I am the champion of palace intrigue, and even the proud prince bows his head in submission.

Chapter 518 Xie Jingchun's Storyline: Marriage

Qin Jiuwei and Gao Yunzhi had already discussed this matter privately.

Although there were no outside guests present, the visit was extremely formal.

Gao Yunzhi sat in the main seat with a gentle expression.

Nan Yin changed into a light crimson silk dress, her black hair was tied up high, and a jade hairpin personally chosen by Qin Jiuwei was pinned to her temple. She knelt down and kowtowed, showing perfect manners.

"Nanyin pays respects to her adoptive mother."

Gao Yunzhi looked down at her, her eyes filled with tenderness.

She had heard Qin Jiuwei mention this child before, saying that she had a pitiful background but was extremely intelligent.

Now that I've actually met her, I feel that this girl has gentle and calm features, and her demeanor is exceptionally proper, just like someone trained in the palace.

Gao Yunzhi personally got up, helped her up, and said with a smile, "From now on, she will be my goddaughter."

"If you feel wronged in the future, you can come and talk to me."

Nan Yin nodded gently, "Yes, thank you, godmother."

Soon, the day of their wedding arrived.

Inside and outside the Prince's Mansion, red curtains were hung high, and bells and drums sounded in unison.

On the wedding day, almost half of the powerful and wealthy in the capital came, and the carriages carrying gifts lined up for two whole streets at the entrance of the alley.

All the guests turned their heads in surprise.

Amidst the sounds of music, the bridal sedan chair slowly entered the mansion.

With a red veil gently draped over her head, Nan Yin sat quietly within it, yet her heartbeat involuntarily quickened by half a beat.

She heard the deafening sounds of gongs and drums outside, a joyful cacophony filling her ears.

Then, I heard familiar footsteps.

"Madam, I've come to pick you up."

Xie Jingchun whispered through her veil, her voice tinged with a smile, like a spring breeze sweeping across a lake.

Xie Jue stood behind the crowd in front of the bridal sedan chair.

He rushed back on the eve of the wedding and was standing side by side with Xie Jing.

Xie Jingchun was dressed in a bright red wedding gown, embroidered with dragons and phoenixes in gold thread, the robes swaying with her steps.

His tall and handsome figure shone brightly in the red light.

His hand holding the red silk was extremely steady, and his eyes never left the person beside him.

Nanyin wears a red canopy, her phoenix crown with dangling pearls swaying slightly, and her rosy robe trails on the ground.

They walked side by side, one as upright as a pine tree, the other as gentle as water.

The red silk ribbon connected the two, as if a thread binding their souls, binding them together for life.

Xie Jue stared at it, becoming more and more engrossed.

My older brother... actually got married.

So fast!

He's only been away from home for a year!

Waiting for him to get married...

Xie Jue shook his head and thought for a moment.

That would probably be a very, very long time from now...

At that moment, an indescribable feeling suddenly welled up in his heart.

Xie Jing's eyes were devoid of any emotion; he simply watched quietly.

marriage?

He found it hard to imagine that such a thing would happen to him.

A celebratory banquet was prepared in the hall, with the prince and princess seated on high seats, the eldest princess in attendance, and all the elders present.

The master of ceremonies announced the greetings, and the ceremony proceeded with three bows and six salutations, accompanied by the resounding of bells and drums.

"Worship the heavens and the earth-"

On the high seat, Qin Jiuwei and Xie Yanli sat side by side.

Today, Qin Jiuwei wore a deep crimson imperial concubine robe with cloud patterns, embroidered with delicate dark gold lotus scroll patterns.

She looked at the newlyweds bowing down, her eyes slightly stinging.

She watched Xie Jingchun grow from a boy to the person he is today, and in the blink of an eye, he has reached the age to get married.

The child has grown up eventually.

Xie Yanli sat upright as always, his gaze calm and composed.

A barely perceptible warmth lingered in his phoenix eyes.

After the ceremony, the guests rose to offer their congratulations, and the elders saw them off, creating a joyous atmosphere.

The newlyweds were led to their bridal chamber by the matchmaker.

As night fell, the candles burned brightly in the bridal chamber.

Nan Yin sat upright in front of the couch, her head covered with a bright red veil, her hands folded on her knees, her fingertips slightly cool.

