Chapter 343 – Ten Miles of Red Bridal Attire (Sixteen)
Right now, she was just a small illegitimate daughter. If she openly went against the Liu Residence, her future husband, Wu Ma Jun, who had a bit of influence, would likely not treat her kindly… Thinking of the captivating, enchanting Hui Jun, who had the beauty to make fish sink and birds fall, and the fragrant aura that surrounded her, it was hard not to feel a pang of jealousy, especially when contemplating what the future husband might think.
“Hmph, just wait and see!”
The illegitimate daughter held back her grievances and returned to her courtyard, where she immediately spotted her mother’s silent demeanor, and her anger flared up.
“Get lost! Good-for-nothing!”
She kicked her “birth mother” who was sorting the dowry aside, her strength surprisingly great for her age. The maids nearby dared not speak, lowering their heads in fear of angering this unpredictable illegitimate daughter.
The Liu Residence maintained strict discipline, and the servants in the back courtyard would not dare mistreat the Young Master’s wife, but the illegitimate daughter felt slighted and loathed those serving her. Ever since the news of her marriage to the royal family arrived, she felt as if her neck had grown several times longer.
The woman who was kicked clutched her chest and rose, casting a confused glance at this nominal “daughter.”
“If it weren’t for your inability to win favor, my position in this household wouldn’t be so awkward.”
Even though she was about to marry into royalty, her once high-ranking legitimate brother still treated her coldly, like a stranger.
The woman coughed softly and left with her head bowed.
She didn’t want to face this “daughter” anymore.
No wonder she was a wild seed; even after years of living in luxury at the Liu Residence, she still couldn’t shake off the lowliness in her blood.
The indifferent reaction of her “birth mother” only intensified the illegitimate daughter’s inner hatred.
She clenched her nails until they broke, trying to suppress the ruthlessness on her face, returning to sit at the dressing table as if nothing had happened.
Today was the first day of her marriage, and as a new bride, she couldn’t afford to show too much anger.
Carefully, she adorned herself, applying the most beautiful makeup, her youthful features somehow exuding a hint of allure.
She asked her maidservants to replicate Hui Jun’s makeup, and indeed, the effect was stunning.
However, her personal maid couldn’t help but feel puzzled.
Why did her second mistress’s appearance vaguely resemble that of the accompanying maid, Hui Jun?
Especially after applying similar heavy makeup, it almost seemed like a larger and smaller version of the same product.
Yet Hui Jun’s beauty, aura, fragrance, temperament, and skills were a complete superiority to the second mistress. When the two stood side by side, one appeared to be a masterpiece crafted by the gods, while the other was a low-quality imitation.
If it weren’t for Hui Jun being the wrong age, and having followed this second mistress for so long, she might have suspected that the bride was merely a substitute for Hui Jun. While lost in thought, she continued to apply makeup to the illegitimate daughter and helped her into a brand-new, luxurious, bright red wedding gown.
The gown resembled bridal attire but was considered common attire for the wedding ceremony.
It was known that there was quite a distance between Hejian County and the capital; the bride couldn’t possibly wear a wedding gown the entire way.
The auspicious hour had arrived, and the bridal procession was ready to set off.
Jiang Pengji donned festive brocade robes, carrying her illegitimate sister out of the residence as her legitimate brother, and helped her into the splendid wedding carriage.
Looking up at the sky, the timing was just right.
She swiftly mounted Big White and led the procession, shouting, “The auspicious time has come, we depart!”
With Jiang Pengji at the forefront, Big White, adorned and festive, stepped proudly, silencing the nearby horses.
In a corner, Xu Ke couldn’t help chatting with Xun Mei until the procession started moving.
“The husband will follow the Young Master; I will manage the household matters properly,” Xun Mei remarked as time was running short, quickly holding his face and softly pressed a kiss, “Take care.”
Xu Ke stood there in a daze, unsure how he even ended up in the carriage.
Quietly rubbing his cheek, the boldness of his new wife in public made him turn red with embarrassment.
“Such nonsense!”
It felt like he had married a fake virtuous wife; where was the supposed shyness and modesty?
The bridal procession was lavish; besides the guards sent by the Liu Residence, there were five thousand armored guards from the royal army, imposing and majestic.
Naturally, the royal army had been dispatched to ensure the safety of the future fourth prince’s wife.
According to customs, the bride would circle the inner city in the wedding carriage to showcase her family’s wealth.
As the procession made its first turn around the inner city and exited through the city gate, the porters at the back were just beginning to carry the dowry.
Though no festive music played, the atmosphere was lively; the common people lined the streets, craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the ten miles of red bridal attire, deepening their understanding of the Liu Residence with each passing moment.
“This dowry… did the Liu Residence’s second house clear out its treasury?”
A curious commoner voiced, and immediately someone chimed in.
“Clear out? It shouldn’t be that dramatic. Do you not know that the bamboo paper that’s more precious than gold is produced by the workshops owned by the Liu Residence’s second house? Although the yearly output is scarce, just this alone is enough for the second house to live comfortably off their riches for years.”
“Bah!” A plump woman spat vehemently, “That papermaking workshop is famous throughout Hejian; it’s the late matriarch’s industry! A lowly illegitimate daughter dare covet what the legitimate wife has?”
The crowd fell silent at her words.
“This… if the Liu Residence’s second house hadn’t utilized the late matriarch’s industry, where would they gather so much dowry?”
As this question hung in the air, many fell silent.
“I heard my wife say that the Liu family’s main house is doing well, but the other branches are quite poor… Even though Liu Xi is wealthy, they still don’t think to support their own family, instead giving so much face to an illegitimate daughter; it’s simply unbelievable…”
“After all, marrying into royalty, her blood is still theirs, so she must be treated better…”
The crowd buzzed with chatter, and these trivial discussions sporadically made their way to the illegitimate daughter’s ears, causing her expression to freeze.
So what if she was an illegitimate daughter?
What’s wrong with being an illegitimate daughter?
Is it so wrong to be the daughter of her father?
Why should legitimate sons and daughters have all those privileges while she, a mere illegitimate daughter, be looked down upon by everyone?
She bit her lip hard, her eyes flashing with complex malice.
No, she had to seize her husband’s affection before Hui Jun could.
Only by giving birth to the royal grandchildren could she truly find her footing; no one would ever look down on her again!
Meanwhile, Hui Jun, riding in a more modest carriage, appeared almost understated.
Dressed in a simple water-red outfit, her expression was more of a smirk than a smile, making it seem as if she were not in a shabby carriage but in a lavish palace. Unknown to all, she held a small bottle hidden in her sleeve, containing a golden pill.
A fertility pill.
This wasn’t something her husband provided; it was meant for the Liu Residence’s second mistress to help her “rise to greatness.”
