The rural doctor bought a husband who was very treacherous

Chapter 206: Preparations for the Wedding

Chunmei looked at Su Tang, who was wearing a bright and beautiful wedding dress, and couldn't help but exclaimed: "The princess is so beautiful."

"Yeah, I think so too." Xia Mei and Qiu Mei leaned together and echoed.

"Oh, this jewelry on your head is too heavy. Can you wear less that day?"

Su Tang rubbed her sore neck and signaled to the nanny who was still helping her put on makeup to stop. Today was not her wedding day, and Su Tang didn't want to put heavy makeup on her face.

"This is all subject to regulations. This is the minimum amount of headdress a princess can wear." Chunmei smiled and helped Su Tang adjust her headdress.

"Well, let's take it off. I feel like my neck can't take it anymore." Su Tang already felt like her neck was stiff from sleeping. Thinking about having to carry such heavy gold for a whole day on the wedding day, Su Tang got a headache just thinking about it.

"Okay." Chunmei and the others looked at Su Tang and couldn't help but smile as they helped her take off all the accessories on her hair.

"Wow, that feels great." Turning her neck, Su Tang began to take off her wedding dress, which was also very heavy.

"Go and inform the Zhao family that I'll go there for dinner." Su Tang said to Tongjing and Chunmei.

"Yes, I'll go over and talk to him in person later." Chunmei replied.

Zhao House is the house that Su Tang bought for Old Man Su. Because Old Man Su has no official position now, he can only hang a plaque with the words "Zhao House" on the door.

As a result, Old Man Su's family all resumed their surname Zhao and re-registered in the capital. From then on, even if the family returned to Dahe Village to farm, their future identity would be that of city dwellers.

Emperor Jing also specifically instructed Eunuch Fu to give the two sons of the Zhao family a sinecure of the seventh rank, and they no longer had to pay taxes on their land in Dahe Village.

Zhao Youtian's family just went there yesterday. Even though the place had been cleaned up, everyone still had to familiarize themselves with the house, so Su Tang did not go with them yesterday.

This morning, she was tripped up by the delivery of makeup again, but Su Tang had to go over there during dinner time.

Zhao Youtian's return to Beijing was kept low-key. Those who had originally worked with Zhao Youtian in the Imperial Medical Service and those who were originally on good terms with the Zhao family had not received the news yet.

So the Zhao family was not very busy. After they got familiar with the house, they prepared a big dinner in the evening to celebrate their move into a new home in Beijing.

Chunmei went to the Zhao residence in person and informed Zhao Youtian that Su Tang was coming over. Zhao Youtian was delighted. "We are going to celebrate in the residence tonight. We originally planned to inform the princess later, but unexpectedly, the princess had the same idea. Our family will prepare the bed to welcome her tonight. Miss Chunmei, you guys can also come and join in the fun."

"Of course, we will bother you then." Chunmei replied politely to Zhao Youtian.

"These are the ingredients purchased by the princess's mansion today. Since the princess is coming here to eat tonight, let the chef from the princess's mansion cook here." After Chunmei finished speaking, she pointed to the people following her.

When Chunmei came, Su Tang specifically asked her to bring the cook from the princess's mansion with her to avoid making Sun and Zhang too busy.

"Okay, okay." Zhao Youtian nodded in response as he looked at the people who had already carried a large amount of food into the yard.

After Chunmei finished her instructions, she also gave instructions to everyone who came from the princess's mansion. Although Zhao Youtian's family still did not hold any official positions, they were the ones who raised the eldest princess, and this family was now deeply favored by the princess.

They cannot neglect the people that the Grand Princess personally went back to the countryside to pick up.

Everyone working in the Princess's Mansion has good eyesight, and after hearing Chunmei's instructions, everyone knew what was going on.

Therefore, when preparing ingredients and dinner in Zhao's house, no one was lazy and was polite to Sun and Zhang who were coming in and out of the kitchen.

Chunmei returned to the princess's mansion and repeated what she had said to Zhao Youtian. Su Tang nodded and said, "Go to Yaoxiangzhai on Chang Street to buy some snacks and preserves and bring them over in the evening."

"Yes." Chunmei agreed and left.

Before dinner, Su Tang went to Zhao's house early.

Zhao Youtian and his family were waiting at the gate early. When they heard that Su Tang's carriage had arrived, everyone came out from the side room at the gate to greet them.

"Eh? Whose carriage is this? Whose residence is this Zhao residence?"

As soon as Su Tang's carriage stopped at the gate of Zhao's house, passers-by stopped to look.

Most of the people living in this eastern district are officials, and they have not heard of any new officials coming here.

Moreover, the gate of the Zhao residence is not big and does not look like the formal residence of an adult.

