MARRIED TO A CRUEL CROWN PRINCE

Weddings

Chapter 8: The Wedding

Ying Lili saw Sheng Li off. He breathed a sigh of relief when the female servant entered. Su Binxi and the other servants helped Ying Lili take a bath and then she was taken to the room where the servants helped her get ready.

She wore a Red Hanfu wedding dress that symbolized Happiness, Prosperity, and a nice padlock, with gold embroidery on it. He looked at himself in the mirror when he heard Su Binxi, "Miss, please let go of your lips a little." An-Ying Lili did so when the other servant placed a red-colored paper between her lips. A red color was placed on his lips.

After that gold jewelry was clad around his neck, followed by several gold bracelets on his hands, a gold diamond ring, and anklets on his feet. "Miss looks really pretty today," Su Binxi praised Ying Lili. Court Lady Ying advanced with the Golden Phoenix crown in her hands. Su Binxi placed it over Ying Lili's head.

The hairdresser styled Ying Lili's hair carefully and put three hairpins on the hair bun. The perfume was scattered on Ying Lili's dress and slightly on her hands and neck. The smell is the air in the dressing room.

Su Binxi covered Ying Lili's face from the red veil. "Miss, please wake up," Su Binxi proclaimed. Ying Lili stood up and turned around. They then went to the wedding altar. As Ying Lili entered the wedding altar, the whisper went out. Ying Lili gracefully walked towards Sheng Li. The moment he reached nearby, the two of them looked at each other even though Sheng Li could not see Ying Lili's face.

The two of them looked forward as the chief priest gave them two golden cups containing wine inside. "Please drink, Your Majesty. Pay your first homage to heaven and earth; second to the great ancestor of Han, and third to the Kitchen God," said the chief priest.

Sheng Li and Ying Lili raised both hands, held the cup, and kowtowed to Heaven-earth first, followed by the ancestor and the kitchen God. When finished, the two servants took a cup from them and then filled it again with a honey-wine mixture. "This drink is for each other that you two will respect in every decision and together," both Sheng Li and Ying Lili heard the chief priest. Sheng Li glared at Ying Lili. "I will make your life hell" Sheng Li said to himself and drank the wine from the cup.

"I will make sure to kill you, Sheng Li, and avenge my father's death," Ying Lili promised as she drank her wine.

"From today onwards, they are both husband and wife. The Han Kingdom has obtained its Imperial Crown Princess," the chief priest announced. Both Sheng Li and Ying Lili kowtowed before the Emperor and Empress who gave them blessings.

"Miss Court Xu, please take the crown princess to the bridal chamber," Weng Wei ordered Xu Wan who nodded and told Ying Lili to follow him. As he walked, Weng Yu came in front of him. "Welcome to be married, Your Majesty," Weng Yu told Ying Lili.

"Yu, come. Don't block the way of the crown princess," Lei Wanxi said as she pulled Weng Yu towards her. "I'm sorry for my sister for her rude behavior" Lei Wanxi apologized to the crown princess.

"I want to see the crown princess's face," Ying Lili heard him. The members of the great family started laughing hearing this. Third empress Han Wenji scolded Weng Yu. "Mother, everyone says the crown princess is beautiful," Weng Yu said in a low voice and lowered her eyes.

"Congratulations, the Imperial Crown Prince has married," Jian Guozhi gave hope to Sheng Li who did not retaliate.

"The wedding banquet is ready. We'll go there and then the crown prince has to complete another wedding ritual" Weng Wei said with a smile. Han Wenji shook his head in agreement. They all went to the wedding banquet hall. Lei Wanxi was teasing Sheng Li along with his other brothers when Sheng Li told him to shut up and leave from there.

"Wanxi, I think I'll win the bet. Fifth brother will not fall in love with the crown princess," Rong Zemin said with a smile.

"Dear third brother, the crown princess is fierce like our fifth brother. This is just the beginning of their love story" Lei Wanxi said. Jian Guozhi sneered after hearing Lei Wanxi's statement.

"First brother, that's a very condescending statement in my opinion. The warmth changes a person and our brother needs that warmth" Lei Wanxi replied to Jian Guozhi who gave a small smile to him. "I hope the crown prince will get that warmth from the crown princess," Jian Guozhi wished and grinned.

Sheng Li had a porcelain jar in his hand and stood on a bridge made over a water canal in the eastern palace. Han Wenji came there and stood beside his son. "Why don't you attend the royal wedding banquet?" Han Wenji asked Sheng Li.

"The imperial father knew the answer," Sheng Li proclaimed and found the wine jar emptied by him.

"The Crown Prince must trust his father," Han Wenji uttered.

"I believe in you that's why he's still alive" Sheng Li confirmed.

"You can't talk like this" Han Wenji said.

"Sorry, Imperial father but I feel sad. You know my relationship with Xue Yu Yan, but you chose this for me. I still don't like the crown princess, because of your promise I married her. I'll make my Concubine Xue immediately and please don't stop me from doing that" Sheng Li uttered and left from there.

"I don't trust the Prime Minister's intentions, nor do I trust his daughter. Since he has the support of many ministers, I cannot remove him from such a high post of nobility," Han Wenji thought in his mind.