The harem is too complicated; the empress, a lazy bum, wins by doing nothing.

Chapter 427 (Extra Chapter 1: The Grand Wedding)

The 135st year of the Yuan Dynasty.

That year, Shen Qingwan was sixteen years old.

Inside Jiang Yuyan's mansion, vermilion curtains and brocade canopies hung high, red candles burned brightly, and large red "double happiness" characters on the walls were painted in a flamboyant style.

She sat on the bed dressed in a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, with the sounds of string and bamboo instruments constantly playing in her ears.

Even at this moment, she couldn't believe that the person she was marrying today was none other than the Third Prince of the current dynasty, Jiang Yuyan.

Tears streamed down her face. This was a marriage bestowed by the Emperor himself, and she didn't even have the right to speak out. If she didn't sit in this room now, the entire Shen family would be beheaded by noon tomorrow.

Who was it that damned person who uttered the phrase "auspicious clouds and phoenixes" when she was born?

Ah……

Shen Qingwan couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.

Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you just believe that?
"Wishing the Third Prince and his wife a long and happy marriage, growing old together in harmony, and forever united in heart."

"The Third Prince and his wife are a match made in heaven. May you two walk hand in hand, grow old together, and be forever united in heart and soul."

"Congratulations, Third Prince..."

All the civil and military officials gathered at the Third Prince's residence, exchanging polite and high-sounding words. By this time, Jiang Yuyan was already a little drunk from all the drinking.

Wu Jixiang came over to help him up, saying, "Third Prince, let this servant take you back to rest."

go back?

Upon hearing those two words, Jiang Yuyan's eyes widened in surprise for a moment, then turned serious.

He wondered if Shen Qingwan, who was waiting for him, also felt a little bit of anticipation, just like him.

Jiang Yuyan cleared the wine in his glass. "I'm drunk. I've had a great time drinking tonight."

After saying that, his body swayed uncontrollably.

Seeing that he seemed genuinely drunk, even those who were still eager for more couldn't bring themselves to keep him any longer, given his intoxicated state.

Wu Jixiang helped him walk towards the inner courtyard. As soon as they stepped out of the main hall, Jiang Yuyan straightened up.

However, Wu Jixiang seemed not at all surprised to see him like this, after all, he had been by the Third Prince's side for so long, and he knew the Third Prince's drinking capacity.

"Third Prince, are you going back to rest now? This servant will have someone prepare hot water for your bath."

Jiang Yuyan waved his hand, "No need for now."

At that time, he had already arrived outside the hall, which was covered with red "double happiness" characters.

He took a deep breath, pushed open the door and went in, waving to the old women and maids standing in the hall.

She silently moved her lips, glanced at the acacia wine on the table, as if she wanted to say something, but in an instant, she met Jiang Yuyan's gaze and led her people away.

The moment the door closed, Jiang Yuyan, reeking of alcohol and seemingly half-drunk, walked over to Shen Qingwan and sat down beside her.

Seeing her hands clasped tightly together, Jiang Yuyan paused slightly, then reached out and grasped her fingertips, "Wanwan..."

On the way here, he had a lot he wanted to say to him and explain things to him.

Ever since his father bestowed a marriage upon him and Shen Qingwan, he had been wanting to find an opportunity to see her, but he had been unable to leave the palace. Since his father's serious illness more than a year ago, his health had deteriorated day by day, and now he was almost bedridden, with all the affairs of the court falling on his shoulders.

Although he had always known that there was some unusual affair between Shen Qingwan and Jiang Yuxian, ever since last year's Lantern Festival, when Jiang Yuxian went out of the palace to find Shen Qingwan and failed to attend to his father, who had suddenly fainted, Consort Ying was so angry that she fell ill.

Jiang Yuxian hadn't seen Shen Qingwan for a long time...

He could clearly feel the dampness on his cold fingertips.

Jiang Yuyan's eyes flickered, and he raised his hand to remove her red veil, revealing her red and swollen eyes from crying.

Tonight is supposed to be their wedding night, but when he looks at her face, he sees not a trace of joy, but rather a helpless and painful expression.

Jiang Yuyan's fingertips paused heavily, and deep in his heart, it felt as if something had stabbed him, causing a heart-wrenching pain throughout his internal organs.

"Wanwan...Wanwan..."

Jiang Yuyan knew that this arranged marriage was not something she was willing to do. In fact, no one had ever asked her whether she was willing when the imperial decree arrived at the Shen residence.

Since ancient times, women's marriages have always been arranged by their parents and matchmakers. Now that she has married into the family, she will be the principal wife. If he can successfully ascend the throne in the future, then she will be the most precious empress of the Yuan Kingdom.

Queen!

The Empress, above all others and second only to ten thousand!
Such a noble status, a position that countless women in the world would rather die for.

On her wedding night, she cried like this.

No, not just on their wedding night. Looking at her swollen eyes, it seems she started crying the moment the imperial decree was issued.

Jiang Yuyan sneered and stood up. "Shen Qingwan, is marrying me going to make you suffer like this?"

Shen Qingwan lowered her eyes and remained silent, but the tears on her face seemed to fall even more fiercely.

"Shen Qingwan!"

A sudden surge of anger welled up in Jiang Yuyan's heart, but his angry shout did startle Shen Qingwan, who finally reacted. She looked up at him with tears in her eyes.

Just a glance.

She lowered her head again, oblivious to everyone around her, and began to cry.

At this moment, instead of silently holding back her tears, she burst into tears on her own.

Jiang Yuyan clenched his fist at his side without showing any emotion. "Marrying me has made you so heartbroken and so wronged?"

It was unclear whether Shen Qingwan had heard what he said; she continued to lower her eyes and cry to herself.

Jiang Yuyan had lost even the slightest bit of patience to restrain himself. He strode up to Shen Qingwan, raised his hand and pinched her cheek, making her raise her head and look up at him. "I'll ask you one more time, does marrying me make you so sad and so wronged?"

The pain in her cheek made Shen Qingwan's brow twitch slightly involuntarily. She stared intently at Jiang Yuyan for a long while before finally asking, "Why? Why you?"

Tears welled in her disappointed eyes, and a strange chill crept in, causing Jiang Yuyan's hand, which was pinching her cheek, to jerk.

He felt as if his soul had been drained from his body, and he staggered back a step.

"You know, you know perfectly well..." Shen Qingwan said, slowly standing up. Whether it was because she had been crying for too long or because she hadn't eaten or drunk anything all day, the moment she stood up, she felt her vision go black and she almost fell to the ground. "He doesn't want anything anymore, the throne is destined to be yours, why won't you even spare me?"

Jiang Yuyan's eyes widened in shock. "Say that again?"

Shen Qingwan's already pale face paled even more. "I said, the throne is destined to be yours, so why do you still want to take it? He already said that as long as you give him a fiefdom, we will leave the capital and never come back. We will never let you take what you consider precious. Even so, is that not enough? What exactly do you want?"