Chapter 96 - 95: The Eldest Miss as a Substitute Bride 11

Chapter 96: Chapter 95: The Eldest Miss as a Substitute Bride 11

’That wasn’t out of the question, but it would be best to avoid getting pregnant.’

Ji Xiaosong was well aware of this. A child’s physical and genetic health came from both parents.

The poison in Chu Qingyun’s body had not yet been neutralized, and it would be terrible if it were passed down to a child.

Since she knew methods of contraception, this was an easy problem to solve.

"Of course. Tonight is our wedding night. We can’t let it go to waste!"

As soon as Ji Xiaosong spoke, Chu Qingyun extended a long arm and gently pulled her into his embrace, like a gentle breeze enveloping a cluster of blooming flowers.

Chu Qingyun was clumsy at first, but some things are learned by instinct, with no teacher required.

The surrounding candlelight flickered, casting intersecting shadows on the walls.

Now passionate, now a low murmur.

「The next morning.」 The attendants in the East Wing had already completed a change of shifts, and the hot water in the cauldrons had been refilled an untold number of times.

The sun was already high in the sky when Ji Xiaosong finally, groggily, began to stir.

Her entire body ached, and her throat was painfully dry and hoarse.

Ji Xiaosong shifted slightly, and Chu Qingyun woke up with her.

His eyes were still heavy with sleep, but they were filled with a smile. His voice was husky with morning as he said, "Song, you’re awake."

Ji Xiaosong tried to speak, but her throat was so sore she could only manage a faint croak.

Seeing this, Chu Qingyun’s heart ached for her. He quickly sat up, poured a cup of water, and carefully helped Ji Xiaosong sit up to drink.

"Slowly, now. Don’t choke."

After a drink of water, Ji Xiaosong felt a little better. She leaned into Chu Qingyun’s arms and complained softly, "It’s all your fault for being so rough last night."

Chu Qingyun blushed slightly. "I... I have no experience. Besides, I was just so happy to be able to marry you."

With that, he hugged Ji Xiaosong tightly again, unwilling to get out of bed.

"Song, let’s just lie here a little longer. Just a little while."

Ji Xiaosong hummed a soft "mhm" and snuggled deeper into his arms.

"Don’t we have to pay our respects to Father and Mother today?"

"No, they specifically told us last night not to go until after noon."

"Still, we should get up. I need to get ready."

Ji Xiaosong picked up the small silver bell hanging by the bed and shook it gently. A clear, crisp ring echoed through the room.

A moment later, the nannies and maids waiting in the outer chamber knew the Crown Princess Consort had summoned them.

Nanny Liu, who was in the lead, entered with two maids, taking quick, small steps. A few paces from the bed, they curtsied in unison. "Crown Princess Consort, do you have an order for us?"

"Prepare some hot water, just the right temperature. Also, bring some light, refreshing congee and snacks. And fetch the sapphire-blue brocade palace gown with the peony embroidery that I prepared for today’s formal greeting. Be careful not to wrinkle it."

"This servant will see to it at once."

Nanny Liu acknowledged the order and withdrew with the maids.

Only then did Ji Xiaosong turn back to Chu Qingyun. "You should get ready, too. We can’t keep Father and Mother waiting too long."

After Ji Xiaosong had washed up and dressed, Chu Qingyun’s personal guard, Zhao Yong, was permitted to enter.

He stepped through the doorway with a reverent expression, his gaze habitually falling upon the wheelchair. In his hands, he held the clothes and items needed to help Chu Qingyun get ready.

But the moment he lifted his eyes, he froze in place as if struck by lightning.

He saw Chu Qingyun standing steadily beside the bed, his figure tall and straight, bearing no resemblance to the man who had always relied on a wheelchair.

Zhao Yong’s eyes widened in utter disbelief. His lips trembled, and after a long moment, he finally stammered, "Your Highness... you... you can stand?"

His voice cracked with emotion, his eyes instantly turning red as the items in his hands nearly slipped from his grasp.

He strode over to Chu Qingyun and dropped to one knee, his voice thick with tears. "Your Highness, is this real? I have been by your side for all these years, praying every day for your recovery, and today... today it has actually happened!" As he spoke, he raised a hand to wipe away the hot tears streaming down his face.

A gentle smile graced Chu Qingyun’s lips as he reached out to help Zhao Yong to his feet. "Get up. This is all thanks to the Crown Princess Consort."

Zhao Yong then turned his gaze to Ji Xiaosong, knelt again, and kowtowed heavily. "Crown Princess Consort, your grace is immeasurable! For the Crown Prince to regain his health is a blessing for our entire dynasty! I am willing to go through fire and water for you!"

’He didn’t know how the Crown Princess Consort had cured Chu Qingyun. All that mattered was that he was seeing Chu Qingyun standing on his own two feet. That was more than enough.’

"Since Your Highness can stand, does that mean the poison in your body is..."

"Not yet," Ji Xiaosong interjected. "In another month, the antidotal herbs on Qiong Mountain will be mature. I will personally go and retrieve them to detoxify Qingyun then."

Hearing Ji Xiaosong’s words, Zhao Yong felt a surge of hope, but he wasn’t terribly disappointed by the news.

’It was already a miracle that the Crown Prince could stand. He shouldn’t be greedy and hope for more.’

"Your Highness, you must show His Majesty and the Empress this wonderful news today. I can only imagine how overjoyed they’ll be when they find out!"

"Yes, we will go to the palace to report this after lunch. For now, get up and help me get dressed."

After the catharsis of the previous night, Chu Qingyun’s initial excitement had subsided somewhat.

After they finished breakfast, he handed the Eastern Palace’s steward tally to Ji Xiaosong.

Along with it, he also gave her the account ledgers.

Ji Xiaosong flipped through them casually, then did a double take, reading through them several more times in disbelief.

"You used the entire treasury of the Eastern Palace for my betrothal gift?!"

A flash of embarrassment crossed Chu Qingyun’s face. He lowered his head slightly, looking like a child who had been caught doing something wrong.

He cleared his throat before speaking slowly. "Song, I didn’t want you to find out about this. I was afraid it would make you worry."

"Over the past few years, there have been constant disasters, both natural and man-made, and the people have suffered. As the Crown Prince, I couldn’t just sit by and do nothing. I used my entire monthly allowance for disaster relief. I had hoped to save up for a while so I could marry you in grand style, but in the end, I still came up short."

"I had to shamelessly borrow a great deal from Father and Mother. Somehow, word got out to my brothers and sisters, and they all pitched in to help. That’s how I barely managed to gather this betrothal gift."

"Song, I know this is unfair to you." Chu Qingyun’s voice trembled slightly. "I wanted to give you the very best of everything, but as it is..."

’The dignified Crown Prince was so poor that the only two new sets of clothes he owned were for his wedding. If word got out, no one would believe it.’

"Song, I normally keep up appearances. I’m mainly worried that the people and some of the court officials would lose confidence if they knew the Royal Family was impoverished."

The more Chu Qingyun spoke, the lower his head hung. He was truly and utterly embarrassed about the whole situation.

’But he also knew he couldn’t hide it from his wife. They wouldn’t be able to build a life together otherwise.’

Ji Xiaosong pinched the bridge of her nose. ’I figured the Royal Family might be short on funds from frequently reducing the people’s taxes, and I considered that providing too much disaster relief could lead to poverty... but I never imagined the Eastern Palace’s ledgers would contain entries like these:’

The Crown Prince’s undergarments can accommodate two more patches;

How the embroideress can mend the Crown Prince’s outer robes so the patches go unnoticed...