Crossing the Mountains

Chapter 133 Recalling Qinglu
The imperial court announced to the world that, for the sake of friendly relations between the two countries, the wedding date of the Third Prince and Princess Mohe would be moved up significantly from the original October 10th to April 6th.

Shen Tu Zhuotian felt like the sky was falling when he heard the news.

He guessed the wedding date would be moved up, but he didn't expect it to be a full six months earlier.

He originally wanted to reach Andu as soon as possible, preferably before the two got married, to see Tan Huaike as much as possible, and to ask Aisha to help him blend into Mo He's wedding procession. Although he knew he would feel suffocated and upset seeing such a scene, he would feel more at ease knowing he could watch and protect them in person.

That's it. At his current pace, by the time he reaches Andu, it'll be too late.

If he were only ten or eight days behind and still couldn't catch up, that would be one thing. But then he realized that if he traveled without rest and changed horses along the way at a faster pace, he might be able to catch up. How could he accept that? He immediately quickened his pace and rushed towards Andu like a madman, exhausting Tao Ying, who was following him, to the point of near death.

With dark circles under her eyes, Tao Ying couldn't help but scold, "People say that when you're riding high in the spring breeze, your horse's hooves are swift. This isn't just being proud, it's courting death! Shen Tu Zhuo, what's the rush? The time limit for the recommendation process is clearly quite generous!"

Shen Tu Zhuo continued to gallop wildly on his horse, saying only, "I didn't force you to follow me. If you're tired, take a rest."

"No! You're not deliberately rushing me like this, trying to discourage me!" Tao Ying's fighting spirit was ignited. "Let me tell you, my grandfather personally taught me how to ride a horse, so I'm not afraid of you making things difficult for me!"

"Whatever you want." Knowing that she was unyielding, Shen Tu Zhuo didn't bother to argue.

“But if you push yourself so hard, even if a person can handle it, a horse can’t. A fast horse doesn’t have the stamina, and it will eventually need to find a place to rest.”

Tao Ying was quite insightful, and his words proved prophetic.

Things don't always go as planned. They couldn't possibly stay up all night to catch up on sleep, and the horses couldn't always maintain full speed. So, by the time they arrived in Andu, they had already missed their wedding day.

They were a day late, and knowing they wouldn't make it in time, Shentu Zhuo wasn't in a hurry when they entered the city.

Having not eaten or slept well for several days, with his hair disheveled and looking travel-worn, he knew how unkempt he looked. Knowing he would be meeting Tan Huai Ke soon, he specially found an elegant and comfortable inn to stay in and tidy himself up properly.

Tao Ying followed him to the inn.

Shentu Zhuo said, "Your home is just two streets away. Wouldn't it be better to just go home obediently?"

Exhausted, Tao Ying slumped onto the table: "I have to go back, but I'll inevitably get a scolding when I get back. I'm too tired right now to handle it. I'll stay at the inn for the night."

Seeing her haggard appearance, Shentu Zhuo couldn't bear to send her away.

If we just send her back like this, Lord Tao will probably think that he has been bullying and abusing his own daughter.
-
They went to a restaurant and ordered hot food, enjoying their meal while listening to other diners discuss anecdotes. The marriage alliance had only been going on for a day, and the people of Andu were still talking about it with great interest.

Some say that on that day, they saw Princess Mohe sitting in a flower-adorned palanquin, dressed in the noble attire of the Mohe royal family, embellished with jewels and shimmering beads they had never seen before, so dazzlingly beautiful that it was almost blinding. Her veil was lifted by the wind, revealing a face as beautiful as a celestial being.

Tao Ying pursed her lips: "Is she really that beautiful? It's probably just her clothes and makeup that make her look good."

Shen Tu Zhuo poured cold water on her: "I've seen it with my own eyes, she is indeed as beautiful as an angel."

Tao Ying scoffed: "So what if she's beautiful? You can only look on from afar. She's already a princess, it's none of your business to fantasize about her."

Shen Tu Zhuo: "..." What a cruel and heart-wrenching blow.