"squeak--"

Xie Jingchun entered the room, closed the door, and sent all the maids out.

Only when the two of them were left in the room did they slowly walk up to her.

Xie Jingchun looked at the bride sitting upright in front of him.

The thought that she was behind the red ribbon made his heart beat faster.

He picked up the golden scale and lifted the red cover.

His eyes lit up instantly.

Nan Yin wore a phoenix crown, which made her black hair look even blacker and her eyes gentle and quiet.

A small, delicate floral decoration adorns her cheek, and her slightly red lips add a touch of allure.

Her eyes were bright, clear and bright, reflecting the candlelight and him in her watery pupils.

This was the first time he had ever seen Nanyin dressed up in such elaborate attire.

She was absolutely stunningly beautiful.

It took him a while to come to his senses, and he coughed lightly.

"It's time, it's time to drink the nuptial wine."

He turned around, brought over a wine cup, and handed it to her.

The two men each held a cup, their wrists intertwined.

The wine was warmed, clear and slightly sweet.

After finishing his drink, Xie Jingchun looked up at Nan Yin beside him.

A faint blush remained on her lips, slightly smudged from the wine they had shared.

Her bright red wedding dress accentuated her fair complexion, making her look radiant yet not overly so, a beauty that unexpectedly takes your breath away.

Xie Jingchun sat beside her, no more than an arm's length away, but did not rush to get closer.

He simply turned his head to look at her, his gaze gradually deepening.

He moved closer. "Nanyin."

"Ok?"

"Can I kiss you?"

Nan Yin's ears suddenly felt hot, as if she wanted to nod, but in the end she couldn't move, and only made a soft "hmm", the sound so soft that it was almost drowned out by the candlelight.

Xie Jingchun raised his hand to cup her face and slowly moved closer to her.

As he approached her lips, his movement suddenly stopped.

“Nanyin,” he murmured, “if you push me away now, I can still stop.”

Nan Yin's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she said softly, "I won't push it."

Xie Jingchun didn't say anything more, and the kiss landed on his lips.

The warm, lingering scent enveloped her, slowly drawing her into his embrace.

Her fingers gently touched his lapel.

As he embraced her, his voice was low, tinged with a barely suppressed smile, "You are now my wife."

Nan Yin buried her face in his neck and said, "My husband."

The candlelight gradually dimmed, and the wedding tent swayed slightly.

Moonlight streamed through the window, and only a warm, cozy atmosphere remained in the room.

-

Nan Yin became pregnant in the third year after their marriage.

Upon hearing the news, Xie Jingchun was overjoyed; his smile never faded all afternoon.

Soon, Qin Jiuwei and Xie Yanli also learned about this.

The entire palace was filled with joy.

That evening, Qin Jiuwei instructed the kitchen to change the menu.

Spicy dishes have decreased, and the table is now filled with many light and refreshing side dishes that are good for the stomach, promote digestion, and are beneficial for pregnancy.

Even the snacks were tangerine peel and yam cake and steamed crispy pear.

"This crucian carp soup is very nourishing." Qin Jiuwei placed the soup bowl in front of Nan Yin and said gently, "Have a sip while it's hot."

Nan Yin responded softly, "Thank you, Mother."

She took the chopsticks with both hands and placed them aside. Before she could even pick them up, Xie Jingchun turned to the side, picked up the small spoon from the table for her, carefully tested its temperature, and then handed it to her.

"Is it too hot? Should we wait a little longer?"

Nan Yin was both amused and exasperated. "It's not hot, really."

Xie Jingchun breathed a sigh of relief, and only after watching her take a sip did he pick up his chopsticks himself.

However, after only a few bites, he glanced at her again, still feeling uneasy.

"You ate too little today. You need to eat more tonight. This tofu dish is also good; it's soft and delicious. Why don't you try it?"

He was about to serve her some food when Nan Yin gently stopped him, saying, "I can do it myself."

Seeing the two of them like this, Qin Jiuwei couldn't help but laugh out loud.

“When I was pregnant with Yun’er, your father was just like that. He would ask me ten times a night if I was cold or hungry. He was even more anxious than I was.”

Xie Yun was sitting on a small couch, holding a plate of osmanthus cake, eating it with relish, pinching off the edges with her little hands.

Upon hearing his name mentioned, his eyes immediately lit up.