pouting until he reluctantly wore it. But he had only worn it briefly before carelessly throwing it away, leaving her disappointed for a long time.
Even now, Yun Ke could recall the look in her eyes when she learned that he had thrown the ring away. It had been so full of loss and loneliness, carrying an unspoken sorrow that pierced his heart.
Gu Yu Qi raised her eyes slightly, barely glancing at Yun Ke before lowering them again. She obediently took the box and slowly opened it.
Inside lay a pair of gemstone rings.
From the sizes alone, she could tell one was for a man and the other for a woman. Identical designs, identical gemstones, and identical inlaid settings.
Gu Yu Qi suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of irony. In their past life, he had clearly disdained such gestures, yet now he seemed to revel in them.
“Just what are you trying to do?” Gu Yu Qi asked, her gaze lifting once more to look at Yun Ke.
Yun Ke was slightly startled. Why was she asking this? Was this not what she liked? A ring, she had once said, was a way to bind him to her for a lifetime.
In their past life, he had let that moment slip by. In this life, he was willing to let her trap him.
Yun Ke felt unnerved by the way Gu Yu Qi was looking at him and the uneasiness spread to his heart.
Her gaze held no joy, no delight, only an impenetrable darkness that left him completely unable to decipher her thoughts.
Yun Ke’s gestures, meant to move her, only deepened Gu Yu Qi’s sense of irony.