books44 Chapter 350: Holding Hands, Growing Old Together
Chapter 350: Holding Hands, Growing Old Together
Chapter 350: Holding Hands, Growing Old Together
A bright moon hung in the sky, punctuated by a few stars. Shen Bin looked around the palace and murmured, "If they're all resting, why are there no candles in this room?" He spoke very softly, but a maid overheard him. The maid looked terrified and said, "Could they all be dead?"
Upon hearing this, the other maids also began to stir, and a sense of unease settled in. The older women, however, were worldly-wise and had witnessed birth, aging, sickness, and death; naturally, they were not afraid. It was simply a matter of human nature causing unrest.
"What's all the noise about? The palace is heavily guarded. This could very well be an order from the Emperor. If you delay Princess Xiangping's auspicious time, can you bear the consequences?" As soon as the nanny spoke, the previously agitated maids immediately quieted down. Seeing the nanny's words, Shen Bin didn't want to think too badly about the situation, so he started walking towards Xiangping Palace again.
Inside Xiangping Palace, Princess Xiangping was dressed in a red gown, the sash around her waist accentuating her slender figure. Her skin was as white as jade, and her cheeks were rosy. A phoenix coronet and embroidered robe adorned her, the hairpins swaying gracefully in her dark hair, making a clear, melodious sound. Golden earrings hung from her ears, and a gold necklace glittered around her neck.
Her favorite item was the jade thumb ring on her thumb. The jade thumb ring was quite old, and she had no idea how far it had gone. Yet she had kept it all this time. Holding the jade thumb ring in her palm, she closed her eyes, a smile playing on her lips. The maid beside her looked at the ring with some confusion.
Although the thumb ring was made of jade, it looked quite old, and it was hard to understand why Princess Xiangping would hold it in her hand like such a treasure. Moreover, the thumb ring was very large, not something a woman could wear, and Princess Xiangping's fingers were long and slender, making the thumb ring look clumsy and unsightly on her hand.
"Princess, everything is done. You look beautiful today, just like Chang'e from heaven." The maid behind Princess Xiangping adjusted the hair ornament on her head, worried it might fall off, and said while looking at the bright moon outside the window.
"Nonsense, how could I compare to the celestial maiden?" Princess Xiangping said with feigned anger, though she was secretly delighted. Dressed in red, wearing a phoenix crown, and riding in a bridal sedan chair, she married the man she loved.
This was how she had always wanted her wedding to be. For some reason, she wondered where Shen Bin was now, and whether he was as overjoyed as she was, speechless with happiness.
Seeing Princess Xiangping's happy expression, the maid thought to herself, "This must be what it looks like to marry the one you love." "Princess, Princess, the Prince Consort has arrived!" Suddenly, a maid ran into the inner palace and announced. Xiangping was overjoyed but also a little nervous, unsure of what to do.
After a while, a nanny arrived late and gestured for the maid to leave. Princess Xiangping looked at herself in the mirror, somewhat worried that Shen Bin would not like her heavily made-up appearance.
"Princess, take this. Don't drop it when you get into the bridal sedan chair." The old woman's voice was neither too loud nor too soft. Princess Xiangping quickly snapped out of her reverie and nodded to the old woman. She took the bright red apple, which seemed to have been carefully selected. It wasn't too big or too small, but its red color was as beautiful as her wedding dress. Apple, Ping (平), means peace. A woman on her wedding day holds an apple in her hand, wishing her a safe journey into the bridal sedan chair, a safe journey into her husband's home, and a safe journey into the bridal chamber.
Seeing Princess Xiangping accept the apple, the nanny covered her head with a red veil, then helped her up and let her hold her hand as they left. Shen Bin stood leisurely at the door, not in a hurry at all. Inside the palace, only the Xiangping Palace was lit by flickering candlelight and lanterns hung high.
The bridal sedan chair was parked at the entrance, with four guards standing beside it, waiting for Princess Xiangping to emerge. Not long after, Shen saw Princess Xiangping walk out of the hall with small, quick steps. Although a veil covered her head, it couldn't conceal her elegant and noble bearing. Shen Bin, however, looked at Princess Xiangping with disdain.
Princess Xiangping passed by Shen Bin and, seemingly recognizing him, bowed slightly to him. However, Shen Bin paid no attention, looking at her with disdain, and then walked directly to the bridal sedan chair.
The old woman helped Princess Xiangping follow, and the guards placed steps next to the bridal sedan chair so that Xiangping could climb up. Princess Xiangping clutched the apple tightly in her hand and slowly boarded the sedan chair.
Because the palace was too large, walking around it would take too much time, so Princess Xiangping requested that they only need to walk back and forth in the area in front of Xiangping Hall. Shen Bin, however, was somewhat troubled, wondering what other way to stall for time, and felt a little resentful of Princess Xiangping's deep cunning.
After walking around a few times, the guards originally planned to turn back and go to Xiangping Palace, but Shen Bin stopped them. The guards looked at him with some confusion.
"This road is less than the journey a girl takes on her wedding day. The more roads you travel, the happier and more fulfilling your life will be," Shen Bin said, his words utterly incomprehensible and nonsensical. However, due to Princess Xiangping's orders, the guards dared not disobey and ignored Shen Bin's words.
Shen Bin looked at the guards and said with great dissatisfaction, "Princess, these servants are so disobedient to their master and have disturbed my mood. What is their crime?" Shen Bin stared at the bridal sedan chair with a dark face, as if he wanted to see through it before he would stop.
"My husband is right. Husband, why don't you quickly obey the prince consort's arrangements?" Princess Xiangping, inside the bridal sedan chair, listened to Shen Bin's complaints but was not angry. Instead, she lifted the curtain and ordered the guards. Since the princess had spoken, the guards dared not disobey. They lifted the bridal sedan chair again, walked around it a few times, and headed towards Xiangping Palace.
Seeing that the guards had left, Shen Bin didn't say anything and reluctantly followed them towards Xiangping Palace. Upon reaching the palace, the matron at the gate helped Princess Xiangping down and then gestured for Shen Bin to come over.
Shen Bin didn't know what was going on, but he had no choice but to go over. The old woman took Shen Bin's hand and placed Princess Xiangping's hand in his palm, saying, "Holding your hand, we will grow old together. I hope the princess and her husband will grow old together and have a long and happy marriage." As soon as the old woman finished speaking, Princess Xiangping nodded vigorously, and the sound of her hair ornaments clinking together came from under her veil.
Although the red veil covered her face, one could still sense that she was extremely excited. Shen Bin weakly held Princess Xiangping's hand, trying to let go, but Princess Xiangping gripped his hand tightly in return.
Shen Bin was in some pain, not expecting that this woman was so strong.