"I don't know. The plaque of the Zhao residence has only been hung up for a few days. I remember that the house seemed to be for sale before. I didn't expect it to be sold so quickly."

"Hey, isn't it the same for the nobles to buy a house as for us to buy a set of clothes?"

"Too......"

The onlookers soon dispersed, but people from nearby mansions who were doing business continued to pass by here. They just turned their heads to glance and then went back to their business.

Su Tang's carriage went straight into the mansion. After the gate was closed, Zhao Youtian and everyone else bent over to greet them in the courtyard.

"We, the common people, respectfully welcome the Grand Princess, and I, the minister, respectfully welcome the Princess of War." Zhao Youtian, Zhao Nanxing and Zhao Baichuan greeted them.

"Why are you so formal again?" The curtain of the carriage was lifted, and Su Tang got out and said.

Chunmei stepped forward to help Su Tang get off the carriage. Su Tang walked in front of Zhao Youtian and said, "I waited until the carriage entered the mansion before getting off. I just wanted you to stop bowing like that."

"Haha, etiquette cannot be abolished." Zhao Youtian shook his head.

Su Tang had already said in advance that they were exempted from the kneeling ceremony. If they didn't perform the ceremony, who knows what people would say if they got the news.

He knew very well that there were many people in the court who were secretly investigating the faults of others, waiting to tear their faces or take sides, and then list those mistakes and attack the people they wanted to attack.

"Oh." Su Tang sighed, and then stopped arguing with Zhao Youtian about this matter. In Kyoto, it was understandable that Zhao Youtian followed the etiquette.

Seeing this, Sun and others could only stand aside in silence. They just had to do whatever their father-in-law did.

"Please come in, Grand Princess. The food is ready." Zhao Youtian made a gesture of invitation to Su Tang, bowed and made way, indicating that Su Tang should walk in front.

Seeing this, Chunmei hurriedly helped Su Tang walk to the hall at the back.

Zhao Youtian followed half a step behind.

"Isn't Mr. Tian in the mansion?" Professor Tian was not among the people who came to greet Su Tang. Su Tang turned her head to look at Zhao Youtian who was half a step behind her.

"After coming back yesterday, he stayed in the room and didn't come out. The second brother brought him meals." Zhao Youtian replied.

Professor Tian used to be like this often. He would always work day and night because he had made some progress in his research.

"Then let's call him over later." Professor Tian should be able to put aside his worries about moving into a new house.

"Okay, I'll go call Mr. Tian right away." Zhao Baichuan, who was following behind the few people, responded. After reaching the backyard, he retreated to another small path.

After Su Tang arrived at the dining room, Professor Tian was also called by Zhao Baichuan.

"Oh, I feel dizzy from all the research these days." Professor Tian walked into the dining room, stroking his abdomen.

"I think you're hungry." Su Tang joked with a smile.

"Well, I'm not hungry. They deliver meals to me every day." Professor Tian walked to the empty seat and sat down. Since he was the only elder in the room, he was arranged to sit next to Zhao Youtian.

After everyone was seated, Zhao Youtian raised his glass and said to everyone, "Today is the day I return to Kyoto and move into my new home in Kyoto..."

For a while, everyone was drinking and chatting happily, and the atmosphere in the dining room was harmonious.

The children were also very perceptive and did not make a noise in the dining room. They just ate the food in front of them.

Su Tang stayed in the mansion until midnight before leaving Zhao's mansion.

After drinking some fruit wine, Su Tang felt tired and drowsy in the carriage. When she arrived at the princess's mansion, she simply washed up and went to bed.

"Your wedding will be in seven days. The palace has sent some gifts these days. Take a look. They are all gifts from the young masters of the palace."

The next day, Chunmei brought a tray with several booklets on it, which were gifts sent by concubines of high rank in the palace.

Chunmei was followed by several maids, each of whom was carrying some boxes or some large ornaments into the house.

After all, Su Tang was the Grand Princess appointed by Emperor Jing himself. Once the marriage decree spread, even those in the palace who looked down on Su Tang would not dare to neglect her openly and would definitely send some gifts.

It depends on who wants to be close to Su Tang, maybe the gifts they send will be heavier.

"These were sent by Concubine Xian. There are a pair of white jade fertility-delivering Guanyin statues, a set of red coral ornaments, agate..." Chunmei mentioned the items on the gift list. The maids below took a few steps forward one by one and showed the items that Chunmei read to Su Tang for her to look.

The gift sent by Concubine Xian was not cheap, Su Tang nodded, understanding it.

This virtuous concubine rarely moved around in the palace, nor did she like to compete for favor. She had almost no enemies in the palace, giving people the impression that she was not interested in competing with the world.

