Cui Xu stopped and looked at her inquiringly.
Princess Rongyang’s lips quivered.
Why had she called out to Cui Xu?
The imperial decree was inviolable, and their daughter’s marriage to Zhu Ziyu couldn’t be changed. Of course, she wasn’t calling Cui Xu to defy the order.
But at a time like this, couldn’t this man, as a husband and father, offer her some comfort?
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going,” Cui Xu said, turning to leave.
Princess Rongyang entered the room.
“His Majesty wants to bestow marriage upon me and Zhu Ziyu?” Cui Mingyue murmured after hearing Princess Rongyang’s words.
“The imperial decree will arrive soon.”
“Impossible!” Cui Mingyue suddenly stood up and grabbed Princess Rongyang’s sleeve. “How could His Majesty possibly bestow marriage upon me and Zhu Ziyu? Mother, did you not go to the Empress Dowager—”
Princess Rongyang raised her hand and slapped Cui Mingyue.
“You dare mention the Empress Dowager! If we bother her again and upset His Majesty, even I won’t be able to stay in the capital!” Princess Rongyang’s anger grew as she spoke. “Isn’t all this because of your foolishness? Why did you have to get involved with a married man in the first place!”
Cui Mingyue held her cheek, ignoring Princess Rongyang’s accusations, and insisted on asking, “Is His Majesty going to bestow marriage upon me and Zhu Ziyu?”
At this moment, Cui Yi ran in, “Mother, Sister, the imperial messenger has arrived!”
Cui Mingyue collapsed back into her chair.
After the imperial messenger left, Cui Mingyue sat holding the imperial decree in a daze.
She was supposed to become Prince Xiang’s wife after today. How had things turned out like this?
Since when did a man like Zhu Ziyu have such courage?
Cui Xu looked at his daughter, seeing flashes of anger and disappointment in her eyes, which finally turned into resignation. “Mingyue, you should prepare yourself… No matter what, try to live well with Zhu Ziyu in the future…”
Seeing Cui Xu leave, Princess Rongyang also had no heart to stay, but Cui Mingyue grabbed her wrist.
“Mother, someone must have plotted against me in this matter!”
Princess Rongyang was taken aback.
Cui Mingyue looked up, gripping Princess Rongyang’s wrist tightly. “Mother, it must have been Prince Yan’s wife who instigated Zhu Ziyu to cause this scene!”
Princess Rongyang’s face changed. “Do you have any evidence?”
“I don’t, but I know it must be her! Mother, believe me…”
That Jiang woman must be retaliating for the Lu Shengxiang incident!
Thinking this, Cui Mingyue broke down in tears, filled with regret.
She had been too hasty. If she had waited until she became Prince Xiang’s wife, dealt with the Zhu Ziyu threat, and then focused on dealing with that Jiang woman, how could she have ended up in such a complete defeat?
No, even if she lost everything, she would never be Zhu Ziyu’s wife!
With the imperial decree in place, Cui Mingyue soon found herself back in a bridal sedan chair, carried with music and fanfare to a new residence.
It was a new house specially allocated by imperial grace for Zhu Ziyu, who had been expelled from his family.
This time, even more onlookers than at Prince Xiang’s wedding crowded the streets, making them impassable.
Disappointingly, this wedding proceeded smoothly without any unusual incidents.
In the bridal chamber, the wedding candles flickered brightly, illuminating the room.
Zhu Ziyu gazed at the veiled figure, his eyes complex with emotion.