Rebirth of the Phoenix Princess novel Chapter 196

After returning to Qingxin Palace, Yun Shang, somehow, regretted consenting to the marriage in such a rush. What has become of me? Yun Shang wondered. She even picked an auspicious day, the sixth day of the following month. As today was already the sixth day of this month, the wedding was a month away.

"Your Highness, it is true that you are going to wed soon?" Qian Yin stared at Yun Shang as she could not believe that the Princess would soon marry. Although Prince Jing, who seemed to be a good husband in Qin Yin's opinion, had gotten along well with the Princess recently, their marriage was still beyond her expectation.

Yun Shang nodded slightly before letting out a sigh.

There was a trace of disapproval in Qin Yi's eyes as well. Instead of raising a question, Qin Yi quietly helped Yun Shang take off her robe. Then she took the teacup from a maid, put it in front of Yun Shang, and waited by the Princess's side.

Yun Shang turned to look at Qin Yi with an expression of helplessness. "Qin Yi, you also think that I should not marry in such a hurry, don't you?" However, she sighed before Qin Yi could respond. "But I have no choice," the Princess said.

Yun Shang remembered her dying wish. All she wanted was the opportunity to take revenge on those who had wronged her in her previous life. If she didn't marry Prince Jing, most of the plots she had carefully planned would not bear fruit. Not only would her efforts be in vain, people would be suspicious of her. 'How reckless I have been. I had pretended to be ill for a long time, and had deceived everybody into believing in my meekness. But no matter what I have done in the past, I exposed myself in the end.' Yun Shang was so mad at herself that she blamed herself for her stupidity.

A bitter smile broke across Yun Shang's face. Maybe that was the consequence she deserved. Anyway, as a woman, she would eventually have to marry. It was lucky that Jingran was not the man she would wed in this new life. Her struggles would amount to something since she had gotten rid of Jingran.

Even so, she would never forgive Jingran. She could never forget how Jingran had killed Huan'er. He had thrown Huan'er from the window of the turret, which was so high that Huan'er must have felt a tremendous amount of pain.

Yun Shang felt as if her heart was being pricked by many needles whenever she thought of Huan'er's death.

"Your Highness, I have fetched your wedding robe. Lady Jin was so careful that she even prepared the groom's wedding robe in advance. Your wedding robe used to be Lady Jin's. She embroidered it when she was unmarried. She wished that she could have worn it at her wedding, but... it turned out useless afterward. Then Lady Jin made a groom's wedding robe. She said that the groom's wedding robe would be in need one day, no matter if she gave birth to a son or a daughter." Qin Yi was holding a scarlet wedding robe in her hands. She had carefully pulled it out from an antique wooden box. She said with a smile, "Lady Jin preserved the wedding robe well. It looks new even after so many years."

Yun Shang grinned. Her hand ran lightly up the phoenix pattern embroidered on the wedding robe. Then she said, "Mother is very good at embroidering. But I am clumsy. I only seem to entwine the silk threads in a mess well before I pick up a needle." Then she looked at the groom's wedding robe. Although less luxurious than hers, it was elegant. Many clouds had been embroidered with golden threads on the lower hem. It was to Lady Jin's credit that she could make an ordinary wedding robe look so simple yet distinguished.

"This robe... send it to Prince Jing's Mansion. His Majesty will send Lord Zheng to Prince Jing's Mansion to announce the Imperial Edict for our marriage no later than tomorrow. You should accompany Lord Zheng and give this robe to the Prince." Yun Shang let out another sigh before lying on the bench. While looking at her wedding robe, a bitter smile emerged on her lips. Maybe the Prince would grow disgusted with her before their marriage. After all, no one likes to wed against their will. Unhappy about the forced marriage, Prince Jing would, of course, grow resentful of His Majesty, and her, too.

"Yes. I will tell Lord Zheng about this, and ask him to inform me when he leaves so that I can go with him to Prince Jing's Mansion," Qin Yi said gently.

Yun Shang closed her eyes after Qin Yi left. She fell asleep with the wedding robe in her arms.

Day had already broken when Yun Shang woke. There was only one lamp lit in the room. Its dim yellowish light, somehow, added to the warmth in the room. No sooner had Yun Shang moved than Qian Yin asked softly, "Are you awake, Your Highness?"

Yun Shang uttered a "hum" before closing her eyes again. Then she heard Qian Yin speak again, "Are you hungry, Your Highness? It is almost noon. As Your Highness missed breakfast, will you rise and eat now?"

Yun Shang nodded and opened her eyes. Qian Yin raised the door curtain to signal to the maids waiting outside. Then the maids entered. While some carried washing water and buckets to the bathroom, others put dishes with food on the table. Yun Shang took off the quilt and left the bed. She walked into the bathroom and finished washing. After dressing in the inner chamber, Yun Shang asked Qian Yin to comb her hair into a plain bun.

Although Qian Yin was busy instructing the various maids, she noticed that Yun Shang was looking around as if in search of somebody. Qian Yin guessed and smiled. "His Majesty issued the Imperial Edict for Your Highness's marriage not long ago. Lord Zheng has already left for Prince Jing's Mansion with the Imperial Edict. Qin Yi went to Prince Jing's Mansion as well, of course, with the groom's wedding robe."

The Imperial Edict for marriage? Yun Shang was taken by surprise before she recalled the events of the previous day. She nodded at Qian Yin and walked out of the inner chamber. The dishes had already been placed on the table. Yun Shang took her bowl and ate some food. Then she returned to the inner chamber.

"Your Highness, Ruyu is back..." Qian Yin walked nearer to Yun Shang, and whispered in front of her.