The diners there added that they had heard the marriage alliance had been fraught with difficulty. Princess Mohe had encountered bandits beyond the Great Wall and suffered from acclimatization problems upon entering the pass. The Third Prince was deeply worried and personally went to Hexi to welcome her. Thanks to his meticulous care, the princess's condition improved, and she lowered her guard. Having endured so many hardships, their affection for each other deepened. A lady interjected, "Wasn't the Third Prince originally engaged to the daughter of the young master? Is that all gone now?"

Her companion shushed her, saying, "Don't talk nonsense. Without a matchmaker and betrothal gifts, the marriage contract can't be taken seriously."

Tao Ying sighed and muttered softly, "Poor Sister Guanbai, all her years of devotion have been in vain..."

The conversation quickly shifted, and soon everyone was talking about the grand wedding again. The Qinglu ceremony was very popular in the northwest of Da Xuan, and it was said that the Qinglu built in the Third Prince's residence was meticulously crafted. It not only followed the royal etiquette of Da Xuan but also incorporated many exotic decorations. They said that the blue curtains were adorned with many shimmering beads, and long, thin gold chains strung with bells hung from the eaves, making a melodious sound when the wind blew – truly exquisite.

A young woman blushed and said, "My aunt works as a cleaning maid in the Third Prince's residence. She said that night, whether it was the persistent night wind or something else, the bells under the eaves rang all night long."

The sisters beside him chuckled, "Who would have thought His Highness the Third Prince would be like this..."

With a snap, the wooden chopsticks in Shentu Zhuo's hand broke in two.

Tao Ying was listening intently, forgetting to eat the snacks that were about to reach his mouth, when he was suddenly interrupted by a pair of chopsticks that flew out. He said angrily, "You scared me! If they're not good, get a different pair of chopsticks."

Shen Tu Zhuo wondered aloud, "What does that mean? What else could it be but the night wind blowing?"
The young lady continued, "Tomorrow, His Highness the Third Prince will accompany his new bride back to the palace to pay her respects. I reckon it'll be quite a grand affair. Hey, do you think Princess Mohe will be wearing a dress from our Great Xuan this time?"

Shen Tu Zhuo didn't listen carefully to what was said after that.

They're returning to the palace tomorrow; I think I'll have a chance to see them.
After swallowing a few cups of wine, Shen Tu Zhuo suddenly recalled the wedding ceremony between Tan Huai Ke and his elder brother's memorial tablet, and smiled self-deprecatingly: "The pomp and circumstance of a princess is always different. My sister-in-law suffered a lot of grievances when she married into our Shen Tu family."

Hearing about her love rival, Tao Ying became particularly concerned: "What happened? What wronged her?"

Neither of them noticed that in the corner behind them, a man wearing a black veil was drinking alone. Beneath the heavy veil, there seemed to be a silver mask covering him.

Shen Tu Zhuo said, "My brother died on the battlefield, and only his clothes and weapons were sent home. She performed the wedding ceremony with my brother's coffin and memorial tablet..."

"A coffin? A coffin?" Tao Ying wiped her arm. "That's so creepy!"

"Isn't that right? She's quite bold. She knelt alone in the bridal chamber and even poured herself a lot of the nuptial wine."

"..." The nuptial wine? The masked man paused, his wine cup still in his hand.

“I was so naive back then, I even hid in my brother’s coffin and pretended to be a ghost to scare her,” Shen Tu Zhuo recalled. “I thought I had scared her pretty badly, but who knew that she was emboldened by alcohol and almost stabbed me to death with a candlestick.”

"..." What is all this nonsense? The masked man's lips twitched, thankfully unseen by others.

Tao Ying rolled her eyes: "Why are you scaring her? No matter what, she has no choice in the matter. According to custom, she has to stay alone in the brothel for three days and three nights. How can you expect a young woman to endure that?"

Thinking of this, Shen Tu Zhuo wanted to slap himself twice: "It's not just three days and three nights. Mother ordered that she must perform the Qinglu ceremony and also observe mourning for her husband, so she has to stay in the Qinglu for a total of seven days."

Tao Ying gasped, "Seven days! That's too grueling."

The masked man gripped the wine cup tightly, completely unaware of the sharp pain in his palm.
-
Next chapter: I have failed her.