"This was sent by Concubine Li, a pair of jade ruyi." Chunmei said, and looked at Su Tang somewhat embarrassedly.

Concubine Li only gave this pair of jade ruyi. Although the quality of the jade ruyi was good, it still looked much worse.

As a favored concubine, the gift she gave to the princess was far too shabby.

She was not afraid of being laughed at by others, nor was she afraid of being reprimanded by Emperor Jing for sending too little.

Su Tang looked at the jade ruyi placed on the tray below and nodded without saying anything. The maids hurriedly retreated.

Chunmei read the list for a while, and finally all the gifts were carried to the storehouse in the princess's mansion. In the future, these Sutang could be taken to Prince Ning's mansion or kept in the storehouse of the princess's mansion.

After reading the list of gifts in the palace, Su Tang looked at Chunmei, "Is the Queen still in Fengyi Palace?"

There was no Queen Xie’s name or Xuanyuan Mengyao’s on the gift list.

"No one has come out of Fengyi Palace since it was sealed. The Queen Mother used your upcoming wedding as an excuse to visit Your Majesty, saying that the Grand Princess's wedding cannot be done without the Queen.

Later, His Majesty said something to the Queen Mother. When the Queen Mother left the Imperial Study, her face was not very good, and Empress Xie was not released from Fengyi Palace. "

Su Tang raised the corners of her mouth slightly, fearing that the current Empress Xie could no longer meet the public. The empty palace with nothing in it was probably not much better than the cold palace. Without maintenance, Empress Xie would probably be worn out beyond recognition.

Emperor Jing would definitely not let the officials see the queen who had lost her dignity.

Su Tang hasn't seen Qi Lingheng in the past few days.

Qi Lingheng was even more honest and never came to the princess's mansion in the middle of the night again.

Maybe it's because of the ancient custom that men and women cannot meet before marriage, and maybe it's for the sake of good luck.

However, Qi Lingheng sent the woman that Su Tang wanted.

Looking at the woman kneeling in front of her, Su Tang knew that the person Qi Lingheng sent was a martial artist.

There was no one else in the room at this time, only Su Tang and the woman kneeling below.

"Raise your head." After Su Tang finished speaking, the woman below raised her head respectfully, but her eyes were still lowered and she didn't look directly at Su Tang.

"Are you also a secret guard?"

"Yes, the servant Qi Lan."

He also has the surname Qi, and seems to be from the same group as Qi Feng and the others.

"You should follow me secretly these days and get familiar with my behavior and movements."

Su Tang wanted this woman to pretend to be her in Beijing when she was away from the capital, so this person had to imitate her behavior and voice.

As for the face, Qi Lingheng had told Su Tang before that they had human skin masks, and they could disguise themselves as Su Tang after putting them on.

Unless you are extremely close to them, you shouldn't be able to tell.

Su Tang now has the status of the Grand Princess, and no one dares to question Su Tang easily.

"Yes." Qi Lan replied. At this time, she had already begun to deliberately imitate Su Tang's voice.

Su Tang nodded with satisfaction, signaled Qi Lan to step back and follow in secret.

You can follow her any time except when she is sleeping.

"Princess, the Queen Mother has issued another decree, asking you to come to the palace tomorrow."

"Okay." I don't know what the Queen Mother is up to now, but she shouldn't be as noisy as last time.

She is getting married soon, and if anything goes wrong in the palace, Emperor Jing will definitely hold her accountable.

This is a matter of royal dignity. After all, she is going to host a banquet for officials in the capital at her wedding. If Su Tang is unable to attend the wedding, Emperor Jing will also lose face.

The next day, Su Tang entered the palace.

This time, a maid from Ningshou Palace came to greet them at the palace gate.

The nanny was not the same nanny as last time. When she saw Su Tang entering the palace, she quickly came forward to greet her and knelt down. After she stood up, she smiled and said, "This old servant greets the Grand Princess. This old servant is from the Empress Dowager's palace. This time, I am here to welcome you to Ningshou Palace in accordance with the Empress Dowager's decree."

The old lady raised her hand and motioned the sedan chair waiting on the side to come forward. Su Tang responded softly and got on the sedan chair.

Chunmei and Xiamei followed the sedan chair.

"What does the Queen Mother want to see me about?" Su Tang asked the nanny who was following beside her.

"My dear Princess, the Queen Mother said she wanted to talk to you about your wedding." The old maid replied with her head lowered.

After hearing this, Su Tang stopped asking the nanny and then half-closed her eyes to rest in the sedan chair.

Seeing that Su Tang stopped asking questions, the nanny turned her head and looked up at Su Tang, then quickly lowered her head and followed the sedan chair without saying anything else.